Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Guest Blogger: Dawn Marie Hamilton

Today I'm welcoming a guest blogger- Dawn Marie Hamilton- Welcome! 



Dawn Marie Hamilton dares you to dream. She is a 2013 RWA® Golden Heart® Finalist who pens Scottish-inspired fantasy and paranormal romance. When not writing, she’s cooking, gardening, or paddling the local creeks with her husband. Today she’s talking about faeries and brownies—mostly a mischievous brownie.





Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dawnm_hamilton





Faeries and Brownies and ‘Just Beyond the Garden Gate’



I believe in faeries and brownies and other fae creatures. My Highland Gardens novels are rife with such beings. Brownie is the term used by Lowland Scots. To those who speak the Scottish Gaelic, they are known as brùnaidh.



Brownies are less gregarious than faeries and tend to be loyal to one household or clan.



In ‘Just Beyond the Garden Gate’, Munn, the MacLachlan clan brownie, is sworn to thwart the matchmaking of Caitrina, a banished faerie princess.



Contradictory information is bantered about regarding the physical characteristics of brownies. Some say they look similar to elves, often described as old, shaggy, and short of stature. At other times, they are described as tall, handsome, and well-proportioned, like the elves in ‘Lord of the Rings’.



My brownies are of the short, shaggy, and gnarled kind.



Excerpt from ‘Just Beyond the Garden Gate’: 



Ignoring his cousin, Patrick took the narrow stairs two at a time, uncaring that his shoulders banged against stone as he went. He burst into the hall and stilled.



The Brùnaidh, whose duty it was to watch over Clan MacLachlan, sat on a stool near the fire, reciting rhymes for Elspeth. He waved his arms as he spoke. Dressed for foolery, the brownie wore baggy brown leather trews and a knee length leine of fine woolen cloth secured at the waist by a thick leather belt adorned with bronze. Around his shoulders, he wore a green brat held in place by a bronze brooch with a large clear crystal in the center. He tapped his feet in rhythm to the cadence of his voice. On those wee feet, he wore green boots with toes that pointed upward.



"Munn," Patrick bellowed.



The little man twisted around, his whisker-covered face scrunched up more than usual. Panic flashed in blue-green eyes, and he jumped to his full three-foot height. His bent nose twitched and he grabbed hold of the funny-looking pointed green cap he always wore.



Anticipating the brownie's attempt to escape, Patrick grabbed hold of him. "Not so fast, wee imp. What mischief have you been about this night?"



"Nae." Munn's whole body shook. "Not I."



"Then what caused a strange lass to appear to me in the Fir-wood and to vanish as quick?"



The brownie's eyes grew big and round, his surprise obvious. Patrick had the sense to put him down and step back. Just in time. In a blink, the little man disappeared.



Just Beyond the Garden Gate, a Highland Gardens Novel 



Blurb:



Determined to regain her royal status, a banished faerie princess accepts a challenge from the High-Queen of the Fae to unite an unlikely couple while the clan brownie attempts to thwart her.



Passion ignites when a faerie-shove propels burned-out business consultant Laurie Bernard through the garden gate, back through time, and into the embrace of Patrick MacLachlan. The arrogant clan chief doesn’t know what to make of the lass in his arms, especially when he recognizes the brooch she wears as the one his stepmother wore when she and his father disappeared.



With the fae interfering at every opportunity, the couple must learn to trust one another while they battle an enemy clan, expose a traitor within their midst and discover the true fate of the missing parents. Can they learn the most important truth—love transcends time?



Kindle Edition buy link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CVXMS04



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Giveaway:



Do you believe in faeries?



One commenter answering the above question will receive a PDF copy of ‘Just Beyond the Garden Gate’. Include email address with comment for consideration.

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Tags: Dawn Marie Hamilton, Just Beyond the Garden Gate, Highland Gardens, Scottish Highlands, Scottish historical romance, time travel, faeries, brownies, Brùnaidh



16 comments:

  1. Thanks for having me as a guest on your blog today, Marie! I have some news too. I'm happy to report; 'Just Beyond the Garden Gate' is now available on Nook. http://bit.ly/11UNGnN

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    1. That's great news, Dawn! Have a great blog day :)

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  2. Yep, I'm a firm believer, but I still might faint if I ran across one. I'd love to meet Dawn's brownies. They sound wonderful.

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    1. Hi, T! I'd like to think I could handle meeting a fae creature, but I more than likely would faint too. :)

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  3. I am a believer. They are what fules our imagination. Every picture and poem is a gateway. Faries lived in the backyard of all beautifull gardens. Shawna.
    Shawna.calif@gmail.com

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    1. Hello, Shawna! No garden is complete without a faerie. Mine is still under development. :)

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  4. Hi Dawn! Although I hiked across the Scottish highlands hoping to run into some fae and never did, I'm still hopeful! Lol. Sounds like a great book. Best of luck with sales! :)

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    1. Thanks, Rachael! I'm so jealous. Hiking in the Scottish Highlands is on our 'must do' list. One of these years. :) I'll be searching for the fae for sure.

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  5. Hey Dawn! I've seen you around various loops in the past month and have been super excited for your book and your success. What fun to find you here on Marie's blog.

    Your brownie sounds like a devilishly good time! Do I believe in faeries? Oh heck yes! Like Rachael, I spent a good amount of time looking for them in Scotland. I'm convinced the harder you look, the less likely you are to see them. Now I just accept that they're here all time, just out of eyesight, but constant companions nonetheless.

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    1. Great to connect, Tameri! I've been really busy with the book release and the Golden Heart final. Mega excited! And I agree, just because you don't see them, doesn't mean they're not there. I believe!

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  6. I love anything with fae connections. I write about elves, sprites, unicorns and many more. Visiting as co-host of IWSG today.

    Suzanne

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    1. Hi, Suzanne. I've been considering writing a story with a unicorn. Have you ever heard of a black unicorn?

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  7. Ooh! Another Fae connection. I love it! (And I'm a big fan of highlanders, too.) I knew about faeries, but what I've learned about brownies, I've learned from Cherise Sinclair's shifter series! Sounds like a fun book!

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    1. Hey, theinnerwildkat! Gotta love a man in a kilt. :) I'll have to check out Cherise Sinclair's shifter series. What type of shifters does she write about?

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  8. Congrats to Shawna! Watch your email for a copy of 'Just Beyond the Garden Gate'.

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  9. Thanks again, Marie, for having me as a guest. And thanks to everyone for visiting with me.

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