Today I have an awesome Halloween guest post from Michelle Harrison, author of Unrest! Personally, I love all things spooky (if you hadn't figured that out by now!) and I've picked up some great recommendations from this post. I love Michelle's creepy reading recommendations! Also, check out the news of her new book -- how awesome does this witchy tale sound?
Thanks to those lovely people at Simon & Schuster I have three copies of Unrest to give away! To be in with a chance to win, just fill in the Rafflecopter form below. UK & ROI entrants only! Good luck!
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Unrest by Michelle Harrison
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Release date: April 26th 2012
Ages: 12+
Seventeen-year-old
Elliott hasn’t slept properly for months. Not since the accident that
nearly killed him. Sometimes he half-wakes, paralysed, while shadowy
figures move around him. Other times he is the one moving around while
his body lies asleep on the bed. His doctors say sleep paralysis and
out-of-body experiences are harmless - but to Elliott they’re
terrifying.
Convinced that his brush with death has attracted the spirit world, Elliott secures a job at a reputedly haunted museum, determined to discover the truth. There, he meets the enigmatic Ophelia. But, as she and Elliott grow closer, Elliott draws new attention from the dead. One night, during an out-of-body experience, Elliott returns to bed to find his body gone. Something is occupying it, something that wants to live again - and it wants Ophelia, too . . .
Convinced that his brush with death has attracted the spirit world, Elliott secures a job at a reputedly haunted museum, determined to discover the truth. There, he meets the enigmatic Ophelia. But, as she and Elliott grow closer, Elliott draws new attention from the dead. One night, during an out-of-body experience, Elliott returns to bed to find his body gone. Something is occupying it, something that wants to live again - and it wants Ophelia, too . . .
Guest Post: Michelle Harrison talks all things Halloween.
Photo credit: Charlie Hopkinson |
As a fan of all
things supernatural, Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year. I love
the idea of this magical, mysterious night where the veil between the human
world and other realms - such as that of the faeries and of the dead - is
believed to be at its thinnest.
In my 13
Treasures trilogy (inspired by faerie folklore) October 31st, or 'Samhain'
marks the beginning of the rule of the Unseelie Court during the winter months.
Cue a night of dark magic, mischief and mayhem . . . and woe betide any mortals
unlucky enough to cross the faeries' path. And so it's with caution, and a
faerie-repelling iron nail firmly in my pocket, that I reveal how my Halloweens
are usually spent . . .
. . . reading.
This year I've put aside Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough. It begins
with a witch born on - you've guessed it - Halloween.
. . . recommending
my favourite creepy reads: Dark Matter by Michelle Paver, The
Everafter by Amy Huntley, Leaving Poppy by Kate Cann, Bad Blood
by Rhiannon Lassiter, and pretty much anything by Christopher Pike.
. . . watching
as many scary TV shows and films as possible. I've just ordered the American
Horror Story DVD box set and I can't wait for it to arrive. I'm also enjoying
SWITCH, a new comedy/drama about four witches. So far it seems to be a lighter,
British version of the 90s movie The Craft. For classic horror, I don't think
you can beat John Carpenter's Halloween.
. . . eating
Candy Corn. I discovered this thanks to Dark Parties author Sara Grant.
It's not sold in the UK
so I've ordered some in from the States. It tastes a bit like fudge, but the
ones we had looked like tiny pumpkins. Cute!
. . . wearing
the kind of stuff I wish I could wear every day. Last year I was a harpy,
complete with bird's nest, eggs and twigs in my hair, black feathered wings and
a lacy eye mask. I love any excuse to dress up.
. . . attending
events such as the Glastonbury
faerie fayre and evening ball. By day the town hall is filled with stalls
selling anything and everything to do with faeries, attracting high profile
artists including Ed Org, and Brian and Wendy Froud. In the evening the hall
transforms into what could be a scene from the Unseelie Court, overflowing with
warlocks, fauns . . . and sometimes harpies.
. . . avoiding
anything too scary. Despite my love of horror, I have limits. I won't be
watching the Woman in Black movie EVER again. I'm still traumatised from seeing
it at the cinema. And one thing I'd never do is a ouija board. I believe enough
to know I don't want to mess with those things - though it's likely my
characters will some day.
. . . imagining
I'm a witch. I wear a lot of black, and I have two gorgeous black cats and
several spell books (the latter for research, naturally)! I draw the line at a
broomstick, though. They're just not hairstyle friendly - I'll stick to driving
my Mini.
. . . writing
about witches. See a theme developing over this post? Yes. The book I'm
currently working on is about four girls on a college trip to a remote tidal
island with a history of witchcraft. When three of the group decide to teach
the fourth girl a lesson, they unleash something none of them are prepared for.
To find out more about Michelle follow her on twitter: @MHarrison13
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To be in with a chance to win one of three copies of Unrest by Michelle Harrison just fill in the Rafflecopter entry form below.
Competition is open to readers in the UK and Ireland.
Competition closes November 9th 2012.