NOLAN: (fantasy) Elven prince of Norgatia, Sevyn’s mate.
NORGATIA: (fantasy) The coastal northern woods of Manifest marked by white bone trees, containing Maedina’s mother tree and Nolan’s tree.
ON THE LASH: (Irish) The intention of getting fully drunk.
PANTS: (Irish) Underwear.
ROCK OF CASHEL: (Irish) A collection of ruins situated atop a limestone outcropping in County Tipperary, Ireland. Also known as Cashel of the Kings and Patrick’s Rock. Carraig Phádraig in Irish.
SEVYN: (fantasy) The heroine of the Elementia trilogy, cursed by lightning, twin to Evyn.
SIDE: (film) Shooting script pages and notes distributed daily for the cast and crew.
SHIFT: (Irish) Kiss.
SHINY: (fantasy) Seriously? You don’t know shiny? To Netflix with you. Watch Firefly. This is not a drill.
SLAG: (Irish) Tease.
STINGER: (film) Electrical cord.
VIDEO VILLAGE: (film) Reserved area for the production crew during filming.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I dedicated this book to a bunch of straight, white dudes. That doesn’t exactly sit well with me, but here’s why I did it (beyond my killer quote game). When I was growing up, these guys were my role models. Now I have new role models to put on the list. First, the female powerhouses of The Lord of the Rings movies, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Secondly, Edith Tolkien who deserves all the romance credit, in my opinion. Additionally, and in no particular order, Kate McKinnon, Ani DiFranco, Ellen DeGeneres, Cate Blanchett, Ellen Page, Florence Welch, Julia Nunes, and so many others who help us queer ladies hold our heads high. And while Cate Collins is a figment of my imagination, I have to thank Patty Jenkins, director of Wonder Woman, for helping me believe that Hollywood is indeed turning an important corner.
The Lord of the Rings sat at the very heart of my childhood, and I thank my dad for reading it to my brothers and me when we were small enough to perch on him like birds. Next, I thank those same brothers for repeated LOTR viewings, Tolkien tattoos, and for nicknaming one of my exes “Nazgul.” Super classy, guys.
An additional thank-you to all the friends I made while living in Ireland. Specifically, Margaret, Marla, Conor, John, Damien, Gabrielle, and Brian. If you’re in Dublin, don’t miss seeing Brian Brody play at Peader Kearneys.
I’m so thankful for my detail-oriented beta readers. Specifically, Joan McCarthy, Robin Reul, Polly Nolan, and Lily Anderson. I’d also like to thank my film agent, Jason Dravis, as well as my friends in Hollywood, Eric and Liz, for meeting up in LA and making me feel so shiny. Another thank-you to my local Panera, who kept me coffeed, and for the SAGA writers who cheered me on while I wrote.
A very special thank-you to my three wonder editors: Annette and Kate, who guided this book along its nerdy, winding way, and Aubrey, who started the fire for this story—with Dr. Jillian Holtzmann’s blowtorch. Another special thank you to Alex for being there for me through all my Sourcebooks titles, and Sarah Davies, my agent and rock.
Okay, confession time. Like Iris, I grew up rolling my eyes at feminism. As I started to wake up to gender inequality—in the world and in my own family—I felt like Iris does at the beginning of the story: like feminism was a job I hadn’t signed up for. Now I am not only aware of my own journey, but also of the massively important intersectionality of the feminist movement. I invite you to head over to CoriMcCarthy.com for a list of my favorite titles that illuminate the powerful diversity inherent in global feminism, as well as information on how you can support the diversity and gender equality movement in Hollywood.
Elementia is a high-fantasy trilogy I wrote throughout college and grad school, my feminist answer to Tolkien’s legacy. You can read the shooting script for Elementia and find out more about Sevyn and Nolan at CoriMcCarthy.com.
Saving the best for last, I thank Maverick, my sword-wielding, inspirational mini-hero, and Amy Rose, who is the wondrous love of my fantasy life…and my real one too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
When she was twenty, Cori McCarthy moved to Ireland with little more than her black guitar named Annie. Over the next year, she wandered the countryside, wrote hundreds of poems and songs, and went to the theater dozens of times to watch Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings films. Now, Cori is an author, editor, and teacher, and lives in New England with her family. You can find out more at CoriMcCarthy.com or tweet your favorite fandom GIF @CoriMcCarthy.
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