We’re so pleased to have author Rhys Ford joining us today, release day, on the tour for her latest novel, Savior, book two in the 415 Ink series. Rhys is here to talk tats with us, and there’s also a giveaway so be sure to check out the Rafflecopter widget below for details.
Welcome, Rhys!
Well, I want to thank everyone for following the blog tour for 415 Ink: Savior! I’m going to use the same intro for every piece in case someone jumps in midway because that way everyone starts off on the same page. So, if you’re joining midway, be sure to backtrack and catch the other posts because we’ll be exploring tattoos. Be sure to catch Savior, the second book in the 415 Ink series, on its release date of September 18!
This has been a crazy series to write and as much as I enjoyed it, it’s always a challenge to bring a fully fleshed character with very real problems to the page. I hope that if you read Savior, you will fall in love with Mace and be with him on his journey as he, in turn, falls in love with Rob.
Since the tattoo shop, 415 Ink, is such a central heart of the series, I wanted to talk about tattoo symbolism very briefly, because there’s a lot of opinions and cultural attachments to certain tattoos. What could be presented on this tour is just a small sampling of what people believe certain images mean and how they connect to the people who choose to wear them on their skin.
I’m going to say that tattoos are not for everyone, but I do have a hard-core cultural association with them so I’m very fond of tattoos. I feel it is a very personal thing and should be taken seriously because you are going to wear it for the rest of your life. But, I also do believe even the tiniest flash tattoo means something to someone, and everyone getting ink should be respected for their choices. Someone’s little flower on an ankle could mean their experiment into pushing themselves to fearlessness or captures the memory of something they shared with someone. Not every tattoo needs to be huge or an artistic rendering of the Sistine Chapel. But they should have meaning.
I believe a tattoo should be a piece of yourself the inker draws out of your soul and embellishes on your skin. It should rise up from some part of you to realize its existence.
Much like love. And very much like falling in love.
So, there’s also giveaway! Enter to win a $20 USD gift certificate to an e-tailer of your choice which can include Dreamspinner, Amazon, Starbucks, or any place I can send a gift certificate without having to sacrifice a chicken. Just follow the blog’s contest rules to enter!
So, let’s talk about ink.
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Dragon Tattoos
Dragons are a constant in cultures around the world, from the Dragons of Asia to the Dragon fought by St. George in Europe, and if you look at it objectively, the feathered serpents of South America were also dragons.
Strength, courage, and independence are what a Dragon represents. It is a powerful and popular design worn by many. They come in different colors and can be shaped to decorate any part of the body, although that is easier with the sinuous form of an Eastern dragon rather than the often portly more-dinosaur like Western dragon. In the East they represent wisdom, good luck, and good will. While the Celtic dragons wear crowns and decorate royal crests, showing their power.
They are intelligent creatures, free to do as they wish, and a Dragon tattoo can represent that you are free to live your own life. You’re safe. You’re wise, and you’re fearless in the face of adversity.
The Asian dragon represents balance. It is one half of Yin-Yang for the Chinese, with the Phoenix being the other half. Many people choose a dragon to represent balance in their life. It is thought that balance is crucial for success.
As with Koi, Asian Dragon tattoos have different types and meanings. You can tell the difference between a Chinese and Japanese dragon by the number of claws. Chinese dragons have five while Japanese have three. Chinese dragons always have beards of flames.
- Chinese Dragons symbolize power, strength, and fear.
- Horned Dragons are known as the top dragons, strongest of all.
- Celestial Dragons are protectors of the Gods and heavens.
- Earth Dragons, also found in Chinese astrology, are the kind that rule the earth.
- Yellow Dragons are hornless and known for their knowledge.
- Treasure Dragons are the protectors of precious gems and other valuable earthly elements.
- Spiritual Dragons are in total control of the wind and rain.
- Coiling Dragons are the ones that live in the oceans.
There are six dragons in the Japanese culture. Here are their names and meanings:
- Han-Riu, with stripes all over its body, is one of the biggest dragons with lengths up to forty feet.
- Kai-Riu, a beautiful red-colored dragon, is usually smaller than the others.
- Sue-Riu, the king of all dragons, is in control of rain.
- Ri-Riu is known to be a very rare breed and hard to find. Little is known about it, but it does have amazing eyesight.
