Carry on the Flame Blog Tour: Book Excerpt

Hello! Today I am happy to participate in the blog tour for Carry on the Flame by Jodine Turner, hosted by The Bookish Snob Promotions. This novel is a fascinating mixture of modern fantasy and Celtic mythology, and I get to share an excerpt with you!

Carry on the Flame: Destiny’s Call Book One is a YA/adult magical urban fantasy, paranormal romance novel.

In Carry on the Flame, humanity is in the midst of the greatest crisis in their evolution. Sharay is the one chosen to show the way forward and  help humankind move through the fear and dark times of today’s world. Born into a lineage of priestesses in modern day Glastonbury, England, Sharay’s way is blocked by her jealous Aunt Phoebe, who uses black magic against her to steal her fortune and magical power. When Phoebe commits Sharay to a psychiatric ward and accuses her of murder, Sharay struggles with the temptation to fight Phoebe’s vengeance with her own. Through the ancient Celtic ceremony of Beltaine, Sharay experiences profound sacred union with the Welshman Guethyn, who shows her how to open her heart. But Sharay must learn to transform her hatred for her aunt in order to claim the mystery held deep within her cells that will allow her to fulfill her destiny and prove that the ultimate magic is the power of love. 

Carry on the Flame: Ultimate Magic Book Two releases October 31, 2011.

Excerpt:

Sharay rolled her eyes. “No, silly. What am I to do about this?” she said, spreading her arms wide open to indicate the hospital room, the psychiatric ward.

“Simple. You’re to go on an Imram,” Dillon said.

“On a what?” She leaned back on her legs, and sat on the floor, her spine against the side of Dillon’s bed for support. She was exhausted, and the old man was talking in riddles.

“On an Imram. It’s an important journey. A physical journey navigated by your soul.”

“My soul will navigate a journey?”

“Yes – it will be both an inner and an outer journey. The Imram is the outward form of an inner mystical journey. It’s much like a vision quest. You’ll travel the land, and as you do, you’ll visit the Inner Realms of your dreams and visions.”

“But they call my dreams and visions hallucinations.”

“They know nothing.”

Sharay stared, wide-eyed. “I’m not hallucinating?”

“Of course not.”

Sharay noticed how his dimples burrowed deep within the crevices of his cheeks.

“The Imram will be a splendid adventure. Just like it was for our ancestors, the Celts. They crossed the seas on mythic travels to foreign lands. They went on the Imram.”

Sharay imagined huge wooden sailboats, mermaids carved on the bow, sailing by star navigation across deep blue waters, heading far into the west. She shook her head. “I’m afraid I’m in no shape to go on a sea voyage. I don’t see how your Imram will help me.”

Dillon chuckled. “The Imram is not limited to the sea. It’s not about where you go but how you get there.”

“So, how do I get there?”

“Trust the Imram. You’re in good hands with your soul as your navigator.”

“How can I go on an Imram? I can’t even leave this hospital,” Sharay said desolately.

“Indeed, you’ve been made a prisoner.” Dillon’s face grew serious. “Still, the grimmest place you are imprisoned is in the depths of that black hole inside you.”

The tendrils from the black hole reached out seductively.

“You don’t need the black hole, Sharay. It will do you more harm than good. But I’m afraid extricating yourself from it will prove even more difficult than freeing you from this hospital.”

“I can be free of it if I want to,” she said defiantly. She didn’t for a moment believe her own lie. The hole was strong on its own now, but especially so when combined with the medicine. Sharay swallowed, remembering her promise to it.

Dillon gazed at her intently and then waved his hand. “First things first. We have your Imram to plan.”

Despite her unease, Sharay felt excitement flutter in her chest.

“We won’t use a boat. A van will do nicely. We’re no longer in ancient times, you know.” He winked at her.

“I’m going on an Imram, traveling through my dreams and hallucinations…I mean, my visions…and I’m going in a van?” Sharay asked skeptically.

“Yes,” Dillon answered matter of factly. “Now, how do we get you out of the hospital?” Dillon pulled on his beard, deep in concentration.

Sharay put her head in her hands. Her thoughts jumbled, this new information stirring up the remnants of her old life, when her parents were still alive. A time when her visions were accepted as common-place, expected and encouraged. No one called her psychotic and dangerous then.

 “Aha,” Dillon cried.

Sharay lifted her head and found Dillon gazing at her, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “To plan your escape, I’ll need the help of my grandson.” Dillon beamed. “Yes. I’ll call on Guethyn to help us.”

Sharay began to worry about the mysterious plan Dillon was making. Imrams and soul journeys and grandsons with odd names. “What kind of name is Guethyn?”

Now, doesn't that leave you curious?

About the Author:
Jodine Turner is an author of YA/adult fantasy, paranormal romance, and magical realism. She is also a therapist, and a consecrated priestess. While living in Glastonbury, England, the ancient Isle of Avalon, Jodine began writing the Goddess of the Stars and the Sea series about priestesses who had lived in Avalon throughout the ages and today.

Jodine’s series is a dark and edgy saga of a young priestess who's reborn during three different critical junctions in history in order to help humankind move through fearful and bleak times - the demise of Atlantis, the Dark Age's suppression of the feminine, and today's turbulent world. 

Each novel in the series is a standalone read. First in the series is the highly acclaimed The Awakening: Rebirth of Atlantis. The second novel is the award winning The Keys to Remember. The third novel, Carry on the Flame: Book One Destiny’s Call, is already award winning. The story of Carry on the Flame concludes in Book Two, Carry on the Flame: Ultimate Magic, which comes out October 31, 2011.

Follow the rest of the tour for reviews, interviews and giveaways! The next post is tomorrow at Coma Calm's Corner.

To purchase a copy of this book, you can find it on Amazon.