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Barbara Monajem-Lady of the Flames
“Every time a child says, ‘I don’t believe in fairies,’ another fairy dies.”
That’s a paraphrase of a quote from Peter Pan, and as a child, I found that sentiment so disturbing that it has stuck with me all my life. It’s a horrible thought and so unfair to the fairies. It is my personal policy to never, ever say I don’t believe in this paranormal being or that: fairies, vampires, shape shifters, whatever (although I have to say I would prefer to know for sure that there are no zombies—shudder). As Lord Fen in Lady of the Flames tells Andromeda, “Whether or not you see the fairies, they’re still here.”
I don’t see the point in denying something I can’t see. I mean, what’s the fun of visiting Ireland and not sensing the Little People hovering just out of sight? Why not feel the presence of a friendly brownie in an old English country house, or a buttery spirit (a gluttonous fairy) who dwells in a pretentious mansion? To me, these creatures just add to the magic of life, and there’s always the lingering hope that I *will* see one, one of these days.
Sometimes I wonder if I have seen one. Several years ago while visiting relatives in Germany, their elusive white cat told me he was the King of the Fairies in disguise. OK, not in so many words, but I’ve never been able to get him out of my mind, and it was after that encounter that I began to seriously research folklore.
Now, I can’t resist bringing these creatures to life in my books, whenever the spirit/muse/King of the Fairies moves me. Lady of the Flames is one of my magical Regencies, and one of the secondary characters is a hobgoblin named Cuff. I hope you enjoy reading about him as much as I did writing him.
I won’t ask if you believe in fairies, because if you don’t, I’d rather not know. But I will ask: which kind of paranormal being would you like to meet?
Lady of the Flames
Lord Fenimore Trent’s uncanny affinity for knives and other sharp blades led to duels and murderous brawls until he found a safe, peaceful outlet by opening a furniture shop—an unacceptable occupation for a man of noble birth. Now Fen’s business partner has been accused of treason. In order to root out the real traitor, he may have to resort to the violent use of his blades once again.
Once upon a time, Andromeda Gibbons believed in magic. That belief faded as she grew and vanished when Lord Fen, the man she loved, spurned her. Years later, Andromeda has molded herself into a perfect—and perfectly unhappy—lady. When she overhears her haughty betrothed plotting treason, she flees into the London night—to Fen, the one man she knows she can trust. But taking refuge with him leads to far more than preventing treason. Can she learn to believe in love, magic, and the real Andromeda once again?
BUY LINKS:
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Flames-Most-Peculiar-Season-ebook/dp/B00T0JAWLO/
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lady-of-the-flames/
Amazon.com paperback: http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Flames-Most-Peculiar-Season/dp/1508426244/
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-of-the-flames-barbara-monajem/1121254265
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lady-of-the-flames/id970621206?ls=1&mt=11
Barbara Monajem
Award-winning author Barbara Monajem wrote her first story at eight years old about apple tree gnomes. After dabbling in neighborhood musicals and teen melodrama, she published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young. Her kids grew up, and she graduated into paranormal mysteries and Regency historicals for adults. She loves writing romantic adventures about the olden days with intrepid heroines and long-suffering heroes.
She likes to cook, especially soups, and is an avid reader. At the moment, there are only two items on her bucket list: to make asparagus pudding and to succeed at knitting socks. She knows she can do the first but doubts she’ll ever accomplish the second. This is not a bid for immortality but merely the dismal truth. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.
Connect with Barbara:
Website: http://www.BarbaraMonajem.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbara.monajem
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbaraMonajem
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/barbaramonajem/
Nice to meet you Barbara. I think I would like to meet a witch that new magic.
Hi, Ann. I agree, as long as she’s a good witch. 😉
So hard I would love to meet a fairy but also a unicorn,dragon, or elves 🙂
Hi, Spirit — You’re very brave to want to meet a dragon!! I would love to see a unicorn, but since I’m nervous around horses, I don’t think I would get too close.
I’m a horse person, so I’d have to go with unicorn. But an encounter with any mythical being would be fabulous. 🙂
Ally, I envy you. I have always found horses fascinating, but they make me very nervous.
An affinity for knives and other sharp blades? Magic may be needed. I think unicorns would be nice. I remember some movie I saw with Tom Cruise and unicorns. Sound familiar?
Legend http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0089469/
Thanks for the link, spirit!
Ashley, I hardly ever get around to watching movies, but my daughter looked it up: Legend. Maybe I should make a point of watching it??
I’m with Ally and Ashley- Unicorns! I was obsessed with them as a child.
Alanna, I remember loving the story The Last Unicorn (the book — I don’t think I saw the movie.) I hope all three of you get to meet a unicorn.
In high school, I definitely was into unicorns.
Wow. How fascinating that there are so many lovers of unicorns out there! I hope you get to meet one, too.
Congrats on the release of your book Barbara. Love the cover. I have a huge dragon fetish!
Thanks, Linda — Kudos to the cover artist, Jane Dixon-Smith. Years ago, I read a bunch of books about dragons and loved them.
Love your cover, I would love to meet a Brownie, the naughty little creatures but no luck so far. My daughter swears she saw a Fairy once but she’d had a couple glasses of wine, which makes her a unreliable witness haha. I did see Brownies in the movie “Willow”
Wonderful excerpt..
Hi, Liz — I’d like to meet a brownie, too, or a hobgoblin like the one in Lady of the Flames. One of these days….
Any mythical being? A fairy godmother–who was in a really good mood that day. Oh, and having just got back from the dentist’s, I wouldn’t mind having a talk with the Tooth Fairy.
LOL, Barb. I’m a bit wary of fairy godmothers, I must say, although I loved the ones in a Disney movie…Sleeping Beauty?? Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. 🙂
I’d love to see a unicorn!
Another unicorn person! Thanks for having me here today, Collette! 🙂
My pleasure.
A fairy is what I’d love to see and hopefully a benign one but any of the supernaturals that aren’t too dangerous and in a good mood when I do see them. I agree on the hope that there really aren’t zombies. I just can’t get into them1 This book sounds so good!
Hi, Glenda. I too would hope for a benign sort of fairy. I sometimes wish I had my own personal hobgoblin. 🙂
What a great cover, Barbara. It is stunning and perfect – it goes so well with the title of the book. Love the blurb. Methinks I need to add this book to my TBR list… As for your question, well, I’ve always loved horses, so I’d love to see a Unicorn… but then, I love Dragons, too. So long as they’re friendly, of course.
Hi, Liette. A kind-hearted dragon would be a good friend, don’t you think?
I’d love to meet a unicorn.
Hi, Janie. Sigh–so many unicorn fans. Sounds to me like unicorn fantasies might be the next big thing…
I have a modest unicorn collection that I started as a child. However, I would love to meet just about anything EXCEPT ZOMBIES! I really am not a fan of them.
Hi, Meredith. Zombies make me shudder. Maybe someone needs to write a story about GOOD zombies…?
Actually, there is a TV show on the CW channel called iZombie about a good female zombie Medical Examiner, but I have only seen the commercials because I just can’t quite bring myself to watch the show. I don’t think a book about good zombies is going to grab me either. But I think I am doing pretty good since I like everything else. Well as long as they are not too scary or evil! 🙂
I would love to meet a friendly dragon and take a flight on their back.
Mary M.
emmasmom69 AT gmail DOT com
Hi, Mary. Wow, wouldn’t riding a dragon be awesome? Wheeeee……
And the winner is…. Glenda! Thanks, everyone, for your comments. :~)
Congrats Glenda 🙂
Congratulations Glenda! Enjoy!