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If you have any interest in beautiful antiquities, ancient American cultural, or learning things about your own country’s history that you probably didn’t know run, do not walk, to the St. Louis Art museum. The exhibit is Hero, Hawk, and Open Hand, which are three of the most common motifs on the pottery, carvings, metal work, of this amazing exhibit. One of the neatest things about it for me as a writer is that I set my fairies in the Cahokia mounds which is included in this exhibit as part of the history and where some of the artwork and ceremonial items were found. I have books on the Cahokia mounds, pictures of items, but there’s nothing like seeing them face to face. As I learn more about the sight and the culture, I realize that there is another story to be set around Cahokia in the future. Far future for me when Merry and her men are living their happy ever after ending. I would love to include more native American, or ancient American culture and myth in the Anita series, but I ran into a stumbling block when I was researching for the book OBSIDIAN BUTTERFLY. Most of the published information for the pueblo Indians that have much detail are in dispute. Many of the early writings contain what are considered secret and, or scared, knowledge that they shared with the early anthropologists and historians out of friendship. There was no expectation that the ceremonies that were shared would ever be published for public consumption. So many of the most detailed and useful books are controversial. I ran into people that treated me as if my interest in their culture, history, and religion, was suspect. I was not Native of any flavor to this country, so since it wasn’t my ethnic group, it was not mine to use in fiction. I gave up on using the research in a book because I did not wish to offend anyone. The history of the Native peoples in this country is confusing and dark enough without me wading into it. If anyone can think of a way around this maze of confusing views, and hurt feelings, and the absolute right of the Native American people to keep what is sacred to them sacred, and still allow me to somehow use it in fiction without pissing lots of people off, I would love to hear it.