Teaser Tuesday: Maybe it was the Moon, or Maybe it was his Tongue in my Ear

Emily's Trial, Book 2 of the Akasha Chronicle
by Natalie Wright
Cover Model, Ashley Philips

In Emily's Trial (Book 2 of the Akasha Chronicles), Emily's adventure continues. She may be a magical Priestess, but she's also a sixteen-year-old girl looking for love. Can desire be so strong that it can tempt a girl to use her sacred magic in a forbidden way? Here's a teaser from Emily's Trial:

The shock of the crisp October air felt refreshing. It was chilly and smelled of fallen leaves. The moon was high and large, about three quarters full. The trees were almost bare. There were a few couples in the yard, most of them pressed close, their lips locked, hands roaming. I tried not to look because it felt creepy to watch people make out.

Owen walked me to a swinging seat hung from an enormous oak tree in the middle of the yard. I sat down and felt glad to have the wood swing beneath me.

“Hey Sporty, why don’t you go inside and get yourself a drink or something,” Owen said to Fanny.

“Nah, I’m good.” Fanny stood her ground in front of the swing. I glared at her hard, trying to get her to take the hint and give me some alone time with Owen. Either she couldn’t see me glare in the dark, or she chose to ignore me because she didn’t budge.

I was getting pissed as hell at her. I didn’t need Fanny acting like a mother hen, hovering over me all the time. It’s like sometimes she and Jake don’t get that we’re growing up. It’s like they still want everything to be like it was when we were ten or something.

Owen just shrugged his shoulders, sat down next to me, and he put his arm around my shoulders. He leaned his lips close to my ear and whispered, “So, you ever go anywhere without the pest?”

I threw my head back and let out a huge laugh. He hit the nail on the head.

“Yes,” I said.

“Good to know,” he whispered back then gently flicked his tongue into my ear. The flames of my passion were licking upward from my loins. I was thinking hard to Fanny to scram. But Fanny has zero telepathic skills, and she pretty much sucks at reading body language too so she didn't get the hint to scram. Is she hoping to watch us make out or something? Fanny sticking around was starting to feel like prying, not protection.

Owen kept his arm around my shoulder but removed his tongue and lips from my ear. Suddenly, my ear felt cold, and a shiver ran through me. Owen seemed to know the effect he had on me. He wore a look of smug satisfaction on his face.

“So, Sporty, since you won’t take a hint and beat it, entertain me. What sports do you play?”

“Volleyball, softball, basketball.”

“Aren’t you kinda short for basketball?”

“Guard,” she said.

Riveting conversation, and not nearly as entertaining as having Owen's tongue in my ear. Owen must have thought so too because he changed the subject quickly.

“Emily, my Miss Magic. Pretty impressive what you did back there with supreme jerk of the evening, Tad. I want to apologize for those knuckle draggers.”

“It’s okay, really.”

“No, it’s not. You’re smart, not one of those sycophant bimbos usually hanging around with us. They’re not used to girls who have more to offer than just someone pretty to look at and make out with.”

I’m not sure if he was trying to compliment me or not. Was he saying I was cute and  smart? Or was he excepting me out of the category of girls pretty enough to look at and make out with?

“What about you, Owen? Are you interested in more than just someone to make out with?” asked Fanny.

“I’m here with you two instead of in there. What do you think?”

Fanny’s face softened then, and she seemed to relax a little.

“So answer me this Miss Magic. Aren’t you bored with just spinning drunk assholes in the air?”

Of course I was. My boredom had gotten so pathetic, I'd stooped to dropping salads on Greta.

“Yes. Yes I am.”

If you want to find out what happens, read Emily's Trial. And now is the perfect time to hang out with Emily because Emily's Trial is on sale through July, 2013. Regularly $2.99, you can snag Emily's Trial now for 99 cents!

Thanks for reading and stayed tuned for more Tuesday teasers :-D

Purchase Emily's Trial at these retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/R58yyW

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/UJuq9M

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ckGykI

Paperback available at Powell's: http://bit.ly/R4hBS9

Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party

Welcome to some Friday fun - the Spellbindingly Fun Party in celebration of the release of a fun novella written by one of my newest writer friends, Janice Horton. You can click on the picture to go see her blog and get your copy of How Do You Voodoo by Janice Horton. It is FREE, but for today only. And use hashtag #voodoo to follow the party on Twitter all day.

