Monday, March 23, 2015

Theme Reveal: Epics from A to Z!

Roll out the red carpet, ready the cameras. The A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal is here!

Those of you who have visited my blog before will not be terribly surprised. For the past two years I have done themes related to folktales, fairy tales, and other traditional stories. Since, you know. I'm a storyteller.
(Last year's theme was Tales with Colors, and the year before it was Weird Princesses)

This year's theme was brought to you by a very special occasion: I have received the J.J. Reneaux Mentorship Grant from the National Storytelling Network. This grant allows me to work with a master storyteller in order to develop my skills further in a specific field of storytelling. I am honored and excited to be the mentoree of Cathryn Fairlee, and learn about telling epics and other long-form traditional tales.
In the spirit of making the most of this opportunity, my theme lines up with my mentorship project. It shouldn't be a complete shock...

DRUMROLL

This year's theme will be: Epics from A to Z!


I have been scheduling posts since January. I have read all the 26 epics that I will post about, one for each letter (okay, almost all of them. You'll see). The posts will tell you a little bit about where each epic came from (time, culture, geographical place), introduce you to the hero(es) and heroines, and then provide a witty and whimsical (*cough*) list of highlights to show you how awesome epics can be, and give you an idea of why you should read them.

I hope you will find these old stories as intriguing, fascinating, and all-around... epic, as I did. I also hope that you will find some that you have not heard about before - I purposefully picked less well-known stories whenever I could. Many of them were new for me too. I am excited to invite you along on this adventure!
Happy A to Z!

(Click here to read my other theme reveal today on MopDog: 26 Ways to Die in Medieval Hungary)

95 comments:

  1. Congrats on the grant and mentorship opportunity!

    I am sure, just like last year, your theme is going to introduce me to some new angles on stories I know and to stories I don't know :)

    ttfn,
    Sophie
    Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles
    Fantasy Boys XXX
    Wittegen Press

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  2. Congratulations! And it sounds like a great theme. I revealed today too.

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  3. That is fantastic news about the grant, I hope it is a wonderful experience being mentored.

    Wow, 26 epics - sounds like a fabulous theme. I look forward to coming back during April and seeing all your posts.

    Tasha
    Tasha's Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

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  4. What a perfect match your theme is for you!! Sounds like it will be both interesting and educational. I look forward to it.
    Life & Faith in Caneyhead
    I am Ensign B ~ One of Tremp's Troops with the
    A to Z Challenge

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  5. I am always looking for new and interesting reads. Can't wait to read your posts.
    Jen www.laceandlunges.com

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  6. Sounds great. I look forward to learnin about the origin of some of these epic tales!

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  7. Thanks for visiting my blog (A bench with a View) and your comment :) Wow, what an interesting theme you have! Lots of preparation with it too!! Good luck with it!

    betty

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  8. All cool things, I am intrigued!

    Jeremy [Retro]
    AtoZ Challenge Co-Host [2015]

    There's no earthly way of knowing.
    Which direction we are going!
    HOLLYWOOD NUTS!

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  9. Congratulations, Csenge! That's huge.
    Looking forward to reading your posts.

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  10. Congrats on the mentorship. I know I'll love your theme. Your posts are always interesting.

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  11. A great theme, and congratulations on the grant! Your posts were among my favorites last year, so I know it's going to be (wait for it...) epic this year! Woohoo!

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  12. Congratulations on the mentorship - it sounds wonderful! And great A to Z theme!
    http://tyreanswritingspot.blogspot.com/

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  13. Congrats on receiving the grant! As someone who loves stories, I'm looking forward to your theme posts. I'll be checking out your previous years' posts, too. "Weird Princesses" sounds intriguing.

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  14. Congratulations on your grant. This is a fascinating subject. Should be epic! ☺ Looking forward to your posts.

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  15. This is a fantastic theme, and I am really looking forward to seeing which epics were chosen for your theme!

    Congrats on the grant. That's amazing!

    Alex Hurst, A Fantasy Author in Kyoto
    Out of Print, Fiction authors and their shorts

    A-Z Blogging in April Participant

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  16. Your theme sounds so...EPIC. Hahaha. Sorry, bad joke. I'm looking forward to reading your posts, and I'm now following your blog.

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  17. Nothing beats a good story! Your theme about old epic tales sounds it will be fun to read and I also like how you chose to combine your offline project with your online blogging activities. That makes it easier to get through both without exhausting your energies toward one or the other. Congrats on your mentorship grant!

    ~Nicole
    #atozchallenge Co-Host
    The Madlab Post

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  18. Delicious idea their epics from A to Z! will be very interesting!

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  19. If something has been working you might as well stick with it. Your theme sounds like a good one.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Wrote By Rote

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  20. Congrats on the grant! I've been reading themes all morning, and I am so impressed with what people are coming up with. Yours sounds really interesting. I'm going to learn a lot this month, I see!

