Who is your favorite HOLLYWOOD character who uses a bow and why?

Emma is my favorite

In promoting Zenobia, I find others who love archery. I found a company that makes wooden bow and arrows. They travel the circuit of Renaissance Festivals and I'm pleased to see they will be coming to the Arizona Renaissance Festival this year, starting February 9th. They also will be at Norman Medieval Fair (Oklahoma).... Muskogee Ren Fair (Oklahoma)... Bristol Ren Fair (Wisconsin).... Ohio Ren Fair (Ohio).... North Carolina Ren Fair (North Carolina) and Louisiana Ren Fair (Louisiana). http://stickbowarchery.com/

Like them on Face book https://www.facebook.com/pages/StickBow-Archery/284806581550482

On a Facebook post, Stick Bow Archery asked a great question.

"In recent times Hollywood has used archery in movies. what is your favorite Hollywood character that uses a bow and why?"

I wanted to ask the same question for our Tuesday Teaser as we share a sentences from Zenobia - Challenging a Legend. Zenobia is being ambushed and her bow and arrow is her weapon of choice to save her life.

Read from Zenobia - Challenging a Legend Chapter 7:

"Her contemplation was interrupted by a soft noise in the thicket nearby. Instantly her mind commanded her senses to high alert. She slung a quiver over her shoulder and picked up her bow. Of course, she was already wearing her sword and dagger. She crept stealthily toward the sound. It was difficult to see in the thicket with only the stars for light, and it required a patience she did not feel to maintain her caution."

 

Tell me who is your favorite Hollywood character who uses a bow and arrow and Why?

 

Here's a few Hollywood archery characters I've enjoyed over the years.

Thinking Thursday - Are you happy with who you are?

   As you read and learn about Zenobia hopefully you can see her uniqueness and how she embraces who she is. She is not ashamed of being different, she loves who she is. In Zenobia - Birth of a Legend , read below from chapter twelve.

 "Master Zeriah, this is Zenobia, your pupil for the day, and hopefully longer if you so decide. I believe you will find her to be one of the most dedicated students you will ever have, though possibly a bit challenging."

    ...

     He had not been told his pupil was a girl, and a very young one at that. If he had, he might not have accepted the job. He glanced at Cam and raised his eye brow in a mild rebuke, but Cam simply stated, "You won't believe it until you see it."

     Turning back to the pretty girl before him, he smile inwardly and thought, This ought to be different  "It is a pleasure to meet you Zenobia. Walk with me." He began strolling across the desert as if he were surveying it for some future purpose. She fell in alongside him. "Ah, the desert," he proclaimed, "ever changing, yet somehow the same, dependable. A seemingly simple environment, but deceptively so. Have you found it so? Do you love it?" He now looked directly at her. 

     "Yes," She said simply. "But then, I love the forest and mountains also."

He nodded and continued strolling. Presently he asked, "And what is your favorite weapon, Zenobia?"

     "I like all weapons, my Lord, though I am most proficient with the bow."

      ... He had never met a girl like this one..." You know more wisdom than one would expect in someone your age. He turned and walked back toward the training area. 

     "Thank you. May I say that I never would have expected this kind of beginning to a lesson on the use of a sword."

     "You may. It is because I train the whole person, not just the physical skills. People who excel in any skill or sport or intellectual pursuit always have one characteristic in common. Do you happen to know what that is?"

     She did not, but she decided that an educated guess was called for. "Desire?"

     "No, though that does feed it. It is the ability to concentrate. Now that it's been emphasized, you should be able to recognize it over and over again in highly successful individuals." He paused to allow this concept to sink in for several minutes before continuing. 

     "The discipline of the mind with the ability to concentrate and maintain that concentration are the key to master of any skill. But you must have discerned that in your progression in archery."

     She had, now that he spoke of it, but she could not have previously expressed it that way. At least, she thought, his views are unusual and stimulating. 

...

     "Why do you want to become a warrior?" he asked

     "Why did you become one?' She replied

     He laughed and responded,  "I was sort of forced into it at the start, since I grew up in a violent society and my stature was smaller than most. I recognized that I needed to be faster and deadlier to survive. Eventually I realized it could be exciting and profitable profession. Obviously, it's a useful skill for men, but no a common one for a women."

