Polyvore Play

A Wandering Soul

Crossing the veil between worlds...

A light bright

a loud cry in the night

makes way for a soul in the dark

gliding through time

a passage ethereal sublime

a story forgotten renewed

Mingling the past into the future

a haze blinding most

glamour hides a host

the spiritual warrior has eyes to see

but not until he falls to his knees

The figure in shadow feels the heart of the broken

crushing love not forgotten

gripping mist 

chasing dreams

karma eludes or so it seems

Circles and cycles

souls entwined

something at work

possibly divine

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

A Carpet of Purple Flowers ~ Book Reviews by Fellow Authors

Mark Mayes ~ Author (THE GIFT MAKER)

This is a most entrancing and captivating story. Bea, as the central character, weathers every emotional storm you can imagine, and as we get to know her, we feel for her plight, and one is torn on her behalf as she herself is torn, between two men, two identities, two realms of reality. 

Bea is living a fairly ordinary life, running a small, somewhat esoteric, bookshop in London, left to her by her much-missed uncle. Into her somewhat muted existence burst beings from another realm, and why they are so interested in her gradually becomes apparent. 

Tracey-anne McCartney introduces us to a richly-detailed and dramatic cosmology drawn from Irish folktales, mythology, and magic, and it is by virtue of this age-old relationship between the world of the Sidhe and that of humans that we find ourselves drawn in most strongly. It is the skilful, often humorous, blend of supernatural and spiritual elements with that of ordinary life; the hopes and disappointments of the ordinary person, as experienced by Bea, which makes this novel so charming, and makes us experience Bea’s emotional maelstrom as our own. We want the best for her, even if deciding what that may be seems near impossible. 

The final scene in Coldfall Woods is magnificently achieved, and the writing overall has the right balance of lyricism and restraint and is peppered with moments of levity when appropriate. The narration allows one not only to viscerally experience the events described but also to be privy to the internal life of the principal characters, sensing their doubts, their confusion, their pain and joy – Bea's in particular.

The finale does not give up all the secrets hinted at during the novel. Who exactly is Jonathan? What does Bea’s future hold? And other questions, which I will not pose here for fear of spoiling the many surprises and revelations this artfully-plotted novel offers us en route. 

A Carpet of Purple Flowers is an original, entertaining, and sophisticated blend of romance, the paranormal, and the spiritual. 

James Silvester ~ Author (Escape to Perdition)

This is the kind of book that makes you glad to have stepped out of your comfort zone for a moment. Although aspects of magical folklore and the like have always intrigued me, I've never been that keen on reading about them in fiction, perhaps because I think it is a genre that is often lazily presented, to its own detriment. Not so with this book, however, which I thoroughly enjoyed on very many levels. The folklore isn't just thrown in there, it is researched and well considered, as well as being presented in a believable manner. So too is the main character, suddenly thrown into this new, ethereal world. While saying that there is something for everyone in this book, I don't mean it at all flippantly - the elements of fantasy, love, magic, sex, humour and raw emotion are all expertly intertwined by a very talented writer who really sieze her opportunity to make this genre her own. I look forward to more.

Shirley Golden ~ Author (Skyjacked)

'A Carpet of Purple Flowers' is a wonderfully rich and sumptuous debut novel by Tracey-anne McCartney. It is an elaborate folklore fantasy, which pulled me in right from the start. The central story involves a complicated love triangle between Bea, Chance, Alithia and Karian (yep, there are four in this triangle). I cared about all of the characters and enjoyed the world McCartney created. There is an especially salient moment where an illusion is shattered, leaving a deliciously gothic image. The ending left me wanting more, and I hope there will be more to come. Recommended.

Christina Philippou ~ Author (Lost in Static)

Epic fantasy, coming-of-age, romantic drama and mythology: this book is a finely woven carpet of great fiction.