But before you run off, first you must check out my spell.

Janice gave us the task: Create one spell, but no curses. She gave us a fun ingredient list and we were off to spellcasting.

It was hard choosing a spell! But I finally came up with it. How about abundance. Abundance of health. Abundance of love. Abundance of joy. Abundance of wealth. Cast this spell for abundance of all wanted things in your life.

Multum Copia

You will need the following for your Multum Copia spell:

1 Sprig of Scottish Heather

1 charged Moon Stone

3 Dragon Tears

A Pinch of Pixie Dust

3 White Candles

Place all of your ingredients, except for the candles, in a beautiful silk bag, blessing each one. Then arrange your three white candles in a circle, place your blessed bag in the center, and light your candles while casting this spell:

With Scottish Heather

and Stone of Moon,

Abundance come

and none too soon.

The Dragon Tears

and Pixie Dust.

Abundance find me,

this magick a must.

I am open to abundance,

a well to fill.

Abundance in all,

but not of ill.

Love, Joy,

friendship, health.

When my cup is full of these,

the I shall know great wealth.

If you cast this spell, let me know how it works for you *wink*. And if you find dragon tears, let me know where you found them!

Now pop over to Janice's blog where you'll find a list of other fun spells in this Spellbindingly Fun party.

    

Summer Teen Reading Party with Marva Dasef

Happy Wednesday! We continue the Teen Reading Party and I welcome Marva Dasef, author of a fabulous series, The Witches of Gadlorheim, as my guest today. Check out these great covers:

Marva's stories incorporate Celtic mythology by way of Scotland. My first novel, Emily's House, incorporates Celtic mythology by way of Ireland, so I enjoyed this post from Marva a lot! And there is an excerpt of Scotch Broom so be sure to read through and check that out:

SCOTCH BROOM: Book 3 of The Witches of Galdorheim

A magical trip to Stonehenge lands a witch in the Otherworld where an ancient goddess is up to no good.

Blurb:

Kat expects to have a great time on her graduation trip to Stonehenge. However, from the moment she leaves the witches’ arctic island, Galdorheim, she gets in nothing but trouble.  Her younger half-brother tries to horn in on her trip, she gets lost in the magical Otherworld realm, is led astray by a supposed friend, then she has to confront a Scottish goddess who’s fallen on hard times.

While dodging the goddess’ minions and trying to find her way out of the Otherworld, Kat soon learns she shouldn’t underestimate the old has-been for one second; the crone still has a few tricks that can drain a witch’s magic in a flash. To make matters worse, Kat's brother secretly followed her into the Otherworld. Now he’s in danger too.  Kat has to go one on one with the goddess to save herself and her brother.

Leave a comment to win a free ebook of any of the Witches of Galdorheim. To win a GRAND PRIZE, read the posts carefully, then answer the easy quiz on Marva’s Blog at http://mgddasef.blogspot.com between May 27^th and 31^st. All the information and links you need will be posted.

The Cat Fairy, Cait Sidhe

From the Encyclopedia Mythica:

Sidhe (pronounced 'shee') literally means "people of the (fairy) hills". It is the Gaelic name for the fairies in both Ireland and the Highlands of Scotland. Usually these fairies are attracted to those who are beautiful as well as wealthy.

Many many, many, many writers are in love with the Celtic myths. I’ve delved into them, too. However, I’m not a big fan of the flitty little cute faeries (or fae or fairies). In Celtic mythology, there’s a fairy (or fae or faerie) for just about any purpose. The “serious” fantasies love the idea of the fairy troupe. More than a few equate fairies to Arthurian legends, many specifically to Merlin.

The third book in the Witches of Galdorheim series, Scotch Broom, is set in the Scottish Highlands, or, rather, the Otherworld which is another dimension that exists within the Flow Country. Of course, I had to include at least one fairy in the mix or I’d be violating some unwritten fantasy rule.

If you write Celtic fantasy, then you know that Sidhe is pronounced Shee in Ireland and Sith in Scotland. I wonder where George Lucas got Sith lords? Hmm.

Anyway, I found a particular sidhe I liked. She’s a big black cat with a white chest. Aha! I happen to have the model for said cat (in a much reduced size) sitting at my door every morning demanding a handout. We call her Bitch Kitty. Yes, she has attitude in spades. So, there’s my model for Cait Sidhe, a companion to my erstwhile heroine, Kat.

