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| Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel collide in DIVINE FALL |
Visit the Vampires, Shifters, and Supernatural Fair HERE and fill up your e-reader for free!
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Showing posts with label angels. Show all posts
Monday, July 6, 2020
Love #Paranormal? 46 #Free #Books in the #Supernatural Book Fair! #amreading #angels #vampires #shifters
Visit the Vampires, Shifters, and Supernatural Fair HERE and fill up your e-reader for free!
Saturday, June 6, 2020
#Free Review Copies! 14 #YA #Books for fans of Young Adult #Books #bookreviews #amreading
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| REVENGE, ROMANCE, AND A ROGUE FALLEN ANGEL... Forbidden First Love & Supernatural Secrets in award-winning Divine Fall |
Reviewers do need to have a Story Origin account, but this is free and easy...just link your review profiles from sites like Goodreads, Amazon, or Bookbub. Then request any of the titles that look interesting to receive a free review copy!
While "YA" refers to teen protagonists, there are many subgenres represented in the promo, including paranormal, romance, academy, fantasy, coming-of-age...visit the review promo here:
Friday, February 21, 2020
Young Love is in the Air #YA #Romance #Book Fair! #FridayReads #teenreads #yalit
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Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel collide in this award-winning YA PNR |
Fans of Young Adult books filled with first love and coming-of-age stories, this is for you! The Young Love is in the Air Book Fair is featuring 31 YA titles, all romance with various subgenres represented such as paranormal, fantasy, sports, dystopian...something for everyone!
My YA Paranormal Romance Divine Fall is featured, and this is a story of Forbidden First Love filled with Supernatural Suspense. As the last surviving Nephilim, Dothan is an outcast in both worlds...will he risk her life to seek his revenge?
Divine Fall is only 99c on Kindle, so grab your copy for less than a buck!
Sunday, November 10, 2019
#Books for Fans of #Twilight ~ #YA #Paranormal #Romance #Angels #amreading #Fantasy
Like millions of fans, I loved the Twilight series. I was hooked from the beginning of book one, and I had to pace myself from then on in order to stretch the story out rather than finishing the series in a few days. Some of my friends and I joked about needing a support group when we did finish--it was that addictive! As a paranormal romance author myself, I thought a lot about what elements of the story arc made the series so compelling to so many readers. And a few years later, when an idea for a Young Adult Paranormal Romance wound its way into my imagination and wouldn't let go, I decided to write it, even though YA is not my usual genre. The end result was a story of forbidden love and supernatural secrets involving revenge, romance, and a rogue fallen angel...Divine Fall.
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| "This delicious YA novel was filled with love...rich in history, suspense, and enough twists to keep the reader turning the pages" ~ BTS Book Reviews |
When initial editorial reviews came in comparing the story to Twilight and The Mortal Instruments, I was overjoyed! This title won the Reader's Choice Award in the YA category at The Romance Reviews, and earned Finalist Positions for both The Reader's Crown Award and the Red Carpet Book Awards. It even got a shout-out from the prestigious BookBub site, naming Divine Fall as one of "14 Books to Get You in the Mood for Fall".
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| "Reminded me of Twilight...reads quickly with action and romance" ~ Read for Your Future |
This title is currently 99c, and part of a "Books for Fans of Twilight" Book Fair, along with eleven other titles to appeal to readers of YA Paranormal Romance and Fantasy. Check out the link below and grab some new reads...many available for less than a buck or for free!
Monday, March 25, 2019
Literacy Night in Dennis-Yarmouth! #CapeCod #Author Event #Books #Barnstable
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| Forbidden First Love and Supernatural Secrets in DIVINE FALL |
I will be part of the Author Panel, answering questions and signing books. While my books aren't considered Science Fiction, I do home my stories take readers to new worlds...including some supernatural worlds, as most of my novels have paranormal elements. Since this is a school-sponsored event, I'll be highlighting my Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL, which is an award-winning Paranormal Romance featuring revenge, romance, and a rogue fallen angel. If you've never heard of the half-human, half angel Nephilim, check out the book's blurb below!
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| Some of the other exhibits and guests! |
Join us from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at the Dennis Yarmouth High School, 210 Station Ave., South Yarmouth.
If you're nowhere near Cape Cod, you can still check out the titles by following the links! DIVINE FALL is available on Kindle, Nook, and iTunes for only 99 cents! Check out the blurb below, and hope to see Cape Codders on Friday night!
After tragedy tears Jamie Brandt’s life apart, her only goal is to finish high school so she can leave her small hometown behind. In the meantime, riding her horse is her main source of solace, until a mysterious stable hand shows up at the barn. There’s something not quite right about the handsome new employee, and the more Jamie sees of him, the more determined she becomes to figure out what he’s hiding.
Dothan Reed came to historic Huntsville, Maryland, for one reason—revenge. But his plan can’t move forward until he finds the missing piece he needs to enhance his powers. As the only surviving Nephilim, Dothan is not only weaker than full-blooded angels; his forbidden lineage makes him an outcast in both worlds. When he discovers Jamie is the key to locating an ancient weapon, he’s forced to interact with a vulnerable human girl—a task that becomes more appealing with each encounter.
