Halloween – Siobhan Muir

Recipe for Romance: Mixed Berry Skull Cakes

Posted on October 13, 2024 by Siobhan Muir

Recipe for Romance Two champagne glasses against a purple sparkly background with bells and ribbons at their base

Welcome to Recipe for Romance! Happy October! I’m sharing a snippet of THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series. Kendra is just trying to get ready for Samhain when she literally runs into Phinn. Then the demon shows up. Available Now: The Samhain Soldier Kendra MacGillivray had met many cheeky men in her time, but the tall, dark-haired beauty with sapphire blue eyes took the cake. Or maybe it’s the big-ass sword rising over his right shoulder that’s doing it. Whatever it was, he wore arrogance like a new suit and seemed as fishy as Pier 59 in Seattle. He smelled like warm vanilla, the scent of Ponderosa pine bark baking in the sun, and she reminded herself men didn’t like women sniffing after them like bitches in heat. And if they do, they aren’t worth it. “You can call me Kendra. Now, off you go.” The tall warrior gave her a sardonic smile through the sexy scruff on his cheeks, but bowed and made to move past her. However, he tensed up and lost his smile at the sound of something big moving through the underbrush behind her. All the hair stood up on the back of her neck as the fetid scents of rotting wine and old sex hit her nose. Swallowing against the gag reflex, she shifted sideways, presenting her back to neither the man nor whatever approached. “Aw, hellfire.” Phinnius yanked the sword off his back with a metallic hiss and took on a battle stance. “What the hell is that?” Kendra fought bile back down her throat as she took in a creature resembling an organic version of the cat-like thing from the movie about robot aliens who transformed into innocuous objects. A ridge of fins from each vertebra protruded along the back and tail, and oddly jointed limbs ended in long, sharp claws. “Stay back, Mistress Kendra. This demon is here for me.” “Oh, that’s comforting.” The demon’s glowing green eyes shifted from Phinnius, and it just had to lick its slavering jaws as its gaze settled on her. “I promise I won’t let it hurt you.” Kendra snorted and tried to settle her mind enough to gather the life energy around her. Gluten-Free Mixed Berry Skull Cakes https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5zK0-DHT4 Have you ever attempted to bake something and made a mistake that turned out both funny and delicious? That’s what happened when I first made these muffins. I mixed the berries in so efficiently, I made black muffins. Perfect for Halloween or Samhain. Or Yule when you need coal muffins, LOL. INGREDIENTS 1 3/4 cups gluten-free all purpose baking flour (We used Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 baking flour) 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 cup butter, softened to room temperature 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 2 large eggs at room temperature 1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt 1 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/4 cup milk DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 425 F (218 C) and line a 12 count muffin pan with cupcake liners. Or if using an oddly shaped pan, spray the cake wells with nonstick spray and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together until well mixed. Set aside. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer (or in the bowl of the stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) beat the butter on high speed until smooth and creamy (about 1 minute). Add the brown sugar and beat on high until creamed (about 2 full minutes). Add the eggs, sour cream or yogurt, and vanilla, and beat on medium for 1 minute then turn up to high speed until mixture is combined and creamy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and beat on low speed until just about combined. Add the milk and continue to beat on low until combined. Add in mixed berries and beat until the batter turns purple and the berries are completely mixed in. Spoon batter evenly into each cup or muffin well, filling each all the way to the top. Bake the muffins for 5 minutes at 425 F (218 C), then keeping the muffins in the oven, reduce the temperature to 350 F (177 C). Bake for an additional 15-18 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the muffins to cool for five minutes in the pan, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. GLAZE 1/2 – 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1-2 Tbsp milk 3-5 drops of food coloring Add all the ingredients except the food coloring into a small bowl and whisk gently until smooth. Drizzle over the cool cakes and let harden (about 10 minutes). Arrange on a plate and serve.

