Magick and Mayhem–imps

magikandmayhemlarge

Welcome to the Magick and Mayhem Fantasy blog hop. So the question was, what’s your favorite fantasy creature.
Well, you know, I’m torn. I like elves and faeries, but I adore wizards and gods–and imps, and witches of course. So… I guess I have to say all of them!

They’re running a giveaway involved here so check out the link below. To this I’ll be giving away one of my bookmarks (US Only). The overall prize package includes a copy of Caitlin’s Book of Shadows (EBook only), featuring, you guessed it that damnable Imp Hofter. 😉

Feeding impsImps are small, bat-ish like, ugly creatures of wild, uncontrolled temperament. Common  in Germanic, Russian, Turkish, and Korean literature, they are pranksters by nature, they simply live to cause trouble for man. And they tend to feed off the a man’s essence and leave the poor victim a drooling shell of his former self. (Or maybe that’s just my imp). And yet, according to good ole google, some people thought witches cavorted with imps! Ewww….

My character Hofter is one such. Though he looks like a man, he’s all about Mayhem. 🙂

Want to know more about Caitlin and company? Okay:

Caitlin's book of shadows
Available FREE at Amazon & more…

Something terrifying stalks Caitlin and her beloved Trevor. Something the bits and pieces she left claimed she had to make sense of–or so legend says. When the curator of their collection finds Caitlin’s long forgotten diary, she wonders will it tell the whole tale? Will it tell why Caitlin seemed so determined to tell the difference between reality and nightmare even as she continued the fight to defend her family from evil? Will it explain why she thought her world twisted? If she really became a witch?

Perhaps the answer lies between the lines of her story, one of lessons, struggles, and the hopes she carried like a warrior’s shield.

**This is a side (or supplemental, if you will) story in the Antique Magic series, a companion to The Artist’s Inheritance (Antique Magic, Book One).

Excerpt:

Caitlin worked the afternoon away in Kameko’s Print Shop, packaging a new order when the door opened. Hofter stepped into the shop. Caitlin froze. Hadn’t Arianrhod insisted she’d “taken care of him”? How, exactly, when there he was, flitting here and there amongst the customers, smiling, brandishing his claw-tipped fingers.
Caitlin narrowed her eyes watching him, unsure of what her eyes told her. He can’t be here.
She tried to will the unwelcome vision away but Hofter refused her silent order to leave. He approached one gentleman waiting in line. Hofter’s claws flashed. The man yelped and cursed.
Had he cut the gentleman? At least that’s what she thought she saw. She dropped the bundle of fliers she’d been carrying and screamed.
In the next second, Hofter disappeared but she couldn’t stop screaming.
Calvin sprinted out the office door. “What’s going on here?”
Hofter was gone and yet, she kept on screaming.
Calvin took her by the arms and shook her. “What is it, Caitlin?”
She pointed to the crowd. Hofter had disappeared and she knew though Calvin’s gaze followed the direction of her finger, he saw nothing.
“Maybe you need to take a break. Go on. Mark can handle things for now.” He turned and shouted over his shoulder, “Mark?”
The student assistant slinked into Caitlin’s spot at the counter as she tried to keep from running out the door.
Hands shaking, she pulled her purse from her locker seeking her cell phone to call Beryl.
“Sweetie,” Beryl said, “are you sure it was Hofter?”
“I saw him, plain as day.” Her mouth was so dry and heart pounding so hard she could barely get the words out. “There’s no doubt in my mind he’s not as imprisoned as she promised.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Yet, it seemed to take forever for Beryl to arrive. When she did, Caitlin stood back trying to do her work as she watched Beryl scrutinize the afternoon crowd of customers. She couldn’t stop shaking.
Beryl finally sauntered up to the counter and shook her head. “I don’t see him, Cait. I don’t even feel any remnants of him.” She reached out and ran her hand down Caitlin’s arm. The touch calmed her—a little. Not as much as she would’ve liked it to. “Sweetie, why don’t you go home and get some rest?”
Caitlin nodded to a watching, curious Calvin. “I would if I could, but I’m stuck here until closing.”
Beryl waved him over and proceeded to flirt with him. Caitlin didn’t know how she did it, but she managed to talk him into letting her leave. Driving her to Dr. Austin’s office herself, Beryl waited until Caitlin reformed from the puddle of sobbing goo she turned into. How she didn’t tell Dr. Austin the true nature of the monster she dealt with, how she managed to stay out of the nuthouse, was beyond Caitlin’s power to discern.
Even when she closed the door and the drapes that night, she could’ve sworn she saw Hofter hanging in the air outside her windows, grinning his evil, impish smile.

