Monday, August 29, 2011

Virtual Book Tour begins today

Within the womb of last night's dark moon,
a new beginning was made possible.
~Allison Rae

I'm celebrating the new beginning for Carry on the Flame: Destiny's Call with a Virtual Book Tour. It's just like an old-fashioned book tour except it is hosted by book reviewers and book bloggers on the internet.

Here is the schedule for the next 10 days. I would love it if you would stop in and visit! There will be Giveaways of my book, book excerpts, interviews, and more. Hope to 'see you' there.



Aug 29 – The Musings of M.d Christie – Book Excerpt   http://mdcwrites.blogspot.com/
           
Aug 30 - 100 Stars Or Less – Interview / Giveaway   http://100starsorless.blogspot.com/

Aug 31 – Songs And Stories – Book Excerpt  http://liedermadchen.blogspot.com/  
       
Sept 1 – Coma Calm – Book Trailer / Giveaway  http://comacalm.blogspot.com/
           
Sept 2 – The Wormhole – Interview / Giveaway  http://wormyhole.blogspot.com/
           
Sept 3 – Donna’s Blog Home – Interview  http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/
          
Sept 4 – The Bookish Snob – Book Excerpt / Giveaway  http://thebookishsnob.blogspot.com/
           
Sept 5 – eReading On The Cheap – Book Trailer / Giveaway  http://ereadingonthecheap.com/

Sept 6 – Supernatural Bookworm – Book Excerpt  http://angelgonemad.blogspot.com/

Sept 7 – All Things Books – Book Excerpt / Giveaway
http://speedyreader-allthingsbooks.blogspot.com/search/label/blog%20tours
           
Sept 8 – Author Site – Final stop, right here! Big Giveaway! Copies of my first two novels, The Awakening: Rebirth of Atlantis and The Keys to Remember, as well as the e-book of Carry on the Flame.

Also, my publishers put together a fun press release for Carry on the Flame.  Check it out!

http://prlog.org/11639135

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

A book Blessing ceremony

I love my writing group. We've been together for 7 years. Published authors, nearly published authors, and editors. At our recent one day writing retreat we took the day to, well, write of course. But
we also collaged our novels. I love the right brain exploration and the surprise of what wants to show up when I collage. I got a lot of inspiration for my next novel and was able to write the first
chapter that day. It was a day to nourish our muses. And of course we all contributed delicious food to nourish our bodies. But the highlight for me was the surprise gift of a book blessing ceremony from
my group.

My group led me to Ashland's Lithia Park for my book blessing. The park centers around a huge and swiftly flowing creek. Both creek banks are flanked by walking paths, trees, greenery, and brightly colored azaleas and rhodendrons. It's one of those magical places that I return to again and again to receive nature's rejuvenation. It works everytime, and no less so for this special occasion. We gathered beside the creek, at the foot of one of the many wooden bridges that criss-cross the creek. Everyone, including me, stated a blessing and intention for my novel Carry on the Flame. Each woman had a powerful and prophetic piece to offer. Among the many blessings were wishes for a far-reaching readership, for success on all the levels that were important to me, for joy in taking on a new identity with  my third novel, and wishes that the Goddess of the Stars and the Sea's energy that permeates my novels would help humankind navigate our world's turbulence with love.

We crossed the bridge single file to symbolically step into sacred space for the continuation of the ceremony. I was handed a basket of stones and was instructed to take them, one at a time, name something I wanted to let go of, and release the stone along the path or creek. Since my book is about the transformations our destiny's require of us all, quite a few things came to mind! After tuning in more deeply, I chose to let go of things like self doubt, control, and worry. Those things that I wrestle with in writing as in life.

We crossed another bridge to symbolically enter what was called sanctified space. My group put a beautiful green velvet, beaded pillow on a picnic bench for me to sit on. A bowl of creek water infused with water from Glastonbury's Chalice Well and Spikenard essential oil was placed at my feet. One by one, my fellow authors washed and consecrated my feet for my authorship and book's journey. Sanctifying and blessing. They let me sit in silence alone to quietly embrace the special blessings the oils and foot washing represented.

I carried a candle and joined them where they waited for me across yet another bridge for the final part of the ritual. A park bench was adorned with soft, colorful cloths and flanked with more candles. Such
a beautiful throne to sit on. Our group facilitator read information gathered about the number 13 - August 13th being the birthdate of Carry on the Flame into the world. Far from being an unlucky
number, 13 has some extraordinary meanings. It is the number of months in a lunar cycle based calender; it signifies cleansing and purification; and it is the number associated with Mother Mary. This particular August 13th was also a full moon (in Aquarius - what an auspicious book birthdate). A group member presented me with two photos of the full moon as it processed across the nighttime sky. This fellow author was awakened from sleep with the urge to go outside and take these photographs, unaware that my book was being delivered at exactly that time.

