A-musing the World. Astronomy time! Multiple winners. Comment for a chance to win!

Welcome to my A-musing the World Blog Event. This week it’s my pleasure to welcome Masha Holl to chat about her contribution to The Song of the Muses Anthology titled, The Brightest Heaven. Her muse? None other than Urania, the Muse of Astronomy. As always, there's a contest. The question this week is...Urania despairs what? Click HERE to find the answer. (Hint: Answer may be found in the About Me section!). Return to this blog and leave the answer in a comment by Saturday, October 23 6 AM, EST for a chance to win. What up for grabs? Two winners will be drawn. One wins a $5 gift certificate to Digi Books Café, the other an Ecopy of The Brightest Heaven! Time to get to know Urania and Masha a bit better…

The Brightest Heaven

Urania, Muse of Astronomy and the Sciences has lost faith in human creativity. This modern age seems rich in gadgets but not in true inspiration. Then she meets Daniel, a bright spirit whose fertile mind fulfills her need to mentor... But his very genius threatens the balance between universes and the great powers of Olympus issue an ultimatum: Urania must stop Daniel's experiments, or else... And the gods of Olympus know how to execute their threats.

SKY: Thanks so much for joining me this week!

MASHA: Thank you for inviting me! And accept my apologies for being late.

SKY: Oh, no worries. Just glad you could make it! Tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been writing? Do you have a genre preference? What have you published thus far?

MASHA: The better question is, when have I not been writing? Or, when have I started writing something I was willing to show off?

I used to make up stories all the time, sagas that continued from one day to the next when I played with dolls (my Barbies were Amazons), and then more sagas to entertain me while I walked to and from school. Then one day I decided that if I could keep them straight in my head, I might be able to keep them straight on paper.

I didn't know it would be so hard. I had to learn English and move to the US before I took myself seriously.

I don't think I ever conceived of a “normal” story. There's always been some element of magic or other-worldliness, whether the green-alien type or the revenant type. Although I have and do (and will continue) to read in just about every genre, I make up stories that are sci-fi or fantasy. The closest to normal I've come to is a historical saga project set in the 13th century.

Now I've found a home for my stories at The Wild Rose Press.

SKY: When you first knew you were going to be part of The Song of the Muses Anthology, what was your first thought?

MASHA: OMG it's happening! OMG OMG it's a deadline. OMG OMG OMG it's a SHORT deadline!!!

SKY: LOL, I think I had a similar response! Did you find yourself researching Greek Mythology quite a bit while writing your story or were you already a guru in this genre?

MASHA: You may think you know the answer, and if you expect me to say I was already a guru, then I faked it really well!

Truth is, I did know quite a bit about Classical mythology. After all, I do have an academic background in folklore, and knowing myths is kind of a requirement. But to write about Urania's family and to picture her interacting with her siblings, half-sibs and semi-cousins (and assorted odd relations), I wanted to get the bloodlines straight. So I did do a lot of research.

SKY: Let’s chat about your muse. What drew you to her? As she was literally your inspiration, share a little about how you formed an entire story around her?

MASHA: I think it went like this: Greek! Mythology! OMG, someone has to do the research right! Urania! Science! Yay! Sci-fi romance! I want Iwant I want.

It wasn't very coherent, as you can tell, and the basic plot idea came to me the next morning in the shower. You could say that I was visited by the Muse. It was just too perfect: all my favorite themes in one place!

SKY: Time to crawl inside your muse’s head romance style. I’d love to read an excerpt from your story that revolves around her interacting with your hero. Pull us in─lead out with three words you feel could be a mini title for this glimpse inside your tale!

MASHA: Making love like a man...

“How long have you been working on it?”

“You know. Since the day Zoe called you.”

She shook her head. “No. I mean straight.” Ourania stepped close to Daniel. “Without sleep.”

“Oh.” He let himself sink back on the kitchen chair. “Oh.” Exhaustion suddenly carved deep lines in his face and painted dark circles under his eyes. He looked at her with a guilty expression. “And you?”

She swept her fingertips along his jawline. He shouldn't care about her. He wouldn't, if he knew what she was sworn to do.

“I slept more than you, I think.” She moved even closer, into his heat, and framed his face between her hands. “You need rest. You can't afford mistakes now.”

Covering her hands with his, he stared into her eyes. “I wouldn't be able to sleep.”

Urania let herself lean into him. Their lips touched, uncertain, tentative, and then he grabbed her head and brought her tight against him.

His tongue traced the seam of her mouth, awakening sensations in a storm of bliss only Dionysus' wine had been able to unleash. With a small whimper, she surrendered and fell into his arms.

“Not here. My room,” he managed to say, and stood, pulling her up, leading her up the stairs, while his hands roamed everywhere, peeling off her human garments and caressing her mortal shell... and oh, she suddenly understood why so many gods had taken mortal guise!

SKY: Oooh, great excerpt! Hero time. Introduce us. What does he look like? Where’s he from? Why was he lucky enough to hook up with one of the nine muses of inspiration?

MASHA:

I present Daniel as Urania sees him first:

The man ran as if pursued by the Vengeances. Sweat plastered his shirt to a body worthy of the art of ancient sculptors. His stride was smooth and even, enough to make Artemis the Huntress herself proud.

And then:

The man tightened his hands into claws and thrust them at the sea, repeating his parting motion with a new energy. Brought them back to his center and rolled them out, pushing out with a hiss. Searching. Searching for something with his whole being.

The shimmering lights around him grew brighter, pressing into the visible range, fanning in the ethereal sphere over the entire spectrum.

Breakthrough. He’d touched whatever he was reaching for.

Urania meets him apparently by chance and recognizes the creative energy in him that calls for her nurturing. Daniel is a physicist, a genius, and a widowed father. His daughter promises to be as bright as he is.

Here's how Urania introduces herself into his world:

A curriculum vitae slipped out of the stack. A colorful paper clip attached a photograph to it. Daniel picked up the printout, curious, and froze.

A young woman stared at him. Moon-silver hair framed a pixie-like face with brilliant, sapphire-blue eyes. She smiled as if the whole world belonged to her, comfortable in...

A photo? In an applicant file?

He blinked, and realized he was looking at an ordinary résumé. But the dazzling afterimage of the pretty woman remained imprinted on his retina.

“How about her?” he said, and stared at the name. Ania Apollodorou. He tried it out loud. “Ania Apollodorou.” Odd that he couldn't bring to mind her talk when the memory of her striking features kept him staring at her file.

SKY: Just to mix it up, make you think─if you could’ve chosen one other muse to write about in this anthology, which one would it have been? Why?

MASHA: That's a hard question. Any of the other arts would probably take me into a different genre, since I don't do time-travel. Urania and science seemed like such a perfect fit... Maybe Calliope, the Muse of epic poetry. But what the story would be? I have no idea! After all, Urania is the one who picked me!

SKY: Thanks for visiting and sharing!

MASHA: Thank you again for having me.

Watch a Book Trailer for The Brightest Heaven




Review:

“The Brightest Heaven” is beautifully written and entirely unpredictable. Dialogue is snappy and believable. Modern life interweaves with mythological characters as if perfectly naturally; as if indeed, space and time wove them together. ~Long and Short Reviews

Purchase The Brightest Heaven now! Click here.

Sky here. As I do every week, I like to encourage my muse sisters to share what they’ve been up to since the anthology. So here’s a bit about another one of Masha Holl’s releases…

The Joining

Erik has no memories that go back more than five years. And no one knows how he's lost them. No memories, no prejudices, and an empathic ability. It makes him the perfect diplomat for the Space Guild.

