Samhain Publishing Ltd. Weblog

La Isla Bonita

Rituals, supernatural powers, legends and folklore add mysticism and beauty to the already rich and colorful history of Puerto Rico. A small tropical island in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, Puerto Rico is more than just a popular tourist spot. It is a place of magic and wonder. Originally settled by the Taino, these native people lived off the land and communed with nature believing everything from the ceibo tree to the coqui frog had a spirit. Puerto Rico is also a place marked by many years of wars, bloodshed, slavery and battles for freedom. The rich cultural mix of Taino, Spanish, and West African blood flows through the veins of the exotic island, making it pulse with life, laughter and love.

Hanging on to the holidays

November 22nd is just another day for me. Send the kids off to school and wave hubby out the door. See, I live in Tokyo and Thanksgiving is simply a nostalgic memory. One of the challenges of living overseas is trying to keep the holidays alive and teaching my children the importance of them. When they were small we did Thanksgiving crafts and talked about the holiday. But they’ve never experienced a real honest-to-goodness American Thanksgiving. (Keep in mind I don’t think a turkey would fit in my tiny excuse of an oven.)

There’s no one way to describe it, is there? For different people it can mean many things. I remember the sense of family and friendship. The wonderful smells that filled the house and the mouth-watering pies lined up, just waiting to be eaten. And I remember stuffing myself on stuffing and everything else.

There is one aspect of Thanksgiving I continue to keep alive and I think is perhaps most important. I talk with my children about the things we should be grateful for in our lives. We usually start with our family and expand outwards.

So, while I have this forum I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you, both writers and readers, for your encouragement and support to all in this industry.

Most especially, I would like to thank my writing partner Sasha. Yes, Gabriella Hewitt is the pen name of two women. A few years ago we met on a website. Over time we wrote some fan fiction together and then one day, an exercise in writing turned into a requested mansucript by an editor. The rest they say is history.

I’m living my dream, which is the most one can ask for in a lifetime.

I truly have a lot to be grateful for.

Happy Holidays everyone. May they be safe, blessed and filled with the love and laughter of friends and family.

Just Released--Dark Waters

Genre: Contemporary Romance
ISBN: 1-59998-608-6
Length: Novel
Price: 5.50
Publication Date: September 25, 2007

My first book Dark Waters has been released and I’m absolutely thrilled. If you like romance and you like suspense, you’ll get a good dose of both when you read this novel.

Dark Waters is set on Vieques, a small island off of Puerto Rico. Life certainly follows a different pace there, and heroine Francesca Montalvo discovers that island time and island people don’t seem to follow the rules of the Big Apple. It doesn’t help that the property she inherited is considered cursed by just about everyone.

So what’s a feisty transplanted New Yorker to do?

Not give up, that’s what. And though she views Rico Lopez’s offer of help with a dash of cynicism—face it, nothing ever comes free—she can’t help finding the macho Latino useful to have around. That he looks positively sinful in a pair of jeans is an extra complication she’s sure she can handle.

Because she doesn’t trust him. Rico has secrets and she intends to find out what they are.

She just never expected she’d have to risk her life to find out.

Location! Location! Location!

Ahhh! Puerto Rican Sunset.
This tropical land offers a rich variety of culture and incredible landscape for all who visit.

When you look at this scenery do certain words come to mind?

Beautiful. Seductive. Enticing.

Deceptive. Frightening. Deadly.