Clarissa Johal: Pacific Northwest

Showing posts with label Pacific Northwest. Show all posts

Thursday, October 13, 2016

#OctoberFrights Blog Hop - The Island by Clarissa Johal #paranormal #bestseller #giveaway

Welcome to 2016 October Frights Blog Hop! You're in the right place, so pour yourself a cup of coffee, and read on...

Today, I'm treating you to an exclusive excerpt from paranormal bestseller novel, The Island.
If it strikes your fancy, the Rafflecopter to win a signed paperback (or ecopy -ePub, mobi, PDF- if you'd prefer) & a Starbucks $10 gift card is at the end.
*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE: EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD
Winner will be announced on October 16th

Enjoy!

Book Details:

Genre: Paranormal
Author: Clarissa Johal
Editor: Marisa Chenery
Publisher: Faeriemoon Press
Number of Pages: 210

About The Island:

Exploring an island can get you into trouble
Especially if you awaken two demons

Rumors and superstition.

That’s what Emma thinks about local gossip concerning her grandmother’s “cursed” private island. Emma journeys to the island to ready it for sale. While out exploring, she unearths a hidden cave which holds answers to the island’s dark past.

There may be more to the rumors than she thought.

Excerpt:

She was jarred awake by a cry. The vestiges of her nightmare dissipated as she orientated herself. Nightmare. Emma let out a sigh of relief. The cry sounded again. A distant sound, high and wailing. A baby’s cry. Her heart quickened. Good god, surely that can’t be a baby?

The fire in the stove had burned down, its embers lending a glow to the living room. Emma looked out the front window. The yard was still. She unlocked the door and opened it a crack. The cry drifted in with the breeze, faint but unmistakable. She ran through her mind what possible bird or animal could make the sound and came up with nothing. Characteristically, the island was blanketed with silence, almost like a vacuum. She stood, uncertain. After several minutes, the sound started again—the unmistakable high wail of a baby. She slipped on her boots and parka.

Fog trailed like cobwebs in her wake. The mournful cry threaded through the trees and came from the direction of the house ruins. In spite of a growing anxiety at what she’d find, she quickened her pace. If that is a baby, it’s still alive, and I need to get to it. If it’s not a baby… She blocked out the possibilities of what else it could be.

She approached the ruins and the sound stopped. Her heart raced. I know it was coming from here. The area held an unnatural heaviness. A branch cracked behind her and she turned with a start. Something dark darted through the trees.

“Hello?” Her voice sounded muffled in the fog. Emma’s attention snapped to the left. The dark figure ducked out of sight. She took one step backward, and fled.

Heavy footsteps echoed from behind as she plunged through the trees. They were catching up with her. Emma pushed herself to run faster, terrified she’d lose her footing on the uneven ground. The cabin loomed large, a haven in the thick fog. Stumbling across the cabin’s porch, she hurdled through the door and slammed it shut, locking it.

Emma rooted her feet to keep from running around in circles. Straining to hear, she was greeted with eerie silence. Several moments passed before the baby’s cry started again. And this time, it sounded from right outside the door.

***

#1 Bestseller in paranormal horror

Book Trailer:

*INTERNATIONAL PRIZE PACKAGE:
EBOOK & STARBUCKS EGIFTCARD

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to enter my other October Frights Giveaways

Giveaway #1 - a signed copy of Poppy & a Starbucks $10 gift card

Giveaway #2 - Struck is FREE from October 10-14th.

Giveaway is for a $10 Starbucks gift card

Giveaway #3 - an ecopy of Voices & a Starbucks $10 egiftcard

Clarissa Johal is the bestselling author of paranormal novels, Poppy, The Island, Voices, Struck and Between. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing, taking pictures of gargoyles, or swinging from a trapeze. She shares her life with her husband, two daughters, and every stray animal that darkens their doorstep.

Find Clarissa Online:

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Keep hopping!

Hosted by Clarissa Johal

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Thoughtful Thursday-Totems

Last May, I took a trip to Canada. In addition to uninterrupted hours of writing, I was able to do some sightseeing and reconnect. I grew up around First Nations totem art. I love the anthropomorphic faces and the complexity. Totem poles of the Northwest Coast are probably the most recognizable artifact of the culture.

The poles are usually carved from red cedar and complex in design. They were never used as objects of worship or to "ward" off evil spirits. They tell a story, revealed only if one knows the meaning assigned to various animals, fish, birds and designs and where they are placed on the pole.

This is storytelling at its finest; no written words where the "reader" has free reign to elaborate.

Some Animal Symbols

(meaning varies according to tribe)

Killer Whale - Representing strength and bravery. The mythology of the killer whale states they will bring food and assistance to those in need.

Beaver - Creative, artistic and determined.

Raven - The trickster. Curious and mischievous.
Sea Turtle - Representative of Mother Earth.
Thunderbird - Manifests thunder while beating its wings and lightening by blinking it's eyes.

Eagle - Intelligent and resourceful. He rules the sky and is able to transform himself into a human.
Wolf - Very powerful with the ability to help people that are sick or in need. Represents strong family bonds.
Bear - Strength, a teacher and motherhood. It is believed that the bear taught the people how to hunt and pick berries.

Dogfish - Persistence and strength.

Moon - Protector and guardian at night.

Seal - Bright, inquisitive.

Dragonfly - Ever-changing life.

Frog - Known for bringing wealth.
Otter - A symbol of laughter, curiosity, grace, mischievousness and empathy.
Salmon - Instinct, persistence, and determination.
Owl - Symbolizes the souls of the departed.

Colors

(meaning varies according to tribe)

White: Symbolizes the skies and the spacious heavens. Also purity, peace and death.

Red: Symbolizes blood, war or valor. Sometimes, it is used purely as it appears in nature.

Blue: Symbolizes oceans, rivers, lakes and the sky. It stands for sincerity and happiness.

Yellow: Symbolizes the sun, light and happiness.

Green: Represents the earth, the hills, trees, and mountains.

Purple: Used to represent mountains in the distance.

Black: Represents power.

Pole Types

Heraldic totems were carved with human or animal forms. They represented the clans standing, ancestry, rights and accomplishments.

House posts were located the center of longhouses to support the building. Similarly, some longhouses featured a house frontal pole, which would be located at the main entrance and often contained an opening for passage into the house.
Mortuary poles served as both a tomb and a headstone. They oftentimes contained the remains of the deceased in grave boxes at the top, Likewise, a memorial or commemorative pole was often created to honor an important deceased person. These poles carry a story of the deceased.
Legend Poles illustrate folklore or real life experiences.
Potlatch Poles commemorate a festival or event.
Shame poles were less common but served to ridicule neighboring tribes or those who have unpaid debts. Recently, they have been used as a form of protest against the loss of Aboriginal territory or for other political grievances.