a guest post by Aneesa Price
When I
first decided to write a paranormal novel, I knew that magick had to be a major
ingredient. But, what did I know of magick? Sure, I’ve watched movies, I’ve
read a few articles, devoured many fantastic paranormal books but writing
spells? Eeeck! To say that it was daunting would be an understatement. It
wasn’t the poetry of spell-crafting that had me quivering with anxiety; it was
the complete lack of magickal knowledge.
And so, I
approached it like I do many unknowns. I Googled. Sadly, there’s so much on the
internet and way too many factual sites reek of fiction themselves that all that
exercise got me was feeling overwhelmed. Of course, there are probably many
credible sites out there. I just didn’t know how to filter the information to
find the facts.
Then, I
decided to visit the local bookstore and found some sparkling gems on
witchcraft. One book in particular, Witches’ Craft by Bruce K. Wilborn (http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Craft-Multidenominational-Wicca-Bible-ebook/dp/B006NZBFV4), was invaluable. I used it so extensively
that when I moved halfway across the world, I bought it for my kindle. Through
my research, I learnt of magickal instruments, how to open and close circles
and how to craft a spell. I read the Wiccan Rede and my respect grew. “Do As Ye
Will An Harm Ye None” has become a favourite quote of mine. After this, I felt
reasonably comfortable to create a world infused with magick.
When I
realized that magick was more than something I watched in Harry Potter, it
became immensely important to me to find the balance between creativity and
integrity where the world I created was both respectful of the craft, accurate
and yet allowed for my imagination to colour what happens within it. It took me
three months to research the first Coffin Girls book. Does that seem long? It may, but any act in
magick has meaning and just spell-crafting, for example, is a study in itself.
When you cast a spell, you have to request assistance from the Goddess, it is
important to acknowledge the elements and their respective gates, you have to
convey the meaning of what you need and then, of course, there is the poetry of
it all whilst doing this.
Here is one
of the spells from Coffin Girls:
We call on the gate of the East,
With your Air comes release
We call on the gate of the West,
With your Fire burn what is bound with
zest
We call on the gate of the South,
Let Water wash away what is loath
We call on the gate of the North,
With Earth bury the bindings so she may go
forth
Goddess we ask of thee,
Help us set her magick free,
What was sealed is now released
What was bound now is freed
As we will, so mote it be
The irony
is, of course, that few picked up on the accuracy of the magickal acts within
the book until one reviewer raved about it. I had another reader, who practices
the craft, contact me and thank me for the accuracy with which I portrayed
magick. When I asked this person what was accurate the spell work, energy work
and approach to magick as a whole was mentioned. In other words, I nailed it!
Oh yeah! I was ecstatic because I had achieved what I’d set out to do – create
a fictional world that was both imaginative and accurate.
The best
confirmation for me, was this review:
“I won’t read just ANY vampire book. Add in
witch-lore and the Fae, I may fling it across the room and not finish it at
all. So many are inaccurate and feed the untruths and biased opinion many have
of witchcraft or those who practice it, or the books simply bore me with their
vampire stupidity…
Coffin Girls is smart, sexy, witty, erotic, wqlively and engaging. Throw in a bit of history and the New Orleans French/Cajun culture and you've got a book full of a fascinating brew. Ms Price's writing is intelligent with a dramatic flair and she gives us a sweeping picture perfect profile of Southern U.S. hospitality. This was not an easy task she set for herself writing this book. A bit of Gone With The Wind meets Dracula/ess meets Lothlorian. The story flows seamlessly and flawlessly. Amazingly so, with vampires, fae and witches mixing with werewolves,voodoo practitioners - even ghosts and zombies make an appearance. Oddly, it works perfectly. I see a power in this story and in Ms Price's writing that could potentially become epic.
Kudos to Aneesa Price for doing what I thought could not be done - writing an adult vampire novel (not just a vampire romance) that could sit on the same shelf with Anne Rice.”
Coffin Girls is smart, sexy, witty, erotic, wqlively and engaging. Throw in a bit of history and the New Orleans French/Cajun culture and you've got a book full of a fascinating brew. Ms Price's writing is intelligent with a dramatic flair and she gives us a sweeping picture perfect profile of Southern U.S. hospitality. This was not an easy task she set for herself writing this book. A bit of Gone With The Wind meets Dracula/ess meets Lothlorian. The story flows seamlessly and flawlessly. Amazingly so, with vampires, fae and witches mixing with werewolves,voodoo practitioners - even ghosts and zombies make an appearance. Oddly, it works perfectly. I see a power in this story and in Ms Price's writing that could potentially become epic.
