Facing Family Life Head-On • Guest Post by Author Juli D. Revezzo

When You Have to Face Your Family History Head-On

by Juli D. Revezzo

Family life, huh? It can be a pain, and a joy. Sometimes, it’s a mystery. In the Antique Magic series, Caitlin has taken a long path to get where she and her husband are, starting out bombarded by the horrors of home ownership, dealing with things of a the paranormal kind that you and I (probably) never will face, she’s seen a lot of its different faces from imps, to ghosts, to (egads!l) dragons.  Now fully settled into such a life, little bumps in the night are mere annoyances. Her biggest obstacle is navigating her small business, her college degree, making her next coven meeting on time, and *gasp*  family life.

This final item has been the largest question looming over Caitlin’s head all these years. How did she and her family get sucked into all this paranormal nonsense?

I knew I’d have to answer that question soon, so wanted to tackle it in this: Witch’s Wood, the new, seventh book in the series. To do so, I went back to something I’ve loved for years: The addition of an antique, magical map and set of knitting needles seemed the perfect catalyst. A map—because I am a sucker for old maps—and knitting needles, because did you know knitting is one of the oldest “domestic” crafts in the world? The dates are disputed, but I found a reference for something called nalbinding that’s similar to knitting as early as the 200s BCE. Map making is even older. The first map was set down perhaps as far back as 6000 BCE (one source I found said 25,000 BCE!)

 The answer? Something Cait and Trevor never could’ve dreamed when they were baby witches. 😉 Something that may give them the peace and answer to their family mystery, once and for all—or unravel everything they’ve worked for.

Synopsis:

Caitlin and Trevor inherit a set of enchanted knitting needles, needles that tangle them in another supernatural yarn. Yet the acquisition has freed their most hated enemy and he wants the needles as much as they do. But why are they so important to him? The clues may serve to solve their family’s long-standing mystery. Or lead them right into his clutches.

Can the couple cast off this twisted enigma or will their inheritance unravel their lives?

If you’d like to find out the details, Witch’s Wood is available now at Amazon as is the entire series.

Thanks for having me today, Suzanne!

Bio:

Juli D. Revezzo loves fantasy and Celtic mythology and writing stories with all kinds of fantastical elements. She is the author of Witch’s Wood and Dragon’s Seamstress, part of the Antique Magic paranormal series, the historical romances, the Camden Girls series, House of Dark Envy, the fantasy Gothic romance Lady of the Tarot, and much more. She is also a member of the Independent Author Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour.

Author’s Website and blog: https://julidrevezzo.com/

Join her newsletter: https://bit.ly/signupforJulisnewsletter

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Juli-D.-Revezzo/e/B008AHVTLO

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or Twitter: https://twitter.com/julidrevezzo
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Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDP0TPb32YCWAEG6Q_Hiw7g

References:

9 Oldest Maps in the World

www.newscientist.com/article/dn24841-stone-age-mural-ups-the-stakes-in-quest-for-oldest-map/amp/

https://vikingladyaine.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/nalbinding-a-brief-history/

(*wood or bone)

Cookies and #Magic with guest author Leigh Goff • DISENCHANTED

Leigh Goff is a talented Young Adult author who blends fantasy and romance into her remarkable stories. Her latest book Disenchanted releases through Mirror World Publishing in print and eBook today! The kitchen is all yours, Leigh!

These cookies are just what a white witch like sixteen-year-old Sophie Greensmith from my debut YA fantasy, Disenchanted, would bake after a long day of concocting potions with exotic flowers from her aunt’s enchanted garden.

Disenchanted takes place in Wethersfield, Connecticut, the home of the first American witch trials (not Salem!). As descendants of the original witches, Sophie and her aunt practice white magic and work in a little shop called Scents and Scentsabilities. Their organic bath and body products like Tulips to Kiss Stick to lushify lips and Forever First Love Lip Balm to lock in that true love are crafted to benefit the ordinaries in town. However, not all of the ordinaries approve and when danger catches up to Sophie, she’s left with an impossible choice—turning to black magic, a forever choice, to save the life of her forbidden first love. Will her true love still want her when her heart is touched by darkness?

This yummy recipe from the Foothill House B & B in California includes ginger to soothe the stomach, cinnamon to reduce puffiness, and walnuts to help you deal with stress.

Foothill House Sweet Dreams Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter
1½ cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
½ tsp. salt
12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Cream butter and mix in brown sugar, egg, and vanilla in a medium-sized bowl.

Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt and blend into butter mixture.

Fold in chocolate chips and walnuts (Sometimes I leave these out or substitute pecans.).

Refrigerate until dough is firm.

Lightly grease baking sheets.

Break off small pieces of dough and roll into 1″ rounds. Dredge in powdered sugar.

Arrange on prepared baking sheets at least 2″ apart.

Bake 10 minutes.

Cool 5 minutes on the sheets before transferring to racks to cool completely.

Store in airtight container.

Yields 6 dozen cookies

Here is a brief intro to my novel that appeals to people of all ages. I hope you like it, too.

Disenchanted

A forbidden love. A dark curse. An impossible choice…

Descended from a powerful Wethersfield witch, sixteen-year-old Sophie is struggling to hide her awkwardly emerging magic, but that’s the least of her worries. When a dangerous thief tries to steal her mysterious heirloom necklace, she is rescued by the one person she’s forbidden to fall for, a descendant of the man who condemned her ancestor to hang. He carries a dark secret that could destroy them both unless Sophie learns how to tap into the mysterious power of her diamond bloodcharm. She will have to uncover dark secrets from both of their families’ wicked pasts and risk everything, including her soul to save them from a witch’s true love curse, but it will take much more than that.

