Stonewylde Newsletter 13

May 13th, 2008

Beltane Newsletter 2008

Beltane

Stonewylde Wheel of the Year - maiden huntress

May 1st

This festival is the most joyous of them all, celebrating the incredible vitality of the earth at this time of year. The days are longer and warmer, the sap has risen and everything alive seems to be just bursting with energy and growth.

The symbol of Beltane is the ancient Green Man, to be found all over the country in the most unlikely of places. Many churches have a green man hidden in ceiling bosses or peering down from a dark corner. When Christianity superceded paganism in Europe, the image of the Green Man was impossible to eradicate as it represented such a powerful force - that of virility and growth. Despite edicts from the authorities, local stonemasons, builders and craftsmen felt it necessary to include the Green Man somewhere in the building, although often tucked away in secret.

Other ancient customs from Beltane still survive, such as Maypole dancing, well-dressing and electing a May Queen. These customs are part of our folklore heritage, and have been revived in many parts of the country. Of course at Stonewylde they have never been supressed!

Beltane features in the first title of the series, Magus of Stonewylde, and is the time when Sylvie and Miranda are initiated into the community. It's a major festival, representing the union between the Earth Goddess and the Green Man - the female and male elements of life. Fecundity and virility- - what it's all about.

More subscribers!

We've been overwhelmed with new subscribers to the Stonewylde newsletter recently. Welcome to all new readers - great to be in touch with you.

It seems that once people have read the books they don't want to leave Stonewylde, and receiving the newsletter keeps the experience going. Please do send this letter to anyone who you think may enjoy Stonewylde. There's a "send to a friend" button at the bottom.

Belated bright blessings

to all

Stonewylde readers

at Beltane!

I am so sorry that this newsletter is late! This is the first time ever that it's happened. Normally I always send the newsletter a couple of days before a festival, but this time it just wasn't possible.

Members of the Stonewylde Forum already know that Mr B and I have very recently moved house, and what with the trauma of that and then finding that we didn't have broadband, it just wasn't possible to get the newsletter out in time. Apologies to everyone who's been thinking I'd forgotten!

This is my favourite festival and very best time of the year - I love May. I've been making a start on my new garden, and the scents of cut grass, apple blossom, bluebells and green things growing have been making me feel happy all day. The birds are jubilant, singing their hearts out, and I'm delighted that a very large crow seems to favour our beautiful willow tree, sitting there like Mother Heggy's crow and making us feel welcome in our new home.

I'm really pleased to tell you that finally the first edition Stonewylde T-shirts are now available! I'm so pleased with them and Mr B and I have been wearing ours constantly. They feature the Green Man on the front, so are particularly appropriate for this time of year. I hope all Stonewylde fans will buy one and wear it out and about. And if you spot someone else wearing one - go and wish them bright blessings!

The spring marketing campaign to get the Stonewylde books into book shops throughout the country has proved to be very successful. We've had a terrific response from independent bookshops and branches of Waterstones from all corners of the UK and it seems that at last the Stonewylde Series is becoming known to everyone. I'm really grateful to all you early supporters for your encouragement and the part you've played in spreading the word about the books. Please keep at it!

I've been invited by BBC Radio Devon to appear on the Judi Spiers show on Monday May 19th. I'm really excited about this - we'll put a link on the website so even if you're not in the Devon area, you'll be able to listen to the programme. This is my first live interview, so fingers crossed it goes well!

The Stonewylde greetings cards are still selling very well, and are available from the new look Stonewylde Village Store on the website. They're perfect for any occasion and any time of year - on sale individually or in packs of five or ten. Why not send some out to friends at the Summer Solstice?

I'm really looking forward to meeting Glennie Kindred soon, when I shall be spending a weekend at Monkton Wyld in Dorset. Glennie is a Stonewylde fan (and I love her books too) so it'll be great fun to meet her at last. I've also been in touch with Sue Hill, the lady who did the fantastic sculpture of the sleeping Earth Goddess in the Lost Garden of Heligan in Cornwall. She too loves the Stonewylde books, and we hope to meet up later this year. Her beautiful sculpture was the inspiration for the Stonewylde logo.

I hope you've all had a very special Beltane, and that this magical month of May brings you happiness. I know I'll be spending as much of it outdoors as possible, planting my garden and trying my hand at growing vegetables. Bees and chickens next! How I wish I was at Stonewylde!

Kit xxx

Click on the Stonewylde logo to visit the website.

Gorgeous Stonewylde Green Man T-shirts now on sale!

The Stonewylde Village Store on the website is now selling the new T-shirts, featuring an image of the Green Man on the front, and the reclining Goddess in the Landscape logo on the back. The T shirts are available in unisex comfort fit in a lovely green, with black and white print, and also in women's skinny-fit in white, with green and black print. The T shirts are competitively priced and of very good quality, and a must for all Stonewylde fans. Click here for full details.

Kit to be interviewed on BBC Radio Devon this month

I'll be visiting the Judi Spiers show on BBC Radio Devon on Monday May 19th at around 11am. Judi has read the Stonewylde books and is a big fan. She's going to interview me live on air, and whilst I'm in the BBC studios I'll also be recording the first chapter of Magus of Stonewylde. This will be aired a couple of weeks later, in five minute slots every day for a week. Click here for Radio Devon website.

Love Reading.com will feature Stonewylde this month!

This popular Internet site for all book lovers has chosen Magus of Stonewylde as one of their featured titles for May. Read all about it here.

Wessex Gathering of the Clans - Kit to be a guest speaker

I've been invited to give a talk on Sunday June 1st at this lovely pagan get-together near Swanage in Dorset. Afterwards I'll be joining Jerry and Diane of the Green Man Gallery to sign books and talk to readers. Do come and meet me! This annual event is really fun - for full details click here.

Amazon book reviews - toppled at last

Up until very recently every single one of the 78 reviews on Amazon was five star rated. But we've recently had a one star review from someone who didn't enjoy Magus of Stonewylde at all - toppled from that pinnacle at last! Please add your reviews for all three books if you haven't already - it does help.

Stonewylde Forum thrives!

I really can't believe how the Forum has taken off. It's become a real community, with many members posting daily. There are some fascinating topics and some very silly ones too! But mostly it's a place to interact with like-minded people who all have one thing in common - they love Stonewylde. If you haven't yet joined us, click here to take a look.