"I am ready to meet my maker. Whether my maker is prepared to meet me is another matter."
-Winston Churchill
Showing posts with label blog book tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog book tours. Show all posts

Monday, May 13, 2013

Chatting with author, AmBear Shellea & #Giveaway - Heavy Metal Heartbeat




Welcome back to Immortality and Beyond AmBear. Now that we’re settled in, let’s chat. Shall we?

BK: How did your writing journey begin?

AS: On a dark and stormy night, :) Just kidding. It started with the idea for The Pedalstem Lillie Series. Chaos Unleashed was my first published works.

BK: Please share with us how your current release came to life...

AS: Heavy Metal Heartbeat is book 2 in the Rock n Roll Paraphantasy Series. The series came to be due to my love of music and need to write a different kind of Vampire/Paranormal Story.

BK: Do you let your characters tell the story, or do you often fight with them on the direction it will take?

AS: Well, I would love to say I stand my ground, But no! My characters have free reign as for the story. I have an idea, but by the end its usually not where I started.

BK: How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?

AS: That is a very difficult task indeed. I rely heavily on my creativity. I want not only my stories to be different but my Characters too. People will love them, they need to be as individual as you and I. Same character different name is kinda boring.
BK: Which character was your favorite to write for in this story? Why?

AS: Ozzie! He has become quite the Fan Fav too. He is sarcastic, funny and of course swoon worthy hott! He is definitely Alpha male material! As a hunter he is in control and takes no crap! Absolute Bad boy!

BK: Tell us about one scene you had the most fun writing…

AS: The scenes where Ozzie is in the 'In-Between' It is a total mind blow for him and the reader. I do ask ”Are you ready for the madness?” There is a reason for it.

BK: If you were stranded on an island, which character in your books would you most want to be stranded with and why, and what is one thing that would be a must-have?

AS: I would have to say...Sebastian. If I had to compare him to anyone, he is most like Ian Somerhalder with that winning crooked grin that is so damn sexy. The one thing that would be a must have on the island is a Magic wand, that way I could always have what I wanted, food, shelter, water, even if I had to magic it up :) In the world of magic anything is possible!

BK: Now for a little fun, tell us a bit about what your office looks like. Do you need silence to write?

AS: My office, hmm...it is quite a few places: in the living room scattered across the small coffee table, on my desk that sits in the office/spare room, again more paperwork littered about like confetti and in my purse, in the form of a notebook filled with chicken scratch that takes me hours to get through because I cant read my own handwriting.

BK: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

AS: You mean time to myself...What is that? :) Usually I am either Tanning, getting my hair done and getting the latest gossip at the hair salon, or running around with the hubby. We do hate to be indoors so much! Oh, and let's not forget keeping up with Game of Thrones! OMG, I love this show!

BK: What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?

AS: I'm not sure...Probably that unlike regular girls I LOVE classic muscle cars and car shows! Holy Sheep, my dream car is a 1969 Shelby GT 500 and my next drool worthy car is a 2013 black on black Dodge Challenger, yes, with a Hemi! For anyone who doesn't speak car~ Its awesome! In Heavy Metal Heartbeat, Ozzie drives one! Fav character-fav Car...coincidence? Most definitely!

BK: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever wanted to write, or have written, even if it never reached public eyes?

AS: I would have to say, a scene that would make 50 shades blush and no it has not reached public eyes! * blushes *


BK: What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?

AS: Never give up on this dream. It is meant to be hard so you will appreciate all that comes with it. If it were easy, everyone would be famous!

BK: What can we expect from you in the future?

AS: Well, closer to the end of this year, Stars of Fire will be released. It is book 3 in The Pedalstem Lillie Series published by Devine Destinies. There are also many WIP saved on PC at the moment. There is a sassy YA, Social Butterflies, An adventure story, which doesn't have a title yet and a Western Romance, Boots and Boys plus the other books in my current series'. So I plan to be around a good long time bringing to life many more plots and adventures.

BK: Where can readers connect with you?

