Dani Harper's Blog, page 15

KRAMPUS - Santa's Demon Sidekick

Christmas is a time of dusting off old memories and sometimes old blogs --- especially since I'm tied up with a looming deadline right now. This is one of my very favorite posts, a piece of history that Americans are often unfamiliar with....

Our North American Santa Claus is loosely based on the European Saint Nicholas, a kind, gift-giving fellow traditionally portrayed in long bishop’s robes instead of a red suit. Saint Nick grew out of stories about an actual person, Nikolaos of Myra, a Greek bishop with a reputation for secret gift-giving such as leaving coins in shoes and working miracles.

So understanding Saint Nicholas is easy. It’s the company he keeps that raises questions and eyebrows. In Austria, Hungary, Bavaria and other Alpine countries, St. Nick’s assistant isn't a cute little elf, it's an enslaved demon. Yup, that’s right. D-E-M-O-N. This cloven-hoofed creature goes by many names, but most commonly is called Krampus, which is Old High German for claw.

KrampusPerhaps the word for “long” would have suited him better. Not only does Krampus have lengthy talons, but sports exceptional horns on his head as well. His seven-foot tall body is usually covered with long shaggy hair (often black), he has a long tail and he has a tongue longer and more prehensile than that belonging to Gene Simmons' demon character of KISS fame.

If all that weren’t intimidating enough, Krampus is not only a demon, but an incubus. That’s a demon who sexually preys on sleeping humans! (Santa hangs out with a predator?!)

St. Nick and his goons
So while St. Nicholas got all the positive press by delivering gifts and treats to “good” boys and girls, Krampus was right by his side to dish out not just warnings but punishment to the “bad” children, and sometimes to adults too. In some places, the jolly old saint was accompanied by not one but several demons – his own personal gang of enforcers!

If you weren't saying your prayers, doing your chores and being properly respectful to elders, the penalty wasn't a mere lump of coal in your stocking. Krampus was armed with chains, a bag or basket and bundles of switches. If you were lucky, Krampus only took all your presents for himself. More often, you’d be spanked or even beaten. In some towns, kids had to run a long gauntlet of people dressed as Krampus and armed with switches!

Krampus taking "bad" children to HellReally naughty kids were allegedly shackled with chains or stuffed in a bag or basket, and carried off to Hell to burn forever – at least, that’s what children were told. In Switzerland, where Krampus is called Schmutzli, children were routinely threatened with being carried off to the dark forest by the demon or tied in his sack to be thrown in the river and drowned!

We've all seen little kids who are intimidated or downright terrified of department store Santas (some of us WERE those little kids!). How on earth did European children cope with seven-foot demons threatening them? Were they tougher than today's kids or were they scarred for life? Psychological studies hadn't been invented when St. Nick’s sinister sidekick first popped up in Germanic folklore around 1600. And the whole Christmas demon concept probably goes all the way back to pre-Christian winter solstice celebrations when pagan deities were said to roam the night.

Greetings from Krampus!Krampus' popularity grew until eventually he got his own day. Krampusnacht was usually December 5th which is the eve of St. Nicholas Day in many regions. In some places, there were entire Krampus festivals held, where young men dressed up like demons and terrorized the local children (and unwary young women) for days. By the way, the reward for this important public service was beer and other spirits. Many of these traditional festivals continue to this day.

In the 1800s, while the Victorians were developing the notion of sending pretty Christmas cards, a trend emerged in some European countries to send scary, lewd and suggestive postcards of the yuletide demon! Instead of Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas, these cards usually said “Greetings from Krampus!” (About as cheery to receive as “Compliments from Satan”!)

So the next time you start wishing for a real old-fashioned holiday, try singing “Krampus the Christmas Demon” to the tune of “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” and remember that the season of goodwill once had a very dark and disturbing side!

Dani Harper
http://www.daniharper.com/

Your turn!  Have you ever heard tales of the Krampus? Got any other scary Christmas traditions to share?  By the way, have a look at this book on Amazon -
Krampus: The Devil of Christmas

Intuition, Instinct, Hunches & Gut Feelings -- Are you listening?

