Dear Editorial Representative,
My experience and credentials as a writer begin with a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing from UNCW in 1995-'99. I received a writing award in January 2002 from the Thomas Wolfe Society and was invited to read my winning piece at their annual conference held in Portland, OR in May 2002. The piece was published in the 2002 Thomas Wolfe Review. I grew up in Cary, NC and lived in North Carolina all my life, with the exception of a year where I had written in Prague, Czech Republic, and completed several books. I am currently in the States having completed three novels.
Poet For Hire (50,968 words) is about a young poet, Thelonius Ray, who lives in Southern Bohemia, CZ, and puts out an ad in the classifieds for his service. He receives a call from a man who lives in Southern Italy, and is flown to his employer's estate, Olympia. When he arrives he realizes that those who live on the estate are convinced they are Greek gods. The poet tries to make sense of the rule-laden world that the gods live in. He discovers if he doesn't conform to the synthesis the price to pay is death. The poet learns the reason for his employment is to replace the dead god Apollo, and he gains the confidence of Zeus. The estate grounds are filled with magical creatures that depict the various qualities of Greek mythology. Thelonius is thrusted into the farce and is to prove his loyalty by performing his Apollonian duties in a replicated Delphi set in the woods of the estate. The gods and goddesses visit him, and through his supposed prophecies, he tries to convince the gods, with the help of Hera and Hades, to topple the regime and reinstate reality.
The reason for writing Poet For Hire was in an aspiration to inform and entertain a growing culture who have at one time lost touch or forgotten the wonderful concepts of Greek Mythology; the fundamental themes of which hold true throughout all time as is proved by certain books drawing upon fantastic themes of magic and reality.
Thank you. I look forward to a prompt reply.
Best,
Justin Michael Kulyk