Witches on Wednesdays 1: Introduction. Why did I write these books?

Over the next three months the Taskill Witches books are being published, and  I decided to run something special here on the blog— a series of posts for readers who have an interest in Scottish history, the history of witchcraft, or for anyone who is simply interested in the background to my writing and how I came to write these books.

First and foremost my novel length writing is erotic romance, but when we write these kind of stories we know that everything about a character's life from their background to their physical location will influence the way they interact and have relationships. I love exploring relationships and I also love the challenge of meshing external and internal conflict for my characters. I can spend hours thinking about the problems that setting and motivation can bring to a budding love story! Writing about love affairs during passionate, turbulent times in Scotland during the early 1700s was perfect for me. Running alongside the troubled history and the uneasy union with England is the history of persecution for witchcraft. In other words, there was a hell of a lot going on! Danger came in many forms during those times, and that big picture filtered down through my imagination forming into intriguing individual life stories.

The three Taskill novels, THE HARLOT, THE LIBERTINE and THE JEZEBEL, and one previous stand alone novel, RAMPANT, were all inspired by visits to Scotland and learning about the history of witchcraft and persecution there – particularly in the Lowlands. My interest in sexuality and eroticism meant I grabbed the chance to write about characters who might explore sexmagic—the belief that the vital life energy inherent in physical and emotional love can be channeled and used in magical ways.  (Yes, there will be a whole post about that later on. ;)

Why the Lowlands? The more enduring image of Scotland in fiction is the rugged, romantic Highlands. Ultimately that's because the trials went on in the Lowlands. Anything with a mystical or paranormal aspect was much more readily accepted in the Highlands. Distance from the seat of government and the deeper connection with the land and the elements no doubt led to a more whimsical acceptance of the unknown. However, in the Lowlands of Scotland society was more developed during the period I am writing in, and the laws of church and king defined the culture in a much more tangible way.

I visited the East Neuk of Fife around 8 or 9 years ago. I'd visited the cities and Highlands before, but there was something about the Kingdom of Fife and the East Neuk in particular that really captured my imagination. Of course I was already a published writer by that point. In fact part of the reason for the stay was to write while my Real Life Hero went off mountain biking. We stayed in a tiny fisherman's cottage right on the seafront and I quickly abandoned the project I'd taken with me in order to make notes about my surroundings, together with ideas about the people who might have lived there. Whilst in the area I investigated the local history and the folklore, something that always interests me. That in turn led me to the history of persecution that still burdens Scotland today.

In 2008 a petition was presented to government requesting the pardon of over 2,000 individuals who were tortured and put to death in Scotland's history for practicing witchcraft. (You can read about the petition here at the BBC) Those people were often buried in unmarked graves after being put to death, deaths that were justified by confessions that had been elicited from them via cruel torture and deprivation. Later on I'll explore some of the artifacts that have been salvaged from the time of the witch trials. It's a dark history, and that together with the wild, beautiful landscape inspired me to write about fictional characters who found ways to survive and scrabble a living—to live and love and pursue the goal of escaping their fraught history.

While I was in Fife and afterwards my mind ran with questions. What if you were a gifted healer, knew a few things about herbs and how best to treat someone with an illness? Instinct leads people to mistrust and fear what they don't understand. The church cast a long shadow over gifted healers, relating it to evil, satanic ways. And of course it's a handy mechanism for a cruel person to get rid of the hated neighbour, point the finger and say that you saw them cursing the cow's milk making it turn sour. Yes, people were put to death for the most insubstantial things being seen as evidence of evil and witchcraft.

Being a writer my "what if?" manner of thinking soon led me to a whole scenario where people who were *really* gifted with the craft lived in fear of being discovered. Beyond healing, the fictional characters I write about pass down ancient Celtic and Pictish magic from generation to generation – secretly. It was the secret nature of the characters and the world I wanted to write about that appealed to my editor at Harlequin.

The first "witch" character I wrote about was Annabel McGraw, who appears in a historical backstory in the contemporary novel RAMPANT. Annabel was inspired by that fishermen's cottage that we stayed in the East Neuk of Fife! :) Really, I stood at the window looking at the harbor and I thought to myself "who lived here?" This line then popped into my head out of nowhere. "She used to stand here looking out at the fishermen hauling in their catch. She watched their muscled arms work while she decided which of them she would win away from his wife that night." Of course, I had to write it down. :) The cottage we stayed in became the haunted house, Her Haven, in the novel. 

