Tag Archives: Ireland

We have a winner!

09 Wednesday Jan 2019

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My recent giveaway for signed print copies of The Cauldron Stirred and The Stone Awakened has ended.  A million thanks to each and every one of the 682 entrants!  Alas–and to paraphrase a famous quote from the movie Highlander–there could be only one winner.

Congratulations to Jodi Hassel!  I’m sending the books on their merry way and hope you enjoy the story.  I’ll start writing The Sword Unsheathed, the third book in the Guardians of Erin series, next month.

Again, thank you to everyone who entered.  Hope you’ll check out my books, but whether or not you do, I’m wishing you a bright, beautiful 2019!

Christmas and Family ~ My Guest Post on Iona Morrison’s Blog

12 Wednesday Dec 2018

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Bestselling author Iona Morrison asked me to write a guest post for her blog about Christmas and family, so I whipped up something short and sweet.  You can read the post here:

http://ionamorrison.com/guest-author-judith-sterling/

She’s also sharing an excerpt from my upcoming young adult release, The Stone Awakened.  We’re only a week away from release day, and I’m so excited to share the Donoghues’ continuing story with you! Have you read the first book in the series?  Have you preordered your copy of the second?  Click here for buy links and travel to Ireland from the comfort of your own home.

Speaking of buying, my husband and I finally finished our holiday shopping.  Our boys don’t know it yet, but they’re going to have a great Christmas.  Then again, maybe they do know; they’re spooky that way!

Happy Wednesday, and of course, happy holidays!  🙂

 

 

Mary Morgan’s New Release: TRIAL OF A WARRIOR

11 Tuesday Dec 2018

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My dear friend, Mary Morgan, is here to celebrate tomorrow’s release of Trial of a Warrior, the third book in her Legends of the Fenian Warriors series. Yay! More Celtic mythology! You know about my Guardians of Erin series and the upcoming release of The Stone Awakened (Book 2). My love for Ireland runs deep, and Mary is definitely a kindred spirit in that respect! Let’s see what she has to say about her new release.

What inspired you to write this book/series?

Initially, you meet these warriors in my first series, Order of the Dragon Knights. I knew one day I would have to write each of their stories.

I have always been fascinated with Celtic mythology, so it only made sense that I would develop and expand the world of the Fenian Fae Warriors. Theirs was a world rich in legends, colors, and senses. I’ve based my own fictional account on the legend of the Tuatha Dé Danann—one of the invasions of Ireland. They were known as the Shining Ones or the Fae.

With my warriors, there is nothing diminutive with these heroes. They’re ancient, extremely tall, and commanding. As always, it will take a strong woman to stand beside these ancient Fae.

Absolutely! The Tuatha Dé Danann fascinate me too, which is why I’ve woven them into my young adult series. Dreams–or what appear to be dreams–play an important role in that saga, especially in the first book, The Cauldron Stirred. Speaking of dreams, have you encountered any of your characters in one? Yes, all of them! They’re usually speaking all at once, arguing over a specific plot. I never interfere, but tend to sit back and try to absorb the messages.

Awesome! If you could give your hero a word of advice, what would it be? To always maintain his humor.

Any advice for your heroine? Try to curb the stubbornness.

In general, which do you enjoy writing more: description or dialogue? Both. I love the ebb and flow of describing a scene and then adding dialogue.

So do I. What do you love most about being an author? The freedom to create stories. There’s always a tale to be told within my mind.

I’m right there with you, Mary! Thanks so much for joining me today. I’m positive the new book will be a great success.

A little more about Trial of a Warrior:

“You met them in the Order of the Dragon Knights. Now, journey to the realm of the Fae and witness their legends!”

A warrior sentenced to die.

On trial for breaking a supreme Fae law, Fenian Warrior, Liam MacGregor has no regrets. He is prepared to accept his sentence—even if it means his death. However, freedom comes in an unexpected manner, and brings with it certain dangers as he travels through the Veil of Ages.

A princess honor-bound to remain hidden.

Princess Abela might be a priestess and the daughter of royalty, but that doesn’t prevent her from doing the unimaginable. She sacrifices duty and honor to set free the man who captured her heart so many years ago. No matter the severity of his crimes, she cannot let Liam die.

A rescue that will bring about a war and divide a kingdom!

