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| From First Rhymes by Lucy Coats, illustrated by Selina Young |
After that I worked for Dorling Kindersley, retelling stories like Heidi, A Little Princess and Oliver Twist for a young audience, and was then asked by Judith Elliott at Orchard to provide some retellings of stories by Oscar Wilde and others for a various anthologies. It's work I loved -- and still do -- and I always try to stay true to the spirit of the original, while making it fresh and accessible for today's readers. My real break came when Judith asked me to take on the task of retelling Greek myths. Atticus the Storyteller's 100 Greek Myths was the result, and 18 years later, it's still in print, has sold around the world, and has informed the rest of my writing career as a mythology 'specialist', with my latest Beasts of Olympus series just having sold its 8th and 9th translation rights.
What set me thinking about this was none of that, though. Being Christmastime, my thoughts generally turn to the story which underpins it all -- the Nativity. This is a story which has been retold and rebooted probably more than any other. And yet, amongst the commercialism and overhyped excitement of Christmas, the central magic still remains for me. When it is pared down to its essentials, the old beauty of a candlelit service of nine lessons and carols takes me straight back to the Christmas story of childhood, with the sharp coolness of pine and the bitterness of cut holly, wavering flames, shadows and the voices of children.
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| From First Rhymes by Lucy Coats, illustrated by Selina Young |
Tonight, however, I am going to see the Nativity story -- and be part of it -- in a completely different way. We have just moved to a new village, a farming community, where there is a 'walking' Nativity, complete with sheep, ponies, a real baby, and a cow. There will be angels and shepherds (I'm one), and wise men, inn folk, a Mary and a Joseph. We will start in the church, walk around the houses, singing carols, and then end up in the village hall for the stable and inn scenes, topped off with mulled ale. It will be a very different way of experiencing the Christmas story I've known all my life, harking back to medieval mummery, and I can't wait.
Merry Christmas to you all, and a very happy New Year when it comes, with lots more wonderful and enlightening ABBA posts from all my fellow blogging cohorts from the Scattered Authors' Society. May the writing gods and goddesses be with us all.
OUT NOW: Cleo 2: Chosen and Cleo (UKYA historical fantasy about the teenage Cleopatra VII) '[a] sparkling thriller packed with historical intrigue, humour, loyalty and poison.' Amanda Craig, New Statesman
Also out: Beasts of Olympus series "rippingly funny" Publishers Weekly US starred review
Lucy is represented by Sophie Hicks at The Sophie Hicks Agency
4 comments:
That sounds great, even to an atheist like me. Come back and tell us how it went off - I'd love to learn more about it.
Oh I LOVE the sound of that, Lucy. Where are you?
Oh Lucy! I was suddenly reminded of something I haven't read for years - Alan Garner's "Holly from the Bongs". I think Middle Cat has our copy. I must re-read it! I hope you have fine weather for your night time journey. It sounds wonderful!
That sounds lovely! Reminds me of the carol singing in The Dark Is Rising...
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