Dani Harper's Blog, page 18

How a Nerd Started Writing Romance – part of “Romancing the Hop” Blog Hop

I SO relate to this pic!
I broke my glasses
more than once as a kid
and had to wear them
repaired with adhesive
or electrical tape!This may come as a surprise but in the beginning, I was not even a reader of romance.

A nerd by nature, I was (and still am) in love with science and history, literature and mythology. And my idea of leisure reading was science fiction, fantasy and horror. Authors Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Ann McCaffrey, and Mercedes Lackey were my heroes, and I have a collection of Ray Bradbury books that I will treasure forever.
I did not, I repeat, read romance. Ever. I had nothing against the genre – it just wasn't on my radar. But I ADORED the supernatural and every little thing that ever went bump in the night.
So perhaps it was the Universe giving me a shove in the right direction when in 2001 I literally stumbled upon the paranormal romance genre. That’s when I happened to pick up an anthology because it said something about vampires. What I discovered was a short story by Christine Feehan titled Dark Dream. Within 100 pages, I fell completely and utterly in love with the entire concept of mixing love and relationships with the supernatural. After that, I read every PNR I could get my hands on. My passion for the genre grew, and it wasn’t long before I was writing it as well.

For me, the most fascinating thing about romance is how people get together. It's an amazing process and different every single time. Each couple is unique and no two relationships will ever be the same – especially when hero and heroine are both strong people. And when you add a paranormal element to love, it brings complications galore!  In other words, PNR provides an endless supply of “what ifs” for my imagination, and I get a great deal of fun and satisfaction from both writing it and reading it.
Look for my current shapeshifter novels – Changeling Moon, Changeling Dream and Changeling Dawn – wherever books are sold. And watch for two new PNR series to launch soon! (I’ll be revealing details as soon as I can!)

See www.daniharper.com for more details on these books.
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Romancing the Hop Blog Hop


August 31 - September 3
Over 200 authors and bloggers have signed up for this hop!  You don't have to visit them all - each giveaway is separate from all others - but it could be a whole lot of fun to try!
PLUS PLUS PLUS - 
Each and every time you comment on any participating blog and leave an email address you are automatically entered to win one of the Blog Hop's GRAND PRIZES! 

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B+N Gift Card3rd Grand Prize: A Large Swag Pack
DANI'S GIVEAWAY: 

A signed paperback of my PNR shapeshifter novel – Changeling Dream and a tote bag to put it in.  I’ll be drawing a winner at random on Sept. 4, 2012.  My giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.

To enter my giveaway, leave a comment at the bottom of this post (below the Linky List) – Tell me "How did you get started reading Romance?" 

Don’t forget to include an email address so I can contact you if you win. (PS - Comments are located BELOW the following Linky List)

Tarot Cards - They're not Magic 8-Balls

Amazon link to Magic 8 BallHonest. “You will meet a tall, handsome stranger...” is more the stuff of fortune cookies than tarot. The purpose of a reading isn’t to tell you what to do – it’s to engage your own intuition. 
The pictures on the cards are powerful psychological archetypes which can help you gain insight about yourself and your circumstances by tapping into your subconscious. 
About the Tarot Deck
Amazon link to  
The classic Rider-Waite Deck The traditional tarot deck has 78 cards, although modern variations may have fewer. Like ordinary playing cards, fifty-six of them are divided into four suits. 
Instead of Hearts, Diamonds, Spades and Clubs, you have Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. 
Each suit has 14 cards, with numbers 1 through 10 plus four royal cards – Page, Knight, Queen and King. 

What most people think of when they hear the word tarot are the archetypal cards, like “The Tower”, “The Star”, “Justice”, “The Fool”, “The Lovers”, and “The Sun”. There are 22 of these trump cards, called “The Major Arcana”. The 56 suit cards are “The Minor Arcana”. Arcana means mystery in Latin, and the term wasn’t applied to tarot cards until later in their history, about 1870.


A Sampling of the Major Arcana   Amazon link to  
Gilded Tarot Deck
THE FOOL – Often the appearance of this card signifies a beginning of a journey, although not necessarily a physical one. It may be mental, emotional or spiritual in nature. Happiness and optimism abound.

THE LOVERS – This card often indicates harmony and union, but is not necessarily about love at all. It may represent choices to be made or a decision between two paths. 

STRENGTH – This card typically shows a woman with a lion. She may be holding the lion’s mouth open or just standing beside it. The image represents not just strength, but courage, self-control and determination.

THE CHARIOT – This card often represents triumph over adversity, some obstacle overcome, a well-deserved victory. 

THE EMPORER – As might be expected, this card signifies authority, corporate structure or government. It may stand for someone in a position of authority in your life, like a boss or a parent. 

