COVER REVEAL: Haunted' Book 5 of The Meadowsweet Chronicles.

***COVER REVEAL***
Book 5 of The Meadowsweet Chronicles is coming at the end of January. I'm so excited to share this world with you. It's taken some crazy turns and you've all been so patient waiting for the next instalment and I thank you for that, from the bottom of my heart.

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Lucia Chase had just wanted a safe place to run to. She thought Coldstone House was the answer. Little did she know about it's dark and bloody history. A history that refuses to stay in the past. 

With her brother Jeremiah, increasingly concerned about the state of her sanity, Lucia seeks reassurance from the devastatingly handsome priest, Nathanial Abaddon, sent to Heargton to initiate the purge and rid the village of Witches and supernaturals once and for all. 

But who is Nathanial Abaddon? And are his plans really in the name of God and good, or is there some other selfish motivation for his desire to rid the Portal of The Ancient Ones of its guardians,The Meadowsweet Sisters. 

In Book 5 of the Meadowsweet Chronicles, the Stygian project begins to reach its terrifying, apocalyptic potential, family loyalties are torn apart, unlikely allegiances struck, and the choice between love and power needs to be made. 

With its epic scope of folklore and mythology, The Meadowsweet Chronicles takes the reader on a magical, darkling journey from the sleepy English village of Heargton, to Mexico, Haiti, Salem, Egypt and Italy as deities and supernaturals are forced to choose their side. 

P.S For lovers of my other series,  The Knight Trilogy, you are in for a very special surprise. 

BOOK ONE IS FREE! 

If you've not had a chance to read Book 1 of the series 'Witchcraft' yet, then you can download Book 1 FREE on all eBook platforms.

AMAZON UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NG5CLTE

AMAZON USA: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NG5CLTE

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id950645919

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/witchcraft-16

Will You Be Bewitched by The Meadowsweet Sisters?

Join the Meadowsweet Sisters as they take on supernatural and diabolical forces, and evade the deadly kiss of The Witch Hunter. 

I'm so happy to be releasing Book 4 of The Meadowsweet Chronicles this March. 'Angelicus' is out soon. I love working on this series so much, it's a complete passion project full of all the things that I love reading. 

If you've not had a chance to catch up with the series yet, then there is a special offer box set of Book 1 and 2 for just £0.99 / $0.99 throughout the launch of Book 4 or you can download Book 1 for Free on Amazon, iBooks, Nook, Kobo and Smashwords. Links in the comments.

SPECIAL OFFER BOX SET of BOOK 1&2

Special offer Box Set of The Meadowsweet Chronicles Book 1 and 2 for just £0.99 / $0.99 is here https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079Z9Y3B5

There’s no light without the dark. 

Fox Meadowsweet is a Witch. Jeremiah Chase is a Witch Hunter. 
The Meadowsweet bloodline has lived in the sleepy English village of Heargton for thousands of years. Jeremiah Chase is a New York boy in exile. 

Neither of them asked for their past but now it’s the only thing that can save their future as dark and ancient paranormal forces threaten to obliterate the world. 

When a local college girl is discovered ritually murdered and covered in strange symbols, old suspicions rise, ancient fears manifest, and centuries-spanning blood feuds reignite between ancient households of the village.

With their ancestral reputation of magic and witchcraft, eyes turn towards the three beautiful Meadowsweets sisters… including the eyes of Jeremiah Chase, who finds himself inexplicably drawn to the quirky wild-beauty of the middle sister, Fox.  

But as Jeremiah learns the history of her bloodline, he also unearths the dark and tangled story of his own family, giving him knowledge of a terrible and diabolical legacy. 

or FREE BOOK DOWNLOAD OF BOOK 1

Book 1 of The Meadowsweet Chronicles is on FREE Kindle download https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00NG5CLTE and on iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id950645919

Folklore Thursday: The Pendle Witches.

The Pendle Witches is a folklore that has risen up around an actual historical event, which ran with many parallels to the more infamous Salem Witch Trials.

The Pendle witch trials took place in 1612 in Pendle, Lancashire, England, and became famous mainly due to the unprecedented detail of records that were kept about the trials. Twelve people were accused of murdering ten local people by means of witchcraft. Of the eleven who went to trial, nine women and two men were executed by hanging and only one was cleared of the crime.

Despite witch trials being common practice between the 15th and 18th century, less than five hundred people are recorded as being officially executed in England for their witchcraft crimes - although less official figures exist of those who died during the often cruel and brutal inquisitions.

