Hidden Salem
Kiki Howell
Kiki Howell
Genre:
Contemporary, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense
Publisher: Mitchell
Morris Publishing Inc
ISBN: 9781937629281
Number of pages:
332
Cover Artist: Tara
at http://fantasiafrogdesigns.wordpress.com/
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/lgy8wgA3bDI
Book Description:
Intuition alone
brought Makayla to Salem, Ma in search of a story, but her research has her
confronting more than she bargained for. With her empathic gifts stronger in
Witch City, she physically suffers, landing her literally unconscious in the
arms of both Noah Ayers, local cop and Dylan Baines, local history teacher.
Yet, it is Lauri, a witch who owns a local shop, who teaches Makayla about who
she is and what she can do.
Unfortunately for all
of them, Makayla also stumbles upon a coven in the woods practicing a dark
magic ritual. Now they are after her, threatening her life and the lives of
those she has quickly come to care about. Immersed in things she never
expected, like an old legend and necromancy due to residual hauntings, the race
is on to stay safe from the coven and protect her heart from a certain sexy
cop.
But, is Lauri correct
in thinking Makayla might just have encountered the only real witch in Salem in
1692? And, do they share the same bloodline?
Reviews:
“Richly vivid and captivatingly
engrossing, Hidden Salem is a mesmerizing tale that blends an eerie historical
past with a rather terrifying present. Kiki Howell brings the fascination of
the witches of Salem - both past and present - to a brilliant level, adding
liberal doses of sensuous love, suspense and murder to provide a
hard-to-put-down, provocative and memorable story that you don't want to miss.”
~ April Pohren, Cafe of Dreams Book Reviews
“Kiki Howell spins a tale that will bewitch your heart and leave you
wanting more.” ~ Misty Rayburn - Top Shelf Book Reviews
" I really enjoyed reading
Hidden Salem. You see a lot of books about the Salem Witch Hunt. This one is
really different and I just really loved the characters and how they interact
with each other. I enjoyed this paranormal. Had the right amount of suspense
and love interest. " ~Crystal, Romancing the Book
Guest
Post: It’s Halloween, So Let’s Talk Halloween ;) by Kiki Howell
For
October 31st on http://onthebroomstick.blogspot.com/
So, what first? Let’s talk decorations. This
year my mantle is filled with drippy candles and bottles filled with what are
supposed to be poisons and witch’s brews. I love the torn material hanging from
the mantle, off my curtains, and around the gravestone with black rose I have
in front of the fireplace. Oh, and this year I bought this great cauldron that
has lights and a mister. It is so amazing. I just love it. I also love to bake
Halloween treats. New recipes each year to try.
Being a paranormal author, one question I get
asked year round is what are your favorite witchy or paranormal books. So, off the top of my head, so sure I’m
missing some great ones, are: Teresa Medeiros, Cabot Series: After
Midnight and The Vampire Who Loved Me; Denise Lynn, Dragon’s
Lair; Any by Annette Blair, Hannah Howell or Heather Graham; Several Series by
Nora Roberts like the Three Sisters Island Trilogy or the Key Trilogy or the
Sign of Seven Series; the Fyne Witches
Series by Linda Winstead Jones,: The Sun Witch, The Moon
Witch, and The Star Witch… okay, sorry, I’ll stop now LOL I’m as
addicted to reading as I am to writing.
But, I’m always on the look out for some great
horror stories. Any suggestions?
How about Favorite Witchy and Scary Movies. Of
course, top of the list is Practical
Magic. I also love a movie called The Covenant.
I also watch a variety of scary movies each
year, alone in my room that is since I’m the only person who cares for them
around here. I’m not picky though, just
whatever is on. I recently watched The Skeleton Key and Insidious streaming
free on Netflix.
How about Haunted Houses? It is
funny, but even with Halloween being one of my favorite holidays and the fact
that I write paranormal stories year round, those created Haunted Houses set up
all over the place this time of year are just not my thing at all!