THE HANGED MAN – The picture is usually of a man dangling by his foot, and as such, often means a temporary suspension of progress. Circumstances may actually be turned on their head and a waiting period may be in the works.

Amazon link to  
Morgan-Greer Deck OMG, I’ve drawn  the Death Card! With its skeletal figure, the Death card has been often been used in stories, movies and even video games to scare the bejeebers out of people. First and foremost, it’s not about literal death (whew!). 

In fact, the Death card can be a very positive card. It's usually the symbol for CHANGE, signifying either the end of one thing or the beginning of another. It can mean transformation and regeneration, hope and rebirth. In fact, psychologist Carl Jung attributed the Death card in tarot with a new standpoint or perspective.

Think of the Chinese word for crisis – the glyph contains the symbols for both danger and opportunity, and opportunity is stronger. Drawing the Death card can indicate that despair can now give way to hope – a very good change!

Choosing your Tarot Deck
Amazon link to  
Gilded Tarot Deck You need to use a deck of cards that appeals to you and there are thousands of decks out there to choose from. Many people collect tarot decks for their gorgeous artwork. If you have a particular passion, someone is sure to have designed a deck around it. For instance, the Tarot of White Cats (yes, all of the characters depicted in the cards are cats), Mystic Faerie Tarot, Salvador Dali Tarot and Golden Dragon Tarot. Shapes and sizes vary too. There are even decks with round cards, hexagonal and triangular cards!

It’s important to find cards that you feel good working with. It’s an intensely personal choice – what feels right to one person may feel very differently to someone else. The very first deck I purchased was the traditional Rider-Waite design. When I opened the box and touched the cards, I was repelled. It’s not that I didn’t know what they were going to look like, it’s that they didn’t feel good to me. I got a headache every time I tried to use them and I soon gave them away. Other people swear by the Rider-Waite and use nothing else. Through trial and error, I eventually found a deck called The Gilded Tarot. It’s a beautiful deck, but more importantly, the cards resonate with me and I can work with them easily. 

Be Energy-Conscious   Amazon link to   Tarot of White Cats Owning your own deck of tarot cards and handling them regularly is very important. This is so the cards pick up your energy and hold it. For this reason, they shouldn’t be handled by anyone else. (This is also why buying a used deck of tarot cards isn’t advised – they’re saturated with energy from strangers.) In fact, most people who do tarot readings keep a separate deck only for that purpose or ask you to bring one of your own. 

The more familiar you become with your personal deck and the more you develop a close working relationship with them, the more your natural intuition will be enhanced and the better your readings will become. 

Some people believe that it’s bad karma or bad luck to buy your own tarot cards, that your first deck must be gifted to you by someone else. Most tarot readers agree that this is a myth. There’s nothing wrong with getting your own set of cards – in fact, it’s desirable to do this so you can select the deck that appeals most to you. Note: it might not be the deck you think. You might love all things Victorian, but a Victorian-themed deck of tarot cards may not work for you. Who knows, you might respond better to Feng Shui Tarot or even the Tarot of White Cats!

Books to Help You

There isn’t room in a blog to discuss all there is to know about tarot. You’re going to need a good book (or more than one) to use as a resource. As I said before, I mostly use Josephine Ellershaw’s “Easy Tarot - Learning to Use the Tarot Once and For All”, but you need to find the one that resonates best with you. Many tarot decks come with their own books, which is a good place to start. 

Amazon link to  
Easy Tarot by Josephine Ellershaw
Most of all, don't forget that no matter what a book says, the meanings of the cards are fluid and adaptable. What a card means is what you feel it means. Intuition trumps all! 
Happy Reading!




YOUR TURN – Have you ever worked with Tarot before, or had a reading done for you? Is there a particular deck that you enjoy working with or a book that you’ve found helpful?

