Word of the week: xalli (sand in Náhuatl) Xalli is the Nahuatl word for sand. "Xalli iteuhyan," or spread the sand in Nahuatl, was a method for purification of the bodies of people who died sacrificed: this seems to be the reason why researchers found sand in the ceremonial offerings of the ancient Templo Mayor in Mexico City. Biologists and anthropologists agree that sand has cleanser properties and may have been used to clean up sacred places. The pre-Hispanic cultures in Mexico gave so much importance to soil that they had at least ten different names to classify it depending on its fertility to grow food. They had poems and prayers dedicated to the ground, mountains made of soil, and the life that lived and grew in them. They had uses for every kind of soil and valued them equally, using the dryest types for building and crafting tools. Xalli, or sand, was so crucial that it was present in many names of cities and towns in Mexico. Jalisco, one of the biggest cities in the country, gets its name from Xalli (sand), ixtli (face or surface), and co (place). In some areas, xalentli means beach, although this can change from one place to another since it's said that Nahuatl has 30 different variants. Whether by coincidence or because sand holds deep meaning in many cultures, this element appears in the poem "She Had Some Horses" by author Joy Harjo of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. The first verse, "She had horses who were bodies of sand," gives name to PepperBerry's new series: Bodies of Sand. The verse evokes the ephemeral sensation of sand flying on the wind or being moved by water. That there is life emerging from death is one of the topics you can find in the first novel of the series, Where the days repeat themselves endlessly. Follow us on our social networks and find out other details of this saga.

Word of the week: muuk' (resistance in Mayan) Muuk' is a Mayan word for strength or force. Habitants of Yucatán hear Mayan words in a daily context. Some are so common that people who only speak Spanish know and use them regularly. They are used in ads from local businesses, as names of neighborhoods, in souvenirs for foreigners, and even a lot of last names from people of the region came from it. For some people, this is their first contact with the language, and they tend to mispronounce the words by trying to use Spanish phonetics. For others, the first contact with words in the language is made more recreational: -The regional theater, in which the actors use Mayan words or expressions when they are in character. -Events made by the government to preserve traditions. -Music concerts: some bands are using Maya to make their music because it is their first language. -Turn on the radio because some stations and programs are made in this language.} Students in public colleges in Yucatán have it as a mandatory subject, depending on their chosen career. People in the area organically learn more than one word just by getting involved in the community. The Mayan community is big and strong enough to fight to preserve their language and traditions. They have the Muuk' to keep passing on their language to the newest generations, to keep talking it, creating with it, dreaming in it with joy, despite all the hate and racism they have endured in a society that still now matches speaking Maya as being low class or even poor. They have the Muuk' to claim justice when their rights are violated because there are no interpreters when they find themselves in front of the authorities, such as in the case of Evelia, a woman who ended up in jail because of the prejudice of doctors. Muuk' is the feeling that moves them to ensure public hospitals and other essential places have the needed signage for Mayan speakers. This is also why they have successfully demanded that the government develop a program for anyone who wants to learn their language. Muuk' is what moves them as it moves all of us. That's why they have a big speaking community, even when the language has a lot of variants depending on where the speakers are from, so there is not only one Mayan language but multiples that are spoken through Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and even in the state of San Francisco in the USA. Musicians you may like if you want to learn more about this language: -Pat boy -Yaalen K'uj -ADN Maya colectivo -Chan Santa Roots -Juumil Moots

“The ways in which we can incorporate the languages of the world are multiple and they enrich us, they make us understand that all of them have something valuable, which in the long run generates better possibilities of dialog and understanding of others, multiple others.” Yásnaya Aguilar Pepperberry is a multicultural company, which means that we need a common language to communicate; in our case, is English. We are, currently, mostly a Mexican team, with few exceptions in the management/executive positions on the editorial. We wanted to clarify that in this text, we will be talking from the Mexican perspective of the team. By speaking both English and Spanish, everybody on the team is bilingual. The history of our country, one of violence and systematic oppression, made us grow monolingual in Spanish and learn English, either by choice or need. But we should not have been monolingual Spanish speakers; we should know some of the variants of Maya or Nahuatl according to the places each one of us is from, or at least Maya since most of us live in Yucatan. Since Spanish is the country’s official language, we should have been raised bilingual in the pre-Colon and the "official" one. The colonization, the racism, classism, and the laws themselves forced the population to become monolingual Spanish speakers, and globalization made us start becoming bi or even multilingual with languages that would, supposedly, improve the quality of our lives. Some of us in the team know words or even full phrases in Maya; the parents of part of the crew understand it, the grandparents of others speak it; our main writer took some lessons of Nahuatl, but sadly, none of us fully speak any of these languages, let alone one of the other 66 languages speak through the country. But the idea of this section is not to complain about things that happened before our existence or things that are not fully in our hands. We decided to create this section to celebrate the joy of knowing there are plenty of languages all over our country and more in the rest of the continent. We want this to become a space for the readers and for the Pepperberry team to learn at least one word a week and to get to know about the existence of the language where this word is from. Our idea is to at least help spread language awareness and share the delight in learning new ways of communicating. We share Yasnaya's Aguilar posture when she says in her wonderful essay "Delicias post-Babel" (After Babel delights) that learning other languages is one of the most oblivious ways of enjoying the linguistic richness of the world. We know you will not learn a full language in this section, but one word could take you to another, and you could find here languages that resonate with you. It was after reading Yasnaya’s book that we produced this idea because she states that getting to know the languages that exist, sharing them, and encouraging others to do so is a way -a small one- to help stop the disappearance that these languages have been facing because of the policies of a lot of nations. We decided to call this section “Whispers from the sand” as a reference to our upcoming production Bodies of Sand: Where Days Repeat Endlessly, inspired by mythology from the American continent, and in which we use words coming from Nahuatl and other languages to name places and characters. We are proud of our book, the story it portrays, and the future readers that it will have. That is why we want to offer quality content based on the things we believe in. Our goal is to make yolikni, which is the Nahuatl word for friend (yolo: heart, iknin: brother), so if you are interested, do not be shy and hear with us what the sand whispers.

