Hazel Moon Rocks the North Shore Fair

Last Friday I found myself at the Radisson Hotel on Milwaukee's northeast side of town at the invitation of the North Shore Junior League sponsored craft fair and fundraiser.

I was on my own as coauthor and little sis, Lori, was off on an adventure to Memphis, Tennessee and Graceland with her guy, Elvis Tribute Artist, David E. Kirby, where David performed and they had a visit to Graceland as the Christmas season was launched by turning on the special light display there.

While in Memphis Lori's David ran into David Letterman's legendary band leader, Paul Shaffer!

At my Hazel Moon booth, #37, featured were perfumed gift boxes, designed by Lori and I, containing a copy of our book wrapped in cloth, a hand-decorated candle, and a moon Christmas tree ornament. Individual books and ornaments were also for sale.

My skills and experience in fragrance promotion sure came in handy as pretty much everyone that passed by got a greeting, a smile, a business card, and a few words about the wonderful novel that is Hazel Moon!

Right away I felt a comradery with the other nearby vendors. To my left the vendor was promoting the magic and healing power of various bracelets made of exotic rocks such as lapis lazuli. I was more than intrigued and bought a bracelet for myself and another as a Christmas gift.

In Hazel Moon the mineral tourmaline (see below) is referenced as having magical powers. To my right the ladies were promoting fitness training, and that's something my sister Lori and i are definitely into in a big way!

All in all the long day was a success as a number of gift boxes and individual books and ornaments were sold, many enthusiastic, supportive visitors to my booth talked to, and I felt the pride of offering a quality work of literary value to the members of the North Shore community of which I am apart!



TOURMALINE EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 2

She grabbed the jar of Tourmaline, taking in the spectrum of colors from its surface; jet black, sapphire blue, and deep violet, while forgetting for the moment Luna’s warning that some of Tourmaline’s colors can have unexpected, even dangerous properties.

Touching a corner of the stone inside the wide-mouthed jar, she chanted reverently, “Let the fates decide,” as a surge of energy snapped between them like a strong static carpet shock.

Striking a long, wooden match to light the antique ivory funeral candle, November passed the cerulean stone over and over the flame, anointed it first with water, then, performed the final purification with kosher sea salt, and all while chanting.

May air blow away negativity,
Fire burn away the dross,
Water bring tides of calm,
And air hold me steadfast.


TOURMALINE EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 3

Before the Camaro pulled away Luna thought, Oh folly…Tourmaline is tricky, depending on the color she chose. I never trusted that stone—too much medieval chemistry to consider.

NOVEMBER RAN BACK to the car, drenched in the summer rain and for some reason feeling so fresh and free, like a hitchhiker on Route 66 in 1956 heading to anywhere in a black-and-white road flick.
 
Bolstered by Luna’s promise of protection, she was undaunted at the grizzly sight of several shredded carcasses, bunny parts scattered all around the purple Camaro, like a jigsaw puzzle before you assemble the pieces. Tiny curved legs, earless faces, all skewed in death poses, middle sections missing, replaced only with blood stains. Was it a raccoon’s dinner, a feral cat’s doing, or was it an ominous sign?











 

North Shore Library - Celtic Lore Seminar

Yesterday was Día de los Angelitos, in the Spanish tradition, the "Day of the Angels."  As the legend goes, the veil separating the living and the dead becomes thin allowing our dear departed loved ones to reach out to us. Is it mere folk lore, fantasy, fairy tale, or, might there be some substance to the legend? 

Yesterday morning, gazing up into the sky during my morning walk with Jake, my yellow lab, I saw what to me felt like formations resembling my two angels, brother Mark and Lori's husband, Kent Parko. What I saw was more symbolic than some photo image, but when the clouds crossed I strongly felt the presence of these two dearly loved but now departed souls.

That same morning my sister, Lori, feeling the stress and pressure of a long series of days having to gear up for performances, forced herself to the gym and while there experienced an unexpected sense of peace and tranquility after gazing into the eyes of her brother, Michael, who was also there. For her, it was as if Mark or Kent or both had reached out through Michael's eyes to hug her. 

As the legend goes, if you put up an altar, light candles, display flowers & pictures, and have some of their favorite food items on plates, our Mark loved Hershey Bars, all this serves as an invitation for their spirits to visit and connect. Lori had done all that the night before while preparing for our North Shore Library seminar on the Celtic Samhain, Halloween, The Day of the Dead, and All Saints Day, and how Celtic lore was added to our novel, Hazel Moon. For Lori, it seemed as if the spirits of her beloved Mark & Kent did reach out to her.

Of course Día de los Angelitos followed Halloween on November 31st and today is Día de los Muertos or the "Day of the Dead." Last night Lori and I put on the seminar at the North Shore Library. I'd prepared by researching all the legends and lore surrounding Halloween for the many cultures who celebrate this time with a holiday tradition. 

I began talking about Celtic legends then, Lori went over to her Day of the Dead altar and explained the various items on the table and their significance.

Lori took some time to explain the inspiration of her husband's new wave band, Take Me, which led to having a band be the center of the action for our novel, Hazel Moon.

I, then, added more material about the background for Celtic lore, in particular, the Salmon of Knowledge legend.

 
When it was time for a reading from Hazel Moon we chose the Salmon of Knowledge scene and read it together, alternating roles.

During a lengthy Q&A we were able to share many more details about how the passing of our brother Mark and Lori's husband, Kent, led to writing our novel as a celebration of their lives and how our characters embody elements of all the people and activities in our lives which we dearly cherish.

The hour allotted to our seminar passed quickly and it turned out to be an inspirational, refreshing, and informative experience for all who attended!