Entertaining Werewolves – part of the Sizzling Books of Summer Giveaway Hop

My obsession with wolfen shapeshifters has led to a series of PNR novels – Changeling Moon, Changeling Dream and Changeling Dawn .  The stories center around the Macleod family, who are able to become wolves at will. Forced to leave their native Scotland almost two centuries ago when wolves were being exterminated there, they found refuge in northern Canada. They've lived there ever since, in the little town of Dunvegan, hiding in plain sight.
The Macleods and all their friends live as humans – they have jobs and pay bills and go to school and mow the grass and do all the things that humans do. They view their wolfen side as a wonderful gift, but it also complicates their lives, sometimes dangerously so. Especially when it comes to relationships.
So if you happen to stop in at one of Dunvegan’s local pubs, you might see some interesting drinks on the menu. Here are the recipes for three of them. They could come in handy for your next Halloween party – or if you find yourself entertaining a good-looking shapeshifter!
THE WOLF BITE
This neon green shooter is an eye-catcher, especially with its splash of blood red on top!
Ingredients:
1 oz absinthe1 oz melon liqueur (Midori® is suggested in this recipe)1 oz lemon-lime soda1.5 oz pineapple juiceGrenadine
Add absinthe, melon liqueur, pineapple juice, and ice to a cocktail shaker. Shake vigorously, then strain into a 2 oz shot glass. Pour lemon-lime soda on top and add a drizzle of grenadine................................................................................................................
HAIR OF THE WOLF
If you're not already a werewolf, you might be after a few of these.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup hard apple cider1/2 cup pale ale1 measure brandy or bourbon1/2 measure apple pucker liqueur
Chill a beer mug in the freezer until it is frosty. Pour in the hard apple cider, pale ale, brandy or bourbon, and apple pucker. Stir the mixture gently to combine, then serve................................................................................................................
HOWLING WOLF
Real werewolves would rather skip the decorative fruit. Just saying.
Ingredients: 
1/2 oz. Creme de Menthe, white1 oz. Curacao, blue1/2 oz. VodkaSprite or 7-Up
Mix 1/2 oz. white creme de menthe, 1/2 oz. vodka, and 1 oz. blue curacao in a shaker over ice. Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top off the glass with Sprite or 7-Up.
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The Sizzling Books of Summer Giveaway Hop
August 15 - August 22
Nearly 40 authors and bloggers have signed up for this hop!  You don't have to visit them all - each giveaway is separate from all others - but it could be a whole lot of fun to try!
My giveaway: Reader’s choice paperback of one of my PNR shapeshifter novels – Changeling Moon, Changeling Dream or Changeling Dawn.   I’ll be drawing a winner at random on August 23th, 2012.  Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.


To enter, leave a comment at the bottom of this post (below the Linky List) – Tell me “WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE BOOK SO FAR THIS SUMMER?” Don’t forget to include an email address so I can contact you if you win.
Dani Harper www.daniharper.com

HOT SUMMER HEROES BLOG HOP

This hop asks the question: 
What makes a hero hot to me?

I had to think about that for a while. The men in my shapeshifter series are swoonworthy specimens of both human and wolf --- big, strong, and easy on the eyes (hey, this IS fantasy, right?). My heroes aren't short on brains or personality either! 

However, I think what wins me over every single time is their determination to do the right thing no matter how awkward, inconvenient, or downright gut-wrenchingly hard it might be. They are men of honor and men of their word --- even when they're running as wolves.


Hot Summer Heroes Blog Hop

August 13 - August 19

Nearly 90 authors and bloggers have signed up to host individual giveaways for this hop!  

You don't have to visit them all - each giveaway is separate from all others - but it would be a whole lot of fun to try! That's a lot of chances to win something cool!

PLUS, if you win any of the blog draws on the list, you also become eligible for the GRAND PRIZE, which is a $100 Barnes and Noble Gift Card! Woo Hoo!
My giveaway: I’m offering a paperback copy of my PNR shapeshifter book Changeling Dream plus a tote bag to put it in.  I’ll be drawing a winner at random on August 20th, 2012.  Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.

To enter, leave a comment – Tell me something about your favorite kind of HERO – what physical or personality or paranormal trait is hot for you? Don’t forget to include an email address so I can contact you if you win. Good luck to you!
Sincerely, 
Dani Harper
www.daniharper.com

The following are the LINKS of the participating blogs so you can "hop" to the next destination of your choice! (I'm number 23!)

What Makes A Hero Strong? -- Part of "A Hero's Blog Hop" July 27 - 31

In keeping with the theme of this blog, I thought I’d shine a spotlight on one of my characters. But first, here's a little background --- 


The Peace River region of northern Canada is a unique place where raw wilderness exists side by side with farmers’ fields. And in the quiet rural community of Dunvegan, human beings unknowingly exist side by side with those who are something more than human. They call themselves Changelings, and they have the ability to become wolves at will.


Changelings live as humans – they have jobs and pay bills and go to school and mow the grass and do all the things that humans do. They view their wolfen side as a wonderful gift, but it also complicates their lives, sometimes dangerously so. Especially when it comes to relationships. 