Like the Salem trials, small community politics and commercial rivalry played a big part in the communities accusations of the 'witches'.  However, in this case, many of the accused had actually added fuel to the fire by using the commerciality of witchcraft for their own financial gain, claiming to have healing powers and charging for other forms of quackery.

The Pendle Witch Trial was originally more a tale of politics, money and fraud than supernatural powers, but over the years, a rich tapestry of folklore has grown up around the case and many believe that the homes they inhabited, and the site of the nefarious, Malkin Tower,  a meeting point for the 'coven', which was located on the wild heathlands near Pendle, became haunted - with some even claiming they became the portals to Hell.

Now, the village of Pendle boasts a thriving tourist industry around the folklore of the Pendle Witches, one which was boosted considerably by the 2004 special live weekend edition of Most Haunted in which several paranormal events were captured on film during a live broadcast from some of the locations identified in the original records. With several of the film crew, and members of other paranormal investigative teams having reportedly been harmed when attempting to investigate the legends, Pendle has well and truly become a far richer tale of the supernatural.

You can catch up with the episode of Most Haunted at Pendle here but be warned, it is pretty full on, and do heed their own warning that it isn't suitable for younger viewers.




The legend of the Pendle Witches was a major influence on my series, 'The Meadowsweet Chronicles'   and the location of Pendle played a big part in the formation of my village for the series, Heargton.

Book one of the Meadowsweet Chronicle is currently on FREE download and you can get your copy over at iBooks, Amazon and all other major eBook platforms.

AMAZON US amazon.com/dp/B00NG5CLTE

AMAZON UK amazon.co.uk/dp/B00NG5CLTE

iBOOKS  https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id950645919

Which Witch Are You?

#OCTOBERFRIGHTSBLOGHOPPOST

LINKS AT www.katiemjohn.com 

In my latest series, 'The Meadowsweet Chronicles' the primary story is about warring Witches who are fighting over control of a portal to The Ancient Ones. 

The role of Witches in folklore, fairy-tales and social history has always fascinated me. Especially in terms of how patriarchal society has used the notion of Witches and Witchcraft in ways to define and control women. 

As someone who would describe themselves as leaning towards a  Pagan Christian faith system, I have always been fascinated by the idea of magic and what that means in the modern world. To me, the power of Nature is magical, the power for light to conquer darkness, and for our own hearts to heal another, is a real. 

The Meadowsweet Chronicles playfully explores these notions  of magic, witchcraft, history, stereotypes, female empowerment, love, sisterhood and  and ultimately puts forward a message about how we all have to find a way to conquer our own fears and the fears others place on us. It's a modern day fairytale with a very real message. 

PLAY WHICH WITCH ARE YOU? 

1. You meet a Demon, what do you do?

a) Smash his pretty face to pieces

b) Try to change him

c) Enslave him

d) Use his blood for powerful magic

2. Your familiar is?

a) Hare

b) Black Cat

c) Snake

d) Raven

3. Favourite Colour?

a) Black

b) Purple

c) Red

d) Blue

4. You discover a very powerful, terrible secret, do you? 

a) Keep out, it's not of your business

b) Blackmail and extort the situation

c) Stand up and tell the world about it - truth is all

d) Depends who the secret belongs to - I'm loyal to my friends. 

5. Which saying is closest to your philosophy?

a) Open your heart to the world and love

b) Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

c) Family first

d) Do whatever it takes. 

Question 1: a (3) b (1) c (2) d (4) 

               2: a (1) b (2) c (3) d (4)

               3: a (2) b (4) c (3) d (1)

               4: a (4) b (2) c (1) d (3)

               5: a (1) b (3)  c (4) d (2)

MOSTLY 

1s . Meadowsweets - You are a force of light and good. You value truth above all else. You are quick and smart and able to use your head as well as your heart. Your flaw is that sometimes you believe too much in the power of redemption. 

2s. Raven hearts - You are smart, fierce, strong and determined. You know what you want and you know how to get it. Your'e attracted to the dark side of nature. You're suspicious of people who seem to want to good with no personal gain, but you're smart enough to smell a rat. You are a leader. Your flaw is that sometimes you find it hard to let things go. 