Intuition is perception via the unconscious.  Carl Jung

What is your gut telling you right now? No, really. Sure, you’ve heard that you should listen to your “gut feelings” but while intuition is something everyone has, it’s not something we all pay attention to. And while most people accept the existence of intuition, you might not think of it as a psychic ability or tool.

So what is intuition, exactly?

The dictionary defines intuition as immediate understanding without reasoning or thought. In other words, if you have a problem, intuition jumps directly to the solution without passing Go or collecting $200. You don’t have to think about it, you suddenly just know what the answer is. Think about Ben Kenobi talking to Luke Skywalker: “Trust your feelings, Luke.”

Of course, many of us are afraid to trust that inner voice. The rational mind gets in the way, causing you to doubt and second-guess yourself. Later, you’ll probably hit yourself in the forehead and utter a loud Homer Simpson “D’Oh!”, wishing you’d listened to that feeling you had.

Is intuition a form of psychic ability then? A sixth sense? Perhaps. Alexis Carrel said: "Intuition comes very close to clairvoyance; it appears to be the extrasensory perception of reality."

Reality is in the eye of the beholder – or the mind. Intuition is said to come directly from the subconscious mind, which has the ability to “clue in” to reality as it is. On the other hand, the rational mind is constantly under the influence of past experience, emotions, ideas and countless other things. The rational mind can be focused on a single thing to the exclusion of all else. The rational mind can also be distracted. In contrast, the subconscious mind is constantly and consistently taking in every tiny detail of your surroundings, every nuance of every conversation, even the subtle body language of people in your vicinity. This means that the subconscious mind knows things that the rational or conscious mind does not!

Examples abound. You might walk into the office one morning and immediately sense that something is wrong. You haven’t talked to anyone or consciously noticed a problem yet you know something is not right. Or you might meet someone who is friendly, interesting and attractive – yet you have a nagging feeling that all is not what it seems. Conversely, you might run into someone who appears gruff and rough. Yet your gut tells you this person can be trusted. Your subconscious mind has picked up on things your rational mind doesn’t see. 

Still, intuition can go above and beyond simply registering clues in your immediate vicinity, and this is where intuition appears to cross over into the realm of the paranormal. (In fact, almost all types of psychic ability and ESP can be grouped under the general heading of intuition.)
One of my daughters gave me permission to share one of her experiences with my readers:
A few years ago, she lived in a small town and could only access the nearby big city by a winding coastal highway. She was SO excited to plan a shopping expedition to the city for a special occasion. The morning of the trip, however, brought something different.

“The second I was conscious of being awake, there was a huge thought in my head:  Don’t go anywhere because you’ll be in a car accident today . It was as strong as I’ve ever felt anything in my whole life.”

Many of us would have passed it off but my daughter had had enough experiences to know that she needed to listen to her intuition, even though it meant missing something she’d been looking forward to for days.

“That day at the time I would have been on the highway, there was a big car pileup and seven people died. It was a four-lane highway, and the accident was so bad that it was closed for nine and half hours.” My daughter has no doubt that she would have been involved in the terrible accident somehow if she had stuck to her original plan.

By the way, many people report a physical sensation that accompanies this intuitive sensing. For some it may be a prickling of the skin or scalp, or even goosebumps; for others it might be a peculiar sensation in the stomach or heart region. One woman reported that her cheeks got very hot when she was experiencing this heightened perception.

As with most psychic tools, practice makes perfect. The more you listen to your intuition, the more you’ll be able to hear it.

So was there a time YOU listened to your intuition --- or wish you had?

Dani Harper's Top Ten Paranormal Heroes -- Part of the Hot Halloween Heroes Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Hot Halloween Heroes Giveaway Hop, hosted by author  Felicity Heaton and Indie Romance Books . The hop runs from October 29th to November 3rd 2013.

Halloween is the perfect time to celebrate our favorite supernatural heroes! It took me a long time to make this list because while some of my heroes will always be on it, others will come and go. Let me know what you think --- and definitely tell me who YOUR heroes are! 



