Get Pop Cultured with Barnes and Noble

 

Contact:                                                             

Lillian Reitz

CBDM

5303 FM 1960 West, Houston, Texas 77069

281/631/0681

       

Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest Announces a Month-Long Celebration of Pop Culture

in July

 

Second Annual “Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble^™” to Feature Unique Special Events, Author Appearances, Exclusive Content, Giveaways and More

       

Highlights Include Throwback Thursdays, Time Travel Weekend, DC Comics Days, Comic Convention Collectibles, a Harper Lee Celebration, Minions Fun, Fangirl Friday, Vinyl Day, a Dr. Seuss Spectacular and Much More

New York, New York - June 25, 2015 - Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation’s largest retail bookseller and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced the second annual Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble, a month-long celebration of pop culture with special events customers won’t want to miss. Building off the success of last year’s campaign, this year’s Get Pop-Cultured celebration at Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest will feature a series of 20 very exciting events and activities perfect for the whole family to enjoy, in addition to author signings, panel discussions, contests, exclusive content, giveaways and prizes, and more.

 

Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble was first established in 2014 to bring to life customers’ favorite books, characters, movies, artists, illustrators and pop-culture icons. This year it expands to feature an even more robust lineup of events great for customers of all ages, including weekly Throwback Thursdays celebrating a different decade each Thursday from the 1950s through the 1990s, DC Comics Days, a Harper Lee Celebration, a Minions Fun event, Star Wars Saturday, Manga Mania, Fangirl Friday, Vinyl Day, James Patterson Day, a Dr. Seuss Spectacular and many more unique events and promotions. For more information on what’s happening during Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble month at Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest, customers can visit the store or www.bn.com/getpop-cultured<http://www.bn.com/getpop-cultured>. 

 

Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest Lineup:

 

·       Throwback Thursdays - July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

The cornerstone of the Get Pop-Cultured campaign, customers are invited to Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest every Thursday in July for a nostalgic journey through the most iconic moments in pop culture from the 1950s through the 1990s. Customers will experience the decades as they explore the dynamic influence that books, toys, games, music, movies, TV and fashion had on society during those time periods. The store will feature a specially crafted display wall containing fun facts, images, products and more that influenced each decade and brings them back to life. The display wall changes weekly for each new decade and is perfect for taking pictures to share on social media, using the hashtags #TBT and #GetPopCultured. Celebrate the 1950s on July 2, the 1960s on July 9, the 1970s on July 16, the 1980s on July 23, and the 1990s on July 30. Special offers, giveaways, and events and activities each Thursday will round out the fun. 

 

·       Time Travel Weekend - July 3-5

Designed to take customers on a journey through time, Time Travel Weekend will transport fans into the intriguing worlds of the following:

 

Doctor Who

On July 3 at 7pm, Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest is celebrating Doctor Who. Customers will enjoy trivia, giveaways, a special offer and more, and are invited to come dressed as their favorite character.

 

Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark

On July 4 at 10am, customers will travel back millions of years with Magic Tree House: Dinosaurs Before Dark. Young paleontologists are invited to explore the age of dinosaurs with fun activities, giveaways and a special offer.

 

Outlander

On July 5 at 2pm, customers will be transported to the intriguing world of the popular Outlander series with trivia, giveaways and more.

 

·       DC Comics Days - July 8-12

Customers are invited for a special offer on all DC Comics graphic novels and a free Young Gotham comic collection and poster, while supplies last. There will be other giveaways and activities, and as always during Get Pop-Cultured, cosplay is welcome.

 

·       Comic Convention Collectibles - July 9-12

Customers can visit Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest to get the highly anticipated convention exclusives representing some of the hottest licenses, including fan favorites, while supplies last. Customers should get to Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest early on July 9 as many of these collectibles will sell out fast!

 

·       Harper Lee Celebration - July 13-14

On July 13, all Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will read Harper Lee’s classic To Kill a Mockingbird from start to finish. The Read-A-Thon will feature a variety of special guest readers, including local authors or celebrities. On July 14, Harper Lee’s highly anticipated new novel, Go Set a Watchman, goes on sale. Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will open early at 7am so customers can get their copy first, and those who visit the Barnes & Noble Café from 7am to 10am will get a free tall hot coffee with their purchase of Go Set a Watchman. Plus, the first 20 customers to buy the book in every store will receive a free exclusive To Kill a Mockingbird reusable tote.

