We all change as we continue on our life journeys. Sometimes it seems as if we simply muddle through, accepting what comes, rolling with the punches and reveling in those moments of little victories and satisfaction.

It is beneficial at times to stop and take stock of what we have, what we have accomplished and what we still wish to obtain—both in our spiritual and physical needs.

I have recently come to that crossroad in my life. After ten years on AuthorsDen, 21 books in print and readers in over 60 countries I am ending my writing career on a high note. After all, I haven’t written anything since December 2010 other than revising two books already written. I have taken up a craft which I enjoyed years ago--pottery! My wheel seems to command much more time than I have so writing will take a back seat for a while. For those of you interested in pottery and ceramics please check out my new site at www.dragonflypotters.webs.com. I have a calendar of pottery events, links to suppliers, recommended books and journals, a small gallery of my work in progress and a blog.

I thank all of you for your interest in my work, your kind reviews and comments over the years. I also thank those of you who stopped by my AuthorsDen site 704,000 times! And thank all of you who have purchased my books or checked them out from the library. The fact that you have read my books is perhaps the biggest thrill yet. Even though my AD site will no longer be as active, my books will continue to be available from your bookstore and most are available on Kindle and on your iPAD as well. Please visit my new folklore site at http://garyrvarner.webs.com. and Bookstore at http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/gary_varner

Gary has been listed in successive editions of Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World and is a member of the American Folklore Society and the Royal Anthropological Institute.

His books have been purchased by over 900 university and public libraries around the world, including the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC and the British Museum Research Library.

Varner's articles and books have been referenced or cited in dozens of publications and websites, including:

1) “The Unveiling of the sacred in Eliade’s Men and Stones” by Ali Shehzad Zaidi, Humanities Department, State University of New York at Canton in neohelicon, Vol. 36, Number 1/June 2009 published by Akadėmiai Kiadó and Springer Science+Business Media
2) Ghosts of the Southern Tennessee Valley by Georgiana C. Kotarski (Paperback - Jun 1, 2006) John F. Blair, Publisher
3) Robert Koch and the Study of Anthrax (Uncharted, Unexplored, and Unexplained) by Kathleen Tracy (Library Binding - Sep 2004) Mitchell Lane Publishers (September 2004)
4) Beings - Webster's Specialty Crossword Puzzles, Volume 2: The Enthusiast's Edition (Paperback) ICON Group International, Inc. (May 5, 2009)
5) Mystical Places and Marvelous Meals: A Travel Cookbook (Paperback) by Sara Nieves-Grafals (Author), Al Getz (Contributor) iUniverse, Inc. (December 13, 2005)
6) Treat or Trick? Halloween in a Globalising World by Hugh O'Donnell Cambridge Scholars Publishing (February 1, 2009)
7) “Nix”, New World Encyclopedia, http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Nix
8) “Externsteine” in Atlas Obscura http://atlasobscura.com/places/externsteine
9) The Green Man Biography, Links, Resources http://www.egreenway.com/meditation/greenman.htm
10) Myths, Legends, and Sacred Stories http://www.nativetreesociety.org/myths/index_myths.htm
11) Robin Hood “Under the Greenwood Tree”: Peasants’ Revolt and the Making of a Medieval Legend by Danielle Sabatka HIST 495: Independent Research Dr. Martha Rampton 1 May 2008 http://www.pacificu.edu/as/history/students/sabatka.pdf
12) Venezuela's Maria Lionza ... 16th century native girl, born to an Indian chief http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=77241
13) Vampire Forensics: Uncovering the Origins of an Enduring Legend by Mark Jenkins (A National Geographic publication)
14) Trials of the Moon: Reopening the Case for Historical Witchcraft. A critique of Ronald Hutton's The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ben Whitmore (October 2010)
15) Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature by Osprey Orielle Lake

Five new books, including the Second edition of Charles G. Leland,a new book about ancient contacts between the indigenous cultures of the Americas and other lands, "Ancient Footprints: Cultural Diffusion in Pre-Columbian America," and "Ghosts, Spirits & the Afterlife in Native American Folklore and Religion" as well as "Magic, Witchcraft, Pagans & Christians: A Study in the Suppression of Belief and the Rise of Christianity" are now available at Amazon.com and other retailers. "Water from the Sacred Well" is now available on Amazon.com in both Kindle and paper editions.

Gary's other books include The Mythic Forest, The Green Man and the Spirit of Nature which is a global analysis of the Green Man tradition in folklore from the Old World to the New. It is also a book about the folklore and mythology of tree and forest lore and contains many never before published photos of the Green Man in Wales, Ireland, England and across the United States. A must for those interested in nature lore and the Green Man archetype. He has also released a book on the ancient symbolism found in European and American architecture called "Gargoyles, Grotesques & Green Men: Ancient Symbolism in European and American Architecture." Illustrated with dozens of photographs of gargoyles, grotesques and other creatures and symbols, this book is a must for anyone interested in symbolism, folklore and architectural history. It is an area many find fascinating but also an area with almost no serious study devoted to it.

Six books published in 2007 include Algora Publishing's Creatures in the Mist: Little People, Wild Men and Spirit Beings Around the World and, from Lulu Press, The Dark Wind: Witches and the Concept of Evil,The Roots of Witchcraft, The Sword in Myth & Legend, Mysteries of Native American Myth and Religion, and, The Gods of Man: Gods of Nature - God of War.

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The Hunger Site
A quick and free way to contribute food, medicine, medical treatments and books to the needy as well as protecting rainforest land and providing food and care for animals.

Gary R. Varner's Bookshop for Folklore & Mythology
A direct link to my bookshop at Lulu Press where several of my newest titles can be found.

Folklore, History & the Study of Myth
My folklore site featuring my books, events, blogs, and more. Please stop by and sign the guest book.

Dragonfly Potters
My new pottery site with calendar of upcoming events, recommended books, valuable links for supplies and other information and blog. Please stop in and visit.