Monday, October 14, 2024

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse: Why a Pole Pruner is Your Secret Weapon by Eliza Hampstead


Thanks so much for having me on as a guest. I’m excited to share my thoughts about How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse

How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse: 

Why a Pole Pruner is Your Secret Weapon

Alright, let's be real. The world has gone to pieces, zombies are shuffling around everywhere, and you’re stuck wondering how you’re going to stay alive. Forget all those movies where people are wielding swords, guns, or chainsaws. I’m here to tell you the real secret to surviving a zombie apocalypse: the humble pole pruner.

Yes, you heard me right. A pole pruner! But not just any kind. I’m talking about the manual kind—not the ones with chainsaws attached (we’ll get to why in a minute). The key to surviving a zombie apocalypse is distance. The last thing you want is a zombie up close, breathing down your neck—literally. That’s where the beauty of a long-range pole pruner comes in. It’s like having a zombie guillotine, only you control it.

Why Not a Chainsaw?

You might be thinking, "Wouldn’t a chainsaw be more fun?" Sure, if you want to make a lot of noise, attract every zombie in a 5-mile radius, and run out of gas in the middle of a battle. Gas is going to be a rare commodity, and let’s be honest, how often do you actually want to fuel up in the middle of a zombie apocalypse? Chainsaws also need maintenance—something you won’t have time for when you’re trying to keep your brains intact.

Why Not a Gun?

Guns are flashy, sure. But what happens when you run out of ammo? Ever try to throw a gun at a zombie? Spoiler alert: it’s not very effective. Plus, unless you’re an expert marksman, hitting a zombie in the head from a distance is harder than it looks. You need precision, and a pole pruner gives you the control to slice that zombie head clean off—no ammo required.

What About Swords?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I love swords. They’re classic. But they have their limitations. First, they’re short-range, which means you’ve got to get too close for comfort. Second, after a few zombies, they tend to get blunt, and let’s be honest, sharpening a sword mid-apocalypse is not on anyone’s to-do list. You don’t want to pause mid-zombie battle to give your sword a tune-up, right?

Other weapons

Arrows do not sever the head. Axes and hammers have limited range and dull quickly, primarily due to the body fat that makes contact with them. There is no better weapon like the pole pruner.

Other Handy Tips for Surviving

Now that you’ve got your pole pruner in hand, here are a few more survival tips:

Stay Quiet: Zombies are attracted to noise, so keep things low-key. This is why loud weapons (like chainsaws) are a no-go. You want to blend into the background and move like a ghost.

Plan Your Escape Routes: Always have more than one exit route. Zombies aren’t exactly strategic, but they can corner you if you’re not careful.

Travel Light: Carry essentials, but don’t overburden yourself. You want to be able to outrun a zombie, not be weighed down by unnecessary gear. Water, food, and your trusty pole pruner—everything else is extra.

Stay Healthy: If you’ve got the option, eat right, rest up, and keep your energy high. You never know when you’ll need to outrun or outlast a horde.

So, there you have it. In the world of zombies, it’s not about the flashiest weapon or the loudest bang. It’s about practicality, and nothing says “practical” like a pole pruner. Trust me, when the apocalypse comes, you’ll be glad you took my advice!

 

The Nephilim’s Fate
War of the Nephilim Series
Eliza Hampstead

Genre: Fantasy Romance
Date of Publication: 16. August 2022
ISBN: 979-8837459108
ASIN: B0B72G3H1T
Number of pages: 307
Word Count: 87K
Cover Artist: Rio B Nugroho

Tagline: She will find a way, even if it leads to a war between Heaven and Hell.

Book Description:

In the heart of London, Alissia's ordinary life takes a thrilling turn when she is attacked by bloodthirsty vampires. When Nate, the man she dreamed about for years, swoops in to save her, her reality shatters as she discovers a shocking truth: she's a witch, and he's a Nephilim. But their love is cursed, forbidden by ancient laws that threaten to tear their world apart.

As old rivalries resurface and dark secrets come to light, Alissia and Nate must confront their deepest fears and fight for their love, even if it means igniting a war between Heaven and Hell.