Excerpt

Kat has already found two companions: Sianach a stag and Cusith (another sidhe) a giant, green hound. They’re tromping through the swamps trying to find the Trow King’s hall in the middle of the Otherworld (the alternate magic world in the Scottish Highlands).

They marched on in a straight line, having no better idea of which direction to go, while Cusith zigzagged ahead of them with his nose close to the earth. Suddenly, the green hound raised his head and bayed. A moment later, he galloped across the moor, water splashing when his huge paws hit the tiny pools.

“What’s up with him?” Kat asked.

Sianach lifted his chin for a better view. “He appears to be in pursuit of an animal of some type.”

“I hope he’s not hurting some little swamp creature.”

“If he is, then the beast is making Cusith pay for the privilege.”

Kat and Sianach walked faster after Cusith, the dog’s trail marked by flying grass and water. When Cusith finally stopped, Kat and Sianach trotted to catch up. The hound was standing over something furry and black that lay on the ground beneath his huge paw.

“No, don’t! Don’t hurt it,” Kat called out. Cusith turned his head toward her, tongue lolling.

“I won’t. It’s not food.”

Kat reached Cusith’s side and knelt down to examine the raggedy clump of ebony fur. It leapt up, scrabbling for a foothold, but Cusith clamped his paw down harder to hold it still.

“It’s a cat!” Kat reached out with her mind but met the same blank wall she had with Sianach and Cusith. So, she tried the old-fashioned way. “Here kitty, kitty. Nice kitty.” An ear-splitting yowl almost knocked Kat back on her rear.

“I am not your ‘nice kitty,’ you rude thing! I am Cait Sidhe; I’ll have you know. Surely, this stag...and mutt...have heard of me.”

Sianach, who stood to one side to stay out of the fray, nodded his elegant head. “Yes, I know you. Not that it is a pleasure.”

The cat hissed and swiped a pawful of razor sharp claws across Cusith’s foot. The big dog quickly released the black cat. “Sorry. Just having some fun.”

Cait sat up and licked a couple of swipes over the white spot on her chest. “Now you’ve covered me with mud. It’ll take hours to get clean again.”

Although it looked much like a normal house cat, standing Cait Sidhe would reach Kat’s knee. The cat had to weigh in at thirty pounds or more. Both Sianach and Cusith were of the extra-large size, so she wasn’t too surprised.

Kat stood and moved closer to the cat. “Hello. I’m Kat, a witch from Galdorheim. I’m pleased to meet you.” She resisted the urge to scratch behind the cat’s ear. She had a feeling she might end up with severe lacerations.

“I didn’t quite catch your, um, last name. How do you spell it?”

“S-I-D-H-E. Just like it sounds, stupid biped.”

Kat gritted her teeth at the cat’s rude answer but decided to stay calm. “Is that sidhe as in faery?”

The cat quit licking and looked at Kat with penetrating yellow eyes. Curling her lip, she exposed gleaming fangs. “The pronunciation varies, depending on where one is. Sidhe is shee in Ireland and sith in Scotland. We are in the Scottish section of the Otherworld, thus sith is proper.” Cait licked her right paw and swiped it over her ear. “Personally, I prefer shee since it is more commonly used. Nobody seems to say sith anymore.” She tipped her head in Cusith’s direction. “Except that dog, of course.”

“Um, okay. That’s interesting. Are you friends with Cusith and Sianach?” Kat asked.

“Not even.” Cait Sidhe glanced at Cusith. “Cusith is a mutt, or dog, if you will. And I am a cat. We do what cats and dogs do, but we are not friends. Sianach, well, as a meat eater, I see Sianach as lunch.”

“Oh, sorry. I just assumed since you know each other—”

“Do not assume anything in the Otherworld.” Cait Sidhe examined Kat. “What are you doing wandering around in the magical realm? Witches generally stay in the mundane world.”

“Oh, I’m looking for King Connor’s hall. I have messages, or I guess I should say I had messages. Someone stole them and took my map to the hall. Now, I just hope he can get me out of the Otherworld in one piece.”

“I see. Well, I have nothing better to do today, so I’ll come with you.”

“Sure, if you’d like to. Do you have any idea which way to go?”