To complete the ceremony, the group sang me a song. Putting my book title and themes to the tune of The Age of Aquarius, my writer friends turned chorus singers showed their awesome creativity yet again.

I cherish my writing group. And I can honestly say, the book blessing they gifted me with is something I will also cherish for the rest of my days. Thank you Shoshana, Alissa, Maggie, Lori, and Nancy.
You're the best.


photo by Alissa Lukara

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

The lovely Morgen Bailey in the UK has just posted Part Two of her interview with me for Carry on the Flame: Destiny's Call  http://wp.me/p18Ztn-zh


And don't forget to leave a comment or question at http://urbanstars.com/ for a chance to win a Giveaway PDf copy of Carry on the Flame

Monday, August 15, 2011

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Carry on the Flame: Destiny’s Call is now available

Carry on the Flame: Destiny’s Call Book One may be past its expected due date, but it is finally born into the world and is available as of today. It is the harvest time, the cycle of the seasons the ancient Celtic poeple called Lughnasadh – a time to reap the fruits of your labors of love. A perfect time for a book’s release into the world.

In Carry on the Flame: Destiny’s Call, humanity is in the midst of the greatest crisis in their evolution. Sharay is the one chosen to show the way forward and  help humankind move through the fear and dark times of today’s world. Born into a lineage of priestesses in modern day Glastonbury, England, Sharay’s way is blocked by her jealous Aunt Phoebe, who uses black magic against her to steal her fortune and magical power. When Phoebe commits Sharay to a psychiatric ward and accuses her of murder, Sharay struggles with the temptation to fight Phoebe’s vengeance with her own. Through the ancient Celtic ceremony of Beltaine, Sharay experiences profound sacred union with the Welshman Guethyn, who shows her how to open her heart. But Sharay must learn to transform her hatred for her aunt in order to claim the mystery held deep within her cells that will allow her to fulfill her destiny and prove that the ultimate magic is the power of love. 

You can watch my 1 minute book trailer video by clicking here.

You can purchase the book through Amazon by clicking here. The E-book version will be out shortly.

This newest novel in my Goddess of the Stars and the Seas series is a standalone read. Many of you who have read the previous books in the series, (The Awakening: Rebirth of Atlantis, or The Keys to Remember, which are both also standalone reads), will notice that my new novel has an entirely different book cover style. My publishers wanted to reach a younger adult audience in addition to adults. The cover reflects that. I’m told it’s like ‘gamer art’, Avatar-like. Who knew? I have to admit I’m excited that young adults will also read my novel with its timely parable about embodied love.

I love getting feedback. If you read my novel and like it, would you kindly give it a glowing rating on Amazon.com? I’d appreciate that; simply click here, then scroll down the book page until you see ‘Customer Reviews,’ and at the bottom of the reviews click the ‘add your own review’ button.

Book Two, Carry on the Flame: Ultimate Magic picks up where Destiny’s Call leaves off, and will release October 31, 2011.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Carry on the Flame - I'm expecting!

When a woman is pregnant we say she is ‘expecting’. She looks forward to her due date, and as the end of her third trimester approaches, she may even cling to that due date like a life raft, eagerly awaiting her baby’s birth. She’s counting on that date!

I feel like a pregnant, past her due date mother. August 1st was the date my publisher assigned for the birth of my book into the world. While I wasn’t waiting for a baby, I was certainly awaiting the delivery of my creation. I was expecting! However, book distribution channels such as Amazon.com, etc., have their own schedules and timing. On a bigger scale, apparently the Goddess does, too.

So, while I was previously expecting, I am now surrendering. I give up trying to figure out exactly what day my novel will release. I surrender to a force that’s wiser than I am with regards to timing. No, this wiser force is not Amazon.com, although the matter is indeed in their hands – when they put my novel up live, it will then be available for purchase. The wiser force I am referring to here is the birth force, the creation force. The Goddess who was the inspiration for my novel series.

I apologize to all those who contacted me on August 1st, wanting to get a hold of Carry on the Flame: Destiny's Call. I may be past my due date, but I am told it shouldn’t be too long before my newest novel is available. I will post as soon as it is. And this expectant author will humbly continue to surrender to that wiser timing.