However, real haunted houses or places, I am not so sure about. I
recently went on a two and a half hour Haunted Footprints tour when I went to Salem,MA. That
was really great. And, when I was young, there was this abandoned house
in the woods behind my own home that I often explored during the day. By
the looks of the place, it could have easily been haunted. I have often
wondered if the house is still standing. It would be cool to go back
there now, and at night. So, of course it is no surprise that I used it
as a setting in one of my stories. And, since it is Halloween, I want to share.
Excerpt
from “The Stone Hex” in the Mystic Stones Anthology:
“Having
come to the end of the trail she followed, Rachael paused where
the
full green of the tree line gave way to an open expanse of land. The remains of
a field, long unattended, rolled out before her until the sun-drenched colors
of the landscape took on the blackness of shadow. From where she stood it
seemed as if the long-abandoned house had burned the earth with its mere
presence. The symmetry of the two-story square made it appear intimidating,
despite it’s aged wood and cracking paint, as if the house was smirking at her
in a domineering stance. Furthermore, the large fallen tree whose weight the
house now sustained seemed an elaboration of contorted fingers grappling for
possession of the sky itself. Dead twigs of brown held onto its foundation as
if paying homage to their master.
Once
she left the protection of the trees, the house, black with the soot of
neglect,
chilled her even as the sun burned upon her shoulders. Nevertheless,
this
was how the house had greeted her for years. As a few clouds rolled in
muting
the sun, the light-play of shadows gave the illusion of specters in the
windows.
Alone
with this house, Rachael always realized how far she had come
from
civilization; nonetheless, she still reveled in her solitude. She had left far
behind
the small fall of water in the woods just beyond her backyard that always
enticed her to sit and the upward curve of the stream that always lured her up
the hill. Pulling up onto the creaking porch from the bare ground where steps
must have once been, she stepped gingerly.
She
squeezed her body into the house beside the ancient heavy door with
rusted
hinges and walked into the living room as if she owned the place. The
sun
filtering through the filthy windows furthered the anomaly of the eerie feel of
an aged room. It never ceased to amaze her how time took its toll. She started
up the stairs walking with her hand on the wall never quite trusting the wobbly
banister or the middle of the warped stairs. Her hand grazed over an upturned
seam of the yellowing wallpaper right where an old red flower bled across it.”
Happy Halloween!
Kiki
About the Author:
Ever since she was
young, Kiki Howell has loved to listen to a well-woven tale with real
characters, inspired plots, and delightful resolutions. Kiki could spend hours
lost in a book, and soon she knew that creating lives, loves, and losses with
just words had to be the greatest thing that she could do. To that end, she
pursued her study of literature and writing, earning a bachelor’s degree in
English. She then followed in a Master’s program in Creative Writing.
She has now had
over thirty stories published between eleven different publishers. She could not be more thrilled or grateful to
see her creations polished and out in the real world. In May, 2011, Kiki was
chosen as an Ohioana Book Festival author for her novel, Torn Asunder.
Hidden Salem Bewitching Book Tour Giveaway
Kiki
has four pieces of jewelry purchased from The Official Witch Shoppe in Salem,
MA which was still open when she visited Salem in August 2010. Each week,
throughout the month tour, a winner will be chosen from one of the tour stops.
Open
to US Shipping
Want to know more about the four pieces of jewelry and the store they
came from?
Here’s A Little Information From Front Page of http://www.theofficialwitchshoppe.com/:
The Official Witch Shoppe (formerly The Cat,
The Crow and The Crown), owned and operated by Rev. Laurie Cabot
H.Ps. , opened in November 2010 at 63R Wharf St. in Salem, MA. (closed in
October, 2010)
Laurie Cabot opened her first store ("The Witch Shop") and the very first Witch Shop in America in 1970. Laurie established her Witch Shop initially for the purpose of educating people that magic (or Majick as it is known in the Cabot Tradition) is real, beneficial and exists and that Witchcraft is not devil worship or evil. Ultimately her first shop and her subsequent stores have supplied Magical people and Witches of all traditions with all the tools and supplies required to perform their own Majick.