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Dani Harper's Top Ten Paranormal Heroes 
(from TV, movies, books, etc.)
Bones - Master Vampire and better half to Cat Crawlfield from the Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost. "Kitten," he moaned as he threw me down onto the bed. "I only thought I was living before I met you. You'll love me until you die? That's not nearly long enough..." - Bones - Halfway to the Grave     Book Seven, said to be the last installment of this Urban Fantasy Series, comes out in January 2014.

Jericho Barrons - The dark and enigmatic male lead of the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. “You choose what you can live with, and what you can't live without.”  - Jericho Barrons - Fever Series    Most of the time the reader isn't certain he's the hero, or even one of the good guys - but his presence overshadows all else in any scene he appears in, and many in which he is only mentioned!  

Thor - A god of Asgard, one of the Nine Realms. Arrogant and over-confident, he is banished to Midgard (Earth) in the 2011 movie. Actor Chris Hemsworth brings the thunder as Thor not only learns humility and becomes one of Earth's greatest defenders, but also falls in love. "Your ancestors called it magic...but you call it science. I come from a land where they are one and the same." - Thor   His character is further developed in The Avengers (2012), and many of us are counting the days until the newest movie, Thor: The Dark World, comes to theaters in November!  

Blade - Master of the dreaded Whitechapel Rookeries in the Steampunk Paranormal, Kiss of Steel, by Bec McMaster. Despite his well-deserved reputation for ruthlessness against the hated Echelon, he is loyal and compassionate to those under his protection, the cast-offs of society. “Easy, luv. Don't stir the devil, or you'll 'ave to pay the consequences." - Blade   His street-smarts don't protect him from being blindsided by the heroine, however. 

Mircea Basarab - 500-year-old Master Vampire, one-time Romanian prince, and currently a member of the powerful Vampire Senate. This powerful and mesmerizing character appears in both the Cassandra Palmer series and the Dorina Basarab series by Karen Chance. Mircea has been a protector of Cassandra Palmer since she was a child, when she was kidnapped for her abilities as a seer. Now that she's grown up, she's powerfully drawn to him --- but is no longer sure if Mircea loves her for herself or her power. “You know, dulceata, there are times when I truly believe you are the most frightening person I know." - Mircea 

Dean Winchester - Brought to life by actor Jensen Ackles in the TV series, Supernatural. Dean and his younger brother Sam (Jared Padalecki) are human, and hunters of things that go bump in the night. Together they've saved the world several times over -- but I admit, Dean's the one I root for most. His extreme loyalty to his brother and his constant willingness to move heaven and earth, literally, for Sam, speaks to me. Just because you're blood doesn't mean you're family. You have to earn it. - Dean Winchester   Besides, he loves pie! Supernatural is now in its 8th season, and both stars agreed in July to return for seasons 9 and 10!

Vishous - Member of JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, his story unfolds in Lover Unbound. Gifted and intelligent, he is nonetheless cursed and tortured by his vampire father, and kept at an icy distance from his goddess mother. The last thing he's looking for is love -- until he meets Dr. Jane Whitcomb. “I love you. And I'm going to keep loving you even after you don't know I exist.” - Vishous  Caution: do not read this without at least two boxes of kleenex.   

Rune Ainissesthai - Wyr Sentinel and griffin shapeshifter, from the Elder Races series by Thea Harrison. The tale of his relationship with vampire queen, Carling, is emotionally rich (told in the book Serpent's Kiss). “If you fail somehow--if you die--I will search for a way to walk through time to find you. No matter where you are. No matter when. I swear it." - Rune  And by the way, Rune's boss, Dragos Cuelebre, leader of the Wyrkind, deserves a mention too, but only for tasty Alpha Male goodness.

Larkin Riddock - One of the heroes in the Circle Trilogy by Nora Roberts, his story is told in Book 2, Dance of the Gods. Larkin has an amazing gift, to be able to shapeshift into any animal at will, from the mundane to the fantastic. He is one of six humans chosen by the gods to battle evil -- and the fate of more than one world depends on the outcome. A greater battle for Larkin, however, is winning over the heart of one of his fellow champions -- Blaire Murphy. "I'm not asking about your feelings," she began. "I'm telling you whether you ask or not." - Larkin Riddock  Just re-read this book recently and yes, I still want him on my list!


