Tuesday, 2 October 2012

Something Wicked Comes



Hello everyone, thanks for dropping by my stop on this great hop! Can you believe it's October already?? It will be Christmas before we know it! I am very excited to be taking part in the Something Wicked Comes blog hop, big thanks to Heidi & Co for getting everyone involved! I had to pick an early slot as I am expecting baby no.2 on the 1st November and I was afraid of baby making an early appearance. Below is a fabulous guest post from the lovely Dianna Hardy and a giveaway of the whole 'The Witching Pen' trilogy. It really is a fantastic series that I hope the winner will thoroughly enjoy reading it as much as I have. A big thanks to Dianna for agreeing to take part in this hop!

Make sure to go check out the list of other blogs participating in this hop.


 
Author Bio

Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things. She writes about witches, demons and angels. All info about her books can be found on her website DiannaHardy.com 

You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.





Nightmares
by Dianna Hardy 

Thanks so much, Carly, for having me on your blog today J

I struggled with what to write for this post. I knew it should be something a little spooky – something for Halloween, but I couldn’t for the life of me think of what. Should be easy, right? I write about witches and demons, fallen angels and all kinds of naughty deeds, but my mind just went blank.

Then, the past couple of nights, I’ve had some bad dreams. Uncomfortable ones. The kind where you wake up with an uneasy feeling. I know what they’re about – for me, they’re symbolic with what I’m feeling in my life right now, but it got me thinking about dreams in general, and, more specifically, nightmares.

Nightmares.

Night + ‘mare’ Old English, or ‘maere’ Germanic). Mare = evil spirit. (Ref: Collins English Dictionary)

It makes me think about a giant black horse with glowing red eyes, smashing through my window at night when I sleep.

I thought about Freddy Kruger and all those B-Horror movies I love to watch. I thought about my own scary dreams I used to have when I was about four or five, about “shadow men” that stood at the corner of my room and whispered about me (true – totally true – I still believe it to this day) … and then I thought about Mary, a character in The Witching Pen Novellas, who has horrendous dreams…

With a laugh, Elena disentangled herself from the woman's arms. It never ceased to amaze her how Mary was three years her senior, yet acted as if she was a teenager on a permanent hit of Red Bull. “Thank you, I think. Anyway … how are you? You sleeping better?”
“Not really,” she replied, with a shrug. “It's cool. It's just a phase – it'll pass.”
“Normally, I'd agree, but your dreams are … shall we say, like scenes from a horror movie?”
Mary laughed. “Yep, that about sums it up. But I've had weird dreams before – okay, nothing this bad – but still, they're just dreams. I doubt they're prophetic … if they are, I pity the poor sods that star in them...”

We later (in book two, The Sands Of Time) find out her dreams inflict more pain on her than she’s ever let anyone know…

And then she was drowning in torment, shouting out, unable to breathe, as the torture no one should ever know so intimately invaded her mind … again. It felt like two giant hands were squeezing on either side of her brain, and she wondered if her ears were bleeding, the pressure was so much.

I think that dreams are a window to the soul as much as eyes are. They are our subconscious’ way of telling us that something is wrong, or that we’re not paying attention to important details… but they are also very real at times. Having spent the last fifteen years or so, studying and practicing witchcraft (solitary) and shamanism (various traditions), I’ve come to learn – and I think I always knew – that there is a huge difference between the kind of dreams your subconscious throws at you, and ‘dream journeys’. The latter are real. They are your soul travelling as you sleep (like astral projection) to do whatever it needs to do. Before my daughter was born (when I actually slept, lol), I had so many journeys: I would travel to all kinds of places, meet all kinds of guides, power animals, other people that worked within dreams too; I have done healing for others and myself on my dream journeys, and I have maybe tapped into two elements of time that were prophetic (only two I think – dream prophecy was never my natural strength).

So I guess it makes sense that I write a lot about people who dream, or put characters in situations where they are able to dream. So much is discovered when you do dream. Sometimes nice things; sometimes not so nice things; but always, always important things.

Have you ever had any significant dreams?