Why is Laurie Cabot known as the "Official Witch of Salem"?
In the mid 1970's, Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts, bestowed upon Laurie Cabot the state's Patriot Award.
The proclamation is signed by the Governor and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and it reads:
"I proclaim Laurie Cabot the Official Witch of Salem for her work with children with special needs."
Laurie's first official duty as a state Patriot residing in Salem, was to greet a delegation of artists who were visiting the city from China. The artists had been invited to the United States to display their art at the Boston Museum of Science, and were the first such group of artists to be invited to America after relations with China had been established by President Nixon.
While this certainly was a compliment to Laurie Cabot, it was and is today a symbol of hope for all Witches who do good works on behalf of their community and nation. Equally as important, it serves as a testament that Witches have a place in America today and are recognized as practicing a legitimate and honorable religion which shows a path of dedication for the good of all. This was the first time in history that a high standing politician openly recognized a Witch for their good works.
Laurie Cabot opened her first store ("The Witch Shop") and the very first Witch Shop in America in 1970. Laurie established her Witch Shop initially for the purpose of educating people that magic (or Majick as it is known in the Cabot Tradition) is real, beneficial and exists and that Witchcraft is not devil worship or evil. Ultimately her first shop and her subsequent stores have supplied Magical people and Witches of all traditions with all the tools and supplies required to perform their own Majick.
Why is Laurie Cabot known as the "Official Witch of Salem"?
In the mid 1970's, Governor Michael S. Dukakis of Massachusetts, bestowed upon Laurie Cabot the state's Patriot Award.
The proclamation is signed by the Governor and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and it reads:
"I proclaim Laurie Cabot the Official Witch of Salem for her work with children with special needs."
Laurie's first official duty as a state Patriot residing in Salem, was to greet a delegation of artists who were visiting the city from China. The artists had been invited to the United States to display their art at the Boston Museum of Science, and were the first such group of artists to be invited to America after relations with China had been established by President Nixon.
While this certainly was a compliment to Laurie Cabot, it was and is today a symbol of hope for all Witches who do good works on behalf of their community and nation. Equally as important, it serves as a testament that Witches have a place in America today and are recognized as practicing a legitimate and honorable religion which shows a path of dedication for the good of all. This was the first time in history that a high standing politician openly recognized a Witch for their good works.
Product Descriptions From
Website:
Fancy
Silvertone Anklet:
This
delicate silvertone anklet has been decorated with an array of bells, chains,
and flowers to create a piece of jewelry that will perfectly accent your ankle
and ring out musically with every step you take. Measuring approximately
10" long, each anklet will vary slightly in size.
3
DZi Bead Bracelet
To
Tibetans and other Himalayan peoples, the dZi is a "precious jewel of
supernatural origin" with great power to protect its wearer from disaster.
"Pure" dZi beads (based on Tibetan tradition) are regarded as the
most valuable and desirable variety. To qualify as pure, a bead must be genuine
etched agate and lie within a certain range of styles. It should also have a
sharply delineated pattern, symmetrical shape, strong color, glossy surface,
and no flaws. The nine-eyed dZi is a pure dZi with the most highly desired
pattern. Etched agate beads not considered pure are called chung dZi, or
"less important dZi." This adjustable necklace expands to a maxium of
10" in diameter.
Celtic
Heart Earrings
Centered
on the tangled knots of a Celtic knot, each layer of these fantastic earrings
displays a new heart, wrapping around the first and the knot within, becoming
at last a beautiful, full sized heart design, without beginning and without
end. Made of fine, lead-free pewter each earring hangs approximately
2" long from a French hook, with the hearts being about 3/4" wide.
Flower
Locket
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