Then how can he remember the woman he saved from an explosion in space? She may hold the key to his locked past, or be the key to his future.

Short Excerpt:

Erik shifted uncomfortably in the pilot's seat. His instincts told him his passenger was an ally, but complete lack of empathic clues unnerved him. Why would his talent fail him now, when the situation had turned sour in a single moment?

Shakuntala merely watched the forward screen with the serenity of a meditation master.

His gaze slid down her body.

He looked away hastily. In five years of remembered life, not one woman had caught his interest, as if his libido had vanished with his memories, buried in a past no one had been able to uncover.

But not now.

Even when he didn't look at her, he was acutely aware of her lithe form, her graceful movements, her quiet intensity, and her femininity.

Especially her femininity.

He could feel it, as if it pressed against his skin. He could smell it, like a heady perfume disrupting his thinking. It made focusing on his instruments difficult, when he could be watching her, when he could be inching closer...

Proximity sensors erupted in blasphemous cacophony.

EARTH SHIP ON FAST APPROACH.

At Erik's side, Shakuntala leaned closer to the console, frowning at the readouts.

"Still a million kilometers or so away. They must have a base on the second..." He grunted when the schematics appeared on a monitor.

CLASS A FULLY ARMED SHIP.

Large and armed. Not a freighter. Not a liner.

"Warship."

CONFIRM.

Purchase The Joining now! Click here.

Visit Masha at her Website. Though you're invited to visit Masha's website now, it is undergoing a makeover and she'd love for you to check back often to see the new look coming soon!

Masha also offers web services. Click HERE to learn more about her company, Otter Creations (Creator of Masha's website and trailer).

A little more about the author…

Masha Holl was raised on magic tales, Russian literature, Mozart, Verdi, and French cuisine. Today, she writes romantic science fiction and fantasy—that's spaceships, alien universes, and very close encounters—to the sounds of Metal Rock. Romance brought her to America, and here she stayed, so expect love and happy endings in her stories.

She studied language and literature first in Paris (France, that is), and then at the University of Wisconsin, where she was awarded a Master's degree. She has taught Russian and French language and culture both to bored and to excited college students, and she is always eager to share her love of the writing craft with whoever will listen to her speeches. And don't even get her started on myths and folklore.

Her novella The Brightest Heaven, and her short story The Joining, are available from The Wild Rose Press. You can find excerpts on her website at MashaHoll.com.

Masha Holl also offers online workshops and web design, and other web services for writers through her company Otter Creations. Look her up on the web at MashaHoll.com.

Don’t forget to enter the contest! The question this week…Urania despairs what? Click HERE to find the answer. (Hint: Answer may be found in the About Me section!). Return to this blog and leave the answer in a comment by Saturday, October 23 6 AM, EST for a chance to win. What up for grabs? Two winners will be drawn. One wins a $5 gift certificate to Digi Books Café, the other an Ecopy of The Brightest Heaven! Winners will be announced Monday morning.

Thanks for popping in!

~Sky

Muse Event Returns Soon

Greetings! So sorry for the delay. My A-musing the World Blog Event will continue shortly. Please check back soon.

Cheers
~Sky

Call Me Kate: Meeting Molly Maguires by Molly Roe

Good morning! I hope you're enjoying your weekend so far. As many of you know, I write about Ireland quite a bit and adore history. So when Tribute Books asked me if I'd be interested in reading a young adult book titled Call Me Kate: Meeting Molly Maguires, by Molly Roe for review, I gladly said yes.

Call Me Kate: Meeting Molly Maguires

Coming of age amidst the seething unrest of the Civil War era, feisty fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty infiltrates the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish organization, to rescue a lifelong friend. Under the guise of Dominick, a draft resister, Katie volunteers for a dangerous mission in hopes of preventing bloodshed. Katie risks job, family, and ultimately her very life to intervene. A series of tragedies challenge Katie's strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can she balance her sense of justice with the law? Call Me Kate is suitable for readers from eleven to adult. The story is dramatic and adventuresome, yet expressive of daily life in the patches of the hard coal region during the Civil War era. This novel will appeal to readers of the Dear America series, as well as more mature readers who will enjoy the story's rich context and drama.

Read an Excerpt. Click here.

My thoughts on this book...

"From the opening line in Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires, I was drawn in. Enrooted instantaneously in the life of Katie McCafferty, an Irish American girl who struggles to help support her family in a Pennsylvania coal mining town between 1860 and 1862, I couldn’t put this book down.

Without doubt, I learned quite a bit of history as I struggled through day to day life with Katie. Incredibly poor, immigrants and citizens alike struggled to make a living. The mining conditions were contemptuous. Colliery owners consistently neglected safety precautions. When accidents occurred─and they often did─many men were injured or killed leaving families without a breadwinner. In addition, every man faced the Civil War draft. Many northerners opposed the war, especially the Irish. Why be forced to fight for a country that was prejudice against them? From the embers of unrest caused by the draft and the mining death toll, a fiery uprising called Molly Maguires formed. This secret Irish organization would make its mark on history.

Be prepared to follow Katie through turbulent times. Her aggressive spirit and courageous attitude burst forth as the story unravels and she takes life-endangering risks to protect a friend within the rebellion. I must say, author Molly Roe pens a well-written and engaging tale. I highly recommend this story to those who want to learn more about Irish-American history!"

~Author Sky Purington

Watch a book trailer...



Eager to read Call Me Kate? Perhaps buy it for your daughter, niece, granddaughter or another young adult in your life? Click here to purchase!

A bit about the author...

Molly Roe is the pen name of Mary Garrity Slaby, a veteran language arts & reading teacher at Lake-Lehman Junior Senior High School. Mary holds a Ph.D. in education from Temple University, and Pennsylvania teaching certification in six areas. She has pursued the hobby of genealogy for the past decade. Mary was born in Philadelphia, raised in Schuylkill County, and currently lives in Dallas, Pennsylvania with her husband, John. They are parents of two grown children, Melissa and John Garrett, cover illustrator of Call Me Kate. Digging into the past has given Mary newfound respect for her ancestors and a better understanding of history. Call Me Kate is the first in the author’s trilogy of historical novels loosely based on the lives of the strong women who preceded her.

Follow Molly Roe on Facebook or at her Blog.

Learn more about Molly's publisher, Tribute Books at their Website, Facebook or Twitter.

I'd like to thank Tribute Books for providing me the opportunity to read Call Me Kate. It was well worth my time. And to Molly Roe, well done and congratulations on writing such an entertaining and educational story.

Enjoy your Sunday and be sure to pop back in tomorrow as my A-musing the World Blog Event continues!

~Sky

R.G. Porter's, Destiny's Light. Winners have been drawn!

Another super fun week has come and gone! Once again, a huge thank you to R.G. Porter for joining us to talk about Destiny's Light, tale three in The Song of the Muses Anthology. The winners of this week's contest have been drawn. Vickyvak, you won a $5 gift certificate to Digi Books Cafe. Yadkny, you won an Ecopy of Destiny's Light. Congratulations to you both! Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Have a fabulous weekend all and be sure to join me on Monday morning as my A-musing the World Blog Event continues!

~Sky

A-musing the World. It's all about the music! Multiple winners. Comment for a chance to win!