Happy Halloween, everyone ;)

The Witching Pen Novellas are available in digital and paperback formats. All info and buy links can be found on the series website The Witching Pen Novellas.

And thanks so much, Carly, for taking the time to review this series J 

The Witching Pen Novellas Omnibus  


Elena, a thirteenth generation witch, is the most powerful witch on the planet; Amy is hidden from her true self, and Mary feels the pain of mankind.

On the appearance of a magic pen, three women uncover family secrets and deep betrayal, to discover they are more than they've been led to believe - for better or worse.

Alongside the men, demons and angels who love them, they are thrown into a supernatural world where time becomes muddied, where new and ancient merge, where forged bonds cannot be broken, and matters of the heart are never black and white.

And then, there's the impending apocalypse.

Unique, fun, fast-paced, sexy and passionate, this is paranormal romance that combines the dark with the light, and the sweet with the gritty.



My Review of The Demon Bride (book 3)

Well hot damn, Dianna Hardy really has outdone herself with this fabulous instalment in The Witching Pen novellas! I loved getting to know the seductively hot angel 'Gwain' a lot more in this book *swoon*, although I still don't think I have a proper read on him as he really is a dark, complex, multi-layered character who I just adore. As usual with these novellas there is so much going on and so many twists and turns that you really won't know what to expect next. The storyline is amazingly tense and had me on the edge of my seat throughout. It's safe to say that this is my favourite book out of the 3 and I think that was because this was so much darker than the others and also because we meet some new wickedly dark and dangerous characters that really will intrigue the reader.

Gwain is desperately searching for Mary after the shocking ending of The Sands of Time. Mary finds out all the shocking revelations of her past and what part she will need to play in the fast approaching apocalypse. While the search is on to find Mary, the others are rushing around trying to find the answers about how to destroy the dangerous Witching Pen, deciphering the translations of the prophecies and also rescuing Elena's mum from the Shanka demons. Can everyone pull together and do what needs to be done in order to save mankind? Well sacrifices will have to be made on everyone's part....

I adored the ending, it has been wrapped up nicely while still being left wide open and not forgetting the interesting opening for Dianna's new spin off novel 'The Last Dragon'! This really is a fantastic book that packs a big punch, I love the honesty, emotion and also the humour that will have you smiling throughout. If you haven't started this awesome trilogy yet then you are seriously missing out!!

5/5 Stars!

*Special thanks to Dianna for the review copy*

Carly :)


The Demon Bride (Book Three of The Witching Pen Novellas) eBook is now available: 
Amazon UK Amazon US Smashwords

The Demon Bride paperback can be pre-ordered from 
where you will also find books one and two for sale.

OR preorder / download the entire Omnibus Edition! 


Giveaway

 Now for the giveaway folks! Dianna has very kindly offered up the whole omnibus e-book copy of The Witching Pen novellas!! One lucky person can choose the format of their choice! This is the ONLY time Dianna will be offering up the omnibus e-book in a giveaway! So, you know the drill, fill out the Rafflecopter below! Open internationally!

a Rafflecopter giveaway







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19 comments:

  1. erin2 October 2012 at 15:13

    Thanks for a great post and giveaway! I am very fortunate that I very rarely have nightmares. And I usually don't remember them. But occasionally I do have vivid, realistic dreams about work :)

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    1. Dianna Hardy2 October 2012 at 16:43

      LOL, Erin... some people may consider that to be nightmare in itself :) Thanks for entering, and good luck! And thanks for hosting me, Carly, and for reviewing the series. As always, your blog looks completely wonderful! Dianna xx

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    2. Dianna Hardy2 October 2012 at 22:43

      Heidi, I had very uncomfortable dreams when I was pregnant too - for no apparent reason. I always thought it was an emotional thing: all this new responsibility with having this new soul inside you and to look after, but I don't know...

      And isn't it beautiful (if sad) when those that have passed say goodbye to us in our sleep? :)

      I'm honoured to be part of Something Wicked - thank you! xx

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  2. LoveOfBooks2 October 2012 at 21:13

    I have always LOVED having nightmares. I'm not even joking. I've always had some seriously messed up nightmares, and wish I could get them down in writing.

