*CONTEST* for THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE

TIDBITS ABOUT THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE:

What is it we love about the paranormal and all the creatures that haunt our worlds? I think the possibility they might exist or at one time existed fascinates us. It's more interesting to read about creatures/humans with supernatural powers than it is to read about the common, mundane man. The supernatural/paranormal are also fascinating to research, create and write. 

When I wrote The Sin Eater's Prince, I loved exploring the ancient myths and lore enveloping Wales. There are many paranormal aspects and characters in The Sin Eater's Prince, but I've chosen only a few here to tell you about. That means, if you want to know more about the others, you'll have to read the book. Clever of me, don't you think? You can buy the book on Kindle, or if you're a Prime member, you can get it for FREE through the lending program.   

Tylwyth Teg, Faeries/The Fair Folk

Welsh faeries that are good, dance & kidnap children with long golden hair. They possess glamour and can change into goats, dogs, cats and foxes. They live underground in mountains and caves. The way to their wooded country the Land of Enchantment with meadows of bright flowers is underneath hollow banks that overhang the deepest parts of lakes, or the deepest pools in rivers. Mortals can not follow them further than the water.

The Tylwyth Teg are dark-haired, one to three feet tall, wear birch leaf coats, moss breeches & gorse flower hats. They are associated with poisonous foxgloves which are called petticoats. They use glow worms for torches. They ride white horses and the women have bright dresses of red, white, pink, blue and green on Mayday. The Fair Folk play harp and violin music; feast on wine in golden cups.  

Their sacred well which humans cannot drink from is full of fish of every color and also golden fish. Their lake is populated by herons, geese, cormorants, eels, leeches, water-hens, water-lilies, rushes & sedges. On nights when the moon is full the Tylwyth Teg celebrate a merry night. At midnight they rise out of the ground in every combe and valley, join hands, form circles, and sing and dance until cock-crows. Then they vanish like the mist.

Knackers/Knockers, Mischievous elf-like creatures that haunt the mines of Wales

The Knocker, Knacker, (Welsh) or Tommyknocker (US) is a mythical creature in Welsh folklore. They are the equivalent of Irish leprechauns and English and Scottish brownies. About two feet tall and grizzled, but not misshapen, they live beneath the ground. Here they wear tiny versions of standard miner's garb and commit random mischief, such as stealing miner's unattended tools and food.

Their name comes from the knocking on the mine walls that happens just before cave-ins – actually the creaking of earth and timbers before giving way. To some of the miners, the knockers were malevolent spirits and the knocking was the sound of them hammering at walls and supports to cause the cave-in. To others, who saw them as essentially well-meaning practical jokers, the knocking was their way of warning the miners that a life-threatening collapse was imminent.

According to some Welsh folklore, the Knockers were the helpful spirits of people who had died in previous accidents in the many tin mines in the county, warning the miners of impending danger. To give thanks for the warnings, and to avoid future peril the miners cast the last bite of their tasty pasties into the mines for the Knockers.

  

Dyn Hysbys, Welsh Wizard

Dyn hysbys is a title rather than a name, the most common term in Wales for a wizard. The soul of the druid, too imperfect for Christian heaven and too good for hell, inhabits the body of the dyn hysbys. Among the powers of the dyn hysbys is the ability to know and reveal the unknown, especially events in the future pertaining to love and death. Such powers might also be applied to commonplaces, like finding money that has been lost or helping a Welshman to escape from an English gaol. He is said to possess the power of breaking spells by undoing the evil perpetrated by witches and others.

A dyn hysbys might also undertake to heal an animal or human by using charms and incantations. His powers are especially potent on the days when the world of the spirits is thought to come closer to that of humans, such as May Day, St John's Day, and the eve of winter. There are three kinds of dyn hysbys: clerics, men who had learned their craft from esoteric books, and those who had inherited the power from their families. Other Welsh terms for wizard are: conjurer, magician, and charmer. The names of many dyn hysbys survive, and some were renowned beyond their time and place.

Note: In The Sin Eater's Prince, Owen Rhys, the sin eater is discovered to be a dyn hysbys, his powers passed down through the generations.

Gwrach y Rhibyn, Hag of the Mist

The Welsh “Hag of the Dribble” or “Hag of the Mist” may suddenly leap out of a water channel, but otherwise she’ll invisibly stalk her victims until they pass a crossroads or stream. Here she’ll become all too visible and audible, for in both instances her cries, like those of the Banshee are harrowing. If the person thus doomed to die (either the observer or someone they know) is a man the The Hag will holler “Fy ngwr! Fy ngwr!” (“My Husband! My Husband!”) but if a youth is to succumb, then she’ll cry “Fy mlentyn! Fy mlentyn bach!” (“My child! My little child!”)

