Hello everyone, I’m so excited to be here on the Coffee Time Romance blog and thank you so very much for the invitation. I write passionate romance and dangerous adventures under the name of S E Gilchrist. My first published story is due to be released 1st December, by Momentum Publishing as part of the Hot-Down Under erotic anthology.
My story is set in Australia, in the future, in a time where mankind has descended into darkness following years of war and destructive natural forces. Where what technology remains is under the power of the Corporation and available for the Chosen. The other races have been banished to the wastelands to survive if they can. I needed some form of currency which could enable them to trade for technology and medicine.
I decided to draw on the vibrant and mysterious history of gemstones to weave throughout my story. And having lived (and worked) on the gem fields in outback Queensland, I decided sapphires would become the prized currency. This gemstone is the traditional birthstone for September and is derived from the Latin word “sapphires” meaning blue. Sapphires come in different colours and facets. They have many legendary virtues such as protection, truth and constancy. In ages past, they were thought to have strong medicinal powers; very handy to have in a post-apocalyptic world.
The star sapphires are so very different from the glowing stones most people associate as gems and they are known as the ‘stone of destiny’. These gems have three chatoyant bands that form a star, the three bands are believed to represent faith, hope and charity. The yellow sapphires are usually referred to as golden sapphires and are considered an important gemstone. A stone with intense golden yellow was once referred to as “oriental topaz”, “king topaz” or “imperial topaz”.
Australia has several areas where sapphires are mined and we are lucky to also have several types of sapphires buried in our earth. In my story, I made the rich deep yellow-orange sapphires the most valued of all. As you can see from this brief insight into mankind’s past beliefs, such a gem could be of great importance in a primitive society.
The Black Star of Queensland was found in 1935 by a 14 year old boy and is about the size of a hen’s egg. But my favourite would have to be the Autumn Glory. Found in Washpool NSW in 1993, it is a superb oval brilliant yellow to orange sapphire. Unfortunately it disappeared when sent to the USA and investigations are continuing. Now there’s a story!
Did you know there are Australian sapphires believed to be in the Russian Imperial family jewellery? That four American Presidents heads have been carved out of Australian star sapphires?
Did you know tradition has it, the Ten Commandments were carved onto a sapphire?
Have you done any fossicking? If so, what was your best experience or your favourite find?
Mine was, yes you guessed it, a yellow sapphire which I’ve had made into a ring.
I can be found at : www.segilchrist.com www.hot-downunder.com https://twitter.com/SEGilchrist1 www.facebook.com/segilchrist
Paying the Forfeit : My heroine must find sufficient quantity of the prized yellow sapphires as forfeit to ensure her mother and little sisters will be protected from this dangerous world. Either that, or offer herself as a mate to the one man she has always loved, knowing she was never his first choice.
Picture of the Autumn Glory supplied from : http://www.australiansapphire.com/famous_sapphires.htm Thank you.
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