Aithne Jarretta Paranormal Romance Author

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now in the #KindleUnlimited Library

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Samhain Spirit: Charmed Evermore Book Two plus First Chapter Read

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 16:37:00 +0000

During the past month many things have happened. One good thing... I finished the novelette, Samhain Spirit: Charmed Evermore (Book 2)

It was both a challenging and fun endeavor. Health issues reared its ugly head, but my natural born stubbornness won out and finished in the nick of time. (Just as October ended. Whew!)

This page is purely for introduction purposes (Goodreads) and to give a bit of information about this growing series.

First, when I published Enchanted Ravensong: Charmed Evermore (Book 1) last July, I figured it would be a while before I wrote another story about Ruby Gladstone.

My muse had other ideas. ;D She stood next to my desk and pestered me while I worked on the next Touch Time & Soar story. (Pearl Luster) After several days and since there was a time crunch, I gave in.

Samhain Spirit swirled through the writing process and came to a completion without further interruptions from the muse department. (That's unusual because I'm constantly juggling muses and plot bunnies.) This story is slightly different because in the first chapter readers experience Dayton's pov. In case you haven't read book one, Dayton is Ruby's familiar. He's a beautiful black cat with a quirky personality.

In other news about this story, there's a different aspect to publishing Samhain Spirit. It isn't in Amazon KDP Select. That means I will publish to other reader outlets--Kobo and B&N. (Probably next week.) When that happens, I will share any relevant links here.

Without further chatter I'd like to share some of Dayton's First Chapter with you.

Dayton

Samhain Spirit

[1] Perks of Being a Witch’s Familiar

Sometimes being a witch’s familiar has its perks. I believe this is one of those times. The front row seat into the intricacies of witchy magic is just plain fun, even to a self proclaimed aloof bot like me. Everyone’s heard of curiosity got the cat.

“Dayton,” Ruby said, while putting fingers protectively around one of her precious artifacts. “If you knock my great grandma’s porcelain pencil holder off the desk, I swear I’ll ban you to the backyard.”

If you haven’t figured it out, Ruby’s my witch.

A tail twitch just to keep up nonchalant appearances, then with a tilt of my head, I drawled, “Since when have I ever knocked anything off and broken it?”

Yes, we talk. Daily. Constantly.

To prove my point, I ease my butt down in the face of that handsome pencil holding dude and his unwitchy bride. “What you doing with that musty old book?”

“Eugh!” Ruby exclaimed while crinkling her nose. “That’s gross. Now, I’ll have to wash the holder.

Why would you do that?”

“I was just doing what feels good. Are you going to tell me about this old tome? It smells funky. I thought you put all of your magical books on the tablet.”

Ruby rolled her eyes and opened the old black leather cover.

Musty pages and the odor of old-fashioned ink combined and tickled my nose. I sneezed. “There’s one good reason to put everything in a tablet. Even familiars can have allergies.”

“Bless you,” Ruby said, and scratched under my chin.

I leaned into her magically healing fingers. That’s another advantage to being a familiar—regular doses of touchy-feely—when I say it’s appropriate.

“Thanks,” I said, and backed away, careful not to knock the pencil holder and a framed picture off the edge of the desk. “Something’s troubling you. I can always tell. Spill.”

“Funny,” she said, “you’ve been elusive for days and now you want to know what’s going on?”

“I had to take care of some things out there,” I said, and tilted my head toward the window.

“Humm… New moon mating?”

“A gentleman never kisses and tells.”

“You may not tell, but I got an earful from Mrs. Shively because she doesn’t like you tomming around her Marissy. Pure Persian? I don’t picture you with a hoity-toity purebred.”

“Marissy likes me.”

“That may be so, but you better watch your urges around Mrs. Shively. She wouldn’t hesitate to use the gardening shears on you.”

“She’d have to catch me first.” I pawed the aged parchment. “Back to the book.”

“Yeah, well…” Ruby flipped several pages, but didn’t pause and read any of them. “Samhain is coming.”

“Just like it does every year. Party time!”

Ruby glared in the midst of my jubilation.

Her green eyes have a unique magical ability. When her emotions shift, her eye color often changes to express deep feelings.

Now, the green deepened and I knew the shift was serious because I saw something in those emerald depths that I had never seen there before. I froze. “All right, now I’m worried. You love Samhain. Right now you look scared and I’ve never known you to be scared of anything. Tell me what’s going on.”

“I already said Samhain is coming.”

I blinked. I’m rarely confused, but this is beginning to frustrate me.

She sighed and thumped her head down on those smelly old pages. Her voice became mottled as though lost in the magical past forgotten in ancient parchment, but I got the gist of her words.

“Don’t you remember how it was when Becca was here?” Ruby raised her head and shoved fingers through brilliant red hair. “I didn’t like that! Talk about home invasion! Up close and personal?

Blegh!”

Ruby shuddered visibly and chewed her lower lip. “The veil between the worlds is thinner during Samhain. I have to prepare because I refuse to let another spirit jump into my body!”

“But you survived Becca just fine and she moved on.”

“Yeah, but my joints ached for a week afterward and…”

Brooding silence swelled in the air around us.

I waited, but she stared past my ears like she saw a mirage behind me. “And what?” If I would ever understand her plight, she needed to explain.

Ruby shook her head as though coming back to earth. “There were bathroom issues. You wouldn’t understand.”

“Oh. Right. So, that explains your strange behavior after Becca left. I deduce you want this very old book for some sort of spell?”

“Duh. Sometimes, Dayton,” she said, and flipped several more pages. “I wonder if we really are on the same magical frequency.”

“We wouldn’t be having this conversation if we weren’t.”

“I suppose you’re right,” she grumbled, leaned over a page and started reading. She paused painted fingernails over an image and its caption. “I borrowed this book from Aunt Molly. I remember a spell about sending a spirit into an artifact if they try to possess you. When I find that spell, I’m going to make a new amulet. It should serve as an effective barrier to stalking spirits.”

“What can I do to help?”

She narrowed her eyes and studied me.

A twitch skimmed along my spine and raised the tips of my fur.

Ruby’s gaze moved over me.

I tucked my tail away from view.

“A freshly plucked tail hair should help,” she said, motioning behind me where I had hidden my fluffy pride and joy. “You know I always add a bit of my own personal magic for tweaking.”

I swallowed a lump the size of George the garden gnome. But Ruby’s my witch and there are perks to my position. Finally, I nod. “So be it.”

“Here’s the spell.” Ruby pulled a pen from the porcelain holder, opened a drawer and lifted a notebook out. “I’ll let you pluck your own hair so start licking. I’ll begin my list and meet you downstairs in the magic lab. I think I already have some of these spell ingredients.”

“Sure thing.” House rule number six—no licking, biting or scratching on Ruby’s desk. I’d rather exit anyway.

I moved out of her bedroom, through the hall and down the stairs. At the bottom a draft of cold air brushed my fur. I shivered, but walked through it and continued to my cat exit. The cat door flapped with a rubbery sound when I stepped outside into the crisp fall air.

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Thanks to all Blog Readers for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

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Amazon Kindle: Pearl Luster (Touch Time & Soar Mini-series) ~ Short Story

Amazon Kindle: Enchanted Ravensong: Charmed Evermore (Fantasy Novelette)

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle & Print: Claire: the Lost Fae

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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New Release: Enchanted Ravensong: Charmed Evermore

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 23:15:00 +0000

New Release: Enchanted Ravensong: Charmed Evermore

July 29, 2012

Ruby Gladstone is a witch seeking new experiences. What she really wants is Daryl Manchester. But a magical encounter, body shift and a detour through an Otherly World takes immediate priority.