CHANGELING MOON is the first book in this paranormal series, which centers around the Macleod family of shapeshifters. (PS - Changeling Moon is a 2012 RITA Award finalist.)Hero's name: Connor MacleodHero's profession: Talented veterinarian, owner of the North Star Animal HospitalPhysical description of hero: Tall, dark and occasionally furry, Connor Macleod is an imposing specimen. The heroine notices his broad muscled chest and powerful shoulders, and wonders if he bench-presses cows. His most striking features, however, are his pale gray eyes that change with his mood – darkening like a storm when he’s angry and “silver” when aroused. Find out more about this book at
http://www.daniharper.com/CHANGELING_MOON.htmlSpecial skills your hero may have: Connor is not human; he’s a Changeling, able to shapeshift to wolfen form at will. That form is larger and stronger than a natural wolf, however, and capable of some pretty impressive physical feats. It’s not uncommon for Changelings to possess additional abilities as well. Connor is a gifted healer and can often communicate with the animals he treats, but he also experiences “farsight” – psychic visions and premonitions – particularly when someone he loves is in danger! One of my fav lines by Connor (to his younger brother, Culley): “I’m almost used to you showing up without shoes, but where the hell are your pants?"Here are Connor’s own thoughts on “What Makes A Hero Strong?” ----“A Changeling has a dual perspective.“As a human, strength is synonymous with integrity. It comes from keeping your word if it kills you. Real strength is in making decisions and living with the results. And if the results are crappy, then you work like hell to change them. “A strong man takes responsibility for his actions – which might mean apologizing now and then. And strong men like strong women. There’s nothing sexier than a woman with a backbone.“As a wolf, strength lies in allowing others to be strong too. It’s deeper than just working as a team – it’s encouraging and supporting. Ever seen a wolf pack with cubs? They all take part in teaching them, and they’re patient about it. They’re not pushovers though. A strong wolf stands up for himself and also protects the pack. “And he’ll defend his mate even at the cost of his life. That’s the most basic and primal of instincts, human or wolf.”Here’s what else I know about strength, and maybe I know it even better because I’m a Changeling: real strength is controlled. You’re responsible for your strength and power and you can’t allow it to hurt the innocent. Ever.”


--- Connor Macleod of the Dunvegan Wolf Pack *****************************************************************


A HERO'S BLOG HOP
My blog, WAY PAST NORMAL, is taking part in “A Hero's Blog Hop”.  What’s a Hop? Every blog on the list hosts a giveaway and you can HOP from one blog to another!  
Over 100 Authors and Bloggers are sharing their favorite things about romance heroes, a character post from them, and what we love about romance and men in general. You don't have to visit them all - each has their own giveaway that is separate from all others - but it would be a whole lot of fun to try! That's over a 100 chances to win! 
PLUS PLUS PLUS - there are 3 Grand Prizes! Comment with your email address on any of the participating blogs and YOU ARE ENTERED to win one of the grand prizes! 
1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet2nd Grand Prize: A $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card 3rd Grand Prize: A Giant Swag Pack! (US only)

MANY THANKS to the two hosts of this hop – Fated Desires Publishing and Heartthrob Haven!
For my giveaway, I'm offering a signed print copy of my novel, CHANGELING MOON, so you can read all about my hero, Connor Macleod!  Plus you'll receive a Dani Harper tote bag to carry your books in. 
All you have to do to enter is leave me a comment answering this question:
Which do you prefer, ebook or print?
Please include an email address so I can contact you if you win. My giveaway is INTERNATIONAL!
When you're ready to leave my site, this LINK will get you back to the list of participating blogs -----http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=147358

Happy Hopping!
Dani Harper www.daniharper.com

HOT SUMMER NIGHTS GIVEAWAY HOP -- Author Dani Harper

This blog hop is focused on sharing favorite reads. So today I'm excited to talk about mine! 


I love the supernatural, and when I'm not reading Paranormal Romance, I'm reading Urban Fantasy. At the very top of my list of favorites is anything written by Karen Chance. 

Chance's “ Cassie Palmer ” series is simply amazing. Humorous, sexy and action-packed, it races along at a breakneck pace to the very last word. Picking up one of these books is dangerous – it can’t be put down until you finish it! 


Not only is the heroine interesting, the leading men in this story are unforgettable!  


Here are some snippets of the first five books in the series:

TOUCH THE DARK – “I knew I was in trouble as soon as I saw the obituary.  The fact that it had my name on it was sort of a clue.”
CLAIMED BY SHADOW – “The jerk in question was Mircea, a five-hundred-year-old vampire whose biggest claim to fame was being Dracula's older brother. He'd also been my first crush. I hadn't cared about his family name, or that he was a first-level master and a Senate member. I'd been far more interested in the way his rich brown eyes crinkled at the corners when he laughed, in the mahogany hair that spilled over his broad shoulders and in that wickedly perfect mouth, still the most sensual I've ever seen.”
EMBRACE THE NIGHT – “I couldn’t see Pritkin’s face very well, just a pale blur against the shadows, but he didn’t sound happy. Some people thought he had only one mode... pissed off. In reality, he had plenty of them. Over the past few weeks, I’d learned to tell the difference between real pissed off, impatient pissed off and scared pissed off. I suspected that this was the last kind. If so, that made two of us.”