Jamie soon learns Dothan isn’t the only one with a dark secret. Each new revelation further threatens her safety, and Dothan’s betrayal shatters her heart. Forgiving him seems impossible, but the thought of turning her back on him is equally painful.
Saturday, November 3, 2018
A Free and #99c #Book Fair Featuring #Angels, Demons, Gods, Dragons! #Free #amreading #Fantasy #Romance
Want to stock up on some free and 99 cent reads? Art of the Arcane has an Angels, Demons, Gods, and Dragons Book Fair showcasing novels with these elements, and I'm thrilled to say my Young Adult Paranormal Romance, DIVINE FALL, is one of the selections.
Divine Fall involves a Nephilim, the Biblical offspring of male angels and human women. This story combines forbidden first love, dark supernatural secrets, danger, betrayal, coming-of-age, and of course, angels!
"Everything about Divine Fall pulls you in, and trust me, you won't regret reading this. The action is nonstop and nail-bitingly good. I was on the edge of my seat...the twists and turns kept me constantly surprised." ~ Where Books Lead Us
"A tale of dark suspense and the healing power of love...each page uncovers more depth and continuously urges us to read on. Fabulous writing." ~ Tome Tender Book Reviews
Check out all the offerings at the Book Fair here. Grab some deals, put your feet up, and get lost in a magical story!
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Reader's Choice Award Winner in YA Romance at The Romance Reviews Reader's Crown Finalist in YA Romance at RomCon BTS Book Reviews Nominee Red Carpet Book Awards Best Kindle Books Semi-Finalist in Young Adult at The Kindle Book Review One of BookBub's Featured Titles ~ 14 Books to Get You in the Mood for Fall |
Divine Fall involves a Nephilim, the Biblical offspring of male angels and human women. This story combines forbidden first love, dark supernatural secrets, danger, betrayal, coming-of-age, and of course, angels!
"Everything about Divine Fall pulls you in, and trust me, you won't regret reading this. The action is nonstop and nail-bitingly good. I was on the edge of my seat...the twists and turns kept me constantly surprised." ~ Where Books Lead Us
"A tale of dark suspense and the healing power of love...each page uncovers more depth and continuously urges us to read on. Fabulous writing." ~ Tome Tender Book Reviews
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| Deals good from Nov. 1 through Nov. 15! |
Check out all the offerings at the Book Fair here. Grab some deals, put your feet up, and get lost in a magical story!
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| Revenge, Romance, and a Rogue Fallen Angel collide in DIVINE FALL |
Sunday, July 8, 2018
DIVINE FALL is a Beach Buddy #Book Club read at #Bourne Library! #YA #CapeCod #angels #horses #Free!
I'm thrilled to share that my Young Adult Paranormal Romance, DIVINE FALL, is one of four novels being offered for FREE summer reading as part of the Jonathan Bourne Library's "Beach Buddy Book Club". Cape Cod-area teens can register at Bourne Library's website and receive codes to download electronic copies of any (or all) of the four titles: Divine Fall, Undertow, Descent, and Any Way You Slice It. Then choose a buddy or two to read along with--friend, parent, cousin, sibling, etc.--and enjoy the stories together! Plus, you can also meet the authors and ask questions or chat about characters on Thursday, August 2nd at the Bourne Library from 6-7:30 pm.
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| Winner of The Romance Review's Readers' Choice Award in YA |
If you'd like to try Divine Fall but aren't in the Cape Cod area, you can still download it for only 99 cents on Kindle or Nook right now! Find the links below...Happy Reading!
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Last Day to Enter! #Giveaway #Goodreads #YA #Paranormal #Romance
Ahhhh I've been SO busy--just finished novel #5, working on the editing and synopsis (ugh), gearing up for an audiobook release (yay), and starting a new writing class, I nearly forgot about this Goodreads Giveaway I scheduled to coincide with Valentine's Day! Hurry if you'd like to enter, Feb. 4th is the last day! You'll get a signed paperback during the perfect month for love stories.
Divine Fall is a Young Adult Paranormal Romance featuring forbidden first love and supernatural secrets:
After tragedy tears Jamie Brandt's life apart, her only goal is to finish high school so she can leave her small hometown behind. In the meantime, riding her horse is her main source of solace, until a mysterious stable hand shows up at the barn. There's something not quite right about the handsome new employee, and the more Jamie sees of him, the more determined she becomes to figure out what he's hiding.
Dothan Reed came to historic Huntsville, Maryland, for one reason--revenge. But his plan can't move forward until he finds the missing piece he needs to enhance his powers. As the only surviving Nephilim, Dothan is not only weaker than full-blooded angels; his forbidden lineage makes him an outcast in both worlds. When he discovers Jamie is the key to locating an ancient weapon, he's forced to interact with a vulnerable human girl--a task that becomes more appealing with each encounter.
Jamie soon learns Dothan isn't the only one with a dark secret. Each new revelation further threatens her safety, and Dothan's betrayal shatters her heart. Forgiving him seems impossible, but the thought of turning her back on him is equally painful.