Before we'd even left Fife Annabel was fully formed in my mind. Although she's not the heroine in RAMPANT she is the catalyst for the whole story. She's a very bad girl in many ways, but ultimately knows she's done wrong and she has a good heart. I fell so in love with her story that I wanted to write about more characters who might have lived in that historic world – where the fear of persecution rules you, where everything you do and think can be held accountable because you are gifted in ways that people around you do not understand.

That's how I came to write about the Taskill witches, starting with Jessie in THE HARLOT. (This is the UK cover shown on the right.) The more I read about the witch trials and what had gone on, it made me wonder what if a woman was put to death and she had children? What happened to her children? Would they forever be shamed, perhaps even marked out as potential tools of Satan? What would their lives be like, haunted by the memory of their mother's persecution and death? What if they were split up and had to hide their skills, alone and frightened, to survive? Would they grow up angry, stubborn, or afraid? How would they earn a living, and how would they ever find each other again, in a world where suspicion was rife? Yes, the "what if?" mind of a writer can take you on some interesting journeys. ;o) I wouldn't trade my imagination for the world.

Next week I'm going to talk about why the laws on witchcraft came to exist, the grip they held on society, and when they were broken down. My Taskill novels are set towards the end of the period covered by the laws governing witchcraft. That's because I wanted to write in the time when change was afoot. Often the prospect of change makes things more difficult at first, it's not black-and-white any more and the muddied waters make it hard to know who to trust. By the early 1700s people had begun to question the laws on witchcraft. Perhaps if you were gifted with the craft and wanted to help someone who was sick, you might ask yourself can I trust them? Especially if it was someone in power.

Until next Witches on Wednesdays I'll leave you with some resources about Fife, where I was so thoroughly inspired. :) First up is some footage of the East Neuk from talented enthusiast Andy Campbell. In the first video you'll see the villages of the East Neuk, including Crail, which is the model for the village of Craigduff in THE HARLOT, the village where the hero, Gregor Ramsay, hails from.

In the footage below you can virtually-visit St Monans, which is the model for Carbrey in RAMPANT.

Here are some useful links for more info on Fife:

http://www.visitscotland.com/destinations-maps/kingdom-fife/

http://www.visitfife.com/

http://blog.scotlandinfo.eu/2012/the-pretty-village-of-crail-in-east-neuk-of-fife/

You can find excerpts from the books here:
THE HARLOT
THE LIBERTINE
THE JEZEBEL
RAMPANT

A Passionate Plume award for RAMPANT!

I'm so thrilled to be able to share this news!

I got up this morning to discover that my first Harlequin Books novel, RAMPANT, has won the 2010 Passionate Plume award, paranormal/time travel category. SO exciting! There were so many great books in the line up and it's a tremendous honour for RAMPANT to receive the award.

A big thank you to everyone involved in running the contest and the Passionate Ink chapter, and to all the judges. You can read the full line up here.

You know what this means.. yes! Parteeeeeee time! :D

The moment she arrives at her rented vacation cottage nestled in Scotland, Zoe Daniels feels it--an arousal so powerful she's compelled to surrender to the unusually forceful carnal desires...with nearly anyone who crosses her path. Crawford Logan, the boat builder with the wayward grin. The devilish restaurateur Cain Davot, who seems to know more about Zoe than he lets on. And even her sexy neighbor Grayson Murdoch, whose eyes delve deep into her soul as he explores every inch of her body.

Yet there's something unsettling about the way the locals watch her, something eerie about these overwhelming encounters. Zoe knows she's not quite in control of herself and begins to wonder if there's any truth to the legend of Annabel McGraw, a powerful, promiscuous eighteenth-century witch who once owned the cottage, and whose spirit is rumored to affect anyone who stays there. Zoe doesn't believe in anything that even hints at the occult, but now strange visions are turning frightening...and only one man's touch can bring her back to earth.

Catching up with all my news!

Hi folks, I hope this finds you greeting the new week with a smile. We've just had the most amazing weekend here in the north of England -- sunshine, not a cloud in the sky, and even some (gasp!) heat. A taste of summer! Some of our neighbours even ventured as far as lighting barbecues... of course some of our neighbours have been known to light barbecues in the freezing cold rain, but that's another story. The unexpected glorious weather put me in a good place to start the week. Yay!