In their quest to secure a treaty to forestall Liam’s death sentence, they must fight their desires for one another, as well as the Fenian Warriors sent to capture them.

A peek inside the pages:

Taking the end of her braid, Liam wove the soft hair around his finger. Black as ebony, the lock glistened in the soft glow of the fire. She’d tempted him beyond reason. Once, he thought there might have been a destiny, but her words of rejection slammed the door on any possibility. If she had no desire to claim him, why did Abela come to his initiation?

“Why witness my ceremony?” He let out a frustrated breath and brought the braid to his lips.

“Because I never said goodbye,” she uttered softly. Lifting her head, her eyes sought his and her cheeks colored from the heat of his gaze.

Liam was unable to look away from her beauty. “No. I recall harsh words and tears.”

“We were young—naïve.”

“Stubborn and set on a path of adventure,” he added.

“But our roads have led us to this fork, so to speak.”

Liam cupped her chin. “Was it destined?” He felt her tremble from his touch.

“I am not a seer,” she replied, darting her tongue out along her bottom lip.

His mind screamed at him to move away. She was a princess—a priestess. But the temptation to taste her lips once more seeped into his being. Liam bent his head and placed a feather-like kiss on the corner of her mouth.

A small breathless whisper escaped her lips, “More.”

Her invitation sparked a desire that had remained sealed. Cupping the back of her head, he continued to kiss her tenderly on the eyes, nose, and forehead. As he shifted his position, Liam brought his arms around her and dared to feast on something that was forbidden. If death was his future, he wanted one more kiss to take with him.

Buy the book:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JGMH8XS/

BN: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/trial-of-a-warrior-mary-morgan/1129784209?ean=2940161545003

iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/trial-of-a-warrior/id1441254175?mt=11

The Wild Rose Press: https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6349-trial-of-a-warrior.html

More about Mary:

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan, resides in Northern California, with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return.

Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Where to find her:

WEBSITE: http://www.marymorganauthor.com
BLOG: http://www.marymorganauthor.com/blog
TWITTER: http://twitter.com/m_morganauthor
FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/MaryMorganAuthor/

GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8271002.Mary_Morgan
AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE: http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/
PINTEREST: www.pinterest.com/marymorgan50/
INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/marymorgan2/
BOOKBUB: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mary-morgan

Guest Post and Giveaway ~ Sherry Ewing’s Blog

05 Wednesday Dec 2018

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With the fast-approaching release of The Stone Awakened, my dear friend and bestselling author, Sherry Ewing, is featuring me and my Guardians of Erin series on her blog today.  We’d love for you to visit!  If you comment on the post, you could win an e-copy of The Cauldron Stirred, the first book in the series.  Then you’ll be all caught up and ready to read the continuing story once Book Two is released on December 19.

If you love Ireland or the paranormal (or both!) you’ll want to check this out!  Come and join us:  https://sherryewing.com/2018/12/05/a-new-release-from-judith-sterling-a-giveaway/

 

Spend this holiday season in Ireland by reading THE STONE AWAKENED!

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

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The countdown has begun!  Only 4 weeks to go until The Stone Awakened, the sequel to The Cauldron Stirred, has its worldwide release.  I’m so excited to share the continuing story with you!  The holiday release date is perfect because a good portion of the book takes place during Christmastime.  Of course, I had to include a number of Irish yuletide traditions!

Have you read the first book yet?  Have you preordered your copy of the second?

Here’s a sneak peek at The Stone Awakened:

Thunder shook the night as the Dullahan’s black stallion reared beneath him on the sweeping lawn below. The horseman thrust his severed head toward the sky and called out the names of those he hunted.

“Dylan Donoghue! Maeve Donoghue!”

Powerless to stop him, I watched from the bedroom window. The glass panes infused my palms with the chill of death itself. Out of sight, my parents screamed, then fell silent. The sound of laughter followed.

Exultant. Spiteful. Malignant.

Aoife! The wind demon whose foul plot shattered my family with a single blow.

Hate and despair welled inside me. “No!”

“Ashling, wake up!” My sister shook me awake.

She switched on the lamp between our beds, and I scanned the room. The same sash windows as in the dream. The same luxurious décor in shades of periwinkle, white, and gray. Even my slippers beside the bed were the same. But the night was quiet, and there was no immediate danger.