AS: All over the place~

Twitter; @AmBearShellea
LinkedIn: AmBearShellea

My Websites:

BK: Using your name as an acronym, please describe your book...

Arousingly
AMazing
Becasue
Every
ChAracter
Rocks!



BIO:
Although I have always enjoyed writing, the dream to become a writer came when I read A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, in the sixth grade. My early works, not published, were in the form of children’s stories I would read to my two daughters. I divide my days between the real world and the ones I’ve created. My life and my characters keep me very busy in my Mid-Western scene, where I live with my husband, and my children (both human and furry).


Synopsis:

Heavy Metal Heartbeat is one wild ride. Its twists, turns and mind games will leave you breathless and borderline crazy.

This rockin' adventure begins with Ozzie, who has awakened from a harsh brush with death. Just as he thought he overcame all the dangers of his supernatural survival, danger strikes with a vengeance. The news of the kidnapping of a loved one ignites his rage, unlocking a family secret and changing who he is forever.

Now he's in a rush to play hero and savior. There's only problem; What happens if the savior becomes a villain?

Ozzie's friends, with the help of his father, put him to the test to see if he can indeed be the hero that saves the day or the hindrance that gets them all killed. While visiting the in-between he is given the knowledge to overcome his situation. All he must do is embrace who he is. Who is that, exactly?

Turns out when you take a human man with an ancient bloodline, add in slash marks from a Wolf, a bite from a Vampire, the pure love from the woman he loves and piss him off, you get a man no one expected!

Bad Ass Hunter or Uncontrollable Vigilante?


Excerpt:

You have been marked, Son. By what, I do not know.”

He felt his father’s touch on his chest.

...You are, among us, are a fallen soldier. It is proof that you have been touched by the supernatural and come out the other side…but at what cost? At what cost, my son?”

His father fell back onto the couch and hung his head. Tears fell down his father's face as he wept. Ozzie's heart shattered like glass.
Father, I am right here. I am alive. I’m not a fallen solider. You felt my heart beat in my chest and blood surge through my veins. I don’t understand. Why are you crying as if I have died?”

His father’s dark brown eyes stared back at him.
Because you have, Son. This, you here, this is not my son. This is the work of supernatural witches. The tattoo is proof you are dead. It’s just a matter of time before we find out what dead you shall run with.”

For the first time in his life, his father looked at him as if he were something to pity. His chest felt as if knives made of fire and ice plunged into him to the hilt. He stumbled backward, his hand over his heart. His breath wouldn’t pass his lips and tears of anger rimmed his eyes. What used to be his heart lay in pieces somewhere on the floor. He watched his father move from the couch and head for the door. 


Monday, November 12, 2012

Virtual Book Tour & #Giveaway with Liz Crowe - Escalation Clause (@GoddessFish)



Please let me introduce you to author, Liz Crowe, on tour now with her book Escalation Clause at Goddess Fish Promotions. Liz is sharing a guest post with us today, and I LOVE it! She will also be awarding three lucky commenters a chance to win a signed copy of Escalation Clause in paperback or ebook, a chance at a $100 Amazon Gift Card and your choice of Stewart Realty Swag. Be sure to leave a comment for a chance to win!

Welcome Liz!


Alex Clare
Too Close

It is the perfect representation for Escalation Clause for many reasons.  The many intertwined characters in the book have reached a breaking point, thanks to a terrible tragedy at the end of Essence of Time.  

They are seeking solace, but each of the couples (and potential couples) keep bouncing off each other "like magnets facing the wrong way" one of them says at one point. They've been through a lot to get where they are--and can't seem to move to the next level of marital fulfillment (or potential marital fulfillment). Drastic steps must be taken in many cases involving going "on my way" away from the one they love in order to emerge stronger.

I love this song's dubstep beat and it's message that staying true to YOURSELF is most important. Not to give too much away but once readers make it to this book (book 6 in the series) we have ALL been through a lot, and while we want happiness for these folks, we mostly want them to do what they have to do to find what they need from each other.