 

·       Minions Fun  - July 17 at 7pm

Customers are invited to sign up now for the Minions Fun event and become a certified Minion and attend Villain-Con in Barnes & Noble stores, where they will search for the most despicable villain to follow. Activities and giveaways will round out the fun. Customers can contact Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest to sign up today.

 

·       Star Wars Saturday - July 18

Star Wars fans of all ages are invited to Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest for exclusive products, activities, cosplay, trivia and a chance to win a Star Wars character standee (terms & conditions apply). Customers should contact Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest for complete details.

 

·       Manga Mania - July 19

Customers can visit Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest to discover this popular style of Japanese comic books and graphic novels. Manga Mania will feature a special offer, activities, and giveaways.

 

·       Fangirl Friday - July 24 at 7 pm

Barnes & Noble is inviting fangirls to unite and celebrate fandom. Fangirls should visit their local store to get introduced to the Women of Marvel, enjoy cosplay, giveaways and much more. Additionally, while supplies last, customers can pick up the Vinyl Vixen Metallic Wonder Woman, available only at Barnes & Noble.

 

·       Vinyl Day - July 25

Fans of vinyl records can explore Barnes & Noble’s growing assortment and participate in events celebrating vinyl culture, including giveaways, special offers and exclusives.

 

·       James Patterson Day - July 26

Customers are invited to Barnes & Noble to celebrate America’s bestselling author with a special one-day-only offer on all adult, kids’, and teen books by James Patterson.

 

·       Dr. Seuss Spectacular - July 28 at 7 pm and July 31 at 7 pm

In celebration of the newly discovered Dr. Seuss book What Pet Should I Get?, kids of all ages are invited to help Barnes & Noble decide what pet to get at a special Storytime event on July 28 at 7pm. Get Pop-Cultured ends on a high note on July 31 at 7pm with a Dr. Seuss Spectacular, a celebration of Theodor Seuss Geisel, known to the world as the beloved Dr. Seuss. There’s fun to be done before Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble comes to an end!

 

More ways to Get Pop-Cultured include:

 

·       Authors, Illustrators, Celebrities and More

Throughout the Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble campaign, stores across the country will welcome customers’ favorite authors, illustrators and celebrities, including Arlene & Alan Alda, Keegan Allen, Gretchen Carlson, Chris Colfer, Chuck D, Rob "Gronk" Gronkowski, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Mary McDonough, Christopher Paolini, James Patterson, Kate Pierson, Joe Satriani, Brad Thor, Cindy Williams, Charlie Wilson and many more. Customers should contact Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest to find out which authors will be appearing there during Get Pop-Cultured.

 

·       Get Pop-Cultured Sweepstakes from NOOK^®

At all Get Pop-Cultured events and throughout the month of July, customers can visit the NOOK Counter to enter for a chance to win a $1,000 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. To enter, customers can visit the NOOK Boutique^® at Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest anytime between July 1 and July 31, where they should look for the specially created Get Pop-Cultured NOOK App^™ on the NOOK devices displayed.

 

·       Get Pop-Cultured Giveaways and Exclusives

Throughout July, Barnes & Noble will have tons of giveaways at all stores, including samplers and posters from DC Comics’ Young Gotham series, as well as Marvel, Star Wars and Manga posters, and much more. All giveaway items are available in limited quantities; for more information visit Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest. In addition, Barnes & Noble will have a large offering of exclusive products and items during Get Pop-Cultured, including exclusive book editions during Throwback Thursdays, Comic Convention collectibles, select vinyl records and more. For more information, visitwww.bn.com/getpop-cultured <http://www.bn.com/getpop-cultured>.

 

·       Get Pop-Cultured on Social Media

Pop culture fans should follow Barnes & Noble on Twitter <https://twitter.com/BNBuzz>, Instagram <http://instagram.com/barnesandnoble>, Tumblr <http://thebarnesandnoble.tumblr.com/> and like Barnes & Noble on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/barnesandnoble> for the very latest information on Get Pop-Cultured with Barnes & Noble, including announcements about upcoming events and promotions. Pop culture fans can also follow NOOK on Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/nook>, Google+ <https://plus.google.com/+nook/posts>, Twitter <https://twitter.com/nookBN> andInstagram <http://instagram.com/lifeofnook>.