I've been busy learning a lot of new software recently and I have to say my brain hurts, but in a good way -- i.e the kind of way that helps to keep it in shape. ;) Writing wise I've got a short story and a novelette on the go at the moment, as well as working on scene outlines for FAYE'S SPIRIT (the novel I will be working on during May.)

I've also had some more terrific news about RAMPANT. Following on from the Passionate Plume finalist listing, I am able to share the news that RAMPANT has been listed as a finalist in both the CRW 2011 Award of Excellence and the Write Touch Readers' Award. I'm blown away about the positive response this novel is having!

Meanwhile, judging by the UK Kindle charts, people are giving my work a try and downloading the free version. Yay! If you are one of those readers and you're new to me, thank you so much for picking up the book. I hope it's been a good read for you.

In other news a lovely new review came in from You Gottta Read Reviews for UNASHAMED, my most recent collection of short erotic stories. Here's a snip!

"I have said it before and I will say it again, Saskia Walker is the queen of steam and she does not disappoint her readers with this compilation of short stories in Unashamed. This time she has assembled eighteen of what have to be the hottest, most explicit and completely unusual tales that I have read in some time, stories that I am sure will become favorites after reading this book. The stories range from the macabre, to the strangely innocent, to D/s and anything in between; each one completely different from the next, illustrating Ms. Walker's mastery of the written word. This author is not presenting her readers with “cookie cutter” versions of the same stories over again, each one is its' own entity. Was I surprised? Certainly and, I was also more than pleased."

Big grin from me! Happy readers make me happy! :)

My work plans for the near future are to finish up working on these two shorties I have on the go at the moment. I need to do that soon because we're having a bit of a break around Easter time for some house maintenance and chill time, followed by a quick trip to Wales to visit Portmeirion in early May. Portmeirion is the place where the cult TV series THE PRISONER was filmed and I've always wanted to visit. I'm very excited about being able to do so at last! I plan to blog about that after the event, so if there is anyone else out there who is a fan of the series and hasn't been able to visit the location I'll have photos and reports.



Have a great week!

Exciting news: Rampant is a Passionate Plume finalist

I got some very exciting news yesterday! I'm thrilled to announce that my 2010 Spice novel, RAMPANT, is a finalist in the Passionate Plume Awards, in the Paranormal/Time Travel category!

Very, very happy that the judges liked the story and thought the book was a good read. It's an honour to be a finalist, and I'm amongst great company! Go here to see the full list of finalists.

Yes, there will be some partying here. :)

PS: If you haven't read this novel and would like to do so, you can currently get a free ebook download for a limited period. Go here, or if you are a UK Kindle user you can get a free copy sent direct to your Kindle.

Check out the "Everyone's Reading" promotion!

I'm delighted to announce that my novel RAMPANT is currently part of the Mills and Boon "Everyone's Reading" promotion, representing the Spice line!

This means that for a limited time you can download the novel for free, along with eleven other Harlequin Mills and Boon books. Click here to check them out.

Looking at historic objects from the Scottish witch trials

Last week I posted this photo, taken at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. In it I'm posing (rather nervously!) close to some lethal looking thumbscrews from the time of the witch trials in Scotland! *shudder* I promised I'd share a couple more of the amazing artefacts in the museums collection.

First up, a bit of background to my interest in this type of collection.

As many of my readers know I've been writing stories inspired by the history and folklore from the time of the Scottish witch trials for the last few years. My interest in Lowland's folklore first came about when we visited Fife back in 2003. We stayed in a fisherman's cottage in the East Neuk of Fife and the main plan was to kick off work on a historical set on the coast, while Mark (my Real Life Hero) went mountain biking in the area. Success on all fronts -- Mark covered many miles and I did some good writing while I was there. The cottage we stayed in was right on the seafront (much like Her Haven, in RAMPANT ;-) and I made notes and wrote several scenes for a historical novel I'd had an idea for. Then I stood by the window and wondered who had lived in the house. As I looked out at the fisherman pulling in their crab baskets, the character of Annabel McGraw from RAMPANT came to me in this line:

She used to stand here, looking out at the fishermen hauling in their catch. She watched their muscled arms work while she decided which of them she would win away from his wife that night...

