The Magic of Winter...

On this windy, cold and cloudy, New Year's Eve, the weatherman is calling for snow. Call me skeptical if you will, but so far today, I haven't seen so much as a drop of rain here in Las Vegas. Now that doesn't mean we never get snow here. We have had some on occasion. So when we do, I sit back with a hot cup of cocoa, and watch it through the window--from the comfort of my heated home--with a fire roaring in the fireplace.

American Homestead Winter - Currier & Ives 

  
I bet I had an ancestor or two that would've loved to have traded places with me. Long ago--when life depended on the planting and harvesting of crops--the long days of winter were filled with various magical rituals. They had rituals for the fields they hoped would ensure an increase in flocks, herds and the harvest. Rituals were held to protect hearth and home. They even had rituals meant to bring back the light of the sun.

The Three Ghosts of Christmas...

A Christmas Carol, written by Charles Dickens and published in 1843 is one of my favorite Christmas stories. As part of our family Christmas traditions, we either read it, or watch one of the many movie versions we own based on the story. The kids love Disney's version starring Mickey Mouse and I think I'm kind of partial to the one starring George C. Scott... (We also like Scrooged...ahem)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. London: Chapman & Hall, 1843. First edition. Title page.

Anyway, I',m sure it doesn't surprise anyone who knows me, or reads my blogs or books that the Three Ghosts of Christmas fascinates me. We have the ghost of Christmas Past, which takes Scrooge on a journey filled with Christmas memories. The ghost of Christmas Present that forces dear old Scrooge to see firsthand the holiday celebrations of those way less fortunate and, finally, we have the ghost of Christmas Future...a future that might be but doesn't have to be. During my childhood, all the ghosts scared the Dickens right out of me (sorry, couldn't resist) because the thought of one of them showing up in the middle of the night by my bed seemed anything but pleasant.

The fabulous Stephanie Keyes presents...The Last Protector!

I am so excited to have my Inkspell sister and friend visiting with me today as she presents her latest novel!

About the Book

The Last Protector

By Stephanie Keyes

Publisher: Inkspell Publishing | Release Date: December 15, 2014

Gabriel Stewart helped his best friend Kellen St. James save the world from The Scourge in the Battle of Dublin. But before that? Gabe was just an ordinary guy who kept having dreams about a little boy with black hair and green eyes—a boy he hadn’t even met yet.

The Best Christmas Gift Ever...

So, last week I waxed nostalgic about Santa Claus. This week my thoughts have taken me to my most memorable, most special, most favorite Christmas gift of all time! Nothing has ever topped it and I truly don't think anything ever will. So...

I was five years old and during that Christmas season, my mother was pregnant. Very. Pregnant. In fact, our baby was due to arrive around the middle of January. At the time, my three other siblings were all brothers and oh, how I longed for a sister. Believe it or not, my brothers wanted a sister almost as much as I did. Mom and Dad tried to prepare us for another brother should one come, but none of us were having any of it. We wanted a sister, and that's all there was to that! (At the time sonograms were non-existent, so no peeking...)

Christmas Memories with Santa Claus!

Well...the tree is up and arrayed in all it's splendid glory! The rest of the house is still a work in progress but the tree is all a sparkle! What do you think? 

I don't know why, but a Christmas tree can put me in the Christmas spirit faster than anything else. Maybe it's because of the countless memories it invokes. After all, around here, the tree begins the season.

Now, because my only sister was born on Christmas Day (and that event is my most special and favorite Christmas memory) Santa Claus was a frequent Christmas Eve visitor to our home. We thought it so sad that my dad always had a meeting to attend whenever he showed up. Santa was just so busy, he couldn't wait for his return either! Nonetheless, we loved sharing the details of that visit with Dad over and over once he got home. Then as we grew older, our association with Santa provided even more amazing memories.

In An Attitude of Gratitude...and a gift for you!

