Uilebheist

The Uilebheist is a Nordic/Scottish sea monster that has multiple heads and is sometimes called a Draygan. They came to the remote Orkney and Shetland Islands by way of Norse invaders. Instead of tearing apart ships and gobbling sailors, this beast is more akin to the title of protector. He guards the rocky coasts and the islands' inlets.

Because the Uilebheist's second name, Draygan, is so similar to the English word Dragon, they may have at one time been thought of as watery cousins to the fire breathing ones that storm castles and take the princesses locked up in towers.

It says vaguely in very old Norse text that there was some sort of being that watched the coasts. They were probably what sparked the idea for the Uilebheist.

Until next time!

The Water Mannikin

Water Mannikin is a guardian fairy that inhabits the figurehead of a ship. This creature is of German origin and reportedly invisible. Another name is the Klaboutermannikin. Sailors believed that for the fairy to want to choose to inhabit their figurehead, the figurehead would have to be very lifelike. Only the oldest and most precious woods would be used to carve the figurehead. Supposedly, the Water Mannikins guarded the ship from ill health, rocks, troubling weather, and fearsome winds. If the ship went down, the fairy would guide the sailors to the Other Side. The Dutch thought that if you went down without the Water Minnikin it meant you would be forced to stay in a watery eternity.

I found this quite interesting when I'd read it from the dictionary at the back of A Witches Guide to Faery Folk by Edain Mccoy. It has many interesting things listed back there. If you're a fairy enthusiast like me, I encourage you to get it. The dictionary at the back is very helpful if you're writing a story involving the fae.

Until next time~ ^_^

Spot Light! TV Shows For Writers?

Hello! Here's yet another installment of Spot Light!

Today, I'd like to draw your attention to a post that I thought was both funny and had a point to it. This person brings to mind reality TV shows for writers: Here's what they have to say

They made a very valid point that there are no TV shows out there for writers. Why I wonder? They have TV shows for just about everything else, why not writing? It would be cool if they'd come out with something that  instead of following celebrities but followed the big names in the author world - like, Jim Butcher or J. K. Rowling. It almost seems a little unfair that we don't have a say in reality TV or any type of TV show for that matter.

What do you, the writer, think? Also, what are your suggestions as to what TV shows you'd like to see about the writing community? I'd love to hear your opinions!

Spot Light!

Howdy folks!

I thought I'd try something called Spot Light for Tuesdays which highlights things like books, blogs, stories, and TV shows I'd like to share with you guys!

A year ago, I came across a TV show called Haven. Watched the first half of an episode and thought it might be good so I went out and borrowed a copy of the first season from a friend. Well, it only had thirteen episodes for the first season and I wanted to wait until I was in the mood to handle cliff-hanger withdrawal before watching it. So it sat on my dvd player for a long long time. Until this weekend. I originally had the intentions of having my anime marathon but a little voice nagging me said, "Look, you see that dusty DVD over there? You said you'd watch it and you didn't. It's been sitting there for weeks! Why re-watch Saint Tail (which you've already seen twenty times) when you can watch one that you haven't seen? It's already into its second season. Come on. What's stopping you?"

Ah, yes... the little stinker went on like that through my morning coffee and my shower so I finally gave in so I could have my thoughts to myself.

After the first few episodes I was hooked. The people out there that watched the X Files, Supernatural, and Fringe may enjoy this one too. I love the characters and the plot twists. Allow me to give a small synopsis (read at your own risk!!!)

FBI agent Audrey Parker is sent to a small town in Maine called Haven to find an escaped convict. When she gets there she meets Nathan Wuornos who is with the local police department. As she goes further into the case she soon finds that Haven isn't a normal town and that her birth mother (Audrey is an orphan) could have possibly lived there years ago. Haven has been plagued by something called the "troubles" since 1983 when her mother was there. And people who have been effected by the troubles are called the "afflicted". The afflicted have supernatural powers that they can't control sometimes and it's her job to help them and uncover why her mother was in a newspaper clipping of a mysterious murder that was never solved called, "The Colorado Kid". (Based on Steven King's novel The Colorado Kid)
It can get a little gross but it has hint of humor and small moments of a possible developing relationship between Nathan and Audrey (I'm rooting for them to get together!) The plot is masterfully written and the characters are well developed and played by good actors. Unlike Syfy's other TV shows, Haven isn't quite as hokey or low budget so the special effect look okay - not great but, better than some.

I recommend  it to those who enjoy mystery and the paranormal! It is truly an awesome series in my opinion.