The line appears in RAMPANT, and it's our first introduction to Annabel's ghost. :-)

While we were out and about in Fife I'd begun to learn about the history of witchcraft and persecution in the area, and that set its own wheels in motion for stories set in Fife. Annabel was a persecuted witch and she is the catalyst for everything that happens in RAMPANT. She is also featured in her own little introductory story, YIELD TO ME, which is a free online read at the Harlequin site. Annabel is the character I've had most feedback from readers about, and she is loved -- even though she was a bad girl and did wrong. ;-)

Since that first trip we've been back to Scotland several times and I always combine research time with leisure time. Edinburgh has a wealth of history in the galleries and museum collections, and each time we visit I see and learn something new. Because of my background in art history I always like to use primary sources where possible when writing (i.e. I'd rather study objects from the time, or a painting done during the actual period I'm writing about, than read a book about it) and there's so much extant history to see and learn about in the UK that I consider myself lucky to be able to get to it. At the National Museum of Scotland they have heaps of amazing artefacts from right across Scotland's history, including quite a collection of metalwork and wooden stocks from the witch trials. These are the grim gadgets that could force a confession from a total innocent wrongly accused, or perhaps a widow woman who knew how to use herbs to cure the odd ailment.

In the photo below you can see another set of thumbcrews with padlock and key, and iron branks with a gag - an item used by the Kirk particularly to silence women accused of gossip. Nice, huh?



Below, manacles and more thumbscrews - someone was having fun creating lots of various designs and ways to crush bones here. Often the accused were kept in these devices for days, without food, water, or sleep, to get the necessary.



Branks with a chain, below, also called "witches bridles." The jagged edge cuts into the skin on the neck to enforce a confession. Often times the cause of the accusation was something as simple as talking in one's sleep...



It's hard to take in how brutal these items are, and the fact that torture and pain were used to extract a "confession" which would then often result in death, but this was a harsh time where lack of knowledge bred fear and those in power could manipulate and use that fear.

I've included the photo below, although this particular item was used on enemies of the crown or government, not witches. Known as "The Maiden" it is a shocking and crude execution device. (No quick, sharp blades here, just heavy bludgeons!) For those accused of witchcraft the preferred means of execution was a public hanging, followed by burning of the dead body – just to be sure, I guess... Stoning and even more brutal deaths were reported, including one case where a woman was crushed to death beneath a house door, by fellow villagers who'd been convinced of her true nature by those who had extracted the confession.


The reason I'm giving a little smile in this photo? A school trip were fleeting through the exhibition while we were taking our photos and this one little lad was intent on chasing a pal, until he paused to look at what we were photographing and squealed loudly when he realised what it was. I couldn't help smiling so you've been spared the grim expression I had when first approaching the gruesome object.

I'm still learning about the legacy of persecution and there is much more to explore. Importantly, it’s the element of secrecy that such trials might have brought about that characterises my fictional accounts of practicing pagan witches during those times. The foundation of paganism is belief in nature and its power. My editor felt that was what was appealing about my stories -- that the magic was covert, and its pagan origins led to convincing scenarios for a paranormal erotic world, a world that secretly existed beneath the ongoing fear and turmoil in Scotland throughout times of religious and political upheaval, the battles and subsequent union with England.

The fictional characters began to multiply in my imagination, each with their own tale to tell! My editor particularly loved Annabel's back story in RAMPANT, and went on to commission THE HARLOT, a novel that is set wholly in the early 1700's, where both the legacy of persecution and the nature of pagan sexmagic are further explored. THE HARLOT is due out in a couple of months. The heroine in that story is called Jessie Taskill, and she (along with her two siblings, Maisie and Lennox) witnessed their mother's execution for witchcraft when they were children. They were subsequently separated, but their inherited and learned powers thrived in secret, and as adults they each hope to seek each other out. Later this year I will be writing THE LIBERTINE (Lennox Taskill's story) and THE JEZEBEL (Maisie Taskill's story.)

In the meantime you can read a sample from THE HARLOT here. ARC's will be available for reviewers at Netgalley very soon!

It is a Dark Era, one when a lusty lass will do what she must to survive. Even if it means bartering flesh for a palmful of coins…

Forced to watch her mother burned at the stake and separated from her siblings in the aftermath, Jessie Taskill is similarly gifted, ripe with a powerful magic that must stay hidden. Until one night when she's accused by a rival, and Jessie finds herself behind prison walls with a roguish priest unlike any man of the cloth she has known.

