Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Guest Blog and Hexes and Hemlines Giveaway with Juliet Blackwell

Thanks to Fang-tastic Books for having me on the site today!

Okay, I’ll admit it: I write about vintage clothes –at least in part-- because the research is so fun! I get to spend a lot of time hanging out in the Haight neighborhood of San Francisco, checking out the secondhand shops, sipping coffee, and people-watching. ..and I get to call it “work”. What’s not great about that?

But seriously, I decided to give Lily Ivory, the gifted protagonist of my Witchcraft Mystery series, a special relationship to vintage clothing for two reasons: just as with old homes or antiques, there’s an inherent mystery in items that generations of people have lived with, cared for, and loved. And to someone sensitive to psychic vibrations, there are often paranormal messages associated with such objects.

As a natural witch growing up in a small West Texas town, Lily learned not to trust people. Her father left when she was young; her mother couldn’t handle her supernatural powers and sent her to live with her adoptive grandmother. When Lily was run out of town at the age of seventeen, she began to search the globe for a safe place to settle down. In the meantime, she avoided friendship because of her fears… but as social animals we humans yearn for engagement, for connection with other people. Lily found this connection through her ability to read sensations, vibrations, and history from clothing: the older the better.

The ability to hold something in one’s hands and sense something about its past is called

psychometry (literally: “to measure the soul of the thing”) The basic belief is that there is a link created when a person lives with an object; a signature or aura that settles deep within the atoms of the object. For those with the gift of psychometry, reading this retained memory is straightforward: much as a bloodhound picks up on a person’s unique scent, a sensitive can feel vibrations of those who have worn things close to themselves.

When I started writing a mystery with a powerful witch as a protagonist, I came up against a few issues right away. First: what kind of a witch? There are all sorts of witches, from nature-loving pagans to African healers to the European broom-riding witches of lore. Second, if my witch was naturally powerful, why wouldn’t she just use her supernatural abilities to “see” who the criminal was and solve the mystery?

I’m fascinated by the close connection between what we refer to as “folk healing” and magic, so I gave Lily knowledge of traditional healing methods, botanicals, and the ability to brew potions and cast spells. Her powers were passed down as a mixture of European and Mexican witchcraft, which she inherited and learned from her father and adoptive grandmother, respectively. But she can’t “scry”, which means to see the future or past in crystal balls or black mirrors. That way, as an author I could put her in more difficult circumstances, gleaning what information she can from her powers of psychometry, with a special emphasis on clothes.

We all know that feeling of standing up straighter, holding yourself differently when you’re dressed up for a wedding or important ceremony. When you “change” – putting on different clothes -- you often change in more than the obvious ways. You might feel like a different person – sometimes that’s a bad thing, but often it’s a plus. As the owner of a vintage clothing store, Lily can help her customers find outfits that suit them not only physically, but psychically. A rare talent, indeed (one I wish I possessed!)

And if those antique silks and satins have anything to say about a murder that occurred-- ancient or contemporary—Lily Ivory will be there to figure out the link.

Author Biography

Nationally bestselling author Juliet Blackwell writes the Witchcraft Mystery series (Secondhand Spirits, A Cast-off Coven, and the new Hexes and Hemlines). If Walls Could Talk launched the Haunted Home Renovation series in 2010; Dead Bolt, the second in the series, comes out in December. As one-half of the sister duo dubbed Hailey Lind, Blackwell wrote the Art Lover’s Mystery Series--including Agatha-nominated Feint of Art and the most recent, Arsenic and Old Paint. A former anthropologist and social worker, Juliet has worked in Mexico, Spain, Cuba, Italy, the Philippines, and France, and now paints and writes in Oakland, California. She served two terms as president of NorCal Sisters in Crime

Visit me on Twitter (@JulietBlackwell) and on Facebook

Or drop by my website, at www.julietblackwell.net

Hexes and Hemlines
#3 of the Witchcraft Mystery Series

Coming June 7th!


With her vintage clothing store taking off, Lily Ivory is finding that life in San Francisco suits her just fine. But her ability to sense vibrations from the past, so useful in locating secondhand gems, has landed her in the middle of a new mystery...

Lily gets called away from Aunt Cora's Closet when the police need a witch's take on a strange case. Malachi Zazi was stabbed to death in his apartment, under a ladder, surrounded by the number thirteen, a broken mirror, and a black cat—superstitions that the victim, as head of a rationalist society, was devoted to discrediting.