ESCALATION CLAUSE IS NOT MEANT TO BE READ AS A STAND ALONE. It is book 6 in an award winning and best selling series (Stewart Realty).

Microbrewery owner, best-selling author, beer blogger and journalist, mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great Midwest, in a major college town. Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse, plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry), has prepped her for life as erotic romance author.
When she isn't sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications.

Her groundbreaking romance subgenre, “Romance for Real Life,” has gained thousands of fans and followers who are interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”)

Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high-powered real estate offices. Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.
  
LINKS:


Young love burns hot and bright. Soul mates are found, then lost in the blink of an eye. When young widow Maureen Gordon Taylor meets her daughter's sexy soccer coach, her body and heart slowly unthaw.  But will holding tight to the past cost her a future?  
A devastating blow shatters a family's fragile happiness. Rob Freitag and Lila Warren now confront life without the emotional glue that once bound them, but a shared goal brings them back together. Is it enough to make them whole again and become the family they were meant to be?
Mutual trust is hard won for the Gordons.  When tragedy strikes, Jack and Sara’s lives are sent into a tailspin.  To keep her family from falling apart, she must force Jack to admit his deepest fears. After everything they’ve been through, can they revive the spark and move to the next stage of marital fulfillment?
The sweeping saga of the Stewart Realty series continues as long-time friends learn to rely on each other, and to grab hold of happiness before it's too late. 

EXCERPT: 

The sunlight pierced the light haze of his sleep. Brandis groaned, rolled over seeking shade and found himself hand-and-kneeing it facing the brick pavers of his parents’ patio. “Christ in a sidecar what time is it?” He mumbled, flipping around so he sat, back against the chaise lounge that must have served as his bed for the night. Not that he recalled anything after the second joint. He groaned and ran a hand down his already sweaty face.

Jack walked out the back door, Mountain Dew in hand, dressed for work at his father’s construction site for the day. Brandis blinked at his friend. “How in the hell can be so awake and non-hung over? I feel like three day old shit.”

“You look like it, too.” Jack slammed the remaining soda and threw the can into the returnables' bin. “You taking those back today? We need food at the house while you’re at it.”

Brandis flipped him off. “I look like your personal shopper?”

“No,” Jack sat, laced his work boots up then leveled a deep blue stare at him. “You look like a guy lucky enough not to have to work on the Saturday after a giant pool party.” His friend leaned forward on his knees and gave Brandis an ominous look. “You also look like the guy who could possibly be messing around with my sister. I don’t recommend you be that guy. Not at all.”

“I’m…” Brandis started to say something, but he had nothing, so he stayed quiet. Jack stared him down, turned on his heel then left, letting the gate bang loud behind him. Brandis crawled to the edge of the pool, noted all the shit he needed to clean out of it including at least two condoms, then stuck his feet into the cold water, groaning when his temples started pounding to the beat of his heart. He put his head in his hands. Mo was the first thing he saw when he closed his eyes. Her bright blue eyes snapping with laughter, anger, and…desire … God help him, he had nursed a crush on her for years.

She’d been such a tomboy, running with him and Jack, tagging along then joining in the baseball, basketball, soccer whatever they concocted, up to and including egg throwing at Halloween and more less innocent vices. Their easy camaraderie had always allowed them to wrestle, to tickle, to touch. After she’d shown up at his house last month, determined to escape her jerk-off father, he thought he could just ease back into it. But, he hadn’t seen her in over a year, and in that time, she had become a full-fledged, jaw-dropping woman. Her tall, athletic frame was lush, lovely, full-hipped and inviting. The deep blue of her eyes and inky black fall of her hair made him want to bury his hands in it, to kiss her until she begged for more.

So, it seemed, his crush had bloomed into full-blown lust. A desire she apparently matched.

 No way.

He’d heard Jack’s message loud and clear. And as much of a man-whore as Brandis was, he was a loyal friend. So, Mo was off limits. Fine. He did not need that hassle, not now, with just a month and a half before he left for Colorado.

