Clytemnestra, Queen of Mycenae  Welcome back Myrmidons to Greek Mythology Retold and the Homeric Chronicles. The first 3 episodes were dedicated to establishing the narrative timeline and the next several episodes are grouped together as the: Wonder Women of Greek Mythology. Let’s begin with Clytemnestra. She’s one of the strongest mortal females in the Trojan War narrative. Although she’s a classic tragic heroine, her fatal flaw is one any mother—I’ll bet any father as well—can personally relate to. Her mythological story arc is a long and painful one, punctuated by brief moments of joy she finds in renewed love and the birth of her last child. Also, her inability to grasp how her focus on avenging her daughter’s death stole the joy of the life in front of her is also a uniquely human and relatable experience. Who hasn’t struggled with balancing the past, present and future? As a woman writer of Greek mythology, I find her one of the most intriguing characters to research and write. She’s probably one of my favorites, if not THE favorite. In my episodes 1 and 2, I debunked the 4 egg, simultaneous “hatchings” of Clytemnestra, Helen, Caster and Pollux for a variety of reasons…mostly narrative structures that make sense for humans, and how these characters in particular relate to other, stronger story lines of other major characters. It’s a lot to balance, for sure, but not impossible. In the Homeric Chronicles, Clytemnestra is the elder sister of Helen by a generation. She’s an established widow and a twice married woman by the time Helen is born. I’ll cover all the details of Helen’s conception and birth in a later episode of this Wonder Women of Greek Myth section called: Two Wronged Queens. After Clytemnestra is born, she’s the first princess of Sparta. No doubt Queen Leda had affection for her daughter, but she was already emotionally scarred by Zeus so it makes sense Leda would be one of two ways with Clytemnestra: distant and self-protective or suffocating and over-protective. Both natural reactions to her trauma of being raped by Zeus. What I had to do in the Homeric Chronicles was make a choice for the narrative and HOW that would then shape Clytemnestra’s relationship with her and Clytemnestra’s development as a woman. Knowing what trials Clytemnestra endures, I chose the colder, distant Leda who would then foreshadow what her eldest daughter would become. Unfortunately for Clytemnestra, she (and Helen) is doubly cursed. The first curse comes from within Clytemnestra’s own family. Hesiod informs us in Fragment 67 of the Catalogue of Women that Tyndareus, Clytemnestra and Helen’s father, offended Aphrodite because “while sacrificing to the gods Tyndareus forgot Aphrodite” making the goddess “angry and [so] made his daughters twice and thrice wed and deserters of their husbands.” And Hesiod also says: (ll. 1-7) "And laughter-loving Aphrodite felt jealous when she looked on them and cast them into evil report…and even so Clytemnestra deserted god-like Agamemnon and lay with Aegisthus and chose a worse mate; and even so Helen dishonored the couch of golden-haired Menelaus." What are the implications of Aphrodite’s curse for Clytemnestra and Helen? Basically, they’re doomed to be unvirtuous women, it’s the ancient world’s version of “slut-shaming” the sister’s for something THEIR father did wrong. Maybe it’s because of the first curse that they were destined to be married into the bad luck club of House Atreus, adding the second layer of misfortune. A string of heinous actions, including patricide, infanticide, cannibalism, incest, and adultery can be traced back to Agamemnon’s and Menelaus’ grandfather, Tantalus #1. Tantalus #1 was a crazy sociopath who boiled up his son for dinner and served him to the gods. This was an unforgivable act resulting in him being sent to Tartarus—the dark hole of never-never land-- forever. And the bad luck trickled down through the bloodline of House Atreus to Agamemnon and Menelaus. So, what happened to Clytemnestra happens because of the sins of the men who had societal control of her life. Not unusual in a patriarchal society. Clytemnestra isn’t immune from the curse plaguing House Atreus for several generations. House Atreus is teeming with its share of heinousness, including patricide, infanticide, cannibalism, incest, and adultery traceable all the way back to her great-grandfather Tantalus #1, father to both Thyestes and Atreus. (To avoid confusion at this point, there are 2 or possibly 3 related characters named Tantalus in this story line). Tantalus #1 was a socio-path or just plain crazy because he served his son, Pelops, to the gods for dinner, a