 

Barnes & Noble @Champion Forest will be announcing many more events such as giveaways and exclusive content and products, throughout the Get Pop-Cultured month. For a full schedule of local events and author appearances, and for more details regarding giveaways, competitions and sweepstakes, visit www.bn.com/getpop-cultured <http://www.bn.com/getpop-cultured>.

 

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 649 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web’s largest e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com <http://www.bn.com>). Its NOOK digital business offers award-winning NOOK® products and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store® (www.nook.com <http://www.nook.com>), while Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC operates 717 bookstores serving over five million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States.

 

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com <http://www.barnesandnobleinc.com>.Barnes & Noble^®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers^® and Barnes & Noble.com^® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates.

 

 

For more information on Barnes & Noble, follow us on <https://twitter.com/BNBuzz>, <http://instagram.com/barnesandnoble> and <http://thebarnesandnoble.tumblr.com>, and like us on<https://www.facebook.com/barnesandnoble>.

 

About Nook Digital, LLC

NOOK reading and entertainment products make it easy to Read What You Love, Anywhere You Like^™ with a fun, easy-to-use and immersive digital reading experience. With NOOK, customers gain access to the expansive NOOK Store^® of more than 4 million digital books in the US and UK, plus periodicals, comics, apps, movies and TV shows, and the ability to enjoy content across a wide array of popular devices through Free NOOK Reading Apps^™. Find NOOK devices in Barnes & Noble stores and online at www.nook.com <http://www.nook.com>, as well as leading retailers including Best Buy, Walmart, Target and many others. NOOK products are available in the United Kingdom at leading retailers; NOOK content can be purchased at www.nook.co.uk <http://www.nook.co.uk>.

 

NOOK^® and the NOOK logos are trademarks of Nook Digital, LLC or its affiliates.

 

For more information on NOOK follow us on: <https://www.facebook.com/nook>, <https://twitter.com/nookbn>,

<https://plus.google.com/+nook>, <http://instagram.com/lifeofnook>, <http://www.pinterest.com/nook>,

<https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=nookbn>.

 

Corvidae Author Interviews: Jane Yolen, Kat Otis, Angela Slatter

“CORVIDAE” & “SCARECROW”

EDITED BY RHONDA PARRISH

Alpena, MI (April 30, 2015) – World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced the anthologies Corvidae and Scarecrow, volumes two and three of Rhonda Parrish’s Magical Menageries, will be available in trade paperback and ebook Tuesday, July 7 and Tuesday, August 4, 2015 respectively.

Praise for Fae, Rhonda Parrish’s Magical Menageries, Volume 1: “Seventeen tales... range in feel from horror to upbeat tales about homes where things go right, and are set everywhere from the modern day to mythical fantasy pasts. The best of these stories evoke things from real life – loves and values – and show characters making hard choices that reveal who they are and what they’re made of." — Tangent “Delightfully refreshing! I should have known that editor Parrish (who also edits the cutting edge horror zine, Niteblade) would want to offer something quite unique. I found it difficult to stop reading as one story ended and another began – all fantastic work by gifted writers. Not for the faint of heart, by any means.” — Marge Simon, multiple Bram Stoker® winner “There’s no Disney-esque flutter and glitter to be found here — but there are chills and thrills aplenty.” — Mike Allen, author of Unseaming and editor of     Clockwork Phoenix “Stories of magical beings and the humans they encounter will enthrall and enlighten the reader about both the mundane and the otherworldly. I devoured it.” — Kate Wolford, editor of Beyond the Glass Slipper, editor and publisher of Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine

Corvidae

Associated with life and death, disease and luck, corvids have long captured mankind’s attention, showing up in mythology as the companions or manifestations of deities, and starring in stories from Aesop to Poe and beyond. In Corvidae birds are born of blood and pain, trickster ravens live up to their names, magpies take human form, blue jays battle evil forces, and choughs become prisoners of war. These stories will take you to the Great War, research facilities, frozen mountaintops, steam-powered worlds, remote forest homes, and deep into fairy tales. One thing is for certain, after reading this anthology, you’ll never look the same way at the corvid outside your window.

Featuring works by Jane Yolen, Mike Allen, C.S.E. Cooney, M.L.D. Curelas, Tim Deal, Megan Engelhardt, Megan Fennell, Adria Laycraft, Kat Otis, Michael S. Pack, Sara Puls, Michael M. Rader, Mark Rapacz, Angela Slatter, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, and Leslie Van Zwol.