    Thanks for sharing. These sound good!

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    1. Dianna Hardy2 October 2012 at 22:45

      Christy... have you ever tried writing them down forst thing in the morning? Even just bullet points? And it's actually nice to hear someone say they like their nightmares ;)

      Thanks for entering - good luck! xx

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  3. Jenn2 October 2012 at 21:33

    Ooo these books sound intriguing! I don't usually have nightmares but if I do, they are usually about being chased or being unab;e to finish a book because someone destroyed very copy just so I couldn't finish it...yeah, I'm wierd

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    1. Dianna Hardy2 October 2012 at 22:48

      Lol! When I was much younger (about 12 or 13, I think) I had a couple of dreams where some faceless person had burnt / destroyed a book I was writing, and I woke up furious with tears in my eyes both time. Hope to God that never actually happens in real life! If it does you shall all hear about it in a Facebook rant in between my therapy sessions! Lol. Good luck with the giveaway. xx

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  4. Cassandra2 October 2012 at 22:57

    This looks great!!! I have nightmares but I'm not too fond of them
    Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
    cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

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    1. Dianna Hardy5 October 2012 at 00:03

      Hope your nightmares get better, Cassandra! Thanks for entering :) xx

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  5. DMS2 October 2012 at 23:33

    I have many vivid dreams. I once put mugworts under my pillow because I heard that it enhances dreams. It did- but not in a good way. My dreams became even more vivd and were very violent. Not good for me!

    Thanks so much for the giveaway- the books sound great and I enjoyed hearing from the author.

    ~Jess
    haightjess@gmail.com
    http://thesecretdmsfilesoffairdaymorrow.blogspot.com/

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    1. Dianna Hardy5 October 2012 at 00:05

      DMS, try a piece of Rose Quartz with your Mugwort next time. Thanks for entering :) xx

      Delete
  6. bn1003 October 2012 at 03:22

    Nice review and post. No significant dreams.

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  7. Mel@Thedailyprophecy3 October 2012 at 12:44

    When I was younger, I always had the same nightmare. There was a huge talking black dog (with enormous teeth and piercing red eyes) and at the end of my dream, he would bite me in my leg and I would wake up with a tingling feeling in my leg. It was really scary, so I'm glad that I hardly have any nightmares. Unless I watch a scary movie, that's one of the reasons why I never want to watch them :p

    Thanks for sharing this interview! It was lovely to read :)

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    1. Dianna Hardy5 October 2012 at 00:07

      Thank you, Mel! Wow, freaky dream :s Black dogs are usually guardians of death, or those that have passed or are about to pass, but your black dog just sounds darn scary! Glad you hardly have any nightmares now :) Thanks for entering. xxx

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  8. mk6 October 2012 at 09:58

    Great post. I don't usually have nightmares but when I do, they are really vivid and I hate it because I always feel awful when I wake up.
    Thanks for the great giveaway!

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    1. Dianna Hardy8 October 2012 at 15:30

      Martina, good to hear that you don't have them often ;) Thanks for entering and good luck! x

      Delete
  9. BLHmistress6 October 2012 at 18:54

    I have dreams and nightmares but rarely remember them once in awhile I do, one was where it , I couldn't wake up - was dreaming I was sleeping but couldn't wake up and it just scared the crap out of me because it was so real I wasn't sure if I was actually dreaming or it was real.

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    1. Dianna Hardy8 October 2012 at 15:29

      That reminds me of dreams I used to have where I didn't know I was dreaming. I was paralysed in bed, unable to move, and there'd be a burglar entering my flat / my bedroom and taking things, and I'd be lying there unable to move. I'd always think it was real until I woke up and realised it wasn't. Thanks for sharing :) Good luck with the contest! x

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  10. Shelby F.9 October 2012 at 04:30

    When I was younger, I had such horrible nightmares that I prayed for them to go away. Now... I have such realistic nightmares that I wake up mad about some subconscious notion of being wronged. Or, I have a preminition within a dream that comes to fruition the next day.

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Talk to me lovely people! :)

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