Bea, owner of a little bookshop, is drawn into the war between two paranormal factions. Kari, a royal on one side, thinks Bea's harbouring the soul of his long-lost love, Alithea, and sets out to re-win her heart. Chance, a warrior for the other, thinks he's protecting Bea, but endangers her through his own actions. As Bea gets pulled in different directions, and starts to uncover histories and recover memories, she realises she alone holds the key to this war...

From the blurb, I expected a kind of 'Twilight for adults'. What I got was intricately-imagined fantasy, suspenseful action, two beautifully interwoven love stories (not the kind of paranormal love triangle I was anticipating), and a lot of well-crafted drama. Brilliant - I want more!

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.


Cate Hogan ~ Author & Editor ~ http://catehogan.com

As a romance editor / addict / obsessive, I often feel that even the best new novels are re-hashes of books I've read before. Which is why I was so pleased to discover this little gem - a truly unique premise that merges the spiritual with the paranormal in a very interesting way. The characters are gorgeous, and the love triangle is full of twists and surprises. I highly recommend.

Teresa Ruiz ~ Author (Freefall Into Us)

Not normally my genre, but was sucked in from the get-go, the author gifted at pulling you in. Could have been the instant love of the character, Bea, a book shop owner in London and the heroine in this story. Which may I say was very well written, not overly wordy (can't stand to much description) but still a whopping 400 pages. Honestly, the story was so engaging and hard to put down, It didn't matter. All the characters I liked, even Brandon whom at times I felt sorry for. Well done Tracey-anne, on a beautiful journey and debut book!

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Waterstones UK Bookshop Bestseller List April 2016 ~ A Carpet of Purple Flowers

Fabulous news!

Had to share with you all. :o) 

A super big thank you to everyone that brought their copy.

Link to purchase from Waterstones HERE ~ 

the cover picture should be up soon.

(Page 11 of 175 in #Fantasy Romance)

Waterstones, formerly Waterstone's, is a British book retailer that operates 275 stores and employs around 3,500 staff in the UK and Europe as of February 2014.

love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Stone Mythology

 
Picture Source ~ HERE

Have you heard of the 'Talmudic Stone Legend'?

There is a Talmudic legend about a glowing stone that Abraham wore around his neck. There are many legends about this glowing jewel known as the Tzohar, which was said to be first given to Adam and Eve when they were expelled from the Garden of Eden. The Talmudic version of the legend says that the stone was also an astrolabe, which Abraham would use to study the stars. The light emitted by this star jewel was as bright as the sun, and, at one time, illuminated the world.

Felicia Simion Photography

Amarnae

Ah...star-gazing at the magic in the sky. I love it when I'm out of the big city, look up and everything's so clear. Time to forget worries as the lustrous black curtain twinkles with promise.

Water building ~ Sakura ~ Japan

Unknown Artist

In the novel, 'A Carpet of Purple Flowers', I mention a seven-pointed star, a Septagram that the main character, Bea, wears around her neck. She isn't aware that it's a symbol representing the otherworldly elementals known as the 'Sindria'.

Inspired by the Pleiades constellation, I created the Amanara, a collective name for the seven Sindria who tend souls in a place called, Calageata.

The story of  'The lost Star', one of the Sindria, is called, Amarnae. Over the book series, the legend of Amarnae will be revealed.

Creation Story

The elements below haven't been written in the book, but there are layers to the story told, and I wanted to share the source of my inspiration with you, in part, of the creation story.

The birth of the Amanara/Calageata appeared as an ethereal, seven-petaled lotus shining the first light in the primordial universe after the 'Big Bang'. It's petals opened, and the building blocks of life, it's sparks of energy, spread out into the cold.

(Symbolic ~ The Cosmic/Orphic Egg) 

The lotus flower with its seven petals is often symbolic of 'the source'.

Picture below:

In Shahin Ghiray’s Turkish ghazal or circle ode, the center word acts as both the first and last word of each line. A repeating cycle.

Inspiration for 'The Deisi'

In Hinduism and Buddhism, a sacred syllable, word, or verse, that is believed to possess mystical or spiritual power is called a Mantra. Mantras may be spoken aloud or uttered in thought, and may be either repeated or sounded only once. Reminds me of the hymns/chants in various religions.