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  21. Did I read that correctly--you've been reading epics since January in preparation? Or had you already read some and you've been supplementing it with reading those you haven't read yet? Either way, I'm in awe!

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  22. There are a few that I read before, but most of these I either read for the first time, or re-read in full for the first time. There are still some I need to do, but it has been quite the reading binge :)

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  23. Sweet! This will be exciting! I haven't done much epic readings, but you may inspire me to give these a whirl!

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  24. Congrats on the mentorship! I am in awe that you read 26 epics! All that went through my head was The Nieberlungenlied" which i read many years ago. So can't wait to see what you will write

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  25. Mentorship! That's wonderful. Congrats to you. And congrats on choosing such an interesting theme. I look forward to it.

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  26. Sounds like a cool theme. Congratulations on the mentorship too!

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  27. I love this theme. I've been into myths and legends since I was a kid and I'm fascinated with the oral tradition of all culture. I'm fascinated by storytellers in general, I should say.

    No way that I'm missing your posts! ^_^

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  28. Oh, wow. I'm bookmarking this one. Can't wait!

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  29. Congratulations on the grant. That sounds so exciting. If it's a story I'm all in!
    Look forward to your epics.

    Bushman
    2015 A to Z Challenge Ambassador
    @jwb81074

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  30. What a fantastic theme and opportunity. Congratulations on the grant and mentorship! I have added you to my AtoZ Blog Roll so I don't miss a single one of your Epic AtoZ posts. Thanks for stopping by today for my reveal. Let the Epics begin!!!
    Sue at CollectInTexas Gal
    AtoZ 2015 Challenge
    AJ's wHooligans

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  31. Wow, that's great Congrats on your grant! That's so exciting :) Looking forward to your AtoZ sounds like a great theme!
    Gladiator's Pen

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  32. Awesome! Jean visiting from Rantings and Ravings of an Insane Writer for your theme reveal.

    You are so right about Americans not riding trains more, because, as you say, the country grew on train travel.

    I highly recommend Amtrak's flagship train, the Coast Starlight (LA-Portland or Seattle) and the Empire Builder (Portland or Seattle to Chicago).

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  33. Awesome theme, Csenge. I look forward to learning about some epic stories! And congrats on the grant and mentorship. That is amazing! :)

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  34. What a great theme! I subscribed to your blog and I'm really looking forward to reading all of your epics!

    This is our, http://www.thechinesequest.com first #AtoZchallenge and we are excited to participate!

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  35. Wow. You've been prepping all year. That's great. Look forward to reading your posts.

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  36. I'm glad I'm not the only one who plans her posts far in advance. I can't wait to learn about the epics :)

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  37. Sounds like a fabulous theme ... looking forward to reading them. And congratulations on getting such a fantastic grant.

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  38. Ooh that's fun! Will G be Gilgamesh? That is one of my favorites :)
    Enjoy!
    ~AJ @ ajlauer.net
    An A-Z co-Host

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  39. That's great news about the grant! Thanks for stopping by my blog today. I love your theme - I'm a fan of epics myself, so I can't wait to see what you come up with!

    Sue Archer
    Doorway Between Worlds

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  40. Very cool theme! I'll include yours as a place to visit during the event.

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  41. This theme should be fantastic!! I'm looking forward to seeing what you have come up with. So excited for A to Z to begin!

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  42. Look that sounds like a great theme!

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  43. Fabulous! I so look forward to reading your posts.

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  44. Amazing news!

    This theme sounds fantastic.
    Can't wait to see more!
    Heather

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  45. I haven't popped by in a while and am excited at all the things you've been doing! Looking forward to your stories.

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  46. Congrats on the grant. That's huge news! And I'm going to look forward to your epic posts! Great theme.
    Michele at Angels Bark

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  47. Wow, Congratulations Csenge! This is so exciting. First thing, I am bookmarking your blog for my son (which means I put a shortcut on my son's desktop). He's crazy about stories/folklore/folktales and we're going to enjoy it together! :) Looking forward to a fabulous A to Z. Hugs!

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  48. Sounds like a fascinating theme, I can't wait!

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  49. So looking forward to your posts Tarkabarka, of such great interest to me.
    And MANY congratulations on your award, in recognition of story telling!

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  50. Congratulations on the grant - Ilook forward to reading your epics!

    Anabel at Anabel's Travel Blog

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  51. I so look forward to this one. It sounds so interesting :D

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  52. Congratulations on the grant and mentorship, sounds like a wonderful opportunity. And the theme is way cool!

    Best wishes for a great A-Z,
    Nilanjana.
    Madly-in-Verse

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  53. This is such a cool theme. I will definitely be back to read the epics you share with us :-)

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  54. wow....its really interesting.. awaiting your posts...

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  55. Awesome idea! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with!