Becca Benard is a restless spirit. She wants justice for her murder and the person that can help her just arrived in the garden Becca has been haunting.

Ruby and Becca join together through spirit possession and shapeshifter magic to achieve their goals, but it isn’t always smooth flying.

This is a Magical Fantasy Novelette
Word count: 15,250

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Enjoy this Excerpt:

I’ve always believed that stopping to smell the roses was an excellent way to induce a feel good magic. When the opportunity presents itself to indulge in this simple pleasure; it’s Mother Nature’s way of getting your attention.

Naturally, I paused and treated myself with fragrant indulgence.

The heady scent pulled my face closer and I took a deep breath. Rose magic is powerful and I was under its spell before I had a chance to exhale.

I sensed the magical charm immediately, but the bliss of scented rosiness made the experience euphoric. That’s why I did not panic.

Even as I stared at the crimson blood droplets on my fingertip and wondered vaguely how the skin had been pierced, the sensation of bodily change began its mystical process.

There was a flutter of wings, and then the world spun out of control as my physical body shifted into an unfamiliar form.

A feminine voice interrupted my confusion. “I’ll give you your body back when the moon shifts into the next quarter phase.”

Uncomfortable in my new skin, I shudder and ripple the feathers along my wings. “Since I’m a bird, I don’t understand. It’s lost within bewilderment and this body change.”

“That’s not my problem,” she remarks. “I’ve a mission and must see it through.”

“Who are you? A body snatcher?” A bird’s eye view of my body frightens me with a reality check.

“For now, I’m you,” she answers with a cocky attitude. Her confidence seems to grow with each passing second. “But I don’t mind if you call me Becca since no one will hear you anyway. The confusion will ease as you get used to the transformation from human to raven.”

Read the full Amazon Sample:

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Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle & Print: Claire: the Lost Fae

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Genre Jumping: from Paranormal into Suspense #amreading #booklook #FREE

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 19:17:00 +0000

Yes, I do that sometimes...genre jump. In this case I jumped into suspense because I wanted to spend time in a completely different genre for awhile.

That's why I downloaded, Deadly Aim, an Angel Delaney Mystery, Book 1. This story is by Patricia H. Rushford. The original copyright for the print edition is 2004 and the ebook was published in 2011.

If you want to find out more about Patricia H. Rushford, you can Google her. She's a traditionally published author that has made the decision to self-publish some of her titles.

I admit I discovered this story by clickity-clicking through a series of blog posts, a short pass through The Literary Cafe and then on to Amazon for the sample read. Sadly the sample has a lot of wasted space on kudos and a log TOC.

A pretty beginning is good in the front matter of an ebook, but the many author kudos are IMO, unnecessary. All that gobble-dee-gook can be displayed on the Amazon page for folk interested. Two ebook pages of chapter lists...blagh. Especially, when it's just a list of numbers... Yes, I know there are links, but honestly, as a Reader I have no desire to remember what is behind Chapter 33.

Enough of that because the tone of this blog post should remain positive. I'm enjoying the twists and turns in the plot line in Deadly Aim.

Yup. You read that right. ;)

Have a I mentioned another good thing? Oh...I must have forgotten. ;)

Currently, as I write this post, Deadly Aim is FREE.

Story Description:

Patricia Rushford kicks off a thrilling new crime series set in the cozy coastal hamlet of Sunset Cove, Oregon. Featuring determined police officer Angel Delaney, the first episode is sure to have armchair sleuths turning the pages as fast as they can to discover whodunit?When a police shootout results in the death of a 12-year-old boy, Officer Angel Delaney is blamed, convicted, and condemned by the media and the Sunset Cove community before the case even goes to trial. Angel will have her day in court, but before she has the chance to defend herself, the situation spirals out of control. Key evidence is missing, evidence that could have verified her claim of firing only one shot in self-defense. In short order, the body count rises, and suddenly Angel is a suspect in more than one murder investigation. Heartsick about the young boy's death, and questioning her judgment as a police officer, Angel joins forces with Detective Callen Riley to fight the mounting charges against her.

So if you're looking to explore another genre, or already a fan of suspense then hop on over and click that FREE download button because I don't know how long this special offer will last. (I've made it super easy for you by splashing links all over this page. ;)

Enjoy!

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Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Symbolic and Creative Stubbornness Personified -- it’s Genetic

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 12:20:00 +0000

Yes, it’s been awhile since I’ve posted. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been online. In fact, I’ve spent many hours on the web in my quest to complete a project. That’s where the stubbornness comes into play.

If you’ve been around my blog before, you already know I’m a creative with a funky personality. I love plot bunnies, shapeshifters and I’m also a creature of habit. <<< This last statement is so true and the personality trait frequently gets away from me. ;)

So why haven’t I posted to my blog recently?

The creative within me was determined to prepare Claire: the Lost Fae for print edition.

And…

Since I’m a fiendish creature of habit, it meant doing the work myself.

Personally, I don’t see anything wrong with this. I was playing in Photoshop long before I sat down to write my first story. Although I didn’t have the program for awhile, my recent computer upgrade gave me all the Adobe programs and I’m back onboard with making covers or promotional banners. (fun! ;)

With the new Photoshop program installed on my computer, I proceeded to download templates for the print book interior and the full cover flat.

For the most part, formatting the book interior was easy. I’m a stickler for a nice format and the Kindle edition of Claire is beautiful. There was one aspect that I wanted to carry over from ebook into the print edition.

That little symbol became the most exasperating element of the print book creation. Looking back, I can laugh, but while in the throes of working through dpi issues it wasn’t a laughing matter. Dpi is pixels per inch and Createspace has pretty stringent expectations. That’s okay because I want the print edition to measure up to my own high standards.

That’s why I stubbornly insisted that this symbol would retain its position on the title page. (stubbornly attached to a symbol...yes that's funky & dare I say genetic?)

But perseverance pays off. YaY!

After fifteen tries, the image worked. Whew! I worried Creatspace would ban me and tell me to never come back. lol

The print edition of Claire: the Lost Fae is coming soon! I’ve ordered the proof copy and want to check if everything is perfect, then it’ll be available for shipment.

Here’s a sneak peek at the cover flat.

Be sure to watch this blog for updates. ;)

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Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

* * * * * * * * *

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Celebration -- Excerpt Party Join in the fun!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 19:08:00 +0000

This week I have the pleasure of joining some of my Tribemates in an #excerptparty on Twitter. So if you've stopped by because of a link on Twitter thanks for coming by. ;)

Excerpt from Claire: the Lost Fae

Claire tilted her head and stared up into blackness. An odd sensation gripped her throat. She fought through the fear, and finally squeaked, "And exactly what destination is that?"

"Up the rungs and through a stone on your left."

"Wonder if I believe that one." She started climbing. "Heights," she muttered. If there was anything she truly didn't like, it was being high in the air. Give her the ground under her feet. A car or even a train was her idea of perfect traveling.

Claire climbed. Magical lights on either side of them lit the earthly shaft with just enough glow to see their direction.

Higher and higher up through the earth they journeyed.

After what seemed like fifty rungs, she stopped and looked down. "Whoa!"

Leeson's wand, stuck from a loop on the back of his long coat. The tip lit the shaft.

Seeing how far they had climbed sent spikes of fear through all five senses. Her knees went weak.

She gripped the rung in front of her and took several breaths. The smell of earth soothed frazzled nerves.

