Ally Shields's Blog, page 97
September 14, 2012
Book has gone live for the 
September 13, 2012
Awakening the Fire to be released early!
Awakening the Fire, Guardian Witch Book One, is being released early on September 14. You will be able to find it at Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes & Noble tomorrow. It will appear at other retailers in the next few weeks.
I sincerely hope you will enjoy reading about Ari's adventures as much as I enjoyed writing it. AS
Book Cover is done!
The much awaited book cover for Awakening the Fire is finished, and I'm very pleased! So I'm giving everyone a peek prior to release day (September 21)! Hope you like it too! AS
September 11, 2012
Hernando: the cat who lives in my fantasy world
My mother said I adopted my first cat at age three. Queenie was a stray who appeared at our back door, and I invited her in. She stayed, and over the years raised several litters of kittens. During that time, I hauled her around, dressed her in doll clothes, and slept with her every night. Queenie and her progeny were only the beginning of a long list of felines in our family—all beloved.
Anyone who has ever owned, or been owned by a cat, knows each one is unique, some more distinctive than others. There are a few who are absolutely unforgettable. Two of the furry creatures in my life also made their way into my writing as Hernando, who first appears in book #1.
Meet the lovely, gentle Siamese who was one of the real life inspirations for Hernando. Although Mykonos was female and had some pale chocolate points, most of her coat was snow white and her eyes were like large cornflowers. Her behaviors and looks are reflected in the cat you will find in my urban fantasy Guardian Witch series.
Now meet the intrepid Shadow, a chinchilla Persian mix, whose heart and spirit live on in the personality that is Hernando. He lived for twenty-one years. The day he died our entire family and several friends were present at his passing. He was the kind of cat everyone loved—aloof as any superior being should be, yet cuddling to keep you company when something was wrong. He got me through law school (mostly sleeping on my books), he helped raised my children, he even brought me a baby possum in case I needed a new friend. But mostly he decorated my home and my life. I still miss him, so I recreated him in Hernando.
How many of you have had unforgettable friends in your life, either feline or canine? (I've had my share of dogs too, including my current Min Pin, Ranger.) I'd love to hear your stories! AS
Anyone who has ever owned, or been owned by a cat, knows each one is unique, some more distinctive than others. There are a few who are absolutely unforgettable. Two of the furry creatures in my life also made their way into my writing as Hernando, who first appears in book #1.
Meet the lovely, gentle Siamese who was one of the real life inspirations for Hernando. Although Mykonos was female and had some pale chocolate points, most of her coat was snow white and her eyes were like large cornflowers. Her behaviors and looks are reflected in the cat you will find in my urban fantasy Guardian Witch series.
Now meet the intrepid Shadow, a chinchilla Persian mix, whose heart and spirit live on in the personality that is Hernando. He lived for twenty-one years. The day he died our entire family and several friends were present at his passing. He was the kind of cat everyone loved—aloof as any superior being should be, yet cuddling to keep you company when something was wrong. He got me through law school (mostly sleeping on my books), he helped raised my children, he even brought me a baby possum in case I needed a new friend. But mostly he decorated my home and my life. I still miss him, so I recreated him in Hernando.How many of you have had unforgettable friends in your life, either feline or canine? (I've had my share of dogs too, including my current Min Pin, Ranger.) I'd love to hear your stories! AS
September 5, 2012
Plant Use in Healing, Spells & Potions
Hi, everyone! My name is Claris Denning. Since my BBF Ari Calin is nice enough to present a monthly class at my medicinal herb shop in Olde Town, I could hardly turn her down when she asked me to visit her website. So, here I am. I don't have anything exciting to talk about like her presentation on witchcraft and catching criminals, but I have a green thumb. And I know plants.
Herbs have been used for healing for thousands of years. Many have proven useful. Other claims might be more folklore. Even though I don't have special powers or magic, I've studied with healers—and I talk to my plants. Sometimes they tell me what they can do.
Hey, I saw you roll your eyes. Ari does that sometimes, too. I admit I have a few quirks. And Ari would tell you I've had my share of failures. I seem to remember a mosquito bite remedy that caused her some problems. In any case, over the years I've learned enough I feel pretty good about sharing my plants with you.
I'm going to mention some of the most popular herbal remedies and a couple not so well known. I've included their most common usage in brewing spells and potions.
Aloe
Aloe plant: The juice of this plant provides a soothing gel that is frequently use for skin problems from acne to wrinkles. Most of us think of it for minor burns and bug bites. A dropper of this enhances any soothing potion.
Chamomile: This plant is often taken as a tea. It is recommended for calming the nerves, improving digestion, and encouraging sleep. Use liberally in sleep spells
Garlic Cocoanut oil: A great oil for softening and moistening dry, cracked skin. A basic ingredient in a binding spell.
Sage: This common plant is good for treating insect bites. The gypsies say that sage tea, if used as a hair rinse, is effective in darkening gray hair. It is also an additive to basic Acquire spells.