He leaned back on his hands and willed his cock soft, but the memory of her lips, and the feel of her skin against his if just for that one moment was not something he would soon forget. When he’d fucked that girl in the basement then realized Mo had been down there, watching them, it had taken him a couple of seconds to acknowledge he’d been picturing her beneath him, her body taking his, the sounds of her climax in his ears the entire time.

What a fucking mess.

“Hey,” he nearly jumped a mile into the air at the sound of her voice. “I, um, just want to say, you know, well…” She sat a couple of feet from him and let her feet dangle in the water. “Sorry.” She looked straight ahead.

“For what?” He cleared his throat, nervous beyond belief.

“For spying on you. I mean, I wasn’t, I was getting a drink and just kind of … oh hell. You know what I mean.” She looked down into the water. “This pool is disgusting.” She shoved a greasy looking floating seat away with her foot. “Are those…” She pointed to the used rubbers on the bottom.

“Yeah,” he ran a hand down his face, then jumped up and grabbed the skimmer. He cleared the condoms, a bottle of sunscreen and three beer cans from the pool, trying to ignore her. But his baser self would not cooperate and he had to grab a towel and fasten it around his waist to hide the damn tent in his shorts. She moved all the chairs back into their usual places and cleaned off the two glass-topped tables, finding yet another rubber in the grass near the back fence.

“You guys sure do know how to throw a party.” She smiled at him, lifting his heart and making his damn cock pound in time with his headache.

“Huh,” he grunted, before turning the water on to refill the pool and taking a reading on the chemicals. Sweat dripped off his forehead, blurring his vision. Fuck it was hot out already and it was barely eight o’clock in the morning. She crouched down next to him, her arm grazing his, making him flinch. Crush, Brandis. Remember? She is a no-go zone. Don’t do it.




Goddess Fish Partner

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Chatting with Piper Shelly - Her Game, His Rules Virtual Book Tour


Let me introduce you to Piper Shelly, currently on tour with Bewitching Book Tours with her book, Her Games, His Rules. Isn't that cover just GORGEOUS? 


Welcome to Immortality and Beyond. May I offer you a drink?
·       
Wow, I’ll have the vampy stuff, thanks. I always loved anything to do with vampires. And then of course…Hi everyone!


Excellent! Now that we're settled in, let's chat...

BK:  When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
PS:  That wish developed slowly and I can’t exactly tell you when I knew for sure. But I think it was after I finished my first book and realized how nice it would be to have other people read the story and so help the characters come to life. I love everyone’s feedback on my books and heroes…and you have to let them read what you write to make it happen.

BK:  Please tell us a little bit about your current release...
PS:  The book is called HER GAME, HIS RULES and it’s a love story between a teenage girl and her ailing mother’s angel. The poor guy doesn’t know what to do with himself for a moment when he realizes he’s in love with the girl he isn’t supposed to have.

BK:  What inspired this particular novel/book?
PS:  What? Or who? ;-) In fact, I have a very strong binding to my guardian angel. I know this sounds silly to some of you, but then many of you believe in other fantastic things too, so why not angels? Strange things happened and I just wanted to work them into more than only a dream. 

BK:  How do you keep your writing different from all the others that write in this particular genre?
PS:  I don’t know if it’s so different to other stories…I haven’t read them all. But I write about creatures that fascinate me, and then I always try to work in some small parts of experiences. Since those moments are always very personal, I don’t think you will find them anywhere else than in my books.

BK:  What was the hardest thing about writing this story?
PS:  Finishing it. Definitely. There was so much more I wanted to tell in this book, but since I it’s my first novel and some basic rules say that as a debut author you shouldn’t send novels to agencies or publishers that are too long, I tried to keep the word count as close to 100,000 as possible. If I’d have it my way, the novel would probably be twice as long as it is now.

BK:  Which character was your favorite to write for in this story? Why?
PS:  The entire novel is written in first person POV. Jona is the narrating character and I loved to tell the events from her perspective. But of course, there were parts of the story I enjoyed a little more than others. In those favored scenes there’s always Julian with her. ;-)

BK:  Tell us about the one scene you had the most fun writing…
PS:  It’s Jona’s and Julian’s first contact. I could feel myself sitting on the floor in this scene, staring up into the gorgeous blue eyes of my hero. That’s also the reason why I chose this scene for a reading snippet on my website.