Snippet Sunday – Something Was Coming

Posted on November 5, 2022November 5, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday, and the end of Daylight Savings Time. Yay? Yeah, not as thrilled with that, but at least there are books to read. I’m showcasing THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER, Book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series, AND a sequel to book 2, THE BELTANE WITCH. In this snippet, Kendra MacGillivray, earth witch, wakes up in a little shack in the Fae realm and not everything is as it seems. ~~~~~~ Kendra woke to unnatural silence. She shot a look at the fire in the fireplace and found the flames still licking the last log she placed, but they made no sound. She sat up and glanced at Phinn. He slept hard, but his breathing was better, less labored. Marbles hadn’t returned from her expedition, but Kendra didn’t expect her for a while. Hopefully the tracker demon would hide the sword in a place no one, not even the conniving Fae, would think to look. Still, the thick silence gave her the heebie-jeebies. She rolled to her feet and slipped back into her jacket. Something was coming and she wanted to be ready for it. She settled on the floor beside Phinn and shoved her feet into her boots, zipping them up. Then she reached for his to make sure he was as ready to travel as he could be. Not that I can carry him if we have to get away. The fire still burned, but a chill entered the shack. Kendra listened hard, but the unnatural silence continued. Awareness shot up her back and made her shiver. Kendra sent the Goddess a note of thanks for what time She’d kept them hidden. The Fae were coming and would discover them soon, and she was grateful Marbles had the time to take the sword nowhere near them. Kendra set about gathering up their meager gear and making sure Phinn was ready to move without much fuss. The threat loomed in the dark silence, and she tried to quell her racing heart as she waited for the ax to fall. They hadn’t been hiding, exactly, but she wondered if one of Marbles’ abilities was to disguise herself from detection, at least from the Fae. And since she’s gone… It didn’t take long for Kendra to hear the footsteps of several beings moving through the woods outside the shack. ~~~~~~~ Oh dear, something wicked this way comes. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER: Coming Oct 17 2022 It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure.

Snippet Sunday – You’ve Lost Your Mind

Posted on October 22, 2022October 21, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday, and I’m celebrating my new release. Woohoo! I’m showcasing THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER, Book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series, AND a sequel to book 2, THE BELTANE WITCH. In this snippet, Kendra MacGillivray, earth witch, is currently stuck in the Fae realm with an injured man and a healed tracker demon. as she gets ready for Samhain. She’s just met the hero Phinnius Winterbourne, and she’s not impressed. ~~~~~~ Phinn moaned as he rolled onto his back and opened his eyes just as she tucked the blankets on the bed up to his chin. His sapphire gaze held her attention more than any bird or flower had during her fieldwork for her master’s thesis. The primal part of her growled and put up an emphatic demand. Mine. “Look who’s awake. About time.” She grumbled to remind herself what a jerk he was and keep any lusty ideas at bay. “How are you feeling?” His brows lowered as he opened his mouth to speak, but only a dry croak came out. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Groggy and stiff. Where are we?” Kendra shook her head. “I don’t know. Wherever we ended up, it’s winter already and Marbles led us to this cabin to get you out of the snow.” “Marbles?” “Yeah.” She shot a look at the dark cat-like demon lying in front of the woodstove. “The tracker demon.” Phinn jerked and tried to sit up, grunting in pain. “The tracker demon is here? And you named it?” “Yes. What else was I supposed to do when she helped us avoid the mounted patrols?” He shook his head. “You’ve lost your mind.” “No, I’ve lost my marbles, and she can track them down for me. Which is where she got her name.” Kendra sighed. “Look, if it weren’t for the two of you, I’d be home getting ready for Samhain. Instead, I’m here, nursing you back to health, and Marbles has done nothing but help me. So, you’re just going to have to get over it.” “I’ll get over it. Oh yeah.” Phinn’s eyes narrowed as his hands slid behind his back, then they widened with concern. “Whoa. Where’s my sword? What did you do with it?” ~~~~~~~ At least she’s looking on the bright side of everything. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER: Coming Oct 17 2022 It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure.