Welcome to my A-musing the World Blog Event. Each week I’ll be inviting one of the nine muses of inspiration from The Song of the Muses Anthology to this blog. This week it’s my pleasure to welcome Eutrepe, Muse of Music. Eutrepe’s tale is told in R.G. Porter’s (formerly Robyn Wren’s) Destiny’s Light. As always, there’s a contest being held. Two winners will be drawn. One will win a $5 gift certificate to Digi Books Café. The other a download of Destiny’s Light. How do you enter for a chance to win? Simple. Click HERE and find out what Eutrepe’s general interests are (found on the left hand side.) Pop back to this blog and leave the answer in a comment. All right, let’s learn a little more about this fabulous muse and the talented author who wrote her story

Destiny's Light

A wish to go back would unlock more than she expected…

For as long as she could remember the Muses had always been sent to help inspire mankind. How she longed to go back again but man had lost his faith. Sure she will never return to earth Euterpe is surprised the night Zeus summons her for a final task in the mortal world. It was a quest she was ready for, until the interference of a God and her memory is lost.

Loner and musician, Ceris is stuck at an impasse with a song he needs to complete but cannot. Sure he will never move on he ventures out into the night in hopes of some kind of inspiration. Never did he expect it would come in the form of a woman who was about to be run down by a car in the dead of night.

In order to unlock the song that fills his soul they must unlock Euterpe’s past before it’s too late….

But first they must beat back the darkness and unleash their love.

SKY: Thanks so much for joining me this week!

R.G.: Always! It's been much too long since we hung out.

SKY: Agreed! Tell us a little bit about yourself. How long have you been writing? Do you have a genre preference? What have you published thus far?

R.G.: Ah, where to start. Well I've lived in a few different states but I am now currently living in Texas. (This place is WAY too hot.) I love all things supernatural, spooky, and unusual which tends to come out in my writing... often! I've been writing off and on most of my life, but decided back in 2005 to really try and put together a story worthy of being published. It was a long road and I've learned so much since I began but I wouldn't change a thing. I tend to lean towards fantasy and paranormal although there is a nice little horror plot line working its way through my muse now and again, so we shall see.

Currently I have six books published in e-book format with most going to print at some point. I have another one that will be released later this year and a new series I just finished first draft on. (whew) Many other ideas are still brewing but I've told them to take a number and wait their turn.

SKY: Sounds like you’re keeping busy. That’s super! When you first knew you were going to be part of The Song of the Muses Anthology, what was your first thought?

R.G.: Holy crap can I write that short of a book. :) After the initial shock I was beyond excited to be able to join a great group of ladies and awesome writers.

SKY: Did you find yourself researching Greek Mythology quite a bit while writing your story or were you already a guru in this genre?

R.G.: I've always been fascinated by many different myths and legends but the Greek history has always been one of my favorites. I studied as much as I could find and tweeked some here and there.

SKY: Let’s chat about your muse. What drew you to her? As she was literally your inspiration, share a little about how you formed an entire story around her?

R.G.: I love music, always have. I cannot write without listening to something to fit the mood, so picking her was natural. She sung in my head and wove the storyline with each note so delicately that the plot grew on its own. She wanted to be seen again but she had no idea what would really happen till it did.

SKY: Time to crawl inside your muse’s head romance style. I’d love to read an excerpt from your story that revolves around her interacting with your hero. Pull us in─lead out with three words you feel could be a mini title for this glimpse inside your tale!

R.G.: She could feel his eyes stare at her. There was no malice in his voice; if anything, she felt soothed to hear him speak. Her eyelids began to flutter open, the warm glow of light harsh against the darkness she'd been confined in. She squinted to allow her eyes to adjust to the light, her head still pounding. "Where ... where am I?" Her throat felt rough as she spoke, parched, as if she'd not had something to drink in days.

Her vision slowly focused to find a man watching her with concern. "You are at my home. Do you recall what happened last night?" Last night? Kaylena searched her memory once more. All she could remember were lights coming toward her and the same voice calling out to her. Then pain and darkness had replaced them both.

Kaylena attempted to sit up but found her body didn't want to cooperate. "I don't remember much. There were lights coming toward me and I called out, but they didn't answer. I heard your voice but that is all." Pain rushed through her leg when she attempted to move it. "What is wrong with me?" Fear pulsed through her veins.

The man's hand reached out and brushed back the hair from her face. His touch sent instant warmth through her body. "You were hit by a car last night. That is why your leg hurts." His arm moved behind her neck. "Here, try and sit up. I'll help you." Kaylena closed her eyes to both shield against the sting in her leg and revel in the feel of his touch.

Sharp pain raced through her body as she sat up. "It hurts." She hated to sound weak but it was almost too much. "I'm sorry. I'll be fine."

SKY: Great excerpt! Hero time! Introduce us. What does he look like? Where’s he from? Why was he lucky enough to hook up with one of the nine muses of inspiration?

R.G. Ah Ceris. He's a musician through and through. He is a handsome man but with a very mysterious way about him. He's quiet yet kind, his soul an old one.

“I’ll be okay. Now we must stay quiet. I don’t want to grab that thing’s attention or any Harpies that may still be in the area.” His head bowed to lean on the top of hers. “Be still, Kaylena, and rest. I have no idea how much further we will need to travel. We will need all our energy.”

“Fine, I’ll rest if I can. Don’t leave me, Ceris.” The soft plea humbled his soul. She was so innocent in her actions. How could Zeus allow such a travesty to happen to his daughter? If he thought he could get away with it, he would tell the god off himself.

“I’ll not leave your side, Kaylena. Now rest and I’ll wake you when we can move.” Ceris watched as the man’s body shook a few more times before his screams faded into gurgles. The Furies had ripped the man’s soul apart after forcing him to watch and feel all the fear and pain he’d inflicted on the innocents. He couldn’t even imagine what the man had gone through but better him than them.

Ceris had turned his body a fraction to accommodate Kaylena’s sleeping form, when the cloak that covered them lifted. The moment he turned his head, his gaze came face to face with the locked stare of the same creature he’d just watched tear the stranger’s soul apart. “Mortal…you do not belong here. How have you come to be in Hades?” The creature had known of their presence the entire time but hadn’t bothered to acknowledge them till now. Its bloody gaze moved along his body and to that of Kaylena’s sleeping form. “What’s this? A muse in the realm of the undead?”

“Shh, please do not wake her. If you must harm someone, harm me, but let her be.”

“Silly mortal, for what purpose would I harm a muse? My purpose is to punish souls who harm those who cannot defend themselves. I have no reason to harm you or her.”

Ceris sighed with relief.

The Furies’s gaze shifted back to him. “I ask again. What purpose do you have here? You are not dead, not a soul searching for eternal rest, so what brought you to this realm?”

“That’s a bit tricky. I’m here to help her regain her memory. Hades stripped it from her and I have but a day to help her regain it or she will be lost forever.”

“And?”

“Well, the one major hitch is that I can’t tell her of her past and who she is. She must remember on her own.”

The Furies leaned back its head; an eerie laughter erupted from its lips. “This must be either Zeus’s or Hades’ game. They are more sadistic than any Furies could hope to be.” For the first time, Ceris found a creature he couldn’t help but agree with. The Furies may be brutal when it enacted its vengeance but it was not stupid. “Listen to me, Mortal. Continue West till you come to a large mountain. Head up it till you see an opening. It will not be easy to see but you will not miss it. Enter the cave and it will bring you to where you need to be.”

