ROBERT BURNS AS A FREEMASON~
Long before I knew Robert Burns was a Freemason, I wrote him into my Time Guardians as one... His MY LOVE IS LIKE A RED, RED ROSE worked perfectly for the ideology I constructed for my Freemasons from the future in SWORDSONG--to be released July 16, 2010. Of course, it means very little of what you'd expect. 
That's the fun of worldbuilding. Well, I ran across a fascinating book doing some kind of search (undoubtedly at amazon.com) for something related to my research subjects. William Harvey's ROBERT BURNS AS A FREEMASON is full of interesting and revealing historical metaphor--the reason to take courses in literature that deal with the time period you're writing about. Learn period terminology! Beef up the historical ambiance of your wip. Yes, this is a book that will provide you with details hard to come by elsewhere... Novel titles or backstory such as half-sister of death and cousin-german of hell can be found lurking among these pages. All one need do is spend an hour or two reading to glean more details of Scotland's Protestant activities. 
~Skhye
Dare to walk in their footsteps...
"FORBIDDEN ETERNITY ... spine-tingling suspense. The story is dynamite; it explodes off the pages and leaves you breathless for more." ~Tulip, LASR
"... a unique blend of mystic Medieval Gothic and romance…and a true blood-curdling thriller." THE SPELL OF THE KILLING MOON ~Snapdragon, LASR
"Arthur is a masterpiece..." HE OF THE FIERY SWORD's King Arthur ~Diane Mason; The Romance Studio
Time Guardian books in print
Time Guardian books in e-format
www.timeguardians.com
www.skhyemoncrief.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skhyemoncrief/
That's the fun of worldbuilding. Well, I ran across a fascinating book doing some kind of search (undoubtedly at amazon.com) for something related to my research subjects. William Harvey's ROBERT BURNS AS A FREEMASON is full of interesting and revealing historical metaphor--the reason to take courses in literature that deal with the time period you're writing about. Learn period terminology! Beef up the historical ambiance of your wip. Yes, this is a book that will provide you with details hard to come by elsewhere... Novel titles or backstory such as half-sister of death and cousin-german of hell can be found lurking among these pages. All one need do is spend an hour or two reading to glean more details of Scotland's Protestant activities. ~SkhyeDare to walk in their footsteps...
"FORBIDDEN ETERNITY ... spine-tingling suspense. The story is dynamite; it explodes off the pages and leaves you breathless for more." ~Tulip, LASR
"... a unique blend of mystic Medieval Gothic and romance…and a true blood-curdling thriller." THE SPELL OF THE KILLING MOON ~Snapdragon, LASR
"Arthur is a masterpiece..." HE OF THE FIERY SWORD's King Arthur ~Diane Mason; The Romance Studio
Time Guardian books in print
Time Guardian books in e-format
www.timeguardians.com
www.skhyemoncrief.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skhyemoncrief/
I'd really like to hear more about them. Interesting ideology among them.
***Freemasons have a colorful history.
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Hmm, maybe I'm not quite so sure about contemporary freemasonry...! Theories abound with historical figures, especially with a man like Burns. I'd guess he was smart enougn to do whatever he had to do to get 'in' with the right people, he certainly 'wisnae daft.' I love his poetry, and the film/play/opera that properly celebrates his life and his influence is long overdue, he is a major Scottish literary figure for sure, and a million miles away from the cutesy shortbread-tin image that is so often portrayed. Fascinating that you've worked him into Time Guardians, Skhye!
Jane x
***LOL, Jane! I don't know what you can believe about contemporary freemasonry. It's like what happened with the Druids a few centuries back.
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Oh, go with the poetic license every time, my dear! And no, no canned pumpkin, curses! I may have to import!
Jane x
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"half-sister of death"
"cousin-german of hell"
Talk about discriptive phrases . . .
***Hee he heeeeeeeeee ~Skhye
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It's amazing how much meaning poetry loses over time because word usage and phrasing changes.
***Metaphors can make or break you in lit classes!
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First off, just exactly what is a Freemason. I've never really researched the issue and have always wondered.
***Okay, think Old World Protestants rebelling against the Church but still deeply entrenched in the ritual involved in Catholicism. They move underground, continue to carry out rituals even though Protestantism is about abandoning these rituals, and because secrecy is essential, Freemasons become the unknown and/or exotic. Freemasons are considered to be the prime movers behind the creation of the United States too... But you can read all about this online.
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I have just found this site. It looks like it will be very interesting. I need some sleep right now, but I'll be back to check out your books and some of the older posts.
***Nice to meet you! ~Skhye
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