CURSE THE DAWN – “He smiled at that, and then his gaze shifted to a spot over my shoulder and it faded. 'These doubts wouldn’t have anything to do with the company you’re keeping of late, would they?'
I didn’t get a chance to answer before the shop door was thrown open and a furious war mage stomped in. Pritkin spotted me and his eyes narrowed.


'You shaved my legs?!'

Mircea looked at me and folded his arms across his chest. 
I looked from one unhappy face to the other and suddenly remembered that I had somewhere else to be.”

HUNT THE MOON – “My name is Cassie Palmer and I’ve cheated death more times than anyone has a right to expect. In the last two months, I’ve been shot, stabbed, beaten and blown up a few dozen times, and that doesn’t count all the magical ways I’ve almost been killed. I’d have been dead a long time ago if not for my friends, one of whom had just jumped off the cliff after me.
I’d have been a lot more appreciative if he hadn’t pushed me first.”




* * * *

Karen Chance ALSO has a second series underway, featuring  Dorina Basarab who is a dhamphir – half-human and half-vampire.  


I have to say that so far I like this new series even more than the Cassie Palmer series and I didn't think that was possible! 


Book One is Midnight’s Daughter , followed by Death’s Mistress . Fury’s Kiss will be out in October 2012, and believe me, I'm counting the days! 


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HOT SUMMER NIGHTS 
GIVEAWAY HOP 
July 18 - July 22

What’s a Hop? Every blog on the list hosts a giveaway and you can HOP from one blog to another! 


(NOTE - You don't have to visit all the blogs - each has their own giveaway that is separate from all others - but it's a whole lot of fun to try!)
  
Thanks to the hosts, Bona Fide Reflections and The Book Nympho. 



For my giveaway, I'm offering a signed copy of my RITA finalist novel, CHANGELING MOON. This is the first book in my shapeshifter romance series.


I'll also include a copy of TOUCH THE DARK,  the first book in  the  Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance!  

TO ENTER --- leave me a comment on this topic:

There are a lot of kick-asses-and-take-names heroines in Urban Fantasy these days. Cassie seems to be a pretty normal human being by comparison --- except for having a couple of special abilities that she really doesn't know a lot about. So the series shows her progression as she has to learn to BE a kick-ass heroine, and it's pretty hard when you're starting from scratch.


Interestingly, the heroine of Karen Chance's OTHER series, Dorina Basarab, is one of the toughest female characters I've encountered. I definitely want Dorina on my side if any serious monsters show up!


The question is, how do you like your heroines? Ordinary, regular people, with human weaknesses (mine would be clumsiness, LOL) --- or do you prefer them more like action heroes: strong, tough as nails and/or with special powers?  I want to hear your opinion! 
  
NOTE - Make sure to include an email address so I can contact you if you win! 


 I’ll be drawing a winner at random from the commenters on July 23rd.  PS, my giveaway is INTERNATIONAL! 

HOP LINK - 
When you're ready to leave my site, this link will get you back to the list of participating blogs at The Book Nympho    http://thebooknympho.blogspot.com/2012/05/hot-summer-nights-giveaway-hop-sign-up.html   

Séances – Talking with the Dead – plus a Friday the 13th Ghostly Giveaway!

Everyone knows what a séance is – if you haven't participated in one as a nervous teenager, then you've at least seen one in a TV show or movie. But do you know how séances began?  

The term séance comes to the English language from an Old French word meaning “a sitting” or “session”, and usually applied to the legislature. In the mid-1800s, however, the word séance began to be used to describe a gathering where people sought messages and advice from the unseen world. The concept of contacting the dead, however, is far, far older than the words we use to describe it now.

Greeks sought advice from ghostsIn ancient Greece and Italy, the practice of necromancy – summoning the dead and asking them questions about the future – was called nekyia. There were a number of Greek and Roman temples devoted to this rite, although the ceremony could be performed in other places such as grave sites outside the city walls. And the Greeks weren't the first to seek advice from the netherworld. Humanity has done this since the beginning of recorded history and probably before that.

The séance became extremely popular during the Victorian era on both sides of the Atlantic, with the emergence of the Spiritualist movement. Some séances at the time were frivolous, of course, and entered into purely for entertainment. Some were fraudulent, with fake mediums determined to capitalize on the trend by implementing what we would now call special effects.

Actor Dan AckroydBut there were many séance holders who were sincere in their purpose, seeking some sort of harmony between religion and rationality. Séances are also called “sittings” and “demonstrations of mediumship”, and still form a regular part of church services for many practicing Spiritualists today. They believe that existence and personal identity continues after the change called death. To them, contact with those who have moved on to the next life is not only possible, but desirable in order to gain knowledge.