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  56. Awesome idea, good luck this month! :)

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  57. Zalka, congratulations on the grant! That's inspiring and very exciting to be supported in honing your craft. It's also great that you'll be sharing your passions with us throughout April. Have fun with the Challenge.

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  58. Phew! Sounds pretty intense! Congrats on your storytelling grant!
    Maui Jungalow

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  59. Congrats on the grant!
    Your theme sounds great. I'll be back April 1st ;)

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  60. so cool! and what a commitment! can't wait to read about your experiences with these epics

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  61. OMG You are not only fabulously clever, you're a crazy woman! Two a-Z challenges! This is my first,and something tells me I lack your organisation and discipline ...my sense of panic tells me that!
    have an awesome month, and thanks for stopping by The Rock.
    Wendy at Wendy of The Rock

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  62. What a fabulous and interesting theme. I am so excited and look forward to reading all of your posts. Congratulations on your grant. That is quite an honor. Thank you for co-hosting this awesome challenge.

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  63. Cool idea! Looking forward the read!!

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  64. Epics sounds fascinating. It should be educational too. Looking forward to learning more.
    Congratulations on your good news too.

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  65. I am excited for this! Looking forward to some Epic reading

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  66. Congratulations on your award! It is wonderful when you gain support of that nature and are able to pursue your dream. I can't wait to visit this space and read your interpretations of epic tales during the A to Z challenge. I'm quite partial to folklore, fairy tales and mythology.

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  67. Sounds like fun, will look on in!
    Liz http://www.lizbrownleepoet.com

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  68. ho from A-Z challenge- you have the most comments I have ever seen- cant wait for April

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  69. Epics - a brilliant theme! I look forward to read about heroes and heroines. 26 posts of culture and history - love it!

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  70. Wow, congrats!!

    And epics, whoo hoo, I can't wait to hear about them all!!

    --Chris

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  71. Hi Csenge!
    Congratulations on the grant and mentorship opportunity. Awesome news!

    I can remember your color-filled theme from last year!
    Epics sounds like another GREAT theme!
    See you around on the A to Z circuit.

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  72. How wonderful that you have such an opportunity with the mentorship program! I look forward to reading your A to Z posts!

    Peace,
    Morgan
    Playing with Words
    StoryDam
    A Poet's Kitchen

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  73. Wow, this is one theme that is very unique. Great theme and l look forward to reading more about the great epics in April. All the best :)

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  74. Valka, your theme is - well - it's epic, that's what it is! Congratulations on your grant. I'm looking forward to reading your A to Z posts!

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  75. Congratulations on getting the grant!

    I'll be interested to see how many of your epics I've read or am otherwise familiar with. I'd love to see the Ramayana or Mahabharata profiled.

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  76. Oh, Brilliant!!!

    Definitely coming back to read!

    I would've loved to be scheduling posts in January, but....other stories. If it were at all logical to do so, I would blame the Vulcans in my head...

    I hope to have at least my first few set up before April, though, so it's less of a scramble...

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  77. Well, Lokks like you have done yur homework well!

    All the best

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  78. Wow, congratulations on your grant!!! I look forward to following your tales <3

    Sylvia @ Playful Creative

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  79. Your theme is epic! Can't wait to see what you come up with.

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  80. I LOVE stories :D

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  81. Great idea for A-Z and I hope to learn something. That's quite a project, but it sounds like you are up for it. And you should definitely check out the Pacific NW sometime. It's, yep, epic!

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  82. A wonderful way to do the challenge. See you in April.

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  83. Wow. I bet this is going to be pretty... Wait for it...

    Epic.

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  84. Great! I'll be looking forward to reading :)

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  85. Really cool theme and a huge congrats on the grant. Grants are definitely a writer's best friend! I love fairy tales, myths, and all things historically fictional and fantastical. I look forward to your list!
    Brandy from Brandy's Bustlings

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  86. Sounds like a fantastic theme. Will def be revisiting during the challenge. :)

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  87. Congratulations on the grant and the A to Z theme! Good luck!

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  88. Congratulations on receiving that grant and mentorship! That's so awesome. You'll have to let us know how that experience goes! And I love your A to Z theme...sounds like your blog is going to be "epic" ;) Haha couldn't resist!

    -Wendy Lu Writes

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  89. You picked a great one! I can't wait to read more! :)

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  90. this sounds so awesome :D Loved the theme. Congratulations on the grant :)

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  91. Congratulations! This should be a set of posts to treasure!

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  92. Looking forward to reading your posts.

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  93. WOW! from being a storyteller, your blog could be a small ebooks on Amazon for each Epic, for storyteller and those just wanting a easy way to understand the Epics. GREAT WORK! Lovely writing.

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    Replies
    1. Congratulation! on the grant from NSN,and I know Cathryn Fairlee; she is one great person, and knows a lot about storytelling.

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