Spike - Vampire extraordinaire from the now classic TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The actor, James Marsters, breathed more than attitude into this character, and I am still in awe of Spike's amazing journey from villain to hero, and the sacrifices he makes to be worthy of the love of Buffy Summers. "...A hundred plus years, and there's only one thing I've ever been sure of: you. [Buffy looks away; he reaches toward her face] Hey, look at me. I'm not asking you for anything. When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the one, Buffy." - Spike   She should have picked him over the forever-crippled-by-angst Angel. There, I said it and I'm glad.


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Here's the LINKY LIST of participating authors -- I'm Number 81

FIRST BITE by Dani Harper kicks off the Dark Wolf Series - a whole new world of Changelings to love

First Bite
by Dani HarperSeries: Dark Wolf #1
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Publish Date: October 15th 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Paperback/Ebook, 300 pages

Book Description:Geneva “Neva” Ross doesn’t want to die. But now that she’s been turned into a werewolf against her will, she’ll do anything to protect her family and friends…even if that means taking her own life.After witnessing Neva’s leap from a high ledge, Travis Williamson—a Changeling with a dark past—uses his powers to save her life. He feels a connection to the strong-willed woman whose eyes flash that familiar Changeling green. While Neva is hospitalized, Travis risks everything to kidnap her, knowing the approaching full moon will put everyone in jeopardy.Bickering constantly to hide their growing attraction, Travis and Neva run from the authorities…and from Neva’s sinister sire, Meredith de la Ronde. Meredith delights in creating new shape-shifters and compelling them to do her dark bidding; now Neva must join Meredith’s murderous wolf pack…or die.Intensely suspenseful with deliciously sexy twists, this paranormal romance—the first in the Dark Wolf Series—intertwines sensual passion with an epic, thrilling battle between good and evil.Purchase Links:  Amazon | B&N | Add to Goodreads************************************************************************************* Check out the list of tour participants on Dani's website! Enter to win books, ebooks, plush Webkinz wolves, etc.
Check out the list of tour participants on Dani's website! Enter to win books, ebooks, plush Webkinz wolves, etc.

HALLOWEEN SCAVENGER HUNT 2013 - Dani Harper

Night Owl Reviews is hosting aHALLOWEEN SCAVENGER HUNT 2013
FILL IN A MISSING WORD(S) FROM BOOK BLURBS FOR CHANCES TO WIN AWESOME AUTHOR CREATED GIFT BASKETS!
STARTING SEPTEMBER 15THENDING OCTOBER 31ST
Find great authors and books - EASY to enter!
http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Pages/Articles/Halloween-Scavenger-Hunt-2013

COLLECTIBLE
WEBKINZ BLACK WOLF,
PART OF DANI HARPER'S
GIFT BASKET
DANI'S PRIZE:
I've put together a WOLF-THEMED GIFT BASKET as my giveaway for the Halloween Scavenger Hunt.
One lucky reader will win a KINDLE e-reader (Wi-Fi with 6" display) plus a Webkinz Black Wolf, an ebook of my new release FIRST BITE, a bag of Wicked Wolf Coffee, and swag.    Total Value = $100+

SIGNED PAPERBACK OF Dani's
Newest PARANORMAL RELEASE 12 OZ BAG OF WICKED WOLF
ORGANIC COFFEE














http://www.nightowlreviews.com/v5/Pages/Articles/Halloween-Scavenger-Hunt-2013

SCHOOL'S IN SESSION GIVEAWAY HOP

If Halloween is my favorite time of year, then the Back-to-School season is a very close second. No, not because I have kids heading to class and I'm looking forward to some peace and quiet. I have 3 dogs, 9 chickens, a rooster and a neighborhood with many hot rod enthusiasts, children and feral cats. There IS no peace and quiet in my immediate future.

Nope, the reason I love this time of year is all because of school supplies. There's nothing I love more than wandering the aisles of Staples or Office Depot, or lingering in the seasonal section of the grocery store, gazing happily upon all that marvelous, wonderful, pristine, untouched stationery .