Caitlin’s Book of Shadows is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords.

Now about that giveaway. One winner will receive a Smashwords coupon for a download of your choice of ebook format of Caitlin’s Book of Shadows. What to do? Leave me a comment below (with your email address so I can contact you if you win) and tell me what’s your favorite type of Fantasy creature.

2) Add Caitlin’s Book of Shadows and its predecessor The Artist’s Inheritance to your Good Reads To be Read list.

3) IF you’re chosen as the winner of the book, you must review it.

For the rest of the hop participants see the Indie blog hop and the full list here: http://indiebloghops.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/magik-mayhem-blog-hop-15-19-july.html

For more on imps see: http://monsterpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Imps

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imp
http://www.santharia.com/bestiary/imp.htm

IWU Holiday Hop day Three

Just wanted to remind y’all I am giving away a copy of my book to one lucky winner (ebook only). The giveaway ends December 14th so do leave me a comment, and subscribe to my blog or newsletter, so you can get your name in the pot. 🙂

The Artist’s Inheritance
The Artist's InheritanceTrouble only a witch can solve…

The balance between good and evil can be an art… or a curse.

Trevor and Caitlin were once happy newlyweds, profiting from Trevor’s art. Until Trevor inherits his brother’s house, and with it, his part of a family curse. Now, Caitlin will stop at nothing to save her beloved husband from insanity and suicide, even if it means she must embrace her destiny and become a witch.

The novel takes place in Gulf Breeze, Florida just outside Fort Pickens, and involves a wood carver–Trevor–and his wife, Caitlin, who’s worried her hubby is slowly going insane–just like his twin brother did before he committed suicide. So, when anything comes up concerning this chair Trevor’s working on, Caitlin’s ears perk up. Read on and you’ll see…

“How much will you take for these fine drawings?”
The male voice drew her attention away from Trevor’s work. A short man with black hair and a lazy eye, dressed in a pinstripe suit and straw hat, crossed the [Wilkins and Brandt] gallery to pause at Trevor’s side. “They’re your work, are they not? Are they available?”

“Yes, they’re mine,” Trevor said. “They’re not for sale. Sorry.”

Caitlin eyed the older man. Who’s this fella?

“Don’t be absurd, Trevor.” [His employer/mentor] Abby Wilkins, jumped in before Caitlin could ask.

Caitlin took in his fine coat, the diamond gleaming from his ring finger. More than likely, the man could pay a fortune for the pictures. Perhaps even the chair they had stashed in the attic. Maybe they’d be rid of the stupid thing yet.

“For you, Mr. Hofter? Of course they are.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Trevor said. “They’re not for sale.”

Abby choked and pulled Trevor aside. “Are you mad, darling? Do you know who he is?”

Caitlin peered over Abby’s shoulder, seeing the man in question studying a Jeffersonian era desk. Trevor grimaced. “I can’t say I do.”

“That’s Marvin Hofter,” Mrs. Wilkins said conspiratorially.

“Who’s Marvin Hofter?” Caitlin asked.

Abby spluttered and tugged at the collar of her linen blouse. “How can you not know him?”

The name meant nothing; Caitlin could only give her a blank look. “I don’t.”

“My dear, he’s only the editor in chief of Antiques Daily.”

Now Caitlin understood why Trevor’s mentor was making such a huge deal.

Trevor touched one of the sketches, almost, Caitlin thought, as if he would protect them. “I’m sorry, no. The pictures aren’t for sale.”

Hofter pursed his lips and retrieved a card case from the pocket of his silk coat. He pulled forth an embossed business card and handed it to him. “If you change your mind, don’t hesitate to call me.” The man tipped his hat and walked away.

Caitlin kept her gaze on him. Something about him made her want to grab Trevor and move as far away as possible. Like to Siberia.

If, alternately you’d like to check it out for yourself it’s available at Amazon currently for $.99. Or in paperback (perfect for gift giving),

Amputeddy Goes Back to School by Jean Boelter and Kate Policani «

Amputeddy Goes Back to School by Jean Boelter and Kate Policani «.

Amputeddy Goes Back to School

by Jean Boelter and Kate Policani

Illustrated by Marta Creswell

Amputeddy is a little bear who has just recovered from an accident in which he lost his leg. This is his first day back at school! Join him in his fears and triumphs as he learns that he can still be a regular bear, just like everyone else.

via Amputeddy Goes Back to School by Jean Boelter and Kate Policani «.

Part of the November Author Blog-in.