Moon Rose Publishing has just released
their newest book, A CELTIC TAPESTRY! An anthology between eight authors, each
one has taken their own twist on one of the Celtic festivals of the year. From
sunny spring to chilly winter, everyone’s favourite season is given a fresh and
enticing take in this wonderful collection. To celebrate, Moon Rose Publishing
is also hosting a fabulous giveaway as part of the release!
The wheel of the year turns, bringing the joy of spring, the warmth of summer, the richness of autumn, and the merriment of winter. But eight Celtic festivals link these seasons together, bringing with them romance, lust, danger, and even magic. From a city under threat from night-time creatures at Ostara, to a selkie caught by the light of the Lughnasadh moon, to a writer caught in the flames of a fiery goddess at Imbolc.
Eight authors have come together to give their own twist on these festivals, weaving each story with a blend of myth, magic, and contemporary telling…to create A Celtic Tapestry.
Brigid’s Flame was inspired by my patron goddess, Brigid.
She is the goddess of poetry, smith craft and childbirth. In my story, a struggling writer invokes
Brigid on the sacred night of Imbolc to help rekindle his creativity with her
eternal flame. The chant my hero uses in
one I wrote myself and have used many times to help overcome writers block.
“Brigid, I call you
on this sacred night.
I summon your flame.
I invoke your might.
The words will come.
My mind will soar.
My strength and
confidence will endure.
Goddess Brigid, fill
me with creativity.
As I will it, so mote
it be.”
Here is a simple spell anyone can use along with the chant
to help bring some inspiration into their lives. All you need is a candle (preferably orange
or yellow, but white can also be used), a bowl, and a few ice cubes. If
available, snow or icicles would be even better. Set the items up on your altar or some other
space where you have privacy. Place the ice cubes or snow into the bowl and
light your candle. Star into the flame
and focus of what you are trying to accomplish. Imagine that the ice is your
creativity. Right now it’s frozen and blocked.
Now see that flame warming the ice, melting away those blocks. Continue
this visualization as you chant the spell.
Once the ice has melted it, drink the water. This is your creativity
flowing freely back into you.
The Trailer
Excerpt (Brigid’s Flame, Laura DeLuca)
“What
would you know about work?” He huffed. “Haven’t I been supporting you the last
few years?”
River
regretted the words almost as soon as they spilled out of his mouth. Brie had
given up her own promising career in advertisement to become his personal
assistant as soon as his book started to take off. She probably worked ten
times harder than he did making travel arrangements for book signings, handling
their finances, answering fan mail, and even working as an unofficial editor.
She took care of all the menial tasks so he would be able to concentrate on his
writing. Originally they thought his success would leave the door open for her
to pursue her own dreams of singing fulltime on the stage, but his hectic
schedule and cross country tours had left her little time for her own desires.
She never complained and had never been anything but supportive, but despite
her sweet and loving disposition, she also had a quick Irish temper. River saw
her eyes narrow and her lips press into a tight frown. He knew she certainly
wasn’t going to stand for his insults when she knew quite well she had done
nothing to justify them.
“Humph.” She put her hands on her shapely hips
and glared at him. “Weren’t you living in your mother’s basement when we met?
Who did the supporting back then, huh? And who was the one who stole your first
manuscript and sent it into that agent when you didn’t have the nerve to do it
yourself? You wouldn’t even be here without me!”
“Here
we go with that old line again.” River snorted and gave her a dirty look. “The
acknowledgements page just wasn’t enough for you, was it? I guess now you want
your name listed on the cover? Or better yet, maybe I should just sign over
half my royalties!”
“That
isn’t what I meant and you know it!” she argued, her emerald eyes flashing. “I
couldn’t care less about getting any credit and I’m happy about your success. I
love that your dreams were realized. I just wish you weren’t so…so moody all
the time.” She sighed, and relented a little. “I know you’ve been struggling
with the new novel but—”
“Don’t
you dare play the sympathy card with me!” River snapped. “I don’t want your
pity!”
“Aghhh!
You’re impossible when you’re like this!” Brie spat back. “Really, do you have
to play the role of the temperamental artist all the time? I can’t even be nice
to you without you jumping down my throat. Seriously, you were a lot more fun
before you were famous!”
“The
money doesn’t seem to bother you too much.” He gestured to the Louie Vitton bag
she was clutching. “Looks like another designer handbag you’ve got hanging on
your arm.”
He
knew he had pushed her too far when he saw her close her eyes. He could almost
hear her counting to ten in her mind, but when she finally spoke her voice had
lost the angry edge and she only sounded disheartened. “I don’t know what’s
happening between us, River, but I really hate this. I don’t want to fight with
you anymore. I’m so tired of fighting…”
“If
you’re so tired of me, then why do you keep hanging around?”
She shook her head, defeated. “I guess I won’t
hang around since my presence here seems to bring out the worst in you. I have
plans anyway. Maybe I’ll come back tonight. Maybe I won’t.”
River
sat at his desk and scowled as Brie pulled her jacket from the closet and
disappeared around a corner without another word. A few seconds later, the door
to their penthouse slammed shut with so much force the paintings on the wall
rattled. River should have shouted something nasty to her retreating back.
Something that would have made her feel miserable and guilty about making silly
threats he knew she didn’t mean. Apparently his writer’s block was spreading
and he had commentary block as well because he couldn’t come up with anything
that was even remotely witty.
Afterwards,
River hoped and even expected that she would come back. Brie did that a lot
when they had arguments. Despite her quick temper, she was one of those people
who not only hated to go to bed angry, but also hated to walk away from any
argument that was unresolved. This time, he must have pushed her too far. When
she didn’t reappear, he peeked out the window and looked down into the city
streets. He caught a glimpse of her far below, hailing a cab with one hand
while her other was holding down her beret so it wouldn’t blow off in the wind.
He turned away before she even got into the vehicle, realizing that this time,
Brie wasn’t coming back.
*‘Copyright
of Laura DeLuca*
Author Bio
Laura “Luna” DeLuca lives at the
beautiful Jersey shore with her husband and four children. She loves writing in
the young adult genre because it keeps her young at heart. In addition to writing fiction, Laura is also
the sole author of a popular review blog called New Age Mama. She is an active
member of her local pagan community, and has been studying Wicca for close to
eight years. Her current works include
Destiny, Destiny Unveiled, Phantom, Morrigan, Player, and Demon.
Author Links:
Blog: http://authorlauradeluca.blogspot.co.uk/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraDeLuca
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/authorldeluca/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4670048.Laura_DeLuca
MRP Website Author Page: http://www.moonrosepublishing.com/#!laura-de-luca/c1zc2
Book buy links:
And
now for the giveaway! Well, what IS the free stuff? Moon Rose Publishing, as
part of the A CELTIC TAPESTRY tour, is giving away a ton of good stuff. You
could win a print copy of A CELTIC TAPESTRY, a sticker pack, bookmarks, a
beautiful necklace and jewelled bookmark from Tara S Wood, or an e-book of the
anthology!