She is a hideous sight to behold, with her crooked back, hooked nose, long filthy hair and manic eyes. She is pinched and scrawny, yet her superficial mass likely betrays her true strength and vigor. The most frightfully inhuman of all her features, however, are her long thin arms, for not only do they end in dreadful talon-like hands, but black scaly wings also hang from these extremities. These bat-like appendages are thought capable of flight.

 * CONTEST *

Leave a comment - tell me about your favorite paranormal creature for a chance to win a copy of LAND OF FALLING STARS, an Erotic Historical Romance.

Thank you so much for participating in the March release party! Whew, I bet it's been a long day for you. Please follow my blog if you'd like to know more about my latest releases. GO HERE TO KETA'S KEEP

Keta's Bio:

Keta is a multi-published author of paranormal and historical romance and gay fiction. In 2009, her erotic romance Decadent Deceptions was a finalist in the RWA Molly contest. In 2010, Keta's entry Phoenix Rising finaled in the Scarlet Boa contest and in 2011 Keta's acclaimed paranormal shifter, Where The Rain is Made, was nominated by Authors After Dark for a Bookie Award and by Deep In The Heart of Romance for Best Romance of the Year.

Many of her books, including her gay fiction series CROSSROADS, have won numerous awards: Top Reviewer's Pick, Recommended Read and Best Book of the Month.

If you'd like to know more about Keta and her latest releases, she haunts the Net here:

Keta's Keep Blog, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo
Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author
Gay Fiction Blog: http://thestuffofmythandmen.blogspot.com

VAMPIRES & WEREWOLVES - THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE

BUY OR BORROW ON KINDLE

Owen Rhys, the sin eater, has been shunned by the local villagers all his life--except for Andras Maddock, the local physician. In love with the one man he believes will never return that love, Owen is shocked when Andras saves him from death at the hands of a vampire.

Dagan, Dark Lord of the Underworld, vows to avenge his father’s death and obtain the Prince of Wales’s mystic sword from Andras. The claymore’s power holds an immunity the vampires have coveted for centuries.

Star-crossed love, sorcery, and bloodlust collide on a vengeful path where only one side will remain victorious.

Watch the video 

So hard to pick just one review since there are so many wonderful ones! I picked four snippets that should give you an idea of how much people have loved this book. WARNING: There are scenes of graphic and intense man love in THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE.

 
"There is much to love in this lush novel from Ravenous Romance." --Erin O'Riordan, Pagan Spirits Blog (5 stars)

"Keta Diablo's The Sin Eater's Prince pushed Keta onto my list of favorite authors. Buy a copy and enjoy!" --Literary Nymphs (5 "nymphs")

"I've never seen anyone write like Keta Diablo. I enjoyed this read and give it the Recommended Read Award." --Two Lips Reviews (5 "kisses")

"The Sin Eater's Prince is a truly mesmerizing story." --Book Junkie (4 stars)
Thanks so much for reading and stay tuned for the contest on THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE!

DARK NIGHT OF THE MOON - Wolf Mythology ** CONTEST**

Coming right up - CONTEST Number two! Tell me what it is you like about PARANORMAL books and creatures and you could win a copy of CRADLE OF DREAMS - ON KINDLE

The Wolf in DARK NIGHT OF THE MOON

is a Gray Wolf. Here's a picture of one above.

While writing Dark Night of the Moon, I did quite a bit of research on the wolf and the mythology surrounding him/her concerning their ability to shift into humans. Would you believe, shape shifters existed in Native American legend and lore long before they appeared in Twilight! You don't say?

Here are some interesting facts I stumbled upon concerning shape shifting beasts, particularly wolves, when the Native American tribes ruled the plains.

The wolf shifter in Dark Night of the Moon happens to be a gray wolf. The gray wolf (Canis lupus) is also known as the Arctic wolf, common wolf, Mexican wolf, Plains wolf, timber wolf, and Tundra wolf. At one time, they were the world's most widely distributed mammal, but they've become extinct now in much of Western Europe, Mexico and the US. Their packs have been reduced by almost one-third over the years because we've been led to believe they prey on livestock and humans. In actuality, it's very rare for humans to be attacked by a wolf.

Native Americans have profound respect for the wolf. To several tribes the wolf was known as a protective spirit or totem. They viewed the wolf as a wise fellow hunter to be respected and admired. Those who could shift into the wolf were known as limmikin (or yenaloosi) in many tribes. The Navajo are best known for their shifter beliefs. They called men who could morph into wolves skinwalkers, or yennadlooshi which means "He goes on all fours."