Paper --- lined, unlined, reams, pads and looseleaf. Wonderful tools to write with -- pens, markers, pencils and crayons. Oh, and not to mention colorful clipboards, file folder stands, organizers and more. Then there's acres of computers, laptops, smartphones, iPads, printers, desks, office chairs and more, more, more.

And don't get me started on sticky notes...

Why do I love school supplies so much? It has little to do with school (my apologies to teachers everywhere) and everything to do with POTENTIAL!!!

Whether I'm walking along the student supply aisle of a big box store or a little convenience store, I am all but overcome by the sheer potential of all that blank paper --- and the stories just waiting to be written.

Naturally, most of my actual writing is done on my laptop. But that's the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creating a novel. I leave a trail of notes everywhere I go. I have binders full of the latest versions of manuscripts, file folders with character bios, story ideas on steno pads, sample scenes and deleted scenes in notebooks. And sticky notes, sticky notes, STICKY NOTES....

Today I'm participating in the SCHOOL'S IN SESSION Giveaway Hop, sponsored by Ruby's Reads (http://rubysreads.com). I'm a paranormal writer, but I haven't written any scary boarding school stories, so I'm going to rely on Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy for some prize help.

I'm offering two gently-used paperbacks, Books 1 and 2, of this fabulous series ---- plus, 'tis the season of bookbags, right?  I have a Dani Harper Tote Bag up for grabs too.  The Rafflecopter explains it all below.

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Lovestruck Giveaway Hop - Win a e-book of STORM WARRIOR by Dani Harper

To be lovestruck is to be overwhelmed with a passionate feeling of love for someone;  struck by love as if struck by a lightening bolt! You are instantly in love the moment you meet this person. Head over heels for them, you experience love at first sight, you're besotted, charmed, and/or you're smitten as if with a knockout punch. 

Wow! That's what romance novels are all about. But in books as in life, love is an individual experience. The hero and heroine seldom fall in love at the same time, or at the same rate --- if they did, we wouldn't have much of a story to read!

In my new paranormal release, STORM WARRIOR (Book 1 of the Grim Series), the hero is Rhys, a handsome Celt who's been freed from a 2000-year-old curse by the kindness of unsuspecting Morgan Edwards, an independent woman who firmly believes in science and logic. For him, she's the one. For her ... well, let's just say she's going to be a helluva challenge for the powerful warrior.

BLURB -- As a child, Morgan Edwards marveled at the faery tales spun by her beloved grandmother, stories of the magical beings hidden in the heart of ancient Wales. But now Morgan is all grown up, a veterinarian who believes only in what science can prove—until the night a massive black dog saves her from a vicious attack, and life as she knows it changes forever. Suddenly a stranger stands before her, the man of her dreams made flesh and blood not by science, but by a magic that could bring them their hearts’ desires...or cost them everything they have.
THE LOVESTRUCK GIVEAWAY BLOG HOP
Hosted by Under the Covers  , this blog hop runs from August 14 to August 20, 2013. Nearly 130 authors and bloggers are participating with giveaways! 
My giveaway for this hop - three people will each win a Kindle ebook of my new release, Storm Warrior! Prizes will be sent through Amazon. Don't have a Kindle? There are free Kindle reading apps that can be downloaded to a wide variety of devices such as iPad, computer or smart phone.

Enter by using the Rafflecopter. This particular giveaway is open to USA, Canada and the UK.







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STORM WARRIOR - Death's Messenger becomes the Hero in this new Paranormal Novel by Dani Harper

STORM WARRIOR by Dani Harper features a GRIM,
a legendary black dog who is a messenger of death,
from the folklore of Celtic countries such as Wales  My friends, family and readers are well aware that I adore shapeshifters, and my novels to date have been filled with Changelings who can transform from human to wolf at will.

And it's true that I'm usually a werewolf kind of gal, totally over the moon for the tall, dark and furry kind of guy.

Not this time.

Yes, STORM WARRIOR is shapeshifter story of sorts, but you won't find a single wolf in this tale! Instead it combines Celtic myth with faery lore from Wales. (Like the heroine, Morgan Edwards, I was lucky to have a Welsh gramma!)