For me, the Thanksgiving week is not only filled with the hustle and bustle of dinner preparations, which takes us two days to prepare, but to also reflect on my many, many blessings. 

First and foremost, my family. I wished every one of you could meet them. If you stopped in for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, you just might! I can't remember a single year our house wasn't filled to capacity with family and friends. With my mother being one of nine children and my dad one of four, I have more cousins than I care to count. All throughout my youth a goodly portion of them always showed up for dinner at our house.

As it always does, time marched on, my childhood faded away, and adulthood took over... 

My parents during their dating years...Aren't they just the cutest things?

Helen C. Johannes, Author of Bloodstone & The Prince of Val-Feyridge...

I am so excited to have the very talented Helen C. Johannes visiting with me today as she speaks a little bit about the craft of writing and gives us a look at her exciting fantasy romances!

I’m Helen C. Johannes and I write fantasy romance for The Wild Rose Press. Thank you, Deb, for kindly offering to host me on your blog. I’ve given some thought lately to the fine art of writing, and I have a point I’d like to discuss. I’d be delighted to hear your thoughts on this:

“Write what you know.”

That’s the advice given to aspiring writers. And it’s basically good advice. No one can write authentically about a career, place, time, or situation without having ‘knowledge’ of it. Aspiring writers of suspense and crime fiction, for instance, ought to know what a police detective or private investigator really does before attempting to write a story around such a character. Stories fall flat when the author’s ‘knowledge’ fails in the eyes of a reader or editor.

Say Nothing of What You See, by Author Christy Effinger...

I am really excited to have Christy Effinger here today as she tells us a little bit about her newest novel, Say Nothing of What You See!

Say Nothing of What You See by Christy Effinger

Published by The Wild Rose Press

Released August 29, 2014

Genre: Paranormal New Adult

Length: Novel  

Tillamook Lighthouse and the Ghosts that Haunt it...

Now, because of my recent release, Heart of the Storm my thoughts have once again, turned to haunted lighthouses!

Department of the Treasury. U.S. Coast Guard. Thirteenth Coast Guard District. (ca. 1944 - 04/01/1967)

More specifically, The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, off the coast of Oregon. They built this lighthouse on the top of a jagged rock that, according to the native indians in the area... is inhabited by spirits. Despite the legend, on January 21, 1881, the lighthouse entered service. The terrible weather conditions plaguing the waters gave rise to her nickname, "Terrible Tilly."

Cover Reveal! Poison Tree by Kacey Vanderkarr...

I am excited to have Kacey here today as she shares her lovely new cover for her upcoming release!

Poison Tree

By Kacey Vanderkarr

Release date: December 2, 2014

Poison Tree Blurb:

The road to the City of War is dangerous.

Shadow of the Witte Wieven Book Tour Begins!

Inkspell Publishing and I decided that an extended Second Edition of Shadow of the Witte Wieven, graced with a brand new cover, deserved a brand new book tour! We will be giving away a $15 gift certificate for Amazon at the end of the tour, as well as a few other surprises along the way, so stay with us! Today I'm answering questions at Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews so stop by, say hello and enter to win!

Covery design by Shandra Kay!

The Blurb:

Despite a contract on her head, lone Drug Enforcement Agent, Aliyana Montijo must ferret out a mole and stop the assassination of top DEA officials, as so ordered by the Colombian drug lord she seeks to take down. The task is a daunting one, for there is no one she can trust. No one that is, until she encounters a most unlikely ally.

Former seventeenth century captain of the Dutch West Indies Company, Wolfaert Dircksen Van Ness, now from a parallel dimension, encounters the beautiful agent during an unearthly storm in the Bermuda triangle. Drawn to the Spanish beauty he rescues, he pledges his assistance, despite her reluctance to accept either his help or his heart.

Wolf must bridge both space and time to claim the woman he loves...

 http://www.photolib.noaa.gov/nssl/nssl0011.htm Public domain

The Excerpt:

A Personal Ghost Story...

