Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

Why Do Writers Write?

I don’t think of all the misery but of the beauty that still remains. – Anne Frank

This past week, I heard the news that Miep Gies, the last living link to Anne Frank, died at the age of 100. She risked her life not once, but twice. First to hide eight humans from the Nazis. And second, after Anne and the others were discovered and taken to labor camps, to return to the annex to retrieve Anne’s diary and photographs.

If not for Miep, we may never have known anything about Anne, her family. About Peter, her first love. She would most likely have disappeared without a trace, nothing more than a number in some work camp’s record book.

The Diary of Anne Frank made a huge impression on me as a child. Looking back, I think it might have been her book that sparked my desire to become a writer. I still have no trouble picturing Anne scribbling in her diary. Doing one of the few normal activities granted to her in a world of chaos.

A Ghost of a Chance now in print!

Following is the blurb and an excerpt from A Ghost of a Chance which releases in print this month. Enjoy!

Blurb:

One life hangs on the thread of her imagination…

Legends, Book 2: Sequel to the award-winning Beaudry’s Ghost.

Troy Brannon is a ghost with no time for heaven. Thanks to his well-intentioned meddling, he’s got a missing soul on his hands. Fortunately he’s learned a skill no well-behaved spirit should have—the ability to zip through time and space.

A side trip to revive a drowning woman should’ve been simple. But the moment he locks lips with Carey Magennis, she generates an inner fire he’s never felt before, alive or dead—and his ability to time travel disappears.

When the rising tide closes over Carey’s head, it’s the end—but only of life as she knows it. She wakes up haunted by the idea she no longer fits in, and by the sexy, lion-hearted ghost of the man who saved her. No one wants to hear about the strange things that have been happening to her since her near-death experience, least of all her image-conscious fiancé.

Troy realizes Carey accidentally stole his gift—and she has no idea the danger she’s in. Wherever her imagination takes her, she goes with it. Literally. Plus, that fiancé of hers has an agenda that doesn’t include her survival.

Saving her will be as dangerous to his mission as she is to his heart.

Warning: This title contains some gratuitous bad language; the sex of your dreams with a professional bad-ass hero; bloody Civil War battles; astral joy rides; and a heroine who “gets it” in more ways than one!

Excerpt:

Do You Believe?

Signs. Omens. Portents of things to come. For the Celts and other ancient cultures (and many modern ones) keeping your eyes open for these natural and supernatural clues were part of everyday existence.

I think that may be why peoples who live in close touch with nature tend to have prayers that cover every task, every waking moment of the day. A glance through the pages of the Carmina Gaedelica reveals prayers and charms for everything from getting out of bed to milking the cow in the morning to banking the fire for the night.

It’s easy to close your eyes and imagine a work-weary housewife fervently whispering a charm over her children as she tucks them in at night, or a fisherman keeping one eye on which way the birds are flying.

Even in my urban life, I’ve become aware of and have learned to watch for certain things that tell me to be prepared. For me, it’s birds.

Confessions of a Research Junkie

Hi, my name is Carolan, and I am a research junkie.

Left to my own devices, I will spend all my free time obsessively ferreting out every book, article, online resource, etc. on whatever subject tickles my fancy at the moment. Witness the disorderly piles of books in my office; the length, width and breadth of my Amazon wish list. The weird and obscure stuff on my ereader.

At some point, my husband will squint at the pile and declare, “If you don’t start writing something NOW, I’m renting a Dumpster. Nobody needs this many books on [insert latest obsession here].” Throwing my body between him and my precioussssss collection and wailing pitifully does not sway him. He’s an engineer, which means Everything Must Have A Purpose.

Legends, Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

This has been a long time coming! It took a bit of angsting on my part (pay no attention to my editor as she rolls her eyes) to make sure this book lives up to the book of my heart, Beaudry’s Ghost (Legends, Book 1). I wanted to do justice to these amazing characters who have taken me on the ride of my life! I hope you enjoy it as much as I had fun writing it.

Read below for the blurb and an excerpt. Linkies at the end!

Happy New Year!!

Blurb:

One life hangs on the thread of her imagination…

Legends, Book 2: Sequel to the award-winning Beaudry’s Ghost.

Troy Brannon is a ghost with no time for heaven. Thanks to his well-intentioned meddling, he’s got a missing soul on his hands. Fortunately he’s learned a skill no well-behaved spirit should have—the ability to zip through time and space.

A side trip to revive a drowning woman should’ve been simple. But the moment he locks lips with Carey Magennis, she generates an inner fire he’s never felt before, alive or dead—and his ability to time travel disappears.

When the rising tide closes over Carey’s head, it’s the end—but only of life as she knows it. She wakes up haunted by the idea she no longer fits in, and by the sexy, lion-hearted ghost of the man who saved her. No one wants to hear about the strange things that have been happening to her since her near-death experience, least of all her image-conscious fiancé.

Troy realizes Carey accidentally stole his gift—and she has no idea the danger she’s in. Wherever her imagination takes her, she goes with it. Literally. Plus, that fiancé of hers has an agenda that doesn’t include her survival.

Saving her will be as dangerous to his mission as she is to his heart.

Warning: This title contains some gratuitous bad language; the sex of your dreams with a professional bad-ass hero; bloody Civil War battles; astral joy rides; and a heroine who “gets it” in more ways than one!

Of Books, Quilts, and Medieval Music

Whew! Wasn’t I just here a few days ago? LOL Last week’s blog was promo for my upcoming releases, but today’s just for fun.

I need fun in my life right now…having had two surgeries so far this year (foot reconstruction and some minor female fixing-uppage) and anticipating a third in December (hand), I’m looking forward to doing a little something just for me.

My fun comes in the form of performing music. All kinds. And I’ve been lucky enough in my life to perform on all kinds of stages, from community theater to symphony orchestras to just me and my guitar in front of a festival crowd. It’s funny – sometimes I wonder where that girl with the crippling stage fright went! Somewhere around the time I got published and had to self-promote-or-die, she went away and never came back. :)

Beaudry's Ghost In Print & Contests!

Lots going on for me in the next couple months! My award-winning paranormal romance, Legends, Book 1: Beaudry’s Ghost, officially releases in print Oct. 28 (though you can order it on Amazon right now for the pre-sale discount price).