BK:  Will this become a series? 
PS:  No, this book is a total stand-alone. If I have some spare time in the future, after writing all the many stories that spin around in my mind right now, I might go back to my very first and write Julian’s counter-part to it.

BK:  Now for a little fun, and into your everyday life: What is a day in your life like?
PS:  I normally get up around six in the morning. In summer it tends to be earlier, with the sun coming out way sooner, in winter I have trouble getting up at all…Ha ha. However, I work 5 hours a day as an accountant for a company close to my home that sells fancy furniture. After work I hurry home, boot up my laptop and hope to get a few lines written before my son comes home from school. When we’re done with his homework, I return to my writing room and won’t come out until bed time. Lucky me, I have a very understanding husband, who also loves to cook, so I don’t have to waste time in the kitchen when I rather spend the afternoon hours with my favorite characters.

BK:  What do you like to do when you're not writing?
PS:  Falling into a deep depression? Seriously, I don’t like doing anything other than writing, but I know I have to. So yeah, I’m a woman, I like shopping. LOL! I just recently found this amazing new brand called Hollister. That’s just my style and I can spend hours on end in that shop.

BK:  What is one thing your readers would be most surprised to learn about you?
PS:  Hmm, that is a hard nut. There are a few things, but nothing really spectacular. One thing is, I can’t see freaking 3d. I never noticed until I tried to watch AVATAR in 3d. It so didn’t work. That made me test myself some more, and yeah, I really can’t do it. Not with 3d-movies, and not in the everyday life. It was just so normal for me to not be able to do it, that I never realized what was wrong with my eyes.

BK:  What do you like to read? Who is your favorite author?
PS:  I love dark, seductive romances. With boneheaded heroes that make my mouth water with every word they say. My abso-favorite author is Georgia Lyn Hunter. I started critiquing for her a couple years ago, and she’s just about to bring her first novel into the bookstores, but I’d be damned if we don’t hear a lot more from her in the future. She’s also a very good friend of mine and a great inspiration for my own writing.

BK:  What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers/authors?
PS:  FIND CRITIQUE PARTNERS! I can’t stress this enough. You need to find a group of people who one: know how the publishing world works, and two: who love your stories. Never take a critique personal (and they can be damn tough, believe me) but choose your partners wisely. Don’t take everything they say for a hundred percent. Find authors who write and read the same genre like you; they are the most valuable. And then of course: NEVER GIVE UP!

BK:  What are you currently working on?
PS:  I just recently finished a novella called PLAY WITH ME and am now working on getting it published. It’s a fresh High School romances, all around first love and soccer.

BK:  Where can readers connect with you?
PS:  Well, one place to find me is my website: www.pipershelly.com I’m trying to post something on my blog there every now and then and would love to hear everyone’s thoughts on it. Another hot spot is Facebook. If you’d like to get some answers or just chat for the fun of it, find me on www.facebook.com/authorpiper and I’ll be happy to get to know you. You can also send me an e-mail of course. pipershelly@hotmail.com. I love e-mails! J

Did you know that this word scares me more than anything? About… Wherever you go, people want you to tell what a cool life you lead just because you’re an author. But really, there’s nothing special to say about me, except maybe that I write a little more than others normally do. I married my teenage-love, we do our best to raise our ten-year-old to a kind and caring young man, and my cat loves to sleep in my bed, forcing me to bend to the strangest positions at night, just so she can sprawl comfortably on the blanket. I like pizza. And occasionally I talk to angels, but seriously, in these times, who doesn’t…?

So all in all, I dare say I’m leading a pretty normal life.