The last day of October has arrived, and so has Halloween! And, I just couldn't let the day pass without leaving you all something spooky. After all, it is the time for pumpkins carved with eerie faces, witches, vampires, goblins and ghosts...

Photograph By Anthony

During my "Spirit of the Knight" book tour, I shared a personal ghost story at the request of my lovely hostess (You can read it here: Brooke Blog's) and since that time, some of you have asked me for another. Now do be aware, I really don't have that many. I mean, it's not like I run into ghosts on a regular basis. 

However...

On a dark and stormy night...no, no, that's not right...

The Ghosts of Gwydir....

Well, it's October and almost Halloween, so I just can't let the month go without a single mention of ghosts. Because "Court of the Hawk" takes place almost exclusively in Wales, I decided to, well, talk about Wales!

Gwydir Castle by Jo Turner

Nestled in the lovely valley of Llanrwst, Conwy, Wales, sits the enchanting Tudor courtyard house known as Gwydir Castle.

Just a bit of History:

In the 14th century, a man by the name of Hywel Coetmore is said to have possessed the original Gwydir structure, which was subsequently destroyed during the Wars of the Roses. Then, one of Hywel's decendents later sold the place to Meredith ap Ieuan, a decendent of Owain Gwynedd. According to history, somewhere around the year 1500, Meredith rebuilt Gwydir.

In turn, Meredith's son, John Wynn ap Meredith is responsible for increasing the size of the castle beyond its rectangular keep-like Solar Tower and the adjoining hall block. During the 17th century, a knight by the name of Sir John Wynn, doubled the size of the courtyard mansion. In 1816, most all of his contributions were destroyed, but fortunately, we still have the lovely porch that Sir John added to the front of the Solar Tower.

All right then - The Ghosts:

FUN FALL FAVORITES GIVEAWAY!

28 authors have come together to give you a
 reading list of FUN FALL FAVORITES!

PLUS a $300 GIVEAWAY

"Court of the Hawk" Gets a Cover!!!

I am so excited....

Debbie Taylor, the very talented cover artist for The Wild Rose Press has just presented my cover for my upcoming fantasy romance, "Court of the Hawk" and I just had to share it with all of you on this fabulous Friday!

And just in case you're wondering why on earth there is a castle at the bottom of the sea, I'll go ahead and  leave you with the blurb...

Blurb:

When a single moment challenges your perception of truth…

Epigraphist Dr. Essie DeSpencer, travels to an ancient Welsh castle in order to decipher an Ogham inscription discovered by the handsome and enigmatic, Garreth ap Daffyd. But the journey is not what she anticipated. She doesn’t expect to fall for the Lord of the castle, or to find herself deeply entrenched in legends, myths, and magic. Real legends, and real magic, that have devastating consequences.

Garreth didn’t plan for Essie to stay any longer than it took her to decipher the pictograph. Instead, he finds himself falling in love for the first time in his very long life. Now the Lord of Llys y Gwalch must find a way to attain the heart of his soul mate and keep her safe from the dangers that threaten them both...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tell me what you think of the cover, I'm dying to hear your thoughts (and more than likely so is Debbie Taylor)!

Hoping you all have a wonderful weekend!

An Interview with Kristy Centeno, author of Keeper of the Innocents!

I am so excited to have my very talented Inkspell Publishing sister, Kristy Centeno, visit with me today as she  answers a few questions and discusses her new book, Keeper of the Innocents. This is a Young Adult paranormal novel, filled to the brim for your reading pleasure, with an assortment of witches and demons...

First, the Questions!

So, Kristy, tell us a little bit about your book!

Lost Spirits of the Battlefield...