Claire couldn't help but think of the old well behind the convent. There had been a legend about a young boy surviving a fall into the wet depths.

Claire shivered as the memory passed through her thoughts.

"Nice view, isn't it?" Leeson's voice came up to her edged with laughter.

"You better not mean my butt!"

"Now that you mention it..."

She shoved her right foot downward. The only thing her foot found was empty air. Embarrassment made her flinch. The worn leather sole of her left boot slipped off the ladder rung.

"Ahhh!" Heart pounding, Claire realized her fingers were slipping. She kicked empty air. Fingers seeking something to grip scratched at the walls.

Panic!

"Easy."

Strong arms surrounded her.

Claire gasped and sputtered. Masculine scent filled her lungs. Words eluded while supercharged heat raced through her veins. The fabric of his coat was suddenly the dearest lifeline.

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Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

* * * * * * * * *

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Artfully Distracted - Book Posters

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:52:00 +0000

Recently, life has had more than it's usual distractions. We all have them... those tidbit moments that take us away from what we set our mind to doing today.

I was naughty and snitched the puppy pic from Facebook this morning. It's because the little dog running as if sudden freedom was a newly found treat made me laugh. It reminded me of our dog Rodney. He never needed a gate to make a run for it. Of course, at the time, my fear for his safety made laughter something to save for later. ;)

Facebook is one of those distractions, but not so powerful as the Kindleboards. I've learned a great deal this year from reading the posts there. Someone started a discussion thread about creating posters for our books. You know the kind I mean. Movie posters.

Oh my...

You've probably read that I have a new computer. Did I mention it has Photoshop? That's something that's been absent for several years and I missed it. Now, combined with the idea to make book posters...

Well, you can imagine that I've been playing. I started a poster for Claire: the Lost Fae and haven't finished it yet. I love tinkering with the different layers. ;) When I finish, I'll post it here.

But I have finished a poster for Concentric Circles. Here's the first book poster.

You may ask, "Now what do we do with them?"

Have you ever noticed the "share your images" link on the Amazon book pages? That's right! This book poster has been uploaded to the Amazon page. Isn't technology grand?

I promise I'll get back to plot bunnies, supernatural happenings and sharing what I'm reading (yes, I've been reading, too).

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Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

* * * * * * * * *

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Over the Rainbow, #TeaserTrain Wrapped in a New Theme

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:21:00 +0000

Recently, it became necessary to take a break from my online presence and do some regrouping. The biggest aspect of that time away was spent reworking this blog. The project to change wasn't planned, but since my old blogger theme was removed from the Internet by the creator I had some major scrambling. (They don't notify the people using their CSS that the project has been removed. *sigh*)

The process wasn't easy because for several months I've been working with a nifty little Netbook. That was actually the real reason for the vacation-break. On that little pink beauty, the Internet connection is disastrously slow (think old-time dial-up) so there was no pleasure in working my social networks due to page loading taking several minutes.

Rebuilding here on Blogger while still using the little Netbook took several days while awaiting my new computer. Do you like the new layout? It should be much easier to read. ;)

When I finished with the new theme, I was completely relieved! At that point all I waited for was my new computer.

I'm blessed with a computer geek son and he has gifted me with so much computer power that it's magical. lol Not only can I work through social networking with supernatural oomph, but I can watch a DVD, too!

Also, I didn't realize how much I missed a full sized keyboard. Now, I'm back to writing and there's less cramping. Woot!

That means my current wip is progressing nicely. ;)

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Enough with my news. Today is Thursday #TeaserTrain on Twitter and I thought it would be fun to share a magical moment with you.

If you've read my blogs before, you know that I love playing with plot bunnies. If you're new, don't fret. You'll find several links below where you can explore some popular plot bunny posts.

This is where we get to the lovely sign above...

Why?

Because in CLAIRE: the LOST FAE playing with a rainbow became a marvelous plot bunny. This #TeaserTrain comes from chapter twelve, Òran Mór, in which Claire loses her fear of flying in the midst of a magical rainbow.

Enjoy!

Leeson’s sensual laugh played along Claire's skin. "Did you see the rainbow?"

"No," she answered and nibbled his neck.

He backed away. His sudden absence startled her to their surroundings.

High above San Franscisco, he spun her in a waltzing circle.

Claire gasped. "Can people see us?"

"Only if you want them to."

Arching over the bay and iconic bridge was the largest rainbow she had ever seen. "Oh! The colors are awesome! Do you think it’s a sign that everything will work out?"

He moved curls from her neck, kissed and finished with a breath across wet skin. "Rainbows are a symbol of hope."

She had just been thinking of hope, moments before Leeson arrived. "It's perfect. Hope is heart magic. I never really made the connection before though. Emily Dickinson said, 'Hope is that thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops…at all.'"

"Then I agree with Emily Dickinson. Can you hear the music?" he asked.

"From a rainbow?"

"Let the earth whisper," Leeson said while spinning. "The ancient Celts called the phenomen Òran Mór. That is the name for the earth’s song and is magic at the deepest level."

Claire focused on opening to hearing any possible sound. At first she only heard city traffic, but then something else murmured past her ears.

The heartstrings of heaven and earth combined into whispers of beautiful music. It was powerful and exhilarating.

Leeson’s arms surrounded her.

The air around them colored the sky with brilliance scented in delicious aromas of cinnamon and strawberry.

Fear of flying did not exist anymore as they journeyed through the wispy rainbow colors.

Nature's gift of misty transparency caressed them with divine love. Each rainbow color contained its own flavor, sound and intense vibration.

When Leeson guided her flight into the brilliant orange mist, Claire's mouth watered at the luscious citrus scent. Oranges and lemons were already her favorites. She would never see them the same way again.

By the time they reached the enriched shades of violet, joy consumed her and she spun in happy circles while coursing invisible across the San Francisco Bay heavens.

* * *

Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy your day & happy reading!

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

* * * * * * * * *

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

Home Twitter Kindle

Magically Delightful Earth Day 2012 #blogtaxi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:09:00 +0000

What does Earth Day have to do with creating supernatural stories in this modern world? Where are the plot bunnies, magic and the variety of gifted & charmed characters?

They can be in your Kindle. ;)

I’ll be honest, I LOVE books. The paper kind. Long ago, I lost count of how many I own. But that doesn't mean I don't love my Kindle. That handy little device has an Earth saving 150 books on it. ;D

Before I share some Aithne Secret Plot Bunnies, I'd like to give a little bit of historical perspective to this magical day.

Today is special and it all started back in 1962 when U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, the “Father of Earth Day,” initiated his first environmental actions. Senator Nelson talked Pres. John F. Kennedy into touring the U.S. in support of saving our environment.

This first effort was unsuccessful and didn’t accomplish the desired change.

But Senator Nelson didn’t give up. On April 22, 1970, the time was right. The determined senator proposed the first National Earth Day. The reason for his proposal was "...to shake up the political establishment and force this issue onto the national agenda.”

Twenty million Americans joined forces to support the cause for a cleaner environment.

It's true that I don't usually post about political issues. That's why I prefer to focus on a gratitude aspect.

Today, April 22, 2012, I just wanted to say Thank You to those folk for beginning that important journey back in 1970. You started a movement that has continued into 2012. Pretty awesome. ;)

Now, back to supernatural stories inside your Kindle. ;)

One of the joys of writing is creating locales to place within the plot lines of my stories.

Honestly, I didn't realize this until I wrote the scenes in Concentric Circles. It's one of those times when 'write what you know' becomes a pivotal plot element.