SKY: Another excellent excerpt! Just to mix it up, make you think─if you could’ve chosen one other muse to write about in this anthology, which one would it have been? Why?

R.G.: Wow, hmm, I would guess I might have chosen Thalia. I could just envision a comedy being done by her by her own actions by being clumsy or something of the sort.

Please provide up to three short reviews with link to full review (if avail) about your muse story:

“The relationship between Ceris and Euterpe blossoms as they spend more time together. Ceris is a kind and gentle man who gladly steps in to protect and care for the mysterious woman who appeared out of nowhere. As we spend more time with them and get to know our couple, we know they will find happiness at the same time we wonder what will happen once Euterpe’s mission is complete.

I enjoyed this latest adventure of the Song of the Muses, Destiny’s Light, and look forward to visiting with Euterpe’s sisters and their family of powerful gods and goddesses.”

By : The D2K Paranormal Junkies

“Finding the self’ is a theme here, in both an obvious way, but also in a rather subtle way. The parallels give this story a depth that at first is quite unexpected. Wren has an incredible ability to bring characters, set in what seems a very alien landscape, (not only in a historic time, but in some ways divine) but to absolutely successfully bring those characters to life. The setting is important, and even at times, rather evocative, but it never intrudes on the important human interactions. The loves here could be the loves of any time.”

By Long and Short reviews

This story sound too fabulous to wait? Want to purchase now? Click here.

While I have R.G. Porter here I thought it’d be super if she talked a little about another one of her titles. So here goes…

Shades of Night

Her siren’s song leads to a deadly conspiracy.

A vampire trained to hunt those who have rejected vampiric law, Krystoff finds he is knee deep in a conspiracy to not only overthrow the Council of Elders but humankind itself. As the answers to his burning questions go unanswered, he wanders into a smoke filled club where he hears the purest voice ever and meets a piercing gaze that tugs at his soul.

Half human, half Fae, fearful of vampires, Alexandra knows how to dodge those who walk the shadows. That is until she is drawn to the stage and fulfills her need to sing out a song of loneliness that levels Krystoff’s attention on her. He is a vampire she should run from but cannot escape.

Fate has brought them together for a purpose—save the world from being plunged into an endless darkness…

Short Excerpt:

It was feeding time and humans were the only thing on the menu. Krystoff's acute vision took in the deep crimson that covered the gray cracked sidewalk, the smell of blood thick on the air. He stopped to inhale. "You can't hide," he said mockingly, his words echoing off the cold concrete. He knew he was close - the signs of their victims’ struggles were still fresh. “I know you’re here,” he said as he felt his body tense in response to the coming battle. His enemy was becoming reckless, leaving bodies littered in the wake of their feeding frenzies. Either that or they no longer cared, he thought coldly to himself, though he hoped it wasn’t the latter of the two.

He moved through the darkness of the alleyway while rain swept across the ground in waves, as if Mother Nature herself cried out in anguish at the scene below. Soaked from the downpour he moved through the shadows, the sounds of broken glass echoing from the distance as he followed the trail through the darkness, his only light coming from the arced flashes of lightning from above.

Rounding the corner with caution, his eyes coming to rest on the prone body of their last victim, the pooling blood mixing with the rain water created a faint steam that rose from his body like a soul grasping for the light.

“Uhhh…”

A guttural moan reached his ears, his acute senses picking up every sound. He moved in silence around the corner. The decay of an old building, its bricks of mortar crumbling in the wake of the storm, reminded him that the mortal world was not infinite. The shadows began to grow around him, his eyes darting into the shadows. The man’s eyes were vacant as his lifeblood pulsed out. The gash on his neck fresh, it was a clear indication something had been interrupted.

His deep voice carried on the stormy night’s air. “Come out, come out wherever you are.” He didn’t have time to play games. He’d lived too many years and fought more battles to want to waste time when the end result was the same. All too often he’d been sent to track down the others - their blatant disregard for the Council’s rules was an instant death sentence.

A growl from behind was his only warning as the whiz of knife flew past his head. Thank God for fast reflexes, he mused as he arched his body to the left. “You are growing reckless in your old age, friend. Leaving your meal half alive and missing your target as well.” One thing he’d learned over the years, taunting always worked. Tonight was no exception.

“A stirring story, driven by machinations by both the fae and the vampire worlds. With werewolves and darker dimensions drawn in for added texture, Shades of Night wraps the reader in glittering darkness from the first word. The relationship between Krystoff and Alexandra was, at times, underdeveloped. However, their passion and comedy keep this story moving to a sizzling ending.”

By Virginia

Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance

Purchase Shades of Night. Click here.

Visit R.G. Porter at her Website.

Follow R.G. on Facebook, Myspace or @AuthorRGPorter (Twitter).

Thanks again for joining us this week. Remember, two winners will be drawn. One will win a $5 gift certificate to Digi Books Cafe. The other, an Ecopy of Destiny's Light. How to win? Click HERE and find out what Eutrepe's general interests are (found on the left hand side). Pop back to this blog and leave the answer in a comment.

Let's take one last look at Destiny's Light in this video...

Contest winners for Breast Cancer Awareness contest and A-musing the World contest

I'd like to thank everyone who stopped in to share their thoughts on Breast Cancer Awareness this past weekend. It's so important that we come together and help educate others. The winner of this weekend's prize is Lilly Gayle. Congratulations! Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com.

Also, thank you to everyone who popped in last week as my A-musing the World Blog Event featured Muse Melpomene (AKA-me). The winner of that contest is Andrea I. Congratulations! Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect you prize.

Enjoy your week all!

~Sky

Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Jog. Calling all you Thirty-Somethings!

Breast Cancer Awareness Blog Jog

Hello all. This weekend I’m taking a break from my A-musing the World Blog Event. Frankly, the topic I’ll be covering is not amusing at all.

For the past 2-3 years, I've participated in a Breast Cancer Awareness scavenger hunt. Things were busy for those of us involved in this mega undertaking, so we're doing a scaled back version. Join me, Anna Kathryn Lanier and Skhye Moncrief for a weekend Blog Jog to help bring about breast cancer awareness. I'll be giving away a Live Simply Pink Travel Mug and Free Spirit Pink Ribbon T-shirt to one lucky commenter. Anna at Chatting with Anna Kathryn and Skhye at Skhye's Ramblings will be giving away prizes as well so be sure to visit their blogs and comment for a chance to win. Each of us will draw names ONLY from those who have commented on our own blogs, so if you want to be eligible for all the prizes, comment on each blog.

As many regulars to this blog know, I am an avid supporter of Breast Cancer Awareness and October belongs to us. Who are we? WE are survivors of breast cancer, WE are family members of those whom have had breast cancer, WE are simply supporters of making YOU more aware of this silent killer of so very many women…breast cancer.

My nana died from breast cancer, my aunt died from breast cancer, my mom is a breast cancer survivor. It has touched my life. Has it yours? Sorry to be so blunt but to my mind it is a very blunt topic. A topic not talked about enough.

This year I went straight to The Pink Ribbon Shop and searched through their Cancer Survivor stories. I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking for until it stared me in the face. Leitha. A woman a year older than me. I want to share her story with you. Why? Simply because she’s a year older than me and I think women in their thirties tend to think themselves untouchable to this disease. After all, aren't we all told not to get a mammogram until we're forty? Well, Leitha proves that's a myth. So for all you thirty something females out there, pay attention! I copy and pasted her story and made comments throughout. You won’t be able to miss them.

