Guest Blog and Giveaway with Cornelia Amiri

Happy Halloween. As an author of Celtic/Paranormal/Romance novels, my favorite holiday is Samhain, the Celtic festival which gives us our Halloween traditions. Samhain, pronounced SOW-uhn, is the Celtic New Year, October 31st or November 1st. Samhain falls between the old year and the new, it is a day without time. Spirits of the dead and supernatural beings easily cross into our earthly dimension on this day, since the veil between worlds is at its thinnest. The ancient Celts put food or treats out for their ancestors and celebrated this day with them.

Here are some Samhain excerpts from several of my books.

First, an excerpt from DRUID BRIDE, which will be released in 2010 from Eternal Press.

After taking a deep breath, he climbed the hill. Now that the fire was blazing, Tanwen raised her hands above her head and twirled as gray headed Lossio beat the bodhran while Tanwen chanted.

“The fire sparks. The veil parts. Spirits among us. Bones, ashes, dust are once again family and friends. Ancestors come near, feast with us here. Dance and Sing around the stone ring. Great powers abound. All hail Samhain.”

Next, a few lines from DANGER IS SWEET, published by Awe Struck E-books:

The air was filled with an exuberant din of singing, chattering, and further Samhain merriment. Her child would be born on this day, which fell betwixt the old and new year. A day without time.

Malcolm grinned at Bethoc as he carried her through the city streets. "A selkie, a Scot, a Pict, and born on Samhain; this will be a special child."

This is a quote from Sulwen in DRUID QUEST, published by Awe Struck E-books:

"Aye, but she is only in the Otherworld. You shall see her spirit at Samhain, and in the next life you will all meet again."

Here are a few lines from Samhain from VIXEN PRINCESS, published by Awe-Struck E-books:

Mabon bid his friends good eve, and with a slight stagger, walked back to his tent. Lifting the oilskin flap, he crawled inside and rolled onto his cot. Shutting his eyes, he fell into a deep, drunken sleep. Until the words, "The dead walk tonight and it is not even Samhain," sounded in his ear, along with a puff of hot breath.

Here is an excerpt from THE FOX PRINCE, published by Awe-Struck E-books:

"Lads!" Nesta clapped her hands hard. "The tarts are almost done."

"Come, get your face painted for Samhain," Aelfrida called to the boys.

Firmly, she cupped the tallest lad's chin in one hand while brushing a chunk of crumbling charcoal across his cheeks. He shut his eyes tight and she blew the excess soot away. She looked at his sooty face and clicked her tongue.

"I do not know if you are a spirit of the dead or a dirty-faced lad."

He raised his arms and curled his fingers like claws then moaned loud enough to be heard in the otherworld.

"Oh!" She laughed. "A spook you are then!"

"Paint my face," the youngest lad called as he bobbed up and down. The charcoal felt dry and powdery in her fingers as she sketched the outline of a skeleton on the little urchin face.

"You are a true haunt," she declared.

She smudged the third lad's face with black charcoal and pronounced, "The spirits are sure to think you one of them and pass you by." She stood back and grinned. They are so cute. Not a one is a terror as they are of a wont to be. "Let me paint your face, Githa," Aelfrida called to the little girl.

"Nay." She shook her head and scampered toward the wall.

Aelfrida burst out in laughter. A pounding noise sounded at her back followed by creaking and a chill gust of wind. She swiveled to her left. The door was open but no one was there. The children suddenly grew quiet. Their wide eyes fixed upon a spot to her right. Slowly, she turned.

"Boo!" Tryffin stood there with a huge grin on his soot-covered face.

Aelfrida flung her hands aside her head. "You are a sight." She dropped her shoulders and burst out in giggles.

"I am a spirit come to find a live body for Samhain." With a seductive gleam in his eyes he said, "I think I shall take yours."

Would you like to win a pdf copy of The Queen of Kings

or how about a pdf copy my funny Celtic Vampire Romance - A Fine Cauldron of Fish

or a pdf copy of Druid Quest
Just leave a comment.

Three winners will be chosen, one for each book.

Happy Samhain,

Cornelia Amiri

http://www.myspace.com/CelticRomanceQueen

http://www.eternalpress.ca/Amiri.html