This photo of Mount Washington is courtesy of TripAdvisor"

Hello Everyone,

I know I’ve been quiet recently, but I assure you I’ve been writing. In fact, I’d like to share some great news. Recently I submitted a short story titled “Rescued” to NH Pulp Fiction. Each year NH Pulp Fiction publishes an anthology and this year’s theme is “Love Free or Die” an homage to New Hampshire’s official motto, “Live Free or Die.” Each story had to feature a story of “passion fulfilled and unrequited devotion — all deeply embedded in New Hampshire places and culture.” “Rescued” takes place at the home of the Cog Railway and “home of the world’s worst weather” – Mount Washington. My work was accepted and will be included in the anthology.

A direct result of this great opportunity is that my short story will continue in the first book, “Search” of my new series “Tempting the Fates.”

Elaine Isaak, the editor of this edition released the following:

It is with great pleasure that I announce the Table of Contents for Love Free or Die, the fourth volume in Rick Brousssard's New Hampshire Pulp Fiction anthology series, from Plaidswede Publishing, to be published February, 2014.

(Drumroll, please!)

"Come Live With Me and Be My Love" by Michael Samuels
"Canobie Kisses" by Kari Lemor
"The Republic’s Last Revolution" by S. J. Cahill
"Hate Everybody" by Robin Small
"A Second Chance" by Shana Chartier
"Closure" by Anna Boghigian
"Summer Portrait" by Jessie Salisbury
"Portsmouth Propriety" by Susan E. Kennedy
"Psychodrome and Skyway" by Abby Goldsmith
"Casualties" by Sylvia Beaupre
"Eyre & Earp" by James Isaak
"When Autumn Leaves Fall" by David O'Keefe
"Catch" by Leah Brent
"Unbranding" by Justine Graykin
"K-Force" by Timothy Boudreau
"Deeply in Love" by Norman Klein
"Lambent Insularity" by B. K. Rakhra
"Rescued" by KJ Montgomery 
"Lost and Found" by Melva Michaelian
"The Hike" by Robert E. Owen
"All’s Fair" by Amy Ray
"Glimmering Places" by Troy Ehlers

I'd like to congratulate my fellow authors and I look forward to enjoying their tales of romance in The Granite State. I invite you to get to know the beauty of New Hampshire!

Celtic Legend of the Green Man

Black & white photo was taken by Simon Garbutt and is a carving on the Church of Saint Mary and Saint David in Kilpeck, Herefordshire, England

The Celtic Legend of the Green Man

The Celtic culture is rife with ancient and perplexing myths and legends. One of the more well-known is the legend of the Green Man. The oft-depicted image, of a male face not just surrounded by green (i.e. fertile) foliage often displays the flora flowing out of his mouth. What could this possibly represent?

General consensus is that the Green Man is a symbol of fertility and rebirth. Every spring life begins anew as the countryside blooms. Early pagan cultures probably added him to their spiritual pantheon to mirror the human cycle of birth. Understanding basic biology, these early groups could have wondered, “How could Mother Earth give birth without some help?”

People think of Britain and envision different colored fields of pastures separated by long linear hedgerows. Thousands of years ago, the countryside was far from civilized and open. The land was in fact heavily forested. These thick, dense woods were often dark, even in the bright, high summer sun. Forests were generally feared and there are many stories that warn people of the dangers of the brooding woodlands. It’s no wonder that tales of a spiritual being became associated with such a fearful place.

But just what is it that erupts from the mouth of the Green Man (see the black & white photo above), is it simply a metaphor for life springing forth? What if it is entirely something different, something that is relatable more to the modern age? 

I’ll leave you this to ponder, if the Green Man is a pagan symbol, why is it found on and in many Christian churches in Britain. One of the churches, which may be familiar to you and is known to have over 100 Green Man visages, is Rosslyn Chapel. Do I have your attention now?

In Harbinger (the second book of The Katie Walsh Mysteries), I postulate an entirely different origin and meaning for legend of the Green Man. Start the adventure with Trove (the first of the KatieWalsh Mysteries), then in late Summer 2013, continue the journey with Harbinger.

Trove is available from Amazon.com in two formats:

Trove – Kindle format

Trove - print format

Another 5 star review for my debut novel!

 

 

 

Five Star Review

5.0 out of 5 stars   Explosive (print)    Kindle

April 2, 2013

By

Virginia

This review is from: Trove: The Katie Walsh Mysteries (Volume 1) (Paperback)

What happens when anonymous lovers reunite five years later?
Explosive, tantalizing from page one, Trove will hold on to you and not let go… then like a lost lover, Trove will leave you begging for more.
This page burner was one of the most exciting books I have had the privilege to lay my hands on this year and I cannot recommend this debut author enough. Five stars not only shine brightly for this masterfully crafted work of art but shines for the creative mind of its creator.
Meet handsome archeologist Alec MacGowan who is searching desperately for the murderer of his friend.
Meet Katie Walsh, a mythologist who is searching for clues to uncover mythic Norland.
When thrown together can these two set aside their past long enough to work together or will they become tangled in the author’s weave of attraction, deception, mystery and false leads? Will Katie be able to make some sort of sense of the murder man’s notes before they are stopped?
Beware; this book is not just for the romance lover. Lovers of suspense, mystery, mythology and intrigue will surely find their fill here.
I should mention I was given a copy of this wonderful book by a dear friend who thought I would like it. Guess what, I didn’t like it… I LOVED IT!