The scenes I'm referring to grew from first hand experiences and take place at the Gorge Metro Park, 1160 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

The Gorge Park still holds parts of my heart within its massive ice age carved stones and the rushing waters of Cuyahoga River even though I live in Florida.

I've spent many hours hiking through freshly fallen leaves, stood next to the water fall and also basked in the earthiness of Mary Campbell's Cave. (Mary Campbell was the first known 'white' person so far west.)

During those Gorge Park mini-adventures, I didn't think ahead to when those precious moments would become part of a romance novel. But eventually the plot bunnies found me, wrangled my imagination and enticed the words through busy fingertips.

During the story writing process my appreciation of Mother Earth also deepened.

That's why I'm sharing this portion of Concentric Circles with Readers today.

I don't usually let secret CiaranLexiss (a very special character) out and journeying about the Internet, but today is an opportunity for a double serving of supernatural -- Mother Nature and an awesome talking artifact. Enjoy!

(Excerpt from Concentric Circles, chapter 14; The Gorge.)

Shayla inhaled deeply, pulling in the fall scents of the Gorge Park. She wanted to remember forever the way this place of such awesome beauty felt and smelled. Standing in Mary Campbell’s cave, brought back so many memories. It washed over her with the same power expressed by the falls below. Prior to her trip, she had felt the energies of the park and its glacier carved stones. Now, after the events in Glastonbury, she experienced their vibrations more deeply.

“DO NOT FEAR, PRETTY ONE. YE WILL BE HAPPY IF YE LET YERSELF BE.” CIARANLEXISS said from her boot.

Shayla sighed, looking around. They were alone. She couldn’t help it. Talking to an artifact still came over as more than a little insane. “I guess happiness seems elusive. How does someone leave their home with the possibility of never coming back?”

“YE WILL NEVER TRULY LEAVE. YE CAN ALWAYS COME BACK.”

“Humph.” Shayla began walking along the leaf blown trail, stepping around roots and large stones. “Humans have a saying. ‘You can never go back.’ It’s already different, CIARAN.” She decided the shortened name felt comfortable rolling off her tongue. “What am I going to tell mom? What about my friends? I could care less about my job. I can get a job anywhere.”

The trail steepened. Large boulders, small bushes and trees made the park one of the most interesting in the area. The oaks on either side of the foot trail, stood tall and strong, reflecting the timeless beauty of the landscape. The sound of water journeying down the steep slope in small streams to the Cuyahoga River added their whispers.

A chipmunk chattered at her fiercely for trespassing on his trail.

“Shh. I’m just passing through.”

Another hiker looked at her as though she were a loon.

She shrugged and continued on her way. Think that’s crazy? Try hearing and talking to a knife. By now she realized that CIARAN’s voice actually came from the sgian dhu, and was not inside her mind. Therefore, he had no way of knowing her thoughts. That proved to be something of a relief.

Crossing a small footbridge, she moved toward the high point of the trail. The carved sandstone all around hummed. She stopped briefly, placed her palm on the stone and allowed its vibrations to sweep over her. Up here, the path cut through two massive edifices in a narrow crevice.

Fallen leaves padded the sound of footsteps with both the silence of old nearly decomposed leaves and the rustling of fall’s newest contributions. The essence of nature surrounded her. The scent of the seasons pervaded her sinuses. A blue jay called raucously.

The memory of Meekal’s voice wafted over her. “Haven’t you ever heard a stone scream or purr?”

* * * * * * * * *

Here's a pretty video if you'd like to see some fascinating views of our beautiful Earth. (Yes, I know it's from The Secret, but they offer a fine panorama of viewing pleasure.)

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If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Fun Plot Bunny Elements & #Pinterest #blogtaxi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:01:00 +0000

Recently, I've joined the new trend and started posting images on Pinterest. At first I thought it would take time from my writing, but then I realized that having an online storyboard is a pretty cool tool.

What better way to feed the plot bunnies? ;)

So, although it's true that I have several 'boards' that don't have much to do with writing, I also have a board marked, Storyboard ~ Angel Marked. This is my current wip. If you've read some of my posts from the past, you'll know this story is centered around Katrina Oakland, a character shapeshifter from Claire: the Lost Fae.

One of the interesting aspects about Pinterest is the wide variety of images I can put on this board.

For example:

I went in search of some vintage cars to help with descriptive portions of the story. Imagine my surprise when I came across this ambulance.

Eager to save this antique beauty in a special place, I added it to my wip storyboard.

Now, instead of inserting a scene with a nondescript mention of the ambulance, I can give my readers more detail. (story secrets will not be revealed today) Okay, the ambulance is red and white with a cherry on top. vbg

There are several other items that play a major part in Angel Marked.

Even in my youth I had a fascination for Black Jet. Since this story will also have magical elements, an important piece of jewelry will play a pivotal role.

The idea of using something that comes from the earth, giving it a magical purpose, and hiding it in plain sight makes the plot bunnies very happy. ;)

Since artifacts are always so much fun to play with, the black jet jewelry will have a boundless historical and mythical companion...

Hope you don't mind the mystery. ;)

Of course we will have a handsome hero... This image is here just to serve as inspiration. He isn't the reason this novella is titled Angel Marked.

And of course, since this story centers around Katrina, there will be elements of marble. ;) (see Is Your Shape Shifter Sexy Today. You will find one secret about Katrina and her luscious playfulness with marble.)

When it comes to the end of the day (or story) I think that having a place like Pinterest to post and share is another fun aspect of life on the 'Net. If you'd like to see my collection of growing boards, click [here]. Stop by and give us a look. If you've already started your boards, follow me and I'll follow back and check your boards, too.

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)

Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Delightfully 8 Track Tape Day! Yes, 4-10-12 is a Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Well, with that title you can probably guess a few things. This blog post is a quick expression of what happens when you start doing research for stories.

In the beginning of my exploration for story elements to include in Angel Marked, (current wip) I realized I needed to search for some different things. The paranormal aspects are super easy so I veered off into cultural aspects.

During the search for cultural tidbits, I discovered a cool site that lists unusual holidays. Imagine my surprise to find there’s a holiday celebrating that good old fashioned 8 Track Tape.

We can learn something new everyday. ;D

For the younger generation (those who don’t remember 8 tracks) back in the mid 1960s to the end of 1970s that’s what our music was placed on so that we could listen in our cars or home. Vinyl records were on the way out of style and the smaller cassettes weren’t yet the vogue.

I thought it was fascinating to discover that 8 Track Tapes were invented by William Lear—the jet maker. So you suppose he wanted music in his jets while flying the world’s air waves?

The idea of portable music without the radio DJ really took off when Ford installed the 8 Track in several of their models in 1966. Alas, this invention didn’t last long. (as with many of the wonderful gadgets we have now) Even during its short life span several glitches like bad sound quality, large size and the inability to move forward or backward led to 8 Track Tape's inevitable demise.

Will 8 Track Tapes become an element in my new story Angel Marked?

Frankly, I haven’t made that decision yet. I'm quite sure that I could add a supernatural twist to the music devise in a car. I'll take a wait and see stance. ;)

But my indecision doesn't mean we can’t pause and take a look back at history and maybe remember our favorite songs playing from an 8 Track Tape player.

Just for fun... Bring to mind and contemplate your favorite song...

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
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Amazon Kindle: Claire: the Lost Fae
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Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Delightfully Bound to the ‘Net from West Coast Florida #blogtaxi

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:27:00 +0000

I admit that I still remember the days before we had the Internet. There were childhood moments when I sat beneath the apple tree on a swing and savored the fresh blossoms floating down around me like angel kisses.