In reality, Gregor Ramsay is as far from holy as the devil himself, but his promise of freedom in return for her services may be her salvation. Locked into a dubious agreement, Jessie resents his plan to have her seduce and ruin his lifelong enemy. But toying with Gregor’s lust for her is enjoyable, and she agrees to be his pawn while secretly intending to use him just as he is using her.

A French translation for RAMPANT!

RAMPANT is now available in French translation, with a gorgeous new cover! It was such a thrill for me to see this version. I love the cover, and the title too. "Envoûtement" means "Witchery," a terrific alternative. Although I only have a smattering of French I can tell from the blurb and the bio that the translator, Alba Neri, has done a lovely job of expressing my enthusiasm for Scotland and the inspiration I found in the landscape, history, and folklore surrounding witchcraft. Thank you, Alba!

Here's the cover copy:

Présentation de l'éditeur

A peine Zoë a-t-elle atteint le petit village de Carbrey, perdu au nord de l'Ecosse, qu'elle se sent envahie par d'étranges sensations. Vibrant d'une énergie nouvelle, intensément sensuelle, elle a l'impression, sur cette terre mystérieuse, de devenir une autre femme. Bien plus désirable, et surtout follement désirante. Loin, très loin de la jeune femme sage qu'elle était à Londres... Est-ce bien elle qui, incapable de résister au désir brutal qui l'anime, ne peut trouver l'apaisement que sous les caresses de son ténébreux voisin, Grayson Murdoch ? Elle encore, la maîtresse insatiable qui, prête à tout pour éteindre le feu qui la dévore, soutient les regards lourds de désir de tous ceux qu'elle croise, ces hommes et ces femmes au comportement étrange qui la troublent au plus haut point ? Comme si on l'avait ensorcelée... Et pourquoi pas ? Tout, ici, ne parle-t-il pas de légendes, de magie et de force tellurique, capables de réveiller les désirs les plus enfouis ?

Biographie de l'auteur

C'est lors d'un voyage dans le nord de l'Ecosse que Saskia a eu l'idée de ce roman si troublant : définitivement inspirée par le décor sauvage et par les sensations uniques que cette terre lointaine faisait naître en elle, elle a voulu offrir une expérience aussi intense à ses lecteurs. Mission réussie : on se laisse prendre avec plaisir à l'écriture aussi romanesque que sensuelle de Envoûtement.

Available from Amazon.fr and direct from Harlequin France.

It also looks as if might be available in the UK at some point, from Amazon.UK, so if you want to practise your French ... ;o)

RT award nomination for RAMPANT!

Someone pinch me! I heard from my editor this afternoon with the exciting news that RAMPANT has been nominated for the 2010 RT Reviewers Choice Awards in the Best Erotic Paranormal/Fantasy category!! I’m amazed and honoured and (quite frankly) stunned by the news. Very exciting indeed.

As it starts to sink in, it makes me think of the East Neuk of Fife and the places that inspired the novel, and I'm so grateful to have been there and been able to write my story. I think I'd better go crack open a celebratory drink before I get all sentimental. :)

Book giveaway

Have you read my novel RAMPANT? If not, would you like to win one? Naughty bunny Jessica Rabbit has a print copy to give away this week. Just call by her site and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Exciting news for RAMPANT!

Lovely news in today -- RAMPANT, my April Spice novel, is listed in two categories in the Bookie Awards nominations! It's in both the erotic romance and erotica categories, where there are so many fabulous books that I'm thrilled and more than a wee bit over-awed to see it there. :)

Thank you so much to those who nominated my novel!

From Montreal to Carlisle

Anyone who reads my blog from time to time will know how excited I get when someone sends me a photo of my books on bookshelves! As a British author mostly published in the US I never get to see my novels in bookshops in my own country. I've seen many anthologies that include my work, Black Lace books, Cleis Press books, and any Mammoth collections I've been in – always a great cause for excitement! But my novels aren’t shipped to UK shops, only online retailers.

The very lovely, charming and talented Jeremy Edwards has sent me this super photo from a bookstore in Montreal. Not one but two of my titles. Thank you so much, Jeremy! It always amazes me to see this. Like.. I still can't believe I even have my work published, and yet there the books are!