That was the phrase my father used to say when he called me Yulinka. He would say it every time he heard me singing the main song of the musical. It was more a joyful joke than anything else; it was not funny, but I liked it. It was Anika's, my grandmother's favorite movie, and she used to let me see it with her as a reward if I behaved whenever she and Thore took care of me. I was a child and loved it as much as I loved them back in the day. I'm a bit down lately; it is hard to focus on college now that I don't see myself as a teacher in the future. Of course, my mood change doesn't mean anything to my professors or the curricula, so I'm starting to get behind, at least for the scholarship standard. I do not want to lose the scholarship; that was the deal I made with my family so they would support my "cinema thing" by giving me money for some books and, more importantly, by not trying to persuade me and fight me in every meal we have together; quality support if you ask me... Anyway, I decided to focus on college for just enough time to keep the needed scores, and I felt miserable. While studying for the test for tomorrow, my mind started wandering. I cannot memorize more data if I only want to forget it afterward. I decided that enough was enough, I needed a break, something to cheer me up to avoid going mad. I went to my movie collection feeling the need to watch something to reconnect with myself, and oddly, I chose Singing in the Rain. I hadn't seen it since I truly understood what all the tales my family used to tell were about. I was so annoyed that I banned anything that made me remember them. That's why I wonder about the reason that made me choose it tonight. I turned on the laptop, put my earphones on, and marveled. There was so much I didn't see because I didn't care about it back then. Why would I? In my memory, it was an almost cheesy but fun, cute, and warm musical movie about a talented couple. I vaguely remember it having to do with show business, but what I remember about the film is more the love story than anything else. The young Yulinka had eyes only for whatever her family told her to look at. I couldn't see that, through the love story, they were telling a different story: the change from the silent movies to the talked ones. It was so clear after seeing the film now, and I'm pretty sure you all are wondering how I did not catch it when it was so obvious, but please forgive the 12-year-old me; at least now I'm doing it. As soon as the film was over, I started my research and found out that they showed, through the silly romantic plot, the history of the ending of an era and the rise of a new one. All was true: actors were losing their jobs and status because their voices were not what the people wanted. The way things were done had to change not just in the how but in the what: they had to be careful with the equipment, the actors had to take lessons on how to speak, and they had to start hiring writers so the dialogs were better. Many directors and cinemas closed because they refused to jump into what arrived at them. Of course, musicals that exposed all the things cinema could do now became a hit. The musical, directed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, is heavily loaded with references and inside jokes about the industry, and they even have characters inspired by real-life people who went through this period. The way they presented all of this is so light due to the chosen genre; from what I have seen, musicals tend to have either lighthearted stories in which the leads tend to succeed, or dramatic ones. In both cases, the music intensifies the plot. In this case, we as an audience know from the beginning that the main characters will accomplish whatever they face because they are presented as likable, grounded people next to the other characters. And they do; what could have been a disaster becomes a triumph, both romantic and career-wise: Don Lockwood, the famous actor, saves the film he stars in with Lina Lamont, despite her awful voice. They trick the audience using the pre-recorded voice of Kathy Selden, who becomes the actor's partner because she is clever and nice, unlike Lina, who gets exposed in front of the audience. This is a lovely story because, as it happens with "The Sound of Music," the tale is told by characters that "win". To reinforce the narrative, they made a villain of the actress whose voice is not pleasant. The actors that went through this weren't necessarily mean, but that would have left a sour sensation afterward since they didn't control that factor. The reality was, as it almost always is, more complex than fiction, in which we chose what to see, which areas we wanted to enlighten, and which ones we chose to keep in the shadows. This is why I only remembered the love story, which was why Anika loved this movie. In my family's narrative, Thore is a hero, and Anika is the love of his life. I lived for that love when I was a child because even when he is cold to almost everyone, he isn't with her. I liked a lot how they behaved together, and I enjoyed asking a lot about their story. I knew he first saw her in a parade; she danced, and while she told the story, a younger version of me would dance around her, asking; am I dancing like you, granny? When she informed me that they met face to face during a ball, and she didn't like him back then, I would sigh because movies taught me that it was romantic because he found his way to her heart. It all sounded so glamorous, but she kept to herself that she didn't like him because she knew what he did; she knew his hands were covered in the blood of her comrades and others; she kept to herself that and more. We would sit and watch the movie, and I'd pictured her dancing like Kathy and getting to know Thore, who was, in my innocent mind, a nice guy who made her fall for him. Now, after researching, I think that Thore is more like the actor who portrayed Don Lockwood than he was like the character because he is a fake nice guy. The actual actor was a tyrant; his co-stars talked about how much they suffered during the film's shooting because he was not just a perfectionist but a rude person who made them live in hell. Donald O'Connor ended up hospitalized, and Debbie Reynolds, a young 19 woman, cried a lot and got her foot hurt to the point they bled because he made her re-shoot the dances. All of that is hidden behind the camera, and their story is sweetened to us, the viewers. Even when I know now Thore was a nazi, which is the first complicated truth hidden in my family's narrative, I think I'm not strong enough yet to get to know what's behind the camera. My father was right all along: if you sing in the Rain, you will get sick.