Mantras are energy /vibration, and these vibrations can do many things. Most mantras have no verbal meaning, but they are significant and are said to help spiritually.

Read more HERE

Carsten Witte

love and light

Trace

xoxo

Soul Searching...

Seeking Connection

Photography by Lena Petersen

The Flower of karmic cycles - Voror

The flower of Vororbla (of karma) is called Voror. 

A sacred flower that produces a carpet of purple in the beautiful otherworldly gardens of Calageata. In Norse mythology, a vǫrðr ("warden," "watcher" or "caretaker") is a warden spirit believed to follow, from birth to death, the soul of every person. At times the warden can reveal itself as a small light or shape of a being - in the book they are known as the elemental Sindria.

A Voror flower fully bloomed represents 

full enlightenment and self-awareness.

Section of lyrics (chorus) from a song written for the book inspired by

 "The Song of Amergin"

'Keep your light bright

So that I might see through the mists,

and once again we can look upon a carpet of purple flowers

Keep your light bright

So that our souls may meet again in your little piece of heaven

Keep your light bright'

(More HERE)

Book Character 

Her little piece of heaven - a visual meditation  (Book one), usually a place of unseen existence that higher souls and deities reside, outside the tangible world. Humans give this otherworldly place many names, but Bea refers to it as heaven.

The Agnaya (Ag-naya) means male energy (Yang)  

The Aniya (A-niya) means female energy (Yin)

 Ameusouya ( Am-e-us-ou-ya ) means complete/whole (you, me, us ~ one)

The complete story of 'Vororbla' will be told over three books.

1. A Carpet of Purple Flowers    ~ Beginning (Released 19th Oct' 2015) Bea's Story

2. Awake in Purple Dreams        ~ Middle      (In progress 2015 - 2016)    Bea's Story

3. The Purple Book of Menteith ~ End            (2017)

4. The Butterfly Bridge               ~ Pre-history

Photography by Marie Hochhaus

love and light

Trace

xoxo

It all started with the feeling of dread...Book Excerpt 'A Carpet of Purple Flowers'

It all started with the feeling of dread...

Chapter 1

Leave the Past Where It Belongs

Walls and shutters were scrawled with neon graffiti that blinded every time a car sped past. Bea averted her eyes from the glare on hearing a cab driver scream at a drunk for throwing a beer can too close to his car. She watched it roll, rattling across the road, until disappearing into a pile of litter that lay by an over-turned bin. She rested her head against the frame of a bare window above the Victorian bookshop. Here, nothing surprised her, it was to be expected, living in one of the worst parts of South London. Perhaps that’s why she never truly felt like it was home. She wanted nothing more than to go to bed, crawl under the covers and settle down for the night with a mug of sweet tea and a good book, consolation for being stupid, too ready to please, as usual.
All day she’d mentally tormented herself for agreeing to attend Leanne’s party, and now it was too late to cancel. She didn’t want to see Brandon, her ex. The man she had successfully avoided for six months. Damn him! Of course he’ll show up. After all, he’s the birthday girl’s brother. Bea sighed, and the closeness of her warm breath on the cold glass caused an area of the window to mist up. She ran her slender finger over the damp blur of condensation, producing a squeaking sound as she casually drew a large question mark.

Images for inspiration purposes only.

Read more HERE ~ http://www.traceyannemccartney.com/book-excerpt.php

The Weekend "Dark Times" Ft. Ed Sheeran [Official Lyrics]

love and light

Trace

xoxo

Urbane Party! June 2015.

Party Time

The writing world: 'Urbane' party. 

What an amazing evening, filled with wonderful people and fabulous conversations.

Through the main entrance and off to find the elusive 'Black Door' of the speakeasy 'Barts'. 