So why Montreal to Carlisle..? Well, earlier this year we spent a few days in the Lake District. On a particularly rainy day we headed north to the city of Carlisle. Carlisle is a border city, next stop Scotland. As always we headed into the bookshop while we were there. There was a good sized Waterstones and we eagerly approached the erotica and romance shelves. I was hoping to catch sight of the latest Cleis press anthologies, and I always look for my pals books too, because I get a buzz out of that. This is where Mark has to stand by patiently while I squeal: "Oh look, Portia, Alison, Jeremy…" etc

As I approached the shelves I squeaked "Ooh look, James Lear!" I ducked down to the shelf for a closer look and… shock horror!...I see a familiar spine, a spine I've only ever seen on my own bookshelf at home... Yes, there was a copy of my 2006 Berkley novel, DOUBLE DARE. You could have knocked me over with a feather. My jaw literally fell open.



Not only have I never seen one of my own novels on the shelves in the UK, but this one is from 2006, my first print published novel. Why was it here, in the bookshop all the way up at the northern reach of England? We could only speculate that a copy was thrown into a box being shipped over, by mistake or chance. Or perhaps someone ordered it and never picked it up.



Needless to say there was much squeeing and gushing, pointing and wondering. I made quite a scene, in other words ;o) It was a golden moment!

What am I working on now?

After the summer of many deadlines I can currently be a bit more flexible and flip around between shorter projects I'm working on to break things up. Two novels have been completed and submitted this year, THE HARLOT and MONICA'S SECRET. Soon those manuscripts will be on their way back to me for revisions, edits, and proofing. I'm on standby.

I have two more big projects I want to finish before the year is out, but I'm not starting those until October. At the moment I'm concentrating on finishing up short stories, outlining my new ideas for the year ahead, editing a novella that has to be reworked, and doing admin stuff such as bringing my accounts and web site up-to-date. I confess I find it easier to pull away for revisions when working on small projects, so I will maintain that pattern until the end of the month.

October through to the end of the year I hope to complete two short novels, HOLLY'S INTUITION, and FAYE'S SPIRIT. These are books 2 and 3 in the Erogenous Zones series, the stories of psychic sisters Monica, Holly and Faye Evans. I'm eager to get on with book 2, Holly’s story. Holly's psychic ability is subtle, but undergoes a massive change when she keeps a neighbour alive following a car accident. From that point on she is deeply connected to him, and that means she sees and experiences what he does during moments of passion. Holly’s neighbour is bisexual, and as she gets involved with him, she also gets involved with his male lover…and she has to tell them what she's seen, and felt…It's going to be an interesting one! :) I can’t wait to get started.

Over the next couple of weeks I'll also be posting some background about the “world” of RAMPANT here at the blog -- why I write Scottish witches, some notes about the artefacts that exist from the time of the Scottish witch trials, and thoughts about the Fife landscape and coastline. If you enjoyed RAMPANT this will be bit of background information that you might find interesting.

To finish today, a quick reminder that if you are a USA or Canada resident, you can enter the eXcessica scavenger hunt for your chance to win a kindle. Go here to find out more.

5 hearts for RAMPANT from The Romance Studio!

Back to writing here after that short break last week, and I'll post more about what I'm working on between now and Christmas. Meanwhile, I thought I'd share a new review. I woke up to this wonderful commentary on RAMPANT today! Many thanks to Roxanne and The Romance Studio for taking the time to look at my book and comment.

When Zoe Daniels arrives at her rented cottage in Scotland, a lovely find thanks to her sister, her plan is to unwind and take some time for herself. The demands of her career and the loss of her mother have taken their toll, and the beautiful landscape of the Scottish coast seems just the thing.

Relaxation isn't to be as Zoe, upon arrival, is plagued by paranoia and sexual desire like nothing she's ever experienced. Particularly where sexy Grayson Murdoch is concerned. The academic is her neighbor, in the area to study the local folklore, in particular the area's historical witches. Together they are thrown into a maelstrom of lust, danger, and ghostly possession. Will they survive?

When I elected to read this work, I expected the suggested paranormal elements to be used merely as a catalyst for several sexual escapades. While this expectation was met, what I didn't anticipate was how well and how fully realized the world of witches, magic, and possession would be in this story. It provided an eerie atmosphere and an underlying sense of danger that framed what was a really good story.