Scarecrow

Hay-men, mommets, tattie bogles, kakashi, tao-tao—whether formed of straw or other materials, the tradition of scarecrows is pervasive in farming cultures around the world. The scarecrow serves as decoy, proxy, and effigy—human but not human. We create them in our image and ask them to protect our crops and by extension our very survival, but we refrain from giving them the things a creation might crave—souls, brains, free-will, love. In Scarecrow, fifteen authors of speculative fiction explore what such creatures might do to gain the things they need or, more dangerously, think they want. Within these pages, ancient enemies join together to destroy a mad mommet, a scarecrow who is a crow protects solar fields and stores long-lost family secrets, a woman falls in love with a scarecrow, and another becomes one. Encounter scarecrows made of straw, imagination, memory, and robotics while being spirited to Oz, mythological Japan, other planets, and a neighbor’s back garden. After experiencing this book, you’ll never look at a hay-man the same.

Featuring all new work by Jane Yolen, Andrew Bud Adams, Laura Blackwood, Amanda Block, Scott Burtness, Amanda C. Davis, Megan Fennell, Kim Goldberg, Katherine Marzinsky, Craig Pay, Sara Puls, Holly Schofield, Virginia Carraway Stark, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, and Kristina Wojtaszek.

Corvidae and Scarecrow will be available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobo.com, WorldWeaverPress.com, and other online retailers, and for wholesale through Ingram. You can also find Corvidae and Scarecrow on Goodreads.

Rhonda Parrish is a master procrastinator and nap connoisseur but despite that she somehow manages a full professional life. She has been the publisher and editor-in-chief of Niteblade Magazine for over five years now (which is like 25 years in internet time) and is the editor of the benefit anthology Metastasis, as well as the World Weaver Press anthologies Fae, Scarecrow, and Corvidae. In addition, Rhonda is a writer whose work has been included or is forthcoming in dozens of publications including Tesseracts 17: Speculating Canada from Coast to Coast and Imaginarium: The Best Canadian Speculative Writing. Her website, updated weekly, is at rhondaparrish.com.

World Weaver Press is an independently owned publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction. We believe in great storytelling.

Author Name: Jane Yolen

Website Address: www.janeyolen.com

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @janeyolen

Facebook: Jane Yolen

What is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?

We are a family of birders, and corvids are among the smartest (and sassiest) of birds.

Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others?

Their knowingness.

Do you think you were successful?

I can only hope. . . .

If you were a corvid, what would you build your nest out of?

Coins and bottlecaps and peacock feathers.

What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?

My earring collection.

If you have work in both anthologies, which came first? The corvid or the scarecrow?

Corvid first.

Author Name: Kat Otis

Website Address: www.katotis.com

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @kat_otis

Was there one corvid characteristic you wanted to highlight more than others? Do you think you were successful?

The characteristic I wanted to highlight the most was corvid intelligence.  When I was trying to decide what kind of corvid to write about, I started by browsing bird websites and quickly fell into a research pit of corvid videos where they showed amazing levels of intelligence and tool use.  Obviously the only proper response was to elevate the corvidae as a group to be as sentient as humans and... um... leviathans and frost giants.  I sure hope I was successful, as the story makes very little sense without it!

If you were a covid, what would you build your nest out of?

If I had to live in a nest, it would be a giant bean bag.  Actually, sophmore year of college my roommate and I put a bean bag in a corner of our tiny dorm room, for an oft-visiting friend of ours, and called it her nest.  So... I guess I sort of already have built a nest out of a bean bag ;)

What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?

Shiny new ideas, of course!  For example, I was just working on my latest shiny new idea, a steampunk piece with exploding airships, and- OH NEW SHINY NEW IDEA GOTTA GO LATERS!

Author Name: Angela Slatter

Website Address: http://www.angelaslatter.com/

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @AngelaSlatter

Facebook: Angela Slatter (Author)

What is it about corvids that inspired you to write about them?

I think it’s the sheer wealth of lore behind them: they’re thieves; they’re clever and sly; they cross many mythologies; they’re quite lovely-looking (what’s not to love about black feathers?); they can be sinister and clownish at the same time.

If you were a covid, what would you build your nest out of?

The pages of books, so I’d be comfy and have something to read.

