Welcome to my stop on the NBtM virtual tour for The Starfolk Trilogy by Martha Dunlop. This tour was organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. On my stop, I have an excerpt from the book as well as a great guest post from the author. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour for more content. Enjoy!
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Title: The Starfolk ArcanaSeries: The Starfolk Trilogy #1
Author: Martha Dunlop
Publisher: TanLea Books
Publication Date: September 6th 2020
Print Length: 346 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy Romance
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Destiny calls. Soulmates draw closer. One woman stands in the way.
Beth trusts her psychic senses. So when her birthday visit to a daytime TV talk show takes a weird turn, she knows something is wrong. Amelia, the celebrity on stage, is oddly fixated on Beth and the man with the microphone is hauntingly familiar. Things become even stranger when she buys a tarot deck, and they are all pictured in the cards.
Jonan has waited an eternity to be with the woman who haunts his dreams. When he finally sees her at the TV studio, he hopes life with his soulmate is within reach. But as Amelia refuses to let go of their past together, his hopes fade.
Amelia stands between Beth and Jonan. Spinning tales of supernatural threats to her adoring fan base, she builds a personality cult through fear of the paranormal. As her power grows, she does her best to scare Beth away from Jonan and plans to reclaim him for herself.
United by a destiny that spans lifetimes, Beth and Jonan are determined to stop Amelia’s fear-mongering. But Amelia has more than one card to play. Even though they are fated to be together, Amelia’s destructive nature may once again tear them apart.
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble *
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EXCERPT:
He heard Doriel walk down the narrow, wonky staircase that divided the storeroom from the shop’s reading and treatment room. The tiny bells stitched into the hem of her skirt tinkled as she swung her hips.
Jonan shook his head. He had no idea why she bothered with all this theatre. She was the real deal. She could have run a fabulous business in joggers and a T-shirt, but she insisted on playing to the audience. She wore flowing skirts, bells and long earrings. Her hennaed hair was braided into a loose French plait that reached her waist, sparkling with tiny crystals. She mimicked smoke and mirrors and delivered magic. She was a goddess hiding in plain sight as a walking cliché. The irony never failed to make her hoot with laughter.
The distant voice made Jonan freeze. ‘I’m looking for a reading. I was told you were good.’
He dropped back from his crouch to sit on the floor, heart pounding in his chest.
She had come.
He had told her to come to Doriel, but he had never expected it to be this easy. This was the woman he had incarnated for, the one he was here to wake up. He knew his goal, but somehow it didn’t feel anywhere near as important as just being in the same room as her. He had no idea how she would react to his world. She had been brought up with Earth amnesia and would probably think he was crazy. Everything he was, everything he said, was strange. Would she listen, or would she run? He had no way of knowing until he tried it.
A shiver ran down his spine.
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Title: Starfolk FallingSeries: The Starfolk Trilogy #2
Author: Martha Dunlop
Publisher: TanLea Books
Publication Date: October 26th 2021
Print Length: 308 pages
Genre: Urban Fantasy
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A woman destined to change the world. A timeless adversary determined to stop her. Only one will win.
Humiliated after the disastrous launch event for her protection racket, Amelia Faustus is furious and determined to punish those responsible. But her own support system is cracking and something new is haunting her home.
Beth and Jonan – finally together after lifetimes of searching for one another – have to stop Amelia’s attempts to prevent them fulfilling their destiny. But they find themselves under attack from all directions. Trolled by Amelia online, and targeted by her angry followers in real life, they fight to keep innocent people out of Amelia’s clutches. But Amelia has already started to hurt those closest to them to get what she wants.
As Amelia continues to terrorise their loved ones, Beth and Jonan are once again put on the defensive. They need to convince people to stand up to Amelia’s manipulations, but can they succeed when The Fear is already taking root?
An urban fantasy novel about destiny, reincarnation, tarot, and living with the paranormal.
Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble *
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Martha Dunlop is a dreamer and lover of stories who likes nothing better than spending her days getting to know the characters in her head.
She is a tarot card reader and reiki master, and loves to chat reading, writing and all things mystical on social media, as well as posting pictures of her fellow pack-member, Bertie the Cavalier.
A fiddle player, Martha fell in love with traditional music, particularly Irish, and is also teaching herself to play the Irish Bouzouki. She played her way through her English degree at York and remembers that time as much for the music as the books.
Martha is the author of three books: The Starfolk Arcana, Starfolk Falling, and standalone Wild Shadow. She is currently working on Book 3 of The Starfolk Trilogy, Starfolk Rising.
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GUEST POST:
- If you could have any paranormal power, what would you choose and why?
If I could have one paranormal power, it would be the ability to heal.
Imagine if you knew you could keep yourself and your loved ones safe from illness, trauma and lasting injury? How different would your life look?
In my Starfolk Trilogy my antagonist, Amelia, is a celebrity with the power to manipulate people’s emotions through their energy. She spreads fear of supernatural attack, suggesting people will come to physical, mental and spiritual harm if they are not continually on alert, and tells them that only her protection will keep them safe.
