Anya Martin, Co-Director, Public Relations for Mythic Imagination Institute writes: Just wanted to update TORN readers on Mythic Journeys 2006 (June 7-11). The ties to “The Lord of the Rings” aren’t as obvious this year, but we’re sure J.R.R. Tolkien’s name and works will be invoked many times. This “Festival of Imagination” which seeks to reconnect people with the old wisdom tales, however, does include many of the world’s top fantasy authors and artists including Peter S. Beagle (“Ringers”; The Last Unicorn), Charles de Lint, Ellen Kushner (“Thomas the Rhymer”), OR Melling (“The Hunter’s Moon”), Terri Windling, Delia Sherman, Charles Vess, Brian and Wendy Froud, their son Toby Froud; artist and creative creature film actor William Todd-Jones (“Labyrinth”; Grawp in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”); and Celtic and Arthurian scholars John and Caitlin Matthews.

Mythic Journeys will again be as much a performance festival, as a conference, and Celtic musicians are a huge part of it–no surprise since Clyde Gilbert of Emerald Rose is directing the music and theater side again. Michaela Foster Marsh will host the launch party for her new CD, “I Undid Orion’s Belt.” Also playing are Heather Dale, Three Weird Sisters and, of course, Emerald Rose! Also look a one-man Beowulf show by Charlie Bethel, a powerful telling of a story of Merlin by Caitlin Matthews and William Todd-Jones, and Neil Gaiman’s play, Snow Glass Apples, presented by the Atlanta Radio Theater Company (ARTC).

Want to join in the fun which will take place at the Atlanta Hyatt Regency Hotel? Visit www.mythicjourneys.org.