On this final day of our "Spirit of the Knight" Book Tour and Giveaway, I want everyone to know how much fun I've had while visiting the various blogs. My hostesses have been so sweet, they have asked me some interesting questions, and they made me feel welcome. So many friends--those I've had for quite a while as well as some new ones--dropped by and said hello. Thank you all for your support and all of your sweet comments! I am really excited to see just who it is that wins our prizes, including the beautiful print, "Prayer For The Fallen," by the very, very talented artist, Shandra Kay!



My very last stop takes me to Brooke Blogs where I share one of my very own, personal ghost encounters! I hope that one more time, you'll take a few minutes, stop by and say hello... (not to mention doing so will give you one more chance to win!)


Now, for those who read "Angels of Mons," penned by my beloved husband, I thought I'd present the following...

The Battle of Braddock Down...

Here, on the 19^th day of January, in the year 1643, the Royalist forces under Sir Ralph Hopton engaged the Parliamentarian army in battle. Hopton's forces prevailed. Even though 350 plus years have passed since that infamous day, they say the sound of galloping hooves made by phantom horses can still be heard racing across the battlefield.

The Battle of Hastings...

What's Cooking inside a Medieval Kitchen...

With but one week left to go on our Spirit of the Knight Book Tour and Giveaway I thought we would explore what the medieval cooks might have served our garrison of ghostly knights!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The medieval kitchen inside the Nanstein Castle, by Anaconda74

So, what's cooking inside a Medieval Kitchen? All kinds of things, actually, and some of the cuisine on the medieval menu just might surprise you. During the middle ages, and via the crusades, exotic spices became far more accessible to good cooks throughout all of Europe. Spices such as nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, pepper, coriander, mustard and ginger, just to name a few. Now, instead of cooking with just what they grew in their gardens, our medieval chefs could brew up a bit of excitement in the kitchen. 

Spirit of the Knight Book Tour and Giveaway is winding down...

With just a few week left to go, I thought I would take this opportunity to offer one final excerpt from the story. Enjoy!

 

Spirit of the Knight

At that moment, he had an overwhelming desire to make her acquaintance and ask the questions that plagued him. Yet, caution warned that she might flee the castle altogether if he manifested his form. Such happened often enough through the endless days following his death. But then again, that had been his objective with all uninvited guests. Though he could find no logical reason to support the need, he found he didn’t want this particular woman to go, at least not yet.

The Angels of Mons...

I have a very special guest blogger today. Among other things, he is an avid reader and history enthusiast! If I have a historical question, especially concerning battles and warfare throughout the ages, he is the first person I seek. Much of what you read in my various novels concerning the same comes from his vast knowledge, guidance and influence. In case you haven't guessed, my guest today is none other than my beloved husband, David Peterson! (And just to let you know, he's far more skeptical about otherworldly phenomenon than what I am...must come from the three decades he spent as a police officer. Just the facts, ma'am, just the facts.)

An Unusual Compliment To One of Our Airmen- 1915  Art.IWM ART 180

August, 1914, before the trenches, Mons  France.  The  heavily outnumbered British Expeditionary Force experienced its first defeat at the hands of the German Army.  Outnumbered and out flanked the British retreated. That they held out as long as they did could be counted a miracle.

Spirit of the Knight Character Interview, Part Two...

My "Spirit of the Knight" Book Tour Stop, as we enter the month of August, takes me to Writers and Authors.  I hope you'll take a minute, stop by, and share your thoughts!

Next week, August 11th, I'll be stopping at Queen of All She Reads!

Beautiful Glen Affric in the Scottish Highlands

Warning! Just as in our previous interview, there are some spoilers ahead, so don't read the answer if you don't want to know!

With more questions still on the table, we continue with our Spirit of the Knight character Interview.  Since we began our questions last week with Sir Cailen, I think it only fitting we begin this session with Mariah.

Mariah smiles. "All right, I'm ready!"

SUMMER FUN Amazon Gift Card Giveway!

