UK Appreciation Month; Dianna Hardy - Guest Post and International Giveaway

Witches in London, and Werewolves in Surrey

by Dianna Hardy

Thank you so much to Donna and Misty for asking me to be a part of their UK month! I love talking about the UK, so I’m thrilled to be here :D

And this is basically going to be a guest post about why I love the UK, and I’m going to keep it short, because as much as I love Britain, I can’t sit through 1000 words of an article ;)

I was adamant from the start that I wanted to base my paranormal romances and urban fantasies in Britain. This place is filled with paranormal, from the ghosts of Yorkshire, to the (sometimes creepy) history of London, to the Pagan roots found all over this island, and the Celtic myths and legends surrounding it.

Why aren’t there more UK writers of paranormal fiction? It’s beyond me…

When I was little, I was whisked away on family holidays around the UK because my dad wanted to instil some culture in us as well as enjoying a break during the half-terms. I admit that I didn’t find the UK all that great back then. There are only so many heritage houses you can look at when you’re ten before you’re bored out of your mind – although I always, always loved the countryside here, and the country I loved to visit the most was actually Scotland, for its ruggedness and rawness. It really is an amazing place, and I’ve been back quite a few times.

It wasn’t until I was in my late teens / early twenties, after I had left home and started to explore my love of the “paranormal” through Pagan and shamanic studies, that I really started to appreciate all that Britain offers, and when I began writing fiction, I knew I would set all my stories here – I mean, how could I not?!

In The Witching Pen trilogy (and in the upcoming The Last Dragon) I write about witches, demons and angels who live and convene in London – we get a feel for Hyde Park and the joy that is rush hour, lol.

On a separate nore I loved that about Harry Potter – that that entire series really utilised the feel of Kings Cross station – and Diagon Alley is exactly like a few back streets in certain places in London, maybe less the magical items, but still full of little quirky shops that sell odd bits and pieces. But my favourite UK author of the paranormal has to be James Herbert – he really captures this country perfectly when he writes about it.

My upcoming series about werewolves have a pack living in the Surrey Hills, a place were you can find some friggin’ awesome woodland that is so old and very, very magical. Fairies still live there – not that they feature in my werewolves series, but my point is that a lot of places in Britain have been left untouched in many ways. Just small pockets, but they are there nonetheless – you just have to find them.

And I think that, to me, that’s what stands out about the UK: it seems to keep itself alive somehow, despite the technical and destructive changes that the centuries bring. The one other thing that I adore about Britain, is how you can drive (sometimes walk) for no more than twenty minutes, and be in thick woodland, having just left a bustling town or city. There is so much variety – we really do have four very different seasons – and I, for one, certainly appreciate that variety. In fact, I crave it :)

The Witching Pen

(Book One of The Witching Pen Novellas) 

It's hard being the most powerful witch on the planet. It's even harder when you're a twenty-five year old virgin who'll lose all of that power the moment you sleep with someone ... that's why Elena's never slept with her best friend and flatmate, Karl, despite the true feelings they harbour for each other.

Elena's about to discover that there are even more difficult things in life to deal with. One of them comes in the form of a pen she discovers one day, a pen that allows anything she writes to come to pass...

Suddenly, it's not just her powers or her heart that's at stake, but her very soul, as a dream demon with a seductive pull uses the pen to try and turn her away from her reality, and from Karl.

But the pen is just the beginning. Everything Elena has believed in is a lie, and her world is about to fall apart...

I have some spare Witching Pen bookmarks and postcards (signed) to give away!
 So I’m happy to send them out to the first ten comments below who can tell me what they loved about the UK when they visited, or (if you haven’t been here) what you imagine the UK to be like. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you for an postal address! And it's international too! 

- Ends 30th November. 

Author Bio: 

Dianna Hardy is a multi-genre author of paranormal things, dark things, poetic things, sexy things, taboo things, and sometimes funny things. She writes about witches, demons and angels. All info about her books can be found on her website DiannaHardy.com

The Witching Pen trilogy (adult paranormal / urban fantasy romance) is available in digital and paperback formats. All info and buy links can be found on the series website The Witching Pen Novellas.

Eye Of The Storm (adult dark paranormal romance) will have its first book, Releasing The Wolf, published in December, 2012. All information can be found here: Eye Of The Storm.

FOLLOWERS:  
Don't forget to stop by Misty's blog today to see Moria Young's post with a Giveaway.
Click on the button below.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading :)