Tag: Castle Keepers

The Magic of Stones: Chrysocolla

by Diane, posted in Magic of Stones

I came into possession of my chrysocolla stone about four years ago when I met a man selling stones. Before I had met this man, I had not heard of it. I was first attracted to its brilliant glistening green. I also loved the shape. It is not smooth to the touch and feels more like light-weight sandpaper.

At times I carry it in my pocket. Other times, it is tucked away with other stones. Since the beginning of this year, it’s been resting on my laptop between the couplings of the oak leaf and rose hip and the chestnut and sprig of rosemary.

The tag that came with the stone reads:

Chrysocolla is first and foremost a Stone of Communication. Its very essence is devoted to expression, empowerment and teaching. The serenity of its turquoise-blue colour discharges negative energies, calms and allows truth and inner wisdom to surface and be heard. A peaceful stone, it emphasizes the power our words and actions have on those around us, and encourages compassion and strengthening of character.

Continue reading “The Magic of Stones: Chrysocolla” →
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The Magic of Stones: Personal History

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers, Magic of Stones

Isla of Maura, one of the main characters in the Castle Keepers series, has an attraction to stones. When the energy in a stone calls to her, she picks it up and carries it until she finds the person who needs it.

This character trait came from my own curiosity and habit of gathering stones. My interest in stones has walked with me all my life; it is so strong that when I was 14 years old, I stole a stone that had caught my eye. I know: who steals rocks?

The odd circumstances around this theft has stayed on my mind for almost four decades. You see, that day, my father and I were driving in his truck, perhaps going to the general store in Spanish Ship Bay, when he pulled into the driveway of the long white building along the harbour that used to be a restaurant at times. I believe it was called the Lighthouse Restaurant in the early 80s.

Anyways, at this time, the restaurant had closed, and an older man I did not know occupied it. Perhaps my father knew him since this was the area where he had been born and raised. It was summer. We walked in and my eyes drank in the boxes filled with various types of rocks. While my father and the man chatted, I walked around ogling the rocks. Some were undisturbed, as if recently plucked from the ground and put into the box. Others were polished smooth. Some where cut into shapes.

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Healing Stones: Last Day of the Sale

by Diane, posted in Book Launch, Castle Keepers

Today is the last day to take advantage of grabbing your eBook copy of Healing Stones, book 4 of the Castle Keepers series, for 99 cents. Tomorrow, it will return to its regular price of $2.99.

First Scene Teaser

Moonsface Awaits

 

THE SUN HAD BEEN up for more than three hours, yet it had hidden behind billowy white clouds much of that time, stealing heat from the land and casting much of it in shadow. The cool temperature forced Isla of Maura to pull her jacket from her saddle bag. She didn’t bother buttoning it; it was a warm day with a chill that would depart as soon as the sun peeked from behind the clouds. She’d be warmer if she did something other than stand next to the cold firepit and listen to McGuigan and Lyneth argue about the best route into Moonsface.

The obvious way, the one that took them directly into the large village on Blue Myst River, was the one McGuigan wanted to take, but Lyneth, who had been to Moonsface many times, insisted they take the narrow path around the collection of knolls. It’d add at least an hour to their travel time. Isla didn’t care which course they took; she wanted to mount her two-bit horse she’d bought with money earned from tedious work and get moving. If they argued for another ten minutes, they’d have already travelled halfway through the long way.

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Healing Stones: eBook 99-cent Sale

by Diane, posted in Book Launch, Castle Keepers

The eBook for Healing Stones, book 4 in the Castle Keepers series continues.

A good man isn’t down until everyone who matters has lost hope.

Isla of Maura hasn’t seen Liam Jenkins for six years, since they pledged to unite. Her thoughts often drift to him and not long ago, his thoughts invaded hers. She sets out to find him, but the man she finds is far from the one in her childhood memories, and the secrets he keeps threaten her life and the lives of her travelling companions.

If you love stories of adventure mixed with magic and romance set in archaic landscapes, you’ll love McGyver’s Healing Stones. Unlike many fantasy novels, family plays a central role in this story, so be prepared for the hero to have her heart strings plucked by the song of home.

Healing Stones is the 4th book in the Castle Keepers epic fantasy series. It picks up the story of Isla and Liam where her kidnapping and the murder of his das tore them apart.