With unforgettable characters, steamy romance, and gripping plot twists, this captivating new fantasy series by award-winning author Eliza Hampstead delves into a world of angels and demons, forbidden love, and the inexorable power of fate.

Excerpt 1 Wielding magic for the first time:

Letting the magic come to me in the same way it had begun in the park, I smelled pine needles and mushrooms. At that moment, I wanted to push to get it deeper, but I forced myself to stay relaxed and let it flow through me while I told the plant how terrific it would be outside.

Sun, water, and CO2 for photosynthesis, all were waiting for her if she would come out of the soil, and that my magic would help her grow faster, that she doesn’t have to wait any longer. The feeling of earth magic got stronger, and the inner picture before me was bathed in green. I said the words of the spell. After that, I focused again on the plant, imagining how the seed germinated, how the sprouting fought its way to the surface, how the seed leaves opened, sheeting the seed coat, and how the first leaves developed and opened.

Suddenly, I heard clapping. Losing my concentration, I opened my eyes. Umbra stood before me, a broad smile on her face.

“You did it!”

I frowned for a second before I looked down. The seedling stood before me, the seed coat next to it on the soil. Exactly how I had imagined it. I put my hand in front of my mouth, tears welling in my eyes.

“I did it. I did it!” I jumped up and down, clapping my hands. I was a real witch! I could do magic, after all! Full of joy, I embraced Umbra and circled her around while we both laughed.


About the Author:

Award winning author Eliza Hampstead, a scientist by training, lives with her family in the UK. When she's not writing, she spends her time as a geek. Playing all sorts of games (board games, video games, RPGs) and being a big fan of medieval history are only a few of the many hobbies she has. Passionate about fantasy, she's always planning her next adventure.
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A Prophecy Awakened by Angie Barton - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular



The Velvet Coffin

Black are his eyes,
His lips stained red,
This sinister creature 
We know as undead

Born of the night
A soul without mercy 
An evil incarnate
Immortal and thirsty

He dreams of blood,
His fangs sharp and baring,
His desire awakens 
As he lays there staring

The lid to his coffin
Creaks as it raises
Its velvety lining
His hand lightly grazes

Moving to the shadows
He expels a hiss
He catches her scent 
And disappears into mist



A Prophecy Awakened
Immortal Wounds Series
Book Two
Angie Barton

Genre: Fantasy Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton 
Date of Publication: June 13, 2024
ISBN: 979-8990647220
ASIN: BOD73FHPSH
Number of pages: 448
Word Count: 104,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie

Tagline: The time has come for the two worlds to collide the prophecy has spoken.

Book Description: 

Family. Destiny. Magic. Lore.

Forced to leave behind her only known family, on the night of her eighteenth birthday Charlotte Delgado flees through the invisible veil that has granted her safety since birth, with only an age-old diary to guide her. Given less than a day to read the four-hundred year-old tales scripted amongst its pages, she barely understands the predetermined path her ancestor writes of, let alone believes it.

However, despite the dangers the journal warns of—supernatural creatures that will hunt her along her journey—it’s the ominous twist of fate that surrounds the last bloodline witch in her family that fills Charlotte with the most fear.

Is she that witch or merely a pawn moving the prophecy forward?





About the Author: 

Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.

Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.

Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.








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Friday, October 11, 2024

Immortal Wounds by Angie Barton - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular



On This Night

On this night of blood and bats
Of howling wolves and pointed black hats
Of dreadful tales shared ‘round a fire’s glow
Of cackling witches and their familiar crows

Suppressed within tall grass, it is hard to see
But a haunted cemetery it is said to be
A chill and an eeriness hangs within its gate
As sinister whispers promise ill fate

Their words come straight from hell
Yet mesmerized you fall under their spell
For on this night of sinful play
The buried you disturbed now hunt you like prey


Immortal Wounds
Immortal Wounds Series
Book One
Angie Barton

Genre: Fantasy/Historical Fiction/Magical Realism
Publisher: Angie Barton 
Date of Publication: April 22, 2022
ISBN: 979-8990647206
ASIN: BOD9XTF25K
Number of pages: 392
Word Count: 93,000
Cover Artist: Donnell McKenzie

Tagline: Did Isobel make an error in landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?

