Kale Lawrence's Blog

In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to showcase the incredibly strong women of The Magi Menagerie. Quite a lot has changed since 1906 in regards to women’s rights and while the three POVs throughout The Magi Menagerie are in the eyes of men, I wanted to make sure to hone in on the fact that they wouldn’t have made it through without these powerful women in their lives!

To shed some light on just how different the world was in the early 1900s, let’s dive into some of the most interesting research I came across while writing book one. Get this: women school teachers had to abide by a very strict set of rules. As a female teacher in 1906, Kierra would not have been allowed to marry during her teaching term, would not have been permitted to smoke cigarettes or EVER dye her hair, nor would she have been allowed in the presence of any man unless it was her father or brother, just to name a few. Bizarre, right? But also, all her time spent with Jonas, Diego, and Zaire pretty much breaks her contract.

In Chapter 18 of The Magi Menagerie, Kierra walks into a pub donning her suffragette attire including a green sash that says “Votes for Women.” During this time period, not only were women fighting for broad-based economic and political equality and for social reforms, women also sought to change the voting laws. In 1906, the term suffragette was coined from the word suffragist (ANY person advocating for voting rights), in order to belittle the women advocating women’s suffrage. I really wanted to showcase this to remind readers that as a society, we have come a tremendous way in the last century. It was a nod to the strong women who came before us and the strong women who continue to lead us into the future.

Another fascinating thing I discovered during my research was the average age expectancy of women in 1906. Today, people don’t bat an eye when you live into your 90s. But at the turn of the century, the average age a woman lived to was her early 50s. Originally, I wrote the character of Annabelle as a woman in her upper 60s (and honestly, I still think of her as such) but in all reality, she might not have lived to that age at all. Nevertheless, she is one of my strongest female characters, and she’ll continue to be a driving force in The Magi Manifesto.

As Women’s History Month draws to an end, let’s not forget the brave women who came before us—the Kierras and Annabelles of the world—and empower the younger generations of women for ages to come.

xxKL

The post Celebrate Women in History through the lens of The Magi Menagerie! appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Just look at these beauties! I worked with the extremely talented artist Erin Manzanilla on these pieces and couldn’t be happier. If you’ve read The Magi Menagerie, what did you think of these scenes?

Cheers,

xxKL

The post Have you seen this Magi Menagerie artwork yet? appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

It’s been a long time coming, but I am finally able to reveal the cover for The Magi Manifesto! Again, my cover artist knocked this one out of the park in terms of design, colors, and everything. What a better way to celebrate the Aquarius New Moon right now with a kickass cover?

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Also, as I was just flipping through my copy of The Magi Menagerie, I realized today marks the 116th anniversary of the Newports fleeing London for their new Ireland home. Don’t laugh, author’s fictional timelines are SO REAL. So real.

If you haven’t yet, go add The Magi Manifesto to your Goodreads shelf! 

More news on The Magi Manifesto is coming soon, but until then, keep an eye on my Instagram for updates.

Cheers, 

xxKL

The post It’s HERE! The cover of The Magi Manifesto has been revealed! appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

[VIDEO TRANSCRIPT] Over two thousand years ago, a group of wise men traveled across the pages of ancient religious texts, only to disappear from history. But just who were the Magi from the East? Where did they come from? And why do they enrapture the curiosities of millions of people every holiday season? Or, you know…at least me. 

Hi. I’m Kale Lawrence, and I have a ridiculous obsession with the Magi. But, I think that’s pretty evident by now. Most of what I knew when I first started writing The Magi Menagerie stemmed from what I’d heard during church services and what I saw in traditional Christmas nativities. But, as I dove head first into my research, I soon learned that their story was so much more than I could’ve ever imagined.

Wise Men, Magi, or Kings?

Despite popular belief–and an unfortunate mistranslation of early Biblical texts–the Magi were not kings. In fact, the original Greek text of the Gospel of Matthew specifically says “Magos,” referencing them as Persian astrologers. 

These astrologers weren’t necessarily “sorcerers” or blessed with magical abilities. Instead, they were part of a society that had served kings for centuries, including Babylonian Kings. If you’re familiar with the Biblical character of Daniel from the Lion’s Den story, you’ll know he eventually went on to serve King Nebuchadnezzar as Chief of the Magi. 

Essentially, the Magi were advisors to royalty, and excelled in dream interpretation, astrology, alchemy, and mathematics. They were not–and never were–kings. So, when you’re singing the carol “We Three Kings” this year, you might want to change that to “We Three Magi.” Nah. That’s not as catchy.

The Magi and Nativity Scenes Don't Mix

One of the biggest myths surrounding the Magi is that they were at the manger when Jesus Christ was born. That is not true. See, it took the Magi time to get to Bethlehem and when they finally arrived, they stopped at King Herod’s palace first to ask where the King of the Jews had been born. 

Fueled by jealousy, King Herod ordered the Magi to tell him where Jesus was so that he may also worship him. Well, the Magi could see right through his schemes so they peaced out. But, they did find Mary and Jesus–and ancient scripture says they were in their home. To really solidify this fact, King Herod ordered the decree to kill any boy less than 2 years old to try to weed out this “King of the Jews.” He specifically says this because the Magi noted the star had appeared quite some time ago. This is referred to as the Massacre of Innocents and while it isn’t known exactly how many toddlers were killed, it is estimated it could have been anywhere from 14,000 to 64,000. 

