Lughnasadh, Character art for Lightbreaker & Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Promos
Lightbreaker edits continue, and a 3rd Anniversary/3rd Edition of Shadowglass Time-Magic, Blood-Magic is afoot
Lughnasadh: The Celtic Festival of First Harvest
Lughnasadh, also known as Lammas, is one of the four major Gaelic seasonal festivals, celebrated on August 1st, marking the beginning of the harvest season. For the ancient Celts, this festival was a time of both gratitude and preparation, where the community came together to honor the earth's bounty and ensure prosperity for the coming winter months.
Origins of Lughnasadh
Lughnasadh is named after the god Lugh, a deity associated with light, skill, and craftsmanship. According to Celtic mythology, Lugh established this festival in honor of his foster mother, Tailtiu, who died from exhaustion after clearing the plains of Ireland for agriculture. In her memory, Lughnasadh became a time of games, feasting, and ritual, celebrating not only the harvest but also the bonds of community and family.
Agricultural Roots
At its core, Lughnasadh was a festival of the first harvest, particularly focused on grains such as wheat and barley. The Celts recognized this time as crucial for their survival, as the first fruits of their labor would determine the success of the coming harvest. Communities would gather to bake the first loaves of bread from the new grain, a symbolic act of giving thanks to the earth and the gods for their abundance. The sharing of bread among the community was a way to strengthen bonds and reinforce the importance of cooperation and mutual support during the harvest season.
Festivities and Rituals
Lughnasadh was also a time of communal gathering, where people would participate in games, fairs, and markets. These gatherings were more than just social events; they were opportunities for trade, legal proceedings, and even matchmaking. Rituals performed during Lughnasadh often included offerings of the first fruits, such as berries and grains, to the gods and the land spirits. Bonfires were lit on hilltops, symbolizing the sun's power, and dances were performed to honor Lugh and invoke his blessings. This was also a time for handfastings, a traditional form of betrothal, as Lughnasadh was associated with the fertility of the land and the continuation of life.
What this has to do with my next book, Lightbreaker
Studying ancient pagan Celtic traditions such as Lughnasadh inspired some of the description of the setting and the world-building aspects of perodic celebration and communal gatherings that take place in Lightbreaker. Charing Cross has longer than normal seasons, with a periodic festival named ‘The Bounty’ that is basically a celebration of the first harvest, with trade, games, weddings and more occuring at these semi-frequent gatherings.
Lightbreaker Character Art
As I continue with edits on my manuscript, I have been toying around with the generation of some inspirational AI images of my character. After creating my own digital graphic in ProCreate to get a more firm grasp on the appearance of my main character in Lightbrearker, Chloe Lemair, I went online and had some fun with AI generated images as well.
Need some Sci-Fi & Fantasy Book Recs?
A Third Edition for a Third Anniversary
In anticipation of Lightbreaker’s release, I am tidying up the prequel novel Shadowglass Time-Magic, Blood-Magic. I am looking into a hardback edition of this novel to sell directly on my website and seriously contemplating an audiobook. This is because the events of Lightbreaker are heavily influenced not only by The Anchor of Time but also the historical context of Shadowglass Time-Magic, Blood-Magic. Have you read it yet? Snag a FREE review copy here.
In the meantime, as summer winds up, Lightbreaker edits are over half way through and I have another scene or two to write before sending the manuscript off for final copy and proofreading! Thank you to my readers who are patiently awaiting Lightbreaker’s release. Here are a few reviews from my beta readers:
Lightbreaker pulls us into a world full of dynamic relationships, fantastical lands full of magic and wonder, and pushes us to question the realities of space and time. Not only is it a story that will grip your heartstrings, but it’ll also make you wish you were living among the characters.
-A.M. McPherson, Author of the Stalwarth Chronicles
Lightbreaker is a story of passion and discovery. Of discovering one’s true power, one’s confidence, one’s true love. It’s a story of fated mates fighting for each other, torn between what they should do and the path of love. It’s also a brilliantly complex science fantasy story. The worldbuilding echoes Dune by Frank Herbert, with particular detail paid to the flora, fauna and people. It’s easy to fall into this world, to want to learn more about its politics and people. Also, there are so many characters to root for or that you’ll love to hate. Oh, and there’s vampires and tardigrades that time travel and witches and steamy romance scenes—what more could you ask for?
-S.J. Pratt, Author of The 716
That’s all for this Cosmic Newsletter. Have a great weekend!
-T