3s. Southern Territories - You are a team player and you believe in the power of the group, although it's sometimes hard for you to trust others at first. You find it difficult to fit in places, but when you find home, you love it fiercely. You believe in traditional values and fair play, although you do have quiet ambitions. You are very clear about what is right and what is wrong. Your flaw is sometimes you get swept along by the desires of others. 

4s. Debois Sisters - You are all about keeping the power in a tight space. You see the world in shades rather than black and white. You understand that there is no light without dark, and no good without evil. You are drawn to people, animals, ideas that are not conventional or that do not fit the mould. You are calculating and strong. You are a power to be reckoned with, but you have a very deep and strong belief in doing right by the universe. 

MEET THE COVENS

In The Meadowsweet Chronicles there are several covens who are part of the narrative. Obviously, the most predominant coven is the Meadowsweet Sisterhood,  but I thought it would be a cool thing to formally introduce you to the covens of the series. 

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THE MEADOWSWEETS

England. 

The Meadowsweet Coven includes Fox, Swan and Bunny Meadowsweet, three sisters, but it also includes their mother Wren, and their three cousins, Prim, Violet and Rose. 

They are one of the oldest covens in the Witch community and have been based in Heargton at the site of 'The Portal'. Their primary role is to act as guardians of The Portal; a door through which The Ancient Ones can access the Earthly Realm. The three sisters are known as The Guardians; although due to their mother's generation turning away from the role, the positioned is weakened and under threat. 

Their coven has always been a force of light and healing. Their powers enhanced due to their powerful bloodline and ancient magical heritage. However, with a war raging, the light is sometimes not enough. 

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THE RAVENHEARTS

England.

Lilith, Nigella, and Thalia Ravenheart 

Trinity Coven. 

Also based in Heargton, at the site of the portal, and having been around as long as The Meadowsweets, these once allied Covens have over the centuries become increasingly distant. The Ravenheart's nefarious history, and their generational choice to turn towards the dark has caused them to become an opposition to The Meadowsweets; and their desire to take over the control of The Portal has ensured that their greed, ambition and evil know no bounds. 

The Ravenhearts are also attached to a Demon, which they believe to be their slave, but perspectives can be wrong. 

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THE SOUTHERN TERRITORIES

Mexico

A Gathering Coven

Headed by the priestess Geavonna, The Southern Territories is a rag-tag gathering of Witches who have found themselves displaced of their own lineage covens. The witches originate from all over the South Americna territories, and come from traditional covens pushed out by the wave of colonial Catholicism that swept the Southern American countries in the 17th and 18th century. It is a large coven of around twenty witches, and they are headed by Geavonna; an ambitious, vengeful and aggressive power. In fighting and politics riddle the Southern Territories.  

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THE DEBOIS SISTERS

Haiti

Roseline, Belle and Nadine

A Trinity Coven

The Debois sisters are the daughters of a powerful and historical sister trinity in Haiti. Their maternal ancestor was mistress to a colonial slaver, and eventually, with his wife mysteriously killed, the Debois women took over the plantation and estate, establishing themselves as an important powerhouse in the community. Notoriously protective of their trinity, they refuse to ally themselves with any other coven, but are prepared to trade magic and knowledge for their own agenda. 

Their magical heritage is based in Voodoo and is powerful and mysterious. There is a leaning to the dark side but the rules of life and death are different to the Debois sisters, and dark and light are seen as defining of one another rather than being opposites. 

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THE FARM

Salem USA

A Gathering Coven

The Farm is a sanctuary for Witches in fear of their life or who have been displaced or persecuted. It is a large community of around 50 Witches who all live together in a commune called 'The Farm'. 'The Farm' is headed by Tituba, a descendent of Tituba from the Salem Witch Trials. 

The Farm is home to Suki, Ethan, Rowan and Melody Drake, who play an important role in the Meadowsweet sisters' narrative. 

An InLinkz Link-up

Precious Things.

It's only taken 5 years for me to finally claim the cupboard under the stairs as my own, but now that we are moving and have had to get the house ready for viewings, I've done it! And the thing that I love about it the most is that I finally get to have an author shelf.

Here it is. A lovely shelf of purple loveliness.

I love it and I thought you might be interested to hear a little bit about it. So from Left to Right here is a tour around my shelf.

Far Left: This beautiful hand-pressed woodcut is from the Witches House in Salem Massachusetts U.S.A. This was brought back from Salem this summer by my very dear friend Alison Stacey. We taught together for fifteen years and became more family than friend. She has been alongside me on this crazy journey right from the very start. She has never doubted. Always believed and I can't wait until she retires next year so that she can come on many U.S author road trips in the years to come.