Needless to stay, all those nativity scenes with the Magi are technically lying to you. Oopsie.

We Three (?) Kings

The Bible never says how many Magi there were. However, three was the consensus in early Christianity because there were three gifts.  In some traditions, it’s noted there could have been around 12 Magi traveling in the caravan. We do not know how many there were, and we don’t know their names. Mysterious.

The Slaughter of the Magi

While the Magi were revered by Kings, they weren’t always treated with respect. In fact, in 522 B.C., an immigrant group of Magi living in Persia were nearly wiped out. 

The exact details aren’t inherently clear–and there are plenty of conflicting reports–but historians believe the Magi were blamed for a political coup in Persia. The result was horrific: Darius the First ran throughout the kingdom senselessly killing Magi. He even ordered his own people to arm themselves and kill any Magi they could find. Magi were dragged into the streets, beheaded, and cut to pieces. Herodotus even said “If nightfall had not stopped them, they would have not left one Magus alive.”

That is truly horrific. But even more horrific, the Slaughter of the Magi became an annual holiday. This genocide was celebrated with a massive feast and considered the “greatest holy day that all Persians keep.” Terrifying. But, you know, ironically familiar. 

Their Legend Continues

While the Magi seemingly just disappeared into the folds of time, their legend lives on. In fact, on January 6, the day of Epiphany is still celebrated in honor of the Magi visiting Baby Jesus. That King Cake you see typically associated with Mardi Gras? It also has roots in the Magi’s story. And entertainment still draws inspiration from their legend…ahem. Yeah. 

No matter your beliefs, the story of the Magi is one all of us can readily appreciate. May it continue to be a shining light leading us to new and daring places.

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biblical_Magihttps://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/who-were-the-wise-men-of-the-christmas-story.html

https://forwhatsaiththescriptures.org/2014/12/21/wise-men/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Magi

https://earlychurchhistory.org/beliefs-2/who-were-the-magi/

https://time.com/5923009/three-kings-wisemen-history-magi-bible/

https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/bible-scholar-brent-landau-asks-who-were-the-magi/

https://www.christianity.com/jesus/birth-of-jesus/star-and-magi/who-were-the-magi.html

https://www.biblegateway.com/blog/2017/12/who-were-the-magi/

https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/cgg/ID/12799/Daniel-as-Chief-over-Magi.htm

https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-important-events/slaughter-magi-ancient-persia-genocide-annual-holiday-0010291

https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/magi

The post Who Were the Magi? | A Short Documentary appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Has it been a journey or what?! From September’s launch of The Magi Menagerie to my brother’s wedding in October, and wrapping on my publicity campaign, time has been extra elusive. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of great things going on behind the curtains, so here’s a quick rundown of what to expect, coming soon! 

Audiobook Production

I’ve been working with award-winning narrator AJ Carter on producing the audiobook for The Magi Menagerie. When I was auditioning voice actors, I really wanted to find someone who could not only do distinct character voices, but also someone who could pour as much emotion into the project as I did writing it.  AJ was the perfect match. It’s sounding SO GOOD; I cannot wait for you to hear it! When it’s released, it’ll be available on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes. Stay tuned for details on an audiobook giveaway.  

NYC Campaign

One of my dreams is coming true: on certain days in November and December, you’ll see a billboard for The Magi Menagerie in Times Square!  Along with the billboard, The Magi Menagerie ebook will be free to download on specific platforms, particularly Apple Books. So, if you’ve been on the fence about buying it, watch out for this campaign!

The Magi Manifesto

News on Book 2 has dropped! The Magi Manifesto is slated for release December 13, 2022. While that seems like a long ways away, it’s actually a pretty quick turn around for the publishing industry, and definitely the fastest project I’ve done. Despite this, I want to make sure it’s polished to perfection. 

What can readers expect? A faster pace, more secrets revealed, and stakes that rise to impossible heights. Legends and history will intertwine with the narrative as the Magi come face to face with their worst fear: exposure to the public. The official summary is coming soon, but until then, make sure to mark it to read on your Goodreads shelf.  

2022 Book Tour

I’m already scheduling appearances throughout 2022 and cannot wait to chat with readers across the United States. Of course, all of this is pending the health situation. More to come!  

Keep up with me on Instagram and TikTok!  

The post Updates & Other Awesomeness appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Watch the official book trailer for “The Magi Menagerie,” available September 7, 2021.

The post The Magi Menagerie Official Book Trailer | “Words of the Shahmaran” appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Kale talks about the real life inspiration behind the settings in “The Magi Menagerie.”

The post Tea Time with Kale | Episode 10: Places in The Magi Menagerie appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Kale discusses how a five draft approach could turn your work in progress to a polished gem. 

The post Tea Time with Kale | Episode 9: Drafting Queen appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Kale introduces the three main POV protagonists in The Magi Menagerie, including what they’d have on their Instagram profiles and what their personality type is according to 16 Personalities.

The post Tea Time with Kale | Episode 8: If My Characters Got Instagram appeared first on Kale Lawrence.

Kale discusses exciting updates regarding the release of “The Magi Menagerie” and why she decided to pursue independent publishing.

The post Tea Time with Kale | Episode 7: Updates and Awesomeness appeared first on Kale Lawrence.