Thursday 24 April 2014

Guest Post Shades of Avalon by Carol Oates



Guest Post:

A number of the prominent women from Irish legend crossed paths with  Chulainn, known as Sétanta in his early years. Chulainn was said to have been blessed by a God of theTuatha  Danann. He was a great warrior and was quite theladies man.
Macha - The second wife of farmer, Crunniuc. While she was heavily pregnant, Crunniuc bet the King she could run faster than any of his horses. She was called and told to race. When she refused, the King threatened to kill Crunniuc. So she ran.And she won. But fell at the finish line and went into labor. She didn’t go down alone, all the warriors of Ulster felt her pain. She cursed them with similar pain for 5 days and 4 nights in their time of greatest need, for nine generations.Thereafter, the seat of Ulster was named Emain Macha.
Deichtine - From a bloodline of powerful druids, she was adruidess of Emain Macha, a charioteer of a king, and the mother of Sétanta.  
Scathach - Although not Irish, Scathach has ties to Ireland. This Scotish Warrior Maiden was said to have trained many Irish warriors including Sétanta, by then known as Chulainn (Culann’s Hound) after he took the place of a dog he accidently slaughtered. He was sent to prepare for tasks to win the hand of his love, Emer. While there  Chulainn tookScathach’s daughter as his lover. Later, in celebration of completing his training, Scathach took him to her own bed.
Aife - An Irish druidess living in Scotland was charged with training young warriors in battle and love. When she challenged Scathach to single combat,  Chulainn fought in her place. He defeated Aife through trickery and agrees to let her live if she makes peace with Scathach and bares him a son. She did. She was also the wife of Lir, the woman so maddened with jealousy of her husband’s love for his children, that she turned them into Swans.
Scenmed - When  Chulainn returned to Ireland, he eloped with Emer, much to her father’s anger. To redeem himself, he had to face a warrior in battle. But Emer’s father didn’t choose a man to fight him. He sent ScenmedEmer’s warriorstep-sister. However bravely she fought, she was defeated.
Morrígan and Medb(Maeve) - Queen Madb, meaning “she who makes men drunk” was formidable with a strong sexual appetite and lust for power. When she took a husband, she chose the young and wealthy King of Connacht. They had seven sons and one daughter, but when the King boasted his wealth had exceeded hers, she set her sights on the Brown Bull of Ulster. Her husband owned the White Bull of Connacht.
During the The Cattle Raid of Cooley, Medb initially seemed to be making headway since the, still at this point, 17-year-old champion of Ulster,  Chulainnwas off bedding a woman instead of watching the boarder.
When the Warriors of Ulster were struck down by Machascurse, he invoked the challenge of single combat. It was here Chulainn first displayed the supernatural battle ability endowed on him by a God of the Tuatha  Danann.
Morrígan came to him in the form of a beautiful woman and offered herself to him. Unusually, he turned her down. Enraged, she promised to interfere with the battle. Which she did in the form of animals, until he showed her kindness whenshe was injured.
 Chulainn continued single combat but sat out the battle when his men finally awoke. Medb’s army was defeated andshe retreated, but took the bull with her.
 Chulainn lived to love and fight another day.



The Shades Series (book #2)
Publisher: Omnific Publishing
Paranormal Romance

What They Say:

Ben Pryor grew up as an average kid in Camden, Maine, unaware of the supernatural storm brewing in his Celtic blood. However, at nineteen, as the last born in the royal line of the beings that once ruled Atlantis, Ben has eagerly embraced his newfound abilities and birthright. 

When Caleb, his sister’s mate, goes missing under suspicious circumstances, the prime suspect is the last remaining member of the overthrown corrupt Guardian Council. 

With the discovery that an old acquaintance has been keeping secrets and the future Ben was so sure of shifting before his eyes, the situation becomes more complicated, the ransom for Caleb too high.

In the sequel to Shades of Atlantis, Ben will delve deeper than he ever imagined into the magical old ways of the Guardians, the secrets of Excalibur, and the truth behind the legend of King Arthur.




About the Author

Carol Oates came into the world on Christmas morning, in an elevator. Raised just across the street from the childhood home of Bram Stoker, author of Dracula, it was only a matter of time before Carol’s love of all things supernatural would emerge.

She began experimenting with fiction at school and keeps the notebook containing her first unpublished novel in her desk drawer. Over three decades later, all her stories still begin life scrawled on paper.


When not writing, Carol can be found exploring history with her son. Luckily, he shares her love of old buildings, castles, and tombs.

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1 comment:

  1. Interesting info provided by Carol!

    Glad you were part of the tour!

    ReplyDelete