Book Description: 

After witnessing the brutal deaths of her mother and husband, Isobel overhears a confession from one of the murderers, a ruthless vampire who claims to be her father. For fear that she and her unborn daughter’s death could come next, Isobel uses the only magic she possesses and summons a portal to take her two hundred years in the past to revisit an ancestor in Scotland who she believes may know the truth of her parentage. However, in her haste, Isobel lands in the wrong century. Before she realizes her mistake, she stumbles upon a family: a ferocious Highland warrior and his two sisters.

Isobel could not have prepared herself for what she discovers during her stay: the vampire who claimed to be her father, alive three hundred years in the past! With the help of Meg, the youngest sister, and Mariam, both women’s ancestor, Isobel finds herself belonging in a world she never dreamed of—one entangled with vampires and webbed with revenge, curses, and a prophecy that has dictated all of their lives for the last four hundred years. 

Did Isobel make an error landing in the wrong time, or was it part of her destiny?




About the Author: 

Award winning author, Angie Barton, published her first novel, Immortal Wounds, in 2022. Angie’s love for writing centers around the fantasy genre, but she also enjoys writing thriller and romance. Her passion for reading, which led to her love of writing, began in elementary school with the Scholastic Book program. Her parents, who are life-long avid readers, have been a huge influence on her reading. Therefore anything and everything Angie could get her hands on she read.

Angie has been an early childhood educator since 1986 and hold a B.S. in Child Development. Her love for literacy has continued throughout her career, not only for herself, but also with the children she has cared for and taught. What Angie is most passionate about is helping others discover the excitement that reading brings. Her greatest desire in writing is to create and bring joy and entertainment to everyone she touches.

Currently, if Angie isn't reading at least three books at a time or working on a rough draft for her next book, she can be found outdoors gardening, woodworking, or relaxing by her pond. She shares that she's a Capricorn, tried and true, drinks way too much tea, and that her "to be read" pile of books can spike at any time.










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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Release Day Blitz - Six Degrees of Separation by Amanda Mackey

Six Degrees of Separation
Amanda Mackey

Genre: Romance
Publisher: Amanda Mackey
Date of Publication: 5th October, 2024
ASIN:  B0DGCL3C32
Number of pages: 223
Word Count: 62,855

Tagline: What if the distance between you and your soulmate was 6 people?

Book Description: 

What do you do when you find yourself in a midlife crisis at forty after leaving an abusive marriage?

You buy a cheap villa in Italy and leave everything you knew behind to live in a remote town, perched on top of a hill, with nothing but a suitcase full of clothing.

Oh, and did I mention the only Italian word I know is ciao?

I question my sanity as I sit at forty thousand feet, seven hours into the flight.

But as soon as I reach my destination, I realize I've made the right decision.

My villa is everything I hoped for, apart from needing some TLC, but with my divorce money, I plan on turning it into a home. My home. My sanctuary.

When I find a cabinet in the garage left by the previous elderly owner, with a letter inside, I get my real estate agent and only acquaintance to translate it for me.

What she reveals is insane to say the least.

The letter is from a woman in search of her soulmate who had heard about a theory called Six Degrees of Separation. A crazy notion that everyone on the planet is connected by six people.

Method: Send out six letters to people you know who when forward them to six people they know. Continue the process six times and it'll reach your intended person.

By some miracle, the woman managed to meet the great love of her life and live happily ever after.

So, when my agent and budding friend talks me into testing the theory, I'm not expecting anything to happen. It can't be that easy, right? Plus, I don't know six people in Italy.
But she does.

And so, we send out the letters, partly as a joke and partly to see if it actually works.

But in the meantime, fate intervenes.

It's in the form of a younger man who steals my breath. A man I never saw coming.

It would seem we're not connected by six people, but two.

What then happens to the handsome stranger who replies to my letter?


Amazon     Amazon AU     Books2Read


Excerpt:

A very handsome waiter approaches us, all masculine energy and charm. With his arrival comes stronger pinpricks under my skin. It’s akin to getting zapped in winter from static. But as I glance around the restaurant, everyone else is carrying on as normal so I sit and try to act normal as I look up at the sexy as sin man. I’d peg him as thirty perhaps. Ebony, silky hair, styled back off his face. Deep eyes, Roman nose and full lips. What is it with Italian men? Are they all attractive at this age?