Interrupting our Spirit of the Knight Book Tour (briefly) to bring you a bit of SUMMER FUN! The lovely Shauna Wheelwright of "I love to Read and Review Books" gathered some of her favorite authors (ahem) for an Amazon Gift Card Giveaway! All you have to do for your chance to win is log in and enter! Wishing you all the best of luck!

What would you do with a 

$175 Amazon Gift Card?

Interviewing the Characters from Spirit of the Knight!

You'll find me at two stops this week as we wrap up the month of July in our Spirit of the Knight book tour and giveaway. Please drop by and say hello for another chance to win our fun prizes!

1. Booklover Sue asks questions and I answer!
2. Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock leaves you with a five fang Review...you can't ask for better than that!

Warning! There are some spoilers ahead, so don't read the answer if you don't want to know!

For the past several weeks, a lot of questions for Cailen, Mariah, and the Knights have trickled in (thank you all very much for participating, it really warms my heart). So, I thought it time to get some of them answered!

Eilean Castle by Remi Mathis

All right Sir Cailen Braithnock, we have some questions for you. Are you ready?

"Aye, ready and waitin'..."

Tammy wants to know if you wanted to follow Mariah to the pub when she met Evan for dinner or were you content to wait for her return?

"Ye dinnae know how badly I wanted to follow. I must confess I had this overwhelmin' need to keep a close eye on Evan after his intentions concernin' Murriah became obvious. Nonetheless, I felt it would be discourteous to go when she didn't extend me an invitation."

The Excerpt that Inspired the Portrait...

As we reach the halfway point in our July blog stops, I though I'd share one of the excerpts from "Spirit of the Knight," that inspired the marvelous art print offered in our giveaway and created by the amazing artist, Shandra Kay!

Enjoy!

Prayer for the Fallen

More arrows pierced through his armor, they continued to pierce him until he could no longer feel them enter his body. Still, he fought on with the intent of sending to the devil himself, as many archers as he could. An enemy rushed straight at him. Cailen pivoted and raised his sword for the kill. But just as he thrust his weapon into his opponent’s heart, the man raced straight through his body as though he didn’t exist. His intended victim somehow ended up right behind him to engage another.

Stunned over the occurrence, he whipped around. Naught but death and devastation littered the grassy field. Most of his battalion lay dead on the bloodied soil, Lord Robert Bruce and the Earl of Mar among them. He noticed the strangeness then.

Something didn’t feel right. He touched his body in various places. The muscles, skin, and bone felt solid enough beneath his fingers. Yet, just as he placed his hand against his chest seeking the beat of his heart, he spied his mortal body prone at his feet. Eyes, which no
longer blinked, stared up at the morning sky. A hand, which would never again engage an enemy, clung to his sword. He knelt next to his mortal remains in quiet despair. A steady hand aimed for the arrow that pierced his heart and ended his mortal life. He couldn’t grasp it, no matter how hard he tried.

“Cailen…”

He hesitated for a moment and then turned to face a bewildered Duncan. His friend of many years placed a hand of comfort upon his shoulder. Unable to speak, he gazed into his eyes and shook his head.

