Updates, Quotes, and Gifting

Fast Updates:

Wishing you all a safe and happy March!

We are really looking forward to our upcoming conventions.

Event Updates:

Unfortunately, I have had to drop out of the Hall Of Heroes Convention, but hope to participate again in the future. I have added Lafayette Comic con, Oddmall Uncensored, and the horror fiesta!

Other Updates:

Literary Titan has completed a thoughtful review of The Warning Signs. If you would like to read the full review visit: https://literarytitan.com

Tauseef Ahmed has completed an imaginative Illustration for one of my upcoming releases! If you would like to see more of the amazing work he and other artists have created for me in the past, visit the illustrations page.

Illustration by Tauseef Ahmed

(For Wishes Gone Awry: Tales Of Horror And Dark Fantasy)

Also:

readersfavorite.com will have three of my available books listed as prizes in the monthly book giveaway. If you are interested in winning some amazing books by great authors you can check out the monthly giveaway here: book giveaway /Rise or here for The Warning Signs: giveaway/the-warning-signs and here: book-giveaway/combo.

Upcoming Event Reminders:

2025

~~We are planning to return to the Hall of Hero’s Comic Con in Elkhart Indiana! This year’s event will take place on May 31st and June 1st at the Northern Indiana Event Center.~~

Concealed Realms with be at the Oz-Stravaganza! This event takes place June 6th, 7th, and 8th in Chittenango, NY.

Concealed Realms with be at Oddmall Uncensored! This event takes place September 6^th and 7^th in Tallmadge, OH.

Concealed Realms plans to participate at the horror fiesta in Peoria IL on September 13th. This event is set to take place at the exposition gardens youth Center.

Concealed Realms plans to participate at Readers and Writers Rendezvous. This event is set to take place on September 27^th at the Peoria Civic Center.

We are scheduled to participate in the Lafayette Comic Con, Mighty Con on October 25th. This event takes place at the Tippecanoe County Fairgrounds, located in Lafayette, IN

Quotes regarding gifts:

“Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself.”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

“The best gift you can give yourself is an open mind.” –

Hayley Williams

“The best gift is giving from your heart” -Kevin Heath

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” – Garrison Keillor

“The greatest gift we can give to the world is our unique talents and passions.” – Lewis Hyde,

“The best gift a fan could give me is undeniable support.” -Jessie J

“Sometimes the greatest gift is simply being present.” – Johnny R. Powell

“The best gift you can give is a hug: one size fits all and no one ever minds if you return it.” – Marge Piercy

“Memories are perhaps the best gifts of all.” – Gloria Gaither

Definition of : Gift

Dictionary.com

Noun

“something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.”

verb

“to present with as a gift; bestow gifts upon; endow with.”

– www.dictionary.com

Merriam Webster.com

Noun

“something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation.”

verb

“to endow with some power, quality, or attribute”

– merriamwebster.com

Inspiration

You can often find creative inspiration at the most unexpected times. Recently while I was looking for a gift, a typo led me down a rabbit hole and before I knew it, I was lost in a complex labyrinth of historical facts pertaining to the practice. As such, I thought it would be fun to share a brief article about gift giving and its early origins, here in this creativity post.

Early Origins of Gift Giving

Today, gift giving is often associated with milestones and holiday celebrations but the origins of the practice can be traced back thousands of years through cultures around the world. Let’s take a brief look at those origins and some of the ancient traditions.

This practice can be traced back to the beginning of human civilization. According to the paleo-anthropologist Ariane Burke, evidence suggests that between 35,000 and 10,000 years ago our ancestors were exchanging symbolic objects such as personal ornaments, necklaces, and weapon decorations. These objects were integral in establishing and fortifying social connections within communities as well as between them.

The earliest records of gift-giving in Ancient Mesopotamia is found in clay envelopes called bullae, which were used to transport tokens representing gifts. These gifts were often exchanged during ceremonies and festivals. The Sumerians are also believed to have marked the birthdays of their kings with tributes and are said to have gifted offerings to the gods to appease them.

Since the ancient Egyptians believed that everything placed with them followed them to the other side, the deceased were buried with gifts to guarantee them safe passage and a comfortable afterlife. They also gave gifts to their gods, hoping to be rewarded for the offerings with things like protection, health, and wealth.

But these weren’t the only occasions when gifts were presented. Research shows that the ancient Egyptians exchanged wishes of prosperity and divine blessing, which were often accompanied by gifts like vases or small flasks during their new year celebration and Pharaohs were believed to be gifted items on their coronation day.

In Norse traditions, gifts like jewelry and weapons were exchanged between kings, lords, and warriors, to forge alliances, strengthen ties, and reward loyalty.

The Ancient Druids offered gifts to each other and to their deities, often in the form of weapons, livestock, plants, and other useful items. These gifts were symbolic and ceremonial, and were used to form alliances, strengthen bonds, express gratitude, and to celebrate.

In Ancient Greece gifts were often given to express emotion and to build relationships. It was also traditional for parents to gift amulets of protection to their newborn offspring and since it was believed that evil visited a person on their birthday, it was customary to offer wishes and gifts annually to help prevent these visits. Travelers who visited Greek homes were also presented with gifts, just in case they were a God in disguise.

In ancient Rome, the exchange of gifts was customary during festivals such as Saturnalia, as well as during significant life events, like weddings, births, and birthdays throughout the year. According to bmcr.brynmawr.edu the custom of gift-giving shifted away from social obligation and generosity over time, especially during the later Republic, towards a more calculated exchange of favors to secure personal gain.

Gift giving is far from a uniquely human trait, and I am sure many cat enthusiasts would attest to the generous spirits of their feline friends, but did you know that in the wild, crows present small objects to potential mates as part of their courtship rituals? This behavior is also observed when crows interact with humans regularly, possibly signifying a positive relationship or a desire for continued interactions. Researchers believe that crows consciously choose these gifts, selecting items they perceive as interesting and valuable to the recipient.

Bonobos are also well known for gifting. They enjoy giving fruit to other bonobos, even those who aren’t a part of their group, because they enjoy expanding their social network. There are countless more examples of gift-giving behavior among the animal kingdom, but the majority limit their gift giving to their closest kin or during courtship.

Final thoughts

I had a lot of fun learning facts about the early origins of gift giving. The custom of offering something to another person as a token of love, a symbol of appreciation, or a kind gesture has been an extremely important part of social interaction through the ages and while the tradition has changed over time, the essence of the custom remains the same.

I want to thank you for your continued support. I hope that you enjoyed this brief post! Lets look to the future with hope, excited about the chance for a fresh start and the endless possibilities to come. Stay safe and keep being awesome.