 What are they? A Warlock in most moderns usages means male witch, but in the past, the term meant oath breaker. They were considered traitors. In fiction however, the term mostly describes a male witch, with the same powers and abilities. Where can they be found? They appear across the world, but most prominently in European folklore. What powers do they have? Warlocks can have powers such as elemental powers, glamouring abilities, and the power to tap into the natural world. The list is endless. Where can I read more about them? If you would like to read more about them, check out Sacred Mark of Four by Belladona Cunning. 
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 What are they? Witches are people who can tap into magic and use it to exact their will. A witch can be good or bad depending on what they use their magic for and they can be female or male. Where can the be found? Witches are found throughout history in lots of different cultures around the world. They are even featured in the Bible. More recently witches are featured in TV shows and movies including Charmed, The Craft and Witches of East End. What powers do they have? Witches can have a variety of powers and abilities, it all depends on the type of witch they are. Some can control the elements, some have abilities such as telekinesis, some control minds or change their appearance. The list is endless. One key point though is that magic usually comes with a price. It should be used wisely. Where can I read more about them? You can read more about witches in War of the Rose Covens by Lee French and Shadows and Light by Krista Street.    Game of Thrones has returned! Season 8 is the final season and we will finally get to see who sits on the iron throne.
If you are a fan, then you know that Game of Thrones has a lot to offer. Dragons, White Walkers, sword fights, betrayal, murder, and so much more. But at the heart of it all, there is one theme that stands the test of time. A theme that almost everyone can get behind and that is family. Family is something we can all understand as we all have families, whether they are the ones we are born into or the ones we make for ourselves. A lot of the long running shows have family at their core. Supernatural will end it's impressive run at 15 seasons and it has always been about two brothers first and the supernatural second. Other popular shows are Charmed, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Vampire Diaries and it's spin-off shows. Games of Thrones has many families, but the key players are the Starks, the Targaryens, the Lannisters and the Baratheons. They have had many disagreements over the span of the series and some have splintered completely, but some, like the Starks, are still loyal to each other. It is fascinating to watch how far the families will go to protect or even kill each other. No one inspires loyalty like family and no one can hurt you as badly as family. If you are planning your next book, why not consider having family members as your leads? Siblings are usually a popular choice, however many people will have two sisters or two brothers, why not a brother and sister pairing? Or cousins? Or something else entirely. Siblings don't even have to be related by blood, they can be foster siblings or adopted. The important thing is to show their dysfunction as a family, because happy families are boring. Siblings fight, they tear strips off each other, but will defend each other to the death if necessary. As they do in real life! Have fun writing!  What are they? The Greek Titans came before the Greek Gods and were said to have come into being at the dawn of time. There were 12 original Titans including Cronus, Thea, Oceanus and the Pleiades Sisters. The Titans birthed the Greek Gods, who later overthrew them. Where can they be found? In Greek myth and Greek origin stories. What powers do they have? They were immortal, powerful beings with power over the Earth and vast knowledge. Despite their powers, Zeus and his brethren were able to trick and defeat them. Where can I read more about them? If you want to read more about them, be sure to check out Orion's Kiss by Claire Luana.  
Mystery
Date Published: April 1, 2019
Publisher: Literary Wanderlust
Only by looking into the past can Audrey save her future.
Audrey Eames is happy living the wanderer’s life. After a near-death experience in her teens, Audrey can see people’s past lives whenever her skin touches theirs, and afraid of being labeled delusional, she’s never stayed in one place too long or made any deep connections.
So when Audrey’s estranged aunt dies and leaves her the historic Soberly Inn and Public House on the scenic Oregon coast, Audrey wants nothing to do with it. She’s determined to sell the inn and leave town before someone discovers the power she’s been hiding from the world, but clauses in her aunt’s will seem to block her at every turn.
Yet once ensconced in Soberly’s small town life, the people—particularly the inn's bartender, Kellen Greene—start to grow on her, and she begins to feel that maybe she’s finally found a place of her own. As accepting as the townspeople seem, Audrey fears their reactions—and Kellen’s rejection—and decides to keep her visions a secret. But all is not well in Soberly. Soon after Audrey arrives, people in town start dying in the same manner as in their past lives—but in this lifetime it’s murder. When suspicion starts to fall on Audrey and Kellen, Audrey vows to use her gift to find the murderer and protect the people she loves—before it’s too late.
About the Author
Nicole Bross is an author from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, where she lives with her husband, two children and one very large orange cat. When she’s not writing or working as the editor of a magazine, she can be found curled up with a book, messing around with her ever-expanding collection of manual typewriters or in the departures lounge of the airport at the beginning of another adventure. Past Presence is her debut novel.