“I do. However, my path to the Hall isn’t one you can follow.” The cat raised her head and looked around. “Maybe I can find an alternate way. After all, I am a hunter, therefore I hunt.”

“Makes sense,” Kat replied, a little doubtful of the cat’s word. She had the same sense about Sianach’s reasons for helping her. A private matter, he had said. The cat didn’t give any reason at all. Should she trust Cusith? He seemed to be Sianach’s good friend, so that might be his only motive for coming along on the trip. It troubled her she could not delve into the minds of any of them.

* * * *

About Marva:

Marva Dasef lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and a fat white cat. Retired from thirty-five years in the software industry, she has now turned her energies to writing fiction and finds it a much more satisfying occupation. Marva has published more than forty stories in a number of on-line and print magazines, with several included in Best of anthologies. She has several previously published books. Her latest pride and joy is the Witches of Galdorheim Series from her super duper publisher, MuseItUp.

Where to find her:

MuseItUp Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/MIU-MarvaDasef

Blog: http://mgddasef.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/MarvaDasef

Twitter Handle: @Gurina

Book Trailers: http://www.youtube.com/user/MarvaDasef/videos

Book Review Friday: Osric's Wand

I recently had the opportunity to chat with the authors of Osric's Wand. Click here to read the full interview. Today I review this strong debut into realm of fantasy fiction.

The Goodreads blurb for Osric's Wand:

While the world leaders of Archana gather for an unprecedented peace treaty signing, tragedy strikes, and rumors spread of war. Osric; a young, untested leader, is thrust into the chaos and must journey far with his unlikely companions to stop the inevitable world war. Circumstance brought them together, but prophecy has entwined their fates.

Now, the young Vigile Contege, the world’s greatest Wand-Maker, and a beautiful Maiden of the Unicorn must put aside their differences and work together, or watch as their homes are destroyed. Their understanding of magic will be challenged as they discover new methods and uses for their powers, and each day will only uncover more unanswerable questions to torment Osric’s mind.

Why was the signing attacked? What do the unicorns want with him? How do you read a book with no words? What is so special about his wand?

My Review:


Authors Albrecht and Delay created a world full of all of our favorite fantasy creatures and devices. Unicorns? Check. Dragons? They're in there. Swordplay? Got it. Talking animals? Done. Oh, and let us not forget magic.


The story revolves around this wand you see. A very special wand wielded by Osric, the main character. In Osric's Wand, magic is available to everyone, which makes for a somewhat interesting spin on magical stories. Usually magic is for the prized few. What happens when everyone has magic?


From the beginning, I was reminded of the Chronicles of Narnia, but without any religious undertones. The animals talk but they're not always cute. Gus, the wand-making genius, is a diminutive but acerbic prairie dog. And what are those silent unicorns really up to?


I think this story would be a particularly good read for a late elementary school to middle-grade person. While the main character is in his 20's, the book does not contain sex or graphic violence or themes that would be inappropriate. There is a dearth of books for boys that age so I highly recommend this one for boys looking for a fun read.


That's not to say adults won't enjoy it though. If you enjoy fantasy and magic, you will like find this book a worthy read.


Recommended?


Yes. If you enjoy magical stories with lots of fantasy creatures and talking animals, then check out Osric's Wand. If you love Narnia, then this book is right up your alley. And if you are a tween or teen boy looking for a fun read (or are the parent to one), then I highly recommend this book to you.


The authors are putting together the next installment of Osric's tale and I look forward to seeing how the adventure continues.

Writer Chat Wednesday: The Gift of Allowing

I am hard at work putting together more insightful, fun, informative and provocative Writer Chat's with wonderful authors from around the globe. Today the writer chat is with . . .

Me!

Here's a word I've been thinking about a lot this week: Allow

I started the week with a wonderful Chakra Reading and block removal with the wonderful Rosemary Sneeringer, aka The Book Nurturer. It was a powerful process that brought much clarity to my writing process and simmering projects. But the word that most stuck with me was "allow."

Allow what? What do I mean by allow?

Allow abundance. Allow ideas. Allow inspiration. Allow all the wonderful things that are flowing toward me to come.

Can you relate to this? Do you ever put up walls or barricades or dams to ebb the flow of abundance that is flowing to you?