My eyes fully appraise him as my pulse jackhammers. My neck feels flushed, causing beads of sweat to form. God, can he see my reaction? I’m mesmerized like a hormonal teen, riveted to the spot.

His full smile adds to his beauty and for a moment even Bianca remains mute as he greets us. There’s a presence about him I can’t define. It’s that certain something that ‘just is’. The X Factor. Energy is pouring off him and I’m in the line of fire. Can someone please bring me a cold glass of water? Or an industrial fan?

She quickly recovers though and offers a ‘ciao’ which I robotically mimic, enthralled by his rugged beauty up close. The flickering light of the candle on our table, catches his high cheek bones and full mouth, stealing my attention for way too long. His short-sleeved black shirt fails to cover a tattoo which disappears up his forearm.

“Do you speak English?” Bianca asks for my benefit, a little too loudly might I add. When I peek at her, she’s wearing a knowing expression, right eyebrow raised, lips tipped up. Her foot taps mine under the table. When did she begin staring at me like that? Probably when I answered him like Siri.

“Of course. I’m fluent. I’ve been learning it since high school. Would you like a drink first?” That voice. Every syllable and word hit me front and center. The tone sounds like a deep lullaby I could be rocked to sleep with. Sheesh. What is happening with me tonight? Am I hormonal? My menstrual cycle is on point, my period not due for another two weeks so it can’t be that. If this heat doesn’t settle down, I’ll need to step into the bathroom to splash cold water on my face. I’m pretty sure the restaurant is air-conditioned too.

I look back to the waiter who is blatantly ignoring Bianca and watching me with his shockingly beautiful eyes. Eyes one could stare into if they wished to find all the answers of the universe. Eyes which see right through you and invoke a sense of belonging. As if you’ve seen them before. Familiar. Comforting. Ones I want to dive into and never leave.

They’re turning me into a hot mess. I need to get my act together. I’m acting so out of character. Like a schoolgirl, not a forty-year-old divorcee. My hands fidget on my lap as I glance around the room. It’s not big. A cozy, intimate space with guests lined up outside the door like we were moments ago. I count the tables. Fifteen. That’s all. I’m guessing they need to expand soon. Either that, or they want to keep it the way it is.

My eyes are drawn back to Mr. Handsome as he flicks his attention from Bianca and back to me again. It truly is getting too unbearably hot in here.

“Two glasses of your best wine. And would it be possible to have a garlic bruschetta?”

“Sure. Let me get that for you.” Finally he turns and saunters back to the kitchen, leaving me with heated cheeks and a flutter in my belly. But as soon as he’s gone, the temperature cools back down to normal. That’s strange. Is he running a fever? Does his body temperature run abnormally high all the time?

“Maybe he’s the one,” Bianca laughs. “He was checking you out.”

“And clearly younger than me. He was probably just being friendly to the tourist.”

But I doubt my own words. Men don’t make prolonged eye contact if they aren’t interested. Pity we’re leaving the day after tomorrow. I’d probably come back just to see his face again. A girl can dream. But how can he possibly be the one? Not the first hot Italian guy to speak to me. It couldn’t be that easy.



About the Author:

Amanda Mackey was born in NZ and moved to Australia as a child with her family. She’s been living in sunny Queensland ever since. An avid reader as a child, writing became an extension of that. She wrote her first book in her twenties, but it would take a further sixteen years to get her book published. That first book was the catalyst for her writing career, and she now has penned book number twenty. 

Amanda is both traditionally, and self-published and writes in multiple genres. She hopes to make writing her full time career. 

Next year Amanda and the cover model on Six Degrees of Separation, Alejandro Salomone who plays Nico in the book, are travelling to Italy, where the book is set, to film some of the scenes so stay tuned for that!








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Thursday, October 3, 2024

Black Hills Wolves by Celia Breslin - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular




Halloween Treat: Grandma Eddie’s Caramels
From Celia Breslin

If you like to make things from scratch for Halloween, try my grandmother’s recipe for the best caramels on the planet!