Of course it will all change the day my book follows the act of Harry Potter, and I’ll become richer than the Queen. I swear I’ll never again clean my windows myself then. Yeah, one day, ha ha…



HER GAME, HIS RULES 
Piper Shelly

Genre: paranormal romance, upper YA

Publisher: Black Opal Books

ISBN: 978-1937329631
ASIN: B0096SDPD6

Number of pages: 306
Word Count: 103,000

Cover Artist: Jay Sabo with Piper Shelly


Book Description:

She’s seventeen. She’s snarky. She’s trouble…

It wasn’t nicking an expressive watch or diamond bracelet that landed Jona Montiniere in the clutches of the police. It was just a darn sweater. After a spectacular, failed escapade, she is forced to return to a mother who spurned her. Jona is furious about the judge’s decision—until she meets her mother’s companion. Gorgeous, provocative, and mysterious, Julian is everything her lonely heart desires. But then he awakens her mother from the dead with a simple touch.
Hunting for the truth in a strange new home, Jona unearths broken promises and bitter secrets. Soon she realizes she’ll once again lose someone she loves…unless she gives him a reason to stay. But how the hell do you keep an angel earthbound?


Short Excerpt:

He was so infuriating, and I was absolutely not charmed…okay, maybe just a little…

“Hi,” he said with a compassionate look that made me wish the traitor, Quinn, had taken off those damn handcuffs so I wouldn’t look like a complete idiot.
Lips pressed together, my fingers waggled in a feeble greeting. The mere sight of him sent a quiver of excitement to my stomach.
He nodded his chin at my tied hands. “They seem rather uncomfortable.”
And they bloody well were, but I shrugged it off like it was nothing unusual. “The latest fashion. You heard the judge, I wear them quite often.”
A teasing smile played around his lips that spiked my blood pressure. “Shall we take them off?” he said.
He must be kidding. “Unless you’ve got teeth like a hacksaw, I don’t see how that would work.”
Grin widening, he pulled out a key-ring from his pocket. He squatted, leveled his eyes with mine, and shook the ring in front of my face. The friendly jingle of metal filled the high hallway.
My mouth sagged open. “Where did you get these from?”
“Chief Madison.”
“You stole them from Quinn?” I pulled my hands reflexively out of his reach.
“Of course not.” The blond god gave me a pointed look. “I asked for them.”
“Quinn wouldn’t unshackle me when I asked him to.”
His intense blue eyes locked with mine. “I had to solemnly swear to keep an eye on you. Now hold still.” Cool fingers curled around my wrist to fix my hand while he unlocked the first cuff. Sparks tingled on my skin, my hand trembled slightly.
With a click, the other cuff came off. I flexed my hands and rubbed my burning wrists.
“Better?” He tilted his head and arched one beautiful brow.
My head bobbed, but I found no breath to answer.
“Okay then.” He used my knees to push himself up and stretched to his full height.
He probably expected a thanks following his selflessness. My gaze focused on the ripped hems of his jeans, my lips remained sealed.
When he turned on his heel and marched off to the left, I glanced up. “And now you’re going where?” The words shot out before I could stop myself.
“Bathroom break.” His arched brows dared me to object.
My lower lip threatened to pop from between my teeth as I chewed on it. Don’t speak! “But you’re supposed to keep an eye on me.”
After studying me for a couple of seconds, his expression softened even more. “You’re not going to get me into trouble.”
I let him take another stride away from me. Two. Three. Four. “How can you be so sure?” Shut the hell up, Jona. “After everything you know about me, I’ll probably be gone when you get back.”
A shrug of one shoulder and his beguiling smile struck me silent. “I trust you.” 




Monday, November 5, 2012

BBT Virtual Book Tour: The Earth Child's Handbook by Brigid Ashwood Guest Post & #Give@way



I'm so pleased to introduce you to Brigid Ashwood, touring now with Bewitching Book Tours with her book, The Earth Child's Handbook. I've often come across readers and those that have many questions for Pagan's, so I've asked Brigid to share some information about her spirituality to answer some of your questions, and to learn more about her book. 

Welcome Brigid! Thank you so much for joining us today...

Greetings! Thanks so much to B.K. for allowing me this opportunity to share with your audience.

