Greetings and welcome to the first Folkbyte newsletter. I have news on the writing front, an excerpt from my preliminary research for The Songwriter's Guide to Folklore, and the first monthly Folkbyte newsletter video to share. Onward!
Dispatches from the Word Mines
The Dissertation
My dissertation is formatted and out the door. With any luck, my advisor won't have any more edits for me, and it will be forwarded on to the other two members of my committee. I have about a two month break before their edits come in, and once I've completed those, it will go to my internal and external examiners. I'm hoping to defend in the late spring and finally earn that PhD. The end is nigh.
The Storyteller's Guide to Folklore
I have a co-authored article to finish this week, and then I'll be full steam ahead on The Storyteller's Guide to Folklore. I know many of you have been waiting on this book, so I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress.
Threnody for a Dark Earth
The Drowning City could not sing, and the musicians who had once been its voice were either dead or gone to the North long ago...
That, my friends, is the first sentence of Threnody for a Dark Earth. I'm only working on it a couple of days a month until The Storyteller's Guide to Folklore is completed, but it will become my primary project thereafter until the Song and Covenant trilogy is finished. I'll share another excerpt with you next month.
The Songwriter's Guide to Folklore
I've begun working on The Songwriter's Guide to Folklore, and I'm posting two audio updates to patrons every month as I work. The first of these went out a few days ago, and you can listen to an excerpt here: Eddic and Skaldic Poetry: A Songwriter's Guide to Folklore Update.
Folkbytes for Storytellers
I'm not podcasting right now, but I thought it might be useful and fun to turn the educational segments of this newsletter into videos so more people have access to them. This month’s folkbyte newsletter video is about the transformation of everyday spaces into sacred spaces with words and the ways you can do the same in your storytelling.
That's all for now. Thanks so much for your interest! I'll be back in your inbox next month, which is about how long it will take me to dig out from the snowstorm we had last weekend.
Footnotes
Austin, J.L. 1962. How to Do Things with Words. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Folklore & Fiction Facebook Group
Are you a storyteller with an interest in folklore? If so, the Folklore & Fiction Facebook group might interest you.