The Pink Ribbon Shop

Breast Cancer Survivor

Leitha

My name is Leitha and I was 36 when I found a knot in my breast. It was huge, and the doctors kept asking me "how could you have not found this earlier?" I'm sure I had noticed it earlier but dismissed it as a swollen fibrous cyst because every breast exam I ever had I asked about lump and bumps in my breast and was told it was normal because I had fibrous cyst that would swell before my cycle. I also had a mammogram in 1997 that showed nothing, and to top off all of this, I had no history of cancer of any kind on my Mom's side, and two cancers on my Dad's side, lymphoma and my grandmother had lung cancer. Both were or had been heavy smokers and my Dad was not an "exercise & eat right" kind of man.

(SKY HERE: Always pay close attention to your father’s side of the family. No matter the form of cancer, it tends to be the leading source of Breast Cancer especially)

I found my lump while getting into the shower. I moved my left arm in a way that caused it to hurt. I mentioned it to my Mom, who mentioned to my sister, who mentioned it to everybody she ever met in her life. As you can imagine my sister came back to me full of information she had gathered. One of the tidbits she learned was "if it hurts, it's not cancer." I put off having it checked out for about a month or so, and then when I did go to the clinic the nurse practitioner assured me it felt like a cyst, but she scheduled a mammogram anyway. March 13, 2004, a month later, I'm sitting in a waiting room believing I will go in, have the pics taken, have a cyst drained and go home.

(SKY HERE: I’ve been told the same thing, “if it hurts, it’s not cancer.” Guess we can scrap that myth.)

I was called, and as the tech and I walked she mentioned how young I was, asked about my family & medical history. My answers led her to assume (as everyone had) we would probably find a cyst. So for 20 minutes I was twisted and contorted, smushed and flattened, then told to get dressed and wait for the results.

(SKY HERE: Wait until you hear directly from your doctor. The nurse told my mom everything looked good. It wasn’t. (No offense to nurses- they’re simply God’s angels))

The tech came in, followed by a doctor. This was about the time my heart jumped into my throat and started beating faster. The tech looked shaken as the doctor asked about my family & my medical history, then said "we need you to be here at 7:30 in the morning for a biopsy." I mustered up the strength to say "okay", and he left the room.

"Is this just a precautionary biopsy or does he really think I have cancer?" I asked. "Prepare yourself for the worst news and hope for the best." she answered. I asked if the mammograms are often wrong and isn't it likely it's not cancer. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said "honey, it doesn't look good."

I got into the car, turned on the radio and the song "Something More" by Kristy Starling came on. The words were like a cool breeze that penetrated my whole body. I drove around Galveston, couldn't tell you for how long. I finally got a motel room instead of driving four hours round trip to be back at the hospital by 7:30. I called my Mom, and of course she was dumbfounded as I was. I called my son, but got the answering machine (17-year-olds and their busy schedules). I went out, picked up something to eat and a bottle of wine. Me, myself and I had a pity party that night, the first of many.

(SKY HERE: This is exactly what happens. You go into a state where everything seems...surreal ? You tend to focus on the small things you normally wouldn’t such as a song on the radio, who you should call…you’re just going through the motions)

The next day I got the core biopsy, went home and continued having pity parties until Friday when I was due back at the hospital for the results. The upcoming Friday, March 19, 2004 my son took the day off from school to go with me. They gave me a suite number, so I had to ask the information booth where it was. As we rounded the last quarter, we both stopped at sight of a bid sign that said "Radiation Oncology" and then looked at each other. I said "You know this isn't going to be the news we had hoped for, don't you?" He shook his head yes, put his arms around me, kissed the top of my head (he's taller than me), took my hand in his as we walked through the doors. We ended up having to sit in the waiting room for quite a time, enough time for reality to sink in.

(SKY HERE: Oncology is the word you don’t want to hear. Regrettably, it’s a word that becomes familiar. I’m sometimes shocked when people don’t know what it means.)

My son is a carbon copy of me in looks, personality and a twisted sense of humor. Were reading magazines, cutting up & laughing. People are looking at us like we're crazy, but that doesn't stop us. We were finally put into a room, where the goofy-ness continued until finally, a team of four doctors walked into the room. A hush fell on the room as Dr. Hatch sat at the desk I was sitting beside. She looked at me, as her eyes filled with tears she said "I don't have good news for you. You have cancer". I looked at my son sitting across the room who was looking at me as if he couldn't move. Dr. Hatch asked if we needed a minute or two. I said no, we had pretty much expected this when they directed us to radiation oncology. My next question was "so what do we have to do". She explained the procedures to me and set a date to get started. Surgery to remove the cancer & cancerous lymph nodes, a second surgery because they didn't get it all (dirty margins), 12 weekly doses of taxol, 3 months of FAC and 6 weeks of radiation.

Weeks before I had my mammogram I found out that Bill, a friend from my childhood was working as the largest Christian radio station in the country (which happened to be in Houston). I emailed him a friendly note and by the time he was able to reply, I was knee deep in the process of getting me cancer free. Not only did I have the love and support of my Mom & Son, I was blessed with Bill who fell head over heals in love with me in spite of my cancer. They all pitched in and help me, doctored me, cleaned up after me (yuck, I know) but never a complaint. They've all driven me many times to and from appointments, a four hour round trip during the highest gas prices ever.

One thing I learned is, cancer had to be harder on those who love me than it was on me. I watched the looks on their faces every time I had a surgery (which was awful), every chemo treatment (which was worse), and radiation that had one square foot of my left side so raw I cried in pain almost constantly, and I'm not a crier. Actually, I am smiling, laughing and positive most of the time. I'm often asked "how can you be so happy all the time with all you've been through?" My answer is, I have a family who cares about, the most wonderful son, a man (Bill) who loves and adores me, and a God who has me in his healing hands. I've got more reasons to be happy than to be upset. A positive attitude goes a long way.

January 2005 was my last radiation treatment, was growing some hair, happy and in love and waiting to get a new baseline and be called cancer free. Life was looking up, I was gaining strength and looking forward to a beautiful spring. Less than months pass before my appointment with my chemo oncologist. He sets up a gyn appointment for me, A week later I get a call from the gyn doctor. I get light headed and sick to my stomach when she tells me "you have cancer again, we need you to come in tomorrow". "Okay" I say, still in disbelief. I call Bill and say "I've got to go to the hospital tomorrow, I've got cancer again". He was silent for a few second, probably trying to decided if I said what it sounded like I said. I told him it's cervical cancer and that was all I really knew.

It's been another year of fighting another cancer and I'm still in a lot of pain. Between Mar 2005 and Oct 2005, I literally almost died due to complications from the treatments. God didn't take me out of this world so I'm guessing he's still got work for me to do. The radiation on my lower abdomen, they think may be causing the tremendous pain I'm having in my back. I've had a CT scan & MRI in the last three weeks and am having another bone scan. We're praying it's not more cancer. All prayers are welcomed.

If you have cancer, keep your spirits up. I know that sounds cliché, but really, don't stop laughing, don't stop living, you can win this fight. Remember, and remind your family & friends that every day is a gift from God.

Bill, the love of my life bought me a wall plaque that reads:

WHAT CANCER CAN'T DO

It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit

Sky here. Yes, I teared up when I read this. How could I not? Though I’ve not lived it, I am so very sympathetic. And though Leitha said it was harder on her family members, I cannot in a million years fathom what it must have been like for her to not only have lived through cancer but watch her family watch her go through it as well. Bit of a double whammy. My guess is she would’ve given anything to keep them from seeing any of it. My guess is that she fought cancer FOR her family.