My experience with it is that I will go through periods where I'm "in the zone." It's like I'm riding the river and going with the current and everything is lining up and buzzing in the right way. It was during such a period that I won my trip to Ireland I had so desperately wanted (read about that bit of magic here). I've manifested other wonderful things while riding the current.

But then it happens - life throws you a curve ball. It always will. We should expect it. But we don't. We're in the stream, riding the ride of life, having fun and them WHAM! Shit happens. We're thrown off course, the waters are turbulent - hell we may even get thrown from the boat! We're in the roiling waters flailing our arms, kicking and screaming and trying to get back in the boat or at least make it to shore alive.

When the waters get rough that is the time we most need to allow but that is also the time it is most difficult to relax. Allow means letting go.  Allow means forgetting our useless attempts to control. Allow. Let it Be.

The beautiful thing about my time with Rosemary was not that it told me anything I didn't already know - at least on some level - but that it reminded me in a powerful way that the missing component was the allow part. I need to get out of my own way. Do you relate to this?

Time to relax. Let it go. Allow.

In the words of McCartney & Lennon:

There will be an answer, let it be . . . 

Is there anything that you're not allowing? Are you riding the stream and enjoying the ride? Or are you paddling like mad against the current, fighting it every step of the way?

I love hearing from you so leave comments here, or my Facebook page and remember for the month of February, everyone who leaves a comment is automatically entered into the February book giveaway for a signed copy of Emily's House. Complete contest details here.

How I Used Real Magic to Win a Trip to Ireland

You read that title correctly.  I conjured a trip to Ireland. I'm not a witch and I didn't use a wand or cauldron. But I magicked it just the same.
Here's the true story of how I used real magic to fulfill my dream and go to Ireland to research setting for my novel Emily's House.


The idea for Emily's House came to me in late 2007 and I spent most of 2008 doing research for the book.  I read books and articles about Ireland and ancient Celtic myth.  But pictures just don't cut it and I knew I had to go to Ireland.


I put a farefinder up on Travelocity and kept my eye out for the deal. But it remained a dream and beyond my budget.


Then in late August, 2010, I went to Las Cruces, New Mexico and holed up for a long weekend in a hotel room to push through and get to the end of my first draft of Emily's House.  And on my way home on Sunday, a four-hour drive, I thought about what I needed to do next on the project and it was clear:  I needed to go to Ireland soon so I could re-write scenes that take place in Ireland.  So I spent four hours solidifying this intention.


The next day, a Monday, I was driving around town running errands.  I got in the car and switched on the radio.  I heard the announcer on XM say "last day to register for a trip for two to Ireland to see The Script . . ."  When I heard the radio announcer say that, it felt like she was talking directly to me!  I knew I had to register.


So I did.  One time, online. That was Monday afternoon. Hubby came home and I told him, "We're going to Ireland!"  He said, "What did you do!"  I then told him about registering for the contest and he just gave me one of those, "Okay, whatever you say Natalie," sort of looks. 


Thursday morning, the phone rings. I glance at the caller ID and it says "XM/Sony." I answered immediately.


A woman's voices asked "Is this Natalie Wright?"


"Yes," I said.


"And did you register for a contest to go to Dublin to see The Script?"


"Yes . . ."


"You won!"


"Shut up!" I said.


"No, really, you won."


Less than two weeks later, hubby and I were on a plane to Dublin. Free airfare and hotel and extra special bonus, The Script concert with VIP party before and after!


How is this "magic?"


I believe that magic is real. And you don't need a wand or a potion.  Anyone can create.
There are three simple ingredients:  Ask, Believe, Receive


I asked. My intention was clear. I knew what I wanted and why I wanted it.


I Believed. I had no doubt that I was going to win that contest. I just knew I would. 


I Received. Just allowed it to flow to me.


When I tell people this story, they say "Oh, you should play the lottery!"


But I don't play the lottery for one simple reason. I don't believe that I'll win the lottery. The belief part of the equation is required. You simply cannot manifest through your intention things that you don't believe you can have (or that you deserve or that's possible,etc.).


Woven throughout the pages of my novel Emily's House is a primer on how to perform real magic. Manifestation of intention. Emily's House is fiction, but the magic in it is real.


Do you have stories of magic?  Do you experience serendipity or have you had magical things happen to you?  I'd love to hear your magical stories.