RELEASE DAY – The Samhain Soldier

Posted on October 17, 2022October 16, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s Release Day for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER!. Woohoo! I’m so pleased this book is out. It’s been 8 years since I started writing and it’s now finished. 😀 I started writing this in 2014 just after The Beltane Witch came out, figuring I’d write a story about Darius Winterbourne’s younger brother, Phinnius. And I did get it started, putting the first chapter in an anthology. But then, it sat and sat and sat… I tried finishing it last year (2021) but the Muse was having none of it and it sat some more. This year (2022) I was determined to finish it and get it out in time for Halloween. Woot! I got it done early! Here’s the blurb: It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure. Excerpt of THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER Kendra took a deep breath and waited a long time after the sounds of hoof-beats had diminished. They might have a rear guard or scout with them. The demon beside her kept its gaze on the road, its ears swiveling from time to time. Despite waiting another twenty minutes, no one appeared on the trail and she stood up to relieve her knees. Thank the Goddess I was wearing my thick winter coat today. The air around her had turned frigid and her breath steamed in a pearlescent plume. But her coat wouldn’t help much when the sun set. “Do you hear anything suspicious?” She had no idea why she talked to the demon, but she couldn’t help it. Next thing you know I’ll end up naming it. The demon whined and nudged Phinn’s still form. “I know, we need to find a place to take care of him.” Kendra looked around the white winter landscape. “What we really need is an abandoned cabin to hole up in.” She snorted in amusement. “And while we’re wishing, maybe it could be fully furnished and stocked with supplies like herbs and food.” The demon tilted its head as if considering her words, then coughed. Or barked. It was hard to tell which as it clamped its jaws around Phinn’s collar. “What are you doing?” The creature sighed and dragged Phinn down a game trail she hadn’t seen when they ducked into the bushes. “Hey, where are you going?” The demon warbled an encouraging sound and waved a clawed hand in a way that suggested it wanted her to follow it. I’m completely nuts. But she went after it, dodging low-hanging snow-covered branches deeper into the woods. Phinn’s bootheels left obvious drag marks in the snow, but it couldn’t be helped. Maybe it’ll snow more to disguise them. She’d lost her marbles. She wanted it to snow more? Hell, I’m talking to a demon who’s dragging a man I barely know into the woods for which I have no map—I’m certifiable. Despite her disbelief, the demon pulled Phinn into a clearing containing a few snow-shrouded stumps and a cottage with a thatched roof and a well-stocked woodpile. A steel chimney poked out of the thatching and smoke curled out the top just as they reached the door. Kendra peeked in the windows, but the interior remained too dark to see anything. “Think anyone’s in there?” She glanced at the demon, but it only nudged the door with one clawed hand. “You want us to go in?” When it whined, she sighed. “Okay, but it better be safe.” The door easily pushed open and a blast of warmer hair stung her cheeks. Kendra’s body moved inside before her mind could catch up, and the demon crowded in behind her, towing Phinn. A cheery fire crackled in an open woodstove and lit the fairly large one-room cabin. Despite blankets laid out on the double bed and the floor clean of debris, the cabin didn’t look occupied. Kendra closed and latched the door as the demon laid Phinn on the floor beside the bed. “You’re going to have to help me lift him.” She gave the demon an expectant look. “He’s too heavy for me.” To her surprise, the creature sat back on its haunches and picked Phinn up in its powerful forearms. It laid him on the bed, boots and all, and looked over its shoulder as if to check if it had done correctly. “Yeah, that’s good. Thank you.” It nodded and sat back out of the way as she tugged Phinn’s boots off his feet. Kendra shook her head. I’m seriously losing my marbles talking to a demon. She shot a look at the feline-like creature, but it just sat there and watched her tend to Phinn. Phinn said it’s a tracker demon. Maybe it can find my marbles for me. “There. He should rest better that way.” Kendra swung her gaze around the cabin. Canisters marked with foreign symbols lined the shelves near the fireplace over a washbasin. A pump…