Deirdre tucked her long, blonde hair behind her ears and gave me a knowing look. “Another nightmare about the Dullahan?”

Nodding, I wiped the sweat from my brow. “And Aoife.”

“Sounds almost as bad as my dream the night he took Mom and Dad.”

“We don’t know he took them.”

“We don’t know he didn’t.”

“They’re not dead!” Dread clutched my heart, and I pushed out a long breath to calm myself. “They can’t be.”

Preorder your copy here:

Amazon https://www.amzn.com/B07K4Y7QV6

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-stone-awakened-judith-sterling/1129823740

The Wild Rose Press https://catalog.thewildrosepress.com/all-titles/6385-the-stone-awakened.html

Hope you’ll join me and my characters for an Irish holiday!  And for everyone celebrating Thanksgiving tomorrow, have a great one!  🙂

The Scoop on THE STONE AWAKENED (Guardians of Erin, Book Two)

03 Saturday Nov 2018

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I’m so excited for the upcoming release of The Stone Awakened, the second book in my young adult paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin!  The release date will be December 19, 2018, just in time for Christmas, which is PERFECT because this second installment of the four-book story ends on Christmas Day.  And it’s now available for pre-order on Amazon!  Click here to grab your copy: https://www.amzn.com/B07K4Y7QV6

Here’s the scoop, but if you haven’t read the first book (The Cauldron Stirred), be warned:  there are a few spoilers!

Since moving to Ireland, Ashling Donoghue has tackled one challenge after another. Now the mystery of her parents’ disappearance seems unsolvable. Are they dead or only missing? No one—not even the godlike Breasals—has a clue. Hope and fear war inside her, but she’s determined to find answers and stay strong for her siblings. Even as she hones newfound powers, her banshee-in-training sister Deirdre needs her support.

Ashling could use a little help herself. She’s struggling to navigate her first romance, and while Aengus Breasal stirs her body, mind, and soul, his nemesis Lorcan does too. Both men harbor secrets about her past life as Caer. One has ties to Aoife, the scheming wind demon whose influence is on the rise.

As the Stone of Destiny awakens, so does the conflict within.

I can’t wait for you to read this continuation of the story!

Amazon Giveaway ~ THE CAULDRON STIRRED

25 Thursday Oct 2018

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Happy Thursday!  The weekend is almost here, and it’s going to be a busy one in Salem, Mass.  I’ll be working extra hours at The Witch House.  After all, Halloween is just around the corner!

I wanted to let you know…I’m doing another Amazon giveaway, this time of The Cauldron Stirred.  The second book in the series, The Stone Awakened, is nearing publication, and soon I’ll reveal the cover and blurb.  But for now, you can enter to win a copy of the first.  It’s the perfect #Halloween read, with ghosts, a headless horseman, and all manner of creepy creatures from Irish lore.  The climax of the story even takes place on Halloween!  (Of course, it had to because that’s my favorite holiday!)

Here’s the link to enter:  https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/417e6e6a619ce9f9

Good luck with the giveaway.  Wishing you a lovely day and a fun weekend ahead!  🙂

Mother’s Day Giveaway

13 Sunday May 2018

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Happy Mother’s Day to all my fellow moms out there!  Hope you’re enjoying a day as relaxing as the scene in the painting above!

I’m giving away an e-copy of The Cauldron Stirred, the first book in my young adult paranormal fantasy series, Guardians of Erin.  Comment below or on my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/judithsterlingfiction/ by midnight, May 15, 2018 (Eastern Standard Time), and you could win!

In the meantime, here’s a scene from the book in which Maeve Donoghue (the protagonist Ashling’s mother) witnesses a touch of magic while looking at an ancient manuscript’s carpet page:

I gestured toward the manuscript on the table. “It’s incredible. Look at how interlocked the animals are.”

Mom nodded. “Some of them are so contorted, it’s hard to tell what they are. But that’s typical of the beasts in Celtic manuscripts.”

I pointed. “These look like swans. But what’s this?”

“A wolf.” Aengus’s arm brushed against mine as he, too, pointed.

All of a sudden, the carpet page came to life. The entire illustration lifted off the page, morphing into 3D. Ribbons of knotwork and scrollwork wove in and out of one another. Animals whose necks and limbs had once been linked now split apart. The wolves leapt over the shifting image and crept beneath cords that undulated like waves on the ocean. The swans glided across the loosened lines as though navigating ripples on a lake. In the center of it all, a multitude of colored bands broke free and rose higher than the rest, twisting and turning into the shape of letters which hovered above the whole: A-I-S-L-I-N-G.