particularly unforgivable crime for which he was eternally damned. This is what started the cloud of doom trailing his descendants, including Clytemnestra once she marries Agamemnon. It doesn’t seem that Clytemnestra received any more privileges as a princess than we’d expect women to have in the ancient world. She’s given to her first husband, Tantalus #2, when she was a virgin, so it’s likely she was a bride at 16 or 17. She became a Princess of Mycenae by marriage to Tantalus #2, because his father, Thyestes was King of Mycenae. (OKAY, NOW I have to diverge a bit about all the Tantalus-es because the mythology on Tantalus #2 and #3 is kind of murky. According to Apollodorus and Pausanias, Tantalus #2 was a Prince of Pisa OR the son of Thyestes, and Tantalus #3 is the son of Thyestes. I made a decision in the Homeric Chronicles to merge Tantalus #2 and #3 in to a single character, and I’m going with that the whole way through. What makes for good page turning is that we keep the cannibalism in there. Back on track now… So, after she’s married to Tantalus, they have a child. Not long after that, Agamemnon in cahoots with Tyndareus, Clytemnestra’s father, attacks Mycenae brutally killing Clytemnestra’s first husband and child. This level a trauma scars Clytemnestra’s psyche, planting the seeds of future blood and vengeance. But, when her father forces her to marry Agamemnon those seeds get pushed deeper into fertile soil. In the Homeric Chronicles you’ll watch as she develops a strong core of hate born of grief. She becomes the cold and distant mother Leda was, much for the same reason: being traumatized by the men in their lives. When you experience that kind of pain, it’s natural to distance yourself as a protection against more hurt—even if that means pushing away emotions and people you love, because, well, if something should happen to them, you’d experience more pain. It’s a vicious cycle. Clytemnestra’s marriage to Agamemnon cements the Queen of Mycenae’s complicated foundation. In the Homeric Chronicles chapter 21, there’s a pivotal scene between Leda and her daughter on how to have a measure of power: ________________ “You would have me continue as if he’s done nothing? Even Thyestes received greater mercy than I am expected to endure. Agamemnon killed my husband. My son. Your grandson. Does this mean nothing to you?” Leda took her daughter roughly by the shoulders, shaking her words into the young woman between clenched teeth. “You stupid girl! Have you not learned already? Do you think men the only creatures who go to war? The only ones who gird themselves in armor? You think there’s more bravery in hacking a man in two than the plight of women, who pass by the horror, slipping on the blood and shit of strangers to find their men? Bring them home. Stitch their gaping holes, praying to the gods for their healing all the while knowing death drags them to the Underworld? Every step you take, every word you utter is a strategy in a war for control of your world. Agamemnon has won the first battle.” Tears slid down her daughter’s cheek, and Leda gentled her tone. “Gird yourself, my darling, with your words, your plans. Don’t let him win the war.” The princess wiped the tears from her eyes and stiffened her jaw. “I will rule my world.” “Now, you sound the true Spartan princess.” ______________ Women didn’t have the freedom to choose their own path; who they were-- was defined for them by the men in their lives, first their father and then their husband. Clytemnestra has no choice but to marry the man her father tells her she must, even if he’s the murderer of her first husband. Her life had value only because it legitimized Agamemnon’s claim to the Mycenaean throne. After the marriage, years of calm followed. As did two more children, Orestes and Elektra. Peace held in Mycenae until the day, a Trojan prince absconded with her younger sister, Helen of Sparta—her sister and her husband’s brother’s wife. It’s an affront the “boys of House Atreus” can’t let go. They organize an expedition against Troy. Up to the call to the Second Trojan War, life was fairly calm for Clytemnestra as she worked within her position as Queen of Mycenae and mother of three royal heirs to gain control of her world. She balances her buried grief for the deaths of Tanatlus#2 and her child with the life imposed on her by her father. She uses her feminine wiles to keep Agamemnon and the household loyal to her. But, as Sigmund Freud said: “Unexpressed emotions will never die. They’re buried alive and will come forth in uglier ways.” This couldn’t be more true for Clytemnestra…it wasn’t just because of Iphigenia that she