The result is a hot hero, Rhys, who has been cursed by the faeries to be a Grim, a legendary black dog.

THE GRIM - THE BLACK DOG IN LEGEND AND LORE

STORM WARRIOR   by Dani Harper
RELEASES AUGUST 6, 2013I love a good ghost story and a ghost DOG story is even better! One of my favorite Welsh folktales concerns the Grim, a legendary canine with many names: The Black Dog, the Gwyllgi, the Dog of Darkness, the Barghest, Dog of the Twilight and Black Hound of Destiny. The creatures is said to resemble a giant mastiff, larger than any living dog, and its eyes are often red and glowing.

The legend dates back to Celtic times in Wales. The Grim, or Black Dog, is the herald of Death itself, and those who see the animal are usually destined to die very soon. The dog appears without warning, follows or even chases people – yet vanishes without a trace. Electrical storms are often associated with the dog’s appearance (and yup, there’s a thunderstorm early on in Storm Warrior)

This otherworldly beast has counterparts in many parts of the British Isles. For centuries, black dogs have haunted particular towns, roads and forests in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales. Occasionally, they have even cursed particular families.

Negative associations with dark dogs seem to be part of our collective human consciousness. It’s a frightening archetype throughout myth and legend, from Cerberus, the hideous canine that guards the entrance to the Underworld, to the black Hounds of the Norse god, Odin, to the Hellhounds that follow the Faery Hunt. Plus, a common pseudonym for depression is The Black Dog.

It's an unfortunate but well-documented truth that large black dogs are far less likely to be adopted from an animal shelter.   :(   It's called BDS or Black Dog Syndrome , and many shelters join in programs like the nationwide "Back in Black" event to encourage the adoption of black pets.


STORM WARRIOR  by Dani Harper
RELEASES AUGUST 6, 2013THE GRIM - THE BLACK DOG IN FICTION

In classic fiction, the haunting of a specific family by a black dog helped inspire the 1901 classic, The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Big black dogs continue to appear in pop culture. Remember "the Grim" in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling? TV series such as Supernatural, Reaper and Buffy the Vampire Slayer have all featured monstrous and malevolent hounds. The legend of the black dog is also alive and well in many video games. The Lord of the Rings online computer game features just such an animal.



GRIM - BLACK DOG SIGHTINGS IN AMERICA

STORM WARRIOR  by Dani Harper
RELEASES AUGUST 6, 2013Did you know there are sightings of ghostly canines right here in the United States? Black dogs are said to haunt Macon County, Tennessee and foretell death and calamity. US Highway 491 is also said to be haunted by dogs of darkness – which perhaps is not surprising when you find out that the highway was originally named Route 666! Motorists report braking for giant black dogs – only to have them vanish at the moment of impact!

Even Long Island, New York has a black dog legend. Just like its Welsh counterpart, seeing the creature is said to be followed by death within a month. The supernatural canine that roams the hills of Connecticut is a little more forgiving – you have to see that particular black dog three times before writing out your will.

Think you’re safe if you stay home at night? Maybe not. There are many stories out there of seeing the Grim in a nightmare. As if the bad dream wasn’t enough, it’s said to be followed by dire events, even death. People have reported the giant black dog appearing inside their home, complete with glowing eyes, only to have it vanish when the light was turned on. Illness or death in the family or other catastrophe followed.


THE GRIM - THE BLACK DOG AS A HERO

STORM WARRIOR  by Dani Harper made #5 on the 
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Top 10 list of Romance and
Erotica for this fall. In its defense, however, the Grim hasn’t always been threatening, at least not to the innocent. In some tales, the animal is an instrument of justice, hunting down escaped murderers. But a few stories recount incidents where the great beast protected children or guarded lone travelers.

This made me wonder – what if the spectral creature had a conscience, a sense of right and wrong? What if the Grim didn’t mindlessly follow its mission? What if the Black Dog didn't want to be Death's Messenger? What if it wasn't really a dog at all?

That was the proverbial "aha moment" in which my story was conceived!

