Guest Post Jean M. Grant Author of A Hundred Breaths
Give a warm welcome to Jean M. Grant, author of A Hundred Breaths. Jean and her book share the same birthday. TODAY! Yippee!! Wish her a happy birthday and pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jean and A Hundred Breaths! Take it away Jean!
Exploring the Silver Veil
The Silver Veil is my primary paranormal element in the series. Loosely based on ancient Scottish culture and lore books, I delved into the world of The Silver Folk, or Ancients. I created a culture that could have very well existed, that utilized natural powers accessed across a veil between this world and the next. Healers harnessed their ability by their conduit of water. Feelers heightened their aura-sensing and emotion-feeling through fire. Seers experienced visions whispered on the wind. All three gifts found root in Mother Earth.
The Ancients of the isles are written as having been present in the isles for centuries. They pray at the circles of stones, but who or what built them is still a mystery. Heavily influenced by the Norse raiders, over time they have assigned Norse god names to their powers of Water, Fire, Wind, and Earth. Who has these abilities? Some, but not all. How strong are their powers? It depends on the person. The abilities are inherited, but who, what, and how intense the power is up to the gods.
In all three of the books of the soon-to-be trilogy, there is a clash and blend of cultures and religion: Christianity in the Scots (along with a hefty dose of superstition), the gods of the Norse culture, and lastly, the spirituality of the Ancients.
With any special ability, there are those who wish to do harm, though all the Ancients I’ve written (so far) use their gifts for good. However, there are drawbacks to these abilities…curses and “side effects.” You’ll need to read on in each of the books to see how our protagonists overcome these deficits and harness the inner power within them…
Speed Round Just for Fun and learn a bit about Jean.
1.What is your favorite book of all time? Outlander
- Where do you relax to read? Bed, couch
- What sound drives you right up a wall? Arguing children
- What sound relaxes you? Old-time crooners
- Favorite drink? Coffee & Coffee
- Walking in the sand, shoes or barefoot? Barefoot
- Favorite pet: My cats!
- Snow? Love or hate? Dislike
- Doing ________ is like nailing jello to the wall. Herding children
- Rock and Roll, Country, Jazz or Classical? Rock & Roll
- What can’t you leave the house without? Lip balm
- Calendar or not; Paper or electronic? Yes, paper!
- Favorite place to write. Desk, coffee shop
- What is your decadent indulgent? Anything sweet
- You’ve just won $1,000.00, you have only 24 hours to spend it, so what will you buy? Ticket to New Zealand
- Plotter or panster? Plotter first
- Introvert or extrovert? Extroverted Introvert
- Flight or fight? Situation dependent
- Favorite Monster? Loch Ness Monster
- Magic or Not? Definitely
A little about A Hundred Breaths:
Healing his heart…with her last breath.
1263, Scotland
Simon MacCoinneach’s vengeance runs deep. The blade is the only way to end the blood-thirsty Nordmen’s reign upon Scottish soil. His soul might be lost, but the mystical Healer he kidnaps from the isles could be the answer for his ailing mother…and his heart.
Isles-born Gwyn reluctantly agrees to a marriage alliance with this heathen Scot in return for the sanctuary of her younger brother from her abusive Norse father. Her brother’s condition is beyond the scope of her Ancient power, for larger healings steal breaths of life from her own body.
As Simon and Gwyn fight to outwit her madman father and a resentful Norse betrothed, Gwyn softens Simon’s heart with each merciful touch. Gwyn’s Seer sister foresees a bloody battle—and an end to the Nordmen—but Simon will also die. Will Gwyn save Simon on the battlefield even if it means losing her last breath?
A peek between the pages of A Hundred Breaths!
She breathed two deep life-giving breaths.
Pull breath from my body.
Heal this man with my own breath.
A thermal life filled her fingertips as she clasped the Healer’s stone in her pocket. For something small, water was not necessary. However, if left unattended, it
could and would kill.
The man faltered but didn’t move from her light grasp. Wind rustled her hair as Eir surrounded her. Unlike her mother, she never plaited it for healing. She liked to feel Eir’s fingers upon her and the fiery rush of healing as it flowed through her arms to the injured person, as the wind lifted her hair, announcing its presence.
“What the—?” He drew in a sharp breath.
She mouthed the rest of the chant, invoking the goddess’s power. She moved closer to him, their bodies an intimate—and stirring—distance apart. His nearness captured her breath, and not just from the healing.
“What are you doing?” His words said one thing while his body said another. He didn’t step away. His breathing hitched and then steadied.
“It’s not the devil’s works,” she clipped.
“Then what in the devil are you saying? That’s not Norse.”
She ignored him. He placed a gentle, nearly sedated hand on her free arm in protest, but he did nothing. Her healing had a way of stunning and spellbinding her charges. It was working.
A long moment passed. She opened her eyes and stepped back, releasing her hold. He let go of her other arm and immediately reached to touch the wound. Her stomach twisted as she broke from the enchantment. This was her father’s enemy, a murderer. Finished with her prayer, she stepped away, hit with coldness.
Buy Links:
Amazon, Barnes&Noble Kobo and Google Play
About the Author:
I write historical and contemporary romance, women’s fiction, and travel magazine articles. I love sharks and microbes, and have degrees in Marine Science, Biology, Microbiology, and Immunology…but now…I write. 😊. I love flowers so much, and have multiple gardens, that I baby-talk to them in the spring and summer to encourage growth.
Social Media links:
Website https://www.jeanmgrant.com/
Twitter https://twitter.com/JeanGrant05
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jeanmgrantauthor/
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16582543.Jean_M_Grant
Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jean-m-grant
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Jean-M.-Grant/e/B0728KFXP9/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Thank you for celebrating your birthdays with us! Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with A Hundred Breaths!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged A Hunddred Breaths, Historical Romance, Jean M Grant, magic, Scotland, The Silver Veil by Tena Stetler with 11 comments.