wanted to kill that Agamemnon—it was really for ALL of it—for her late husband, for her child, for Iphigenia, and for being forced to marry him in the first place. She probably thought about putting a knife to her father’s throat more than once. Her desire for vengeance, and perhaps righteously so, is practically a lifelong development. Agamemnon murders their daughter, Iphigenia, at Aulis to get the winds to blow the fleet across the Aegean. This is the second child murdered by the same man, and you can’t help but wonder how that raked up Clytemnestra’s past grief. She mourns Iphigenia alone back in Mycenae, where the coldness of her personality grows colder. This is her fatal flaw as a tragic heroine. She has two children, Elektra and Orestes, both by Agamemnon, who she pushes away because her need for revenge called louder than her heart’s need for love. Perhaps, she feels that she doesn’t deserve love in any form. Another very human aspect of her story line. Who hasn’t struggled with their sense of self-worthiness in the realm of love. In the Homeric Chronicles I write about her complex relationship with Aegisthus passionate and cold in keeping with her character. He says to her, "You're heart is iron." To which she replies, "My heart is ash." In the end she gets the satisfaction of revenge realizing too late the cost of that desire. The loss of her children’s love. Clytemnestra is all at once a tragic figure of a mother’s love gone wrong, a wife’s loyalty broken, and a lover’s inability to truly commit. The curse of House Atreus consumed Clytemnestra along with the rest of Tantalus’ bloodline. Get started on the journey with 1 click. |
 |  |
1 Comment
(Disclaimer: these are my show notes. I do go off script when I podcast, but here's the basic framework)
Hello fellow myth lovers! I’m so excited to share with you the Greek world of the Homeric Chronicles. If you watched the movie Troy and loved it, or felt like you wanted more...If you’re currently watching the BBC One Troy: Fall of a City (or waiting for it to hit your Netflix playlist), this podcast is for you. You’re a Myrmidon. Basically, if you love Greek mythology in any form you’ve come to the right place. Shall we get started?
When I first began toying with the idea it was...what if you could read about all the mythological stories as one seamless tale? I thought, what if George RR Martin was telling it? It would be EPIC! CRAZY HUGE! Can you imagine the cast of characters? It’d be a celebrity Who’s Who of the ancient myth-historic Greek world. And because I love these stories, I got to thinking...what if I wrote it? No way, I can’t do that. Then, I thought, you have a degree in history, why not try? And the Homeric Chronicles was born.
That left me with the million dollar question: Where to start? How to begin? After piles of research, 25 gray hairs carefully dyed dark brown, and a bazillion cups of coffee later, I realized exactly where I needed to start: with Homer. But not just some retelling that was meant to get you to the “great war” or to take you through the bizarre journeys of Odysseus back to Ithaka...It needed to be MORE. Much more! But, Homer’s work in the Iliad and Odyssey definitely provide the backbone. I wove many other stories that touched on the characters in Homer’s work into the structure of the spine. The major heroes and heroines of Homer’s tales are entwined with so many other characters I had to dig deep, b/c it’s chronological, I had to make some hard choices. The original myth-makers weren’t worried about telling stories that made chronological sense outside of the story they were reciting. But for the Homeric Chronicles to be what I envisioned that’s exactly what I had to do.
I wanted to include the regulars: Achilles, Paris, Hektor, Odysseus, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Helen, Hecuba, Cassandra, Andromache, Leda, Deidamia, Priam, Tyndareus, Peleus, Thetis, and Chiron just to name a few. And include characters like Palamedes, the poor guy who unfortunately pissed off Odysseus, Tantalus the first husband of Clytemnestra, Oenone Paris’s first wife, Peisidike the Methymnaan princess in love with Achilles, well, you get the picture. Now, I was tasked with putting the myths in chronological order, and keeping them all easy to connect with.
It wasn’t until I fell in love with GRRM’s SOIAF that I knew structuring a story of this epic scale was possible. I take you along several characters’ journeys through five major kingdoms. And after the movie Troy ruthlessly cut them out (and I wonder if David Benioff wishes now that he hadn’t), I put the pantheon of gods and goddesses back in there.