RECIPE:

1 can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups white sugar
2 cups white Karo Syrup
1 stick of butter (1/4 lb.)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix together the first three ingredients (milk, sugar, syrup) in a large bowl.
Melt the butter in a large heavy kettle, pour in the mixture and bring to a boil.
Stir continuously while mixture boils until it reaches the temperature of 245 degrees Fahrenheit on a candy thermometer (can take up to 25 minutes).

Note: If mixture overcooks, candy gets too hard.

Once the 245-degree temperature is reached, remove kettle from stove.

Stir in 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, then pour mixture onto a large, buttered cookie sheet or flat pan.

Cut to your preferred size.

Wrap with your preferred wrapper. (My grandmother used wax or parchment paper)

Happy Halloween!


Diamond Moon
Black Hills Wolves 
Celia Breslin

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Date of Publication:  March 27, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-61333-803-2
ASIN: B00T2E7ZEY
Number of pages: 85
Word Count: 29,737
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Book Description:

Human-wolf hybrid Darci Diamond spends every full moon locked in auntie’s basement in Southern Oregon. Her excruciating shifts terrify her, the last one causing her heart to stop beating. Seeking a cure, she journeys to Los Lobos. 

Ross Luparell returns to the struggling Tao pack, using his millions made in the tech industry to build homes for pack families in need. He never imagined he would also find his one true mate. But when a hybrid with the biggest green eyes he’s ever seen lands on his doorstep in the middle of a wicked summer storm, there’s no denying it. She’s the one.

She wants a normal human life, free from pain-filled shifts. He won’t give up on her Wolf, and will do whatever it takes to help her accept her true nature. But can he convince her to trust him with her heart?

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Read an Excerpt: https://wp.me/p2fl3L-1VX


Under a Mating Moon
Black Hills Wolves 
Celia Breslin

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Decadent Publishing
Date of Publication: September 18, 2015
ISBN: 9781613338940
ASIN: B0148W4RHW
Number of pages: 114
Word Count: 32,200
Cover Artist: Fiona Jayde

Book Description:

British Alpha wolf Jake Marsden spends his days among humans, pursuing a lucrative music career and avoiding his pack’s politics. When his current DJ tour takes him to the US, he stops in Los Lobos to visit family, and runs into the one Wolf he never wants to see again—the mate who rejected his claim.

While visiting her brother in Los Lobos, free-spirited Lexi Luparell is shocked to encounter the Wolf she’d denied when they were teens. Now she must face her guilt for the cruel way she spurned him all those years ago, make amends, and admit the truth. Jake was right all along—they’re meant to mate.

Lexi would love to explore the mate concept and her overwhelming attraction to virile, alpha Wolf Jake, but he wants nothing to do with her. How can she break down his defenses when she’s the reason he built them in the first place?

Jake dates only human women now. Lexi had her shot at being his mate, and she threw it away. But when her life is threatened, he may have to rethink his position and do whatever it takes to claim his one true mate.

Books2Read       Amazon      BN      Apple      Kobo

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Read an Excerpt: https://wp.me/p2fl3L-1VX


Jasmine Moon
Black Hills Wolves 
Celia Breslin

Genre:  Paranormal Romance
Publisher:  Decadent Publishing
Date of Publication: June 3, 2016
ISBN:  9781683610458
ASIN:  B01GKB9WMO
Number of pages:  108
Word Count:  36,400
Cover Artist:  Fiona Jayde

Book Description:

Tech mogul and workaholic Wolf Evan Luparell has little time for distractions but takes a break for his brother’s wedding in South Dakota. When asked to escort another wedding attendee from the airport to Los Lobos, he agrees. Then he meets the curvy spitfire, and she ignores him.

Designer and Wolf Mina Carver didn’t mean to be rude to the handsome, glowering man claiming to be her ride, but she was busy working. Now she must endure a ride to the Black Hills with the cranky but sexy Dominant Wolf. Unexpected mating energy sparks between them, but still—should she dismiss, or kiss him?

Kisses win and they agree upon a no-strings fling. But with each wedding activity throwing them together, and their powerful chemistry and mate compatibility complicating matters, can two workaholics truly have their fun then walk away?

