By Jovan Stipić Writing is power. No, I am not saying this only because I am a published author whose books you can find here, but as a statement of fact. Within many ancient societies, literacy wasn’t a skill but a privilege tightly guarded by the ruling classes, religious elites, and bureaucratic institutions. Those who […]
By Jovan Stipić Tired of being accused of witchcraft? Exhausted from publishing under male pseudonyms? Or simply done with being called immoral? I personally don’t see a problem with number one or three, mind you, but hey, I’m not you. However, if these things do bother you, you’re in the right spot! Because today’s blog […]
By Jovan Stipić Of all the tropes we have in modern literature, most of which the humble author of this blog thinks should take a break and let some other tropes have a chance, ranging from “enemies to lovers”, “found family,” and “love triangles,” there is one which has endured far longer than all of […]
By Jovan Stipić Satire, sex, and scandal — the holy trinity of Lord Byron’s legacy. Fittingly, they’re also the perfect way to describe his greatest work: Don Juan. Byron began writing it during his years in Italy, borrowing the demanding ottava rima (ABABABCC) verse form from Italian satirists like Luigi Pulci. This playful, rhythmic structure […]
By Jovan Stipić I believe only those still waiting for Halley’s Comet have waited longer than you, dear readers, for Part 8 of this little Lord Byron biopic. To ease you back into the story, you might want to revisit Part 1 and start from the beginning. Or at the very least Part 7, so […]
By Jovan Stipić The complexity of this seemingly simple Celtic goddess begins right with her name. Go ahead, guess how it’s pronounced. Ann-yeh? An-nay? Aun-ee? You could spin that pronunciation roulette forever and still lose. It’s actually ON-ya. Celtic names, folks, the ultimate tongue-twisters of mythology. Her name sweetly means ‘brightness,’ which doesn’t exactly clarify […]
By Jovan Stipić Art by Terraincantata There’s something magical about spring, isn’t there? The air warms just enough to remind you that the cold is finally fading, while the earth bursts into life with color and sound. It’s no wonder that spring is often associated with love—nature herself seems to fall head over heels during this […]
By Jovan Stipić Ehnaduanna might not ring a bell to any but the most fevered readers of history books. Yet, almost four and a half thousand years ago, she was one of the most influential people in Mesopotamia when the Sumerian and Akkadian kingdoms began to cast their sight at neighbouring regions. Daughter of the famed […]
By Jovan Stipić Illustration from 1920, The Princess and the Goblin What is the oldest fantasy book in history? The answer to this question might seem simple at first glance; however, most books throughout history have been, in fact, a fantasy. Myths, folk tales, and the like might stem from things that happened in history but […]
By Jovan Stipić Welcome, dear reader. Welcome! Come in, come in, close the door, and bar the windows; don’t let the cold get to us. Now, I know that the five of you who have been reading this blog constantly know that I love talking about mythology, especially Celtic mythology. You can find my previous blogs […]