As their connection deepens, Dothan will have to make his own difficult choice: continue on his path of vengeance, or protect the girl he loves. And when Dothan's actions thrust Jamie into an unforeseen danger, he must seek the help of his enemy...or risk losing her forever.
If you missed the deadline or want to make sure you grab your copy, you can also get the ebook on Kindle or Nook for less than a buck!
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| REVENGE, ROMANCE, + A ROGUE FALLEN ANGEL... |
Divine Fall is a Young Adult Paranormal Romance featuring forbidden first love and supernatural secrets:
Dothan Reed came to historic Huntsville, Maryland, for one reason--revenge. But his plan can't move forward until he finds the missing piece he needs to enhance his powers. As the only surviving Nephilim, Dothan is not only weaker than full-blooded angels; his forbidden lineage makes him an outcast in both worlds. When he discovers Jamie is the key to locating an ancient weapon, he's forced to interact with a vulnerable human girl--a task that becomes more appealing with each encounter.
Jamie soon learns Dothan isn't the only one with a dark secret. Each new revelation further threatens her safety, and Dothan's betrayal shatters her heart. Forgiving him seems impossible, but the thought of turning her back on him is equally painful.
As their connection deepens, Dothan will have to make his own difficult choice: continue on his path of vengeance, or protect the girl he loves. And when Dothan's actions thrust Jamie into an unforeseen danger, he must seek the help of his enemy...or risk losing her forever.
If you missed the deadline or want to make sure you grab your copy, you can also get the ebook on Kindle or Nook for less than a buck!
Friday, April 14, 2017
Why #EasterSunday Moves Around ~ #Easter #EasterWeekend
I enjoy learning about the reasons behind traditions and beliefs...for example, I've done popular posts on Why 13 is Considered Unlucky, The Origin of Halloween, and Why People Fear Black Cats. As you may notice, these topics have a common element--the paranormal--one of my favorite subjects, as well as the inspiration for my novels. My two #1 Kindle Bestsellers, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, as well as my new release, HAUNTED SOULS, combine steamy romance with spooky hauntings.
My Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL, is a little different. When my children were younger, I taught Sunday School, and a passage from the Book of Genesis inspired a new supernatural idea. Divine Fall is the story of the only surviving Nephilim--the offspring of heavenly angels and human women who roamed the earth before the Great Flood.
As a Sunday School teacher, I was asked unusual questions, which I didn't always have the answer to. Kids are unbelievably insightful sometimes. Why, they wondered, was Christmas always December 25th, while Easter moved around? Excellent question...and not a particularly easy one.
According to documents from the 3rd and 4th centuries, Christians relied on their Jewish neighbors to determine the week of the Unleavened Bread; the Sunday that fell within that week would be Easter. Following the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the date of Easter was separated from the Jewish calendar and its computations for Passover.
Since then, Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the Northern spring equinox, which is based on an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and does not correspond to the astronomical equinox. The church defines the spring, or vernal, equinox as falling on March 21st. Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox. This full moon will occur somewhere between March 21st and April 18th, inclusive. Therefore, Easter cannot be earlier than March 22nd or later than April 25th. In 2008, Easter was particularly early, falling on March 23rd. That hadn't happened since 1913, and will not happen again until 2160.
Of course, there are handy tables available to find the date. But those tables are derived from something called "The Golden Number" and "The Sunday Letter". The Golden Number is computed by taking the year, dividing it by 19, and adding 1 to the remainder. For example, 2014 divided by 19 gives 106, with a remainder of 0. Adding 1 to the remainder gives a golden number of 1. Finding the Sunday Letter involves determining the first Sunday of the year, with the choices ranging from A through G. For example, if the first Sunday in January falls on the 1st, that year is an "A" year.
There are more computations, explanations, and nuances surrounding leap years, but for the purposes of the kids in my class, my summation was enough to explain the phenomenon. The short answer, really, is that Easter moves around from year to year in order to maintain the connection between the astronomical events (the phase of the moon and the season) which would have occurred during the Resurrection and the annual date on which we celebrate this holiday.
Whatever spring holiday or event you celebrate, I hope it's filled with family and happiness. Take some time to enjoy nature's resurrection--the new life, strengthening sun, and longer days that characterize this season. And if the Easter bunny visits (that's a whole 'nother story...blog post for next Easter maybe?), remind him to put some paranormal romance reads in your basket!
My Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL, is a little different. When my children were younger, I taught Sunday School, and a passage from the Book of Genesis inspired a new supernatural idea. Divine Fall is the story of the only surviving Nephilim--the offspring of heavenly angels and human women who roamed the earth before the Great Flood.
As a Sunday School teacher, I was asked unusual questions, which I didn't always have the answer to. Kids are unbelievably insightful sometimes. Why, they wondered, was Christmas always December 25th, while Easter moved around? Excellent question...and not a particularly easy one.
According to documents from the 3rd and 4th centuries, Christians relied on their Jewish neighbors to determine the week of the Unleavened Bread; the Sunday that fell within that week would be Easter. Following the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the date of Easter was separated from the Jewish calendar and its computations for Passover.