That’s what we do.

In the end no matter who you are, if you’ve fought cancer, you know what it is to truly love. To truly become selfless. To truly appreciate every little moment you have with loved ones. To know that life is fleeting and grabbing every tiny moment means a little something more than it used to.

I hope this blog post caught your attention. I hope it makes a difference. Please, even if you're in your thirties, consider getting a mammogram now. What harm could it do?

Don't forget, for a chance to win a breast cancer awareness travel mug and T-shirt at this blog be sure to comment. For a chance to win more great prizes on this weekend's Blog Jog be sure to visit Anna Kathryn Lanier's Blog where you can comment to win a Cherry Blossoms Shower Gel and Lotion from Bath and Body Works, pink roses bath confetti, pink-toned beaded bracelet, a Harvey Lewis limited edition Pink Ribbon enameled ornament accented with Swarovski crystals, a copy of "98 Things a Woman Should Do in Her Lifetime" and an e-book copy of Anna's short story "The Perfect Gift." Think Pink package and Skhye Moncrief's Blog. where you'll find even more great prizes. Contest for my blog's giveaway ends Monday, October 11th, 6 AM EST.

My best to you all and be sure to spread the word about this Blog Jog. It could change someone's life.

~Sky

Some quick extras...

I'm a huge Doctor Oz fan so I decided to take his Breast Cancer Awareness Quiz. Holy heck, I totally failed!!! Ugh. I got a 30%. Hanging head over here. BUT, certainly learned something...well, quite a few things. Want a crack at it? Only takes a few minutes. Click HERE.

As a fan of both Ellen D. and Christina Applegate (a breast cancer survivor at 36) I thought I'd provide this video. Aye, Ellen is so funny. But, truth told, humor is more essential than you'd think to all of this. Laughing produces positive, healing endorphins. So, if you've a few minutes to spare, check out this informative interview about a woman whose mother died from breast cancer. When Christina found out she had not only cancer but the breast cancer gene, she took radical action and had a double mastectomy. For those who don't know the terminology, Christina has had both of her breasts removed.



Hope y'all have a fabulous weekend. All winners, both for this contest and my last A-musing the World Blog Event contest will be announced Monday morn.

~Sky

A-musing the World. Tragedy strikes! Multiple winners. Comment to win!!!

Welcome to my A-musing the World Blog Event! In case you haven’t been here before, this event runs for the next few months and covers not only the Nine Muses of Inspiration but the incredibly talented authors who wrote about them.

This week, strangely enough, I’m featuring none other than Melpomene, Muse of Tragedy. Why is that strange? Well, I wrote her romantic tale. Yes, even the Muse of Tragedy fell in love. I know, it’s not often spoken of but it did indeed happen. And with a mortal no less! When and where you ask? Well, though she’d fallen in love with him years before, her first real contact with Rowan Stewart happened the minute he died…13 May 1568, Battle at Langside, Scotland. I’ll bet you’re wondering what happened after that.

While I can’t tell you everything, Melpomene’s willing to share a little. After all, she’s the heroine in Highland Muse, the second story in The Song of the Muses Anthology. Melpomene specifically invited Thalia, Muse of Comedy over to interview her. Or should I say the interview is being conducted on Apollo's majestic cloud.

After the interview, you'll see I’ve taken a few never before read snippets from the first ¼ of Highland Muse. A little taste of how the two very independent characters, a Highland warrior and a Greek Goddess acted when thrown together…Wait! Before you read on, bet you’re curious if there’s a contest. Of course! What’s up for grabs? Two things. Two winners will be drawn. Each wins a prize. The first prize? A free Ecopy of Highland Muse. The second prize? A $15 gift certificate to Digi Books Café! I’m going to make you work for it a little bit this time. How? Not that hard really. Answer this question in a comment (hint…answers found within excerpts following interview) Okay, here goes. Stripped naked before her, Rowan wants Melpomene to prove to him she’s not what? (hint…it’s not very nice!)

Having said all that I think I’ll hand the blog over to Melpomene and Thalia (AKA- Michele Hart). The floor is yours ladies! Or should I say cloud?

THALIA: Welcome, all, to Apollo’s cloud.

Please welcome my sister Melpomene, the Muse of Tragedy. If ever you’ve been inspired by a loss to create, she was the muse who visited you.

THALIA: Tell me, sister muse, what drew you from the isles of Greece to the Highlands of Scotland to find your true love? And does Fate ever really give us a choice to how far we must go for love?




MELPOMENE: I certainly did find love hidden within a culture much unlike my own. But as muses, I suppose we all, one way or another, become influenced by the many diversified facets of the world. Rowan Stewart, a Highland warrior, caught my attention when very young. Always so brave, courageous…kind. Something inside of me was instantly drawn to him. As he came into full manhood, that feeling quickly took on a romantic nature. After that, there was no looking back.

THALIA: What of Rowan will you never forget?

MELPOMENE: Interestingly enough, his unbreakable devotion to his queen and cousin, Mary. It takes a man of great character to put other lives before his. As the Muse of Tragedy, such a trait does not go unnoticed.

THALIA: Love or time? Which lasts longer?

MELPOMENE: Without doubt, love. After all, does not love withstand the test of time?

THALIA: Share with us a secret the Muse of Tragedy surely knows. Is life sprinkled with tragedy by design of Fate to make us love, value, and experience the highs of life that much more fully?

MELPOMENE: Now that is one secret I cannot share. Fate would never forgive me!

THALIA: Will we see another tale of the Muse of Tragedy?

MELPOMENE: In every tragic tale yet to be told by mankind. By Sky Purington? One never knows.

THALIA: In your opinion, who is the most handsome of all the Greek male gods and why?

MELPOMENE: *sighs* Rowan’s standing right here. And despite his best attempts not to, he runs a little jealous when it comes to the male Gods. I’ll fill you in when we’re alone.

THALIA: You’re the Muse of Tragedy, and probably the busiest of all muses. Your songs inspire the broken-hearted, comfort the parent who’s lost a child, honor the brave fallen. It’s 2010. Have you thought of cutting a record?

MELPOMENE: I have actually! Currently in ongoing conference with Zeus about that one. He’s still a bit peeved with me about the whole falling in love with a mortal thing and giving up my powers for a human lifetime. But seriously, it’s four hundred years later. You’d think he’d be over it by now!

THALIA: Many of the gods appear in your story: Mnemosyne, our mother and the goddess of memory (nine kids and never forgets a birthday); Ares, the god of war (what a hunk and a media whore. One would have thought he’d be too busy these days); and Dionysus, the cunning god of wine and celebration (throw down a keg, he’ll show up anywhere). Zeus, king of all gods, a heavy hitter (no jokes about Dad, he has a lightning bolt). Has anyone accused you of nepotism? Was there a god you wanted in your story, but who was just too booked up?

MELPOMENE: Nepotism? Not yet. I dare them to! In truth, I believe enough Gods meddled in my affair with Rowan. *Ouch!* Dad just hit me with a lightning bolt.

THALIA: You caught some pretty smooth blade moves on Cerberus, Hades’s three-headed fleabag from the Underworld. Who taught you all that bad-ass swordplay?