On to chronology: The first chronological hiccup involved Helen, Paris and Achilles. Let’s start with Paris, in particular: the Judgment of Paris. Most people familiar with the story assume that Paris gives the judgment of the fairest goddess to Aphrodite and leaves to Sparta not long after. But, it just doesn’t make sense that way, not in the context of the larger EPIC tale. Let me explain:
The golden apple contest that caused the Athena, Aphrodite and Hera to seek Paris as the judge occurred at the wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis. These are Achilles parents. So, Achilles, the greatest fighter of all the Greeks has NOT been born yet. He’s the star of the Iliad. So, the judgment of Paris takes place soon after the wedding feast, before Achilles is conceived and born. Why does this matter? Because, we have to wait at least 15 to 18 years for Achilles to grow up, get trained, and father a son, Neoptolemus, BEFORE Odysseus can discover him on Skyros, dressed like a girl and call our hero into action. This means two things: Paris has to be at least 15-18 years old to be considered MAN enough to judge the goddesses (he’s not an 8 yr old judging 3 of the most powerful females in the story); therefore, Paris is 15-18 years older than Achilles. Most movies and books depict Paris and Achilles about the same age, or as in Troy make Paris much younger than Achilles. It’s all wrong. Paris is definitely Achilles’ elder.
That raises the next logical question: When does Paris meet and woo Helen? Because that is the EVENT that brings the Argives, Achaeans, Danaans to Troy. Paris couldn’t have taken off with Helen any time soon following the judgment because that would mean Paris and Helen would’ve been in Troy for years before Menelaus even tried to get her back...B/C we’d be waiting for Achilles to get born and come of age. Even if you take the whole Paris and Helen get lost in Egypt into consideration that still leaves too many years in between the kidnapping and the attempted rescue. Remember, no matter what, Achilles has to be old enough to lead the Myrmidons and have fathered a child before he goes to Troy, as other prophecies depend on it.
Hello fellow myth lovers! I’m so excited to share with you the Greek world of the Homeric Chronicles. If you watched the movie Troy and loved it, or felt like you wanted more...If you’re currently watching the BBC One Troy: Fall of a City (or waiting for it to hit your Netflix playlist), this podcast is for you. You’re a Myrmidon. Basically, if you love Greek mythology in any form you’ve come to the right place. Shall we get started?
When I first began toying with the idea it was...what if you could read about all the mythological stories as one seamless tale? I thought, what if George RR Martin was telling it? It would be EPIC! CRAZY HUGE! Can you imagine the cast of characters? It’d be a celebrity Who’s Who of the ancient myth-historic Greek world. And because I love these stories, I got to thinking...what if I wrote it? No way, I can’t do that. Then, I thought, you have a degree in history, why not try? And the Homeric Chronicles was born.
That left me with the million dollar question: Where to start? How to begin? After piles of research, 25 gray hairs carefully dyed dark brown, and a bazillion cups of coffee later, I realized exactly where I needed to start: with Homer. But not just some retelling that was meant to get you to the “great war” or to take you through the bizarre journeys of Odysseus back to Ithaka...It needed to be MORE. Much more! But, Homer’s work in the Iliad and Odyssey definitely provide the backbone. I wove many other stories that touched on the characters in Homer’s work into the structure of the spine. The major heroes and heroines of Homer’s tales are entwined with so many other characters I had to dig deep, b/c it’s chronological, I had to make some hard choices. The original myth-makers weren’t worried about telling stories that made chronological sense outside of the story they were reciting. But for the Homeric Chronicles to be what I envisioned that’s exactly what I had to do.
I wanted to include the regulars: Achilles, Paris, Hektor, Odysseus, Menelaus, Agamemnon, Helen, Hecuba, Cassandra, Andromache, Leda, Deidamia, Priam, Tyndareus, Peleus, Thetis, and Chiron just to name a few. And include characters like Palamedes, the poor guy who unfortunately pissed off Odysseus, Tantalus the first husband of Clytemnestra, Oenone Paris’s first wife, Peisidike the Methymnaan princess in love with Achilles, well, you get the picture. Now, I was tasked with putting the myths in chronological order, and keeping them all easy to connect with.
It wasn’t until I fell in love with GRRM’s SOIAF that I knew structuring a story of this epic scale was possible. I take you along several characters’ journeys through five major kingdoms. And after the movie Troy ruthlessly cut them out (and I wonder if David Benioff wishes now that he hadn’t), I put the pantheon of gods and goddesses back in there.