“I think we’re dead,” Duncan whispered.

 ~~~~~~~~~                                   

Now, don't forget to drop by this Week's Blog stops! Visit both for another chance to win our fun collection of prizes!

The Wispy, Women in White at Tretower Castle...

In giving a nod to the ghostly lasses residing alongside Sir Cailen Braithnock, (though the poor man doesn't have a clue...) I thought we'd take another look at a haunted castle in Wales that many say is home to several ethereal ladies.

At the turn of the 11th century, there arose in the kingdom of Powys, in Crickhowel, a motte-and-bailey castle known as Tretower. At this time, a Norman knight by the name of John Picard built the structure using earth and timber. By the middle of the 12th century, a member of the family built a stone keep on the motte, replacing the timber defenses.  History records that six generations of Picard's descendants lived and died here. 

Tretower Castle Photographer: Andrew Lewis

Then, in or around the year 1540, Sir William Herbert, connected to the Picards by marriage, gave the castle to his half-brother Sir Roger Vaughn. Roger subsequently built Tretower Court, and on its grounds, one of our wispy white ladies is said to wander. Many believe she is the spirit of Sir Roger Vaughan’s wife.

The Haunted Moor of Culloden...

I suppose we can't speak of spectral knights and castles inhabited by ghosts without mentioning a haunted battlefield or two, if even briefly...

Culloden Moor by Mike Pennington

And what is more appropriate to begin our July "Spirit of the Knight" book tour guest blogs than the highly revered, greatly respected, Culloden Moor, near Inverness. Here, amidst the heavy rain on this boggy day of April 16th, in the year 1746, government troops decimated every man comprising Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebel forces. These forces were made up of brave Scotsmen from clans such as the Frasers, the Stuarts and the MacDonalds, who wanted nothing more than to see a Stuart return to the throne. Fate would not will it so. Even after the bloody battle concluded, the work of death did not. The slaughter continued until every man loyal to Prince Charlie died. It took but 40 minutes.

Now they say, on each anniversary of this brutal battle, the army fights yet again. The clanking of swords, battle cries, and the moans of the wounded are heard echoing throughout the moor. Witnesses often report seeing a tall man dressed in a tartan. He is obviously distraught and just before he disappears he is heard to whisper, "defeated..."

Another story often retold is that of a woman who, over six decades ago, spied a tartan lying atop one of the graves. She said that when she peeked beneath it, she saw the ghostly form of a seriously wounded soldier. I couldn't help but wonder if he asked for or even wanted her help?

One of the more sorrowful legends of Culloden Moor is the silence that prevails over the battle site. Birds will not sing here, nor will the heather, which grows abundantly nearby, cover the graves of the Jacobites.

Given its history, I'm not so sure I'd have the heart to visit Culloden... Would you?

An Interview with Talented Artist, Shandra Kay....

As far as guest blogs go, we have a "bye" this week in our "Spirit of the Knight" book tour (now available in both ebook and print, for those who were asking). Nonetheless, I still wanted to provide a place for your comments and tweets, and give you another opportunity to win our marvelous prizes (we can't have too many of those, can we now). Therefore, I thought this last Monday in June the perfect opportunity to Interview the very awesome, talented, Shandra Kay.

Now, just in case you didn't know, she is the artist who created "Prayer for the Fallen," the highly coveted, main prize in our current giveaway! (Breathtaking, I know! I have already ordered my very own copy and I can't wait to have it in my hot little hands!)

Prayer for the Fallen

Those who have followed my blogs and book tours during the past couple of years know that I have used Shandra's talents often. She created the exquisite necklaces for the "Spirit of the Revolution" and "Van Locken's Witch" book tours, as well as the gorgeous cover for "Van Locken's Witch." She also created all of the art work and put together the book trailers for "Shadow of the Witte Wieven" and "Spirit of the Rebellion."

Hauntingly Beautiful Kilchurn Castle...

How about a wee bit of romance and history concerning Kilchurn Castle as we focus on the "Spirit of the Knight"?

Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Scotland Photochrom Print Collection circa 1890

Sir Colin Campbell, first Lord of Glenorchy, is credited with building a five-story tower house and a protective perimeter wall on the peninsula of Loch Awe, way back in the year 1440. Now even though it's officially recorded that Sir Colin--also known as the Black Knight of Rhodes for his prowess during the crusades--built the castle, legend states otherwise. Tradition tell us that his lady, Margaret, oversaw the construction of the magnificent tower during her husband's seven-year absence.