Actor Dan Ackroyd’s grandfather was a Spiritualist, who practiced regular communications with ghosts in his home. Ackroyd's father, Peter, had many childhood experiences with this which he shared with his sons. Not only did Dan and his brother become lifelong paranormal enthusiasts, it helped inspire Dan to write the movie Ghostbusters! (You can read about this unusual family life in A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Séances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters  by Peter Ackroyd - See details on how to win a copy at the end of this blog!)

To Medium or Not to Medium

Table TippingWhen spiritualism first came to America in the 1840s, the most common method for connecting with the spirit world was "table tipping". A group of people would seat themselves around a round table, with their fingertips resting on the surface. No medium or psychically-gifted person was required for this procedure. The participants would usually ask a specific question, then call out the letters of the alphabet until the table moved, twitched or tilted. Yes or no questions that could be answered with only one or two movements were the most useful.

Many accounts exist of the table sliding around, standing on two or even one of its legs. Levitations were reportedly witnessed. Some concluded that the phenomena were caused by subconscious movements of the participants. However, that doesn't explain the cold breezes that were sometimes felt, and floating lights said to have been witnessed.

Modern séances often utilize someone with psychic ability or sensitivity to act as a medium, “facilitating” the proceedings. A medium may gain impressions of the spirit in question, see the spirit in their mind or with their eyes, hear the spirit’s words or channel the spirit’s words through the psychic’s own mouth, or channel their ideas through automatic writing.

Two Way Street 

Dean Winchester
played by Jensen AcklesHow successful a séance is may not depend on the breathing participants, or even the medium, if there is one. It's thought that spirits may have to work just as hard to develop their abilities to communicate with the living, as the living must do to connect with the dead. What kind of effort would it take for a spirit to learn to manifest itself to the living, to speak or become visible? Modern thought compares it to bridging dimensions. The 1990 Patrick Swayze movie, "Ghost", may have right on the money when it showed the hero struggling to affect the physical world. Early spiritualism taught that a spirit might only be able to create subtle effects such as tapping or knocking. 


Spirits may have to make use of a wide variety of communication methods in order to be detected. Sometimes that communication has to be deciphered as well. In an episode of Supernatural titled "The Usual Suspects", character Dean Winchester brought up this concept: “Communicating across the vale, it ain't easy. You know, sometimes the spirits, they, they get things jumbled... You know, it's, uh, maybe word fragments... other times, it's anagrams.”    


Séances in the White House?

Abraham Lincoln with young medium
Nettie Colburn Maynard at a séanceMany notable individuals made use of séances. It’s well documented that Mary Todd Lincoln held several séances at the White House after the death of her son, Willie. Some of these events were attended by her husband Abraham Lincoln, as well as high-ranking members of Washington society. 


Many known Spiritualists spent time at the White House, leading to the rumor that Lincoln was a Spiritualist also and received counsel about government policy as well as the war from spirit presences.

Ulysses S. Grant's household are said to have conversed with the ghost of Willie Lincoln during a seance held in the room in which he died. Calvin Coolidge and his wife were rumored to have held seances, although they denied it when the press got hold of it.

Author Charles Dickens, poet W.B. Yeats and physicist Sir Oliver Lodge attended séances regularly as members of The Ghost Club – a British organization devoted to paranormal investigation.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle attended his first séance in 1887, the same year his first Sherlock Holmes novel was published. He viewed spiritualism as a natural extension of rapidly-emerging science.

Thomas EdisonThomas Edison believed that science would eventually play a definitive role when it came to communicating with the dead. In 1920, he said:


“If our personality survives, then it is strictly logical and scientific to assume that it retains memory, intellect, and other faculties and knowledge that we acquire on earth...


“...I am inclined to believe that our personality hereafter will be able to affect matter. If this reasoning be correct, then, if we can evolve an instrument so delicate as to be affected, moved, or manipulated...by our personality as it survives in the next life, such an instrument, when made available, ought to record something.”

Edison would no doubt have approved of today's technological efforts to connect with the dead. EMF meters, full spectrum video, laser grids and countless other "delicate" instruments have largely replaced tipping wooden tables.

At least on TV....

***********************************************************
Friday the 13th - GHOSTLY GIVEAWAY 

You could win a brand new hardcover copy of Peter Ackroyd's book:
 A History of Ghosts: The True Story of Séances, Mediums, Ghosts, and Ghostbusters  

His son, actor Dan Ackroyd, wrote the forward to this book.

To enter, just answer one of these questions in a comment --
Have you ever participated in a séance?  
Do you think that ghosts exist?  


Be sure to include an email address so I can contact you if you win!


Giveaway closes at midnight, eastern time, on Friday, July 13! 