     "I am not a common girl, and I will not be a common woman," she said simply. 

Tuesday Teaser

Today we share a scene of Longinus, the critical thinking Professor and Zenobia discussing the Gods. There were lots of different beliefs and all interested her. Read  below from book two, Zenobia - Challenging a Legend as they discuss the Gods.

Longinus became pensive, wondering how she would react to his argument. “Let us look at Zeus, the chief god to the Greeks. He supposedly was a creator. However, Greek theology teaches that he was also a rapist, taking on the shapes of animals and forcing himself on women. A superhuman deity with subhuman morals or ethics. I simply cannot believe that such a god, if he were real, would care about making things for us to enjoy. It is inconsistent.”

“I had not thought about that side of it,” Zenobia confessed, “but your analysis makes sense, as usual. Plus, a god who so misbehaves certainly does not merit our worship.”

“Since we humans have a capacity to enjoy such a variety of things, it seems that we were designed that way. Whoever created us must have wanted us to delight in our lives. In no way does that fit with the descriptions of the gods of the nations. I have concluded that there has to be a creator, or creators, that truly care about mankind. The other gods appear to be merely the imaginings of men, who have envisioned their gods in their own likenesses, with their own weaknesses. Those gods I can never believe in.”

“Then why” Zenobia pressed, “do most people believe in all these gods?”

“Habit. Community pressure. Fear. Lack of an alternative. Certainly not logic.”

The Goddess who was know as a huntress and proficient with her bow and arrow was compared to Zenobia. When she won an archery contest with her new bow and arrow, Brutus who took second said, "“Well done, Diana!” Brutus told the victor. “I am not sure that even seeing it I believe it!” (http://geodepress.com/thinking-thursday-zenobia-wins/)

In Roman mythology, Diana was the goddess of the woodlands, of wild animals, and of hunting. Artists usually portrayed her as a virgin hunter, often with a bow and quiver, accompanied by maidens, hunting dogs, or deer.

Read more: http://www.mythencyclopedia.com/Cr-Dr/Diana.html#b#ixzz2IdPbGzKX

Thinking Thursday - Zenobia Wins!

I have been up against tough competition all my life. I wouldn't know how to get along without it. - Walt Disney

Are contest good? Is it healthy to compete? Win or lose do you learn valuable lessons?

Zenobia has been training as a warrior and she competes in an archery competition that puts her skills to the test. Read here  from chapter twenty-two in Zenobia - Birth of a Legend.

     "Congratulations!" he said in a subdued voice. She thought he sounded sincere, at least as sincere as one could in taking second in a hard fought contest. He made his last shot. It was fairly good, inside the halfway point, but Zenobia had the match. 

The judges made their way to the targets with their strings to measure the tie-break, even though Brutus told them there was no need. The shooters went along to confirm the results and to retrieve their arrows. "Well done, Diana!" Brutus told the victor. "I am not sure that even seeing it I believe it!"

"Thank you," Zenobia responded modestly. "You will win most matches shooting like that. I knew this would be close." The judges announced Zenobia as the winner and gave her the wreath of victory and a small leather purse with the prize. There was some clapping and cheering, and a few citizens came over to congratulate her. Then it was all over the people began to disperse. 

 "Fleeting glory!" she announced to Brutus.

Zenobia Wins! All her hard work in archery training pays off. Even though this was a friendly competition, the experience  sharpens her archery skills and it will save her life in the future.

The best way to improve at something is to challenge yourself.

Tuesday Teaser – Are you a lover of Justice like Zenobia?

Are you a lover of justice like Zenobia? Ch 13 in Zenobia- Challenging a Legend in her critical thinking class in Alexandria, Egypt they are discussing how to build an empire. At the time Egypt is ruled by Rome. Here is a discussion that took place in class when they questioned her on how she would overthrow Rome.

“I, for one, hate that!” exclaimed Zenobia. “To oppress a weaker people is unjust and unrighteous! Lovers of justice should try to fix that.”

    “And what exactly would Miss Righteous do?” Philander asked indignantly.

    “Yes, Zenobia,” agreed Hermeseus, “history shows that rebels don’t live long!”

    “I don’t consider cowering in fear to be living, and ‘rebels,’ as you call them, have toppled world empires. Assyria conquered Egypt, Babylon conquered Assyria, Persia conquered Babylon, Greece conquered Persia, …”

….

