St. Stephen's Day

Happy St. Stephen’s Day.

Ever wonder why the hymn “Good King Wenceslas” is sung around Christmas? If you go through the hymn, there is not one word about Christmas. It is actually a St. Stephen’s Day hymn, which is December 26^th. This gets associated with Christmas, which is a good thing, otherwise it might not be sung. The same thing happens with St. Nicholas’ Day, which is December 6^th. So now you know why he is associated with Christmas.

For me, this was a good day of rewriting. I was rather satisfied with a particular scene (less than a chapter) involving two characters in my novel Day 10K. I had hired two freelance editors (more on that in a later post). The first said that in her opinion, this scene slowed down the story. The second one said he saw no point to the scene. So after thinking about it a little, I deleted the scene and summarized the essential information in a few sentences in a later scene. It’s important to listen to professionals (or beta readers). If they have problems with the same scenes, it may be best to cut.

Barnes & Noble had a sale of one-third off all hardcovers today. I had seen a slim hardcover that looked interesting, but it cost $23.00, so I thought I would look for a used copy. But when I found out about the sale, I decided to buy the new copy. In addition, since I’m a member, that meant an additional 10% off. I was surprised that the total before tax was $11.50. That is a lot less than a third off and a tenth off. It turns out there was a promotional sale of 50% off for it. Would the promotion have been good on any other day? Shrug.

I’ll have to let you know what I think of it.

Here is a random street sign. Anything odd here?

Book Review: My Dear Hemlock

My Dear Hemlock by Tilly Dillehay

Canon Press, 2024, 182 pp.

Tilly Dillehay’s My Dear Hemlock is her concept of a female version of C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters. For those who are not familiar with that novel, it is a series of letters from a senior demon named Screwtape to junior demon Wormwood on how to tempt a particular man. What Dillehay has done is pen a series of letters from a senior demon who has taken female form, Madame Hoaxrot, to a junior demon who has also taken female form, Hemlock. Hoaxrot gives her best advice to Hemlock on how to tempt a particular woman.

Objections to the very idea of the book have been juvenile.

·       -  The writing cannot be on a level with C.S. Lewis’. Dillehay does not pretend that it is.

·      -  We don’t need another Screwtape Letters. Dillehay firmly believes there are temptations particular to women.

Having dismissed the objections to the very existence of the book, I have to say that for the most part it didn’t really reach me. I don’t think this is mostly because I am not a woman. Although I like the concept, the insights it gives on how a woman might be tempted did not strike a cord with me that much.

But here is a part where she does sound like C.S. Lewis:

You asked which is better: to encourage your woman to start a fight with the husband about what he did, or to encourage her to ignore what he did and punish him with silence. The answer is—yes. Honestly, it’s little matter to me which she does, as long as her heart is cooled and hardened toward her husband and the Enemy. (p.17)

The concept of demons not caring which opposing choice a human takes, so long as it is wrong, is much like The Screwtape Letters.

Since this is an updated version, we find out the demons like smartphones. “Social media has made it possible for her to do something, to take concrete steps to pursue the fame she desires.” (p. 38) “And her husband’s eyes will never provide the inflation of regard she requires.” (p.39) Serious articles have been written on how too much smartphone use can erode relationships, but this captured it nicely.

The letter I found most interesting was “On Envying the Pastor’s Wife.” A new pastor comes to the woman’s church, and the pastor’s wife is kind, wise, and attractive. She is constantly invited to dinners. The other women of the church are paying attention to the pastor’s wife, not to the woman being tempted. Madame Hoaxrot finds this to be “Pure comedy.” (p. 133) The hope is that this woman will become envious. The ways that envy can become hatred were insightful.

Hoaxrot’s letters seesaw back and forth between the woman falling for a temptation, or completely avoiding it or even repenting. I suspect that despite my tepid reaction to it, many will find it interesting.

Dolly the Vampire Slayer—Reprise

Dolly Parton has been in the news a lot recently. In October, the State Department granted her the 2024 PEACE Through Music Award. Then in November, she was #1 in Billboard’s 100 Greatest County Artists of All Time.

This gives me enough reason to reprise my 2020 post, Dolly the Vampire Slayer.

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Or this could be called “Slay Belle.” So this is the convergence between Dolly Parton, country music star, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Dolly Parton rocketed to fame with her hit song “9 to 5,” which was the centerpiece of the 1980 movie of the same name. She became famous not only as a country singer, but as a symbol of what nowadays is called female empowerment.

Then there is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This is the TV series that jumpstarted the subgenre knows as urban fantasy. Were there some urban fantasy novels before Buffy? Sure. But it was the Buffy series that made urban fantasy an overwhelming subgenre in novels, movies, and TV shows.

So how did that happen? It turns out Dolly Parton was an uncredited producer of the original movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer. That’s right. And Dolly’s company financed the TV series. It was Dolly Parton behind it all the time! 

 photo by Eva Rinaldi

But what if Dolly hadn’t done that? See my post What if Buffy had Never Been? to see how life as we know it would be different. Meanwhile, you can see every season opening for Buffy below, including the musical episode.

Then you’ll definitely want to see my post Buffy the Vinyl Slayer.