I’m happy to welcome guest author Helen Scott Taylor to DarkFaerieTales.com. The Magic Knot is the first book in her paranormal romance Magic Knot series, which was released on January 27, 2009. The Phoenix Charm, the second book in her Magic Knot series was released on December 29, 2009. Helen’s novella, The Feast of Beauty will be appearing in The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance, and is scheduled to be released on January 26, 2010.
Helen is also giving one lucky commenter a chance to win an autographed copy of The Phoenix Charm. Details are listed at the end of the post. In addition, Helen has offered to drop by to respond to questions and comments.
Click to read an excerpt of The Phoenix Charm and The Magic Knot.
You can visit Helen around the web here: Website
Welcome Helen!
Thank you to Angela for having me as a guest today. I’m delighted to be here. My current series is contemporary fantasy and one of my favorite parts about writing fantasy is creating the world and especially the characters who populate the world.
In the Magic Knot Fairies world, each fairy embodies the qualities of one of the elements. The leprechauns and Cornish piskies are Earth elementals, the Welsh Tylwyth Teg are Air elementals, and the noble old blood Tuatha Dé Danaan can be either Fire, Air, or Water. This gives them their powers, strengths, and weaknesses.
In the second book in the series, The Phoenix Charm, the heroine Cordelia is half Cornish pisky and half water nymph. It is the water nymph qualities inherited from her mother that have manifested, making her a water elemental. The sensual water nymph allure that attracts males has so far caused her nothing but trouble. When she reached puberty, her grandmother bound the power by covering the energy centers on Cordelia’s body with Celtic symbols. But the water nymph energies are also the source of her healing power so she has never reached her full potential.
The hero of the story, Michael, is an Earth elemental. He is a storyteller and has the gift of glamour, which makes him attractive, and silver tongue, which makes his words persuasive. As the story progresses he discovers a greater power he has inherited from his father, and he gains more control over the energy he channels from the Earth.
We all exhibit characteristics of the four elements, but we tend to favor one. Here is a brief description of the elements’ qualities.
Earth is the mother, the element of birth and renewal. Earth elementals are steady, grounded, and generous, with their feet firmly on the ground. Confident and steadfast, Earth elementals have an instinct for survival, which makes them excellent protectors.
Air elementals are intelligent with great imagination, and can be very persuasive. They are good at conceiving new ideas and seeing changes coming. They have an affinity to music. They may ‘have their heads in the clouds’ and be difficult to pin down. Their spiritual beauty is reflected in the intricate formation of snowflakes.
Water elementals are the nurturers, the calm center that supports loved ones to help them conquer problems. Sensual, graceful, and often very beautiful, Water elementals have strong emotions, and love deeply.
Fire elementals embody passion, enthusiasm, and desire. They are quick and bright, but often emotionally volatile. Forceful and highly opinionated, Fire elementals think they know best. They are considered to be ‘hot blooded’.
To find out which element you are, go to my website and take my elements quiz. Then come back and tell us which element you are!
Synopsis (Product Description):
He’s Pure Temptation.
Cordelia has sworn she’ll abstain from looking into Michael’s future—particularly when the image in the gilded smoke of her divination mirror shows him half naked. Yet she can’t resist watching the sexy rascal slowly running his hand down his ribs, over his abdomen, flicking open the button on his jeans with a little flourish like a magician performing a trick.
She’s Trying To Resist.
Respectable wise woman Cordelia restrains her secret water nymph sensuality with the Celtic symbols painted on her skin. But Michael’s powerful fairy glamour leaves her breathless, off balance, struggling for control. When Gwyn ap Nudd, the Welsh King of the Underworld, steals away Michael’s infant nephew, Cordelia must work with him to save the child. But how can she trust her instincts with Michael tempting her to explore the hidden elemental depths of her nature and insisting that she believe in the power of…The Phoenix Charm.
I also have a novella linked to my Magic Knot Fairies series called The Feast of Beauty in The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance due out on Feb 9th.
The anthology includes stories by: Jenna Maclaine, Jennifer Ashley, Roberta Gellis, Claire Delacroix, Sue-Ellen Welfonder, Cindy Miles, Ciar Cullen, Helen Scott Taylor, Shirley Kennedy, Margo Maguire, Susan Krinard, Pat McDermott, Nadia Williams, Dara England, Kathleen Givens, Sandra Newgent, Cindy Holby, CT Adams & Cathy Clamp, Penelope Neri, Patricia Rice.
Synopsis (Product Description):
First in a series of contemporary fantasy romances set in the mystical rural depths of England, Ireland and Wales.
When Rose discovers she is the Cornish pisky queen and her father is a dark druid who has imprisoned her people in portraits, the race is on to discover the fairy lore needed to release her people before her father destroys the piskies forever.
She seeks help from the sinfully sexy Irish fairy twins, the O’Connor brothers. Niall’s faint air of menace flutters dark thrills of anticipation through her, but does he want to kiss her or kill her when she accidentally touches his Magic Knot and forges a mystical lovers’ bond with him? And can she resist the seductive glamour of his mischievous brother Michael?
With the survival of the Cornish piskies in her hands, Rose must escape from a vampiric, winged fairy, outwit The Queen of Nightmares and surrender her mind, body and spirit to Niall to release her hidden inner fairy. The Tarot cards warn he will stab her in the back, but when she’s in his arms, the last thing on her mind is death.
To read my free fantasy-romance short story, Jack’s Garden, visit the Dorchester website.
For more information go to my website.
DFT: Many thanks Helen for taking the time to stop by.
GIVEAWAY GUIDELINES:
One lucky commenter will have a chance to win an autographed copy of The Phoenix Charm.
To enter, take the elements quiz and leave a comment below giving us your results:
Click this link to take the quiz!
1. +1 entry for taking the elements quiz and answering the question (required).
2. +3 entries for becoming a follower of this blog and Dark Faerie Tales on Twitter.
3. +4 entries for tweeting about this contest, blogging about it, linking via your sidebar etc…(please tell me where!).
4. Giveaway is open to everyone.
5. Please include your email address in your comment.
6. Giveaway ends Thursday, February 11th at 11:59 PM EST.
7. The winner will be picked with the help of Random.org.
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