Creating Lumen, Supernatural Sword
We've toured Halifax and surrounding areas featured in the latest book, Sisterhood of the Sword. But we haven't gotten to the sword yet. Not really. The Jamie Poole Diaries is an unpacking of many things: Jamie's relationship with her enigmatic dad; the understanding of an otherworldly sword; and finding out her true self by pursuing these things. Her journey introduces her to a psychopath time traveler with a special vendetta against her and those around her. He journey also takes her through Time and Space. But what initially allows her such a journey?
Lumen. An otherworldly sword, which exists outside Time. In the first book. The Isle of Osiris, Brett Poole discovers this unknown sword in Egypt. It does not belong there, and that vexes him. It is what eventually leads to a reunion between Jamie and her estranged dad.
And before I go further, I have included Amazon links in this blog to the books. If you're in Halifax or plan to be, you won't need to buy the books off Amazon. You can get them directly from the author now or at events later this year. Here's how:
You can also purchase any of the Jamie Poole Books directly from the author. Arrangements can be made by emailing: JamiePooleBooks@gmail.com.
In working with Hal-Con there can be arrangements for drop off within Halifax as we are a virtual vendor. Additionally two preferred vendors can also assist you in getting the books any time of year:
Now, about Lumen:
In Tome of Tubal-Cain, the third Jamie Poole book, we learn how Tubal-Cain created Lumen from an unnamed white metal found in only one mine. That mine's location is a secret known only to him. Per Genesis lore Tubal-Cain, he is the first blacksmith. In Jamie mythology, he creates weapons and idols and is known for having a fiery temper. For his idol creation, he uses this unusually strong white metal to add a flair to decorative pieces. When his sister, Naamah, was attacked by a band of Nephilim--giants--he vows to create a sword she can use to defend herself. Naamah is no helpless princess. She is as strong-headed as her brother but with a gentleness he can only appreciate. He spares no expense in creating his sister's sword. If you wish to read the story, there's a link above.
Suffice it to say, the sword had to be wicked and beautiful and infused with Naamah's beauty and not Tubal-Cain's rage. Naamah became the first Emissary or woman to bear Lumen, an otherworldly sword that exists outside Time. There is something about that white metal! (Spoilers, an upcoming book will reveal what that is.) Lumen, as it is known, is handed down from woman to woman in every generation until Eliyana. She time travels forward and gives it to Jamie, skipping almost 1500 years of when women might have passed the sword between generations. Why? (That is also a plot point spread across several books.)
But this blog isn't about Jamie or Naamah or Eliyana or the Nephilim--one of whom received a near-death blow from Lumen when he foolishly attacked Naamah after she received the sword. (In his defense, he had no idea what Tubal-Cain had been up to.)
This blog is about Lumen.
Before COVID I began talking with Rae O'Neil, a local artist, prop designer and 'maker' operating under the name Gamma Rae Design, about creating a life-size replica of Lumen. Due to the pandemic, plans were put on pause. As we emerged from the pandemic, she began spending time taking my concept drawings and walking the steps of Tubal-Cain. (I can assure you he did not reveal the location of that secret mine!) The results are stunning!
Rae created Lumen as a digital rendering first. Then came days of printing. The sword had to be created period-specific. It does not look like swords you might see in Medieval sword fights. This sword was created 6000 years ago, according to the Tubal-Cain timeline. I could give more details on why it is shaped this way specifically, but these were early days of sword creation, and this was what worked for blacksmiths of the time. The shape of the sword would evolve over time into what you may be more familiar with. But for shape and size, this became the wicked sword conceived in the book series.
The blade itself is two parts. These had to be painted to give it the image of being fabricated from metal.
The sapphire is hollow and lights up to give it the illusion of glowing as Lumen will do when activated by some supernatural force.
The hilt was wrapped with leather.
In both of these pictures you can see the Proto-Cuneiform text written on the blade. This is the oldest form of writing on the planet. Tubal-Cain scribed something into the blade after it was freshly created to instill goodness in it despite the fact it would be a weapon of destruction. What he wrote, you'll have to read the book to find out!
In the coming weeks we will continue the reveal of Lumen as we reveal more of the behind-the-scenes of Jamie Poole.
Lumen the sword has existed to this point in the pages of a book series and in drawings, including a design that is for sale at book signings. Now it exists "in the flesh." Lumen will be traveling with me to Hal-Con and to Truro's Fantastic Grown-Up Book Fair. While the books will be for sale, Lumen is not.
