Thursday, October 2, 2014

5 Secrets (What No One Knows About My Book)

Our guest author today is Shauna Aura Knight, who is going to share some tidbits about the writing of her book that no one knows--until today.

An artist, author, and presenter, Shauna is inspired by creating experiences, stories, spaces, and artwork to awaken mythic imagination. She’s a fantasy artist and author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy including Werewolves in the Kitchen, A Winter Knight’s Vigil, and A Fading Amaranth. Her mythic artwork and designs are used for magazine covers, book covers, and illustrations. She travels nationally offering intensive education in the transformative arts of community leadership, facilitation, and personal transformation, and is the author of numerous articles and books on those subjects.

5 Things You Don't Know About A Winter Knight’s Vigil:

1. I once spent several days hanging out with several Pagan friends in a cabin. It was the Winter Solstice, like in the story. We had planned to do some rituals, but we never got around to doing any of that, we just hung out together. Actually, it turned out that—of the six of us, the one guy in our group had been leading on one woman, flirting with another, sleeping with yet another, all while cheating on his live-in girlfriend. There were only two of us not in the…how to put it…love quadrangle. While the plot of A Winter Knight’s Vigil doesn’t go in that direction, that particular weekend sparked some of the plot complications.
2. A lot of paranormal romances (and television shows dealing with Witches and Druids) detail elaborate rituals with pentacles carved into the floor and people with knives and heaps of burning herbs and incense intoning rhymed couplets. However, the rituals I describe in the book are a lot more common to what you’ll find in the actual Pagan community. In fact, I facilitate rituals like that all the time in Chicago and when I travel and teach at Pagan/Earth-centered festivals.
3. Though Amber is an amazing cook, I can barely fry eggs. It would be less accurate to call what I do cooking; it’s more accurate to say I’m making meat “not raw.” So I was basing a lot of her cooking skill on friends of mine who are amazing in the kitchen. While they might as well be speaking ancient Egyptian when they start the foodie talk, they inspired some of Amber’s character.
4. I chose the name Tristan for the hero because the Celtic story of Tristan and Isolde is such a sad tale, I wanted to give a character with that name a happy ending. I tend to be all emotionally stoic most of the time, but for the right movie, I’m a total sap, and the movie “Tristan and Isolde” has me ugly-crying every time.
5. Jack, their covenmate who’s a drummer and musician, is the same Jack from my story The White Dress, the Autumn Leaves. While that story has some romantic and erotic elements, it’s a tragic urban fantasy, not a romance—just so you’re forewarned if you decide to check it out. A Winter Knight’s Vigil, on the other hand, is sexy and also has an ending that I believe readers will find quite romantic!

Blurb from A Winter Knight’s Vigil

Sexy, kilt-wearing Tristan has captured Amber’s attention on many occasions. But as members of the Kingsword coven, which has strict rules about intimate relationships inside the circle, dating him is out of the question. When the coven heads to a secluded woodland cabin to celebrate the Winter Solstice, Amber finds herself closer than ever to Tristan. As the Longest Night approaches and their group’s ritual workings intensify, the pair realizes that they can no longer hide from their feelings.
Just as King Arthur held vigil before being knighted, Tristan and Amber face their shadows—and the realization that one or both of them might have to leave the coven. Or can they be together without breaking their honor?

To Buy A Winter Knight’s Vigil, go to:
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/385164
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Winter-Knights-Vigil-Shauna-Knight-ebook/dp/B00H545RW0

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-winter-knights-vigil-shauna-aura-knight/1117596419

You can find Shauna at:
Website: http://www.ShaunaAuraKnight.com
Blog: https://shaunaknightauthorartist.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ShaunaKnightAuthorArtist
Twitter: @Shauna_A_Knight
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/shaunaaura/


Thanks for checking out Shauna and her secrets. If you have any comments or questions, Shauna will be around to answer them today.

And don’t forget to check back next Thursday to find out even more author secrets about their book. 

2 comments:

  1. Sounds exciting. My daughter is Wiccan and an artist. I think it comes so naturally to those already intuned with the world. :)

    All the best with your books!

    ReplyDelete