- Hai-Riyo, known as a dragon bird, is one of the most advanced forms of dragons. It evolved out of Chinese mythology.
- Fuku Riu is the most favored dragon of all, known for good luck.
About the Book
A savior lies in the heart of every good man but sometimes only love can awaken the man inside a savior.
The world’s had it out for San Francisco firefighter Mace Crawford from the moment he was born. Rescued from a horrific home life and dragged through an uncaring foster system, he’s dedicated his life to saving people, including the men he calls his brothers. As second-in-command of their knitted-together clan, Mace guides his younger siblings, helps out at 415 Ink, the family tattoo shop, and most of all, makes sure the brothers don’t discover his darkest secrets.
It’s a lonely life with one big problem—he’s sworn off love and Rob Claussen, one of 415 Ink’s tattoo artists, has gotten under his skin in the worst way possible.
Mace’s world is too tight, too controlled to let Rob into his life — much less his heart — but the brash, Filipino inker is there every time Mace turns around. He can’t let Rob in without shaking the foundations of the life he’s built, but when an evil from his past resurfaces, Mace is forced to choose between protecting his lies or saving the man he’s too scared to love.
Buy the Book: Dreamspinner Press || Amazon Global Link
About the Author
Rhys Ford is an award-winning author with several long-running LGBT+ mystery, thriller, paranormal, and urban fantasy series and is a two-time LAMBDA finalist with her Murder and Mayhem novels. She is published by Dreamspinner Press and DSP Publications.
She’s also quite skeptical about bios without a dash of something personal and really, who doesn’t mention their cats, dog and cars in a bio? She shares the house with Yoshi, a grumpy tuxedo cat and Harley, an insane grey tuxedo as well as a ginger cairn terrorist named Gus. Rhys is also enslaved to the upkeep a 1979 Pontiac Firebird and enjoys murdering make-believe people.
Rhys can be found at the following locations: Blog • Facebook • Twitter: @Rhys_Ford
The Giveaway
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Follow the Tour
Whoa, full body tattooes. I’m amazed at the artist’s work and the body (owner) forebearance to have them “painted” on the body.
I don’t have a tat and don’t think I’m going to get one (other than the temporary ink) not only due to the needles involved g but it doesn’t go with my belief. :)
It’s been interesting following this blog tour and learned all the informations. :)
I have one tattoo. It’s an open book with the sun on the page.
I have a couple but the one I like the most is a scroll with all my 5 kids names on it.
Another fascinating post. Thank you for sharing!
I was looking how to edit the above post, but didn’t see it. I posted before I saw you had questions! I have… um… 13 tattoos. They all mean something. Either it was for a time in my life or books I’ve read or wrote. I have a few more I’d like to get, but we’ll see if that happens. lol
I would love to get a tattoo but haven’t found anything I like yet. I’m thinking cats, books and a tree
I don’t have any tattoos but would love one. I have ideas of what I want but have not found the person to draw it for me. I want it to include things that represent my son, my country and a lion.
I don’t have any tattoos but I’ve considered them. However, it should be something with a deep meaning and I don’t know what I would get.
I have a few tattoos. Most of them are pop art related because they’re the best random images by people who I’ve idolized. I have plans for a few more, whenever I can afford it again. :/
I have always liked 🐉. ❤
kjpattersonrn@yahoo.com
I have two tattoos.One is a horrible peace sign on my ankle. I was 16 and high and my then boyfriend did it. The second one were a small bunch daises. I was 18. They actually had a meaning this time and I was happy. But the tattoo faded very badly within that year. It looked like a blob. I eventually had it covered up when I went on a trip to San Deigo years ago. I asked the tattoo artist to help me choose a design to best cover up the flowers. We decided on a butterfly. He was kind and helpful and didn’t make me feel stupid about being a young girl that got a bad tattoo.
I have the sound wave from my wedding of my husband saying, “I give you all that I am, and all I that I hope to be.” Kevin has my sound wave of the same. They are on our left forearms.
I am going to get the earth floating over an open book because books have given me the world. Eventually it will be a sleeve of books that are meaningful to me stair stepping up to the earth.
I have one tattoo, the Japanese word for dream. Just to signify that you should always dream, believe in them and follow them. I had a temporary exchange student in college and we talked about our dreams a lot, to help her with her English. She wrote out the word for me and I had it tattooed later that year.