The reason it is here is because my newest series, The Meadowsweet Chronicles is partly set in Salem, and the main character, Jeremiah Chase is a descendent from one of the original Salem Witch Hunters.

Middle: This small laser cut piece of paper art is from the Porte du Secrets exhibition centre in Paimpont, The Foret de Broceliande, Brittany. It depicts the forest and standing together in conversation, the wizard Merlin and Morgan Le Fay. The Forest of Broceliande is one of the primary settings of book 3 of the Knight Trilogy. Home to Merlin's Tomb, The Crystal Lake, The Knights Templar Chapel, The Valley of No Return, The Fountain of Eternal Youth, the forest of Broceliande and Paimpont is a magnet for all those who follow the Arthurian legends.

We go camping each year in Paimpont (Or Paint-Pot as it's affectionately become called by my family) and I drag the hubby and the two Mud-Puddles around all the various Arthurian landmarks, much to their excitement LOL.

Right: This selection of semi precious stones, Rose Quartz, Amethyst and Cornelian are some of my favourite stones. I'm a believer in Earth energy and I find them both beautiful to look at and calming. I like to be surrounded by beautiful things, and for me, semi-precious stones are some of the most beautiful things to be found in nature.

Right Top: This is where my author life began, with the writing of 'The Forest of Adventures'. When I began writing it, I truly believed that this was my one and only novel. It was a story I had been wanting to write since my own teenage years and there is so much of myself and my teenage experience woven into the pages of this dark fairy tale. I had no idea with the writing of those first words that I would go onto write and publish a further 8 books, countless short stories, travel around the world as part of an amazing book world, become the founder of a really special publishing company and the creator of a UK book convention.
For a long time I hid this book away. It's not the very best of my craft, little could I have known how much I would grow and develop as a writer, but I've come to acknowledge that it is the very best of my soul - and now it sits proudly as a reminder of where I started and where I have travelled to. This book will always be the most special of all of them.

You can find out more about me and my books over at my official website www.katiemjohn.com

So what's on your special shelf? I'd love for you to share in the comments box.

Dare You Visit The Haunted Village of Heargton?

The sleepy, rural village of Heargton in the U.K has always been a magical place. Ever since the first bronze age settlers built their home and buried their dead in the ancient burial mound that lies West of the village.

Now the village, with just over 1,500 habitants continues to be a place of significant paranormal interest due to its positioning at the intersection of powerful ley lines. At the very intersection of the lines is the village well, which local legend has it is a portal to the underworld.

THE HEARGTON WITCHES and THE OCCULT
The Heargton well is also significant due to it's nefarious and continuous connections with witchcraft. In the 13th century the rafters of the well served as a makeshift gallows from which three young and beautiful sisters were hanged, accused of witchcraft, sorcery and the murder of several young women from the village.

Their cottage, up on the top of Heathmoor Hill, North to the village, still stands although it is now in ruins. The cottage has become the focus of many recent paranormal investigations, including the televised investigation conducted by Ghost Raiders, aired on HNC in 2013.

It is believed that there are several covens still active in the surrounding area. There is much evidence of Satanic and Pagan activity in the form of graffiti, livestock injuries and totems that can be seen hanging in several places around the village. The village continues to celebrate many ancient pagan rites, including that of the Lighting of The Fires, which takes place in the New Year, and which has become a unique tourist attraction, due to its pretty procession and festivities.

THE GREEN MAN INN
Over the course of the weekend investigation, Ghost Raiders also explored The Green Man Public House, a 13th century coach inn, still in use today and which has changed little in its 650 years. The Green Man prides itself on being 'one of the most haunted pubs in England'. Most dominant of its spirits being that of a large Tudor innkeeper who has not taken kindly to the subsequent owners, a Grey Lady who is believed to be a jilted lover abandoned mid-plan, and a friendly basset hound who still warms himself by the fire. As an interesting aside, The Green Man is also the original home of 'The Green Man Music Festival' which has become a cult festival drawing lovers of rock music from all over the country.