I'll be drawing a name at random from the commenters on Saturday, July 14th. This giveaway is international. :)

My Canadian Werewolves - part of the Canada Day Blog Hop

Happy Birthday, Canada!  For those who aren’t aware, I’m proud to be 100% Canadian.  I now live on an island in Alaska with my much-loved American hubby but I spent most of my adult life in northern Alberta. It was there that I became more acquainted with wolves.
With about 60,000 Gray Wolves (Canis Lupus), Canada has the second biggest wolf population in the world (Yay, Canada!). In fact, the Gray Wolf still occupies 90 percent of its original territory in Canada. And despite the name “Gray Wolf”, this creature comes in every color from purest white to darkest black.
When I lived on my small farm in northern Canada, I’d often hear a pack of wolves howling long and low in the river valley north of my land. And sometimes I’d hear the coyotes to the south sassing back. I saw coyotes every day. I didn’t expect to ever see their much larger cousins.
And yet, one bright sunny fall morning, a pack of wolves – about 7 or 8 – loped leisurely across my farmyard not far from the house. There was no mistaking what these tall rangy creatures were – they clearly dwarfed any coyote. The wolves ran with ease and grace, seeming to float along rather than touch the ground. Teeth gleamed white from grinning black lips, their tails were great plumed banners and they ran with purpose. And something more – as strange as it may sound, I had a very strong impression that the wolves were happy.

And then they were gone. They vanished like smoke into the timber that flanked my property. I have never felt such a wild yearning in my life. A wish that they would come back? A wish that I might go with them? I didn’t know. I still don’t.
Ever since, however, I’ve run with the wolves on paper.

The result so far has been my new PNR series featuring shapeshifters  – what can I say, they're  Canadian werewolves ! The story centers around the Macleod family, who are able to become wolves at will. Forced to leave their native Scotland almost two centuries ago when wolves were being exterminated there, they found refuge in northern Alberta. They've lived there ever since, hiding in plain sight among the humans.

The Macleods seem to have the best of both worlds, but danger still lurks for them and their kind. And love, when it arrives, brings dangers and complications of its own.
The first two books, CHANGELING MOON and CHANGELING DREAM , are set exclusively in northern Alberta, Canada.


The third book, CHANGELING DAWN , begins and ends in Canada – but spends a little time in Alaska too, just like me!


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  CANADA DAY BLOG HOP
Thanks to Aislynn (Stitch - Read - Cook), Chrystal (Snowdrop Dreams of Books) and Carmel (Rabid Reads) for hosting this hop in honor of Canada's birthday (July 1st)

This blog hop runs from June 28 to midnight of July 1.  I'll be drawing a winner from the comments on my blog on following day, July 2. (Note - This giveaway is International.)
For this blog hop, I'm giving away a signed copy of the first book in my shapeshifter series plus one of my tote bags to put it in. CHANGELING MOON is a finalist for the RITA award. As I mentioned before, the entire story takes place in a small northern town in Alberta, Canada. 

TO ENTER:
All you have to do is leave me a comment, telling me something that you like about Canada. Or ask a question about Canada. (I'll do my best to answer!)


Don't forget to include an email address so I can contact you if you win!   

You can return to the list of participating bloggers with this LINK:http://www.rabidreads.ca/2012/06/canada-day-blog-hop-sign-up.html 

My Favorite Demon – part of the Angels versus Demons Blog Hop

As both an author and a reader, I’m a huge fan of both paranormal romance and urban fantasy. It all started with vampires and werewolves, and while I will always have a soft spot in my heart for shapeshifters (are my Changelings listening?), it’s been exciting to see the explosion of supernatural creatures in these genres. Among them are warrior angels and their exact opposites – fallen angels and demons. The battle between good and evil has never been more fascinating!
I tend to favor the bad boys, myself – the anti-heroes, the unlikely and the reluctant heroes. Oh yes, give me a reformed demon like Dax in Kate Douglas's Demonfire over an angel (even the droolworthy warrior types) any day. 
One of my all-time fav UF authors is Karen Chance. I really enjoy her Cassie Palmer series, and as much as I like the heroine, it’s the host of other characters that populate the stories that appeal to me. Vamps for sure, demons and incubi galore … the line between good guys and bad guys gets pretty blurry. And maybe that's why the bad boys appeal to me so much -- they're more complicated, and therefore a little more realistic to me. Life has a lot of gray areas and most people aren't totally "good" or totally "bad". In fact, good and bad are often a matter of perspective, a point that this series drives home.

There are two main men in Cassie’s life – one is a vamp (considered a demon in some circles), and the other is a wizard who just happens to be a human-demon hybrid. The motives of each are suspect more often than not, and yet both find it within themselves to be selfless and heroic on occasion. I find myself rooting for both of them, and it's no wonder Cassie has such difficulty choosing between them.