Buy: Mirror World Publishing (paperback & ebook), Amazon, BN.com, and other outlets.

Leigh Goff loves writing young adult fiction with elements of magic and romance because it’s also what she liked to read. Born and raised on the East Coast, she now lives in Maryland where she enjoys the area’s great history and culture.

Leigh is a graduate of the University of Maryland, University College and a member of the Maryland Writers’ Association and Romance Writers of America. She is also an approved artist with the Maryland State Arts Council. Her debut novel, Disenchanted, was inspired by the Wethersfield witches of Connecticut and was released by Musa Publishing in December 2014. Leigh is currently working on her next novel, The Witch’s Ring, which is set in Annapolis.

Learn more about Leigh Goff on her website and blog. Stay connected on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads.

Cover Reveal for Drawing Down the Shades by Juli D. Revezzo

Author Juli D. Revezzo has just released the second book in her paranormal Antique Magic series, Drawing Down the Shades. Here’s the blurb:

Business can be hell…

Life is good at Starfort Collectibles until the owners, Caitlin and Trevor Fulmer, acquire a beautiful statuette with a murky past. Shortly thereafter, mysterious hauntings wreak havoc on the couple when a ghost in the attic threatens retribution. Caitlin presses her coven for help before the ghost succeeds in meting out deadly punishment—on Trevor.

If you enjoy a good ghost story, this one’s for you. Congratulations, Juli, on your new release! It’s available at Amazon HERE, Smashwords HERE, and BN.com HERE. (Psst…Drawing Down the Shades has already received its first 5-star review at Amazon!) Also in the series is The Artists’s Inheritance, and Caitlin’s Book of Shadows.

~ S.G. Rogers

The Artist’s Inheritance – Character Interview

UPDATE: The winner of The Artist’s Inheritance and a bookmark from Juli D. Revezzo’s spooky newest release, House of Cards, is… TheBookLookery!  Thanks so much to everyone who entered. ~ S.G. Rogers.

Enjoy this character interview with Caitlin, from The Artist‘s Inheritance by Juli D. Revezzo… and if you share this post in some way (via Twitter/Facebook/G+, etc. and/or follow Juli’s blog (the link is below), you’ll be entered to win an e-book copy of The Artist’s Inheritance!  Leave a comment to let us know which way you entered, and good luck. (The winner will be selected on Sunday, October 21st) 😀  ~ S.G. Rogers

Thank you for coming to chat with us today, Cait. Tell us, why should readers be interested in your story?

If they like stories with strong heroines, or stories with heroines who ultimately conquer their demons and get the best of the things that go bump in the attic, they’ll like The Artist’s Inheritance, I think.

Things that go bump in the night? So, you believe in ghosts?

Six or seven months ago I would’ve said no; now I have way too much overwhelming personal experience with them to say anything but yes. I mean, come on, how can I answer otherwise with a ghost guardian?

You sound pretty brave. What is your biggest fear?

Losing my beloved Trevor to an untimely demise. *huh* Trevor says his biggest fear is losing that damned chair of his . . . *sigh* Yes, dear. I know. (Don’t mind him. He’s been weird, recently).

Why do you think author Juli D. Revezzo choose you to represent her?

I think… if she chose me to represent her at all, and I’m not saying she did because what does that even mean? (Juli: Never mind, Caitlin. We’ll talk later and I’ll explain. 🙂)  I think if she did choose me to represent her, it’s because she was too shy—or maybe too scared—to deal with what Trevor and I have to deal with. Better to let me do it.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where do you live, and what is it about that area that drew you there?

My hubby Trevor and I live in Gulf Breeze, Florida, and what drew us here? We took the house over from his sister-in-law. Trevor couldn’t bear to let it go.

Your husband is an artist, isn’t he? Tell us more about Trevor and what drew you to him?

His smile, first and foremost. After that, it was how good he looked on his surfboard. By the time he got me to his gallery and showed me what he could do with his hands, I was gone. *ahem* You know what I mean.

What are your biggest turn ons?

Surfers, and artists. 😀

Turn offs?

Anything imp-like, nightmares, and meddling, snarky bosses.

What music do you listen to?

Mainly rock music, of course—you know, Zeppelin, Sarah McLachlan. But my buddy Sealya’s getting me into more new agey Celtic music too. Trevor likes The Red Hot Chili Peppers and bands like that—when he listened to anything. He’s not listening to much these days, really.

Is there anything you wish Juli Revezzo had kept her mouth shut about?

I wish she hadn’t told anyone I was a witch. Or that I was reincarnated from one. Gods, how insane must that make me look?

😮 Thanks for speaking with us today, Caitlin!

Blurb:

Settling into their new home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, Caitlin finds strange changes coming over her husband Trevor. He seems obsessed with a beautiful chair he’s carving.

When the nightmares deepen and ghosts begin lurking—she knows something’s not right, and not just her newfound precognitive abilities. It’s the damned chair, she’s sure. Could it be just what it seems: a mundane piece of furniture? If so, why is it attracting dark forces—the forces she suspects drove Trevor’s siblings to insanity and suicide?

Before the same happens to Trevor, Caitlin must convince him to sell his art. But armed with only a handful of allies, and little experience of the supernatural, she must proceed with caution against the hellish forces besieging her family.

If she succeeds, she will break the ancestral curse. If she fails, she may lose forever the one thing she cares about most: her beloved Trevor.

The Artist’s Inheritance is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Createspace and Smashwords.

To learn more about author Juli D. Revezzo, follow her on Facebook, her blog, Goodreads, or on Twitter