What’s your favourite ‘shiny’ thing?

The various rings I’ve inherited from aunts over the years because (a) shiny-shiny, and (b) they have a family and emotional connection for me. I’ve got an emerald and diamond one of which I’m especially fond.

Demons Imps and Incubi- Romance with a Supernatural Twist

“DEMONS, IMPS, AND INCUBI” ANTHOLOGY NOW AVAILABLE FROM RED MOON ROMANCE Alpena, MI (June 23, 2015)

 – Red Moon Romance (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced Demons, Imps, and Incubi, a romance anthology edited by Laura Harvey, is available in trade paperback and ebook today, Tuesday, June 23, 2015.

 Demons, Imps, Incubi: dark, powerful, and forbidden. Only the foolish would seek one out for seduction, and yet . . . deals are struck. Souls are ensnared. But must a demon's agenda always be demonic? Can he be redeemed? Or does being bad feel too good to bother with redemption? Long ago, imps were more mischievous and playful--naughty, perhaps?—and perceptions of them have only grown more sinister over the centuries. The incubus craves sex, but what makes us crave him? Explore dark and sensual worlds with eight brand new stories of magic and seduction that will set you aflame by Cori Vidae, Alexa Piper, Erzabet Bishop, Mark Greenmill, Nicole Blackwood, J. C. G. Goelz, Jeffery Armadillo, and M. Arbroath. 

Demons, Imps, and Incubi is available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobo.com, and other online retailers, and for wholesale through Ingram. You can also find Demons, Imps, and Incubi on Goodreads. 

Laura Harvey is an editor, writer, bibliophile, horsewoman, historian, teacher, debate coach, nerd, DIY junkie, and occasional rescuer of kittens. She holds a BA, MA, and is ABD, making her an exceptional asset in Trivial Pursuit. She loves reading so much that all of her handbags share one crucial ability: fitting a standard paperback or Kindle. She lives in northern California with a menagerie of beasts (dogs, cats, horses, and family members). 

Red Moon believes in romance. We believe reading should be fun. We believe that at their core, romances are courtship stories, focused tightly on the emotions of the relationship. We don’t raise an eyebrow at any woman’s reading choices because we believe a woman deserves whatever fiction incites her passions. Whether a sweet fairy-tale ending or a scorching hot love affair, we believe in giving a woman what she wants. Hot romance, it's what we do. 

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0108OUDCC?*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/demons-imps-and-incubi

All Romance: https://www.omnilit.com/product-demonsimpsandincubi-1840028-166.html

Author name: Mark Greenmill

1.      What place do you think demons play in human story-telling? Why do we continue to tell stories about monsters/creatures with questionable morality?

MG: On one hand, we’re drawn to what we cannot have. There can be something alluring about the darkness, and often we willingly step into dangerous situations—or associate with the wrong kind of people—because we feel the need to experiment, or explore, or taste forbidden fruit.  Demons offer storytellers a method of establishing clear morality at the beginning of the story: our society understands that a demon is bad, and from there, we can either challenge that idea, or use it as a baseline for showing what represents good.

2.      If you met your demon in a dark alley, what are your chances of survival? What’s your best tactic for getting home safely?

MG: Santorava is one tough dude that I wouldn’t want to mess with. Especially if he thought I had something to do with stealing his wife.  My best option would be to run like hell, and hope the moon came out before he caught me.

Author name: Nicole Blackwood

1.      What place do you think demons play in human story-telling? Why do we continue to tell stories about monsters/creatures with questionable morality?

I think that depends on the demon, and the story. Many demons are connected to religions and cultures, and they have their own sets of rules and meanings. Some are meant as warnings, to try and guide people away from paths that will lead to the destruction of self or others. Some are more abstractly symbolic, and that’s where the plot of the story is really more important in terms of learning. There are many other instances where demons are just creatures, like any other animal or sentient being, that fall outside the realm of earthly reality. They can be good, evil, or a more familiar mix of the two, but with weird powers and awesome bodies. Writing something so alien and connecting it to the human experience is a sort of adventure.

2.      If you met your demon in a dark alley, what are your chances of survival? What’s your best tactic for getting home safely?

Oh, I’d be fine. Benji’s not a hard-ass unless he needs to be. As long as I hadn’t pissed off him or Kiki, he’d probably ignore me – after making sure I wasn’t a thrall, or possessed by an Ancient One. And I do try to avoid that sort of thing.

