Mythical Monday (13)

It seems there are many books based on or influenced by Myths and Mythological Beings.

There are so many different Mythology and Mythological Beings recorded. Some are very popular and well known, others not so much. There are many similar beings, yet different depending on the culture it’s based in.  The definition of Myth covers about anything in the Urban Fantasy/Fantasy realm to me.

I’ve invited authors to share briefly the Mythological being or Myth that influenced their character(s) or story, or what their character(s) are based on influencing their books.  Hosting here, one author and being or myth per week.

This week we have:

Urban Fantasy author Carolyn Crane

Talking of Aladdin and the Magic Lamp.

Hi and thanks so much to Melissa for inviting me to Mythical Monday!!

I love how many books come out of myths of different kinds. It gives me a new sense of the myth, and I like to think it keeps myths vibrant.

I’m here talking about the myth of Aladdin and the magic lamp. That is really the direct inspiration for my Code of Shadows series (Mr. Real is book #1, and the prequel will appear in the Fire & Frost anthology).

Fun facts about Aladdin, Mr. Real and more:

1. Did you know that Aladdin is a Chinese boy? The tale is a Middle Eastern tale, but set in China. Most
   
   of the other characters are Middle Eastern. I didn’t know that until I looked it up on Wikipedia just now, thinking, well, if I go on Melissa’s blog talking about this myth, I’d better sound like I actually know it.
2. Aladdin has a magic ring and a magic lamp. His mother discovers the magical lamp powers when she tries to clean it. Which means, if there are any magical lamps in this home, they will never ever be discovered.
3. Enchanted computer software is the magic lamp in Mr. Real. My heroine, Alix, discovers the magic by accident, just like Aladdin’s mother did, except instead of rubbing the lamp, she discovers it when she clicks on jpegs in a certain way.
4. No genies appear in Mr. Real. The computer makes things that Alix clicks on in a certain way appear on Alix’s doorstep. She is kind of a reckless girl, and when she figures out the power, she orders accessories, clothes, and during one horny, lonely, drunken night, a handsome TV spy character she wants to have sex with.
5. Confession: my inspiration is more from I Dream of Jeannie and Disney, which were, of course, inspired by Aladdin.
6. Question: If you watched old shows like I Dream of Jeannie and Bewitched, as I did in my youth, were you SO bummed that the characters didn’t use their magic WAY more? I was.
7. In the original Aladdin myth, Aladdin keeps all his wealth and stuff and lives happily ever after. But so often, when you are granted wishes in tales, it’s always about “be careful what you wish for!” And usually the person in the tale realize they were happier before their wishes were granted. Isn’t that a totally Puritanical interpretation? I have to say, I think I like this original version better, where Aladdin gets to keep his stuff and he enjoys the hell out of it, after battling various sorcerers.
8. In my series, sometimes the things that appear are beneficial, other times not.
9. The magic software in my series was created by Alix’s Aunt Veronica, a 1980’s computer nerd who was also a witch, and she was really into Flock of Seagulls and Grand Master Flash. The prequel is about her.
10. Where’s my magic lamp? My magic computer? I need a tenth fun fact!!!!

Thanks so much for having me, Melissa! 

You can find Carolyn at:

Website:  http://authorcarolyncrane.com/

Blog:  The THRILLIONTH page

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/CarolynCrane

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/carolyn.crane2

Description:
He finds the girl of his dreams…with the secret agent of his nightmares.

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the super-sexy martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class three years ago.

Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall - in the flesh - with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness - somehow.

But is superspy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?