The Otherworldly Occupants of the Tower of London...

Spirit of the Knight Book Tour Continues with the ghosts that haunt the Tower of London...

Construction on the Tower of London began 944 years ago under the direction of William the Conqueror, after he won the Battle of Hastings. Soon after the victory, he sent an advanced guard into the city of London with orders to build him a fortress. By 1100, the majestic White Tower dominated the skyline. One hundred and seventy-five years later (give or take a few) Edward I would build St. Thomas's Tower as well as the watergate known today as Traitor's gate.

With almost a century's worth of tumultuous history, often whispered sightings of a ghost or two, shouldn't surprise anyone.

 By Sharkoon24 

Of all the ghosts haunting the towers, the young sons of  King Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Edward V and his brother Richard, the Duke of York, are in my opinion, the most tragic. After their father's death in 1483, the boys, then aged 12 and 9 respectively, were taken to the tower by their uncle Richard, Duke of Gloucester. Though Richard had been appointed to care for the boys and prepare Edward for his coronation as king,the Duke seized the throne for himself --and--the boys disappeared.

The Ghosts of Brodick Castle...

With "Spirit of the Knight" now in Audio, and narrated by the phenomenal Dawson McBride, let's take a look at the ghostly shenanigans at Brodick Castle.

On the Isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde lies this magnificent--dating from the 13th century--red sandstone castle. 

  Carbon Print of Brodick Castle by Alexander Hastie Millar, circa 1880

There is a long and bloody history involving this castle and its surrounding lands. In the fifth century, Gaelic invaders from Antrim arrived on the shores of Arran and built a fortress, thereby expanding their kingdom of Dalriada. By the thirteenth century, the Isle came under the rule of both Magnus of Mann and Dougal of the Isles. Throughout the centuries in between, wars and conflicts were common. In 1266, and by the Treaty of Perth, Scotland took possession of the land.

Spirit of the Knight on Tour Now through September 1st!

For all those who have wondered if sickness overcame me, if I went on an exotic vacation somewhere, or if the earth were truly flat and I fell off the end of it, I thank you so much for your concern. It is SO nice to be missed!

So the answer concerning my lengthy absence from my blog is (drum roll, please) I needed all of that time to prepare a variety of blogs and interviews (all sixteen of them...whew!) for my upcoming book tour featuring "Spirit of the Knight!" And that, dear friends, was quite a task!

(To top it off, I also had to find time for editing book number six as well as spend some time on my current work in progress, but those discussions will have to wait for another time... ahem). Oh excuses, excuses....I know...but the dog really did eat my homework...I swear!

Sea Creatures and Solstice Island by Author, Mae Clair!!

I am so excited to have my dear friend Mae Clair, author of the very popular Weathering Rock and Twelfth Sun, drop by for a visit today! She is here to share a little bit about her current release, a book I've read and highly recommend...Solstice Island!

Thank you for inviting me to your blog today, Debbie. I’m delighted to be here to share my current release, SOLSTICE ISLAND, a romantic adventure novella that centers around the quest for an aquatic creature.

Sea beasts seem to come in two popular varieties: serpents and leviathans. There are exceptions, of course, (colossal squids, gargantuan octopi, and carnivorous mutant fish), but traditionally sea monsters tend to be classified as serpents or leviathans. When it came time to create a mythical oceanic creature for my latest release, SOLSTICE ISLAND, I tried to avoid using the word serpent as much as possible. I didn’t want the image of a snake-like creature.

Journey from Aspiring Writer to Published Author...Thanks, Sarah!

You know, the one thing constant about life, is that it changes. Sometimes that change is a gradual thing, only seen in retrospect. Other times it's swift in coming, and without forewarning of any kind. One such change happened very recently. I met that event with a mixture of sadness, trepidation and cautious anticipation.

What changed? Well, my dear, sweet editor, who took me from aspiring writer to published author, and who worked tirelessly with me on three of my books, retired from her position at The Wild Rose Press. The personal email she sent me announcing this event caused a great deal of reflection on my part.

Would it surprise you to learn that even though I published Spirit of the Rebellion first, I did not write it first? As far as my published books go, I wrote Spirit of the Revolution about six months earlier. However, I didn't write that book first, either...