Since then, Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the Northern spring equinox, which is based on an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and does not correspond to the astronomical equinox. The church defines the spring, or vernal, equinox as falling on March 21st. Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox. This full moon will occur somewhere between March 21st and April 18th, inclusive. Therefore, Easter cannot be earlier than March 22nd or later than April 25th. In 2008, Easter was particularly early, falling on March 23rd. That hadn't happened since 1913, and will not happen again until 2160.Of course, there are handy tables available to find the date. But those tables are derived from something called "The Golden Number" and "The Sunday Letter". The Golden Number is computed by taking the year, dividing it by 19, and adding 1 to the remainder. For example, 2014 divided by 19 gives 106, with a remainder of 0. Adding 1 to the remainder gives a golden number of 1. Finding the Sunday Letter involves determining the first Sunday of the year, with the choices ranging from A through G. For example, if the first Sunday in January falls on the 1st, that year is an "A" year.
There are more computations, explanations, and nuances surrounding leap years, but for the purposes of the kids in my class, my summation was enough to explain the phenomenon. The short answer, really, is that Easter moves around from year to year in order to maintain the connection between the astronomical events (the phase of the moon and the season) which would have occurred during the Resurrection and the annual date on which we celebrate this holiday.
Whatever spring holiday or event you celebrate, I hope it's filled with family and happiness. Take some time to enjoy nature's resurrection--the new life, strengthening sun, and longer days that characterize this season. And if the Easter bunny visits (that's a whole 'nother story...blog post for next Easter maybe?), remind him to put some paranormal romance reads in your basket!
SILVER LAKE ~ A haunting, an old flame,
and secrets from the past
GULL HARBOR ~ A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await psychic Claire Linden in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor
Easter moves around from year to year in order to preserve its relationship to the astronomical phenomena (i.e., the season of the year and the phase of the moon) that would have occurred at the time of the resurrection (traditionally reckoned as having taken place in 30 A.D.).
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Easter moves around from year to year in order to preserve its relationship to the astronomical phenomena (i.e., the season of the year and the phase of the moon) that would have occurred at the time of the resurrection (traditionally reckoned as having taken place in 30 A.D.).
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Easter moves around from year to year in order to preserve its relationship to the astronomical phenomena (i.e., the season of the year and the phase of the moon) that would have occurred at the time of the resurrection (traditionally reckoned as having taken place in 30 A.D.).
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Thursday, March 30, 2017
A #Supernatural Binge - How was I not watching this?
Admittedly, I don't watch all that much TV, because I often just don't have the time (or patience) to get into a new show. Reading is my #1 favorite pastime, and then I have to find time to write, then there are the other part-time jobs and of course family members and pets who want attention. But I do have some favorite shows that I always make time for (or at least time to DVR episodes for later), and they usually involve the things I like best: some romance, hot heroes, some paranormal elements or magic, and plenty of conflict and tension. I've blogged about several that fit the bill: Outlander, Vikings, Game of Thrones, The Vampire Diaries, Reign, etc. In addition, I'm a big fan of spooky movies.
So when a friend recently found out I didn't watch Supernatural, she couldn't believe it. She had just recently begun watching it, and she suggested I do the same, but I resisted at first. Too busy to try another show, I decided. But she convinced me (and made me laugh) by telling me that it was like a "show designed specifically for me". She went on to say that if a group of writers got together and said, "Okay, how can make the perfect show for this woman who loves hot guys, ghosts, Nephilim, demons, and other paranormal mysteries?", the result would be something like this show. How could I resist that pitch?
Well, she was right. I love it. I'm only on the first season, but Dean Winchester already has my heart. (I also enjoyed the actor, Jensen Ackles, on Days of Our Lives, but Dean is a much better character than Eric, even if he was a Brady!) Don't get me wrong, Sam's cute as well...but I'm definitely Team Dean. Aside from just looks, I absolutely love the actor's facial expressions and the character's personality.
So far the early part of the show has been heavy on ghosts and spirits, which is absolutely my thing, and I'm enjoying the chemistry between the brothers as they begin to work together to find their father. There's some strong motivation for what they're doing (which is important to me as a writer), since their mother and then Jessica were killed by an evil entity. In addition, they want to find their father and battle any evil they encounter along the way (take up the family business of "hunting").
I especially enjoyed the "Dead in the Water" episode, as the entire premise followed a theme I often use in my novels: a desperate spirit, unable to rest, seeking...something. I won't say what here, to avoid spoilers. But the ghost has motivation as well, as opposed to just haunting/killing for no reason beyond a creepy plot device.
In a few other funny coincidences, the hero of my current manuscript is named Dean. And I also remembered another tie I have to the show when I began watching...when writing Divine Fall, my Young Adult paranormal romance, I had to come up with some rules about angels and Nephilim (half-angels, half-humans), and my "research" led me to a post about an episode of Supernatural. That post led me to seek more information on an ancient perfume used by Egyptians that supposedly could kill an angel, and eventually the substance, qeres, became part of my plot. So I look forward to a future episode where Dean and Sam tackle some bad angels (I think it's S4), and to 11 more seasons of my new favorite show!
