2024 V : Volcano's I Have Known

 

As a young girl, I lived for a period of time I lived on the island of Luzon in the Philippines in a compound just outside what was at the time known as Clark Air Force Base. It wasn't significant to me at the time but Clark was just 14 kilometers (8.7 mi) east of Mount Pinatubo. Pinatubo is most notorious for its June 15, 1991, eruption, the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century after the 1912 eruption of Novarupta in Alaska. Complicating the eruption was the arrival of Typhoon Yunya, bringing a lethal mix of ash and rain to towns and cities surrounding the volcano.volcano. We left the area in 1967 so we were not affected by the eruption. However, many years later while watching a documentary on various volcanic eruptions I watched Pinatubo blow her stack. And was quite grateful not to be part of Operation Fiery Vigil.

 

Mt. Pinatubo caldera.
Image by CuriosityDrivesTheCat.
Courtesy of Pixabay.

Volcanoes also appeared in both the Dragshi Chronicles and the Tear Stone Collectors. Mount Tagachim is mentioned in 2024 T : Tagachim. The volcano in the Tear Stone Collectors is unnamed, just known as the fiery lair of the Goddess. You can discover it here as Trelleir, who has spent time warming himself on a ledge above the bubbling lava pool, recounts his impressions.

~till next time, Helen

 

Sales Sites for:

 Fire and Amulet

First Change

 
 

If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.

 

2024 U : Unearthing #mfrwhooks

 

"U" is for "unearthing." In writing, unearthing a future event can be done by foreshadowing. Unearthing a character's past can be the use of backstory. In the real world , if lucky enough to participate in an archaeological dig, you can literally unearth the past in the form of fossils, lost artifacts, and abandoned structures.

Since the official theme for the challenge is "books, writing craft, and the writing life with some personal thoughts sprinkled in," this post is a diversion from books to a more personal insight. I have been fortunate enough over the years to be part of several archaeological digs.

Hunting in the cool waters of a tree-shaded creek on a hot day rewarded you with fossilized shark teeth. Items found on a Revolutionary War battlefield using the Bag-tag-and-flag techniques contributed to the history of the site. Horseshoes and hard-forged hinges were unearthed on my family's farm. Finding and recovering coins of the various ages may not be of high financial value due to their decades buried beneath the grass, but the memory was as precious as the antique buttons found.

If you have followed my blog for any period of time, you might remember I have also visited the dark side and written non-fiction. As part of my work in the museum field, besides the above, I have been involved in traditional trowel and sift archaeological research including a survey dig at a colonial-era home. Now to set the stage, a survey dig does not uncover the entire site. Open squares are separated by untouched earth to allow future researchers access to undisturbed ground. The reason for this is important because sticking out of the wall of one of the areas being dug was a decorated piece of porcelain. The urge to remove it was strong so there would be a displayable artifact. "No one will know."

Various excuses swirled in our mind. "It is sticking out so we are not really removing it." As to whether just the handle and side of the cup was photographed in situ, or whether a more computer image taken and the piece then returned to its hiding spot? "No comment." I will say if you dig in the backyard, three squares down, six squares over, using the tree as the starting point the item is still there.

~till next time, Helen

 

 

If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.

Since it's Wednesday, this post is doing double duty. The rest of the Book Hooks hop is at http://mfrwbookhooks.blogspot.com

 

2024 T : Tagachim

 

Writing the challenge posts is not necessarily done in alphabetical order. V : Volcano's I've Known gave the inspiration for featuring Tagachim, pushing aside the original topic of Trelleir. But the story of the rust-colored dragon who lived amongst humans is detailed in a meet the character post.

There were two sides to the volcano that is Mt. Tagachim. A narrow trail leads up one side to a thick ice field. The other branch of the trail winds through a forest of stunted trees to end at a rocky ledge overlooking a volcano's lava pool. 

The main inspiration for the mountain home of the mountain god, Tagachim, was the magnificent, snow-capped Mount Fuji in Japan. You can see the inspiration. Although I made a visit to Japan, I didn't do the pilgrimage.

Mount Fuji, Japan
Courtesy of Pixabay

Mount Tagachim appears in two the Dragshi Chronicles. It is where the Empress Mirabesh finds her destiny in the tale, "Fire and Ice" in the companion book, First Change. The legend is re-enacted in Hatchlings Curse when Lord Branin takes on the dragon form of his soul-twin and in the 300-year ritual presents the dragon law.

~till next time, Helen

 

Sales Sites:

First Change

Hatchlings Curse

 

 

If you're following other blogs in the challenge, here's the master list of the other participants.