Author name: J. C. G. Goelz

1.      What place do you think demons play in human story-telling? Why do we continue to tell stories about monsters/creatures with questionable morality?

They arose out of our primordial fears. Currently, I think they are useful vehicles that provide a distance from reality that allow the writer to address issues that might otherwise be uncomfortable, or see them from a different light.

2.      If you met your demon in a dark alley, what are your chances of survival? What’s your best tactic for getting home safely?

Iris knew she had to fit into society, so she didn’t go around doing things that would expose her nature. Her mother, on the other hand, would be deadly.

Brigid: History, Mystery and Magick of the Celtic Goddess by Courtney Weber

Brigid

History, Mystery, and Magick of the Celtic Goddess

Courtney Weber

This book is a wide-ranging exposition on all things Brigid, the most popular figure in Celtic mythology and religion.

It includes:

·         A brief history of the Celts and their religion

·         Everything that is known about Brigid from her manifestations as a Celtic pagan goddess, as a Celtic Christian saint, and as a Caribbean Voodoo deity.

·         A practical approach for witches and neo-pagans that enables them to tap into the healing power of the pagan goddess. Each chapter ends with guided meditations and exercises.

·         A book of magical practice. Included are Brigid – focused spells, blessings, recipes, and rituals for love, harmony, protection, and much more.

Chapters include Brigid’s often-obscure mythology; Brigid the Healer; Brigid the Bard; Brigid the Fire Goddess Brigid and Animals; and Brigid in the Now.

This is a book for witches and pagans and for those interested in the divine feminine.

"A gorgeous history [and] a journey with the goddess herself: a journey through ritual, meditation and magic. Weber does a masterful job. If you are a fan of Brigid this is the book you¹ve been waiting for." --Jason Mankey, managing editor, Patheos Pagan

"Lady of the Well, the Forge, and the Green Earth, I seek you." --Brigid, I Seek You

Brigid—mother, daughter, healer, bard, warrior, fire goddess, goddess of the oak, animals, and magic. Brigid of the spring, her festival Imbolc, oversees fertility of all kinds. Brigid is many things to many people. In this enticing book, Courtney Weber offers up a wide-ranging exposition and celebration of all things Brigid, who is arguably the most popular figure in Celtic mythology and religion. Meet Brigid in her various incarnations—Celtic Pagan Goddess, Christian Saint, and Voudon Loa. 

Each chapter ends with guided meditations and exercises that help readers tap into Brigid’s healing powers. Inside you’ll find Brigid-focused spells, blessings, recipes, and rituals for love, harmony, protection, and much more. 

“Brigid’s origin myths bring no peace to the logical mind. She appears as an important daughter of a God in one myth, but the mother of that God in a different telling, while vanishing completely in a third version. Which version is the right version? Does any myth from any source even have a ‘right’ telling? The various versions tell us about the storyteller. Brigid’s myths had many tellers and, therefore, many versions. Stories varied widely, circulated through oral tradition in local vernacular. As Christian monks later recorded the myths, characters were often augmented to fit Christian ideals.” —from the book

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Courtney Weber is a priestess, writer, Tarot advisor, activist and practicing witch in New York City. Her writing has appeared in several publications and she at www.thecocowitch.com and on witchesandpagans.com(“Behind the Broom: What the Books Don’t Tell You”). She is the designer and producer of Tarot of the Boroughs, a photographic Tarot deck set in New York City. Courtney lectures regularly around the United States and travels to Ireland frequently, leading tours of sacred sites.

Brigid | Courtney Weber | Weiser Books | Paperback, $18.95 ISBN: 9781578635672

Fractured Days: Rebecca Roland

When it comes to naming characters, I prefer coming up with names in fantasy settings more than any other. Sometimes I take actual names and tweak them a little. Sometimes I come up with a name I think is unique, only to find out that it exists already. And sometimes I just use actual names.

The main character in my latest novel, Fractured Days, was originally named Mila, but a few beta readers told me the name didn't work with the setting and the character's culture. I was so disappointed. I really liked the name, but I figured if more than one person noticed enough to mention it, then I should reconsider. I messed around with different names and finally settled on Malia as it had a similar sound and seemed to fit the setting better.