Heaven came and took the apple tree. That incident was one of my ‘first loss experiences.’ But those apple blossoms are still a part of me because I can close my eyes and be swinging in bliss. (Springtime always brings this memory to the forefront of my life. ;)

By the time the apple blossoms disappeared, I began a new journey. An amazing time it was, too. For you see, I spent many days curled up in my favorite chair reading the latest in a long stream of books to be explored.

Sometimes, I wonder if those days are long lost in the slipstream of time. We all know we can’t get them back unless we close our eyes and dream.

In many ways that’s okay, because events and memories have happened during the in-between space of Then and Now.

For awhile, I spent time living on a street named Orchardway. That’s what happens when an apple orchard is bulldozed to make room for progress and new housing.

Looking back, I realize that Orchardway was also a portal to the future. Remember dial-up internet? That horrible buzzing, and then the computer monitor springing to life with a window to the world?

Oh yeah!

I remember we were the odd people—we had a computer. Neighbors shook their heads and scowled because they didn’t know how to react to such peculiar behavior. (psst… I bet each house in that neighborhood has every gadget they can buy now. lol)

The Internet grew by leaps and bounds. Frequent changes kept the learning curve alive. During the early days of connection issues and constant ‘net construction’ the education could be a head banging experience. <-- I laugh about this now. But in the long run it has been a joyous trip.

If you really think about your Internet time, when we click through a link, we are visiting places around the world with amazing efficiency. (No, this doesn’t eliminate real life travels.)

A brief example: I’m on the gulf coast, Florida. From this vantage point, I can click [here] and visit a favorite romance author, read her latest news and browse her pages. Catherine Bybee is a pretty cool person, and guess what? She’s in California.

After visiting California, I can click [here] and visit my friend Tanya in the Lake District, England. Yup… across the pond. Tanya shares amazing photos that she has taken during her hiking sprees through the Lake District. (please forgive my mispelling!)

*waves*

Yes, I’m still here in Florida being kissed by pleasant gulf breezes. And that means that you are here in Florida, too. Welcome to the Sunshine State. ;)

Does that make you a voyager, journeyman or time traveler? If that’s what you would like, I say go for it.

So what does being delightfully bound to the ‘net have to do with today’s post? Well, another cool aspect of the Internet is that I can be on someone else’s blog at the same time I’m on mine. (Two places at once! Lol Now that’s magic.)

Laurie’s Thoughts & Reviews has a special feature post today for Claire: the Lost Fae. Give Laurie a visit and learn a few secrets about the writing process that I shared with her readers.

Thank you for passing through my world. ;)

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Aithne Jarretta Shares #FridayFlash

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:25:00 +0000

I like sharing this little piece of flash fiction with readers every once in a while. It doesn't take long to read because it's a whopping 750 words.

The story initially was a flash fiction challenge presented to local writers. Winners were published in the periodical The Florida Palm.

One of the memories I love about being chosen...

The periodical placed a really cool lightning flash image as the background for the whole section of pages in the article.

Hope you enjoy.

Lancashire England: 1600

“Ow!”

Arsi stared as blood seeped through a cut created by the shattered mirror. She raised her fingers, turning them to see better in the candlelight. Black in darkness becomes red within light. The last image in the mirror was lightning flashing outside her window, giving her black hair a blue tinge.

A strange sensation spiraled within, building trepidation. Broken mirrors were a portent. She frowned at the araneous cracks. They gave the impression of a thousand facetted pieces. Mesmerized by her fragmented reflection, she began to notice a strange mist.

It seeped from the fissures, increasing in thickness, surrounding her like a shroud. An unseen band tightened around her lungs, stealing her breath. Loss of air culminated in shaky knees. “What?”
She stepped away. Her breathing, now rapid and shallow, filled the chamber, in accompaniment of her fast heartbeat. She shuddered.

Someone with a strange accent spoke. “Don’t be afraid.”

The band around her released. She inhaled sharply and threw herself away from the person who appeared.

“Ah, the blood of a phoenix, a lightning strike, and of course—my mirror.”

Her heel caught on the fringe of the hand-woven rug. She landed hard on oak planks. “Omph!” Still frightened, Arsi moved backward. She stared at him, heart thudding. “Who are ye?”

He grinned, showing very white teeth, and then pushed his hand through short black hair. “I’m Raven O’dara. I’m from the future. Don’t fear me.”

The hairs on her neck stood. He was dressed in dark, unfamiliar clothing. She frowned at black boots. Their sheen reflected the candle glow. She had never seen such in her lifetime. Disbelief welled. “The future?”

He shrugged and nodded. Spinning, he studied the room. “Humph. Let me fix this.” He swept a hand over the mirror. It became whole.

She gasped. His reflection, unbroken and highlighted by flickering flames, smiled. “Ye are a witch?” Her querulous voice echoed.

“No. I’m from two thousand-eleven.” He moved closer.

She tried to scamper away across the bed; its quilts hampered her progress. His laughter sent butterfly tingles over her skin. “Ye are a witch if ye claim to be from the future!”

He pounced upon her.

Fear and confusion consumed her. She attempted to hit him.

More laughter, and then he grabbed her wrists. His face lit with amusement. He tilted his head, eyeing her. “You’re young. Nineteen, maybe?”

She growled deep in her throat and shook her head. Warmth saturated her, thrumming through her heated blood.

Someone shouted outside. The sound of shattering glass assaulted her. A large stone landed on the floor, hostility and mayhem, its tail.

“Come out! Witch!”

Stilled by the rock’s intrusion, she tried to swallow. “I’m not a witch,” she whispered through a dry throat.

“I know.” Raven brushed his finger down her temple, moving it to her mouth. A feather light touch, across tender skin, tickled her. “You must face this in order to live. That’s why I’m here. I will take you from the ashes afterward. You will be fine.” He rose, pulling her up.

Humanity surged through the door. Frenzied, she tried to escape. There was nowhere to run. Death’s shadow appeared everywhere, grabbing and pulling her toward the abyss. Someone hit her on the head.

Blackness engulfed her, choking away her scream.

Water.

She gasped at the shock of cold wetness.

“Wake up witch!”

“I am not—”

Belligerent hatred silenced her. Rough hands clenched. The stake, powerful yet temporary, held her tightly to the place of death. Strange, its purpose should cross her mind in the midst of turmoil. She looked for Raven. There, standing at the back of the crowd. Sudden calmness blessed her.

Someone in the mob stepped through him as though he was not present. Eyes gazing upon her, he smiled.

“The end is truly the beginning.” He blew a kiss on his fingertips.

The action brought forth acceptance. She studied the wood below. Damp from the rain, it would smolder and start with painful slowness. A quick inhale and release, the fire blazed from her magic, surrounding her, tickling in its warmth.

This is who I am. In a flashpoint of phoenix fire, she sang, blissful in newfound freedom.

* * *

Thank you!

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here] (soon to be unpublished!)

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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The Creature of Habit has Returned! #amwriting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 14:32:00 +0000

All right, I acknowledge she never left. ;) I guess I’m referring to the fact I went to the office supply store (<-- OSS) in search of creature comforts.

If you’ve stopped by and read some of my posts you’ll remember the shopping trip to find new notebooks for story notes. That was a night to remember because I was starting a new story and needed supplies. (read here)

That night at the OSS I saw an office chair that distracted me from my original intent. It took discipline but I stayed focused and purchased the necessary notebooks.