So when a friend recently found out I didn't watch Supernatural, she couldn't believe it. She had just recently begun watching it, and she suggested I do the same, but I resisted at first. Too busy to try another show, I decided. But she convinced me (and made me laugh) by telling me that it was like a "show designed specifically for me". She went on to say that if a group of writers got together and said, "Okay, how can make the perfect show for this woman who loves hot guys, ghosts, Nephilim, demons, and other paranormal mysteries?", the result would be something like this show. How could I resist that pitch?
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| Jensen Ackles as Dean Winchester |
So far the early part of the show has been heavy on ghosts and spirits, which is absolutely my thing, and I'm enjoying the chemistry between the brothers as they begin to work together to find their father. There's some strong motivation for what they're doing (which is important to me as a writer), since their mother and then Jessica were killed by an evil entity. In addition, they want to find their father and battle any evil they encounter along the way (take up the family business of "hunting").
 |
| Two hot hunters! Dean and Sam Winchester |
I especially enjoyed the "Dead in the Water" episode, as the entire premise followed a theme I often use in my novels: a desperate spirit, unable to rest, seeking...something. I won't say what here, to avoid spoilers. But the ghost has motivation as well, as opposed to just haunting/killing for no reason beyond a creepy plot device.
In a few other funny coincidences, the hero of my current manuscript is named Dean. And I also remembered another tie I have to the show when I began watching...when writing Divine Fall, my Young Adult paranormal romance, I had to come up with some rules about angels and Nephilim (half-angels, half-humans), and my "research" led me to a post about an episode of Supernatural. That post led me to seek more information on an ancient perfume used by Egyptians that supposedly could kill an angel, and eventually the substance, qeres, became part of my plot. So I look forward to a future episode where Dean and Sam tackle some bad angels (I think it's S4), and to 11 more seasons of my new favorite show!
Monday, November 14, 2016
"The hero is swoon-worthy" #YA #Angels #Paranormal #Romance #Review
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
5* #Review "Dark Tale of #Suspense" #YA #Paranormal #Romance #Angels
My YA Paranormal Romance, DIVINE FALL, was on Netgalley during the month of September, and a wonderful review from Tome Tender showed up last week! I'm sharing the link to the review here, along with a reminder that the Kindle and Nook versions are currently 99 cents ~ so you can get a new paranormal read filled with forbidden first love and supernatural secrets for the Halloween season for less than a buck! And if you're looking for more spooky stories for the season, try one of my ghost mystery romances!
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Divine Fall on #NetGalley! #YA #Paranormal #Romance #pnr #review
Although I’ve been a published author now since 2011,
this September will be my very first experience with NetGalley, a service that
matches readers willing to post reviews with free digital copies of books. My publisher had not been involved in the
program until this year, so I’m very excited to now have an opportunity to
introduce my novels to avid readers and hopefully garner some additional
reviews, which are so important on retail sites.
My latest release, Haunted Souls, is scheduled for NetGalley in October,
since the Halloween season is perfect for ghost stories. Then a slot opened up for September, and we
decided to put one of my backlist titles, Divine Fall, into the opening. Although it came out in 2014, it will still
be “new” to many readers in this crowded market, and since the story takes
place in September, it’s a good fit. In
fact, the word “Fall” in the title not only refers to the season, but also
fallen angels and falling in love. And
in this case, it’s an unexpected and dangerous fall into a forbidden
relationship.
Last autumn, the prestigious BookBub posted a
wonderful article on 14 Perfect Novels for Fall, and Divine Fall was on it, along with some very popular books by well-known authors like Nora Roberts, Debbie Macomber, Lisa Kleypas, Elizabeth Lowell, and Diane Setterfield (The Thirteenth Tale was one of my favorite books...it's such a match for my tastes that not one but TWO of my friends bought it for me for my birthday...so seeing my title next to it on a recommendation list was a huge moment!) I'm hoping this fall it will be a good fit for readers' lists as autumn once again approaches.
So if you’re on NetGalley and you’re a fan of Young
Adult Paranormal Romance, Forbidden first love, and supernatural secrets, put
in a request for Divine Fall! And next
month, look for Haunted Souls, a steamy military romance mixed with a ghost
mystery. Happy reading!
eta: It's October! Divine Fall is no longer available on NetGalley, but Haunted Souls is - find it here.
eta: It's October! Divine Fall is no longer available on NetGalley, but Haunted Souls is - find it here.
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Finding #Easter Dates - Golden Numbers + Full Moons
I enjoy learning about the reasons behind traditions and beliefs...for example, I've done popular posts on Why 13 is Considered Unlucky, The Origin of Halloween, and Why People Fear Black Cats. As you may notice, these topics have a common element--the paranormal--one of my favorite subjects, as well as the inspiration for my novels. My first two novels, SILVER LAKE and GULL HARBOR, as well as my upcoming release HAUNTED SOULS, combine steamy romance with spooky hauntings.
My Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL, is a little different. When my children were younger, I taught Sunday School, and a passage from the Book of Genesis inspired a new supernatural idea. Divine Fall is the story of the only surviving Nephilim--the offspring of heavenly angels and human women who roamed the earth before the Great Flood. Divine Fall recently won the Reader's Choice Award in Young Adult Romance at The Romance Reviews, which was an exciting achievement...and it's a reviewer nomination for the upcoming BTS Red Carpet Book Awards, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
As a Sunday School teacher, I was asked unusual questions, which I didn't always have the answer to. Kids are unbelievably insightful sometimes. Why, they wondered, was Christmas always December 25th, while Easter moved around? Excellent question...and not a particularly easy one.
According to documents from the 3rd and 4th centuries, Christians relied on their Jewish neighbors to determine the week of the Unleavened Bread; the Sunday that fell within that week would be Easter. Following the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the date of Easter was separated from the Jewish calendar and its computations for Passover.
Since then, Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the Northern spring equinox, which is based on an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and does not correspond to the astronomical equinox. The church defines the spring, or vernal, equinox as falling on March 21st. Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox. This full moon will occur somewhere between March 21st and April 18th, inclusive. Therefore, Easter cannot be earlier than March 22nd or later than April 25th. In 2008, Easter was particularly early, falling on March 23rd. That hadn't happened since 1913, and will not happen again until 2160.
Of course, there are handy tables available to find the date. But those tables are derived from something called "The Golden Number" and "The Sunday Letter". The Golden Number is computed by taking the year, dividing it by 19, and adding 1 to the remainder. For example, 2014 divided by 19 gives 106, with a remainder of 0. Adding 1 to the remainder gives a golden number of 1. Finding the Sunday Letter involves determining the first Sunday of the year, with the choices ranging from A through G. For example, if the first Sunday in January falls on the 1st, that year is an "A" year.
There are more computations, explanations, and nuances surrounding leap years, but for the purposes of the kids in my class, my summation was enough to explain the phenomenon. The short answer, really, is that Easter moves around from year to year in order to maintain the connection between the astronomical events (the phase of the moon and the season) which would have occurred during the Resurrection and the annual date on which we celebrate this holiday.
Whatever spring holiday or event you celebrate, I hope it's filled with family and happiness. Take some time to enjoy nature's resurrection--the new life, strengthening sun, and longer days that characterize this season. And if the Easter bunny visits (that's a whole 'nother story...blog post for next Easter maybe?), remind him to put some paranormal romance reads in your basket!
My Young Adult novel, DIVINE FALL, is a little different. When my children were younger, I taught Sunday School, and a passage from the Book of Genesis inspired a new supernatural idea. Divine Fall is the story of the only surviving Nephilim--the offspring of heavenly angels and human women who roamed the earth before the Great Flood. Divine Fall recently won the Reader's Choice Award in Young Adult Romance at The Romance Reviews, which was an exciting achievement...and it's a reviewer nomination for the upcoming BTS Red Carpet Book Awards, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
As a Sunday School teacher, I was asked unusual questions, which I didn't always have the answer to. Kids are unbelievably insightful sometimes. Why, they wondered, was Christmas always December 25th, while Easter moved around? Excellent question...and not a particularly easy one.
According to documents from the 3rd and 4th centuries, Christians relied on their Jewish neighbors to determine the week of the Unleavened Bread; the Sunday that fell within that week would be Easter. Following the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, the date of Easter was separated from the Jewish calendar and its computations for Passover.
Since then, Easter Day is always the Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the Northern spring equinox, which is based on an ancient ecclesiastical computation, and does not correspond to the astronomical equinox. The church defines the spring, or vernal, equinox as falling on March 21st. Easter falls on the Sunday following the first full moon after the equinox. This full moon will occur somewhere between March 21st and April 18th, inclusive. Therefore, Easter cannot be earlier than March 22nd or later than April 25th. In 2008, Easter was particularly early, falling on March 23rd. That hadn't happened since 1913, and will not happen again until 2160.Of course, there are handy tables available to find the date. But those tables are derived from something called "The Golden Number" and "The Sunday Letter". The Golden Number is computed by taking the year, dividing it by 19, and adding 1 to the remainder. For example, 2014 divided by 19 gives 106, with a remainder of 0. Adding 1 to the remainder gives a golden number of 1. Finding the Sunday Letter involves determining the first Sunday of the year, with the choices ranging from A through G. For example, if the first Sunday in January falls on the 1st, that year is an "A" year.
There are more computations, explanations, and nuances surrounding leap years, but for the purposes of the kids in my class, my summation was enough to explain the phenomenon. The short answer, really, is that Easter moves around from year to year in order to maintain the connection between the astronomical events (the phase of the moon and the season) which would have occurred during the Resurrection and the annual date on which we celebrate this holiday.
Whatever spring holiday or event you celebrate, I hope it's filled with family and happiness. Take some time to enjoy nature's resurrection--the new life, strengthening sun, and longer days that characterize this season. And if the Easter bunny visits (that's a whole 'nother story...blog post for next Easter maybe?), remind him to put some paranormal romance reads in your basket!
