All About Kallisti Publishing
Kallisti Publishing was founded in 2000 in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania and makes the “Books You Need to Succeed” — personal development and business books that expand the mind, generate ideas, and grow profits. Kallisti Publishing is the home to prestigious authors who are leaders and experts in their field and who write books that inform, inspire, and impel. Kallisti Publishing sells traditional books and ebooks through distributors and retailers, through its own affiliate network, direct to the reader, and in bulk to companies and organizations. Kallisti Publishing’s name comes from the Greek and means “for the most beautiful” because when you read, you will succeed — and nothing is more beautiful than that.
The Story Behind Our Name
Kallisti is a Greek word that I discovered while reading Greek mythology. One myth that caught my eye involved a bevy of gods and goddesses, a snub, an apple, and a young lad. In other words, all of the makings for a truly rich story!
One day, Zeus was preparing a wedding party for Peleus and Thetis. Knowing how much mayhem Eris usually caused at such affairs, Zeus decided not to invite her.
Well, Eris found out about the get-together. She decided that if she wasn’t good enough to invite to what could be the social event of the season, then the least she could do would be to make the party just a tad bit more interesting than the usual godly gossip and boring god games. Ever the clever one, Eris fashioned a solid gold apple and engraved the word “Kallisti” on it. “Kallisti” is Greek for “to the prettiest one.”
When the party was just about to get into full-swing, Eris rolled that golden apple into the party where it stopped between three lovely goddesses: Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite.
Once the three beauties set their eyes upon that apple, a huge argument commenced over whose apple it was. Wasn’t each, in her mind, the prettiest?
“I know,” said Athena. “Let’s ask Zeus!”
This was a great idea. In theory.
The only thing more discomfiting than a goddess displeased because she wasn’t chosen as the prettiest is two goddesses displeased because they haven’t been chosen as the prettiest. That is the situation Zeus would have on his hands if he chose one of the lovely lasses who posed the question to him and not the other two.
But Zeus was no nimrod. He turned to the ladies and said, “I am in no position to make such a choice. We must ask a man who can be completely objective. You ladies go to Paris and ask him.”
Zeus was not referring to the city of Paris, but rather a strapping young lad who was asleep under a tree. Or watching his sheep. It depends on whose story you’re going to believe.
Now, I bet you can imagine the look of surprise on his face when he all of a sudden noticed three beautiful goddesses standing before him!
The goddesses posed the question to Paris — “Which of us is the prettiest?” — and then individually proceeded to convince him. Or tempt him. Or bribe him. Depending on whose story you’re going to believe.
Hera, the wife of Zeus, offered him riches beyond his wildest fancy.
Athena, the goddess of the hunt and battle, offered him victory and glory in battle.
Aphrodite, the goddess of love, offered him the most beautiful woman in the world.
Paris, being a young, virile lad, of course chose “c,” the most beautiful woman in the world.
Aphrodite, being true to her word and ecstatic about being chosen as “the prettiest,” gave him his desire.
Thus, Paris chose Aphrodite and he in return received the most beautiful woman in the world, Helen of Troy.
This sparked the famous Trojan War, which lasted many, many years and caused much chaos and mayhem.
This in turn tickled Eris to tears.
The morals of the story are:
- Be beautiful.
- When in doubt, pick “c.”
- And always invite Eris to your soirees!
Now you know why when you read, you succeed, and that’s Beautiful.
Very truly yours . . .
Anthony Raymond Michalski, Publisher