A week later my PC crashed. *sigh* Thank goodness I keep all my writing on a USB. I’m blessed with an awesome son talented in the ways of computers, so now I’m working on a different system. It would take a degree in computer science to explain the intricacies.

During all the hoopla over computer changes (creature of habit struggling with newness, acronyms she’s never heard before & working on keeping up with online duties) I decided to make another major change.

Yep. That’s me, on some supernatural, freaky day and wandering through the misty fog of the unknown.

I made a major decision.

Change my writing space. Completely change—from a room in the back of the house to the front.

Three months ago I would have never expected this.

In the new room, I sat down and started working on one of my new stories.

The story starts at a crossroads. I thought that was appropriate because I’ve been standing in the center of a junction and making many different decisions.

Then it happened. The chair I was using did horrible things to my back. It didn’t seem to matter that I placed cushions and focused on posture. The back pain kept getting worse.

Who knew this could be such a risky business? Since I’ve been doing this for several years, I didn’t.

That’s why we circled back around to the OSS & that chair that had distracted with pleasant comfort. Of course it’s been weeks so the store inventory was different. It took some poking around and moving the new arrivals aside. (Yes, I talked to them politely. They were nice, but…) I was ready to give up, and then I saw a familiar face…err, I mean chair back.

With its high back, perfectly placed arms, adjustable seat and WHEELS! I was tickled pink. Who on earth would put such a heavenly chair in the furthest corner of the store? How rude!

Woot! I discovered something amazing. My new chair was marked down 60% for clearance!

So this time, instead of riding the chair up the isle (yes, it’s rough on my son taking mom out into the ‘normal’ world), I proudly pushed the chair to the front of the store and purchased it.

Last night my dear son laughed at me because I kept sitting in my new chair. *sigh* this time in pleasure. After several hours of being here, there is NO back pain!

So now I must get back to that crossroads story filled with shapeshifters, magic and adventure, but it’s a renewed pleasure. ;)

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

March Madness ~ Not Crazy...Just Conflicted

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?
Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here] (soon to be unpublished!)

* * * * * * * * *

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Mother, Daughter & Plot Bunny Tracks, Oh My! #amwriting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 09:25:00 +0000

It’s all about the reading experience. This is a well known fact. At least in my experience it has been.

Through the years I spent solely as a reader, the authors I loved created worlds where I could simply vanish. *poof*

That was the pleasure of journeying between the book covers.

Hours spent with imaginative characters eased the other stresses in life.

Then one day I sat on the couch and started writing a story. That became a new adventure and carried me into new realms of magic.

I will be honest, despite years of education; I discovered there was much to learn. ;)

In a million ways it has been the best thing for me. I mean those years spent learning to put my stories into my computer and eventually onto paper. Then the culture shifted and digital ink has become the biggest invention since the printing press. (saw a tv program ranking Kindle #52 in top 100 21^st cent. gadgets)

Here we are now on this Internet webpage, where I write about my joy of story telling and the modern tools with which to share them. Yowza!

And guess what? It still comes down to the reading experience for each individual reader. Readers want to delve into the imaginative worlds and journey next to each character as if they are right there with them. Readers want to feel and understand the story they are reading.

That’s a very particular concept when it comes to writing paranormal. Writing magic and sending you on a journey you may have never experienced before is definitely one of my favorite challenges.

So when I write about wind-riding or being confronted by a daemon when he isn’t supposed to be able to see the invisible heroine, those story elements are super charged with magic and fun.

Then we have the not so magical aspects like… Do you really know everything about your mother? Would you even want to?

Frankly, since I’m an author sandwiched between mother and daughter characters, there have been challenges when writing their stories.

Daughter Shayla was very disgruntled to discover her mother Claire knew about wind-riding, the magic in their shared locket and the fact that Shayla’s conception had mystical significance. Naturally, these secrets qualify as important things mom never told Shayla.

About Claire? As a mother, she really didn’t want her daughter Shayla knowing about childhood difficulties, her deep-seated angel issues and the crimson boots of bling. (ß this is my modern term…one which annoys character Claire… ;)

It’s all in the ‘stuff mom never told you’ and would you really want to know if she ever did.

But if you think about the story differently, you discover that Claire had excellent reasons for keeping certain information to herself. As parents, we all want to protect our children from the big bad world. (okay, crimson boots have nothing to do with the big bad world)

So keeping secrets for protective reasons is usually acceptable as a parent.

As an author? vbg

Keeping story secrets can be fun. Sometimes revealing those secrets in little pieces of plot bunny tracks can literally make us dance in anticipation.

At any rate, thanks to digital ink, story secrets can be spread across the ‘net with awesome delight.

Let’s not forget that the enjoyment for your leisurely moments can and does affect how we feel as we go about our other real life duties.

So take a break. You've earned it. Curl up with a magical book, explore the world in a way you've never experienced and indulge in the magic! Now that's pure ambrosia for your romantic spirit.

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?

* * * * * * * * *

Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Spring Forward! (in time) #SampleSunday of Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Did you survive your leap through time this morning? I'm referring to the time change we go through twice a year.

I could could put a magical plot twist on the event, but for now I'm going to remain peaceful and enjoy my quiet Sunday. While I'm at it, I promise to avoid all ley lines. (see bio...)

Oh yeah, thanks Ben Franklin for coming up with an idea that can shift our daily lives with a touch of chaos. ;)

Baby schedules go wack-o (at least it did for my kids), overnight jobs are bizarre and then there's the time spent running around changing all the clocks that don't automatically shift to the new hour. (note to self: turn cell phone off...then reboot...)

So in celebration of Spring Forward for Spring, I'm giving my Twitter Followers & Visitors the opportunity to explore within the pages of Concentric Circles.

Enjoy.

Description: Shayla Brinawell comes from a fragmented family. Fearful of the dangers her daughter could face, Shayla’s mother raised her to deny and hide her magical gifts. Shayla is about to have her world turned upside down and every other which way. Witch way that is. She must come to terms with her magical destiny in hyper drive.

Meekal Chilkwell has always known his life purpose. To protect the magical and healing waters of The Chalice Well located in the shadow of the great mystical Tor in Glastonbury, England. A new danger has arisen. One that threatens not only the Chilkwell family, but also the non-magical world.

Shayla & Meekal join together to conquer Syther the Quitch, an evil wizard bent on spreading darkness.

Concentric Circles grabbed me the minute I started reading and didn't let go. Fast-paced and well-written, I LOVED this novel! Guess I'm a sucker for books that keep me turning the pages.

~ Sky Purington ~

Excerpt from Chapter Eight: Death Knell

After eating, Shayla and Meekal walked through a hidden panel in the library to an upper room serving as an oversized closet. “This is where we store the linen and paper goods for the guests who stay here at the manor. It’s mostly Mari Bree and Harry who use this particular secret passage.” Meekal closed the cupboard door they stepped through and a mythic shroud surrounded them with a sense of the past.

Shayla studied the many drawers and doors built into the wall on either side. A chill traveled through her. “Kal?”

He motioned to the wall beneath a small leaded window. “Yeah, this is where two monks stayed. Their cots were there. The cupboards are a later addition.”

The window let in a sliver of distorted moonlight, casting them in silver.

“Spooky.”

“Aye. Come this way,” Meekal whispered, wrapping his fingers protectively around hers.

Next, they stepped out into the upper hall. Plush carpet padded their footsteps as Shayla followed Meekal past portraits, artifacts and live plants adorning the upper hall.

