Lilith

by Christine Emmert

An artist must defend her infant son against the darkest of predators. The enemy of every hearth, Lilith visits homes and devours children. When a graduate student writing a thesis on Lilith meets the demoness in the shape of a barn owl, she sees the perfect research opportunity ... until she learns Lilith is hungry for her child! Will Evelyn be able to protect her son from the owl's tearing beak and dark heart? Will she be able to keep her husband from falling to Lilith's wiles? Will she be able to learn who -- and what -- Lilith is in time to save her child, her marriage, and her mind? AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTINE EMMERT Dante's Heart Publications : July 20, 2011 DANTE'S HEART. Christine, what made you want to write Lilith? CHRISTINE EMMERT. It was an odd crossroads of buying a book on Medieval Mythology and a barn owl that was living in our open-air garage when we moved to the country. Lilith has many sides. She is the woman who would not bow down to a patriarchal universe. All women have that wish not to defer born into them as little girls. We suppress it as we grow up and evolve into members of a society, but freedom still tastes like the finest wine to us. DH. Could you tell us -- what is your own favorite moment in Lilith? The moment that sits with you most deeply when you close your eyes? CE. When her husband tells her to paint Lilith. My husband is a visual artist, and he can often depict visually what I cannot say in words. The depth of the visual is stunning and scary at the same time. DH. I couldn't agree more. What writers do you admire? CE. I love Katherine Harrison. I think her novel POISON is one of the finest pieces of writing I ever read. I also admire Steven Saylor for his historical fiction -- especially THE VENUS THROW which seems to understand the weaving of good and evil in us on a level that is heart rending. My friend, Stephanie Cowell, who also writes historical fiction is a big inspiration to me in the depth at which she looks at the lives of famous people. Of course I love Shakespeare who could make us sympathize with the blackest heart or make us laugh at our own foolishness. Erica Jung's poetry as well leaves me speechless before her honesty. DH. What else inspires you as a writer -- what gives you energy? CE. I have always found myth as a great source of inspiration. Myth expresses what is behind the great curtain in simple ways we can understand, even if we can't verbalize it. My animals too help me since I must always try harder to see what they want than what people want. To be really syrupy I have to say love inspires me. I could not do what I do without the support of my husband. Before I met him I drowned in my dreams rather than swam through them to the far shore. DH. What is next for you after Lilith? CE. I write plays...and just finished one on Mary Magdalene that I would love to see produced. It is a very different take on what has become an overly familiar story. In addition I want to write more on the mythology of the East. Buddha and the heritage from his teachings has given me new ways of looking at the world. I began a novel, THE DAKINI IN THE CAVE, that braids many myths together.

Genres: Fiction

20 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 28, 2011

About the author

Christine is a writer, actress and director whose work in theatre has spanned over fifty years. Her work has been published and performed throughout the English speaking world. She maintains an active career in her three areas of interest -- presently rehearsing THE WHALES OF AUGUST while
working on new works. She lives presently in Pennsylvania with her husband, Richard, who often joins her in these creative ventures.

Reviews

[Brandon Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Myths and Legends

What is real? Can you research turn into obsession? What happens then? A look at how things may or may not be real and how while knowledge maybe power there is a downside to that as well.

[Raine Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 4.5 stars if I could. I read Lilith at the suggestion of a Twitter friend, and I'm glad I did. This is a short story with a very strong nod toward the stylings of Edgar Allan Poe, one of my favorite writers. I found the writing strong and the work well-edited...and the cover is compelling, as well!

The story is told in the first-person by the protagonist, Eve. She's a new mother living with her son and husband out in the country and working on her master's thesis. Her thesis is about the legend of Lilith, Adam's first mate. As the story continues, it follows Eve's descent into confusion regarding what elements about Lilith "the baby eater" are imagined, and what she thinks she's experiencing first-hand.

I found this a well-paced read that kept me wondering where the author was taking me until the very end. The one thing that didn't work for me was the style of the dialogue and some of the narrator's tone in light of the seemingly modern-day setting. Is this taking place in today's society? I assumed so at first, since this is a female earning her master's degree and it seems commonplace in the narration. However, there were times where the dialogue and narration were decidedly old-fashioned. One example: "I know you think me mad." And a second: "You tell me you go to our barn and discourse with an owl." People today don't speak like this, so I found it confusing.

Overall, however, Lilith is a wonderful, quick and intriguing read.

[☆∞Love Frances∞☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this e book after a friend, Stant Litore, (author too) suggested it on Twitter back in August.
It was a short story that ended way too fast.

I was expecting something that would be interesting but not so memorable.
Lilith was not in beautiful demon form but came as a barn owl in the night looking for her meal- a beautifully chubby baby.
This story of Lilith is beauty and terror combined.

I have always wondered who Lilith was and why she was always the name ppl picked for their female vampires in stories I have read.
This short story explains all I have wanted to known and then some.
It is creative, haunting, and memorable.
Give it a chance if this is not your usual type of story.You will NOT regret it.

[Lis Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Evelyn is a graduate student doing her thesis on the mythical figure Lilith, Adam's first wife. At first all is going well, until Evelyn meets Lilith in the form of a barn owl in her barn. She becomes obsessed, first with the fear that Lilith will steal and devour her infant son, and then that her husband will succumb to Lilith's wiles.

Is the danger real? Who and what is Lilith? Is Evelyn, as her husband fears, losing her emotional grip? The tensions and stresses are growing, between the couple and within Evelyn. And then her husband tells her to paint Lilith.

This is a creepy, atmospheric, very effective novella. Recommended.

[Stant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most haunting story I read in 2011.

[Tiffany Lynn Kramer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I knew going in that Lilith was a short piece but for some reason I expected it to deliver more than it did.

[M. Fenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of Lilith from Book Bloggers, in exchange for an honest review.

Evelyn, a graduate student and new mother, is writing her thesis on the mythical creature/demon, Lilith, only to find the same creature calling to her from her barn. Lilith has taken the shape of an owl, and tells Evelyn that she wants to eat the woman’s baby son. Is this true, or is Evelyn just a little crazy?

Emmert does a good job keeping the reader in the dark about this, but in the way that good horror writers do. Ambiguity, not confusion. The story has an old-school horror feel to it–Shirley Jackson mixed with Lovecraft and Poe–that welcomes you in and keeps you entranced for the length of the tale (a mere 21 pages). Except for a few sentences that I stumbled over, I found Emmert’s use of language lush and lovely. Her characters’ style of speaking did take a little getting used to as it felt very old-fashioned, but this choice worked well for the story, helping to create an eerie and timeless atmosphere. Lilith is a fun dark read.

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads)]

Do to my review policy, this book will have no rating or review. This does not mean this book was bad or good. If you want my opinion on this book, feel free to message me.

[Charles Sr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting dark tale.