Who wants to fly? Guest Blogger Beth Caudill plus a SALE announcement - Tethered #sale

By Beth Caudill

When my friend Melissa Snark started the Zodiac Shifters series, I couldn’t wait to write an Aquarius story.  I have a February birthday and as a teenager, I read my horoscope religiously.  Sometimes for a good laugh and sometimes because I needed my life explained.

Aquarius, an air sign despite being the Water Bearer, inspired me to write a shifter with wings.  Not dragons. I know everyone likes them, and I did bring one to my town of Willows Haven, but I wanted to play with some avian friends.

I’ve always wanted to fly, more so through space but still flying is my ultimate dream. I can’t do it in real life, so writing about it is the next best thing. There are lots of predatory birds to choose from: eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. After flipping through some books and a few youtube videos, I settled on the fastest bird—the Peregrine Falcon.

The peregrine falcon can reach amazing speeds on a dive but is hampered in its maneuverability. Check out this video - https://youtu.be/legzXQlFNjs  Every mom has their trials trying to feed their kids.

Sometimes it’s better to hide than become prey for a larger predator.

Peregrine Falcon photo taken by Beth Caudill at the North Carolina Zoo.


Excerpt of Tethered


Chapter One

     Evelyn Brooks raced across a purple-tinged sky. Behind her, lightning and thunder clashed within baleful clouds. Her wings dipped in a strong crosswind and plunged her toward the earth. Muscling through the gale, she climbed into a less turbulent current. She’d never make Raleigh before getting soaked, despite the speed her Peregrine form achieved.
     A ferocious roar drowned out the whistle of the wind. The upward flap of her wings faltered, and her blood chilled. Turning into a different current, she glimpsed the silhouette of an enormous beast against the storm’s clouds.
     Below her, the treetops of a deciduous forest with red-kissed leaves due to an early frost stood sentry. She took shelter within the branches of an oak tree.
     The whoosh of wings induced Evelyn to shrink against the tree trunk and dig her talons into the bark as the limbs swayed. A strong crosswind contorted the tree further. Another roar challenged the incoming storm’s might and silenced the nighttime creatures.
     Twisting her head, she glanced through the foliage into the cloud-filled sky. A dark shadow moved against the dark gray backdrop. Gigantic wings lifted a massive creature high into the sky.
     Hunted until extinct, dragons had been stripped of their scales and blood, their magic forever lost to the supernatural communities. For eons they’d guarded and sheltered those seeking wisdom or healing until humans, who couldn’t control their desires, rampaged across the earth and destroyed all the sanctuaries.
     Apparently, the purge hadn’t destroyed them all, and the approaching storm had disturbed this one’s slumber.
     Moving to the East Coast was supposed to keep Evelyn safe. Free her of the disturbing sense that someone watched her. Maybe stimulate her creativity and spark a burst of artistry. Instead, she was denied the escape of flight and forced to hide.
     She stared longingly at the sky. Only when she rode the winds, sweeping high above, did she find peace. Released from the entanglements on the ground, flying freed her mind and stimulated the creative well inside her. Using her camera to record the beauty around her was potent, but it was nothing compared to the enthrallment of soaring in the air.



Evelyn Brooks lives with the freedom only her kind can know—in her human form as a photographer, and in the skies as a falcon. When a stalker drives her from her home, Evelyn discovers a beautiful, wild sanctuary in North Carolina. After a bolt of magic knocks her from the sky, leaving her helpless, she realizes too late that danger invaded her refuge.

Park ranger Lawke Morgan’s day goes from bad to worse when his ex-wife unexpectedly drops off their 13-year-old daughter in the beginning of a dangerous storm. His life takes a turn for the bizarre after he finds an injured Peregrine falcon that transforms into a lovely woman.

When his daughter is kidnapped by an Aztec priest, one who should have been dead for centuries, Lawke learns that Evelyn holds the key to the priest’s demands. Together they must confront blood sacrifices, defy ancient gods and find a way to trust each other when a young girl’s life hangs in the balance.

Can a woman used to soaring amongst the clouds embrace love with a man firmly rooted on the ground?


Currently on sale for $0.99
January 20 – February 18, 2018

Buy NOW

Amazon US – http://www.amzn.com/B01NH9KZT9/

Google – https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Beth_Caudill_Tethered_A_Zodiac_Shifters_Book?id=_fYWDgAAQBAJ


Although Beth grew up in West Virginia, she currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two sons and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who makes an excellent lap warmer. Blending the analytical and creative sides of her brain, she delights in creating fantasy worlds for others. Catch her online most days except when NCIS and Once Upon a Time air.


Author Website: http://BethCaudill.net/
Author Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cEp6b1
Author Email: beth@bethcaudill.net

Comments

  1. Thank you for hosting me today. I hope everyone has a great week.

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    1. Thank for being my guest blogger Beth! Great post :-)

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  2. Great excerpt! I'd love to be able to soar through the sky. Good luck with your sale.

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  3. I'm a Gemini. As a kid, every day I'd get my dad's paper and read my horoscope. Wondered how the newspaper could know me. LOL
    Loved your excerpt and love the idea of Zodiac shifters.
    Best wishes for lots of sales!

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    1. LOL! I did the same thing Sandra! Thank you for visiting :-)

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    2. Sandra - My second story in the series is a Gemini. Inspired by my Mom and my hubby. :)

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  4. Sounds like a really interesting read, Beth. Love the originality. Best wishes

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  5. Oh, that sounds wonderful! Good luck with it.

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    1. I think it sounds wonderful, too! Thanks for stopping by, Jennifer :-)

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    2. Thank you Jennifer. Have a great week.

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  6. Your story sounds intriguing! Best of luck with the sale!

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  7. My heavens, Beth, you seem to have a vivid imagination. Aztec priest??? LOVE it.

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    1. Thank you M. S. I wanted something different. Have a great week.

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    2. I agree! A great quality to have as a writer!

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  8. Sounds like a great read Beth! Best of luck with the sale!!

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  9. Falcons are beautiful birds. Love the idea of a shifter becoming one. Your excerpt is great – showing the thrill and the dangers of flying. And what an interesting story. Best of luck!

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    1. I love falcons and have one in my own books so I was instantly drawn to this story, too. Such a great concept :-)

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    2. Thank you Cat. While I mostly see songbirds in my backyard, I do have a soft spot for the predatory birds. In my Gemini story, the hero will be an owl shifter. Owls are my favorite birds - I blame Winnie the Pooh - but falcons are good too. :)

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