Mythical Monday #65

Art work by: @Burntlaughter on Twitter

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

There are many different Mythology's 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.

Writing the Violent Fairy

I had never heard of a filandiere before Danielle Ackley-McPhail assigned me the faeries of the realm of spirit for a Bad-Ass Faeries anthology. From the list, I chose the name because it sounded interesting, wispy and ethereal.

According to Mostropedia.org, a filandiere consumes creativity. She draws nourishment from art, music and other evocations of the mind and heart. Those are food to this kind of faerie. If there is no inspiration, then the faerie goes hungry.

I decided to write a story in which a creator and a filandiere had a symbiotic relationship. Ninette, the faerie, was Marcel’s agent. Like any agent, she took fifteen percent of everything, including the creative spirit that went into his work. At the same time, she inspires him, giving him experiences that he uses to inform his work, experiences that no one else can ever have.

Like many humans, when a filandiere doesn’t get enough to eat, she gets cranky. That rebounds upon her hapless client. But because of her powers, she can provide him with the inspiration he needs to keep going. It’s a devil’s bargain for Marcel as well as Ninette. They are tied together in a mutually supportive but abusive relationship. I found it interesting to write, as I could easily see where a desperate writer would make such a bargain for fame, fortune – and food. Their relationship is functional and fruitful, but you can’t really call it a healthy one.

Because the name of the faerie was French, I set the story in the French Quarter of New Orleans. I know or knew plenty of writers and musicians who live and work there. Creativity booms, although many of the creatives eke out a marginal existence. Marcel is one who was raised from relative poverty. He wants to let go of the being who both succors and sucks from him, but he can’t. She’s the only thing keeping him writing.

Curiously enough, Monstropedia.org was the only place I found an entry about filandieres. I have never found another reference (at least in English). Monstropedia has disappeared from the web. Like a faerie, it has vanished away, leaving only a memory, but it was an inspiration to me when it existed.


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