According to Navajo tradition skinwalkers look physically different from normal people – the main difference is their eyes—large and glowing, even in daylight. It’s believed if someone looks a skinwalker in the eyes, the creature can absorb a person and steal their skin. They could also read minds and lure people from their homes and into the woods by imitating the voices and cries of loved ones.

Examples of the wolf appearing throughout Native American mythology include the following.

*  The Eskimos spoke of an old woman, Qisaruatsiaq, who was abandoned and forced to live by herself. Eventually, she turned into a wolf.

*  The Sioux called the wolf shunk manitu tanka, meaning animal that looks like a dog but is a powerful spirit.

* Cheyenne medicine men rubbed warrior arrows against wolf fur to bring better luck in hunting.

*  The Nootka celebrated spiritual ties to the wolf. When someone died, they thought they could bring a person back to life by wearing wolf clothing.

*  The Cherokee would not kill a wolf, believing the dead wolf's siblings would exact revenge. They learned to walk like a wolf to ward off frostbite to their feet.

*  The Crow dressed in wolf skins to hunt.

* The Mandan displayed wolf tails on their moccasins, signs of success in battle.

*  Women of the Hidatsa tribe rubbed their bellies with wolf skin to alleviate difficult childbirth.

* The Cree believed divine wolves visited earth when the northern lights shone during winter.

*  The Ahtena would prop dead wolves up, sometimes feeding them ceremonial meals.

* Chippewa myths tell of wolves supplying humans with food and hides.

* The Delaware tribe thought a change in weather might be announced through a wolf's howl.

Lakota Woman (Sioux) Myth

 A woman was hurt and left behind by her people. She ran out of food and nearly starved, but came upon a wolf den and crawled inside. At first the members of the pack were suspicious and afraid of her, but eventually they grew to like her. When they brought food to their pups they shared it with her.

Eventually she was strong enough to snare rabbits and help with the hunting. She stayed with the pack for many years.

One day the oldest wolf smelled humans coming, and strangely the woman did too. They were her own people and she realized she must return to them.

She reunited herself with the village very slowly and brought with her the skills of the wolf. She knew wolf talk and developed a keen sense of smell, allowing her to predict bad weather far in advance. She could also alert the village when game or other humans came around.

* * *

I hope I’ve piqued your interest. If you’d like to know more about Holding On To Heaven and Dark Night of the Moon, you can read the great reviews here on KINDLE:

Holding On To Heaven:  http://amzn.to/Ad5tnz

Dark Night of the Moon:  http://amzn.to/ADePKy

 FOLLOW

KETA'S KEEP ROMANCE BLOG

DARK NIGHT OF THE MOON - The sequel to Holding On To Heaven

ON KINDLE HERE 

Dark Night of the Moon is a paranormal Wolf Shifter and the sequel to Holding on to Heaven.

Creed Gatlin flees to Arizona intent on eradicating the haunting memories of his brother’s wife. Brand Gatlin, presumed dead, resurfaces after a long absence and with his re-emergence, the destinies of those he loves is altered forever.

In a land rife with war and danger, Sage must travel to the village of her husband’s People. There, she is reunited with Crooked Back, the ancient healer. On the long trek back to Full Circle, devious plots are underfoot and peril lurks around every corner for Sage, Lauren and Peter Pa.

 Dark Night of the Moon will take you on an unforgettable journey of war, violence, overwhelming grief, and finally, love.

WATCH THE VIDEO

Review for Dark Night of the Moon:

FIVE STARS - RomFan REVIEWS

 

Dark Night of the Moon is the sequel to Keta Diablo’s Holding on to Heaven where we first meet the characters.  Although labeled as a Paranormal it is not your typical Paranormal but more of the beliefs of the Native American Indians. You will discover yourself on an emotional ride, I found myself with tears one minute and the next I just wanted to smack Creed and Lauren.  I felt like I was an observer standing there watching this touching and scorching story unfold.  You are never sure how this story will end and you may even be surprised. Keta Diablo is an amazing story teller and Dark Night of the Moon is a keeper.

HERE'S WHERE I HANG OUT ON THE NET

COME JOIN ME PLEASE!

Keta's Keep Blog, http://ketaskeep.blogspot.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ketadiablo
Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/KetaDiablo.Author
Gay Fiction Blog: http://thestuffofmythandmen.blogspot.com

  

You Know The Drill! 

LEAVE A COMMENT . . . OR ELSE!

Waving from the Midwest - Keta Diablo

 (Follow KETA'S KEEP ROMANCE BLOG)

Hello lovely friends and followers of Goddess Fish Promotions,

I'm here to chat with you today for the March release party. Settle in, because I have three new releases to blather about. Don't worry, I'll be giving away some books today too, so be sure and leave a comment or two to be eligible to win!

HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN

A western historical with many five-star reviews!

About HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN:

Kindle:  http://amzn.to/Ad5tnz

Brothers in love with the same woman -- one the father to her child, the other her husband. An epic historical spanning two generations.

The Civil War has crumbled a Nation, and the Dakota Sioux are on the warpath. While the blazing fires of revolt ravage the countryside, twins, Lauren and Sage McCain are trapped amid the flames of destiny.

Holding on to Heaven is a story of family betrayal, heart-stopping danger, and passionate love, a love that crosses all boundaries and forges all cultures.

The nice thing for readers - Most of my books are now enrolled

in the KINDLE SELECT PROGRAM so you can borrow them.

Watch the video for Holding On To Heaven 

And here's one of my favorite reviews for HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN. What more could an author ask?

From Gathering Leaves Reviews

My Rating:  ★★★★★

Holding on to Heaven takes the reader back to the time just before the Civil War breaks out in the United States, when the Midwest was still "uncivilized" and the American Indians were being forced farther and farther out of their homelands. Lauren is a spitfire young woman from the south who travels to visit her aunt and uncle in Minnesota. Love finds her there, but it is far more complicated than boy meets girl. Pregnant with one man's child, she consents to marry his brother. One leaves for war; the other goes missing during an Indian skirmish. That's just the beginning of the turmoil that Lauren must face. Soon, her path will cross that of her twin sister that she did not even know was alive. Sage's life was very different from Lauren's, but she has her own burdens to bear, and she must somehow bring a new strength and love into Lauren's life just when she will need it the most.

There was a time that I would have said, "I don't read erotic fiction." I still might wade in with a little trepidation, but I think Holding on to Heaven was so far from what I imagine erotic fiction to be. Honestly, I wouldn't even label it erotic—just historical romance. There is such a well-written plot, a true deep story, within this novel. There is sex, there is romance, but it isn't the focus of the story at all. 

Keta does an amazing job developing the characters, introducing us to each of their story lines and then weaving all of those lines together in interesting and profound ways.  It is so much more than your run-of-the-mill love triangle. There is so much more complexity involved. Then, add in the fact that these sisters are about run across each other again after all these years, not knowing the other even existed. It is such a fantastic story!

I became completely emotionally invested in the lives of each of the characters. I cannot tell you how many times I started crying. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the story goes from here. 

Thanks so much for reading about HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN! Stay tuned for my next post. I'm holding a contest and I'll tell you why I wrote the book!

** CONTEST** And Why I Wrote HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN

Hey, I hope you're all having a great time at the party. Don't forget to leave some comments on the posts for a chance to win some prizes and books!

WHY I WROTE HOLDING ON TO HEAVEN:

Some readers have asked me why I wrote Holding on to Heaven so I thought I’d speak to that here. I’ve always loved history about the Civil War – the battles, the thousands of lives lost and the boundaries that were often crossed when family members chose sides. It wasn’t uncommon to find cousin fighting against cousin or neighbor against neighbor. The Civil War was a deeply personal war for many, and yet in the end, many didn’t know why they were fighting. I can’t think of anything more horrible than to have our country divided over ideals, beliefs or principles to the point we take up arms against our brethren.

Imagine drawing a line across the United States – the top half of the states fight for one side and the bottom for the other. And suppose you had family down in Texas when you live in Wisconsin? I’m sure you can see what the Civil War was one of our darkest times in history. 

Holding on two Heaven is, in essence, about a woman named Lauren McCain who was raised in the deep South and moves to the North just before the war broke out. Her loyalties are divided. She’s fallen in love with a Northerner, carries his child, and yet her father and family hail from North Carolina. Now, toss in the Dakota Sioux uprising in Minnesota at the same time and the entire country is ablaze with fire and terror.

Holding on to Heaven is an emotional story about betrayal, grief, fate and abiding passion. If you like reading about the Civil War, I think you’ll love the story of brothers who love the same woman and yet, love each other too. Oh, yes, and there’s a few twists and turns in the story. There is a happily-for-now ending, but here’s the good news: Dark Night of the Moon, the sequel to Holding on to Heaven was released in January! And I promise there will be a happily-ever-after for all.

Watch for my upcoming posts today about DARK NIGHT OF THE MOON and THE SIN EATER'S PRINCE.

** CONTEST **

Leave a comment, tell me why you think so many readers love hunky COWBOYS, whether from the past or the present. Myself, I think there's nothing SEXIER than a COWBOY!

TWO PEOPLE WILL BE CHOSEN TO WIN A COPY OF GUILTY PLEASURES AND CHASING LOVE! You can find that book on Amazon here:

CHASING LOVE - GUILTY PLEASURES (two stories)