When the police identify a suspect from the Serpentarian Society, Lily is shocked to learn it's someone she knows. But with bad luck plaguing all its members, she begins to wonder if there's more at work than mere coincidence. And while there aren't many clues from the crime scene, Lily finds evidence of dark witchcraft and a hex on her friend's doorstep. With her friend's safety at stake, Lily is determined to use magic to find the murderer before everyone's luck runs o
ut...



Would you like to win a print copy of Hexes and Hemlines?

Penguin has offered to give one copy to one lucky reader

Open to US Shipping Only Please

To enter leave a comment on this post with your email

+2 Bonus Entries for being a Fang-tastic GFC Follower

Winner TBA Next Wednesday


26 comments:

LadyVampire2u said...

This is a brand new series to me but sounds great and I would love to read this book. One of the best things about blogs is finding new books and authors to enjoy. Thanks!
+2 GFC: LadyVampire2u

LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

cait045 said...

What a fun series. This is the first time I heard of it but what a cute idea. I like how you came up with the ideas.

+2 GFG follower
usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

loves to dive said...

This book sounds like good fun, I'm a lover of vintage clothes as well. I've always imagined who wore it and where they wore it. Would love to win a copy.
lvs2dv@gmail.com

throuthehaze said...

This series looks interesting! i love the cover. Thanks for the giveaway!

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throuthehaze at gmail dot com

SandyG265 said...

This is a fun series. Thanks for teh chance to win the lates book.

+2 GFC follower
sgiden at verizon.net

Beverly said...

This sounds like a super fun read! Please enter me - I am an old follower.
Thanks for hosting.
bevsharp@desch.org

Rebe said...

This sounds great! I enjoyed reading about how Ms. Blackwell came up with her ideas for the novel.

rwhitehead_1998ATyahooDOTcom

Becky said...

This is a new series to me but it sounds really good. I love finding new books and authors to enjoy.

+2 GFC follower
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Jessica @ a GREAT read said...

OMG!! I totally LOVE this series! Read it when it last year and totally fell in love with it!! I love magic books with a bit of mystery in them!

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Estella said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Estella said...

Have not read this series. It sounds quite interesting

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Barbara E. said...

I've heard quite a bit about the Witchcraft Mystery series but haven't had a chance to read any yet. I'd love to win a copy of Hexes and Hemlines, that would get me motivated to start the series.

Barbed1951 at aol dot com
+2 GFC follower

Jen B. said...

This book sounds like fun. After reading Roxanne's review, I really want to read it. Thanks for the giveaway.
jepebATverizonDOTnet

Martha Lawson said...

Another new to me author!! Her books sound really fun. I'd love to be entered to win.

+2 old gfc follower

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Julie S said...

I've been wanting to get into this series.

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Unknown said...

Please enter me in contest. I am a follower and email subscriber. The series sounds really good. Tore923@aol.com

lindalou said...

This book sounds very good... heck, the whole series sounds great! Please enter me in this giveaway!
+2 for being a GFC follower & an email subscriber.
lindalou(at)cfl(dot)rr(dot)com

angie lilly said...

I like this! Had not heard of this series before either! Thanks so much for the chance to win! Love your blog and all your awesome giveaways!!!!!
I follow you via GFC! = 2 extra entries
Angie
14earth at gmail dot com

Scott said...

I really like the concept of this book. A psychic vintage clothing dealer that helps solve crimes is WAY original! Would love to win!
Scott
nynekats at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I've read the first two bbooks in the series and really liked them. They, to me, are cozy mysteries with a dash of the supernatural. Sometimes I need a little "light" reading mixed in with the more blood and guts serial killer mysteries.

GFC Anne38

acm05atjuno.com

Barb P said...

I would love to win a copy of Hexes and Hemlines. Thanks for the contest! bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net +2 Follower

Meredith said...

Sounds fun! I love vintage clothing--it's usually better constructed and sometimes much more elaborate.

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meredithfl at gmail dot com

JenM said...

I normally don't read cozy mysteries but I happened to pick up Secondhand Spirits and I loved it as well as A Cast Off Coven. I can't wait to read Hexes and Hemlines. Thanks for the giveaway.

+2 GFC follower
Jen at delux dot com

Leslee said...

I love this series! So awesome, love the arcane and the mystery combined!

+2 for following :)

shadow said...

This author is new to me but it sounds awesome! Id love a chance to read it. Thank you!
shadow_kohler@att.net
+2 gfc

Luvdaylilies said...

This book sounds like such a fun read~I'd love a chance to read about Lily!
Thanks,
Lethea
+2
I follow your blog via GFC as Luvdaylilies
Luvdaylilies at bellsouth dot net

 
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