The Earth Child's Handbook is an educational, craft and activity book for children and families who follow a pagan and earth-centric spiritual practice. One of the topics covered in the books is that of Magick and Ritual.

Non-pagans are often curious as to what exactly magick and ritual is in the context of Pagan spirituality. This is a tough question to answer because Pagan spiritual practice can vary greatly according to the religious tradition and the individual beliefs. Regardless I'll do my best to answer these questions here drawing upon parallel beliefs and practices found in other religions.

I was raised Christian in a Catholic tradition. The elements of prayer and ritual are a integral part of the Catholic religion. During my first forays into Pagan practice I immediately recognized the magickal workings, celebrations and rituals as recognizable forms of worship, transformation and prayer that are so fundamental to the Abrahamic religions.

However, since Paganism is focused on the individual we can view the Pagan spiritual community as one comprised of priests rather than of congregation. Each person is ultimately responsible for their own grace, their own transformation, their own connection to spirit. In traditional Abrahamic religions there exists a delineation between the classes of Priesthood versus congregation with a separate initiation and education for each.

Magick/Prayer:
When Pagans do magick, it is essentially ritualized prayer. The lighting of candles and burning of incense is of course not unique to Paganism and is commonly practiced in other religions. Many Pagans however, add other ingredients to their magickal practice. Crystals, herbs, colors and ritual tools can be important components in "magick" and "spellwork". Many Pagans believe that these materials possess very real properties that can aid them in their practice, but as Paganism is at it's heart a religion of the individual, belief in the metaphysical properties of these items is not essential. When a Pagan performs "magick" they are directing their intentions, and imploring the assistance of the divine towards their desired end. Prayer can be viewed in the same way - with the querent imploring deity for divine intervention and often augmenting this plea with offerings such as incense, candles or thru the aid of a tool such as a rosary.



Celebration/Worship:
When Pagans gather to celebrate their holy days, we can correlate their practice to the holy days of other religions such as Hanukah or Christmas. The celebration of Full Moons and other dates can be likened to Sunday mass and keeping the Sabbath.

Ritual:
As with other religions Pagans often celebrate milestones in an adherent's life such as initiations and marriages; the most essential of these celebrations are those of the initiatory nature. Just as a compelling life event (such as a near death experience) can have a profound effect on the body and the soul - so can ritual. In fact we can view ritual as a conscience engineering of a transformative experience intended as a catalyst towards spiritual growth or personal healing. In Paganism ritual aids the individual on the journey towards personal sovereignty.

Books 1 & 2
Brigid Ashwood

Genre: Pagan Parenting, Pagan Kids         

Book 1
ISBN-10: 1479265519
ISBN-13: 978-1479265510

Book 2
ISBN-10: 147927108X
ISBN-13: 978-1479271085


Book Description:
The Earth Child's Handbook is a primer, reference, craft and activity book series for families that follow Pagan, Wiccan and Earth Based spiritual paths.  Designed to appeal to all age groups (and grown-ups too!), the books address common Pagan beliefs and practices, explaining the principles and traditions behind them. 
Each chapter features:
             Recipes
             Instructional craft projects
             Coloring pages, mazes and word searches
             Color, cut and assemble projects
Younger children will delight in the coloring pages and paper crafts. Older children will find educational fun with word searches, mazes, connect-the-dots and instructional crafts. And parents might find it a lifesaver with easy recipe ideas and inspiration for teaching and building Pagan traditions.

The Earth Child's Handbook - Book 1 features chapters on the joy of family and diversity, honoring the earth and the principles of the four elements, the universe and Pagan beliefs regarding the Sun and the Moon, explanation of Deities, and an introduction to Magick and Ritual with simple spells and exercises.

Special topics include Shapeshifting, Runes, Book of Shadows, Animal Guides, Chakras, Meditation, Astrological Signs, The Elements, Cycles of the Moon, Magickal Correspondences, Sun Deities, Moon Deities, Triple Goddess and Triple God, The Four Quarters and Casting a Circle.

Featured activities include making a Chakra shirt, rain stick, homemade face paints, herbal infusions, bath salts, a moon phase wheel, moon cake recipe,  a complete "color, cut and assemble" paper altar and much, MUCH  more.