    “The answer lies in the ingredients needed to build the empire,” she began. “Remove those and the empire will collapse, or be weakened enough to be conquered.”

    ….

    “Hypothetically speaking of course, what would happen in Rome if the grain ships from Egypt suddenly stopped sailing?” she asked. The simple question hung in the air for a moment, and then the students erupted, a dozen making comments at the same time. 

Hope you enjoy the Tuesday Teasers and this holds you over until Book two is available.

For a chance at a free copy of book one go to Jan 3rd post (http://geodepress.com/zenobia-birth-of-a-legend-free-book-giveaway/) and answer one of the Trivia Questions and email the answer. 

Zenobia- Birth of a Legend is a 2012 IPPY award winner in Historical Fiction

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Thinking Thursday - TO THOSE WHO FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

smithsonianmag.com photo by Bettmann / Corbis

Thinking Thursday- here’s a scene from Zenobia – Challenging a Legend, book two which takes place mostly in ancient Alexandria while Zenobia studies with some of the finest scholars. She is talking with a couple scholar gentlemen who want to get to know her better because their close friend has an interest in her on a personal level. They question her about the experience of having to pretend to be a boy to stay alive and how that has affected her life thus far.

“First, I had to pretend to be something I wasn't That was oppressive and it robbed me of a measure of freedom! It restricted my ability to choose. It still irritates me to recall it, so I usually don’t.

    “Second, though I survived, other baby girls did not. Didn't they have a right to grow up, to find what happiness they could in this crazy world? It offends me that they were denied that opportunity. Truthfully, that should disgust anyone who cares about justice.”

How would the experience of having to pretend to be a boy just to stay alive influence your life? Would you be like Zenobia and feel a strong aspiration to right these kinds of injustice? What will motivate you to act? From the Zenobia series by Russ Wallace you can learn how Zenobia saw something in her world that needed to be changed and she did whatever it took to correct this wrong. She was courageous enough to stand up against the injustices of the world. As we like to say here at Geode Press, “To Those Who Fight for Justice,” the Zenobia series is for you!

"We must become the change we wish to see in the world."

-- Mahatma Gandhi, Statesman

You still have a chance to win a free copy of Zenobia - Birth of a Legend if you go to the website and answer 3 trivia questions that can be found on the website in the sample chapters.
http://geodepress.com/zenobia-birth-of-a-legend-free-book-giveaway/

Continued Interview with Lorrisa Julianus AKA Zenobia

Queen Zenobia played by Lorrisa Julianus

copyright Photography by Michelle Ho

Are you working on any current projects other than Zenobia the musical?

She’s my obsession and left room for little else last summer, especially with so many actors to sew costumes for! But I’m very open to whatever experiences and opportunities come into my sphere in 2013. One of my dreams is to be an on-camera host for History Channel documentaries or travelogues ala Rick Steves.

Where did you get your training?

I graduated with a Film/Theatre B.A. from Columbia College Chicago at age 17 in 2003. I continue to train and work with Chicago’s best acting and voice coaches.

In how many films you have performed up till now?

A ton of shorts, and a small amount of feature films as those are hard to finance and not many are shot in Chicago as compared to short films, commercials, and industrials. My latest feature was “The Dream Play,” which won several awards on the film fest circuit.

How different is it to act in a movie and to act in a theater play?

Significantly different, and there are many theories on a proper approach. There are basic rules with film that stage actors have to get accustomed to, some of which have to do with limiting movement and having careful control of where one’s eyeline is directed. Not to mention the need to project one’s voice onstage and not on film.

Which has been your favorite character that you have performed?

My favorite stage role was Judas in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. It was set in a post-apocalyptic world and director Michael Fudala was very open-minded with gender casting. He let me interpret Judas as Jesus’ sullen bodyguard filled with unrequited love. It was a blast. Gave a whole new meaning to kiss of betrayal!

What has been your biggest achievement in the field of acting?

My most notable credits at the moment include lead motion capture acting (roles of Sonya, Mileena, Shiva, Kitana, and others) for the last two Mortal Kombat videogames, lead acting for several other WB fighting games, and an appearance on “The Bold & the Beautiful.” Horror film fans might remember me as Countess Bathory in the reality show for After Dark Films that they added on their 2008 DVD releases.