On to chronology: The first chronological hiccup involved Helen, Paris and Achilles. Let’s start with Paris, in particular: the Judgment of Paris. Most people familiar with the story assume that Paris gives the judgment of the fairest goddess to Aphrodite and leaves to Sparta not long after. But, it just doesn’t make sense that way, not in the context of the larger EPIC tale. Let me explain:
The golden apple contest that caused the Athena, Aphrodite and Hera to seek Paris as the judge occurred at the wedding feast of Peleus and Thetis. These are Achilles parents. So, Achilles, the greatest fighter of all the Greeks has NOT been born yet. He’s the star of the Iliad. So, the judgment of Paris takes place soon after the wedding feast, before Achilles is conceived and born. Why does this matter? Because, we have to wait at least 15 to 18 years for Achilles to grow up, get trained, and father a son, Neoptolemus, BEFORE Odysseus can discover him on Skyros, dressed like a girl and call our hero into action. This means two things: Paris has to be at least 15-18 years old to be considered MAN enough to judge the goddesses (he’s not an 8 yr old judging 3 of the most powerful females in the story); therefore, Paris is 15-18 years older than Achilles. Most movies and books depict Paris and Achilles about the same age, or as in Troy make Paris much younger than Achilles. It’s all wrong. Paris is definitely Achilles’ elder.
That raises the next logical question: When does Paris meet and woo Helen? Because that is the EVENT that brings the Argives, Achaeans, Danaans to Troy. Paris couldn’t have taken off with Helen any time soon following the judgment because that would mean Paris and Helen would’ve been in Troy for years before Menelaus even tried to get her back...B/C we’d be waiting for Achilles to get born and come of age. Even if you take the whole Paris and Helen get lost in Egypt into consideration that still leaves too many years in between the kidnapping and the attempted rescue. Remember, no matter what, Achilles has to be old enough to lead the Myrmidons and have fathered a child before he goes to Troy, as other prophecies depend on it.
My research took me to Apollodorus (a 2nd century AD compilation of ancient texts) which states in 3.13.8 that Achilles was 9 when he was taken to Skyros, because Odysseus was looking for him due to a prophecy by Agamemnon’s seer, Kalchus. There is some consensus that Achilles left Skyros at about 15. But let’s break this down chronologically and logically.
1. If Odysseus is looking for Achilles when Achilles is 9 and that’s why Thetis hid him as a girl, then he has to be hiding there for years before he’s old enough to get the princess Deidamia pregnant. So, for all these years, what are the Greeks under assembled under Agamemnon’s banner doing in Aulis? Twiddling their thumbs? Sewing sails? Getting sunburns? If the consensus is correct (and we have to make choices to be consistent) at least 6 years (give or take) have to pass until Odysseus finds Achilles.
2. I recall reading that there were TWO calls to war that met at Aulis...the first one which assembled the Greek tribes went to Aulis was a bust b/c they needed Achilles, so everyone went home and waited...then returned...years later? after Achilles was found? This doesn’t make any sense...it would’ve been a monumental feat getting that many ships and men from all across the Greek world assembled just once, but twice? And in all his searching, Odysseus never makes it back to Ithaka to sneak a little love time in with Penelope? I don’t buy it.
3. What makes sense in the human and mytho-historic terms is that Achilles is 9 when he goes to Skyros with Thetis fully aware about Achilles’ dual fate, and that some day he’d have a huge decision to make. When the call to Aulis came, 6 or so years later, that’s when Odysseus and Ajax find him. It gives time for him to grow up, father a son. I do give Achilles a few more years, rounding out his age at 18. Why? Because I used the historic figure, Alexander the Great, as a model. Alexander distinguished himself at Chaeronea at 18, so makes sense that a young man at 18 could indeed be seen to lead an army of warriors (Myrmidons).
Well, Myrmidons, times up for today. Up next time let’s take a deeper look into Helen’s age and how placing her story in chronological sequence was challenging, but not impossible.
For now--
What do you think about Paris being 18 years older than Achilles? that Helen couldn’t have been born at the time of the judgment?
How do you think a comprehensive timeline will change up the Greek myths as you know them?