I gaped at the word. Mom’s hand, still on my back, went rigid.

Her hand dropped to her side. “What the…” Words failed her.

Aengus yanked his arm from mine as though scalded. He stepped back from the table and from me.

Like magic, the page’s three-dimensional version vanished. Its flat counterpart lay as lifeless as before.

Mom blinked hard and shook her head as if to clear it. “Either I need glasses or I’ve been at this too long. Sorry, but I need a break. You two carry on without me.” She scuttled out of the room.

I pivoted around to face Aengus. “Did you see something strange?”

His eyes narrowed. “Did you?”

“You know I did.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

I pursed my lips. “I think you do. I’d be willing to bet that you and my mom saw exactly what I just did.”

“Which was?”

“That whole page was alive. And the word ‘aisling’ stood out as plain as the nose on your face.”

He nodded and appeared to be deep in thought.

After a good ten seconds, I planted my hands on my hips. “Well?”

His gaze found mine. “Well what?”

“You saw it, right?”

He hesitated, then sighed. “I did, but I’ve no time to discuss it now.”

“When then?”

“I couldn’t say.” His eyes shifted, and he looked to the nearest window. “I’ve matters to attend to.” Without another word, he turned and left the room.

I stamped my foot. Secrets. Diversions. Dreams I couldn’t remember. Feelings I couldn’t explain.

I’d had my fill. One way or another, I would uncover what was really going on at Breasal Manor and inside myself.

Again, happy Mother’s Day!  And check out this amazing carpet page from the Book of Kells:

 

The Cauldron Stirred ~ Giveaway and Excerpt

17 Saturday Mar 2018

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  Thanks to my Irish heritage and undying love for the Emerald Isle, it’s a special day for my family.  Whether or not you celebrate it, I hope you enjoy the day!

By the way, if you love Ireland as much as I do, there’s still time to enter the Goodreads giveaway to win a signed copy of The Cauldron Stirred, my young adult paranormal fantasy.  It’s set in Killarney, one of my favorite places in the world!  And I’m almost finished writing the sequel, The Stone Awakened.  Here’s the link:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/274576-the-cauldron-stirred

Now, how about an excerpt?  The American protagonist is Ashling Donoghue, and her first night in Ireland, she has a vivid dream:

I soared above a silver lake, on which a lone, white swan glided toward shore. I drifted down and behind the bird until, with a sudden acceleration, we became one. As we merged, a cloak of serenity settled around me. Grace was my guide, and I felt freer than ever before.

On the shore ahead, Aengus materialized. He seemed a beacon of love and truth, of all things good in the world. I longed to be near him and swam faster to cut the distance between us.

A loud snap sounded in the woods behind him. Instantly, he vanished.

A misty black mass slithered around the tree trunks and stopped at the edge of the forest. Framed by two trees, it writhed upward into the shape of a tall, thin woman. Her skin was ghoulishly pale; her lips, colorless. Still, she might’ve been beautiful, if not for the evil that oozed from her core. Both her hair and gown were long and black, and they floated on the air as though animated by wind that touched only her.

The sight of her jolted me out of the swan’s body and back into the air above it. Fear coiled around me as I stared into the woman’s stygian black eyes.

She smirked. Then a single emotion subdued her features: hate.

Amazon https://amzn.com/B072C1CG5D

 

Excerpt on N. N. Light’s Book Heaven ~ THE CAULDRON STIRRED

14 Wednesday Mar 2018

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N. N. Light’s Book Heaven is featuring an excerpt from The Cauldron Stirred today!  Stop by and take a peek at this young adult paranormal fantasy set in Ireland.  Here’s the link:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/single-post/2018/03/14/The-Cauldron-Stirred-by-Judith-Sterling-and-WildRosePress-Blends-Paranormal-with-Fantasy-Set-in-Ireland-books-bookstagram-giveaway

I’ve been hard at work on the second book in the series, The Stone Awakened.  I’m happy to report that I’m one chapter away from finishing it!

Hope to see you on N. N. Light’s Book Heaven.  And remember to enter their Pot O’ Gold Giveaway!