He led her to a narrow stairwell at the far end. The first surprise Shayla received was that the stairwell was an optical illusion. Three pie-shaped steps turned to the right only to end in a black wall carved with a door. Close inspection revealed the illusion of his bedroom entrance.

“Surprise.”

“How?”

“This way,” Meekal said, mischievously. He moved his hand forward to the shelves that graced the end of the hall next to the fake stairs. The oak shelf before Shayla boasted several figurines: a unicorn, a wooden box carved with runes and a Crusader helmet. The helmet was fascinating. It was made of steel with narrow eye slits on the crossbar of the symbolic cross of the Crusades. Fleur-de-lis terminals embellished the sacred symbol. Meekal’s finger glazed over the brass cross, following its shape. “Pernicious.”

Shayla’s brows rose sharply.

“No one will ever guess that’s my keyword,” he said, while he readjusted the helmet’s position on the shelf. “Even Harry doesn’t know it. Follow me.”

Shayla stepped through the doorway that had opened when Meekal spoke. “Why doesn’t Harry know? I thought he is your best friend.”

“His twisted sense of protecting me. We hang out elsewhere when we’re together. Stubborn prat. Anyway he prefers the Tor or Harry’s Pub when we take time to socialize.” The book shelves swung closed behind them, latching with a soft click.

“Pernicious was the Raven Prince. He was Fyr’s da and the person who sent Black Bry to Glastonbury. You’ll learn the history later. Perhaps Fyr will tell you.”

“Okay,” Shayla said, dragging the word out as she focused on the thickly carpeted narrow stairs wending upward. They stepped into Meekal’s room. His upper floor bedroom spanned the full size of the manor. The steps carried them up to the middle of the chamber.

The bed dominated the right side, its presence powerfully bold due to four posts rising almost to the pitched ceiling. The ceiling, marked with both heavy wood beams and modern skylights, crowned with everything with perfection. “Wow.”

“That’s why I like it up here,” he replied, voice filled with humor and pride. “I have a full view of the gardens below and the summer sky above. I’ve never been able to decide which I like best, the stars on a clear night or snow falling from the heavens.”

Shayla reached for the intricately carved bedpost. The ancient oak, hand carved with leaves and grapevines, hinted at a story. Heavy ripe fruit looked so real they tempted one to pluck them. “Kal, why grapes?”

“You don’t know? Grapes are connected with the vine mentioned in the Bible. You know, the blood of Christ? The bed has been in the family for generations. Mum wanted more modern pieces so she gave this one to me.”

At the opposite end of the room, a desk and low book shelves stood before a wide window overlooking the garden. She walked around a half wall where a flat screen TV hung, past Meekal’s workout area to a portrait positioned on the right-hand side over the desk. Ignoring the books scattered on the desk and surrounding shelves, Shayla studied the portrait closely. “Kal, is this it?”

“Aye. See the stone archway in the background?”

“Yes.” The portrait was currently empty of people. It depicted a warm summer day. She squinted, positive she could see the breeze teasing the leaves on the trees. The background was of an English hill where a ruin stood in blazing defiance of the apparent destruction of the rest of the structure.

Meekal leaned in close. “Focus,” he breathed into her ear.

Eyes glued to the archway and the sky through it, Shayla whispered, “Travel into a portrait. So cool.”

A soft breeze transported them.

“Anything’s possible with magic.”

Shayla gasped. Turning quickly, she gazed into Meekal’s room from the inside of the portrait. Her palm rested on the cool stones giving her evidence of the truth of their journey.

“Good evening to ye.”

Shayla’s head followed the voice behind her. With hands and knees shaking, she whispered through her shock, “Hello.”

Meekal grasped her elbow, leading her to a short rock wall on the interior side of the ruin. “Here, Shay. Sit.”

“Morna told me. I dinna believe.”

Shayla swallowed her own disbelief and looked up into a near perfect mirror image.

“Shay,” Meekal said gently, “this is Keira. Keira, this is Shayla.” Meekal looked from one to the other. “Well, there is a slight difference in your hair color and…”

Shayla glared at him. “Kal.”

Meekal chuckled, his shoulders shaking.

Keira smiled and laughed. The sound was musical within the confines of the broken ruins around them.

“Where are we?” Shayla stood and looked around, no longer shaking.

“This was Wiston Castle.”

“How am I supposed to get the bezoar stone from here?”

“It isna here right now,” Keira said, with a smile. “Bry will come if need be.”

“That’s right, Shay,” Meekal said. “Want a tour?”

She looked up at the wave of the broken wall. The stones of a lone archway had the look of timelessness. The intricate masonry work drew her attention. “How old is this castle? There isn’t much of it left.”

Keira motioned Shayla to follow. “The original keep of the motte and bailey was built by Gwys. Some knew him by his Latin name, Wizo. He died in eleven hundred thirty. It was taken in battle several times by different warriors and has a history of falling to treachery.”

“Shayla likes history.” Meekal said and continued for Keira. “Wiston is considered one of the best surviving motte and bailey castles. There are only five others that boast a stone keep on their summits.”

“Pfft. I love history. Get it right, love,” she said, jesting. She stopped at the top of a line of stairs built into the earthen hillside. For some reason, the stones brought to mind the thought of journeys into the unknown. She paused at the top and turned to look at the exterior of the keep.

The wall was several feet thick, broken away in some areas indicating both bombardment and the erosion of time. Shayla inhaled deeply and lifted her hand tentatively to touch the grey stones. A harsh, piercing scream penetrated her pores. She shivered, pulling her hand back in surprise.

“Shay?”

Shaking the feeling off, she turned to face the vista stretching northward. The English countryside around them rolled downward in a steep hill. The high ground of the structure was considered the motte. Below, the earth leveled until it reached an old stone wall with a split wood gate.

A rambling manor sat against the hillside. The roof was slate grey. It rested, nestled by the green rise of the outer bailey, sheltered by tall trees.

Keira’s voice cut through her thoughts. “That’s the medieval house built much later.”

Meekal hissed, a frown crossing his face, he tugged on Shayla’s hand. “We need to get back. Something’s wrong.” Turning to Keira, he said, “Sorry, to cut this visit short. See you later.”

Keira only had time to give Shayla a soft smile and a nod.

“How can you tell there’s something wrong?”

“The portrait. There’s a ley line running right through it.”

Shayla and Meekal landed in Meekal’s bedchamber to the sound of bells tolling.

“What’s that?”

Meekal tilted his ear toward the window. “Church bells.” Shaking his head, Meekal guided her toward the stairs and down.

The bells tolled without stop, timed to perfection and tone.

“Damn.”

“Kal?”

“Hurry,” he urged, leading her through the bookcase into the upper hall where they met Joseph Chilkwell.

He handed them each a vest. “Good. You’re back. Here.”

Shayla stared at hers.

“Armor. Put it on. It will protect you from some spells and bullets.”

“Bullets?”

“Just in case.”

“But,” she said, trying to shift disbelief away.

“It’s a Death Knell,” Meekal said, thrusting his arm into the vest. “Somebody has died. It’s probably Syther letting us know.”

Her heart flipped. Breathing erratically, she pulled the vest on and followed them down the stairs to meet Chaeli and Harry in the foyer.

Harry greeted them with only a slight nod and turned to Joseph. “They’re at St. Dunstan’s Chapel. Mum called James. They’re on their way.”

“Shayla, have CIARANLEXISS ready.” Joseph stilled and waited for her to retrieve him from her boot.

Coming up after reaching down for her sgian dhu, Shayla met Meekal’s eyes, and bit nervously on her lower lip.