The characters were fantastic. Zoe was immensely likeable and fragile, but strong when faced with a situation that would break many people. Watching her cope with the danger gathering around her, enveloping her, was a real treat. Grayson, who didn't initially seem like he'd be a good match for her was a wonderful complement and perfect for both her and this story. The secondary characters were just right, the dialogue was good, and the pacing of the story increased as it went along to heighten the sense of danger. The setting couldn't have been better. I absolutely loved this story. The author did a tremendous job of taking what looks like just another paranormal erotic work and creating a tale that is unforgettable.

Overall rating: 5 hearts
Sensuality rating: Explicit
Reviewer: Roxanne
September 15, 2010

Happy dancing!

Time out for a writer. What does that actually mean?

After the summer-of-many-deadlines I came to the conclusion that I needed a few days away from the keyboard. What does "time out" actually mean for a writer who is attempting to make a living at the job she loves? ;o) Well, for this one it means doing stuff like cleaning house, washing the curtains, weeding and pruning, getting the boiler serviced, reading for friends, checking supplies, and updating accounts. In other words it’s hardly a rest. Then again, a change is as good as a rest. It’s been a good chance to do some of the stuff that I don’t get done the rest of the time, and I do feel refreshed.

In reality, a writer’s work is as long as a piece of string. If you’re trying to make it pay your bills, as many of us are, the best thing you can do to build your career is: keep writing, do as much promo as you can hack, and pretty much everything else (that is non life threatening or the man of your dreams) takes second place. Yay, that means the dishes can wait, right? ;o)

However, I do have a couple of fun days ahead -- also vital to refill the creative well. Dangerous Liaisons in Ballet form, courtesy of the Northern Ballet company (a birthday treat from my Real Life Hero!) and a trip out for some Yorkshire scenery, shopping and lunch. Then it’s back to the writing schedule until the end of the month when we escape to the rugged East Coast.

Meanwhile, a super new commentary came in for RAMPANT, from author Casey Sheridan. She said: Wonderfully written. Unique story. Luscious hero. Scorching hot read. I loved it! One of my top five favorite books. 5/5 stars.

Yay! Thanks Casey. I’ve also seen a review of the Italian translation. I don’t speak Italian but I get the feeling that “Splendido...” and “Bello, bello, bello!” sound like the reader might have enjoyed it. :)

Good Reads readers have posted some very encouraging responses to RAMPANT. Thank you so much! I appreciate every post, and I’m so pleased readers are enjoying this book!

I promised some special blog posts on my research and resources, and a discussion about the artifacts that are still extant from the time of the Scottish witch trials. Those things are on my to-do list, so do call back if you’re interested in finding out more about the background to my Scottish witchcraft novels. (Both RAMPANT, out now, and THE HARLOT, June 2011)

Meanwhile, if you’ve read RAMPANT and enjoyed it do let me know, or post a review comment. I’m trying to decide whether to do more paranormal and reader feedback is the best feedback I can get.

I'm at the Fierce Romance blog today

I'm over at the Fierce Romance blog today.

Fellow Red Sage author Nicole North has interviewed me and we chat about my story in SECRETS vol 29 and other stuff. There's also a book giveaway for one random person who leaves a comment.

Go here to read more.

Parli Italiano? RAMPANT in Italy!

I'm excited! RAMPANT is now available in Italian! I've had several short stories translated, but this is my first full length novel translation. Seems like a good reason for a party, si..? :)

An online translator seems to think the title, SORTILEGIO D'ESTATE, means Summer Witchcraft, or Summer Spells. Any Italian speakers out there who can confirm that for me?

Anyway here is the blurb, and then the online translator's version - cos they are always good for a laugh and this one had me in stitches!!

SORTILEGIO D'ESTATE

di SASKIA WALKER

Zoe Daniels è una segretaria superefficiente, razionale e piena di buonsenso, che trascorre una sospirata settimana di ferie in un delizioso paesino sulla costa scozzese...