Earth Excerpt from Book 1

Earth

Earth is more than just the planet we live on or the dirt under our feet. You might think of the Earth as the body of the Great Goddess, our Mother, our Creator. The Earth sustains us; in it grows food for us to eat and other materials to help our daily lives. Her trees provide us with air, shelter, and shade. All of the four elements are related to each other, and cannot exist one without the others. This is especially true in their relationship to Earth, for all of these elements are found on and are part of the Earth itself. Air breezes through the trees on our Earth, Water runs through her streams, and Fire glows deep inside her core. If Earth is her body then Air is her breath, Water her blood and Fire her Spirit and Soul.



The Earth Child's Handbook - Book 2 features chapters on the Seasons, the 8 Pagan Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year. Each Sabbat chapter includes facts, traditions, correspondences and information about that holiday as well as recipes, altar decorating ideas, rituals and crafts, coloring pages, mazes and word searches.


Special topics include Seasonal Altars, Solstice Sabbats, Equinox Sabbats, Quarters and Cross Quarters.

Featured activities include cinnamon ornaments, Yule wrapping paper, Brigid's cross weaving, handmade paper, flower beads necklace, Beltaine masks, prayer flag, magickal broom and much, MUCH more.




Excerpt from The Earth Child's Handbook – Book 2

Fall/Winter – Samhain

Other Names: Third Harvest, Day of the Dead, Old Hallowmas, Shadowfest, All Hallow’s Eve, Martinmas, Witch’s New Year, Halloween.

Northern Hemisphere: October 31st November 1

Southern Hemisphere: April 30 -May 1

Herbs: Mugwort, Allspice, Broom, Catnip, Oak leaves, Sage, Straw, Rosemary, sunflower, pumpkin seeds, pine needles, garlic

Incense: cinnamon, sage, mint, nutmeg, rosemary

Colors: black, orange, white, silver, gold, brown, rust

Decorations: gourds, apples, cats, Jack-O-Lanterns, brooms, pumpkins.

Foods: apples, nuts, cider, squash, corn, soup, pumpkin

Gods: Herne, The Hunter, Anubis, The Sage

Goddesses: The Crone, Hecate

Spirit: Family, remembrance of the dead, introspection

Samhain is sometimes celebrated as the Pagan New Year. It is considered a night when the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead is thinnest. This doesn’t have to be a scary thing. In fact there are many Samhain traditions that are a lovely way of remembering those we love that have passed on. Some families set a dinner plate at the table for every loved one that has passed over. They set out pictures and photos albums of them and tell stories remembering the ones they miss.

This holiday, much like Yule, is a great time for resolutions. Write down what you hope to accomplish in the new year and put it in a bowl on your Samhain altar. Afterwards keep the slip of paper in a safe place, check it often to remind yourself of your goals.

Samhain is a wonderful Sabbat in its own right, but perhaps is even more popular because of its close association with Halloween. Many Pagans celebrate both holidays. Some have separate celebrations for each, dividing the serious topics from the lighthearted; others incorporate the two together for a fun and inspiring celebration. Whatever you choose I hope you have a fun and safe time.

Enjoy yourself by decorating and making costumes but don’t neglect to consider the more serious side of Samhain, and take a moment to remember those who have gone before. Even if you have not lost anyone close to you, we can all find brave and worthy people throughout history and in our local communities who deserve a moment of quiet remembrance in honor of their good works.


What a wonderful post Brigid. Thank you so much for sharing. Brigid is also giving you a chance to win a prize pack which features:

Both volumes of The Earth Child's Handbook, signed by the author. A one of a kind Pagan Kid's tote bag to hold your books. Your very own craft kit bag that includes safety scissors, glue stick, tape, colored pencils, crayons and 7 tubes of glitter glue. A $90 value!





Thanks again for joining us today Brigid. It's been such a pleasure. Don't forget to enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter above, and you can gain more chances to win by following her tour at Bewitching Book Tours.


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