Song of the Oceanides
Author: J.G. Zymbalist
Genre: YA Fantasy
Book Description:
Song of the Oceanides is a highly-experimental triple narrative transgenre fantasy that combines elements of historical fiction, YA, myth and fairy tale, science fiction, paranormal romance, and more. For ages 10-110.
Author: J.G. Zymbalist
Genre: YA Fantasy
Book Description:
Song of the Oceanides is a highly-experimental triple narrative transgenre fantasy that combines elements of historical fiction, YA, myth and fairy tale, science fiction, paranormal romance, and more. For ages 10-110.
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Excerpt
Dyce’s Head, Maine.
31 August.
Rory Slocum had only just returned home from Putnam’s General Store and Newsagent when he noticed the girl standing in the heart of the garden. She seemed to be lost in the music of the wind chimes dangling from Mother’s lilac tree. Still, despite the girl’s seeming innocence, somehow he just knew that she must be one of the Oceanides who had been taunting him all summer long.
She must have heard his footsteps in the salty afternoon breeze because she turned to look upon him. What a comely girl too.
A bit of jam and then some! He stopped in his tracks and studied her classical features.
She had plum-black hair, eyes of sea green, bold chiseled planes to her face, fine hallowed cheeks, and a sharp jaw line. How could she be anything but an Oceanide?
Slowly he advanced as far as the fog cannon where he paused a second time. Perhaps he would do something so as to entertain her, and once she realized how amusing he could be, she would tell the others to leave him be. He walked over to the lilac tree. “Look what I’ve got here!” With that he held up his copy of Sir Pilgarlic Guthrie’s Phantasy Retrospectacle.
She must have resented the whole notion that a boy like Rory would even think to approach someone like her. Grimacing, she called to another girl who had just walked up through the gale-torn bluffs. The two of them spoke in a tongue resembling the Byzantine Greek in which the drunken churchwarden sometimes delivered his public addresses.
As giddy as ever, Rory advanced a few more steps. “You know what they call this sort of picture book, do you? Down at Putnam’s, they tell me it’d be un comique pittoresque. Just like the newsagents sell down there in Paris.” Now he pointed to the picture on the dust jacket—the Oceanides’ long flowing hair and the mint-cream linen gowns reaching down to their ankles. Afterward he pointed at the girls themselves standing there in their own creamy-white gowns. “Sir Pilgarlic Guthrie, he’s the bettermost! Everything bang up to the elephant and—”
“Have you any idea how odd you are?” the first Oceanide asked. “And you’ll be beginning your fifth year in school next fall, isn’t that right? They’ll tear you apart, a beanpea like you.”
31 August.
Rory Slocum had only just returned home from Putnam’s General Store and Newsagent when he noticed the girl standing in the heart of the garden. She seemed to be lost in the music of the wind chimes dangling from Mother’s lilac tree. Still, despite the girl’s seeming innocence, somehow he just knew that she must be one of the Oceanides who had been taunting him all summer long.
She must have heard his footsteps in the salty afternoon breeze because she turned to look upon him. What a comely girl too.
A bit of jam and then some! He stopped in his tracks and studied her classical features.
She had plum-black hair, eyes of sea green, bold chiseled planes to her face, fine hallowed cheeks, and a sharp jaw line. How could she be anything but an Oceanide?
Slowly he advanced as far as the fog cannon where he paused a second time. Perhaps he would do something so as to entertain her, and once she realized how amusing he could be, she would tell the others to leave him be. He walked over to the lilac tree. “Look what I’ve got here!” With that he held up his copy of Sir Pilgarlic Guthrie’s Phantasy Retrospectacle.
She must have resented the whole notion that a boy like Rory would even think to approach someone like her. Grimacing, she called to another girl who had just walked up through the gale-torn bluffs. The two of them spoke in a tongue resembling the Byzantine Greek in which the drunken churchwarden sometimes delivered his public addresses.
As giddy as ever, Rory advanced a few more steps. “You know what they call this sort of picture book, do you? Down at Putnam’s, they tell me it’d be un comique pittoresque. Just like the newsagents sell down there in Paris.” Now he pointed to the picture on the dust jacket—the Oceanides’ long flowing hair and the mint-cream linen gowns reaching down to their ankles. Afterward he pointed at the girls themselves standing there in their own creamy-white gowns. “Sir Pilgarlic Guthrie, he’s the bettermost! Everything bang up to the elephant and—”
“Have you any idea how odd you are?” the first Oceanide asked. “And you’ll be beginning your fifth year in school next fall, isn’t that right? They’ll tear you apart, a beanpea like you.”
J.G. Źymbalist began writing Song of the Oceanides as a child when his family summered in Castine, Maine where they rented out Robert Lowell’s house.
The author returned to the piece while working for the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society, May-September, 2005. He completed the full draft in Ellsworth, Maine later that year.