If I had to pick a favorite demon, however, it would have to be Jim. Jim is a demon eternally stuck in the form of a dog, and he is the loyal (and rather cranky) sidekick of Aisling Grey in Katie MacAlister’s Guardian series. Not only is Jim a dog, but a Newfoundland, one of the biggest – and drooliest – breeds. 
Jim is the ultimate supporting character, providing comic relief and snarkiness, yet showing touching loyalty and friendship. Jim has Aisling’s back when the sh** hits the fan – which seems to happen a great deal in her complicated life. Not bad for a fiend of hell.
************************************************************
ANGELS VS DEMONS BLOG HOP
GIVEAWAY
So I’ve shown you mine, now you show me yours --- your favorite that is. Would you rather cuddle up with a hot angel or a sexy demon?  What are your favorite angel or demon books or characters?
Post your answers in a comment (and don’t forget to include an email address!) The hop runs from June 28 to midnight July 1. 
On July 2, I’ll draw a name at random from the comments. Winner gets a signed copy of my latest shapeshifter romance, CHANGELING DAWN , and a Dani Harper tote bag. This giveaway is international.
Thanks to paranormal romance authors Leia Shaw (Destiny Bewitched) and Carrie Ann Ryan (Dust of My Wings) for hosting this blog hop. 
To get back to the list of participating authors and bloggers, here’s the link:  http://leiashaw.blogspot.com/2012/03/angels-vs-demons-blog-hop.html  

Werewolves as the Good Guys

Hollywood and history has done the werewolf a great disservice by painting him as a monster, an out-of-control killing machine ruled by the cycles of the moon.


What you may not know is that it hasn’t always been this way! Before the religious leaders between the 12th and the 16th centuries decided to lump werewolves in with witches and condemn them all as evil servants of the Devil, werewolves were often seen as neutral beings, good, or even benevolent.


A group in Italy was known as the Benandanti, which means “good walkers” or “those who go well”. They practiced white magic and claimed to travel out of their bodies while they slept for the purpose of battling evil. Both male and female members of the group took part in this four times a year, and as spirits they commonly took the form of wolves, although they might assume that of other animals as well. Specifically, they used their wolfen form to fight demons and witches to protect their crops, and if they won, there would be a good harvest. If they lost, their crops would wither in the fields, and many of their children would die as well. It was also said that the Benandanti were said to be able to contact the world of the dead, and to protect the road between the living and the afterlife. 


The priest and the wolfIn the 1300s, John of Nuremberg relates that a priest was lost in the forest and came upon a campfire. There he found a wolf sitting upright like a man. The wolf spoke to him in human language and entreated him to come and deliver last rites to his dying wife, as they were both Christian. The priest was at last persuaded and the wolf led him to a house, in which lay another wolf, a female. The priest administered the rites and saw her emerge from her lupine form to that of an aged woman who died soon after. The husband, still in wolf form, was grateful for the priest’s ministrations, and led him safely through the dangerous forest all the way to his distant destination.

Bisclavret became a favorite pet of the king and
accompanied him everywhereIn the 12th century, a poem relates the story of Baron Bisclavret, a man who happened to be a werewolf. His wife learns his secret and hides the clothing he needs to return to human form. Bisclavret runs to the king, who is out hunting, and kisses his boots. The king is so impressed with the wolf’s behavior that he takes him back to the castle to live with him. Everyone at court marvels at the wolf’s gentleness and nobility, and the creature lives freely among them. Eventually, the wife comes to the castle with her new husband and she is attacked by the wolf. Rescued, she is forced to tell the king what she had done to Bisclavret, and to produce the clothing that will allow him to change. She is banished from the land and all that was Bisclavret’s is restored to him by the king.

Wulvers were gentle creatures with generous heartsThe Vilkacis of Latvian and Lithuanian lore was a benevolent creature, usually a wolf that had once been a human being. It often tried to participate in singing and dancing whenever there was a celebration and sometimes brought treasure to the party! 


Werewolves in Scotland were often of a type called Wulvers. The creatures were known for having kind hearts and only wanted to live in peace. Often sad and forlorn, they were nonetheless generous to those in need. They were known to leave fish at the door of widows and poor families. Sometimes their presence indicated that money or some other treasure was hidden nearby.

In my paranormal romance novels, I’ve created a world in which the werewolves live as humans among us, hiding in plain sight. They call themselves Changelings and they regard their innate ability to become a wolf at will as a gift. Such a unique power can also complicate their lives, however, particularly when love is involved. Are my creatures “good”? One of the Changelings’ non-lupine friends summed up humans and werewolves this way: “Honey, there are good and bad individuals in both species.”



Dani Harper
www.daniharper.com