In My Mailbox: Feb 24th

This week I decided to join In My Mailbox, a meme started by The Story Siren, since I have so many wonderful goodies!  This week I received a lovely 'Naughty and Nice' Spirit Doll OHOW gift by Paula Brinkman, mini prints and bookmarks from Rustic Goth, and the following amazing haul of books from Amazon:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston
Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire
Need by Carrie Jones
The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and the Struggle by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries: The Fury of Dark Reunion by by L.J. Smith
Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception by Maggie Stiefvater
Queene of Light: Lightworld/Darkworld by Jennifer Armintrout

Book reviews soon to follow. ;)

Rustic Goth

I received some fabulous art prints and bookmarks in the mail yesterday from Rustic Goth's Etsy store.  I am extremely impressed with the print quality.  The dyes used are amazingly vivid.  I will definitely be buying more art from Rustic Goth in the future!

If you would like to check out more of her artwork Charlene Murray Zatloukal, the artist behind Rustic Goth, has a blog here.  Rustic Goth is also a member of  Etsy's Dark Side Street Team.

Bring on the Wonder

Found 'Bring on the Wonder' by Susan Enan while watching an episode of Bones.  Such beautiful lyrics.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you are all having a fabulous Valentine's weekend!
xx,
E.J.

Nightlife

I just finished reading Nightlife by Rob Thurman.  Nightlife is a dark, gritty, action-packed Urban Fantasy read.  Cal and Nik Leandros have a strong familial bond that makes their characters both fierce and endearing.  There are a few parallels with the television show Supernatural however these brothers are running from the paranormal creatures in the dark rather than seeking them out.

Timeless Romantic Fashions

With Valentine's Day nearly here I thought that I would share another one of my favorite shopping destinations. (Yes, I occasionally browse non-Etsy shops!)  The Peruvian Connection prides itself on providing handcrafted clothing using natural, sustainable fibers by skilled craftswomen of the Andes.

Dream Life (book review)

Dream Life by Lauren Mechling was an enjoyable YA mystery.  Claire Voyant, the book's teen sleuth, has an uncanny ability she inherited from her grandmother Kiki.  Claire has the ability to see glimpses of clues in her dreams.  While these dream hints and symbols are often difficult for Claire to decipher she is determined to use her powers to help her friends.

Dream Life is the second Claire Voyant mystery.  These books stand well on their own but I recommend reading Dream Girl first since Dream Life contains spoilers to the first novel.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys YA fiction with a paranormal twist.

Woman in White by E.J. Stevens

Woman in White

Traveling along the roadside
On this wet fog laden night
I catch a brief glimpse up ahead
Of a lone woman in white

Wondering if I can offer
Assistance to this lady fair
I dismount and call out to her
But she only turns to stare

What foul thing could have befallen
This damsel to strike her mute?
Perhaps then she is no fair lady
But a dame of ill repute

I shall take her with me
I’ll keep her warm in my bed
A reward for taking her in
From this road few others tread

Her presence could complicate things
As my wedding night draws near
So long as my wife’s family
Remain blind there’s naught to fear

A plan already taking form
I reach out to take her arm
But as the clouds move past the moon
Light shines on a wedding charm

Not a harlot then just a bride
Now obvious by her dress
Glowing white beneath the full moon
So lovely but in distress

Trying again to be helpful
I reach out to take her hand
Only then do I see the blood
Dripping onto rock and sand

In her right hand she held a knife
Her left clutched her husband’s heart
Her husband had been unfaithful
Tearing her world and mind apart

She looked with frenzied hatred on
A lecherous wretch like me
Quickly slashed head from body
Tossing the head into the sea

So hear me all unfaithful men
Attend these words of the dead
Beware of the Woman in White
Or you too may lose your head.

by E.J. Stevens
'Shadows of Myth and Legend'
Copyright 2010

My Bloody Valentine

Well, it's getting to that time of year again.  Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  Are you someone who gets excited for the holiday of love or do you dread it?

This fabulous My Bloody Valentine art print can be found at Black Eyed Suzie's Etsy shop.

Paranormal Romance Guild Featured Author

E.J. is the February featured author at the Paranormal Romance Guild. 

The interview with info about upcoming releases can be read here.

Carpe Nocturne Magazine

Carpe Nocturne Magazine, a quarterly goth/industrial mag, will be returning March 1, 2010.

According to the press release:
After countless cards, letters and e-mails from our readers as wells being contacted by several of the top bands on the scene, it has been decided; CARPE NOCTURNE MAGAZINE Returns after over a 1 ½ year hiatus!
CARPE NOCTURNE’s return will pick up where it left off offering honest, non-bias, and extensive coverage of what some call “The New Dark Culture” (This includes the Goth / Industrial / EBM / Darkwave / SteamPunk / Cyber & Fetish Scenes and Culture) along with its music, art, body art, fashion and more.    Once again, CARPE NOCTURNE will do it best to offer support to the scene as well as supporting and co-sponsoring events.
CARPE NOCTURNE strongly supported the Blacksun Festival in New Haven, CT (3 Years), and co-sponsored the Eccentrik Festival in Raleigh/Durham, NC (2 Years), and the DarkStar Festival in Stamford, CT (1 Year).  In addition to supporting and co-sponsoring these US based festivals, CARPE NOCTURNE also offered extensive coverage of the Whitby Gothic Weekend (Whitby, UK), the Wave Gothik Treffin Festival (Leipzig, Germany) and several other events throughout Europe and will continue this support and coverage.

Daughters of the Witching Hill

I just finished reading Daughters of the Witching Hill by Mary Sharratt a work of historical fiction which tells the story of the families living in the area of Pendle Forest in 1612.  The poverty, intolerance and subjection that these families faced on a daily basis was harrowing but the witch-trials that spread through their small community like wild fire was most heartbreaking of all.  Surprisingly, I enjoyed every moment of reading this book and once begun could not put it down.  The strength and goodwill of these characters make their stories both compelling and palatable.  I would recommend this book to any fan of historical fiction and those interested in the paranormal.

Set in Lancashire, England, during the infamous witch trials of 1612, Daughters of the Witching Hill reveals the true story of Bess Southerns, aka Old Demdike, cunning woman, healer and the most notorious of the Pendle Witches, and of Alizon Device, her granddaughter, struggling to come to terms with her family’s troubling legacy. Though the name of the Pendle Witches lives on, few know the hard-hitting details of the witch-hunt which tore apart a community. Set in an era of religious intolerance, political strife, suspicion and social inequality, this haunting story of strong women and family love and betrayal is more relevant than ever.

**This is an ARC I received from the Goodreads First Reads program.**

MADart

I was shopping on Etsy again (big surprise!) and found this lovely limited edition art print by Megan Aroon Duncanson at the MADart shop.

Contest Winners!

With the help of Random.org we have our two From the Shadows contest winners!  Congratulations to Esme of Chocolate & Croissants and Monique of All the Small Things. 
I will be contacting winners by email.  Thank you to all who participated. xx