Books2Read      Amazon       BN      Apple      Kobo

Read an Excerpt: https://wp.me/p2fl3L-1VX


About the Author:

Celia Breslin lives in California with her husband, daughter, and three feisty cats. She writes urban fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi romance, and has a particular fondness for werewolves, vampires, the Fae, and cyborgs. When not writing, you’ll find Celia exercising, reading a good book, hanging with her family, or indulging her addiction to fantasy TV shows and movies.












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Tuesday, October 1, 2024

The Witch’s Debt by Edward Rollins - Haunted Halloween Spooktacular



The Haunted World of West Virginia’s Grannies

West Virginia, the place generations of my people have called home. Wild, wonderful, and possessed of an undeniable beauty. But sometimes... the place just ain't right.

 

Maybe it's the narrow roads snaking through claustrophobic forests. Maybe it's the looming presence of the mountains, equal parts shelter, and constraint. Or maybe it’s the tight-lipped locals, wary of strangers and burdened by the weight of tales passed down since before their kin left the Old Country. Whispered stories that tell of all manner of...other. Either way, it's hard to shake the feeling that my beloved mountains are hiding secrets best left alone. That's the world that birthed the Granny, or white witch; wise women, workers of poultices, charms, and yes - when called for - curses. And it is the Granny that inspired my Coal Mountain series. Only seems right to share a bit about them with you.  

 

The origins of the Granny lie in the isolation and desperation of mountain life, in a time and place far removed from modern medicine when the nearest doctor could be a day or more away. When folks there got sick, they turned to the Grannies, whose reputations were rooted in their understanding of herbalism and the preparation of natural remedies; the ability to “stir a boil” and make a sick child well. It was a short hop from a tea to cure a fever to a poultice to catch the eye of the one you loved. And when the shadows grew long and the veil between worlds thinned - as it’s said happens each Halloween - it's no surprise that folks turned to the Grannies again, this time to keep that darkness at bay.

 

To their communities, the Grannies were keepers of ancient knowledge passed down through generations; both revered and feared for the knowledge they possessed. Their practices were a New World blend of Celtic, Native American, Germanic, and African traditions, all interwoven with a dose of Christian beliefs and survive still among the region's followers of Celtic Christianity.

Grannies - including my own - professed the ability to craft powerful charms and perform rituals that could protect against the things unseen that haunted the West Virginia wilderness. They were known to craft hex signs – a practice drawn from Germanic and Pennsylvania Dutch traditions – and utilized these colorful symbols to guard a place from evils known and unknown. While many of these wards were small works of art, some were simplicity incarnate. Among the latter was the simple use of "haint blue," a soft, bluish-green color often seen on doorways, windowsills, and even porch ceilings. Tradition maintained that "haints" - or restless spirits – were unable to cross water. The color - mimicking water as it does – was thought to create a protective barrier at doors and windows.

And then there were the curses—dark incantations spoken in secret, sometimes to seek justice, other times to exact revenge. While not every Granny dabbled in curses, there is no shortage of tales telling if a wronged woman who sought out a Granny to set things right. As a teenager, I heard firsthand the tales of dead livestock, blighted crops, or families plagued by mysterious illnesses after someone crossed a Granny. It was plume foolish to doubt ht. It was the certainty of the belief in the power of a Granny’s curse that led them to be treated with a blend of respect and caution.  Their power both admired and approached with trepidation.

The folks of southern West Virginia being of primarily Scots and Irish decent, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Halloween, or Samhain as it was once known, was a time of great significance for the Grannies of the region. Folks had no doubt that on that night the boundary between the living and the dead was at its weakest; spirits walked freely among the living. So, the living turned to the Grannies as gatekeepers, looking to them to perform ancient rituals – often Christian and pagan in equal measure – to honor the dead, protect the living, and keep the darkest of forces at bay. Bonfires – with deep roots in Celtic tradition - played a role in these ceremonies. The Grannies would gather their communities around these fires, where they burnt sage, rosemary, and other herbs believed to cleanse the area of evil spirits.