In creation myths, legends, and stories, there are plenty of versions of how we –the humans- were built; the materials chosen for our formation vary from culture to culture. The most known is the Judeo-Christian mud, and all over the world, human beings have different mythological origins. But despite talking about the universe and the place of humanity in it, the Bodies of the Sand saga has no creation volume, not even a chapter, just a small scene inspired by Native American mythology. There are no dissertations, not even a line, and yet the title says it all. This is because this series focuses not on where we came from but on what we do with our existence as inhabitants of the earth. We are inviting you to follow a series that announces its ending, that advises you that it will not last forever, that warns you about its lack of permanence. And let us tell you in advance, we know this is a bold move on our part, everywhere, what every artist wants is to create something that will last forever. We know this, and bluntly, we also want it, all our efforts move in that direction, and yet, we know our bodies are made of sand. As creatives, we understand that all that humans are and do will disappear in time, and if something, if anything, remains, that will be the stories we share. Besides stories told by our loved ones, besides the memories we create with our community, nothing else will resist the past of time. This is why we decided to create, write, produce, illustrate, and put this graphic narrative book out there: to share and remember this message. We are all made of sand, of the little time we share in our existence among our communities, and we must do the best we can with it. That is what the characters in this saga will do. At least some of them. Others will get deceived by the temptation of power, the illusion of worthiness. While reading, you’ll realize that this happens over and over in a cycle that is familiar to all of us, because we have been living it, as if we were part of this book, as if Andrea Gonzalez –the author- were the one writing our lives along with Ageya's, Ome's, Yolo's and all the other characters that will form part of the series. You may already be wondering what this story is going to be about, so here it is: Bodies of Sand follows the story of Kawitzin, a community somewhere in what we know as America or Abya Yala. From its pre-colonial past and indigenous roots to the contemporary time, the town changes due to foreign colonization, and its culture blends with others until it reaches a utopian future that is the result of the community learning to understand where they come from and how to recover the important values. History is mixed with magic since Kawitzin is influenced by powerful supernatural beings; some of them want to help the inhabitants, try to guide them, and, in some cases, grant them skills. But not all these beings are helpful; others enjoy chaos and trick people into acting upon their wishes. Azomalli, the Angel of Death, and Xcayatl, a djinn of the underworld, are the main magical beings that influence the main events and witness all the stories in the series. Through their encounters with the humans, the three cycles of the city are set in motion, because the time in this saga follows the logic the Mayan culture had: time is circular and repeats itself; everything ends and begins again. We follow three main stories, which will be presented along the issues, and thanks to the visual style, they will be easy to identify. In this way, there will not be confusion between the Ageya from the pre-colonial time, a spiritual guide, and the Ageya from the contemporary one, a poet and activist who is trying to preserve the indigenous roots of her people. We will follow her lead as she defies a pre-colonial Ome, the ruler of the town, in his pursue of more power by conquering the other villages, and the contemporary Ome, the governor of the city, who is ignoring the needs of the people in favor of individual interests. The third arc, the futuristic one, is the result of the learning process the inhabitants will have until the end of time reaches them. But we are getting ahead of ourselves, and, although we want to share already every part of the series, we do not want to spoil you with any more details. We just want to make sure you are as excited as we are, especially because this story stands for many of the values we believe in, and that are a part of who we are. The concept for the series was developed by a Mexican writer, and it is illustrated by Mexican artists; not just that: the editorial process is done by a Mexican team, and yet we are in a Canadian company! If that isn’t multiculturality, we don’t know what is. The story of the world has been shaped by the exchanges between cultures, some of them more recognized than others hence the use of a wide variety of mythologies of the continent for the building of this world. Our exchanges in this editorial came from willingness, from the joy of creating and promoting what unites all of us. We believe in nature and the duty we must preserve it, in the value of the community, in the need of not just knowing but understanding the past to honor it and learn what we can improve, in the importance of seeking knowledge but mostly, we believe that we should build a world around kindness towards the others. All of this is what we hope you will find throughout the series, so, as you imagine, we have a long journey ahead of ourselves. The first issue is the only one finished at this point, and we are eager to have already all the numbers that will develop these stories. We want you to get to know Kawitzin, the city in which everything we plan is going to happen, the city that will alter its name once it’s colonized and will change it again in a utopic future. We want you to walk with us around it, to get to know every corner in the three times it is going to transit. Will you join us?

I'm returning from the Zusage, and I think Augie may read my mind, or at least the blog I'm writing, because she chose a movie that aligns greatly with my latest dilemma. Although, maybe I'm just focusing more on that because the film deals with many topics. I'm glad mom didn't agree to come along, because, as some of you suggested, I tried to make my parents understand my interest in cinema by inviting them to see more artistic films. Viktor -my father- declined without even thinking about it, but Mila -my mother- said she might agree if she had the time. As soon as I knew the date of the coming projection, I told her. I wasn't going to try because, honestly, I gave up on them a long time ago, but I guess I'm as human as everyone and fall into the old habit of believing that we only need to find our way to connect. I was excited when I asked her to come, so I told her everything Augie said about the movie, and once the animated word went out of my mouth, I could see the loss of interest on her face. I don't even want to replicate what she said; I get so mad when I hear how people tend to minimize art, and most of them do it without even trying to understand it first to experience it. Please tell me you are not that kind of person; I know the internet is vast, but I write all this thinking I will find people alike. Mila did not come along, and she lost the great treasure that is La Planete Sauvage, a French animated film made in 1973 and directed by Rene Laloux. This movie started as a project in 1964 and is based on the book Oms En Serie by Stefan Wul, which got around 30 illustrators. During its creation, it had pauses caused by financial troubles and political issues in Czechoslovakia that moved the production to France. La Planete Sauvage took almost 10 years to be done. You can see this in the quality of the work, the illustrations, the movements, the music, the originality, and the sets; there was a lot of passion and work behind it. On top of all the details around its production, the story this movie portrays is deep. I think that only