 Fantasy: July 18, 2007 Issue [#1833] |
  Fantasy
This week: Edited by: Feywriter  
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1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
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"The art of a people is a true mirror to their minds."
~ Jawaharial Nehru
The world needs fantasy. It can be an escape from daily life, a means for finding the hero within, a landscape to inspire the imagination. Enter the world of Fantasy. In my newsletters you can expect thorough looks at different aspects of fantasy writing, and a publisher spotlight.
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| ASIN: 197380364X |
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"Mirror, mirror, on the wall…"
Mirrors have long been considered mysterious objects. This is reflected in our superstitions and literature.
One of the most common superstitions is that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck. Did you know that there are also ways to reverse the curse? One method is to take the pieces outside and bury them under moonlight. Another way is to turn yourself counter-clockwise three times after breaking the mirror.
Though you don't want to live in a household without mirrors. Mirrors in the home bring good luck, perhaps because they deflect evil. But hanging a mirror too low, cutting off the top of the tallest family member's head, will bring about headaches. And beware an undisturbed mirror falling suddenly, as it portends a family member's death within a year.
A common belief in earlier history was that a mirror contains part of the soul, and that is what looks back at you. There are villains that use mirrors to trap or steal souls. Perhaps that's how the entity in the magic mirror of Snow White got there, only able to share the truth he sees.
Many stories deal with idea that another world exists on the other side of the mirror. In "Through the Looking Glass", by Lewis Carroll, Alice steps through a mirror into a surreal other world. The glass extends the vision that would have ended in a wall, doubling the size of a room. Multiple mirrors create an infinite hallway, only blocked by your own reflection. What is it that draws us to the other side?
Magic mirrors can also be used to reflect truth, scry other parts of the world, bring long life, or reflect attacks. An ordinary mirror can be used to distort an image or multiply oneself – a strategy for battle or a trick on a friend.
Harry Potter looks into the Mirror of Erised and sees his heart's greatest desire. Perseus uses a mirrored shield to reflect Medusa's stone gaze back at herself. In the movie Brothers Grimm, the Mirror Queen is young and beautiful only in the reflection of her magic mirror, but is in reality ancient and hideous. When the mirror is broken, she falls apart. In "Testament of the Dragon" by Margaret Weis, Justinian Sterling can only communicate with his Dragon Master through mirrors.
A few other interesting mirror "facts". Vampires have no reflection in mirrors. According to European folklore, pigs show aversion to mirrors. It is very unlucky to use real mirrors on stage, and an actor should not look into a mirror over another's shoulder as it would bring misfortune to the one overlooked.
What is our fascination with mirrors? Do we see in the mirror the same phenomena as "the grass is greener on the other side"? Is it our own soul looking back, or an alternate world? Or perhaps it is only an illusion.
** Image ID #1092573 Unavailable **
 Publisher Spotlight
Publisher: Realms of Fantasy Magazine
Location: USA
Website: http://www.rofmagazine.com/
About: Professional magazine looking for the best of fantastic short fiction. They want any category of fantasy.
Guidelines:
 Manuscript must be typed and double-spaced.
 Name, address, and phone number should be on first page of text (not cover letter)
 Mail with SASE to
Shawna McCarthy
Editorial Address:
Realms of Fantasy
P.O. Box 527
Rumson, NJ 07760
 See website for most up-to-date information and complete guidelines. http://www.rofmagazine.com/pages/guidelines
Length: up to 10,000 words
Payscale: For new writers, pay is five cents/word for stories under 7,500 and three cents/word for stories longer than 7,500.
To see previously featured publishers, go to "Invalid Item" . |
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Reader Comments
From dogfreek21:
I'm so happy this NL was about one of my absolute favorite fantasy authors! Thank you, Emerald Enchantress, you've done an awesome job, too! I didn't know much about him- just that I loved his books!
From emerin-liseli :
Hi,
Thank you for highlighting Lloyd Alexander in your newsletter. His Prydain Chronicles were the first fantasy books I've ever read, and since then I've been hooked! Alexander's books will always have a special place in my heart.
--Emerin
From Ariella :
I like Lloyd Alexander. I read his Prydain chronicles--actually missed my bus stop once because I was reading one of them on the bus. I will have to check out his newest one if I get a chance. 
From SantaBee  :
EE, I always enjoy your newsletter. I love how you highlight a publisher for us and give us a slice of the fantasy genre.
Thank you for all the comments. Remember to leave feedback or ideas for future newsletters.
We editors love to hear from you!
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