MELPOMENE: Oh, I’ve spent a great deal of time on many battlefields. A girl picks up things here and there.

THALIA: Inquiring minds want to know. So how do you rate the mortals versus the gods? Are the gods better in the sack or just more fertile? Is there an appeal the mortals have that the gods will never gain, or the other way around?

MELPOMENE: *Chuckles* This is another one of those questions Rowan shouldn’t hear the answer to. I know, I know, I probably should’ve told him to take a guys night out. *Ouch!* He just pinched my backside! *Flirtatious wink at Rowan* Let’s just say that mortal sex is different and outdoes procreating with the Gods if one is truly in love with the mortal.

THALIA: Mom and Dad are talking again. Thanks for doing that. Do you think they’ll be back to shagging one another in a month? A week? Should we expect a tenth muse?

MELPOMENE: I wouldn’t put it past them!

THALIA: Is Dionysus the bomb, or what? Would you agree he is the Spuds MacKenzie of the family?

MELPOMENE: Yes, we’ve had our ups and downs but I’d say Dionysus has more than proved himself. A definite keeper.

THALIA: Which goddess do you believe is most likely to allow Ares to spank her blind-folded in the woods if she thought they wouldn’t get caught? Excluding Aphrodite, she’s too obvious!

MELPOMENE: Why m’dear, I think you might have it in you to attempt such a naughty thing! *whispers* May I join you?

THALIA: Thank you, Melpomene, for spending the day with us on Apollo’s majestic cloud.

MELPOMENE: *gives Thalia a big hug* And thank you for taking the time to interview me, sister muse! Okay, here we go. On to bits and pieces of Melpomene and Rowan's unequaled start together...

***First blip. Rowan gets frisky…***

He struck quickly and she gasped. Gasped! Her, a muse, a goddess, gasp? Had any god ever incited such? No. But when Rowan stood and his eyes locked on her she was useless to grasp anything save his lips crashing down on hers. They were hard and urgent, soft, giving, and so much more. More than she’d anticipated; enough to decapitate reason and leave her basking beneath his ardor.

His hand came around her waist and pulled her tightly against him, left no breathing room. But what was breath when she had her Scotsman devouring her? His tongue swung into her mouth, sought and consumed. She met him thrust for thrust, swirling and feeling. Oh yes, so much feeling in one kiss, one mortal all-consuming kiss.

***A bit further in the story. Melpomene starts to feel human…***

He looked at her, his magnificent eyes cutting. “You tell me why I live. Why I can see you yet others cannot. Then I will tell you what I know.”

Damn his stubborn hide. She had no answer for him save speculation. “I cannot.”

He pulled up to his nearly six and half feet and looked down at her as though he was a god. “Then I cannot.”

Prideful son of Hades! But he must! Did he not realize his fate, life, well-being, everything, was in the hands of her Gods, not his? Fool! Christian God, her arse. The Greeks were what he should be concerned about!

“We’re at an impasse, Melpomene.” He had the nerve to hold out his arm to her. “Come; let’s go to my castle and rest. Start anew.”

Rest? She almost laughed. She could not rest, bathe, eat and sleep as a mortal did. Or could she? Was she somewhere caught between that she could do these things with him? Had she been given such without even knowing?

She had to find out, to give him her arm and let him lead her. For once be led and nurtured. Sung to? She looked up into his strong face. Nay, Rowan was not the singing type. Her gaze skirted lower and eyed the arousal he couldn’t seem to control when they were together. Nay, Rowan was not the singing type but he was a certain type.

And, whether he wanted to believe it or not, he was hers.

***A bit further in the story. Rowan starts to realize where they’re from doesn’t matter…***

"Shall we bathe together, my Laird?”

He almost tripped on a tree root. Bathe together? Bloody hell! Why not? He walked with an ache in his loin much to his discomfort and well she knew it, mischievous muse. He couldn’t deny the like he had for her stubborn streak nor her evident pride in the Greeks. Lord, now that was something. What was Greece when compared with Scotland? Really!

He bit his tongue. Was he not more in Greece’s throw right now than he was willing to admit? No doubt his own God frowned upon him. But how was he to have known?

“You did not answer my question.” Melpomene moved closer. Her breast grazed his forearm.

Saints, it was a well rounded breast. He sought breath and tried to focus on her question, on the light swish of her white gown dusting his booted ankle. That brought him back! “You’ve changed again, lass.”

“Aye.” She skirted a small stump but kept hold. “It seemed a wise choice.”

“Why would that be?”

A slight stain of red ran across Melpomene’s cheekbones. “You seemed unable to control yourself the last time I dressed in a plaid, so I figured for now…” She slid him a caddy appraisal at odds with her blush. “It would be wisest if I didn’t tempt you so.”

***Further on. Even a goddess realizes when things are getting out of control…***

A loon? Her? She tried to shrug away from his grasp, to no avail. His hold on her was thorough. Not even her goddess powers could remove her. They were weakening and haphazard. She lifted her chin and stared him down. “The battle at Langside counted approximately three hundred casualties. You were not among them. Nor did your queen see you there, nor did she expect you.”

Staggered, he released her and stepped back. Fresh fury ravaged his features. “How can you speak such? You were there! You saw!” As though he knew naught what else to do, he began to unclothe. “Mary was left undefended. I went to her. Took the blade meant for her. She knelt over me!”

She did well to keep her eyes on his face when the plaid hit the floor. “Yes, that is the way we remember it, Rowan, but not the way the world will. Of that I’m quite certain.”

She darted out of the tub when he swung one leg then another into it. Skittish, her? Had the circumstances been appropriate she would’ve laughed. There he stood, naked…and there she stood the same. Yet naught was said about it. She must keep her gaze on his face. What he said next shocked even her.

“Look at me, Melpomene. Look at the whole of me and prove you’re not the devil incarnate. That you’ve the womanly instincts you showed so readily in the forest. You stand now as a beast in my mind, one that says and does wicked, makes a mockery of the crown, of my bloodline.” He stayed standing, did not sink down into the water. “Look at me, Melpomene!”

Never a coward, she did.

Her knees buckled and she rested her bare bottom on the side of the tub.

Sky here! Hope you enjoyed reading about Muse Melpomene and her one true love. Oh, wait, almost forgot…years later, reviews are still rolling in about Highland Muse. Here’s the latest, Sept 2010…

“Highland Muse is not the first Sky Purington book that I have read. With each one I'm reminded why I continue to pick-up her books. Each book is a memorable treat to savor and a historical romance that endures time. Ms. Purington has a way of mixing fantasy with reality and coming up with a really great story. I look forward to enjoying more of her books and I encourage readers to pick-up one of these heartfelt romances.”

~TOP PICK rating. Countrygirl88. Night Owl Reviews

Alright, you’re free to go. BUT, don’t forget, two winners will be drawn. The prizes include a free Ecopy of Highland Muse and a $15 gift certificate to Digi Books Café! How to win? Answer this question in a comment (hint…answers found within previous excerpts) The question…stripped naked before her, Rowan wants Melpomene to prove to him she’s not what? (hint…I’d smack him upside the head if he asked me this!) Contest closes Friday, October 8th 12 PM EST.

Thank you again to author Michele Hart for providing interview questions via Thalia. Does the Muse of Comedy sound like your kind of girl? If so, be sure to pop back November 13th- 19th when Michele & Thalia are featured on this blog.

Enjoy your week. Be good!

~Sky

I leave you with this poem...