through animation we can withstand the narrative. Otherwise, this will be a horror movie, with all the deaths and the horror it shows, but all is lessened by the allegory by the fantasy, and that helps to get the different messages underlined by the sci-fi plot: The story is set on a planet called Ygam, where blue giant human-like beings called Traags live. They abduct humans from Earth and see them as animals, taking some as pets and trying to control the population by killing them occasionally. One of these humans is taken by the daughter of a traag leader, and thanks to a malfunction of a device, he is able to get the knowledge transmitted to the young traag. Terr, as this human is called, escapes, and then he uses what he has learned and the device to help the human community, and they start to defend themselves. The oms (humans) get the upper hand and become an actual threat to the traags. Because of this, they try to reach an agreement in which a new satellite is created for the humans to live in. On the surface, it seems like a simple story. The everlasting drama reminded me of Facundo: or Civilization and Barbarism by Domingo Sarmiento, a book lent to me by Gila the last time I was there. If you haven't read it yet, let me tell you that the main idea of this book is the same as in the film, but using humans. The antagonism in the text is between the European ways, as the civilized and educated ones, according to this author, and the Latin American ways, as the barbarian ones, because they were ignorant and hence violent, according to him. Sarmiento's book was made to analyze Argentina's situation in the period he wrote it, so it is more of an essay on what not just the country but the whole continent needed to improve. La Planete Sauvage, on the other hand, is a science fiction work, and because of this, it not only proposes a solution but also shows how it resolves the situation. If we want to keep it simple, the answer relies on education. But it isn't just that. The film shows how even when the oms start getting the same knowledge the traags have, things do not change for them. They are forced by these literal giants to become violent, to threaten their whole existence, so they agree to let them go. The film itself shows how the oms have their own way of understanding and how the fact that they have to keep their efforts solely in survival doesn't allow them to improve their own societies. This lets us know that it's not only education but rather a system of oppression. That's why I'm glad mom didn't come along because I honestly believe she would have had a tough time seeing it. And yet, I still would have enjoyed sharing this with her. It could have opened the door to talk about these topics. I should have stayed after the movie to talk with the attendees, but I chose not to because I felt that maybe I always overthink all of this. What do you think? Do I?

Long before humans existed, there were creatures of light that moved in the air, and beings of fire who tinted the Creation with shadows of violence and auras of hope. Earth's first inhabitants, the Djinns, started a war that divided them, isolating everything within their reach. The celestial Angels chose one champion to end the war: Azaziel, the strongest djinn. The Angels raised young Azaziel among them, and he has trained to honor the Creation. But, once his destiny is fulfilled and his nature is revealed, will the Angels still favor Azaziel? Will he be loyal to the teachings of his saviors, or become an opponent for the order and harmony that has cost so much? Azaziel’s truth will prevail when the Earth receives its new residents: humans. “Am I a god or a pretender?” Beyond the fantastic imagination with which Azaziel's story brings to life the captivating angels and mythological djinns, readers will find themselves faced with dilemmas that move the daily reflections of our times: What happens when, despite giving the best of ourselves, what we believe to deserve is denied from us? Do our actions help some at the price of hurting others? Are we valuable beyond what we do, or is the only testament to our importance in our behavior? “Amidst the ceaseless onslaught against the King of the Djinns, a new beginning started to unfold.” This graphic novel will be an exciting topic of conversation for lovers of mythological inventions and for the most philosophical readers. The beauty of its illustrations is an artistic delight that will inspire creatives and poets. Teenagers and adults can approach this world where traditional myths are interwoven to form a tapestry of heavenly landscapes and terrestrial oases. The beginning of the journey through this world of ominous creatures awaits its passengers to take flight through the pages. Read from the authors themselves their perspectives about the two races that intervene in this universe and the protagonist of the story. Rommel Ortega take on the angels. According to the ancients, they experienced and seen angels in different forms; these loving and benevolent spirit beings are our spiritual companion wherever we go. Their origins were from the specks of light and were formed ethereal and spiritual. They also had the Creator as the origin of their spiritual composition albeit “inferior” to The Love and to The One. Angels were created as intelligent beings not rational ones, yet they always chose the good. Though there were those who said that angels, at the beginning of Creation, were asked to serve or not to serve and, who rebelled after learning of the revelation of human creation, his fall and eventual salvation. These angels are battle hardened but indestructible. From the heights of heaven to the lowest parts of the earth, angels surround every creation in a bid to help them in every way possible. Love and service to the Creator and creation, these are the motivations of angels. There are many kinds of angels; but most of them, if not all, are warrior angels, that is, they fight the evil forces. From the beginning of the first rebellion, the angels become upholders of everything beautiful, good, and holy. Stories always reveal humanity and its nature, which is good. The evil the warriors fight against makes us grateful to know that the forces of heaven or of the Creator are fighting for us. The sinful humanity, that is the descendants of Adam and Eve, are not left with nothing but rationality, intelligence, and capacity to love; and with the help of our angels, we learn heaven and the revelations of the Creator. Be careful and hospitable in entertaining thoughts and ideas; they could be angels in disguise. April Sabbaluca take on the djinns We know the reason why we are here. It was that one apple bite that doomed us all. But did it occur to you what pushes it and who motivated the biggest plot twist of humanity? All along, we have been living with creatures we do not see, walking side-by-side with us, bumping unknowingly into one other. Creatures of evil and good nature. Creatures that existed even before humanity itself. In Islam, there was a belief that humans have been in companion with the djinns since the creation. Concealed and hidden, with protruding horns and hove-like feet, they walk and eat with us, or even whisper to our ears and penetrate our thoughts. The djinns have been keeping an eye on us because they too live on Earth, here in the lower realm. Although made from fire, they are free thinkers—just like us, propelled by love, greed, and power. They are the true occupants of this land. But what has happened to them? Why do they lurk in our shadows? This story is a tale of peace and rebellion, of faith and doubt. The djinns may be the answer as to why Eve has done what she was told not to do. They may whisper to us our greatest question "Why is there evil and sin?" This story will satisfy your hunger—for answers. Ranica Meralpis take on Azazil Azazil, once a forsaken nameless war orphan, is a testament to the power of fate and divine intervention. His noble clan had fallen to the