Who Inspired Me to Write? Not Who You Might Think...

Normally we deal with the paranormal around here, especially during a book tour. However, every now and again, I'll venture off on something else.

Today is one of those days.

One of the questions I'm often asked during interviews is: What author or authors inspired you to write? My answer is always the same. The person who must take the credit, or the blame -- according to your perspective -- is not an author. He is my beloved husband. He encouraged--and gave me the courage--to write down my stories and submit them for publication. When I finally received my first contract, no one celebrated my success more than he did—and that's when it started!

What, you might ask, am I talking about? I'm talking about the thoughtful, special little gifts I received in commemoration of each book I wrote and published.  

The Ghosts of Tutbury Castle

Since Bound by Oath and Honour begins in a creepy (inspired by Cannock Chase) forest in beautiful county Staffordshire, I thought it appropriate to write a little something paranormal in Tutbury...like the castle for instance.

Photograph of Tutbury Castle by Dave Harris

For a time, the great de Ferrers family called this castle home. Later it became a center for some very powerful earls and dukes, such as the great John of Gaunt, 2nd Duke of Lancaster. 

What? You don’t recognize the name? Well somewhere along the way you might have heard of his son, King Henry IV; his grandson, King Henry V; and his great grandson, King Henry VI.

Ahem... moving right along...

The Haunting Ruins of Pennard Castle...

Half buried in windblown sand along the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, is what's left of the once majestic, Pennard Castle.

By Eiona R

Commissioned by Henry de Beaumont, the first Earl of Warwick in the twelth century, the castle has slowly been consumed by time and sand after its abandonment right around the turn of the fifteenth century. Now all that's left is the gatehouse, the curtain wall, and the remains of the Norman Hall - oh - and the ghosts, of course.

They say that the Gwrach y Rhibyn (The scary banshee creature of Wales) haunts the area. Stories handed down through the centuries tell us that anyone daft enough to spend the night inside the castle, won't live to see the dawn! We also have tales of a ghostly woman, consumed by sorrow, who walks the grounds on moonless nights. Some say that despair caused her to walk into a nearby lake from which she never emerged--at least not in mortality. No one is quite sure who she is, or what caused her sorrow.

Personal Photo of Three Cliffs Bay near Pennard Castle

The Phantoms of Powis Castle...

Since many of the scenes in "Court of the Hawk" take place in an ancient castle, I thought I'd share some of the ghostly goings on inside the castle known as Powis.

Now, on a rocky promontory in Welshpool, Wales, Powis Castle has proudly stood for centuries. This magnificent fortress served a dynasty of Welsh princes and as one might expect, a host of residents died within its boundaries. Some have remained.

When it comes to the spirits of Powis, we have a little something for everyone!  There are shy spirits who lurk about the Dukes room and the ballroom wing. We also have accounts of a lady dressed in black. For whatever the reason, she sits in a chair facing the fireplace in the Duke’s Room. No one knows quite who she is though. Is she sad? Or just bored?

Would you like to actually feel a ghost if not see one? Over the years, some have reported physical contact by an otherworldly presence. They say they can feel a hand brushing their arm and when they turn to look, no one is there. At least, no one living.

Many hear the piano in the ballroom wing played by unseen hands, and some have even seen the stool moving when the room is empty of mortals. Loud knocking on doors and windows after the castle is locked up tight is a common occurrence as well.

The Ghosts and Lost Treasure of Castle Coch...

I haven't written about a haunted castle lately and I've missed it! Since we're solidly into our Court of the Hawk book tour & Giveaway, I thought I'd tell you about a beautiful, fairytale Castle in Tongwynlais, Cardiff, Wales, known as Castle Coch.

Engraving titled "CASTELL COCH, ON THE TAFF." circa 1874

Now Castle Coch (or the Red Castle so named for the red sandstone used in its creation) had its origins way back in the year 1081 when the Normans built it to protect Cardiff after they conquered and took possession of the town. As fortunes come and go, they deserted the castle shortly thereafter and a century or two later, Gilbert de Clare used the earth motte left behind, and erected a stone fortress somewhere around 1275, give or take a couple of years in either direction. Then, early during the fourteenth century, the castle was destroyed during the Welsh rebellion. The Marquesses of Bute were then given the castle as part of a marriage contract in 1760. 

Suffice it to say, the castle changed hands many more times during its history and is now in the custody of the Welsh heritage agency.

Now for the fun stuff:

Y Ddraig Goch...The Red Dragon of Wales

Still feeling the dragons as Court the Hawk Book Tour and Giveaway continues, so...