I don’t have a tattoo. I would get one if I could think of something meaningful. If I had to get a tattoo right this moment, it would probably involve a turtle.
I have 3 small to medium tattoos. 2 of them represent great times of my life and the other a not so great time in my life which proved significant in the making since things started going great afterwards!
My goal is to gather the money I need for a sleeve tattoo and a wrap around my ankle or other wrist tattoo.
No tattoo for me, since I worry about needles, scarring, and allergies…sometimes I think I’m the only person in my town without one! If I had to, I’d probably get something small and personally significant (don’t know what right now).
I don’t have a tattoo and wouldn’t get one. I have chronic pain and sometimes even air across my skin hurts. If that wasn’t an issue, I might get one with a tree.
I love the idea of a tattoo…some are so freaking gorgeous! Alas I do not think it will happen for because…needles👀 Yeah…so I am not sure I ever would.
No tattoo, but I have seen many on people. It’s common now adays
Happy Release Day Rhys :)
No I don’t have any tatoos, I do have pierced ears but not until I was older.
I haven’t considered getting a tattoo. I haven’t given it a lot of thought, and I’m scared of needles!
I don’t have a tattoo but I’d love a cute little dragon. Happy release day Rhys. Savior landed on my Kindle last night.
I have 6
my first was a dragon….I love paranormal and it’s also my Chinese zodiac sign, wolf once again the paranormal aspect was the deciding factor, mystic tiger…yep again, for the paranormal aspect, my kids names in an ambigram (one tattoo that depending how you look at it can read either of their names), an Ally rainbow cat and an anchor and compass tattoo for the book Cut and Run
Yes I have several tattoos and they are my life through ink.
I don’t have tattoo. Islam don’t really permit it. But I always imagine I want an intricate swirly writing on my wrist or something as my tattoo :)
I do not have any tattoos. If I were to get one, I would get some type of mermaid or dragon.
No I do not have a tattoo.
I have been thinking of getting one but have heard that it is quite painful so holding off.
thank you
If I were to get a tatoo it would be the phrase all is well.
It is my favorite daily affirmation.
Looks good, thank you for the post/tour. And congrats to you
No tattoo, not sure what I’d get, possibly something floral/nature as nature let’s me breath
Thank you for the meaning behind the tattoos! I don’t have a tattoo and I’m not so sure I want one because I don’t like needles and I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it.
I do not have any tattoos. If I would have one, I think I would choose and Om symbol, hoping it would help me gain balance…
I’m hopping to get my first book tattoo soon!
I don’t have a tattoo yet, but I plan on getting one soon to represent something I’m about to go through. Planning on a dragonfly which symbolizes change and embracing it.
I have a tattoo of a dolphin (my favorite animal) on my right shoulder. I have it for 20 years now. Again congrats to you.
I have a rose behind a heart. It was a flash tat & it doesn’t really have much meaning except that it was something I wanted to do when I was 21 – way back before it was common or popular for women to have tattoos. I want to get it reworked and was thinking a hummingbird but now am considering a phoenix to represent how I’m trying to take control of my life and embrace the changes that are happening.
I don’t have any tattoos. I admire them on other people but I don’t even have massages so I can’t fathom having someone permanently adorn my body. I’m afraid I’d regret whatever I chose.
If I were to get one, I’d want a misty island or beach. Two things I don’t see nearly enough of.
My son and his wife both have 1 tattoo each. His is from a drunken fraternity dare…her’s is a daisy…her favorite flower. I love the photo above of the tattooed back. It’s gorgeous. You could spend hours, days or years tracing each line.
Thank you for the books you write and the characters you create. The characters, and worlds, you create are mesmerizing and add depth to a ‘reading world’ I love.
I don’t have any tattoos although I considered getting some when I was younger. My world view changed of course as I got older and what had significance at the time warped when I realized I didn’t know all I thought I did – that plus I found out about the needle thing needed to apply tattoos and that was all she wrote for me.
no tattoo; don’t want one
I love the dragon tattoos. I don’t have any tattoos I don’t like needles and am a very big baby when comes to pain lol
I don’t have any yet but I want to get one. I’ve got an idea of what I want to get I just need to be brave enough to do it.
I don’t have any tattoos but have considered getting the Pisces symbol!