Below - Words from the website…

Barts is a late-night, cocktail bar set in the 1920s prohibition era, run by Chicago gangsters who have set up in London. Uncle Barts’ gangsters are operating their bootlegging activities from this hidden bar within one of the many apartments located on Sloane Avenue. In order to avoid detection from the cops, this hidden speakeasy has been dressed up as the private apartment of the ever elusive proprietor ‘Barts’ – ‘Uncle Barts’ to those that know him best.

 On finding the door and gingerly entering, cartoon strip walls and a pair of scrutinizing eyes greeted me. I smiled, and like magic, another door opened...I was in! 

 Inside, I was greeted with Rosé - Perfect! :o) 

My nerves quickly disappeared on seeing a room filled with friendly, smiling faces.

 Cocktails anyone?

More photos of the event (author names) can be found HERE

This was my first 'author' experience away from the cyber world, excluding of course, the initial signing/meetings with Matthew. I'll admit, I felt a little apprehensive in the days leading up to the event, but honestly, everyone was so amazing that those nerves completely vanished . What a great bunch of people 'The Urbane Family' are. That's the collective term we use for Matthew's ingenious publication that connects us all, a team of friendly people that genuinely care and support each other. Urbane has an extremely promising future and displays collaboration at it's finest! I feel humble to be a part of this magical process and happy that I listened to my heart, which led me here. :o)

Please, feel free to drop Matthew a line if you have a manuscript/book idea that you've been itching to discuss. He's a great guy and doesn't bite, honest :o)

Matthew's email is on the website HERE

'A Carpet of Purple Flowers' website is HERE

Love and light,

Trace

xoxo

Bonnie Scotland Trip - Part One - Inchmahome Priory :o)

THE TROSSACHS

Woohoo! Back from Scotland. Had a wonderful time visiting the places mentioned in the book, prior to last revisions, in time for the release in October 2015. 

Inchmahome Island in Lake Menteith 

Part One - Inchmachome Priory

The name "Inchmahome" comes from the Gaelic Innis MoCholmaig, meaning Island of St Colmaig.

The priory was founded in 1238 by the Earl of Menteith, Walter Comyn, for a small community of the Augustinian order (the Black Canons). The Comyn family were one of the most powerful in Scotland at the time, and had an imposing country house on Inch Talla, one of the other islands on the Lake of Menteith. There is some evidence that there was a church on the island before the priory was established.

 The priory has a long history of receiving many notable guests. King Robert the Bruce visited three times: in 1306, 1308 and 1310. His visits were likely politically motivated, as the first prior had sworn allegiance to Edward I, the English king. In 1358 the future King Robert II also stayed at the priory. In 1547 the priory served as a refuge for Queen Mary, aged four, hidden here for a few weeks following the disastrous defeat of the Scots army at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh during the Rough Wooing.

 Crossing Menteith Lake by ferry to Inchmahome Isle

 The Port 

The decline of the monastic orders in the 16th century was hastened by the fact that the heads of abbeys and priories became appointees of the local landowner, who often did not share the religious goals of the monks or ordained priests. In 1547, the office passed to John, Lord Erskine, who later became head of Cambuskenneth and Dryburgh abbeys. The Scottish Reformation meant that there were no new priests being ordained, and religious land and buildings gradually passed into secular hands, leading to the priory's inevitable decline. In 1606 the land and property passed to the Erskine family, and later to the Marquess of Montrose; the 6th Duke of Montrose passed it into the care of the State in 1926.

 Arriving at the isle

 Although most of the buildings are now ruins, much of the original 13th century structure remains, and it is now in the care of Historic Scotland, who maintain and preserve it as an important historic site. The priory can be visited by boat, operated by Historic Scotland from the nearby pier at Port of Menteith, from March to September.

 I just had to sit on this ancient wall

 Elizabeth, who is like a sister to me, has read the manuscript, several times, and offered to join me on a book road trip. She couldn't wait to visit the places mentioned in the book.  :o) 

 Fireplace

 Fireplace 

 These pictures caught the sun's rays beautifully

 The Chapter House

My heart felt light with the reality of being in the place I'd written about. 

It was more magical than I'd ever imagined :o) 

 Latte break :o 

love and light

Trace

xoxo