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Twitter: @brossypants
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Review:
Audrey inherits her aunts inn, but she doesn't want to be tied down to it. She has a unique gift in that when a person touches her, she can see their past life. I thought this was very interesting and I liked how their past lives affected their present ones. It was an entertaining story and I would recommend it. 
 What are they? We have two magical creatures combined here - the phoenix, a magical bird which bursts into flames when it dies, only to be reborn from the ashes, and elementals, beings with control over the four elements - water, fire, air and earth. Where can they be found? The phoenix is from Greek mythology and is a symbol of resurrection. Elementals are found in European myth and they are undines, salamanders, sylphs and gnomes. What powers do they have? Phoenixes are able to resurrect themselves and are usually associated with fire. Elementals can control the elements, such as creating fires, affecting the wind and more. The idea to combine the two is an interesting one. We usually think of fire when it comes to Phoenixes, but the character in the novel Ashes of Raging Water, is a water phoenix. What an interesting twist. Where can I read more about them? You can read more about Elemental Phoenixes in Ashes of Raging Water by Michael J. Allen.   Every Monday I will be posting a new blog entry, focusing on writing and offering advice to new authors. This week we will be looking at submitting your book to an editor.
So you have finished your book, a book that may have taken you years to write, and now it is ready for the editor. Sounds simple, all you need to do is attach it to an email and send it to your editor to fix, warts and all. STOP. While it may sound somewhat redundant, before you send your manuscript to an editor, you need to make sure that you have edited it to the best of your ability first. Why should I do that? I hear you ask. It's an editor's job to fix all the mistakes. While this is partially true, it is good practice to check your own work, ensure the story flows well and that there are no major plot holes in your story. By doing this you can cut down on the time it takes for your editor to complete the edit and make their job a little easier. You may also be able to catch story issues that the editor may not be able to find. Here are a few tips on what you can do with your manuscript before sending it to your editor:
There are different types of editors available, who will look for different things in your manuscript.
Some editors only do one or two types of editing, some editors like myself will do them all. Always do your research. An editor can be expensive, but you don't have to break the bank paying thousands, especially if you are just starting out. I offer reasonable rates, tailored specifically for new authors or authors with no budget. My rates are lower than the going rate because I know what it is like to be an author, trying to get your first book out there and having very little money to do it with. This is my way of giving back to the fabulous author community that I am a part of. I offer sample edits on request. Click the button below to find out more.  What are they? Immortals are beings who have found a way to live forever and usually stay young too. This is usually from a spell, a curse or other nefarious means. There is usually a price to pay for this though. Where can they be found? There are stories throughout history of alleged immortals including Nicolas Flamel, the Count of St. Germain and Merlin. What powers do they have? Immortals rarely have powers other than the ability to stay alive and perhaps to recover from wounds that would kill a regular person. Where can I read about them? You can read more about Immortals in Stolen Magic by Char Webster   What are they? Jinn or Genies, or the Djinn are creatures composed of fire or smoke who resemble humans. They are spirit creatures, similar to demons. Where are they from? They are found in Islamic and Arabian mythology. Similar to demons, they have a lot of power and feature heavily in stories. They also feature in the Quran. What powers do they have? The Jinn have the power to grant wishes, but they do have limits. In some recent depictions, they cannot use their power to kill anyone, to raise the dead or to make anyone fall in love. Most Jinn however are depicted as tricksters in that they will grant your wish, but it comes at a cost. For example, you wish for a million pounds and then your favorite Uncle will die and leave the money to you. Where can I read more about them? If you want to read more about the Jinn, then be sure to check out Curse of a Jinn by Lichelle Slater. Available in the Cursed Lands boxed set.   What are they? The Nephilim are said to be the offspring of fallen angels. They were said to be giants with enormous power, but were also said to be violent tyrants. Where can they be found? They are mentioned in the Bible, but it is said that they were all wiped out in the flood. They are featured in popular fiction including most recently, the TV show Supernatural and Shadowhunters by Cassandra Clare. What powers do they have? The Nephilim are strong and can have some angelic abilities. They can be super fast, and have longevity, but they are part mortal so they cannot live forever. Where can you read more about them? If you would like to read more about the Nephilim then be sure to check out Behind Glass by Elle Scott.  |
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AuthorI AM AN AUTHOR, BLOGGER AND A JOURNALIST. “Description begins in the writer’s imagination, but should finish in the reader’s.” 
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