Artemis
A Boons and Banes Character File
When I began writing Bloodstone, Artemis’s name was NOWHERE in my notes. Athena was, but Athena was busy and couldn’t be bothered to go to Shaconage…but apparently her nosy roommate was available.
In comes Artemis, putting everyone on edge. And what does she appear as? A Cherokee woman in a place where she should, and should not be. Once you’ve read Blood Diamonds and Bloodstone…you know exactly how she ended up in this situation, even though I barely hint at it. You’ll know…
Artemis is a troubling presence, as she lacks patience with people in general. While she’s useful as a warrior, again, she puts others on guard. She’s opinionated and prefers her way of doing everything, yet she clearly wants to accompany Sept and Verity on their mission…if for any other reason than to see Callie return safely home to her parents. Verity’s plight is simply a convenience of providing her a party to accompany her…like the old days.
Although, in the old days she would have gathered together a party of women. Now, though, she wanders the world alone with no home and few family she cares to speak to. She’s still a favorite daughter of Zeus and while Hera will speak with her, she’s not entirely welcome to linger either.
I’ll note that I have Sept going off to Shaconage with the reality of his own family in mind. His grandfather is half Cherokee. It’s been over five decades since the Trail of Tears. Shaconage was considered sacred to the Cherokee.
I’m sure doing the initial research into the area they would travel to impacted the story and characters, as quite a few things popped in that came directly from Cherokee lore…in a roundabout away. Some things came from farther away…some have foundations in multiple cultures…such as a particular giant rabbit, which had me going: WHY are there so many stories around the world about giant rabbits? :D
When I began writing Bloodstone…there weren’t many gods at all involved. They simply showed up and invited themselves along.
The first two books of the first Boons and Banes trilogy are available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited!