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Written by Sandra

Created: 21 March 2013

The province of Bian Jing is inspired in Mongolia, Huo is inspired in China, Hawa is inspired in the Arab region, and the water tribes are inspired in the Celtic culture. The book is fantasy and completely fictional, but I used some local elements to spice it up.  

In this section you will find words used in the book typical of the mentioned cultures, which are not names or places.

Arisaid: Wrapped garment typical of Celtic women, still used in Scotland in occasions.

Borts: Salted meat Mongolian style. The meat is pulverized after being dried out by salt and the elements.

Bride price: Present of money, valuable objects or properties given to a bride´s parents by the groom.

Erhu: Musical instruments similar to a violin, but with only two strings.

Ger: Tent characteristic of Mongolia. Its construction is very peculiar because it doesn´t need internal columns (for normal sizes) or external poles. The Russian version of them are called yurts, the design is similar but not exactly the same. They are very efficient.

Jian: Name given by the Chinese to their swords. There is not one type, but many. The common characteristic is that they are double-edged swords. Single-edged (curved) swords are called Dao.

Kumis: Alcoholic beverage made out of mare´s milk, typical of Mongolia. It has a very low graduation, about 4%. It is considered to have great nutritional values. In the area both adults and kids drink it.

Kang: Platform typical of the north of China. It usually takes a whole wall and it is six feet wide. Small coils are burnt underneath and the surface is kept warm. Most of the life of a family in winter happens over the kang. They eat, sleep, and the kids play games sat over the platform.

Mahr: Present of money, valuable objects or properties given to a bride by the groom to be used at her sole discretion. She has the right to use it and sell it (or expend it in case of money) without further consultation.

Nanmu: (From Wikipedia) Nanmu was used in architectural woodworking and boat-building due to its resistance to decay. The wood dries with little splitting or warping. After drying the wood is of medium-density and does not change shape. Nanmu can be sanded to a mirror finish.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony in the Forbidden City is the inspiration for the Hall of Heyi. It used to have six columns made out of nanmu.

Speculum mirror: The action of this tale is located in a parallel world, but at about 1000 BC in relation to China and its technology. Many things are out of era, but I tried to stay around that date (+-300 years). At that time there was no glass in China, they were in the bronze period. Mirrors were done out of polished bronze or speculum (alloy done with 2/3 of bronze and 1/3 of tin), the latter was polished to be highly reflective. Tin was hard to find though and these mirrors was used only by royalty.

Details

Written by Sandra

Created: 20 March 2013

Some of the names in The Pearl were chosen to resemble spoken words and names in different languages. Here follows a list of the names and places, their meanings and who they are in the story.

Ao Shun: Dragon King of the North Sea -Lake Baikal - (Chinese); Dragon King of the Lake Bakkal.

Balian: Not known meaning; Bard and wizard, caretaker of Elearah.

Bian-Jing: Frontier (Chinese); one of the provinces of Huo land.

Cailie: Beloved (Arabic); daughter of Ming-Zhi.

Chu-Ju: Daisy (Chinese); friend of Ying-Hua.

Cinnia: Beauty (Celtic); water dragon.

Dahabi: Golden (Arabic); name of the golden dragon in the Hawa nation.

Daji: Favorite concubine of King Zhou (around 1000 BC. Her doings ruined him and ended the Shang Dynasty. She was known by her cruelty.) ; woman trained by Rashand to take over the king´s will.

Darel: Open (Old English); hu-man Seer´s lover.

Dharti: Earth (Indi); Mika´s first beloved.

Dong: East (Chinese); one of the hills in Bian-Jin capital city.

Eke: Mother (Mongolian).

Elearah: Not known meaning; the pearl bearer.

Fang: Long sharp tooth (English), baby girl name: fragrant, pleasant (Chinese); the soul eater.

Gwai-Wu: Monster (Chinese); captain of the army besieging the North Fortress.

Hawa: Air (Arabic); kingdom of the air tribes.

Heyi: Consensus (Chinese); Hall of Heyi is the hall of throne in Shou-Du.

Huai-Pingguo: Bad apple (Chinese); count of Lao-Difang.

Huang: Emperor (Chinese); Huo King.

Huo: Fire (Chinese); name of the fire kingdom.

Jia-Li: Good and beautiful (Chinese); mother of Ying-Hua.

Jin-Long: Golden dragon (Chinese); golden dragon.

Lan-Se: Blue (Chinese); name of the ceremonial blade.

Lao-Difang: Old place (Chinese); area of Bian-Jing.

Kukku: Black (Babilonian); castle of Nergal.

Mahra: Sadness (Arab); fourth wife of king Huang and mother of Xiao.

Mika: Short form of Mikael (Finnish), same meaning of Michael – archangel who defeats the dragon in the Hebrew Mythology; Elearah´s guide in Huo.

Ming-Zhi: Wise (Chinese); Duke of Bian-Jing.

Nan: South (Chinese); seaport city in the South of Huo.

Nergal: God of the dead (Babylonia); vampire.

Nyah: Purpose (African); High Priestess of the Goddess.

Pearl: Deposit created over a grain of sand inside certain mollusks, valued as a gem; the goddess of water.

Quxi Li: Courtesy (Chinese); seamstress in Shou-Du.

Sajani: Beloved, loving, well loved (Indi); Mika´s daughter.

Sajhan: Beautiful (Mongolian); name Mika uses to call the Lake Bakkal.

Shi-Ren: Bard (Chinese); fire dragon.

Shou-Du: Capital city (Chinese); capital city of Huo.

Wai-Sheng: Nephew (Chinese); Jia-Li´s nephew.

Xiao: Tiny (Chinese); prince of Huo.

Xi-Shan: West hill (Chinese); hill by Bian-Jing capital city.

Yamile: Beautiful (Arabic); Ming-Zhi´s wife.

Ye-Sheng: Wild (Chinese); fire dragon.

Ying-Hua: Cherry blossom (Chinese); Jin-Long´s partner.

Zhang-Zi: Firstborn (Chinese); first born prince of Huo.

Zhen-Li: Truth (Chinese); fire dragon.

Zhong-Shi: Faithful (Chinese); captain of the guard.

Zu-Xian: Ancestor (Chinese); fire dragon.

Details

Written by Sandra

Created: 28 February 2013

Hi everyone,

I want to thanks the 919 people who downloaded The Pearl. I am speechless, I really am.

In this very interesting world, where democracy took the publishing business by storm, it is you who make the difference. 

You have the power, enjoy it and make it count.Your feedback, your words, are very important. If you don´t talk, if you don´t share, a title is just another title, a cover is just another cover.

I need your help. I you read the book, and if you like it... please talk, speak up. If you read the book and you don´t like it, talk too, I want to know. If you see things you would like to learn more about, ask questions.

Details

Written by Sandra

Created: 26 February 2013

I want to thank all those who made a leap of faith and bought the book, friends and family... and those who are not friends or family. 

Today and tomorrow, that is Feb. 26 and 27, 2013, the book will be available for free. So if you do have that spark of curiosity but you don´t want to waste money - picking up yet another book plagued with mistakes - this is your chance. You will still have to do a time investment. I hope you read at least the first five chapters; the book should carry you from there.

If you do pick up the book, please talk about it. Do not be shy. In a market that is so beautifully chaotic, and offer so many opportunities for people to show their work, to stand out is an interesting challenge. Your voice counts, your voice supports the writers who write what you like.

Download The Pearl for free (and read it, and tell me all about it!). 

Sandra :)