tyrannical rule of King Jann Ibn Jann, leaving him alone and without hope. However, at the moment of his mother's passing, destiny intervened. The Angel of Death, Aizra'iel, and the divine garden's angels handpicked Azazil to be their chosen one - a djinn raised to be their champion, tasked with ending the tyrant's reign once and for all. Truly, the heavens themselves seemed to have conspired to create a hero out of the unlikeliest of circumstances. With unyielding determination and a deep understanding of the art of war and strategy, Azazil dedicated himself to mastering the virtues bestowed upon him by the angels. He emerged victorious, earning a revered place among the council of angels. Though not an angel himself, he embodies the virtues of these divine beings with unparalleled grace. Azazil is not only a formidable warrior, but also a devout servant of the Creator, whose unwavering faith inspires all who cross his path. Azazil's greatest challenge yet came when he was pitted against the tyrant king Jan ibn Jann. The stakes were high, and the fate of the realm hung in the balance. Azazil knew that he had to defeat the tyrant and bring peace to the land. He worked tirelessly towards this goal for years, and he achieved much. The djinns and the angels hailed him as a hero and a savior. However, just when everything seemed to be going well with Azazil, a prophecy emerged that threatened to unravel all his glory and undo all his hard work. “I’m created from the crucible of fire… Why would I bow down to the ones created out of mud?” Enter the world of angels and djinns. Meet Azaziel, champion of the angels. Find out the role that his presence will play for heavenly lands, for humanity, and all of Creation. Let us show you a new, never-before-seen version of the stories that have haunted great writers like Neil Gaiman, legendary painters like Alexandre Cabanel, and people from ages past and present. Whether you have enjoyed reading The Thousand and One Nights or if you got excited watching Constantine, this new fiction will become one of your favorites. The first production of PepperBerry (Forged by light and fire) results from the collaboration of writers and illustrators from different parts of the world, who believe it is possible to tell new stories that excite and intrigue the public, capturing their eagerness to live this adventure together. By downloading these novels to your devices, you can browse their pages whenever and wherever you are, to rediscover this magical world and its characters that live among us, hiding in our imagination and beliefs. The entire team of this independent publishing house will be grateful for your purchase, which will support our creatives to continue developing narratives for you. The first episode of a colossal story

What is power? It is something that can be given, taken, hold? What does it do to someone? Do you change because of it? Do you have to? All these questions and more go through my mind while I watch Das Experiment one more time. I have lost count of the times I’ve seen it since its release in the theaters and it always intrigues me, because I believe the answer to my questions must be in the film, and yet, they aren’t. Or maybe they are and I’m too naive, or blinded by privilege, or too obtuse. This film obsessed me because it hit too close to home. Did my grandfather...? It is funny to me that, even though the actual experiment happened in the USA, the film was made here; and with such cruelty, such violence. I guess we all are still trying to get rid of our demons, some more than others. But is it so, is to so easy to succumb? Does it actually only take you to be told that you are in charge? Our society is so fragile that 5 days is all that it takes to go into chaos apparently. Oliver Hirschbiegel is the director who adapted the book based on the Standford prison experiment. I wish I could get that book, to understand how the process was made. Because I like the construction of the film, how he balances the story, how he adds a bit of hope, so one can endure it. If you haven’t seen it, here it is a brief synopsis: In the newspaper there’s an ad: an experiment is going to be done and they are looking for test subjects; they’ll pay a good amount of money for it. What’s the experiment about? A simulated prison. It will last only two weeks; sounding this easy, it’s not a surprise they have a good number of contestants willing to be a part of it. The main character, Tarek Fahd, played by Moritz Bleibtreu, is a journalist, well a former journalist, who wants to get back his old job;, he realizes that there is a huge story behind this experiment: he knows the army has something to do with that and joins because of it. After no more than a week everything goes out of control. The story is not presented in a linear way: it has two sets of flashbacks, one showing the interviews that the subject tests had prior to begin the simulation, and the other shows the romantic relationship between Tarek and a woman who is now gone. Once those memories end, we also have this woman present story, foreshadowing some events that are going to happen in the end of the film. Besides all these moments, we also have the POV of the scientists, and more interviews, but set in the present. The break in the narrative helps the rhythm, since in some scenes it gives the viewer a moment to rest and in others it slows things down, contributing to building up the tension. What was the whole point of the experiment is not a mystery, and the professor who is in charge says it clearly: the goal was to study how long and in which conditions does submission to authority, violence and total alienation begin. With the army behind this, I wonder about the nature of the investigation, the reasons behind it, the use the results will have, the methodology, the resources, etc. And there, I go again into the rabbit hole: all the rules given to the ones chosen as policemen came from, not just reality, but specific scenarios. Rules such as losing their names and becoming numbers, referring to the other subjects only as “Mr. Guard”, being forbidden to talk at certain moments, eating absolutely all the food, obeying every order given to them by the guards, or facing a punishment if broken: all of this has roots in the machinery that is the reality of different jails, and in the ways prisoners are treat during war time, and if I actually think about it, some of this rules, not all but some, are also rules that are followed in military training... Anyway, after the set of rules is given Tarek stopped being Tarek to became 77, and so did all the others chosen as inmates, who at the beginning saw all the mandates almost as a play, until they started facing consequences. Number 77 is -since the beginning- trying to get derail the study, for the sake of his article, but we learn later that the scientists' plan was to push them to prove their point, instead of waiting for the subjects to act on their own. However, as we see with the interviews and the set up, they didn’t really need to be pushed into the violence, the whole origin of it is the structure of the system. There is a preconceived idea of how people should behave when they find themselves in certain positions, and we can see even in the answers given by the ones that end up being prison guards, and the jokes they made when they find out they have been chosen for this. We see this idea reinforced in the way the other guys are treated, and what rules they must follow at all costs, without questioning them, or adapting them. This structure becomes even more violent when we are talking about a prison system, in which the ones at the bottom of the structure are being punished. The ones who question became a problem, because no one wants to lose their power, so the answer is violence: this way no one tries again. That’s what the actual result of the experiment is yelling at us, that’s what we refuse to see when we keep on thinking that others are less than us.