What do you prefer theater acting or movie acting?

Film is a passion of mine and always has been. I do theatre for the camaraderie, discipline, and because the opportunities are far more abundant. Film acting can be harder as you can’t BS the camera! But to me there’s nothing more exciting than the experience of being on set.

Who is your favorite actor/actress that inspires you?

That’s a tough one. Growing up, my favorites were Patrick Stewart and classics like Yul Brynner, Greta Garbo, Danny Kaye, and George Sanders. I developed an obsession with silent films in high school and remember being taken aback when a fellow driver’s ed student had no idea who Rudolph Valentino was! Nowadays, the actors whose performances I admire most include Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Viggo Mortensen, Hugh Jackman, Edward Norton, Liam Neeson, Robert Downey, Jr., and Glenn Close.

What kind of roles have you performed throughout your career? What kind of roles do you prefer?

Villains, always! They get to have so much fun! After that, anything historical is my favorite. I also have a soft spot for superheroes and love being one in Mortal Kombat and the other WB fighter games. I have a strength in accents and dialects, and enjoy using those for character development. As much as I get cast as the Eastern European femme fatale (and truly enjoy it), bimbo roles are my strong suit in improv comedy. Jokes can be found in almost anything and daffy ditzes can get away with saying anything onstage! I’m sure I’ll miss being the silly one onstage as Zenobia.

Thanks to Lorrisa Julianus for a great interview. Her talent amazes me, and doesn't she make a beautiful Zenobia?!

Don't miss your chance to see Lorrisa play in Zenobia the musical in Bolingbrook, Illinois August / September 2013 at the Theatre on the Hill, for more information go to http://www.tothbolingbrook.com/Theatre-on-the-Hill/Home.html

For more information about Lorrisa go to her website http://lorrisajulianus.com/Lorrisa_Julianus/Welcome.html 

 http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3185774/

Scott Bovaird as Danathus & Lorrisa Julianus as Zenobia

copyright Photography by Michelle Ho

An Interview with Lorrisa Julianus who will be playing Zenobia!

Matt Grotto & Lorrisa Julianus

copyright Photography by Craig J. Engel

Check out the promotional video of Zenobia the musical: http://www.youtube.com/watchZenobiathemusical

Lorrisa, thanks for letting me interview you; I love to meet other Zenobia fans. I am very excited to see you play Zenobia in the musical at the Bolingbrook, Illinois Theater on the Hill, coming out summer of 2013!

Thank you, Julie! I'm so glad you found our promotional video online. I look forward to seeing you at the show and to reading Russ' book series about our favorite lady.

What first got you interested in Zenobia?

I have been obsessed with the ancient world since I was six years old and would watch Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments over and over. I met Zenobia in a book about historical heroines when I was 14. She stood out to me because the book described her as 14 when she became queen and married Odaenathus, the king of Palmyra. What stuck with me was the particular version of her history that this book related--that after her defeat, she was spared by Emperor Aurelian and married a senator. From that moment I wanted to write a musical about her, but it took me until 2010 to find my amazing composing partner, Angela Salvaggione.

You wrote the play and lyrics, how long did it take you to write it?

I wrote character ideas years ago but began writing in earnest in the fall of 2010. First reading with a group of theatre folk was April 2012. The tweaks and improvements never really end, and I’m sure we’ll be making adjustments right up to opening night.

Where did you get your ideas while writing the play?

That’s the hardest question to answer! Nobel-prize winning author Henryk Sienkiewicz has indirectly influenced my writing for the last fourteen years, along with classics like Ben-Hur (the film) and The Robe (the book). The villainess Diana was inspired by real-life women who have delivered identical lines. (Lord, I hope they don’t expect royalties!) My husband Craig was the first one to read the script and gave very helpful ideas that established the early relationship between Zenobia and her first love, Alexander. Significant credit is also due to Angela, who actively composed the music while I wrote the book, and was a great partner in fine-tuning lyrics and developing song concepts. Dreamworks’ The Prince of Egypt, composed by Stephen Schwartz, has been a favorite film musical of mine since 1998, as are many Disney musicals. Likewise, humor, romance, intrigue, and universal mythologies are all important parts of Zenobia the musical. It is decidedly PG-13, however. The violence and cruelty of Zenobia’s world is juxtaposed with the power of love and the human spirit, even beyond the grave. Lastly, I incorporated themes from the front page of the newspaper (back when those still were printed), such as the entitlement of the “one percent”. In an eerie echo of the self-obsessed aristocrats in my musical, Newsweek had a fascinating 2012 article about the privileged class of modern Syria partying while Damascus literally burns.