SILVER LAKE ~ A haunting, an old flame,
and secrets from the past
GULL HARBOR ~ A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await psychic Claire Linden in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor
DIVINE FALL ~ Revenge, Romance,
and a Rogue Fallen Angel
Easter moves around from year to year in order to preserve its relationship to the astronomical phenomena (i.e., the season of the year and the phase of the moon) that would have occurred at the time of the resurrection (traditionally reckoned as having taken place in 30 A.D.).
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Easter moves around from year to year in order to preserve its relationship to the astronomical phenomena (i.e., the season of the year and the phase of the moon) that would have occurred at the time of the resurrection (traditionally reckoned as having taken place in 30 A.D.).
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Easter moves around from year to year in order to preserve its relationship to the astronomical phenomena (i.e., the season of the year and the phase of the moon) that would have occurred at the time of the resurrection (traditionally reckoned as having taken place in 30 A.D.).
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/holidays/easter/easterdate.asp#5krS4XS2Tr3b6KP8.99
Sunday, December 20, 2015
History of St. Nick + Santa Claus -- #Christmas Traditions #Santa
I love doing posts about the origins of our holidays and the reasons we celebrate in certain ways or fear certain dates. Some of my most popular posts have been on the Origin of Halloween, Finding Easter's Date, The Number 13, and Origins of Superstitions.
When my kids were younger, I taught Sunday School...in fact, a passage from the Book of Genesis about the Nephilim, the offspring of male angels and human women, inspired my Young Adult Paranormal Romance DIVINE FALL. For years, I taught the class every week, and my favorite lessons touched on the historical and religious roots of our holidays. The lesson on Saint Nicholas was obviously something I made sure we discussed every December. While most people are familiar with the story of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem, many are unaware of how a 4th century Bishop influenced the legend of Santa Claus.
Saint Nicholas, or Nikolaos of Myra, was a bishop in an ancient town in Lycia--now Demre, in the Antalya Province of Turkey. One of his most well-known deeds involved giving unexpected gifts, one of which landed in a stocking. In the story, Nicholas wanted to help three young girls, whose father had no money for their dowries. At that point in history, such a fate would result in a life of prostitution. Not wanting to embarrass the poor father, Nicholas threw bags of gold coins through the windows. In one version of the tale, the father laid in wait to discover who was doing this...and so instead of throwing the third bag through the window, Nicholas dropped it down the chimney, and it landed in a stocking hung to dry by the fire.
The Dutch figure of Sinterklass is based upon Saint Nick, and he more resembles the white-bearded man in red we're all familiar with. In turn, our Santa Claus is derived from Sinterklass, and it's widely believed that he was introduced to North America around the time of the Revolutionary War, by inhabitants of New York City, which was once New Amsterdam, a Dutch colony.
Of course, many other sources have combined to shape both the modern-day image of Santa Claus and the various legends and traditions which have evolved (decorating trees, sleighs pulled by reindeer, winter feasts and festivals, etc.). Those will be topics for another day and another blog!
I'm hoping my blog readers who celebrate Christmas have finished the gift-buying and food preparation that comes along with the holiday, and have some time to relax and enjoy the magic of the season. And if you need a book to help you de-stress, check out one of my novels - each one is filled with romance, mystery, and suspense - something for everyone! Also perfect as a last-minute gift, since all you need to send someone a Kindle copy is an email address. Each one is less that the price of a card, and DIVINE FALL is only 99 cents right now! The tabs at the top of the page will take you to the blurb for each book, but I've also included links below. Happiest of holidays!
SILVER LAKE - A haunting, an old flame, and secrets from the past
GULL HARBOR - A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await Claire in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor
DIVINE FALL - Romance, Revenge, and a Rogue Fallen Angel
When my kids were younger, I taught Sunday School...in fact, a passage from the Book of Genesis about the Nephilim, the offspring of male angels and human women, inspired my Young Adult Paranormal Romance DIVINE FALL. For years, I taught the class every week, and my favorite lessons touched on the historical and religious roots of our holidays. The lesson on Saint Nicholas was obviously something I made sure we discussed every December. While most people are familiar with the story of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem, many are unaware of how a 4th century Bishop influenced the legend of Santa Claus.
Saint Nicholas, or Nikolaos of Myra, was a bishop in an ancient town in Lycia--now Demre, in the Antalya Province of Turkey. One of his most well-known deeds involved giving unexpected gifts, one of which landed in a stocking. In the story, Nicholas wanted to help three young girls, whose father had no money for their dowries. At that point in history, such a fate would result in a life of prostitution. Not wanting to embarrass the poor father, Nicholas threw bags of gold coins through the windows. In one version of the tale, the father laid in wait to discover who was doing this...and so instead of throwing the third bag through the window, Nicholas dropped it down the chimney, and it landed in a stocking hung to dry by the fire. |
| Sinterklaas rides a white horse |
Of course, many other sources have combined to shape both the modern-day image of Santa Claus and the various legends and traditions which have evolved (decorating trees, sleighs pulled by reindeer, winter feasts and festivals, etc.). Those will be topics for another day and another blog!