Snippet Sunday – Oh, That’s Comforting

Posted on October 15, 2022 by Siobhan Muir

It’s time for Snippet Sunday, and I have a new release this week! Woohoo! I’m showcasing THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER, Book 7 in the Cloudburst Colorado series, AND a sequel to book 2, THE BELTANE WITCH. This tale is released TOMORROW, Oct 17th 2022, but you can get it for pre-order at Smashwords. 😉 In this snippet, you meet Kendra MacGillivray, earth witch, as she gets ready for Samhain. She’s just met the hero Phinnius Winterbourne, and she’s not impressed. ~~~~~~ Kendra MacGillivray had met many cheeky men in her time, but the tall, dark-haired beauty with sapphire blue eyes took the cake. Or maybe it’s the big-ass sword rising over his right shoulder that’s doing it. Whatever it was, he wore arrogance like a new suit and seemed as fishy as Pier 59 in Seattle. He smelled like warm vanilla, the scent of Ponderosa pine bark baking in the sun, and she reminded herself men didn’t like women sniffing after them like bitches in heat. And if they do, they aren’t worth it. “You can call me Kendra. Now, off you go.” The tall warrior gave her a sardonic smile through the sexy scruff on his cheeks, but bowed and made to move past her. However, he tensed up and lost his smile at the sound of something big moving through the underbrush behind her. All the hair stood up on the back of her neck as the fetid scents of rotting wine and old sex hit her nose. Swallowing against the gag reflex, she shifted sideways, presenting her back to neither the man nor whatever approached. “Aw, hellfire.” Phinnius yanked the sword off his back with a metallic hiss and took on a battle stance. “What the hell is that?” Kendra fought bile back down her throat as she took in a creature resembling an organic version of the cat-like thing from the movie about robot aliens who transformed into innocuous objects. A ridge of fins from each vertebra protruded along the back and tail, and oddly jointed limbs ended in long, sharp claws. “Stay back, Mistress Kendra. This demon is here for me.” “Oh, that’s comforting.” The demon’s glowing green eyes shifted from Phinnius, and it just had to lick its slavering jaws as its gaze settled on her. ~~~~~~~ Things just got a whole lot more interesting. 😉 There are several great authors on the Weekend Writer Warriors list, the Snippet Sunday Facebook group, and the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group. A few of my favorites are, P.T. Wyant, Karen Michelle Nutt, Veronica Scott, Jessica Subject, Kathy Griffith Karysa Faire, and Iris Blobel. Here’s the blurb for THE SAMHAIN SOLDIER: Coming Oct 17 2022 It’s all fun and games until a tracker demon comes for you… Phinnius Winterbourne, a soldier in the Summer Court of the Sidhe, has inherited his maternal grandfather’s sword. But the Winter Court of the Sidhe now wants it and him. Seeking help from his older brother seems like a good idea, until he runs into a witch. And the tracker demon sent to fetch Phinn. Not a great day. Kendra MacGillivray is preparing her altar for Samhain when she runs head-on into Phinnius and his problems. She doesn’t have time for the arrogant fool who has irritated the Fae. When her healing spell clashes with that of the tracker demon, they end up in the Sidhe realm with no way home and a tracker demon familiar. Every witch needs one. Trapped in the Fae realm, they must work together to keep the sword out of the Winter Court’s reach and get back home again before Samhain, when the veils close for the year. Nothing is as it seems and Phinn’s family secrets may break everything—him included. If they don’t protect the sword, they could lose more than a family heirloom—they could destroy the world. No pressure.

Wednesday Randomness: Halloween

Posted on October 28, 2020October 27, 2020 by Siobhan Muir

Good morning! This weekend is Halloween and it’s also the time of Samhain (pronounced Sav-en in Scotland), All Saints Day, and Dia de Los Muertos. I’ve been doing some research on the proper ways to celebrate these holidays for an upcoming book, but I was struck at how much in common these holidays had. For example: During Samhain, the practitioners make altars to honor deceased ancestors and loved ones and they leave special bread and offerings to the spirits outside. This is similar to Dia de Los Muertos where they bake bread and goodies and sugary treats to leave at the graves of their loved ones, and they decorate altars to deceased family with marigolds and brightly colored paper stencils. A white 7-day candle is lit in a western-facing window to guide the dead home to their rest three days before and three days after. I really liked that one. What a lovely way to help those who’ve gone before us. Dressing up in costumes is something done for the children while Samhain proper is more of a spiritual celebration, a time of self-reflection and introspection. It’s a good time to think of how you’ve grown, the accomplishments and challenges you’ve faced this year, and things you’ve learned. This year, we won’t be trick-or-treating as the pandemic’s numbers continue to go up in our state and it looks like it’s going to be relatively cold outside this year. But we’ll be dressing up in costumes because that has been fun for years. How do you celebrate the turning of the year at harvest time?