Just like the most engaging stories, our universe started with a bang! Its history and the history of its exploration and representation could be enough to create as many narratives as stars exist. We keep creating tales and sagas to transmit, explain or transform the origin of all. Here are some ideas on why we keep retelling the universe's origin and what way of doing so can be better for you. Use these notes as inspiration to keep searching for your favorite story and, if it doesn’t exist yet, create yours! To find ourselves: stories for mythology buffs Some people can read War and Peace and come away thinking it’s a simple adventure story. Others can read the ingredients on a chewing gum wrapped and unlock the secrets of universe. Gene Hackman’s Lex Luthor. Since the notion of the universe is potentially infinite, we often need to find a special place for ourselves, either if this place connects us with something bigger or provides a refuge for us. If you enjoy reading or watching tales with mythological roots, such as Azaziel, The Lord of the Rings, or Star Wars, you might relate to the heroes that face enormous adversities and overwhelming difficulties. These narratives are examples of individuals dealing with the uncertainty that the immensity of the universe makes us feel and can help us figure out how we can find meaning in our relationships and actions, providing new importance to all that is outside our reach, comprehension, and control. Even psychological and anthropological works, like Campbell's Monomyth or Maureen Murdock’s The Heroine’s Journey, can inspire you to find new meanings hiding in the part of the cosmos that is your mind and to create or recognize stories that guide you through the confines of the universe. To find answers: stories for thinkers It was as if he had never been scared in the first place. The thought of his existance serving a greater purpose had come. Forged By Light and Fire, PepperBerry The exploration of the universe has an origin itself, or rather, many, since most ancient cultures dedicated time and resources to understanding the stars and their rules. This dedication derived into religions, myths, and even systems like astrology, creating a wide variety of understandings of the universe, why we live in it, our connection, and even our destiny as part of the cosmos. Many of the questions that the universe's origin raises come from the human need to find a purpose and validate our existence's importance. This subject can be explored from a point of view that looks out to build communities, as is the intention of some religions, or as a starting point to analyze more abstract concepts through philosophical doctrines, such as Metaphysics. In the case of religious narratives, writers, painters, and other creatives haven't been limited to the classic stories and canonical beliefs have to offer. In current times, we can find many fictional worlds that combine different traditions, keeping fresh interest in antique figures. In PepperBerry's first production, Azaziel, for example, readers will enjoy a new creation story that combines djinns, angels, and humans to provide a fantastical explanation for historical conflicts and social dilemmas that have changed the course of humanity. Works of science fiction, like P.K. Dick’s The Three Stigmata Of Palmer Eldritch, can help you to approach philosophical views, either if you want to understand complex concepts or if you need examples of how to pour what you have learned from the readings of Emmanuel Kant and Mary Midgley. To find humanity in the infinite: stories for scientists Astronomy taught us our insignificance in Nature, Ralph Waldo Emerson A century ago, scientists such as Alexander Friedman, George Lemaître, and Edwin Hubble were working in contributions to sustain the Big Bang model. Since then, this theory has been mostly accepted as the standard explanation for the beginning of the universe, even though it wasn't created to answer how this happened but to represent and explore the evolution of the cosmos. Today, we can say that our universe was born of an explosion. Still, the rest of the story, and even the origin of this explosion itself, has been explored from many different angles, and there may be many reasons to pass from the scientific facts and theories to the fictional realm. As time goes by and scientific discoveries evolve, the theory grows far away from the unforgettable first bang. And so, even though we have a solid origin story, we keep trying to explain it, add more, or even change it. Most of us can access sources of information (ebooks, documentaries, NASA, Popsci.com, etc.), yet, the concept of the universe is overwhelming, at least for many, and even unreachable for some of us. To understand where we come from and what happened before we existed, we might need legends that fill with meaning the past, so we can make it more accessible and close to us. If the story of stars, planets, galaxies, and other celestial bodies is your passion, and you want to add the human element to it, you can read biographies of astronomers, cosmologists, and evolutionists, who have helped us to understand where we came from and how life started. Books like Christina Koining’s Variable Stars and Pippa Goldschmidt’s The Falling Sky can awaken your curiosity or help you to relax if you are researching heavy scientific topics. To create: for poetic souls Odd how the creative power at once brings the whole universe to order, Virginia Woolf For some of us, to live is the greatest way to experiment the universe. Art and creativity are ways to define, challenge, and evolve our connection with the universe and all that exists in it. To tell a new story is always a way to expand the horizons of our readers and our knowledge of ourselves. Since every one of us has unique ideas and different interpretations of old stories, each one can imagine new possibilities never seen before. Creating new stories of the origin of everything allows us to share our cultural background, the stories we heard as kids, the facts that help us choose a path in life or even just funny anecdotes that keep the relevance of antique topics alive in our conversations. Poets, from Emily Dickinson to Joy Harjo, have maintained the mystical origin of the universe as a constant source of inspiration for their creation. We all have the right to explain to ourselves the concepts that intrigue us, and we can use this opportunity to surprise everyone else. But, even if we find inspiration in other sources, the act of creation is a way to explain the mysterious first bang, as usually a creative act evolves into many new ones. To connect with others: stories for historians and all of us “You’re never going to kill storytelling because it’s built into the human plan. We come with it.” Margaret Atwood. Either we are creatives, or we love to find new stories and representations of the topics that have intrigued humanity since ancient times, every exercise of retelling of the origin and the history of the universe is the continuation of a long tradition. We all have heard one or many of these tales, and in this communication lays the act of