“The eye sees only what the mind is prepared to comprehend.” (Henri Bergson)
Have you ever seen a fairy?
Are you among the 52% of Americans who believe in fairies?
I was surprised to read that statistic recently. But after thinking about it, I decided it was a good thing that a majority of people could be so optimistic.
Because a belief in fairies requires that we believe the world is still a place where anything could happen – especially anything that might enchant us.
The world is still a place where our imagination need not be constrained by what we can see and touch and hear with the senses we currently know about.
And that’s a nice place for a writer or, in fact, anyone, to inhabit.
In researching a story I’m writing about fairies I discovered that definitions of fairies range far and wide. They can be ghosts of the dead, or an intelligent living species different from humans or angels. Some consider them creatures not quite good enough for heaven, not bad enough for hell.
Fairies can be good or mischievous or, surprisingly, bad-tempered and evil.
They can be small or human-sized, visible or invisible (at will), have wings or not.
Some consider them friendly towards humans; others say they are not.
In sum, the wonderful thing about these supernatural beings is that their characteristics are limited only by our imaginations.
That’s why I love fairies. You can weave them into any story. They are featured in myths and tales in every culture around the globe, a fact which testifies to their universal appeal.
I have just one problem. Can I write effectively about an alpha male fairy? Or are fairies too firmly entrenched in our culture as pretty, ethereal beings?Should I change my fairies to elves? What do you think? And, more importantly, do you believe?
19 comments:
Hi Carly!
I think there is a stigma attached to male faeries as being homosexual men. And a story like Emma Holly's Fairyville perpetuates that concept. I honestly picked that story up with no other thought than it was about a town named Fairyville and devilishly sexy straight-up alpha male fairies, like the fairy males Melissa Mayhue creates with her Highland series. When I expressed my shock to several people that it was about gay men and a m/m/f menage, they laughed at me and asked me what else had I expected with a name like Fairyville?
Apparently, I was not in the common mode of thought regarding fairies, so that kind of says, right there, what the general consensus is when you talk about male fairies. I'm not saying it can't be done, though. Melissa does such a wonderful job of creating strong, sexy male faeries that you wish you had your own private faerie. :-)
Julie
I have to agree with Julie, Carly. It will be a real challenge to write a hot alpha male straight faerie. But I'm sure you can do it!
And the whole "do you believe in faeries" question always takes me back to Tinkerbelle and Peter Pan :)
Great post.
Fantastic post, Carly! Karen Marie Moning has a very sexy alpha male fairy (faery), Adam Black, in The Immortal Highlander. He's very straight and gorgeous. LOL And he's a little bit bad because he was the villain in some of her earlier books... now reformed of course. Not sure I believe in fairies in real life but I do believe in spirits, ghosts and angels. So if a fairy is something like that, then I guess I believe. :)
I agree with Nicole too. I loved Adam Black in the Immortal Highlander. I could never see a male fairy the same way again. I don't really believe in them, although I love all mythical creatures, but like Nicole, ghosts, guardian angels, spirits? Yep. My mother just died, and this morning my daughter found her picture of kittens playing with one another on the floor beside her bed. It had been on the wall behind her bed, way above her bed. If she had been able to knock it off in some really bizarre manner in her sleep, it would have slipped behind the daybed's railing against the wall. Some freak occurrence? Or is my mother here with us now?
Wow Terry, I honestly think your mother could've paid you a visit. I believe this happens more than most of us know. I find it comforting to know those we love aren't really 100% gone when they pass. Hugs!
I think so too, Nicole. I didn't think it would happen because we never felt dad's passing in that way, but it's just too bizarre to explain.
Julie, I can't believe I didn't think of the gay man thing at all. Yet it is so obvious. Hmmm, I don't read m/m. Guess I'm the only female around who doesn't find that interesting, lol
Natasha, I was so surprised to read how many people do believe.
Nicole, I have to read that book.
Terry, I do believe there are many things that exist that we don't know about yet. Think about if, 200 years ago, someone had said you could talk to a person in China. They'd think you were crazy. They just didn't have the knowledge/understanding to conceptualize it. I think ghosts of people we knew are the easiest supernatural beings to believe in.
Carly
I believe that you can write an alpha fairy. I have read quite a few of them but usually the author takes the easier way out and calls them other things than fairy.
I say go for it. I would love to read your story with an alpha fairy in it.
I'm with Nicole on the Adam Black thing. He was one hot fairy! Just goes to show that a fairy can be written very alpha.
I think an alpha fairy could be great! I think the world is ready! I would definitely read it!
Oh yes, Adam Black. Then there is Frost and Doyle (and company, lol) in Laurell Hamilton's Meredith Gentry series. I'll have to check out Melissa Mayhue.
So there's no real problem writing alpha male fairies, wings or no wings. It's the perception of the name in modern usage that's the problem. With elves you run into the same problem of expectation. Cute little Keebler guys, on-line role-playing chars or Gil-Galad and Elrond of LOTR? My wip characters are fairy, and admit to it, though they have their own name for themselves, and Niell, among others, is most definitely alpha. :)
So, I agree, go for it. Whether fairy or elf, write them and make them your alphas.
Thanks for all the input!! It sounds like I have a good excuse to read some more fun stories.
And when I get my fairy story written, I'll blog here so you all know where to find it.
Isn't Legolas an alpha elf? Maybe not super alpha, but I loved him in the book. Never saw the movie.
Thanks to everyone for stopping by.
Carly
Carly,
I don't read m/m either! Which is why I was so shocked. I just hadn't thought of faeries in that way when I picked up the book.
Julie
Yes, and I think Legolas is an alpha elf.
Terry,
I am so sorry about your mom.
I have to agree with Carly, because I I believe there are occurrences that we cannot explain logically. Not yet anyway. Our rational earth-bound minds want to make clear-cut assessments---that is judgements based on our 5 senses. As we move into this new age, who knows what will be discovered 200 years from now?
Hugs,
Julie
I agree, Carly and thanks Julie. I do believe things happen that we can't explain. I heard ghost horses in the Palo Duro Canyon once. I thought they were wild mustangs. But when I was doing research for a story on them years later, I found all kinds of information about people having the same ghostly experience. I'll never forget it, and the story of what happened to them was really sad. I wished they were just wild mustangs like I'd thought. :)
Interesting Terry. Have you blogged about that particular research before? It'd be fascinating to hear about the story and your experiences there.
Julie
Julie, I've written about it a few times. I'll have to post about it again and let you read it. :)
OOh, wonderful! Just let me know when.
:-)
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