 But oh Melpomene! thy lyre of wo--

To what a mournful pitch its keys were strung,
And when thou badest its tones of sorrow flow,
Each weeping Muse, enamoured, o'er thee hung:
How sweet--how heavenly sweet, when faintly rose
The song of grief, and at its dying close
The soul seemed melting in the trembling breast;
The eye in dews of pity flowed away,
And every heart, by sorrow's load opprest,
To infant softness sunk, as breathed thy mournful lay.

INSPIRED OFTEN? Curious why? If so, read on...

Though I meant to post this last weekend, life got in the way. Regardless, there’s no such thing as ‘too late’ in my book so I’ll share with you now. As some of you know, I’ve launched my A-musing the World Blog Event this past week and no doubt you’ve gathered I’m not only a huge fan of the nine muses of inspiration, but as a writer, I’m a die hard believer in these lovely goddesses. I suppose, in their own way within modern Christian religion they would be considered…angels of a sort? Nonetheless, they originally belonged to Greece and are essential to us all.

So, let me introduce you to the nine muses of inspiration birthed of Greek Mythology. Alive and well in spirit. Alive and well more so at this blog for the next few months. Before I go any further, I’d like to introduce each muse and perhaps refresh your memory. While there's much debate about the order in which they came into existence, the muse I covered this past week (Calliope) was most certainly first. After that, I will list them as they will appear as they visit this blog. Therefore….read on to once again become reacquainted with those who watch over you…inspire you…

Calliope ~ Muse of Epic Poetry.

One account says Calliope was the lover of the war god Ares, and bore him several sons: Mygdon, Edonus, Biston, and Odomantus - respectively the founders of Thracian tribes known as the Mygdones, Edones, Bistones and Odamantes. Calliope also had two famous sons, Orpheus and Linus. By either Apollo or the king Oeagrus of Thrace. She taught Orpheus verses for singing. She was the wisest of the muses, as well as the most assertive. She married Oeagrus close to Pimpleia, Olympus. Calliope is always seen with a writing tablet in her hand. At times, she is depicted as carrying a roll of paper or a book or as wearing a gold crown.

Melpomene ~ Muse of Tragedy

She is often represented with a tragic mask and wearing the cothurnus, boots traditionally worn by tragic actors. Often, she also holds a knife or club in one hand and the tragic mask in the other. On her head she is shown wearing a crown of cypress. Melpomene is the daughter of Zeus and Mnemosyne. In Roman and Greek poetry, it was traditional to invoke the goddess Melpomene so that one might create beautiful lyrical phrases

Euterpe ~ Muse of Music

Called the "Giver of delight", when later poets assigned roles to each of the Muses, she was the muse of music. In late Classical times she was named muse of lyric poetry and depicted holding a flute. A few say she invented the aulos or double-flute, though most mythographers credit Marsyas with its invention. The river god Strymon impregnated Euterpe; her son Rhesus led a band of Thracians and was killed by Diomedes at Troy, according to Homer's lliad.

Erato ~ Muse of Lyric Poetry

In the Orphic hymn to the Muses, it is Erato who charms the sight. Since the Renaissance she is often shown with a wreath of myrtle and roses, holding a lyre, or a small kithara, a musical instrument that Apollo or she herself invented. In Simon Vouet's representations, two turtle-doves are eating seeds at her feet. Other representations may show her holding a golden arrow, reminding one of the "eros", the feeling that she inspires in everybody, and at times she is accompanied by the god Eros, holding a torch.

Urania ~ Muse of Astonomy

Some accounts list her as the mother of the musician Linus. She is usually depicted as having a globe in her left hand. She is able to foretell the future by the arrangement of the stars. She is often associated with Universal Love and the Holy Spirit. She is dressed in a cloak embroidered with stars and keeps her eyes and attention focused on the Heavens. Those who are most concerned with philosophy and the heavens are dearest to her.

Terpsichore ~ Muse of Dance

She lends her name to the word "terpichorean" which means "of or relating to dance". She is usually depicted sitting down, holding a lyre, accompanying the dancers' choirs with her music. She is sometimes said to be the mother of the Sirens by Achelous. Her name comes from the Greek words τέρπω ("delight") and χoρός ("dance").

Clio ~ Muse of History

She had one son, Hyacinth, with the King of Pieria, Pierus. Some sources say she was also the mother of Hymenaios. She is often represented with a parchment scroll or a set of tablets and is also known as the Proclaimer. The name is from the root κλέω/κλείω, meaning "recount" or "make famous".

Thalia ~ Muse of Comedy

Thalia (in ancient Greek Θάλεια / Tháleia or Θάλια / Thália, "the joyous, the flourishing", from θάλλειν / thállein, to flourish, to be verdant) was the muse who presided over comedy and idyllic poetry. In this context, her name means “flourishing,” because the praises in her songs flourish through time. According to pseudo-Apollodorus, she and Apollo were the parents of the Corybantes. Other ancient sources, however, gave the Corybantes different parents. She was portrayed as a young woman with a joyous air, crowned with ivy, wearing boots and holding a comic mask in her hand. Many of her statues also hold a bugle, a trumpet (both used to support the actors' voices in ancient comedy), a shepard’s staff, or a wreath of ivy.

Polyhymnia ~ Muse of Glorious Praise

She is depicted as very serious, pensive and meditative, and often holding a finger to her mouth, dressed in a long cloak and veil and resting her elbow on a pillar. Polyhymnia is also sometimes accredited as being the Muse of geometry and meditation. In Bibliotheca histrica, Diodorus Siculus wrote, "Polyhymnia, because by her great (polle) praises (humnesis) she brings distinction to writers whose works have won for them immortal fame...".

Are these women (Spirits…Goddesses…however you see them) not beyond spectacular? Though raised Christian, my beliefs have become a mix of those taken not only from Christianity but Celtic Mythology and Pagan (as seen clearly in my stories) as well as Greek mythology. The way I have it figured, all myths spring from a grain of truth. Stories get passed down, generation to generation.

The nine muses of inspiration? As real as Fionn mac Cumhaill, Irish warrior or Gabriel, archangel.

Ouch! Calliope just hit me upside the head. Reminded me that only she was allowed to ramble. *smiles* Anyways, I think you get the point. I adore the nine muses of inspiration and am so proud to be part of the Song of the Muses Anthology. Interested in following each muses' journey? Then be sure to pop in every week as they visit this blog alongside the author whom wrote of them.

What’s on tap for this coming week? Me! No, sorry, I meant to say Muse Melpomene. You see, I wrote her tale of love, Highland Muse (under her close supervision of course). After all, the Muse of Tragedy tends to take things somewhat seriously on occasion. Be sure to pop in Monday morning as Melpomene is interviewed by the very gracious (and super humorous) Thalia. Yep, two muses will be tromping around here so swing in and join the fun! What could be more interesting than the Muse of Comedy grilling the Muse of Tragedy? I suppose, in her own way, Melpomene needs a muse like Thalia around, eh?

Cheers to all. Hope you enjoyed this post!

~Sky

Skhye Moncrief's, Ancient Musings. Winner time!

What a great launch of my A-musing the World Blog Event! I'd like to once more thank Skhye Moncrief for bringing Calliope, Muse of Epic Poetry, with her to visit. Ancient Musings sounds supurb. Okay, no need to wait any longer. The winner of this week's contest is Christine. Congratulations! Please contact me at Skypurington@live.com to collect your prize.

Enjoy your weekend everyone!

~Sky