preservation of our potential as humankind. Academic students, book club attendants, social media users, or traditional conversation enthusiasts, we all can tell a story to preserve the same version of it, or we can share different, various stories that enrich our perspective and imagination. In present times, we can even find concepts like multiverses and existential realms that allow us to create and know a broad diversity of versions of the same story without limiting the possibilities of creativity. We can be connected with our favorite author or filmmaker, with scientists in observatories worldwide, with famous astrologists, or with the ancient philosophers that founded our understanding of reality. Still, we are part of the infinite tradition of making the universe a narrative. You probably already have thought about many stories that tell or retell the universe's origin, life, or humanity. Now that you have some recommendations to create your own stories, don’t forget to keep searching for inspiration in all the old and new narratives and explanations that can increment your ideas and knowledge. The more you research, the more material you’ll find to nurture your own mythology. Azaziel is the origin story of a djinn who is raised by the angels to end a war that is devastating the earth and disrupting creation. The mythological themes, philosophical approach, and artistic narrative can inspire readers and creatives. Additionally, PepperBerry’s future projects will include historical episodes and ancient cosmologies that you’ll find intriguing if you like to explore fantasy worlds that collide with reality. Don’t miss any of our stories: you’ll find new universes and characters that make you dream! PepperBerry is a publishing house integrated by writers, artists, and creatives from different countries. By buying Azaziel and any other production of our startup, you’ll help us grow and keep bringing new narratives for you to enjoy! Keep visiting our site for more tips and inspiration, and follow us!

Exploring digital graphic novels can be a complete experience. While some favor printed editions, with their own unique qualities, here we present 5 reasons to read graphic novels on digital devices. 1. Reduce eye strain Unlike regular books, on your device you can decide how much brightness, contrast and sharpness you need to read comfortably for longer. 2. . Have greater freedom of movement If you're like us, you'd love to read graphic novels all the time, anywhere! However, carrying books can be difficult, so having your books in your mobile apps is a more practical and convenient option that allows you to enjoy the stories and incredible illustrations whether you are in a library or on a plane. 3. You can easily share your favorite moments Whether you like to keep a private reading journal or your social networks are full of book photos, digital media makes sharing inspiration a matter of moments. 4. To find more books! Have you wondered if you can read graphic novels on Kindle? The answer is yes! Amazon graphic novels are available in color for many devices. This platform, like many other reader sites on the internet, will allow you to easily find new reading materials and consult other readers' opinions on the graphic novels that intrigue you. 5. Save space Who wouldn't want to carry their graphic novel collection from one place to another? Carrying your library on your cell phone or any device not only saves space in your home, but also prevents books from being damaged and allows you to always feel them close. PepperBerry graphic novels are available digitally so you can enjoy reading them. Buy our products and follow us on social networks: we share high quality illustrations to inspire you and stories that will stimulate your imagination.

Throughout history, war has served as a rich breeding ground for the development of myths, legends, and inexplicable tales. Amidst the most devastating conflict of the 20th century, World War II, the battleground not only bore witness to the savagery of human warfare but also engendered a distinctive fabric of paranormal narratives. These accounts, transmitted across generations, expose the intriguing interplay between the atrocities of war and the fascination with magic and the supernatural. This singular amalgamation of warfare and the supernatural encapsulates the very essence of human storytelling, where the extraordinary arises from the crucible of chaos. Narratives of ancient knights and their enchanted swords, such as the fabled King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table, resonated amidst the brutal realities of the battlefield. We even have modern works such as Pepperberry’s Forged by light and fire: dawn of the warrior (book one) that combines these supernatural elements that further encapsulates the narratives of war. Meanwhile, deep within Slavic folklore, the enigmatic Baba Yaga, a witch dwelling in a hut perched on chicken legs, whispered her eerie presence into soldiers' ears. Here are 5 examples of war myths, legends, & magic, that highlight the complex circumstances of war, and what we as an evolving race can learn from this time in our history. 1. The Bell Witch and its Association with the American Civil War During the American Civil War, the Bell Witch, a legendary tale of malevolent supernatural entity that tormented the Bell family in rural Tennessee in the early 19th century, resurfaced unexpectedly during the tumultuous clash of Union and Confederate forces. This ethereal entity's reappearance during this period highlights the enduring and peculiar nature of wartime myths. According to legend, even Andrew Jackson, who would later become a U.S. president, encountered the Bell Witch during the Creek War of 1813-1814. The witch's ominous prophecies and eerie manifestations were not limited to the Bells, as they puzzled soldiers and left an indelible mark on the historical tapestry of this conflict. This unexpected resurgence of the Bell Witch narrative during the American Civil War exemplifies how the supernatural can unexpectedly reemerge amidst the horrors and uncertainties of war, blending history and folklore into an intriguing and perplexing amalgamation. 2. The Amazonian Warriors in Myth and Reality Within the realm of warfare, the Amazonians, a mythical tribe of formidable warrior women, have secured a lasting place. Originating from the annals of Greek mythology, where they were depicted as fearless and independent fighters, these legendary women were subsequently summoned into the actual theaters of modern warfare. Despite ongoing debates among historians regarding the existence of such a tribe in antiquity, their mythos has persisted. In the 20th century, the Amazonian legend was revitalized as real-life female soldiers and resistance fighters from diverse nations took up arms during World War II and subsequent conflicts. These modern Amazons defied societal norms at those moment, transcending the gender roles, showing the world what women have always been capable of and secured their place in history through their valor on the battlefields. Whether it was the female snipers of the Soviet Union, the courageous resistance fighters in occupied territories, or the determined women who served as combat nurses and pilots, their stories resonate with the echoes of the ancient Amazonian myth. The juxtaposition of myth and reality underscores the enduring allure of legendary female warriors, serving as both a source of inspiration and a reminder of the boundless potential of women in times of war and beyond. 