Guest Post and Giveaway: Callum’s Fate by Dianne Hartsock

Please join us in welcoming author Dianne Hartsock today, on the tour for her new novella, Callum’s Fate. Dianne’s here to tell us a little bit about some of the fairy tale beings she researched for the story, and is also offering the chance to win a $5 ARe Gift Card and a $2.99 Wayward Ink Publishing Gift Card, so be sure to click on the Rafflecopter widget below to enter.

Good luck!

Thank you so much, The Novel Approach, for having me as your guest today. CALLUM’S FATE is a story rich in the fantastical fae of Scottish legend. Callum is a young man, forced from his impoverished home to find work. But he soon becomes hopelessly lost on the moors, encountering the mischievous imps and brownies who would like to entrap him in their world forever. Luckily, he is befriended by a gruagach, the brownie who quickly captures his heart with his beauty and kindness. But what exactly is a gruagach?

“The long-haired one,” from the Gaelic gruag, a wig. The gruagach is a fairy being with protective duties, apparently of either sex. The gruagach is particularly associated with cattle, and milk is laid aside for him or her every evening—otherwise no milk would be given at the next milking. Usually this being is of a beneficent nature, although it occasionally makes mischief by loosing the cattle so that the herders have to get up, sometimes several times during a night, to tie them up. This apparently causes the gruagach much impish delight.

He is usually seen only by those who possess second sight, though there are instances when he makes himself visible to ordinary people as well. He is said to be jolly and personable, with flowing yellow hair, wearing a broad blue bonnet and carrying a long staff.  -Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brownie_(folklore)

This is the simple definition. I spent many pleasant hours researching Gaelic lore and Scottish legend for my creatures, picking the ones Callum would most likely encounter in his journey, though there are so many more with stories of their own waiting to be told.

Liam, the gruagach, is sent to rescue Callum from the dangerous barrow-wight who wants his soul in payment for Callum disturbing his mound. Liam has some power of his own and spirits Callum to safety, for the moment. But the wight is strong, luring Callum back into his embrace, leaving the gruagach no choice but to bargain with him. Callum finds his fate in the arms of his enchanting gruagach, though danger still lurks in waiting for a moment of carelessness on his part. Let’s hope his gruagach will keep a watchful eye open.

Blurb: In 1780, Scotland, following a harsh year of drought, Callum Mackenzie is forced from his father’s farm in the hopes of finding work.

But as fate would have it, Callum is lured onto the moors by the will-o-the-wisp. Lost in the dark, he falls into enchantment, encountering faeries and nymphs, until he stumbles into the arms of a licentious Barrow-Wight who lays claim to his soul.

Hearing his silent pleas, Donal sends Liam the gruagach (faery) to rescue Callum and bring him to his farm, a place of refuge from the Fae.

Callum is happy working on Donal’s farm, slowly falling in love with the beautiful, silver-haired gruagach.

Yet there’s something wrong in the nearby forest….

Despite Donal’s warnings, Callum is lured into the forest and becomes tangled in its magic, easy prey for the Barrow-Wight.

Will Liam be able to strike a deal with the Barrow-Wight to save Callum’s life, or has Callum found his last resting place instead?

Buy Links: Don’t miss the Valentine’s Day Sale (February 11-17) 50% off on WIP’s website and 40% off on ARe!

WIP || Amazon US || Amazon UK || Amazon AU || Amazon DE || ARe

Book Trailer

About the Author: DIANNE HARTSOCK is the author of m/m erotic romance, both contemporary and fantasy, the psychological thriller, and anything else that comes to mind. Oh, and a floral designer. If she can’t be writing, at least she has the chance to create through the rich colors and textures of flowers and foliage to bring a smile to someone’s face.

Currently, Dianne lives in the Willamette Valley of Oregon with her incredibly patient husband, who puts up with the endless hours she spends hunched over the keyboard letting her characters play.

Social links: Website || Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest

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