I'm hoping my blog readers who celebrate Christmas have finished the gift-buying and food preparation that comes along with the holiday, and have some time to relax and enjoy the magic of the season. And if you need a book to help you de-stress, check out one of my novels - each one is filled with romance, mystery, and suspense - something for everyone! Also perfect as a last-minute gift, since all you need to send someone a Kindle copy is an email address. Each one is less that the price of a card, and DIVINE FALL is only 99 cents right now! The tabs at the top of the page will take you to the blurb for each book, but I've also included links below. Happiest of holidays!
SILVER LAKE - A haunting, an old flame, and secrets from the past
GULL HARBOR - A dangerous ghost and an ex-boyfriend await Claire in Cape Cod's Gull Harbor
DIVINE FALL - Romance, Revenge, and a Rogue Fallen Angel
Saturday, December 5, 2015
DIVINE FALL is up for the Red Carpet Award! #YA #angels #romance
Over the summer, DIVINE FALL received a fabulous 4.5 star review from BTS eMag, calling it a "delicious YA filled with love, rich in history, suspense, and enough twists to keep the reader turning the pages". The reviewer also said it was perfect for fans of The Mortal Instruments series, which had me grinning ear to ear.
Books the receive high reviews in their magazine automatically get nominated for their Red Carpet Book Awards, which is very exciting! I'll admit, with the voting period over our crazy Thanksgiving travels, I'm way behind on asking people to vote. But I'd still love to get a few before the voting closes on December 8th.
So if you have time for one click -- no sign in, no registration -- I'd appreciate it! The voting link is HERE, and Divine Fall is a little less than halfway down. Thank you! And if you want to give it a read, it's currently only 99 cents - less than a cup of coffee for hours of entertainment involving forbidden first love and supernatural secrets. Find it on Kindle here and the blurb and other retailers here.
So if you have time for one click -- no sign in, no registration -- I'd appreciate it! The voting link is HERE, and Divine Fall is a little less than halfway down. Thank you! And if you want to give it a read, it's currently only 99 cents - less than a cup of coffee for hours of entertainment involving forbidden first love and supernatural secrets. Find it on Kindle here and the blurb and other retailers here.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
DIVINE FALL won The #Romance Reviews Award! #YA #Angels #horses
I was thrilled when my YA paranormal romance DIVINE FALL made it through the nomination rounds for the Reader's Choice Award over at The Romance Reviews site. Fifty votes were needed to advance into the final round...a voting period that lasted almost the entire month of October, one of my busiest months in terms of promotion since I write what can best be described as "paranormal romantic suspense"--romance mixed with a haunting mystery or supernatural secrets, which are especially popular during the Halloween season. But I tried to remind my readers to vote as I scrambled to keep up with other commitments. And then this week I received some exciting news--my book won the Young Adult Romance category!
While my books always involve romance, I do try to mix in plenty of conflict, tension, and mystery, as well as enough details about the setting to make the reader feel like he or she is right there. This novel is set in a fictional town, Huntsville, Maryland, close to where I grew up. The rural town is located in the very real Frederick County, near the very real Monocacy National Battlefield, site of the Civil War Battle that "saved Washington, D.C.". As a kid, I spent a great deal of time at the huge farm owned by good friends of the family, and their little girl and I whiled away countless hours riding the horses, playing with the barn cats up in the hayloft, throwing sticks for all the dogs that roamed the property, and exploring the surrounding woods. These wonderful memories inspired "Fox Run", the barn where Jamie boards her horse Beau, and where the mysterious Dothan Reed works as a new stable hand.
Most of my books are considered cross-genre, and this one is no exception. It's classified as "YA Paranormal Romance", but the tag line I use is "Forbidden First Love and Supernatural Secrets". A reviewer at BTS Book Reviews used this quote: "This delicious YA novel was filled with love, rich in history, suspense, and enough twists to keep the reader turning the pages." This reviewer's 4.5 star write-up actually put Divine Fall into the BTS Book Review's nominations for their Red Carpet Award. Keeping my fingers crossed!
While my books always involve romance, I do try to mix in plenty of conflict, tension, and mystery, as well as enough details about the setting to make the reader feel like he or she is right there. This novel is set in a fictional town, Huntsville, Maryland, close to where I grew up. The rural town is located in the very real Frederick County, near the very real Monocacy National Battlefield, site of the Civil War Battle that "saved Washington, D.C.". As a kid, I spent a great deal of time at the huge farm owned by good friends of the family, and their little girl and I whiled away countless hours riding the horses, playing with the barn cats up in the hayloft, throwing sticks for all the dogs that roamed the property, and exploring the surrounding woods. These wonderful memories inspired "Fox Run", the barn where Jamie boards her horse Beau, and where the mysterious Dothan Reed works as a new stable hand.
If you'd like to give this book a try, it's only 99 cents on Kindle and Nook! All links to retailers are in the colored links above or on this page ~ DIVINE FALL. Happy Reading!
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