Kudos to Aneesa Price for doing what I thought could not be done - writing an adult vampire novel (not just a vampire romance) that could sit on the same shelf with Anne Rice.”
(From an Amazon Review)
I’m currently researching
mythological monsters, Gods and supernatural creatures! And yes, they play a
pivotal role in my next novel series. I’ve found my research MO, a bit more
confidence and a passion for ensuring accurate and imaginative reads.
SERIES SPOTLIGHT INFO:
ELEGANTLY UNDEAD
Coffin
Girls, #1
Publication
Date: 7/18/12
A
sexy, female vampire with secrets. A sinfully-handsome witch prince on a
mission. A formidable Vampire Council with something to hide.
A
vampire descendent from the original Coffin Girls, Anais runs a successful
event and wedding planning business from her majestic New Orleans plantation
house. To the Vampire Council, she is seen as an exemplary hostess and
household head of a misfit bunch of vampires.
When
Yves, her maker and head of the Vampire Council requests her assistance in
hosting the mysterious, yet dashing Prince of Witches, Conall, she has no
option but to accept. But Anais is the keeper of secrets; secrets that can
kill. Protective of her family’s undiscovered uniqueness, Anais is guarded, yet
intrigued by the enigmatic witch prince.
Conall and Anais are drawn together when confronted with fatal
encounters and an unimaginable destiny… if she’s willing to accept it and
fight.
Buy Links
Amazon
| Barnes
& Noble | Kobo
The Coffin Girls, #2
Publication Date: July
18, 2013
This
is an adult paranormal romance and contains scenes of explicit sex, violence
and strong language.
Witch-vampire, Sophie, has the power to feel and influence
others’ emotions. With the establishment of the Coffin Girls as warriors for
the Goddess that kick supernatural ass, the effects of her empath abilities
threaten to harm her. Sylvain, the mischievous and seductive fae prince and
Coffin Girls ally, offers her the assistance of the fae to hone her powers.
Sophie is drawn to Sylvain, which unnerves her as her hope for love has only
ever led to devastation. The two of them must face the demons of their past,
unknown enemies and new evil to find true happiness at last.
Buy Links
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
About the Author:
You
have to dream, think big and believe. Then, while you're at that - work harder
than you ever have before!
Aneesa
Price writes romance and lives it with her university sweetheart and husband.
After having surmounted the challenges of being in a bi-racial marriage in the
newly democratic South Africa, she now attributes her marital bliss to
purposefully added spice and passionately resolved differences. After living in
a variety of cities in South Africa, the cosmopolitan city of Johannesburg is
the playground that she enjoys with her husband and two daughters.
Aneesa
completed her internship in counselling psychology and went on to work first as
a therapist and then in Corporate Finance in on projects and in organizational
change. This diversity in experience, coupled with her understanding of the
human psyche, is translated into her writing through the creation of
believable, flawed characters with the innate ability to overcome adversity.
She
writes to give her readers the gift of experiencing the new and fascinating,
something she strives for herself when she explores new places, reads, cooks
with her kids or goes picking for antiques with her husband.
She welcomes new connections so feel free to 'friend' her on
facebook or follow her on twitter.
Contact or follow Aneesa Price
TOUR GIVEAWAY :
GRAND PRIZE: $20.00 Gift Card to Amazon
RUNNERS UP: FOUR (4) winners will get eBook of their
choice from ANY of Aneesa's books.
Thank you for hosting me on your blog, Inner Goddess. I had fun writing this post. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for the giveaway, would love to read your book
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah. In exchange for an honest review and as a thank you for hosting me, I'd be happy to gift you a copy.
DeleteThat would be Awesome, my email is dcpooh55@cox.net I will be glad to review it when I'm done. I always do review the books I win or are given to me. Thanks again.
DeleteGreat Post! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove LOVE Love it, Aneesa!! :D You know I love my CGs!! <3
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThx for stopping by, Jeni. And yeah, it warms my heart... that you love them. x
ReplyDelete