1. If Odysseus is looking for Achilles when Achilles is 9 and that’s why Thetis hid him as a girl, then he has to be hiding there for years before he’s old enough to get the princess Deidamia pregnant. So, for all these years, what are the Greeks under assembled under Agamemnon’s banner doing in Aulis? Twiddling their thumbs? Sewing sails? Getting sunburns? If the consensus is correct (and we have to make choices to be consistent) at least 6 years (give or take) have to pass until Odysseus finds Achilles.
2. I recall reading that there were TWO calls to war that met at Aulis...the first one which assembled the Greek tribes went to Aulis was a bust b/c they needed Achilles, so everyone went home and waited...then returned...years later? after Achilles was found? This doesn’t make any sense...it would’ve been a monumental feat getting that many ships and men from all across the Greek world assembled just once, but twice? And in all his searching, Odysseus never makes it back to Ithaka to sneak a little love time in with Penelope? I don’t buy it.
3. What makes sense in the human and mytho-historic terms is that Achilles is 9 when he goes to Skyros with Thetis fully aware about Achilles’ dual fate, and that some day he’d have a huge decision to make. When the call to Aulis came, 6 or so years later, that’s when Odysseus and Ajax find him. It gives time for him to grow up, father a son. I do give Achilles a few more years, rounding out his age at 18. Why? Because I used the historic figure, Alexander the Great, as a model. Alexander distinguished himself at Chaeronea at 18, so makes sense that a young man at 18 could indeed be seen to lead an army of warriors (Myrmidons).
Well, Myrmidons, times up for today. Up next time let’s take a deeper look into Helen’s age and how placing her story in chronological sequence was challenging, but not impossible.
For now--
What do you think about Paris being 18 years older than Achilles? that Helen couldn’t have been born at the time of the judgment?
How do you think a comprehensive timeline will change up the Greek myths as you know them?
You can find out by reading the Homeric Chronicles
Song of Sacrifice and Rise of Princes
Love to hear your thoughts, answer questions, and connect with my fellow Greek mythology lovers.
Come on tweet me!
Join my mailing list for updates and Greeky things!
Until next time, let’s take the advice given to Menelaus in the Cypria: “know that the gods made wine the best thing for mortal man to scatter cares.” Drink your wine and be merry Myrmidons.
Song of Sacrifice and Rise of Princes
Love to hear your thoughts, answer questions, and connect with my fellow Greek mythology lovers.
Come on tweet me!
Join my mailing list for updates and Greeky things!
Until next time, let’s take the advice given to Menelaus in the Cypria: “know that the gods made wine the best thing for mortal man to scatter cares.” Drink your wine and be merry Myrmidons.
Start the journey...
|
Thomas David, Goofy, Nerdy, and SEXY as heck...
I've known Tommy for about 3 years now. We met on-line when I was working with Regina Wamba of Mae I Design for a book cover, and he happened to be one of the cover models I was considering. When it came time to actually do a project together, as the cover model for the second book in the Homeric Chronicles, he came out to California. The photo shoot was organized by Tim Huitt of Huitt Photography. We had a funny "meet-cute" story. Since I didn't really know what he looked like in person, nor he me, we actually lost each other in the airport! Well, needless to say, he has become a great friend and he knows how to make everyone laugh. He's funny, sweet and an all-around great guy. Ladies, he's single and waiting on that special blend of nerdy-cute. Let me introduce you to THOMAS DAVID.
1. I notice you’re on several book covers. How did you get started doing that? What’s it like being in a cover shoot? Do you ever get nervous?
My agency at the time, Privileged Model Management, introduced me to Regina Wamba. (She's amazing!) I've been on a total of 15 book covers. [Soon Rise of Princes!!!] I'm so grateful for the opportunities she has given me. She is amazing to work with and always pairs me up with someone who I have amazing chemistry with so we can really make that magic when we all work together. Do I get nervous doing book covers? No, I'm usually really happy and excited because I get to work with a gorgeous woman.
2. You’re a very handsome guy and also do modeling! Tell us about some of the recent shoots you’ve done. What’s your goal with modeling? Is it something you want to do more of, expand on, like acting?
Modeling is awesome. I've had many experiences on the runway for Ray Edwards clothing line, Janice Dickinson fashion show, Kate Grahams Sexy in the Twins cities fashion show and many more. I've been in "Pop Star" magazine and Home Defender magazine. I worked with Raul Osorio from Project Runway on the Ice Pack show modeling his clothing on television. One of my biggest accomplishments, even though I didn't get on the show, was I making it to the semi-finals for America's Next Top Model (ANTM). I'm still happy to this day for trying and getting so close. I've done a lot and so much more but what truly makes me happy is acting. I love the feeling it gives me and making others smile. I love getting into characters and making them my own. There's not one day where I don't practice acting. It's me and it's who I am. I dream of being in movies and I'll keeping striving to get there because that's how winning is done.
3. You recently won a physical fitness title. Tell us about that. What did you do? How difficult/easy was it?
I did a Herbalife 8 week challenge. I took 1st place Grand Champ for the most change in my body. I looked jacked. It was hard because I ate extremely clean. I like to eat and I eat a lot but I still did it and didn't crack no matter how much I wanted a doughnut. Lol!
4. I know all the ladies want to know: Are you single? Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes, I'm single but I think I may found my superwoman/princess Leia. Yes, I do but she never tends to look back for some reason.
5. In your videos, you’re often doing impressions. You’re funny. When did you realize you had this talent? What’s your favorite impersonation?
I do impersonations all the time. It's my hobby and it's why I love acting. I can do hundreds of voices. It comes very easy to me. Honestly, I'd rather talk in one of my voices than my normal voice. I could fool a lot of people. Jim Carrey, Robert Downey Jr., Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are my favorite voices and those tend to come out daily. I've done this ever since I was a young calf. Lol! I was always doing impersonations of things I saw on television.
6. Lately, you’ve been all about Pokémon Go. You are a collector, right? Tell us about your collection. How old were you when you started? What’s your most prized possession?
I've been a Pokemon fan since I was a kid. I have a collection of the cards and actually I collect Star Wars items too. I have a life size R2D2 in my kitchen. Lol!
7. I see you like to watch movies. What are your top three movies and why?
Tropic Thunder, Bruce Almighty, The Hobbit.
8. You have a minor obsession with the Batman. Great mask by the way! What is it about Batman that draws you to his character?
I can sound like him and several other characters from the Dark Knight. Batman is just badass. I just love getting into characters.
9. What fascinates you about life?
The movie and entertainment business. I want to be behind the camera and learn how everything works.
10. At the end of all things, when light fades to black, what is the only thing that’s real?
The relationships we build, out families and friends. The things we do for each other. And sweet baby infant Jesus. The good memories. The people that help you try to reach your goals.
1. I notice you’re on several book covers. How did you get started doing that? What’s it like being in a cover shoot? Do you ever get nervous?
My agency at the time, Privileged Model Management, introduced me to Regina Wamba. (She's amazing!) I've been on a total of 15 book covers. [Soon Rise of Princes!!!] I'm so grateful for the opportunities she has given me. She is amazing to work with and always pairs me up with someone who I have amazing chemistry with so we can really make that magic when we all work together. Do I get nervous doing book covers? No, I'm usually really happy and excited because I get to work with a gorgeous woman.
2. You’re a very handsome guy and also do modeling! Tell us about some of the recent shoots you’ve done. What’s your goal with modeling? Is it something you want to do more of, expand on, like acting?
Modeling is awesome. I've had many experiences on the runway for Ray Edwards clothing line, Janice Dickinson fashion show, Kate Grahams Sexy in the Twins cities fashion show and many more. I've been in "Pop Star" magazine and Home Defender magazine. I worked with Raul Osorio from Project Runway on the Ice Pack show modeling his clothing on television. One of my biggest accomplishments, even though I didn't get on the show, was I making it to the semi-finals for America's Next Top Model (ANTM). I'm still happy to this day for trying and getting so close. I've done a lot and so much more but what truly makes me happy is acting. I love the feeling it gives me and making others smile. I love getting into characters and making them my own. There's not one day where I don't practice acting. It's me and it's who I am. I dream of being in movies and I'll keeping striving to get there because that's how winning is done.
3. You recently won a physical fitness title. Tell us about that. What did you do? How difficult/easy was it?
I did a Herbalife 8 week challenge. I took 1st place Grand Champ for the most change in my body. I looked jacked. It was hard because I ate extremely clean. I like to eat and I eat a lot but I still did it and didn't crack no matter how much I wanted a doughnut. Lol!
4. I know all the ladies want to know: Are you single? Do you believe in love at first sight?
Yes, I'm single but I think I may found my superwoman/princess Leia. Yes, I do but she never tends to look back for some reason.
5. In your videos, you’re often doing impressions. You’re funny. When did you realize you had this talent? What’s your favorite impersonation?
I do impersonations all the time. It's my hobby and it's why I love acting. I can do hundreds of voices. It comes very easy to me. Honestly, I'd rather talk in one of my voices than my normal voice. I could fool a lot of people. Jim Carrey, Robert Downey Jr., Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger are my favorite voices and those tend to come out daily. I've done this ever since I was a young calf. Lol! I was always doing impersonations of things I saw on television.
6. Lately, you’ve been all about Pokémon Go. You are a collector, right? Tell us about your collection. How old were you when you started? What’s your most prized possession?
I've been a Pokemon fan since I was a kid. I have a collection of the cards and actually I collect Star Wars items too. I have a life size R2D2 in my kitchen. Lol!
7. I see you like to watch movies. What are your top three movies and why?
Tropic Thunder, Bruce Almighty, The Hobbit.
8. You have a minor obsession with the Batman. Great mask by the way! What is it about Batman that draws you to his character?
I can sound like him and several other characters from the Dark Knight. Batman is just badass. I just love getting into characters.
9. What fascinates you about life?
The movie and entertainment business. I want to be behind the camera and learn how everything works.
10. At the end of all things, when light fades to black, what is the only thing that’s real?
The relationships we build, out families and friends. The things we do for each other. And sweet baby infant Jesus. The good memories. The people that help you try to reach your goals.
Just a little compilation video of the Malibu shoot for Rise of Princes
If you enjoyed this post, give it a LIKE or a TWEET :) And by all means, SHARE :) If you'd like a heads up on future Big Ten Interviews or giveaways, join my email list. The only spam I like is with my eggs.
© Janell Rhiannon 2016
Any information from this blog must be properly cited :)
© Janell Rhiannon 2016
Any information from this blog must be properly cited :)
Author
Janell Rhiannon
"Though she be but little, she is fierce."
-Shakespeare
Archives
November 2025
April 2022
June 2020
May 2020
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
October 2016
September 2016
July 2016
June 2016
December 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
July 2013
Categories
All
Achilles
Adult
A Jacob Sweeney
Amanda Hocking
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
Anna Snow
Apryl Baker
Audrey Grey
Barry Duffield
B.C. Morin
Beach Reads
Benjaminoftomes
Bethany Adams
Big Ten
Big Ten Interview
Blog Tour
Book Cover Model
Breast
Breastfeeding
Breasts
Bubblegum Blonde
Cameo Renae
Chicago Romance
Christian Fiction
Crixus
Dice Game
Dystopian
Elves
Emily Wilson
Erotica
Fairies
Fantasy
Fiction
Gargoyles
Grandmother
Grandmothers
Greek Heroes
Greek Heroines
Greek Mythology
Greek Mythology Retold
Greek Pottery
Greek Warrior
Guardian Angel
Happy Father's Day
Hector
Hecuba
Heir Of Darkness
Hektor
Helen Of Sparta
Helen Of Troy
Historical Romance
Homeric Chronicles
Iliad
Indie Publishing
Invisible Wings
Janell Rhiannon
Kendall Grey
Kiss
Kt Webb
Leda
LGBTQ
Livingstone Saga
Love
Lugo
Malibu Photo Shoot
Medieval
Mythology
Nerdgirlofficial
New Adult
Non-binary
Odysseus
Odyssey
Paranormal
Paris
Parnormal Romance
Penelope
Penned Con
Podcast
Poetry
Rachel Higginson
Randi Cooley Wilson
Rise Of Princes
Sci-fi
Sexy
Sexy Feet
Shadow Fall
Soldiers
Song Of Princes
Song Of Sacrifice
Song Of War
Spain
Spartacus
Spartacus Starz
Stepanie Thornton
The Coven Series
The Oath
The Promise
Thomas David
Tracy James Jones
Transgender
Trojan War
Trojan War Fiction
Trojan War Timeline
Vampires
Writing
YA
RSS Feed