During my travels to cemeteries I have photographed surnames that are parts of speech that I find on headstones. For sometimes obvious, but also curious reasons, people have been named for places, occupations, plants, animals, colors and personalities. Using these words I've created books that investigate language, mythology, history, and some of life’s major events. This is my version of the myth of Persephone.

The inspiration to write my version of the myth of Persephone (also known as Kore by the Greeks) occurred because I had already located the surnames of Demeter, the goddess of grain, Neptune and the messenger Hermes.  Additional searches located other key characters including Kore's father Jupiter (the Roman Zeus), and her husband and king of the underworld Hades. What followed were months of thinking about this familiar myth. It is a compelling explanation for the return of spring and a story of a powerful mother/daughter bond. Corn, wheat, barley, oats all appear as do abundant birds. Winter is filled with wind storms, frost, sleet, ice and snow. I am continuing to collect new and marvelously descriptive words!