In general I tried to use names for Malia's people, the Taakwa, that sounded more pleasant. They're a gentle people, for the most part, and so I wanted their names to reflect that. The Maddion, on the other hand, are ruthless. They raid other people, they enslave anyone they capture, and they're willing to do anything to get what they want. They see themselves as superior to other people. So they get harsher sounding names, like Kushtrim or Muvumo. They get names that don't inspire sonnets.

The Jeguduns are gargoyle-like creatures who were once enslaved by the Maddion, but with the help of the Taakwa became free. Most of them tend to have a good sense of humor, although when it comes to defending their homes and loved ones, they don't hesitate to use their talons and teeth to the very end. They tend to have short, fun names like Aru or Tula.

And finally there's the changer. She's a powerful being who can change her form when she works her magic for somebody else. She calls herself Sersha, which is a deceptively soft sounding name. The Maddion call her 'changer' for what she can do for them, but the Taakwa and the Jeguduns know her as 'mutara,' which, in all honesty, I probably dug up from my subconscious because I love Star Trek II, The Wrath of Khan, but I swear I wasn't thinking about it at all when I came up with the term. I was going for a word that suggested change, or mutation. 'Mutara' is also the name of the nebula in Star Trek where Khan detonated the Genesis Device, creating the Genesis Planet. And there's your nerd trivia for the day!

“FRACTURED DAYS” / REBECCA ROLAND– World Weaver Press (Eileen Wiedbrauk, Editor-in-Chief) has announced Fractured Days, the highly anticipated sequel to the Shards of History by Rebecca Roland, will be available in trade paperback and ebook Tuesday, June 9, 2015. 

Praise for Shards of History: “One of the most beautifully written novels I have ever read. Suspenseful, entrapping, and simply … well, let’s just say that Shards of History reminds us of why we love books in the first place. 5 out of 5 stars!” — Good Choice Reading 

“A must for any fantasy reader.” — Plasma Frequency 

"A passionate tale that will engage both young adults and more weathered fantasy readers.” — NewMyths.com 

“Fast-paced, high-stakes drama in a fresh fantasy world!” — James Maxey, author of the Dragon Age trilogy 

“Roland’s beautifully woven, suspenseful debut novel draws readers into a groundbreaking fantasy panorama and resonates in the heart with its genuine, personal portrayal of loyalty, relationships, and sacrifice. I eagerly await more stories about the Jegudun and Taakwa!” — David J. Corwell y Chávez, author of “Encounter at Boca del Diablo” (Tales of the New Mexico Mythos) 

Malia returns home the hero of a war she can't remember. The valley burning under the Maddion's invasion, the fate of her late husband, the way she resolved the long-time distrust between the Taakwa people and the wolfish, winged Jegudun creatures--all of it has been erased from her memory. Malia hopes to resume training as her village’s next clan mother, but when the symbiotic magic that she and the Jeguduns used to repair the valley’s protective barrier starts to consume more and more of her mind, she's faced with the threat of losing herself completely. A powerful being known as "the changer" might hold the solution to her vanishing memories. But the Maddion's new leader, Muvumo, also seeks the changer, hoping the being will cure them of the mysterious illness killing off his people. Meanwhile, Muvumo's bride hopes the changer can bring about a new era, one in which she and the other Maddion women no longer need to hold onto their greatest secret. 

Fractured Days will be available in trade paperback and ebook via Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Kobo.com, WorldWeaverPress.com, and other online retailers, and for wholesale through Ingram. You can also find Fractured Days on Goodreads. 

WORLD WEAVER PRESS 

Rebecca Roland is the author of the Shards of History series, The Necromancer's Inheritance series, and The King of Ash and Bones, and Other Stories. Her short fiction has appeared in publications such as Nature, Fantastic Stories of the Imagination, Stupefying Stories, Plasma Frequency, and Every Day Fiction, and she is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop. You can find out more about her and her work at rebeccaroland.net, her blog Spice of Life, or follow her on Twitter @rebecca_roland. World Weaver Press is an independently owned publisher of fantasy, paranormal, and science fiction. We believe in great storytelling. Publication Date: June 9, 2015 • 

Fantasy ISBN: 978-0692429280 

The Southern Belle's Guide to Witchcraft

Book Description:

There’s a new evil in town, and it’s gunning for Scarlet...

