Summoning the Pantheon (Results)

Hey Lovelies! 🩷

First and foremost, I would just like to thank everyone so much for the interest and the entries to this wild idea of a challenge of mine. I wasn’t sure about it, and whether anyone would be keen, but the entries I received have been amazing, they were all so good, it was genuinely hard to decide a top five, let alone winners! Part of me thought about just saying everyone’s a winner and sending you all books! (a little bit more on why I can’t do that anymore soon) But this was a challenge and there needs to be a winner ...

Secondly, I want to offer a heartfelt apology to everyone who entered, due to unforeseen family drama I found I was not in a good head space for much of September, and your poems deserved not only my full attention, but a mind not swarming with garbage … due to this many of your entries were left unread until October … This was not my intention, and if anyone was disheartened or upset by me not reading their poem as early as I should, I am truly sorry to have made you feel that way. Clearly from reading them all, it was not a reflection on your words!

On that note … How do I even begin to explain how amazing the poems all were, like across the board just slice of fried gold after slice of fried gold! I felt like Sisyphus, given the impossible task of deciding how to choose ‘the best’ of these fantastic poems! Please if there’s one thing to take from this, they were ALL amazing and special in their own way, choosing winners felt impossible after reading a few … I kept hoping for a dud, just to make it easier! But no dud ever came!

As I was the only judge there is of course subjectivity to the scores and the winners, I don’t deny that for a second, some people who entered I am friends and interact with on Vocal, however I believe I did not let this sway my scoring. Apart from the criterion of mentioning a character of Greek Myth, a season of weather, and using the ‘nonet’ style of syllable restriction, starting at twelve.

I judged/scored based on three things: Emotion (did it evoke emotional responses/feelings, etc), Gut Reaction (how did I feel in the moments reading the poem? The moments after? The ‘Vibe’ or ‘Mabo’* if you will, and an Overall score (which encompassed the criterion and a general baseline). Each was worth 10 points, so a total of 30 points available. NO ONE scored below 20 in my weird little system that only makes sense to me. The quality and consistency was incredible! (Even things like mentioning my favourite Myths contributed, because no one knew what these were at the start, there was no way to sway me with it)

*Super specific Aussie reference, but couldn’t resist - it’s actually hard to explain quickly.

Okay enough babbling Savy, on to the winners!

Again, I loved all your poems for all different reasons, but a challenge like this means there has to be actual winners ...

Third Place:

Sarah Parker - From Aphrodite’s Lover

To me, this poem captures the idea of love so well ... there's passion and a want, yet fear and trepidation. It resonated with me particularly at this time, as I am currently in a state of equal parts love and fear for someone (that's another story!) But the poem leaves me wanting to know so much more! What happens next? Do these lovers come together? Or did fear win the day ... like it does for so many lovelorn people over the ages?

Check out Sarah's writing, it is wonderful!

Second Place:

Kelsey Clarey - The Midnight Hunt

Holy huntress! This was captivating from word one, syllable one - surely it helped that the twins are two of my favourites, particularly Artemis! The imagery and pace just give this incredible sense of a hunt taking place in the night, but what is being hunted? We'll never know, for the rising sun brings with it the end of the chase! There's something magical about moonlight and night captured in these beautifully crafted words.

Kelsey creates some fantastic pieces, give them a read!

First Place:

Stephanie Hoogstad - The Passion of Persephone and Hades

Okay, full disclosure … Persephone is the name of my niece (my bff’s daughter, but she’s my niece and I will die on that hill) but aside from that, the story of Persephone and Hades is just so beautiful, I’m a big sucker for all the love Myths, but all too often they are tragic … but there’s a beauty in this one, they aren’t torn apart by fate, or cruel twist … simply have to be apart for a time. I like the version where they both do truly love each other,

Stephanie captured that feeling and their love just so well in this poem, it just enraptured me with its energy and imagery, the fated half-love of the rulers of the underworld and the very birth of Spring itself are examined here so well! I feel it ties into cyclical pattern of life and nature better too (yes, we get Autumn and Winter due to Demeter’s grief) but Persephone, the goddess of Spring and life … and Hades, ruler of the underworld and death … their story unfolding in this superbly crafted poem ... is just beautiful!

I've only encountered Stephanie's writing through this poem, so join me in exploring what she has to offer us all!

Winners, let’s figure out how we can arrange the book prize part (Imagine IG might be easiest? @skwilsonauthor) and over the coming week I’ll be hitting up your profiles for the interaction phase of the prize.

All the other entries (in no particular order):

Angela Hepworth

Cindy Calder

Natasja Rose

Natalie Wilkinson

Paul Stewart

KP

Oneg in the Artic

Angela Hepworth

KP

D.J. Reddall

Mike Singleton

So ... there we are, we have come to the end, as all things must be doomed by Moros! On that note I wrote one more poem to mark the end of this Savvy September Challenge!

(Fated Ends)

In the end of our time, when Moros comes for all

Who can say if your life is well lived but you

Lover, fighter, poet, or touch of fate

Doomed like all myth and story before

Summer days end, Winter chill comes

What of your life as it sets

Did you spend it wisely?

Reflect on life and

Remember this

To us all

Moros

Comes

Thank you all again for entering, I really hope you enjoyed the challenge! Savvy Savannah's September Challenge will return! 🩷🩷🩷

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A little side note/story about my book availability …

So, long story short - my book is no longer available anywhere except a few copies I have left. The publisher has gone into liquidation, and it has come to light that there was some really dodgy business practice going on, and one person actions has left hundreds authors hurt and reeling in the wake of it all. I don't see the point of going into every detail, but the short is my book is unavailable through retail for now, and I will need to wait to see if I will be able to gain the rights to my cover and formatted files before looking into republishing. So unfortunately if you were wanting to get a copy, the only way for now is direct through me, while my stocks last.

So winners ... enjoy the limited edition, collector's edition! 🩷

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