Most Myths evolve. They take a story here and a story there. Here a Hero, there another hero...a villain or two...and in time, someone writes their version down. So it is with Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon and symbol of Wales. 

5th century manuscript of Historia Regum Britanniae, Vortigern and the Red Dragon

Recorded in the 9th century's Historia Brittonum, we find the tale of Vortigern the Saxon tyrant, who was determined to build a fortified tower. Men were called to the task and every day they worked from the break of day until the setting of the sun.  Yet, all of their labors were in vain, for each night, something--or someone--completely destroyed the structure. Frustrated beyond measure, Vortigern turned to his wise men for a solution to this vexing problem.

Of Dragon Myths and Jörmungandr--The mighty Dragon of Midgard...

There's just something about dragons that I both love and respect. They are at once both majestic and terrifying creatures (Toothless aside)...And, I've included one that figures quite prominently in Court of the Hawk. This being the case, I thought what better way to kick off our Book Tour, then share the Norse legend concerning Jörmungandr. Have you heard of him?

Lokis Gezücht. Loki's brood; Hel, Fenrir and Jörmungandr circa 1905

At the very dawn of time, according to this fascinating myth, Loki fathered three children during his liaison with Angrboða the giantess. Hel, Fenrir and last but cerainly not least, Jörmungandr, also known as the Mighty Serpent of Midgard. Shortly after his birth, an enraged Odin imprisoned him in the oceans surrounding Midgard where he lay eternally hidden from the mortal world. They say the dragon grew large enough to encircle the earth and grasp his tail with his teeth.

Court of the Hawk! A Fantasy Romance...

For those who might be wondering, I am still alive and well. I have just been really busy making a few revisions to my latest WIP for my lovely editor at The Wild Rose Press  (who, by the way, has won the "Best Print/Electronic Book Publisher" Award given out by Preditors and Editors Reader Poll for SEVEN years in a row!) and getting ready for my Book Tour for "Court of the Hawk" hosted by the lovely ladies at Goddess Fish!

The Tour, which begins June 16th and ends September 8th, promises to be fun! The Guest Posts topics and Interviews Questions given to me by my lovely hosts have been a delight to answer. In addition, a $15.00 gift certificate for Amazon will be given to a randomly drawn winner, so be sure to visit each of our stops to increase your chances of winning! 

In the meantime, take a minute and stop by "I love to Read and Review Books" for my first Editorial Review of Court of the Hawk! This Review was such a delight to wake up to this morning!

The Ghosts of Battery Point Lighthouse...

I suppose because Aliyana, the heroine of Heart of the Storm  (now in Ebook, Paperback and Audio!) met her handsome, 17th century captain, Wolf, in an old deserted lighthouse somewhere in the "in between" corridor between parallels (and because I love lighthouses in general) I thought I'd make a visit to another haunted lighthouse...

The Battery Point Lighthouse, in fact.

Battery Point Lighthouse, by Bobjgalindo

The Famous Flying Dutchman

Now, most everyone knows that Wolfert Dircksen Van Ness, the handsome hero of Heart of the Storm is a 17th century sea captain from our world. However, after going through a tumultous storm in the Bermuda Triangle, he and his crew find themselves in another dimension altogether. Despite his change in venue, our dashing captain has discovered that he can cross back and forth between our world and his. But the thing is, during his visits, he, his crew, and his ship, appear as ghostly shadows of their former selves. Kind of like the Flying Dutchman...  

Yes indeed...The Flying Dutchman...almost everyone recognizes the name. But did you know the moniker refers to the Captain of the ship, and not the ship itself?

The Flying Dutchman by Albert Pinkham Ryder c. 1887

Wolf and Aliyana Seek a Little Ghostly Help... Shadow of the Witte Wieven Book Tour Continues!

Can you believe it's January 2015 already? Where did the last year go...

Anyway, as we head into the New Year and the final month of our Shadow of the Witte Wieven Book tour, I thought I'd give you a never before shared excerpt, chosen by my lovely daughter. This is the part of the book wherein Wolf and Aliyana ask for a little ghostly help to catch the bad guy...

Excerpt:

“Buenos días, Padre,” he said in greeting.

“He is here?” asked Aliyana, as her eyes darted about the area.

“Yes, he is standing right in front of me. At this moment, he is looking at me with a bit of suspicion, so perhaps you might want to take over and give him the reassurance he seeks.”

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.

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?

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."

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:

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.

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!"

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."