Garlic: While I can't verify its effectiveness against vampires, and I don't recommend running your own tests on that piece of folklore, garlic does seem to be helpful for coughs and colds. It is one ingredient of banishing spells.
Rosemary: An herb useful for preserving memory. May be added to any spell or potion to enhance its effect.
Periwinkle Perwinkle: If used sparingly in tea, this plant enhances memory in those who are aging. Too much periwinkle can be harmful, so just a pinch. If you add it to most potions, it will preserves the shelf life of the potion.
I hope you've enjoyed our visit today and that you'll stop by Basil & Sage in the market district of Olde Town, M-F 8-5:30, Sun 2-4. I'll be happy to explain how to use these or any other plants. I also carry plants that will make you smile just to look at them.
Have you said a kind word to your plant today?
BTW, if you leave a comment, Ari (or even her author friend) might ask me back again.
Herbs have been used for healing for thousands of years. Many have proven useful. Other claims might be more folklore. Even though I don't have special powers or magic, I've studied with healers—and I talk to my plants. Sometimes they tell me what they can do.
Hey, I saw you roll your eyes. Ari does that sometimes, too. I admit I have a few quirks. And Ari would tell you I've had my share of failures. I seem to remember a mosquito bite remedy that caused her some problems. In any case, over the years I've learned enough I feel pretty good about sharing my plants with you.
I'm going to mention some of the most popular herbal remedies and a couple not so well known. I've included their most common usage in brewing spells and potions.
Aloe Aloe plant: The juice of this plant provides a soothing gel that is frequently use for skin problems from acne to wrinkles. Most of us think of it for minor burns and bug bites. A dropper of this enhances any soothing potion.
Chamomile: This plant is often taken as a tea. It is recommended for calming the nerves, improving digestion, and encouraging sleep. Use liberally in sleep spells
Garlic Cocoanut oil: A great oil for softening and moistening dry, cracked skin. A basic ingredient in a binding spell.Sage: This common plant is good for treating insect bites. The gypsies say that sage tea, if used as a hair rinse, is effective in darkening gray hair. It is also an additive to basic Acquire spells.
Garlic: While I can't verify its effectiveness against vampires, and I don't recommend running your own tests on that piece of folklore, garlic does seem to be helpful for coughs and colds. It is one ingredient of banishing spells.
Rosemary: An herb useful for preserving memory. May be added to any spell or potion to enhance its effect.
Periwinkle Perwinkle: If used sparingly in tea, this plant enhances memory in those who are aging. Too much periwinkle can be harmful, so just a pinch. If you add it to most potions, it will preserves the shelf life of the potion.I hope you've enjoyed our visit today and that you'll stop by Basil & Sage in the market district of Olde Town, M-F 8-5:30, Sun 2-4. I'll be happy to explain how to use these or any other plants. I also carry plants that will make you smile just to look at them.
Have you said a kind word to your plant today?
BTW, if you leave a comment, Ari (or even her author friend) might ask me back again.
August 31, 2012
Interview with Lt. Ryan Foster, RDPD
Eddie West is at the Riverdale Police Department interviewing Lieutenant Ryan Foster of the ICD.
Eddie: Lieutenant, let's begin with the ICD. Exactly what is it?
Ryan: ICD stands for Inter-Community Division. Our exclusive jurisdiction is cases that involve both humans and Otherworlders, either as victims or suspects. And I work with Ari Calin, the Guardian from the Magic Council.
Eddie: I imagine you've seen some very strange things.
Ryan: You can't imagine. I was chosen for this job because my sister-in-law is an elf, and the department thought I'd know something about Otherworlders. But nothing prepared me for what I've seen.
Eddie: Can you tell us more about those cases?
Ryan: Not really. Some of the cases are still pending their court hearings. If you want details, you'd have to talk with the PR department. In general terms the crimes don't seem so unusual—murders, robberies, assaults. In practice, it's very different when the perpetrators have magical abilities. Even the evidence is different, like blood samples or DNA. Fortunately the Magic Council has forensic specialists who help us with those.
Eddie: Tell us something about yourself. I know you're a bachelor. What do you do when you're off duty?
Ryan: Hiking, fishing. My mother is a great fan of card games, so our family often plays poker when we get together.
Eddie: You mentioned working with Ari Calin, who is a witch. I understand you've also worked with the vampires and some lycanthropes. As a human, are you ever uncomfortable working among the supernaturals?
Ryan: All the time. Most of them could break me in half with their little finger. Luckily the ones I work around aren't inclined to do that. But do I have respect for how dangerous they can be? You bet.
Eddie: Recently Riverdale has had an influx of drugs. Has this affected the Otherworld community?
Ryan: Not much. Werewolves tend to drink a lot, but most Otherworlders don't use recreational drugs. In fact, as far as I know, they're immune to them.
Eddie: I see our time's almost up, so I'll make this the last question. I'm sure you never imagined you'd be working in the ICD when you were a kid. What did you want to do when you grew up?
Ryan: After my mom wouldn't buy me a pony so I could be a cowboy, I decided to be a policeman. I've never changed my mind.