For more information, please see http://jgzymbalist.com
The author returned to the piece while working for the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society, May-September, 2005. He completed the full draft in Ellsworth, Maine later that year.
For more information, please see http://jgzymbalist.com
****GIVEAWAY***
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thanks for the chance to win :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteWhen did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
ReplyDeleteMai,
DeleteEven when I was a little kid, it was always my nature to write. I have always loved words and the history of words, but the impulse to do anything comes from the unconscious--the essence of anyone's nature.
To everyone at CBY,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting!
It feels so good to be a small part of CBY Book Club!
You've got a cool site.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway, have a great Thursday!
ReplyDeleteI love that you named a character Pilgarlic. It's one of my favorite words! Thanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI'm so happy to hear of another person who even recognizes Pilgarlic! It also has a funny, self-deprecating meaning of course. I would not recommend anyone name their bouncing baby boy Pilgarlic.
DeleteThanks for sharing the excerpt, I enjoyed reading it :)
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome
DeleteSounds like a good read. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome
DeleteThanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome
DeleteLooks like a great book. Beautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteThe cover is a fine art canvas "Noon" by Goran Petmil. Google his name, and you'll see he's one of America's most extraordinary painters.
DeleteSounds great.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rita
DeleteLove the cover and thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
You're most welcome
DeleteI really enjoyed the excerpt. I am looking forward to learning more about your book! Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ree Dee
DeleteFun and interesting excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you, MomJane
Deletewho or what is your inspiration?
ReplyDeleteWow, what a question. I must confess that school bullying inspired this book. I was always a misfit at school, and that's why I've always wanted to tell that sort of story. However it's not for everybody. It's not a typical coming-of-age tale. It's very quirky, atmospheric, and all about the long-simmering emotional states of the various characters. Even the one adult, Giacomo aka Sir Pilgarlic, is haunted by his own coming of age--particularly his late adolescence.
DeleteOne of the reasons why I'm offering the book for free is just because I'm hoping to connect with other misfits--and perhaps give them a sense of solace.
Thanks for the excerpt! Sounds like a great read
ReplyDeleteThank you Carmen
DeleteThanks for hosting the giveaway. Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the giveaway. Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting the giveaway. Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Sorry about my slow response. I'm so old and fragile.
DeleteSong of the Oceanides sounds interesting, I would like to read more about this book. Thank you
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda
DeleteAn interesting excerpt.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary
DeleteThanks for the post and for offering this!!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome, Linda
DeleteI enjoyed reading the excerpt. This book sounds like such an interesting and intriguing read. Looking forward to checking out this book.
ReplyDeleteCool. Thank you, Ally
DeleteI really enjoyed reading the entire post, thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nikolina
DeleteI hope this becomes available on my local bookstore! :)
ReplyDeleteEverybody should have a local bookstore. Isn't it sad that they seem to be dying out?
DeleteThanks for the great competition!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome
DeleteCongrats on the new book and good luck on the book tour!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Ally
DeleteThank you for the great contest!
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome. Long live rafflecopter!
DeleteIt sounds ethereal and dreamy and you throw a bit of French in, too. So besides the sweet ways with words conveyed in Rory's thoughts, I get to know him better.
ReplyDeleteWow, Sunnymay, what a lovely comment. I do try to choose my words carefully throughout the text. I think it's because my background is in poetry. Thank you though for your lovely post.
DeleteSounds like a great read!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
Thank you, Natasha
DeleteI just love the book cover, it’s amazing!
ReplyDeleteAll the honor goes to Goran Petmil. He's a great American painter!
DeleteIt sounds lovely. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Judy
ReplyDeleteSounds great,thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteI love the combo of fantasy with historical fiction. Looks good.
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a fabulous weekend! Looking forward to reading this book!
ReplyDeleteWhy can't goodreads find the author page? I like the sound of this book now what's next?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
What is your favorite restaurant?
ReplyDeleteHappy Memorial Day! Hope you have a fabulous holiday! Can't wait to read this book!
ReplyDeleteHappy to be a part of this tour, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSong of the Oceanides looks original and interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the generous giveaway.
ReplyDeletelove the mix of genres of a book. sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great read. Writing from experience makes a story more interesting, more real, which most always pulls you in faster, keeps you more focused. It's on my TBR looking forward to reading the book. Appreciate the giveaway. Della at deepotter@peoplepc.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for the excerpt! Also thanks for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway! Love learning about new books!
ReplyDeleteAre your characters inspired by people in your life?
ReplyDeleteI like the excerpt. I am very curious about this story now. It seems to be very unique and interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness it's Friday! Woohoo! Have a great weekend.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a muse or do you find your books writing themselves in your imagination and you just have to put pen to paper?
ReplyDelete