Not only are you a great actress but you also are an artist; How did you get started in that? Where can someone see your work?

I’ve been sketching portraits for years but began painting seriously during the recession of 2009. Caravaggio and Michelangelo are my idols, and I’ve been an art history enthusiast for years. I gravitate to the human form as subject, and began showing at galleries and winning awards rather quickly. My work has been at the Brigantine Gallery of Downers Grove, the Hinsdale Gallery, Balmain Art & Antiques of Nassau, Bahamas, and many libraries throughout Chicagoland. Best way to see my portfolio is to check out my Facebook page, “The Art of Lorrisa Julianus, ‘Embrace the Night.’”
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Art-of-Lorrisa-Julianus-Embrace-the-Night/115022845181046

How did you get involved in Acting?

We couldn’t afford to see theatre when I was growing up, but my actor uncle managed to get us comp tickets to his performances and that’s when my love affair with acting and playwrighting began.

How many plays have you done so far?

I really have no idea. A lot!

I know the play comes out summer of 2013; are exact dates set? And how does one get tickets?

It looks like we’ll be doing a free show as part of Bolingbrook’s Jubilee, a huge town fest in mid-August. We’ll be kicking off the weekend’s events with our premiere Thursday, August 16th. Seating is outdoor and unlimited; we are expecting up to 1,000 people, as that was the average attendance for last year’s free summer concerts at the same venue. We will also run as a ticketed show Labor Day weekend (far better chances for good seats); check back at tothbolingbrook.com closer to show dates.

Scott Bovaird as Danathus & Lorrisa Julianus as Zenobia

copyright Photography by Michelle Ho

The Interview will continue on our Tuesday Teaser. Check back for more inside information on Lorrisa Julianus.

Zenobia - Birth of a Legend FREE BOOK GIVEAWAY

The first two people to email the correct answers for all 3 questions to geodepress@gmail.com  will win a free Book of Zenobia- Birth of a Legend. (Please include your email address so we can let you know you won.)

These questions are all in Zenobia - Birth of a Legend  and will take place in either Ch 1, 2, 25, 37, 41, 43 which are all available to read at http://geodepress.com/zenobia-birth-of-a-legend/ under free sample chapters.

Question # 1: What race does Zenobia’s classmate think she doesn't stand a chance in?

"Her classmates all burst out laughing. Finally Haji explained, This is not just a normal desert race for fun, Zenobia. Wealthy sheiks and businessmen enter highly bred stallions in this race for a prize of ten thousand denarii. It’s serious business. And it’s not just about money; it’s even more for fame and prestige. I’m afraid you wouldn't stand a chance.” He chuckled again."

Answer:

a. The annual horse race of Alexandria
b. Ocean of Fire
c. Sports of Kings

Question #2: In what chapter is this paragraph found?

"She was startled to see the eyes belonging to the male grow still larger, bobbing up and down. It’s charging! She knew she had only seconds to live. Bethy saw the lion charge and finally bolted. Zenobia aimed below the eyes and shot fast. She grabbed another arrow, rushing to get off a second shot. Then she heard a crash and she was slammed in the chest, fell backwards to the ground, hit her head hard, and lost consciousness."

Answer:

a. 41

b. 25

c. 2

Question #3: In this paragraph who says the line “All is fair in love and war!”?

“All is fair in love and war!” he yelled back. Her adrenaline kicked in and she tore up the stairs after him and grabbed onto his tunic with both hands and hung on with all her strength. He dragged her up for a few steps and then he collapsed and they both burst out in gasping laughter. She pulled herself up alongside him until their faces were less than a cubit apart. "And which is this," she asked with a pant, "love or war?" He put his hands up defensively and said, "Zenobia..." 

a. Longinus

b. Salim

c. Shanzar

Good Luck!