When Amelia gets into people’s heads, they become fearful and hypervigilant. They change the way they dress to escape notice, their awareness of their environment alters, and their judgment becomes less acurate and healthy.
Whilst Amelia manipulates people’s energy in an attempt to control them and boost her own strength, Beth and Jonan, my main characters, seek to do the opposite. They work to heal people of Amelia’s manipulations, and to help them see through the fog of her interference. Both Beth and Jonan have healing abilities and work with energy in a similar way to a Reiki healer, although exaggerated. This gives them the ability to stand against Amelia, but they are not immune to her powers.
At different points, both Beth and Jonan fall prey to Amelia’s manipulation and she pulls each of them deep into their own darkness and traumas. In the end, their healing abilities mean they are able to pull each other back from these dark places, but it isn’t easy and once set, the triggers are there waiting to be activated again.
In real life, there are many people like Amelia, although they may not have her psychic powers. But the ability to get under people’s skin, trigger them and gain a personal boost from the process is something we all encounter in daily life over and over again.
There are so many ways to heal from these encounters, and things like energy healing, Reiki, mindfulness, acupuncture and more are great ways to do it. But just imagine if you had a paranormal superpower that was more comprehensive and all encompassing. Imagine if you could heal trauma, heal injury and illness in yourself and those you loved. Maybe that’s the closest to being untouchable that we could ever become?
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GIVEAWAY:
Martha Dunlop will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes & Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter. Good luck!
(All the Ups and Downs is not responsible for this giveaway, its entries, or the prize. Goddess Fish Promotions and the author assume all responsibility over this giveaway.)
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for welcoming me onto your blog today! Martha xxx
ReplyDeleteYou're very welcome. Thanks for visiting =)
DeleteSounds like a great read. Looking forward to reading the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sherry! I hope you enjoy it! Martha x
Deletethis sounds like an interesting read
ReplyDeleteThanks! I hope you enjoy it! Martha x
DeleteI love the cover. A very sexy couple.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Paige! I loved working on the cover with my designer. It was great fun working to get the feel of the book in the image, and so exciting to see the wonderful things she was able to do! Martha x
DeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rita! Martha x
DeleteDo you have any advice for new writers?
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to write with abandonment, edit as rigorously as you can, and then if possible, pay for a professional critique. Friends and family all want to help, but only someone who actually knows how to make a book work can really help you move forward. If paying isn't an option, you may find someone on social media who would be willing to come to a reciprocal arrangement. Good luck with your writing! Martha x
DeleteThe book sounds really great.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dale! Martha x
DeleteI like the character name, Jonan . Unique!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Jonan is very different and that is a key part of his character, so I wanted to reflect that in his name. Martha x
DeleteI enjoyed the guest post and the great excerpt, The Starfolk Trilogy sounds like my kind of books and I can't wait to read them! Thanks for sharing them with me and have an awesome day!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'm so pleased you like the sound of the books, and I really hope you enjoy them! Do come and find me on social media if you'd like to find out more!
DeleteThank you for sharing your guest post and book details, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and I am looking forward to reading The Starfolk Trilogy
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bea! I hope you enjoy the books! Martha x
DeleteLooks like an interesting book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
Thanks Siehan! Good luck with the contest! Martha x
DeleteWhat inspires you?
ReplyDeleteWell, my characters just start growing in my mind, and I spend a lot of time watching them and piecing things together. But in terms of themes and plot, I like to write about ideas and experiences I want to explore or get to grips with. With the Starfolk books, I wanted to look at the idea of personality cults because I was seeing a lot of that around me. My other book, Wild Shadow, was inspired by dreams about tigers and a weird fear I had at the zoo that the tigers would escape. So I rolled those things together into a romance about a woman who astral projects as a tiger!
DeleteThe book sounds very intriguing. Love the cover.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pippi Rose! I hope you enjoy the books! Martha x
DeleteThe excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Have a lovely weekend! Martha x
DeleteHow do you think we should warn future inhabitants of earth about nuclear waste?
ReplyDeleteWow, that's a big question! I think we should probably focus on how to reduce what we waste at the moment!
DeleteWhat a great romance read - sure to please!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this.
Thanks Barbara! Have a lovely weekend! Martha x
DeleteHealing is a cool ability, but I think I would like to be able to be invisible.
ReplyDeleteBeing able to be invisible would be amazing!
DeleteThis sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.
ReplyDeleteabfantom at yahoo dot com
Thank you! Martha x
DeleteI enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteThank you, and good luck with the giveaway! Martha x
DeleteThe book sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb! I hope you enjoy it if you give it a go. Martha x
DeleteWhat book do you always go back to the most?
ReplyDeleteI used to reread books, but to be honest, since getting a kindle and discovering how many wonderful books are actually out there, I haven't reread a book once!
DeleteIf you could stay one age forever, which one would it be, and why?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't think there's one age I could pick, because that would mean missing everything that came after. I published my first book, a dream come true, at 43, but that was also in the middle of Covid, so I certainly wouldn't like to live that forever! I hope the best moments are still to come.