La sua vacanza non si preannuncia esattamente all'insegna del relax; una strana atmosfera di eccitazione erotica pervade la villetta che ha affittato, anche a causa di un misterioso e conturbante vicino, Grayson Murdoch, un professore universitario i cui interessi di ricercatore permettono a Zoe di allargare i suoi orizzonti verso una dimensione magica e sensuale. Tra apparizioni, riti dionisiaci e magia nera, Zoe si trova coinvolta in un sortilegio che dovrebbe riportare in vita l'anima di una strega. E se lo spirito che vuole impossessarsi del suo corpo è quello di una donna passionale, l'esperienza di Zoe assume i connotati di un viaggio nel mondo dell'eros più sfrenato.

*

SPELL SUMMER

Saskia Walker

Zoe Daniels is a super-secretary, rational and full of common sense, who spends a longed-week holiday in a delightful village on the Scottish coast ...

Your holiday promises to be not exactly relaxing, a strange atmosphere of erotic excitement pervades the house that he rented, partly because of a mysterious and disturbing nearby Grayson Murdoch, a professor whose research interests allow Zoe to broaden its horizons to a magical dimension and sensual. Between appearances, Dionysian rites and black magic, Zoe is involved in a spell that should revive the soul of a witch. And if the spirit that wants to take possession of his body is that of a passionate woman, the experience of Zoe takes the features of a journey into the world of eros more rampant

:o)

More great feedback for RAMPANT!

Susan Rix has reviewed RAMPANT, and she has some super things to say!

Susan's rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rampant is Saskia Walker’s first novel for Harlequin Spice and my first Spice read.

Phewww! There’s nothing like jumping in at the deep end and the author does this with the very first words of Rampant’s prologue. This leaves you in no doubt that you’re reading erotic fiction. Yet, as with all the stories Saskia Walker writes, there’s much more to them than their erotic nature... Read full review here!

Thank you, Susan! I couldn't be more pleased with the responses this novel is getting. Happy, happy days! :)

Just a quick post today. Loverboy and I are busy throwing a few things in a bag here. We're off to the Lake District for a few days midday on Monday. On the agenda: fresh air, reading, rest, and lots of lovely together time. Can't wait. :)

Yes, I've had a face lift...

...or at least the blog has. I need one too, but that's another story.

Apologies to anyone who called by when I was trying out different things with the blog, I was having way too much fun with it! Ultimately I fell in love with the sensuous roses so I think we'll be staying with this one for the time being, and it does work well with my web site colours.

Don't worry, I have been doing proper work as well! I'm deep in THE HARLOT again, (uuumm..oooerr! And funnily enough, so true. Emotionally! Well....okay, and the rest. ;-) I'm at the stage where I'm wondering how I'm going to fit all of what is left to do in the word count available. The only thing to do is to press on...and pray!

Less than two weeks until SORCERESS is due out. I'm excited! I worked hard revising this previously published novel and I think it turned out really well. It's a much stronger, more passionate, tighter and faster story overall.

Meanwhile, I've had some lovely feedback on RAMPANT, especially over at Good Reads, and it really helps to know readers enjoyed that book as I work on my next.

I've also had another sighting! Thanks to the lovely Jeremy Edwards, I got to see RAMPANT on shelves in Borders in Central Philadelphia!



Have a great weekend folks! I'll be deep in the... er, Harlot. Writing!

RAMPANT is a Joyfully Recommended title!

Thrilled to bits here, Amelia at Joyfully Reviewed has listed RAMPANT as a Joyfully Recommended title! Here's what she had to say:

Oh my…grab a bucket of ice, set it by the fan and then turn off the phone, because once you start this novel you won’t want to put it down. Rampant is by turns sexy, erotic and dark, and it kept me enthralled, page after page. I fell in love with Zoë from the opening scene. She is an independent woman who doesn’t allow herself to be lead around by the nose. Her reactions to the things that happen are realistic and heart-felt, and at times I could see myself with her, wondering what was happening and what she was going to do about it.

To say I loved the ride this book took me on is an understatement. When I had to put it down I thought about when I could go back to Carbery and see what would happen next; and when I finished it I wanted to read it again, just so I could absorb more of the story.

If you enjoy books that explore the darker side of love you’ll savor this one. I know I relished each sexy, dark angsty moment. Rampant is definitely a keeper for me, and a Joyfully Recommended title. Read full review here.

*happy* :)

I'm elsewhere today...

I'm over at Jennifer Conner's column at the Seattle Examiner today, talking about heart stopping moments & cover art. Go HERE to read more.