I am happy to cede the blog to Lucy Felthouse who is here today to tell you ablout her new anthology project Seducing the Myth which contains more than two dozens of steamy mythological retellings or myth inspired erotic short stories. As a big dan of mythology and legends I was intrigued and curious to hear more about this project. Read on to discover Lucy’s take on myths and to get a first taste of the anthology!

 

 

One of the suggestions I was given when I organised this guest spot (thanks so much for having me here, by the way!) was to talk about my favourite type of mythology. Now, that’s actually not quite as straightforward as it sounds. The reason being, I don’t really have a favourite type. Ever since I was a small child I’ve loved stories of all kinds; true ones, fictional ones, old ones, new ones… I’m just a sucker for a good story. And this most definitely includes myths and legends. The more fantastical, the better!

Sadly, the phrase ‘so many books, so little time’ springs to mind. So as much as I’m aware of Greek, Roman and Arthurian myths and legends (and many more besides), I don’t have enough in depth knowledge of all of them to say which I like best. I guess if push comes to shove, I could choose an area of mythology that I love – and that’s local myths and legends. I’ve always been a bit of a history buff, with a particular interest in local history. I think this is down to the fact that I can go and actually see the places for myself where certain things are alleged to have taken place. And that’s what gave me the inspiration for my tale in Seducing the Myth, an anthology I recently edited and released.

 

My story is called Down by the Pool, and is a twist on a legend based in the Peak District (in England, UK). The legend goes that within the dark and murky waters of Blake Mere, high up on the Morridge Moors, lives a mermaid. She’s reputed to have dragged many a victim down into the pool’s depths, and the legend has enough of a hold that the pool is actually nicknamed Mermaid Pool, with a pub nearby called The Mermaid Inn. What makes this tale even more unusual (aside from the fact that there’s no proof mermaids exist, of course) is the fact that the Peak District is completely landlocked. You can hardly get more central. And yet, there are three pools (that I know of) within the Peak District, all of which have their own mermaid legends…

I’ve been to two of these pools and decided to set my tale at the Mermaid Pool; which even without the legend is a lonely and eerie place, as you can see. I had only a vague idea what I wanted to write about when I decided to put together Seducing the Myth, but a visit to Blake Mere really got my creative juices going, and I really hope you’ll enjoy the result (as well as the 23 other superb stories in the book!)
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Excerpt:

 

When I first heard the silly talk, I didn’t take much notice. After all, the witterings of the drunken old men in the Greyhound Inn are hardly life-changing. They usually spouted tales of their childhood and ‘the good old days’, most of which were completely fabricated. But as I sat in the corner reading, I couldn’t help but notice that their conversation lingered on the same topic for some time. I found myself drawn in. Keeping my eyes on my book, I listened.

 

They were discussing a place up on the moors, a pool that was reputed to be haunted. Legend told of a malevolent mermaid lurking in its depths, and several mysterious disappearances in the vicinity. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing. The thought of a mermaid in Staffordshire really tickled me. It’s a landlocked county – in fact, you can hardly get any more central.

 

Normally I would have dismissed what they were saying out of hand, but although the legend was undoubtedly ancient, the disappearances were recent. My reporter’s instinct kicked in and I slammed my book down on the table, startling the trio of pensioners. Whipping a notebook and pen out of my bag, I stood and moved over to their table.

 

One round of drinks later and I had everything I needed. This was going to be one hell of an article.

 

*****

 

By the time I parked my car in the lay-by near the pool some two weeks later, I’d done my research. The gentlemen in the pub had given me their version of the legend, the information they had about the recent disappearances, and the rough location. A study of my White Peak Ordnance Survey map revealed the exact location and correct name of the mysterious body of water – Blake Mere. A library visit, a raid of my own bookshelves and some Googling turned up several different versions of the legend, none of which I could confirm as true or false. I decided to visit Blake Mere and make my own mind up.

 

As I made my way along the path skirting the small ridge above the pond, I looked down. At once I understood at least why people found the area creepy, if not how the mermaid legend had come about.

It didn’t help that I’d chosen a mid-week evening to visit; the darkening sky and lack of people did nothing to dissipate the eerie atmosphere. And nor did the silence.

 

Part of me was glad no one was around. Some of my more unusual journalistic investigations had, in the past, caused people to come and ask what I was doing. My responses, as I never saw any reason to lie, inevitably prompted a barrage of further questions. This meant I then had to find a way of extricating myself from the conversation so I could get on with my work. Not being the most forceful of fellows, I always find it difficult.

At least this time I’d be left well alone.

 

The path forked, the left turning being the one which would lead me down by the water. I took it. The closer I drew to the mere, the more another part of me wished I wasn’t alone. The quiet was uncanny, as was the absence of any wildlife. You’d normally expect to find midges, dragonflies, and the birds that ate them around most bodies of water. There was nothing, which was strange enough. Stranger still was that despite its exposed location and the slight breeze in the air, the pool’s surface remained undisturbed. I wish I could have said the same for my state of mind.

 

Seducing the Myth

Myths and Legends with an Erotic Twist is a collection of 24 tantalising tales that lead you on a decadent journey through mythologies the world over. As well as stories from the popular Greek and Roman periods, this anthology will also delight you with Arabian, Arthurian, Hindu, Jewish, Norse, Slavic, Sumerian and Welsh myths and legends. Add in a delicious sprinkling of fairies, mermaids and ancient fertility rituals and you have a recipe for a wickedly erotic read!

 

List of contributors: Louisa Bacio, Lexie Bay, Rebecca Bond, Shan Ellis, Justine Elyot, Lucy Felthouse, Lisa Fox, Fulani, K D Grace, Bronwyn Green, Hawthorn, Caz Jones, Burton Lawrence, Maxine Marsh, J. C. Martin, Jillian Murphy, Lydia Nyx, Rachel Randall, Kay Dee Royal, Toni Sands, Indigo Skye, Elizabeth Thorne, Saskia Walker.

 

 

Go to my website for a full list of retailers: http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/published-works/seducing-the-myth-myths-and-legends-with-an-erotic-twist/

Lucy is a graduate of the University of Derby, where she studied Creative Writing. During her first year, she was dared to write an erotic story – so she did. It went down a storm and she’s never looked back. Lucy has had stories published by Cleis Press, Noble Romance, Ravenous Romance, Summerhouse Publishing, Sweetmeats Press and Xcite Books. She is also the editor of Uniform Behaviour and Seducing the Myth. Find out more at http://www.lucyfelthouse.co.uk/. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Lucy has generously offered an ebook copy of Seducing the Myth to a lucky commenter!

 

 (You can read our full giveaway policy here)