Catherine E. McLean's Blog, page 5

A First Year Celebration & the reveal of Adrada!

On Valentine's Day 2012, I signed the contract for Karma and Mayhem, a paranormal-fantasy-romance novel.  With this being the one-year anniversary of that signing, I'm celebrating by giving away one $10 gift certificate along with a copy of Choke-berry Shalamiz, the "blood of ages" drink that Tienan (the story's hero) used to bless Janay (the story's heroine).  This beverage was fictional in the story, but with the help of a chef, it became a real drink! 

TO ENTER TODAY'S PRIZE DRAWING (winner announced Friday night, Feb.15 ):

~~ ask a question about the book, the characters, or just offer your good wishes (use the comment link at the bottom of this post)
OR
 ~~ follow this blog by e-mail subscription (use the box at the upper right hand corner of the screen) 

Permission is granted to pass this information on or post it to social media-- so tell others and join the celebration! 

And now, for the promised reveal of  Adrada -
Adrada, the Archangel of Departing Souls @2013 CEM

    ***Coming late summer 2013: Adrada to Zool, an anthology of my published short stories.
How Adrada Came Into Being:

     In my church during the lenten season of 1995, when all the statues were covered in purple cloth, the draping about the life-sized crucifix behind the altar caught my attention. That draping made the crucifix looked like it had billowing angel wings. But whoever heard of an angel with purple wings?  Then came a haunting question: what would make the feathers of an archangel's golden wings turn mournful purple? After all, purple was the color of mourning.
     Then, in 1996, "The Sixth Sense" magazine posed a situation-question about who killed a multimillionaire. As I pondered this and strove for something "outside the box" of who might have done the deed, I had a dream. In that dream Adrada, the archangel with golden wings edged in mournful purple visited me. As dreams go, this was likely my subconscious's way of enlightening me because I was obsessing over entering the contest.  Of course, what resulted was "Written by My Hand," which won the magazine's challenge and saw publication. It would be many years later before I realized how often Adrada showed up in my stories*** and in my futuristic worlds, such as Karma and Mayhem.
     In Karma and Mayhem, it is Adrada who informs the penitent spirit of Kiyoshi-the-samurai that he must return to the land of the living and be reincarnated and  stop a book of spells from changing hands.
     When Janay encounters Rowen, who's had his veed (his energy symbiote) taken out of him, and the boy tells Janay he and his veed will die unless reunited, Janay sends up a prayerful plea for an angel's guidance. It is Adrada who comes and tells Janay to go to Tienan.
     As for Tienan? When he first sees Adrada, Tienan thinks he's hallucinating. After all, what angel has purple feathering edging their golden wings. And just what did Adrada mean when he said "Your prayers are answered?"

 
     Catherine E. McLean 
       Tienan and Janay's love/quest story can be purchased here  Karma and Mayhem 
  

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February 14 and a 1 year anniversary

ONLINE PARTY
PRIZES
BOOK GIVEAWAY and a
REVEAL of "Adrada"

On Valentine's Day 2012, I signed the contract for my first novel sale.  To celebrate the occasion, and the romance of Tienan and Janay, I'll be partying here and offering a few prizes and a book giveaway.  If you'd like to know more, join me by filling in the e-mail notification box (upper right) or follow me by using:       Twitter          Linked-In           Facebook 

and--I'll be revealing the sketch of Adrada (pronounced: ah-drah-dah) who was the archangel in Karma and Mayhem!   

5 Day Blogging

I'm being interviewed five consecutive days at the Blog of Power.  Stop by and read something different each day--and feel free to share the links and leave a comment or two.

Wednesday, January 30 at http://www.terribruce.net
Thursday, January 31 at http://www.twfendley.com
Friday, February 1 at http://emiabonte.blogspot.com
Monday, February 4 at http://ulbrichalmazan.blogspot.com
Tuesday, February 5 at http://deanswritingtime.blogspot.com

I'm also giving a March, online workshop.  Details at: http://tinyurl.com/bfrvb75

Guest Blogging

Would you like to have me or one of the characters in Karma and Mayhem visit your blog or facebook page?  Then leave a comment to that effect and I'll contact you.

And the winner is . . .

Ash Krafton is the winner of the fourth copy of the Choke-berry Shalamiz recipe.  Congratulations, Ash!

Choke-berry Shalamiz -another chance to win the recipe

Choke-berry Shalamiz  was the fictitious "blood of ages" beverage I made up for my novel Karma and Mayhem, but which I had the help of a chef in creating for real.  

As you can see from the blog entries below, I gave away a copy of the recipe at my book's launch.  Well, I'm offering another opportunity for someone to win a copy of this recipe in time for Christmas and the holidays.

All you have to do is visit wherever I'm blogging and leave a comment or ask a question.  For instance, I'm being interviewed this week at Clan Elves of the Bitterroot. Another way to have a chance to win is to join me at Twitter (so you can be notified of future contests, book releases, workshop dates, blogging events, etc.).

This contest runs until midnight EST Dec. 14 and the winner will be notified Dec. 15.  Delivery will be in time for some Santa to enjoy this unique, nonalcoholic beverage!

Check my website events schedule and, remember, each comment or question at a blog event nets you another chance to win.

Catherine E. McLean
WEBSITE
Karma and Mayhem can be purchased at Soul Mate Publishing or other e-book outlets

And the winner is . . .

     Thank you all for joining my book launch party.  The winner of the Choke-berry Shalamiz recipe is Sarah Grim.  Congratulation, Sarah!




     
    Sarah's certified copy includes photos of the drinks as well as a copy of the manuscript page where it was used.



     Now, drum roll please--I will be offering another copy of the shalamiz recipe at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so stop back in mid-November and mid-December to find out how to win one!
     --- Catherine
BUY THE BOOK            READ AN EXCERPT

Book Launch Party!

Everything in this photo of mine relates to something in the story.  Welcome to the Book Launch Party for my paranormal-fantasy-romance.
   Want to win the recipe for the bloody-looking drink in the photo?
   That drink is Choke-berry Shalamiz which is the non-alcoholic beverage used by Tienan (the hero) in Chapter 10 to 'baptize' Janay (the heroine) 'in the blood of ages.'
   Only one person will get this unique drink recipe.  All you have to do is post a comment (even if only to say congratulations on the book seeing print) or if you ask a question today, you'll have a chance to win the recipe.
   Now when I drafted the novel, I made up the name Choke-berry Shalamiz. It never existed until October 1, 2012, when I consulted a chef. We developed not only the book's thick "blood of ages" drink (which is also very tasty on ice cream, cheesecake, vanilla pudding, and pears) but also a fruity beverage with a bloody fizz that would be the hit of any Halloween party. Why, even a vampire like Granger (the vampire in Karma and Mayhem), would drool over it.
   So, what are you waiting for? Post a comment–or two (doubling your chances).

    --Catherine    - BUY THE BOOK   - READ AND EXCERPT

Announcing Book Launch Party

Book Launch Party
October 10
Stop by and 
comment or ask a question
and have a chance
to win the recipe for
Choke-berry Shalamiz
used in the story.

He's a warlock with two souls. 
She's mayhem personified.  
When the two face a cauldron of murder, demons, and witches, 
is their love more powerful than death?

Guest Blogging Oct.4 at Strands of Time

     I'm guest blogging at Strands of Pattern on Thursday, October 4 and my topic will be "Three Rules of Writing."
     This will also be where I'll make the first announcement of the grand prize being offered during my Official Online Book Launch Party for Karma and Mayhem (which will be October 10). 

Catherine