Scarlet Burke isn’t an ordinary witch. She comes from a long line of Burke witches, whose job it is to protect the good folks of Purgatory, Alabama from things that go bump in the night—and things that might slip through the portal in Fool’s Wood. Normally, it’s an easy gig that doesn’t take much time from her day job. Until her ex-husband turns up dead in a ritualistic killing no one recognizes. William, a mundane, had high-tailed it out of town years ago after getting Scarlet’s baby sister pregnant. So why had he come back? Better yet, who (besides Scarlet) had wanted him dead badly enough to lure him to the forest, stake him, skin him, and drain his blood? It wasn’t a vampire kill, but she was damned if she could determine what it was.

Werewolf Jake Mills, the bossy and possessive chief of police, can’t believe anyone in his town could commit such a brutal crime. And Scarlet can’t believe she’s still trying to avoid his advances. Jake has been chasing her for years, and if he wasn’t so charming—and so drop dead sexy—she might try harder to outrun him. Or at least summon a bit of self-control. But the man simply refuses to stay in the “Just Friends” box she’s placed him in.

But when the killer targets Scarlet’s family, ghouls, demons, and dark fae all come under suspicion. And when her daughters become the targets of an ancient dark ritual, Scarlet and Jake are forced to make an impossible choice. Fight evil with evil, or watch Scarlet’s daughters die...

Excerpt:

Although the house wasn’t as haunted as the local kids claimed, it did have a minor spirit hanging about. But it wasn’t a ghost that put Scarlet on edge when she parked her car. One powerless little haint was not the problem. She and the spirit had a deal. As long as it didn’t try to scare anyone into a heart attack, she wouldn’t blast it into oblivion. It sure as heck wasn’t what made her senses tingle with the anticipation of a good fight. She swept a cautious gaze around the lawn before stepping out. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, but that didn’t mean a damned thing in her hometown. Good thing she’d come to check up on the place before her new renter arrived.

Purgatory, Alabama, was a crossroads between worlds. Deep in Fool’s Woods was a portal that connected Earth and another land, Terra. Mirrors of each other, she’d heard it said, yet opposites. She sent back anything unwanted that came through. Well, her and her family, Guardians all.

The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end when she stepped onto the walk. Something supernatural skulked nearby. She’d known that, but damn it, it was midafternoon and too hot to deal with things that went bump in the night. Though whatever lurked obviously wasn’t limited to darkness.

She took her time approaching the house, letting her senses flare out as she walked. Azaleas created natural boundaries up both sides of a lawn dotted with dogwoods and huge old magnolias. Big terra-cotta pots overflowing with flowering perennials were spaced evenly along the deep front porch. The place was a Southern belle’s dream, built for balls and garden parties. Its utility bills were a cheapskate’s nightmares, though.

Despite the picture-perfect scenery, the prickling on her skin grew as she paced forward. Halfway up the walk, she spotted the culprit, a stout-looking brownie perched under a tree. Unease morphed into irritation in two seconds flat. Damn it, she was wearing a new skirt. And heels. Any other day of the week, she wouldn’t have worn them. She should have known better. Today’s outfit was a far cry from her usual day-job clothes: jeans and sturdy shoes. But it was Monday, which meant a town council meeting, which meant getting lectured by her mother for not taking her duties seriously enough to dress the part. Like she normally went hunting down the creepy-crawlies in anything but jeans and boots?

Too late now. She could hear Momma in her head saying the same way she’d done hundreds of times: as soon as you let your guard down the bogeyman comes out to play. But oh hell no. She was not chasing that little hellion down while wearing heels. Somehow her mother always seemed to pull it off in pearls and fancy shoes and pencil thin skirts, ending victorious with not one hair out of place. Not Scarlet. Even with no chasing she’d probably end up a red-faced, bedraggled mess.

1.      March 10^th

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Bio:

Loribelle is like the South she calls home. Hot and sultry. Languid and sexy. Magnolias and gardenias scent her silk lined boudoir, and men and children alike bow to her magnificence...

Okay, maybe it isn't quite that glamorous. She does have two smart and lovely daughters who give her a run for her money and a son that will one day be someone's model of a romance hero. (She promises.) Her husband is a real life hero, and Loribelle just tries to keep up with the demands of military life. In between, she writes a book or two. 

She's had every job under the sun, but haven't most writers? That Army military police, bookstore manager, waitress, wedding photographer, website designer experience has to come in useful sometimes. As they say in the South, it all washes out in the end.

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