First, let me thank Ginger for inviting me here today. It’s always an honor to be one of her guests.
As most of us know who have written a historical or researched for any reason, the seasons or holidays…well…though some of us might not want to admit it, a lot of our holidays are steeped in Pagan Rituals.
When I decided to write the Winslow witches of Salem series, I had to do tons of research because I had very little knowledge about witches, other than they were associated with Halloween and brooms. Frankly, I was surprised at the amount of information about witches and festival seasons.
Since I intended to use Beltane as a serious role in the witch books, (I made it the breeding seasons for witches) I went digging for any and all information surrounding this Spring holiday and thought I’d share a small piece of something I found...I fully admit this article has been plagiarized from the Internet and take no credit for it…But, since it was the first time I’d come across this particular writing, I thought it was interesting and just another way of sharing the wonderful Spring season…
In many parts of the Highlands, the young folks of the district would meet on the moors on May 1. They cut a table in the green sod, of a round figure, by cutting a trench in the ground of sufficient circumferences to hold the whole company. They then kindled a fire, dressed a repast of eggs and milk of the constituency of custard. They kneaded a cake of oatmeal, which was toasted at the embers against a stone. After the custard was eaten, they divided the cake into as many portions as there were people in the company, as much alike as possible in size and shape. They daubed one of the pieces with charcoal, til it was black all over, and they were then all put into a bonnet together, and each one blindfolded took out a portion. The bonnet holder was entitled to the last bit, and whoever drew the black bit was the person who was compelled to leap three times over the flames. Some people say this was originally to appease a god, whose favor they tried to implore by making the year productive.
No matter how we celebrate the coming of Spring, I think we’ll all agree it’s a joyous time of the year to celebrate new life and we’re just as anxious today to laugh, dance and make merry around the May Pole…
I’ve included an excerpt from my latest release, Witch’s Fire; book five of the Winslow witches of Salem. Everyone who leaves a comment today will have their name entered in a drawing for a free E-copy of it. The winner’s name will be announced tomorrow right here, so be sure and check back to see if you’re the lucky person…
BLURB/WITCH’S FIRE/TABITHA SHAY
In a world where magic is dying―two people meet under unusual circumstances…
Realm of light―New to this witchy stuff, Kirrah Walker crashes her broom into a stranger and knocks him unconscious. Feeling guilty, she takes him home with her and nurses him back to health. However, she soon discovers a terrible secret―the stranger is on a mission to assassinate a witch. Now Kirrah must decide if she’ll set him free or keep him tied to the headboard of her bed…
World of darkness―Prince Stry, future King of Ru-Noc awakens to find he’s not only a captive, but captivated by the charming witch who flutters around him like a nervous butterfly. Her magick is wild and so out of control, he knows in his heart he should steal her soul, but kissing Kirrah is habit-forming.
Kirrah and Stry―magical beings who must face the fear of their past, acknowledge their future and trust in destiny in a world gone mad…
EXCERPT: WITCH’S FIRE/TABITHA SHAY…PG-Rated
She sighed, shoved up her sleeves and went to work dragging off his low-heeled boots and socks. Carefully, she swung his legs onto the bed. Only―somehow her legs tangled with his. She stumbled and fell clumsily across the poor man’s chest.
His eyes flew open. A half-smile flirted at the corners of his handsome mouth. Kirrah glared at him. How the heck did he manage to look so darned sexy with a big ole’ purple bruise fanning over his right eye?
Slowly, he slid his arms around her hips and squeezed her buttocks. “Well, hel-lo.”
Kirrah widened her eyes. Oh, crap, that’s all she needed, a concussed Romeo with a sexy voice hot enough to curl her toes and set her thighs on fire, a voice that both compelled and could easily lead a woman astray.
The man looked at her as if he’d never seen her before and had just discovered his favorite eye-candy. “Aren’t you just a sweet little beauty?” he purred, sounding for all the world like a hungry cat whose appetite had just been satisfied. A big, dopey, contented cat.
Sweet little beauty? She blinked. Oh, yeah, the man was definitely off his meds. Obviously he was no stranger to seduction 101, either, if the way he massaged her butt was anything to go by.
And damn, did he have to have such dreamy bedroom eyes? Tiny gold specks sparkled like angel dust in the warm amber depths. Thick gold tipped lashes completed the allure of his heavy lidded gaze. He had the kind of gold-flecked irises that attracted a woman and sucked her right in.
He might as well wear a sign around his neck that read: Come and get it, sinful indulgence right here!
And boy was she ready to go get it.
Her brows knitted together in a deep scowl. What was wrong with her? All of a sudden her hormones were out of control? She wondered if her face was as red as it felt. Since she had red hair, her complexion was the fair one typical of redhead’s. She blushed as easily as she sunburned.
His gaze wondered from her hair to her lips. Oh, my. Those tiger-colored eyes fixed on her mouth. He licked his lips as though he’d just discovered a delicious snack he contemplated nibbling on.
Startled, Kirrah gasped as he suddenly tugged her closer.
Her hands splayed across his wide chest. “Uh-Mr. Wa-Wa, I think you might be getting a tad bit carried away here. Unhand me.”
“No.” One hand slid up her back and his fingers curled around her nape holding her in place. “I don’t think I should do that at all. You belong to me,” he whispered, and took her mouth.
That was the only word for it. Took. He ravaged her mouth with a slow steamy gut-wrenching kiss. Warm and wet. Hot and melting. Yum. He might be half-dead, but he had a mouth to die for and he knew how to use it.
Witch’s Fire is available in print at Amazon or at Moongypsy Press
Be sure and visit my website to view some lovely art of my witchy characters. Previous editions of earlier books can be found in E-format at Fictionwise or in print at Amazon.com.
As always,
Happy reading,
Tabs