“Ah, the anticipation of battle.” CIARAN sounded excited.

Shayla tried to act nonchalant and ignored CIARANLEXISS by refusing to respond verbally. Instead, she clutched him tightly.

A spiral of air carried them to the chapel.

[novel rated *R*]

Concentric Circles: Twin Sparks of Love is available on Kindle. Don't worry if you don't own a Kindle. You can download the FREE Kindle App below.
Comment, like, and make Concentric Circles a favorite if it serves you well.

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If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

Magically Entising: Is Your Shapeshifter Sexy today?

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

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Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Plot Bunny Tracks ~ Scratch & Sniff #amwriting

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

In the wake of Wednesday this week I'd like to get back on track and share some story plot bunny.

Recently, I've visited several blogs where they discussed using 'smell' within their stories.

There was even one discussion between, scent - smell - odor, and which word was appropriate. ;)

I have to be honest. I've never given this particular plot issue much thought. The way I see it, if the scene calls for a character to notice a smell, then it must be a natural progression to the plot.

Over think it or debate which term to use? I don't think so.

You see, although writing stories has aspects of being 'a job,' I'm in it for the joy that comes from creating magical worlds of entertainment and offering them through Amazon.

I've always been an avid reader (thanks mom) and my dad was a great storyteller. Those two elements of reader and genetic storyteller blended together and I became a writer. ;)

Yes, I've used scents many times within the boundaries of my stories, but it's usually because the odor can carry readers into the depths of those magical worlds I love creating.

From Concentric Circles:

The chamber Shayla landed in was large, lit by four torches burning in cauldron styled sconces. A low smoldering fire, in a black hearth across from her, emitted the scent of incense and gave an aura of insidious mustiness. The smell filled her sinuses with the urge to sneeze.

If I recall correctly, I was a bit peeved with Shayla's character muse that day so I sent Shayla on a wild and very windy ride. It was a blast. vbg

During the writing I didn't stop to think over the process. Instead, the story spun from a wild wind ride, landed in a den of wicked danger, and then propelled Shayla back to safety upon a powerful moment of magical insight.

Whew!

Even during the hours of editing and rewrites the plot concept of smell didn't enter into the changes. I truly believe it's because the moment blended in seamlessly.

The above example isn't the only time I've used scent within story lines.

Joe Konrath, a really cool indie author, says "A successful writer is one who can defend every single word in their story. Because the ones they can't defend should get cut."

I tend to agree with Mr. Konrath about defending the words we use in our stories, but I hope that newbie authors out there in cyber space don't think they have to defend or explain using the natural five senses within their stories. There are already so many aspects authors fret over now days.

Let's please not forget the JOY of Writing. When joy surrounds us during the writing process, then the story comes together with a synergy that will entice readers. They will feel it and enjoy reading our creative offerings.

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If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

Magically Enticing: Is Your #Shapeshifter Sexy Today?
Merry-go-round; Jump on to catch plot bunny...

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Concentric Circles: "Fast paced & well written."

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:30:00 +0000

It's been a rough week...

But sometimes blessings come through the darkest of times.

This week, Sky Purington posted a review on Goodreads for Concentric Circles:

Concentric Circles grabbed me the minute I started reading and didn't let go. Fast-paced and well-written, I LOVED this novel! Guess I'm a sucker for books that keep me turning the pages.

Every author alive cherishes words like that. Thank you, Sky. ;D

In honor of this fabulous review, I've decided to give Readers the chance to click through for a download.

Here's a Story Description:

We've all seen it. The fragmented family line. It usually spells disaster. What does this have to do with Shayla Brinawell? Magic. Fearful of the dangers Shayla could face, her mother taught denial of anything magical with fierce, maternal protection. There are always consequences. What you don't know can hurt you.

Shayla's world will be turned upside down and every which way. Witch way that is. Hyper drive doesn't begin to explain the casting of events that will shift her world.

Meet Meekal Chilkwell, bloodline guardian of the Chalice Well.
The magical waters have been threatened by evil before. Thanks to the Chilkwell family you have remained safe.

However, in our shrinking world, today's new danger is global.
Look out, non-magical world. Syther the Quitch is hell bent on wicked domination.

The only thing standing between you and Syther's sadistic ambition are Meekal and Shayla.

Why not take a peek between their shoulders?

Here's the link to Amazon: Concentric Circles

* * * * * * * * *

Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now

Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

Learn more about Sky Purington [here]

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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In the Wake of Wednesday: No Plot Bunnies Just #RL

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:29:00 +0000

This post is slightly different and contains no plot bunnies. That’s because although I have been wrapped up in writing, there are always real life events going on around us.

I’m not talking world events. No. I’m talking about those crazy things that happen in our personal lives. Sometimes they make us laugh later or the outcome can be completely different.

On Feb 29th (see it’s leap year?) I finally got the news that my car died. I’ve tried to be calm and rational about this. She was very old, but an attachment has grown over the years.

She came into my life in March 2003. That was just weeks before I moved to Florida. In fact, many family members teased me that she was my Florida car.

I didn’t mind. ;) In one sense it could be said that she brought me to this paradise. That first road trip took 30 hours because we had two rental moving trucks and everyone wanted to stay close together during that beautiful journey.

My golden retriever Cody sat in the back seat as though a queen in her carriage. Cody loved our new car just as much as I did. I’m sure we both believed we traveled on the wings of angels.

After we settled into our new home, I went to the tax collector to get my first Florida license plate. That’s when I discovered something very unique about my car. The woman taking care of my purchase arched a brow at the computer monitor, and then asked me if I knew that my car originally came from Florida.

Absolutely not. I didn’t know that the car I bought on an icy cold day in Canton, Ohio came from Florida.

No wonder each mile I drove south felt like we were coming home.

I guess I wanted to post this little story online today as a tribute to the wonderful times she gave me. We traveled the beautiful roads between Florida and Ohio eight times!

I always called her Amethyst Pearl (because that’s the color name from the factory) and even today despite being sick under the hood she still looks pretty.

She has also been my guide as I drove along the gulf boulevard and discovered amazing parks and brand new friends. How many times have we been to the beach? I’ve lost count.

Then the kind mechanic hesitated before speaking. Bless him. He was trying to soften the blow. Actually he has been in our lives for about six years now so he knows Amethyst Pearl inside and out. I guess that’s why he wanted to be gentle.

So now I’m an author without a car for awhile. It feels funky because I always had wheels to get me where ever I needed to be ever since I bought my first car many years ago.

Eventually, there will be a new one, but I wonder if it’ll be the same. Here’s hoping that new adventures are just around the street corner. I am open to what happens next because in my gratitude for everything she brought my way, I understand it’s time to move on.

R.I.P. Amethyst Pearl, you’ll always be a part of my history. Thank you for that. (note: that pic is borrowed from google)

* * * * * * * * *

If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks:

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Amazon Kindle: Concentric Circles (Shayla's story)
Claire: the Lost Fae ~ Available Now
Wyndy: in a Heartbeat ~ Short Story [here]

Peace & Love be with you always.

~ Aithne Jarretta

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Inspiration of a Different Kind

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Sometimes we just need a pick-me-up. This video inspires me because on those days when the words for my stories seem to come slow, I confess I need to be reminded that living though our challenges is what often makes us stronger.
So when the car breaks down, the muse fumbles and our loved ones are far away, let the experiences of these great folk inspire you. I know,they inspire me.
Blessings. ;)

(I'll be back on the bunny tracks later this week.)

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If You Missed these Plot Bunny Tracks: