Written in the Ashes (68 page)

4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother,

5. The wind hath carried it in its belly, the earth its nurse.

6. The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.

7. Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.

7a. Separate thou the earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross sweetly with great industry.

8. It ascends from the earth to the heaven again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.

9. By this means ye shall have the glory of the whole world thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.

10. Its force is above all force. For it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.

11a. So was the world created.

12. From this are and do come admirable adaptations whereof the means (Or process) is here in this.

13. Hence I am called Hermes Trismegist, having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.

14. That which I have said of the operation of the Sun is accomplished and ended.

Book Club Discussion Questions

1. How do you see Hannah’s identity change throughout the story? Who do you think she becomes in the end?

2. What symbolism does the author employ throughout the story? What symbol do you relate to most? What meaning does it hold for you?

3. How do the characters of Gideon and Julian reflect different aspects of love? Why do you think Hannah chooses to marry Gideon?

4. Rather than disposing of Bishop Cyril in the end, the author chose to give this character a very different fate in the story. How do you feel about what happens to him?

5. What do you think the character of Hypatia represents, and how do you feel about her fate?

6. Do you see any commonalities between these ancient times and problems people are dealing with today?

7. Why do you suppose the author chose to make the hero of this story a woman instead of a man? Do you think a heroine’s journey is different than a hero’s? If so, how?

8. Which character did you most relate to? Why?

9. Why do you think the Emerald Tablet was left a mystery in the novel?

10. How do you think the world might be different today if the Great Library of Alexandria had been saved?

11. Discuss the presence of the angel in the novel. Did the author’s use of this symbolism surprise you?

12. Why do you think the author chose the title “Written in the Ashes” for her novel? (Discuss and then reference the poem “The Journey” by Irish poet David Whyte.)

A Special Invitation From The Author

Dear Beloved Reader,

As a new author, there is no one in the world more important to me than you. To honor your interest in my work I created a special club that is free to you called “Hannah’s Friends”. You will receive insider access to several unpublished chapters from this book including Hannah’s initiation as a priestess of Isis, rare video interviews of me talking about the behind-the-scenes of writing this novel, special bonus gifts, and stories about learning from my mentor, author Tom Robbins.
Written in the Ashes
was also optioned for television by Academy Award-winning producer Mark R. Harris, and I would also love to let you know how that journey progresses. Plus, you will be the first to hear about books two and three in The Mediterranean Trilogy!

To become one of Hannah’s Friends, please be sure to visit
www.WrittenInTheAshes.com/Hannah
and enter your name and this book’s ISBN # (the thirteen digits listed on the copyright page at the front of the novel) in the fields.

I invite you to join the K. Hollan Van Zandt page on Facebook to discuss the novel, contact me and share your reader review. I might just publish it in the next printing of this book.

May the arms of the Goddess surround you, always!

Richest Blessings,

K. Hollan Van Zandt

K. Hollan Van Zandt
has always loved libraries, oceans, ancient history and migrating birds. Her mentor, novelist Tom Robbins, instilled in her an abiding love and respect for language. She lives in Southern California, and dreams of a home in Greece. This, her first novel, took ten years to complete.