3. The Philadelphia Experiment One of the many tumultuous events of World War II, a covert naval experiment gave rise to one of the most perplexing and enduring legends of the 20th century - the Philadelphia Experiment. This narrative straddles the domains of science and the supernatural, interweaving a complex tale of intrigue and enigma. According to the story, the United States Navy undertook a clandestine experiment at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard with the aim of rendering the USS Eldridge, an American naval destroyer escort, invisible to radar. However, the results of the experiment were far from ordinary. Allegedly, crew members aboard the Eldridge experienced bewildering phenomena such as time travel, teleportation, and eerie psychological effects. Some accounts even claimed that sailors were fused into the ship's bulkheads. The legend of the Philadelphia Experiment blurs the boundaries between scientific exploration and the paranormal, and has given rise to numerous investigations, debates, and conspiracy theories. While skeptics attribute it to wartime propaganda or scientific anomalies, believers suggest it as evidence of government involvement in otherworldly experiments. This wartime enigma endures as a symbol of the uncanny possibilities that emerge at the intersection of advanced science and the supernatural. The Philadelphia Experiment serves as a reminder that during the chaos of war, not only do boundaries blur, but also the human imagination can conjure narratives that challenge our understanding of reality. 4. Foo Fighters In World War II, amidst the cacophonous sounds of engines and gunfire, an enigmatic phenomenon emerged: the Foo Fighters. These were not conventional aircraft, nor were they terrestrial machines; rather, they were elusive and luminous orbs that appeared before the bewildered eyes of Allied and Axis pilots. The term "Foo Fighter" was coined by Allied pilots, derived from the French word "feu," meaning fire, to describe these peculiar entities that trailed their aircraft. Accounts varied from radiant spheres emitting hues of red, orange, or green to objects that defy the laws of physics. These extraordinary orbs remained motionless in the sky, executed hairpin turns and accelerations that surpassed known aviation capabilities, and appeared to engage in a peculiar game of pursuit. The sightings of these apparitions left an indelible impression on those who witnessed them. As the number of sightings increased among military personnel, rumors and speculations proliferated. Some suspected that the Foo Fighters were secret enemy weapons or experimental aircraft, while others ventured into the realm of science fiction, speculating about extraterrestrial origins, contributing to early UFO theories. The mystery of the Foo Fighters remains unresolved to this day, leaving a lasting legacy of wonder and intrigue in the annals of military history. These mysterious aerial entities serve as a testament to the strange and unexplained phenomena that can emerge amidst the chaos of war, adding an eerie layer to the already tense atmosphere of aerial combat and leaving behind a trail of questions that continue to fascinate researchers and enthusiasts alike. 5. Modern Wars and the Resurgence of the Supernatural In the current era, characterized by conflicts in regions such as Iraq and Afghanistan, there has been a resurgence of supernatural myths and legends that reverberate across the battlefields. These narratives, which are rooted in local folklore and belief systems, blur the boundaries between the psychological impact of war and the realm of the supernatural. Soldiers deployed in these conflict zones have reported unsettling encounters with entities known as jinn, powerful and often malevolent spirits deeply embedded in Islamic tradition. According to these accounts, soldiers have witnessed inexplicable phenomena, ranging from eerie noises in the dead of night to apparitions in the desolate desert landscape. These encounters evoke ancient tales of jinn lurking in the unseen corners of the world. The revival of such supernatural narratives during modern warfare underscores the enduring fascination with the inexplicable during times of extreme stress and danger. It also highlights the profound influence of cultural beliefs and legends in shaping the human experience of war. These stories serve as a coping mechanism, providing a framework to make sense of the chaos and horrors of conflict. Moreover, the resurgence of supernatural narratives in contemporary warfare underscores the timeless human need to seek solace and meaning in the face of adversity. If conflicts persist, so will the tales that blend the inexplicable with the harsh realities of war, reminding us of the enduring connection between the human psyche and the world of the supernatural, even in our technologically advanced age. The confluence of war and the supernatural has persisted through the ages, from the time of Arthurian legends to the modern battlefields of the 21st century. This enduring theme invites us to explore not only the rich tapestry of human imagination but also the profound psychological impact of warfare on individuals and societies. In an era marked by persistent conflicts, it is essential to understand why these myths endure. They offer solace in the face of chaos, they allow us to grapple with the unexplainable, and they shed light on the human capacity for resilience and creativity even in the darkest of times. Moreover, they underscore the power of storytelling to shape our perception of history and the supernatural. To truly immerse yourself in the captivating blend of history and the supernatural, I invite you to embark on a journey through the pages of Thore of Berlin, a story about a soldier in the midst of serving Nazi Germany, who embarks himself on a journey of enlightenment and renewed faith, through the discovery of an ancient spiritual system that sets the course for himself and the rest of the world. The launch will be at the end of September, so stay tuned! As we continue to navigate the complexities of modern wars, the exploration of war-related myths and legends remains as relevant as ever, reminding us that the line between reality and the supernatural is often thinner than we might imagine. If you're interested in this topic, and dark fantasy twits and turns I recommend reading Forged by light and fire: dawn of the warrior (book one) You can find it available on the iBooks, Kobo, and Kindle platforms. Are witnesses to these events pushed to their limits, imagining things that are not real? Or is it possible that these particularly violent historical events blur the lines of our reality with something beyond? Let us know what you think.