* * * *

Originally I wrote my Black Dog story as a short ebook-novella called A Leap of Knowing -- and foolishly, I thought I was finished with Grims.  
Not so! 
I swear the characters "hounded" me ever after to write more because the story was soooo much bigger than the little novella could do justice to. 

In STORM WARRIOR , this paranormal fantasy/romance is finally the rich full-length novel it was always meant to be. And right now, I can hardly believe I'm working on Book Two, Storm Bound!

After all, there are so many more black dogs out there...

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GOODREADS GIVEAWAY OF STORM WARRIOR

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Goodreads Book Giveaway



Storm Warrior
by Dani Harper

Giveaway ends August 21, 2013.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Storm Warrior - the storm has begun! ARC Giveaway!

Once in a while it seems that the Universe really, really wants you to do something.... That's how I've felt about my upcoming release, STORM WARRIOR. It was a story I just HAD to write.


Apparently the Universe knew something I didn't. This past week, I got an email from my editor notifying me that STORM WARRIOR was featured in the June 24 issue of PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. 

Not only was referenced in an article called Occupy Romance by Rose Fox (plus a pic of the cover), it made the PW Top 10 list of Romance and Erotica for this fall. In fact, Storm Warrior is #5. 

To say I was gobsmacked is putting it lightly. How my book EVER got that kind of notice, I have no idea. I'm amazed, humbled, and grateful.

And just to put icing on the cake, today I learned of a starred review just released from Publishers Weekly that had me emptying the kleenex box:



Wonder touches Spokane Valley, Wash., and the life of veterinarian Morgan Edwards in Harper’s beautifully narrated foray into Celtic myth and legend. While realizing a lifelong dream of visiting Wales, the land of her ancestors, Morgan unknowingly sets in motion events that change her life. The adventures follow her home in the form of Rhys, a mysterious man who’s been under a curse since Roman times. 

Morgan must depend on words of wisdom from her past as she navigates the unknown paths of love and faith, and as she fights for her life. Rich with detail and accessible explanations of lore, the events unfold naturally. The romantic elements are slightly outweighed by the paranormal aspects, though the result is immensely satisfying with just a hint of spice.

Harper (Changeling Moon) provides excellent texture and depth with a touch of sincere empathy for animals, rounding out an already excellent novel. Agent: Stephany Evans, FinePrint Literary Management. (Aug.)

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4778-0594-7

And how did this all start? For those of you who have been following me for a while (and bless every one of you for it), you might remember a few years ago when I published a short e-novella called A Leap of Knowing. 

I swear the characters "hounded" me ever after to write more --- the story was soooo much bigger than the little novella could do justice to. And I'm thrilled to be able to say I DID IT --- it took a while but at long last, this paranormal romance is finally the rich full-length novel it was always meant to be. And it's kicking off a whole new series!!!  At this very moment, I'm working on Book Two, Storm Bound.

About Storm Warrior:

Enslaved for millennia by the masters of the Welsh faery realm, the fierce Celtic warrior Rhys is doomed to wander the earth forever. But when a brave beauty unwittingly breaks the enchantment, he is drawn into a strange new world…and an all-consuming desire.

Sensible Morgan doesn’t believe in magic—until a mysterious being saves her from a fate worse than death, and life as she knows it changes forever. Now the man of her dreams has become flesh and blood, igniting a spark in Morgan’s soul which science cannot explain. 

But even a love that transcends time may not be strong enough to withstand the power of an ancient curse.

Book One in a new series by Dani Harper, this hot paranormal romance will be released August 6, 2013 by Montlake Romance.

Ebook or trade paperback or audio are now available for pre-order.

http://www.amazon.com/Storm-Warrior-The-Grim-Series/dp/147780594X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367591141&sr=8-1&keywords=storm+warrior+dani  
ARCs do not have
artwork on the cover
GIVEAWAYS 

I feel like celebrating and I just have to share with my wonderful readers. So I have not one, not two, but THREE signed paperback ARCs (advance readers copies) of Storm Warrior to give away. Three readers will win! 

Please note that ARCs don't have graphics on the cover, but I'll be sure to include postcards of the artwork for you and a friend.

a Rafflecopter giveaway