Get your copy today at Amazon:

Book Launch

eBook Sale and My Favourite Scene

by Diane, posted in Book Launch, Castle Keepers

My favourite scene in Healing Stones is found in Chapter 28.  It’s from Liam Jenkins’ perspective. He and Jack enter Mystical Paragons to acquire a unique item.

Mystical Paragons is an unusual shop inspired by one I entered almost two decades ago in Digby, Nova Scotia. The atmosphere in the little shop by the waterfront was dimly lit, had brightly-coloured items and unusual things I had never seen before.

Here’s a snippet of my favourite scene.

The 99-cent eBook sale runs from May 14th until May 20th. Get your copy now at Amazon:

Book Launch and Sale

by Diane, posted in Book Launch, Castle Keepers

Today is the day. I am launching Healing Stones, book 4 in the Castle Keepers series. To celebrate, I’m putting it on sale for 99 cents for one week. The regular price is $2.99.

Healing Stones picks up about four moons after Revelation Stones ended. It begins with Isla of Maura, McGuigan Mulryan and Lyneth about to enter Moonsface. They are on their way to Wandsworth to find Isla’s childhood friend, Liam Jenkins, the boy she pledge to unite.

Continue the adventure through the Land of Ath-o’Lea by picking up the eBook now at Amazon.

 

Book Launch

 

The Magical Nathair Tree in Healing Stones

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers, February is Fantasy Month

When I first saw a picture of the Giant Ficus Tree (Ficus benjamina) many years ago, I knew that tree grew in my fantasy world. I even knew it would entrap someone within its branches. Fast forward to Healing Stones, book 5 of the Castle Keepers epic fantasy series, and we find this tree growing in the first chapter.

Isla of Maura, McGuigan and Lyneth happen upon it on their way to Moonsface. Here’s the start of the scene. You’ll have to wait to see who is trapped in it.

Continue reading “The Magical Nathair Tree in Healing Stones” →

The Large Village of Bannock

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers

Origins

 

The name Bannock came from Scottish bread: bannock. There are sessions when I’m writing quickly, and I don’t have much time to search for a name because I want to ride the story wave. In this case, I think I may have been listening to Dean Brody’s Mountain Man and in it, he says he can make bannock.

BAM! The name of a village was born because it was as good as any I could find in that desperate moment.

 

The Land of Ath-o’Lea

 

We first hear of the village in Healing Stones. It lies along the trail between Moonsface and Inglenook. At the entry of the elf settlement is a sign post created from stone and a thick, carved log that reads: Welcome to Bannock, the hubbery of Knollton Mountain Range: Population 2,467.

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The Village of Moonsface

by Diane, posted in Castle Keepers

Origins

 

I’m a genealogist in my spare time, and this hobby provides the perfect opportunity to discover unique names, including place names. When I stumbled upon Moonsface in an old record for Newfoundland, I knew it was also a place within the Land of Ath-o’Lea. The place name no longer exists on Earth maps, but it was supposed to be in the Burgeo-La Poile District and was used as early as 1825 and as late as 1857.

 

The Land of Ath-o’Lea

 

We first hear about Moonsface in Shadows in the Stone, book 1 of the Castle Keepers series. Lady Glynn Dasia of Aruam Castle mentions it and says she was born there. In book 2, Scattered Stones, Morrigan Fae tells others she was born in Moonsface.

In the short story, The Pledge, Alaura of Niamh mentions she might visit the village one day.

The cast of Castle Keepers don’t visit the large village of Moonsface until Healing Stones. It’s located on the long, winding water course Blue Myst River. It’s situated south of Edgewood and north of Eld’s Keep. By horseback, it’s about 35 days from Maskil, longer in bad weather.

We only get a glimpse of Moonsface. We learn the majority of the population are elf and in the centre of the village, there’s a pillory in a small green space. The two shops named are Ample Bothain, where the group drops off a package and picks up another job, and Eoghan’s Keep. They are located across the dirt lane from each other with wooden sidewalks in front. Ample Bothain is owned and operated by mates Bess and Harry.

 

Ample Bothain from Isla’s perspective

The little shop overflowed with a wide variety of foods, and the magnificent aromas filled her nostrils and made her think of the bakery in Maskil. When they were done, she planned to buy several of the fruit displayed on the counter. They were like nothing she’d seen before. They resembled an apple, but they were dark purple.

I’m certain we’ll visit Moonsface in future stories.