New to the Forum - Introduction to Author Arial Burnz

[Highlander31]

Welcome to the forum.

The 'Mythical State of Jefferson", comes from the station identification for the local public radio family of stations, Jefferson Public Radio.

Without going into the 'no-man's land' of political discussion, the State of Jefferson, itself, is a region that often feels disenfranchised (at worst) or overlooked (at best) by the elected governments in Salem and Sacramento.

Warning: The following is historical in nature, not political.
The people living in the region known as the State of Jefferson issued a proclamation of independence on 27 November 1941. Their state seal (and flag) is a yellow gold pan on a green field with two black X's in the bottom of the pan. The X's symbolized the people being double crossed by the two state capitols. Currently. the State of Jefferson is more of a state of mind than a territory.

I didn't know anything about the State of Jefferson until 2005 when I and my family left San Jose and settled in what is considered the northern part of Jefferson.

You can find more about it here:http://www.jeffersonstate.com/
History lesson over.

Again, welcome to the forum.

[Ancienne Alliance]

Welcome from France !

It’s good to have you here.




Best,

Robert & Lady Chrystel

[arialburnz]

I bit off a little more than I could chew the last time I started responding...by responding personally to EVERY post. I'm behind on a couple of deadlines, so I am going to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU all for such a wonderful warm welcome!!!

Hugs,
Arial ;)

[arialburnz]

Lots of great information and things for me to consider. Thank you!!!

Yes, I own a copy of the Malleus Malificarum and one of the reasons I'm setting Book 3 in that time period is because of my familiarity with it. I'm sooo looking forward to writing that one!

Cheers!
Arial ;)

Welcome...

I had 20 years Aberdeenshire... Lots of history in that area... Standing stones... Castles... Roman encampments...

Slains castle near cruden bay is rumoured to have been bram stokers inspiration for the transilvaynian part of dracula... Dunnottar held the scottish crown jewels for a while before they were sneakily stolen away to be hidden at a church just down the road in kinneff...

Aberdeen was created as a royal burgh in 1312 and had a university in 1495, im guessing that it would undoubtably have been a fairly decent sized port during your time period too. If you wanted something smaller, you might consider heading a little north to peterhead or fraserburgh...

Fraserburgh is where thomas blake glover was born and lived before moving to aberdeen, he was known as the scottish samurai and is thought to have been the inspiration for james clavell's shogun novel.

As far as the witch trials go... You could do worse than picking up a copy of the malleus maleficarum ( http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/ has the text online i believe )

[arialburnz]

Kilts in Japan! WOOT!!

Zombies scare me. Funny, huh? I can't take watching zombies, but I get all warm and fuzzy when I think of vampires. Hee hee!

Arial ;)

Yokoso from the Japanese Highlands! ;-)

I'm also afraid I can't be of much help to you with your questions, but I do hope you find some answers. Maybe if you decide to incorporate some katana-swinging samurai vampires in a future novel I'll have something more to contribute. Personally, I'm more of a zombie man myself, but hey, whatever floats your boat!

Welcome here, though.

[Donald Macpherson]

Arial,
Welcome {also} from the State of Jefferson!
Slainte,
Donald

[Graham A. Robieson]

Greetings,

from the Great Kingdom of Fife,


All the best,


Graham

[Sammac]

Welcome from Michigan

[Steve of Lansing]

Ariel, from Holt, MI!

I'm kinda in the same boat as Dale Seago, regarding vampire novels. I dig 'em, and don't know why. Normally, I'm more of a DIY and practical outdoorsman type of guy, and a machinist by trade.

Sorry, I can't be a lot of help as a resource for European history, though.

Without going into the 'no-man's land' of political discussion, the State of Jefferson, itself, is a region that often feels disenfranchised (at worst) or overlooked (at best) by the elected governments in Salem and Sacramento.

There's also a portion of northern Michigan and northeastern Wisconsin, that feel the same way, regarding our capital cities. There have been a few attempts through the years at making a 51st state called Superior or Ontonogan. (personally, I kinda like the sound of Superior, myself )

Always, -Steve

[flyingshamrock]

Welcome from Massachusetts. I'm of no help as well but my wife will probably buy your book. She love's everything to do with vampires. Twilight books/movies, True Blood, ect. Vampires in Scotland, she's SOLD!!