COLD STONE HOUSE and THE CHASE FAMILY
Heargton is home to two important historical houses. Cold Stone House, South of The Village is home to the Chase family; a branch of which is now located in New York, U.S.A in the form of the Pharmaceutical giants, Chase Enterprises. This branch of the family orginonated from one of the brothers who departed for the U.S.A in the earliest days, finding himself in Salem, Massachuttes and partaking in the infamous Salem Witch Trials. Cold Stone House is still home to Lady Penelope Asquithe; the remaining Chase of her bloodline. The family are notoriously secretive and have always been so. Little is known of them except that their family has been blighted by tragedy over the years; including deaths of all the male line in World War I, a tragic murder, suicide in the late nineteen forties of a woman and baby, and several other untimely ends.

RAVENHEART HALL and THE RAVENHEART FAMILY
To the North of the village is the imposing Gothic monstrosity of a country house called Ravenheart Hall, a suitable name. Built in red London brick during the Tudor period, it nestles, almost hidden between the ancient burial ground and Raven Woods. An incredibly rich and powerful family, with regal connections, the Ravenheart family were philanthropic with their wealth, building both the Heargton library and The Rookeries Hospital. However, despite these acts of generosity over the years, The Ravenhearts have not always been thought of kindly; there are several more nefarious figures in the Ravenheart lineage, including slave traders, tyrants, suicides and links to the occult. Descendants of The Ravenheart family continue to live there today.

RAVEN WOODS
Within the grounds of Ravenheart Hall are Raven Woods; a spooky forest predominantly formed of tall and shadowy Scott's Pines. The woods have long been associated with the paranormal. Believed to be ancient druid lands, it is believed that the woods are protected by an Elemental drawn forth from the Earth by early Druid Priests. The Raven Woods is now home to the abandoned and derelict Rookeries Hospital, originally built as a maternity hospital, it was refurbished after a terrible fire in which many women and babies died. When it re-opened, it was used as an 'asylum for the criminally insane and morally dissolute.' Many villagers claim to still heart the ghostly voices of the insane when the wind travels in a certain direction.


Raven Woods is also believed to be haunted by the spirits of three virgins, who are connected to the three standing stones which can be seen as you drive along the West Road, but be careful if you do drive that road, especially on a misty night, as you may come across the Headless Hunt, comprised of the hounds of Hell.

BOB TUSSOCK The Highway Man.
If you travel out of the village on the North Road, be sure that you're not driving a red car. Over the course of thirty years there have been over twenty fatal crashes and numerous accidents, all of which have involved red cars. Needless to say that there are very few owners of red cars in the village now. The cause of this improbable 'accident redspot' as locals call it is Bob Tussock, a Highway Man who now haunts the North Road after he was hanged from a post on the spot as brutal warning to other would be Highway Men. It is thought that he still seeks vengeance from the village for both his death and his humiliation.

As well as these paranormal hotspots there are stories of several other entities that have taken residence in the village. Many have seen a ghostly figure of a woman in Victorian black who frequents the churchyard of St.Ursula's Church (West of the Village). There is also local legend that there is a Woman of The Lake who lives in the lake within the grounds of Cold Stone House, and that the Cold Stone Woodlands are home to spirit children who many dog walkers have reported hearing laugh and play.

TRICK

Book One of The Meadowsweet
Chronicles is on offer for just $0.99

I hope you have enjoyed learning a little more about the village of Heargton and its paranormal guests. This is where I have to admit dastardly Halloween Trickery and confess that Heargton is a village of my own creation.

If you fancy spending more time in the paranormal world of Heargton then 'Witchcraft', Book One of the epic occult and paranormal saga, 'The Meadowsweet Chronicles' is currently on Kindle sale for just 0.99 offer. You can also buy a copy in paperback either from Amazon or direct from me. Head to the website www.katiemjohn.com for details.

VISIT MY AUTHOR PAGE at AMAZON

NOW TIME FOR YOUR TREAT
The first twenty people who comments in the comment box on this post will be sent a signed Meadowsweet postcard and receive a beautiful handmade (by my own fair hands), Tibetan silver charm book mark, like one of these pictured. Leave a comment here and then head over to www.katiemjohn.com to send me your postal address. There's quick link on the HOME page.



Book Two of The Meadowsweet
Chronicles is now out!

OCTOBER FRIGHTS BLOG HOP.
I hope you have enjoyed this 4th post in the #OctoberFrights Blog Hop. You can read more awesome posts by fellow horror and paranormal authors by either searching the hashtag on Twitter #Octoberfrights or by browsing through linked the blog roll below.

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HAVE A VERY HAPPY HALLOWEEN !