The legacy of the Grannies remains tightly woven into the fabric of mountain folklore, contributing to an all too familiar sense of unease that hangs about the darkest corners, especially at Halloween. While many in the Mountain State have forgotten the truth of their own stories, you can count on Halloween to breathe new life in old tales, filled with strange occurrences, eerie encounters, and supernatural events that defy explanation. And you can find signs of the past without looking to hard. Children carve pumpkins having no knowledge that they are practicing an ancient ritual meant to ward off evil. Candles burn in darkened windows absent even the most distant remembrance of nights when they were lit to guide the ancestors home on Halloween night.

As Halloween approaches and the nights grow longer, folks in my neck of the woods aren’t strained by the idea that the world of the Grannies remains. The world of the Grannies – that blend of ancient wisdom and supernatural wonder – hasn't faded with time. No, it’ll never be truly lost. It floats through the hollers like a whisper on the wind. It’s etched into the stone of the mountains themselves. So, when the wind carries a distant howl to your ears, or the moon casts grasping shadows across the ground, and you sense something off in the world... remember that the ancient magic of the Grannies remains, just out of sight, but still in reach.


The Witch’s Debt
Coal Mountain Series
Book One
Edward Rollins

Genre: Contemporary Fantasy
Date of Publication: October 1, 2019
ASIN: 1689808853
Number of pages: 392
Word Count: 97.376
Cover Artist: Katherine Rollins

Tagline: If you like witches, werewolves, and murder, this is the book for you.

Book Description: 

When the ghost of Jake Calhoun's grandmother delivers a cryptic message to him, he's drawn back to the mountains of southern West Virginia, where he finds himself on a collision course with the consequences of his past, the strained family ties that drove him to run, and the woman he left behind. 

Though he longs to return to the life he's made for himself in the city, a string of deaths forces him to decide who he will be, where he belongs, and how he will stop whoever is killing those closest to him.

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Excerpt

"You all right, Buck?" He set his coffee on the small table there as he took more of my weight than I intended.  

"Yeah," I lied. "Bit of a headache." I couldn't look him in the eye. "I need to check on something. Be right in."  

"Sure you're gonna be all right?" Dad picked up his coffee as I took my weight again.  

“I’ll live.” I nodded and started toward the sitting room. I steeled myself against the pain I knew was coming and pushed my senses into the Curtain once again.  

The little room off the chapel was packed with overstuffed couches and an ottoman which could double for a bed. I could see just clearly enough to avoid tripping, but it made finding the cat a challenge. I moved from piece to piece, looking behind and under each. There was no sign of it. It could have left through the chapel but I wasn't ready to accept that it had. It was bothersome enough it was inside the church. I didn't want to consider what it would mean if the thing could move across the consecrated ground of the chapel.  

"Lose something?" Bonnie asked from the doorway.  

Frustrated and defeated, I gave her a weak smile and let go of my view into the Curtain.

"Hello, Bonnie."  

She stepped into the room, her coat and purse left behind somewhere. She wore a pained smile on her lips. "That the best you have for me?"  

There were people in this town I didn't care to spare a kind word, Bonnie wasn't one of them. She'd done nothing but love me.  

I stopped fighting the smile she had always put on my face and replied, "Well if it isn't Bonnie Blankenship, the prettiest girl at Pineville High. How are things, Ms. Blankenship?"  

"Much better,” her smile touched her eyes and she stepped in close.  





About the Author:

As a kid in elementary school, Edward Rollins hated to read. Hated it…

Then his grandfather, who knew Edward loved the Adam West "Batman" series, introduced him to Batman comic books, the rest is nerd history. From those early comics he went on to consume a steady diet of books from fantasy to science fiction. Eventually, he found a little game called Dungeons and Dragons and a lifetime of telling stories was born.

He’s been a sailor, a soldier, a pastor, an engineer and a college professor; sometimes all at once. Mostly, he hopes to know what he wants to be when he grows up. Assuming he agrees to grow up…
A writer since college, he has published a handful of short stories and gaming industry pieces over the years. "The Witch's Debt" is his first attempt at writing “something of his own”.

Edward has lectured in convention and collegiate circles on the topics of gaming simulations, fantasy world building and theology in fantasy settings. He is a fan of 1920s pulp and science fiction as well as the 1950s aesthetics of Raygun Gothic and Atom-Punk.

While he lives in central Ohio with his wife and two incredible young adults – all three of which make him proud -- his heart will always be in West Virginia.








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