DeleteWould you ever be willing to take a cruise? To where?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, no. I get sea sick, so cruises really don't appeal. I know people who love them though.
DeleteWhat's the next book you're writing?
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I'm writing the final book in The Starfolk Trilogy and I'm really excited to be bringing this story to its conclusion!
DeleteHappy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteAnd to you! In fact, Happy Wednesday! Martha x
DeleteHow do you handle very hot weather?
ReplyDeleteThe Starfolk Arcana in the series:The Starfolk Trilogy #1 by author Martha Dunlop sounds like a book that will fascinate many readers.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you enjoy podcasts?
ReplyDeleteHow do you relax after a long day of writing?
ReplyDeleteDo you have a crush on anyone?
ReplyDeletecongrats on the release
ReplyDeleteWhat triggers youto set the story just before you begin writing it?
ReplyDeleteHave you ever felt like your characters took over the plot of your story?
ReplyDeleteHappy Juneteenth!
ReplyDeletewhat inspires you to write
ReplyDeleteWho's your favorite author?
ReplyDeleteAny advice for someone starting a new job?
ReplyDeleteThe books in the Starfolk Trilogy series #1 and # 2 sound like fanciful reading adventures.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Hope the summer heat isn't messing with you.
ReplyDeleteWill you take a vacation this summer?
ReplyDeleteWhat inspires you to write?
ReplyDeletecongrats on the release
ReplyDeleteHope your next book is also a success.
ReplyDeleteWhat was your first job?
ReplyDeleteDo you like to travel?
ReplyDeleteHow do you feel about the world today?
ReplyDeleteDo you have any advice for getting some sleep?
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteIf you didn’t write, what would you do for work?
ReplyDeletewonderful cover
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful wk
ReplyDeleteInteresting cover
ReplyDeleteHow long on average does it take you to write a book?
ReplyDeleteAre you bilingual?
ReplyDeletesounds like an exciting book
ReplyDeleteWhat part of the book did you have the hardest time writing?
ReplyDeleteHope July will be great for you!
ReplyDeletewonderful covers, very creative
ReplyDeletehave a great long weekend
ReplyDeleteIf you could have a superpower, what would it be?
ReplyDeletedo you have a favorite author
ReplyDeleteWhen did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
ReplyDeleteThe Starfolk Trilogy by Martha Dunlop sounds like an imaginative series of books that will grab many readers.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Are you glad when a book is finished?
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your work schedule like when you're writing?
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
ReplyDeleteHappy 4th of July!
ReplyDeletehow long have you been writing
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
ReplyDeletewas it hard to choose the cover?
ReplyDeleteWhat inspires you to write novels?
ReplyDeleteI'm so ready for good reads for the summer, this is on my list!
ReplyDeleteHow hot is it where you live?
ReplyDeleteWhat, to you, are the most important elements of good writing?
ReplyDeleteAre you a fan of this weather?
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your book tour!
ReplyDeleteenjoy your book tour
ReplyDeleteHappy for your success!
ReplyDeleteWhat inspired the idea for your book?
ReplyDeleteHow did you decide on character name?
ReplyDeleteSounds interesting. Enough paranormal to be intriguing but not over the top with it. Thank for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteHow do you handle hot weather? 103 degrees today.
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteenjoy your Sunday
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
ReplyDeletedo you have a favorite spot to write at
ReplyDeleteSuper hot here, time to grab my book and get some iced tea.
ReplyDeleteThe Starfolk Arcana by author Martha Dunlop has an interesting and highly detailed cover.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Do you like to people watch?
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful day
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteHow old were you when you started learning to play the fiddle?
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
When did you realize you wanted writing to be your career?
ReplyDeleteDo you write when you're on vacation?
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday!
ReplyDeleteis there a certain time of day you write
ReplyDeleteWha inspires you to write?
ReplyDeleteenjoy your book tour
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a wonderful read.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite book to re-read?
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteNice artwork
ReplyDeletewonderful cover
ReplyDeleteWhat are your favourite colors?
ReplyDeleteWhat genre of books to you like best?
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
ReplyDeleteWhat time did you get up this morning?
ReplyDeletethanks this sounds like a wonderful book
ReplyDeleteUrban Fantasy Romance is a new to me reading genre.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Happy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteDo you write more or read more?
ReplyDeleteWhat was your worst injury?
ReplyDeleteWhen did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday!
ReplyDeletesounds like a great book
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds really great!
ReplyDeleteWho is your greatest champion?
ReplyDeletehope you are enjoying the summer
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday
ReplyDeleteWho is your biggest inspiration?
ReplyDeleteWhat author do you most admire?
ReplyDeleteDo you have any advice for new writers?
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your latest obbession?
ReplyDeletewas it hard to design the cover
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.
ReplyDeleteHow do you decide on a title?
ReplyDeletesuch an amazing cover
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteHave a good week!
ReplyDeleteHave you read Err by Stephen King?
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeletewho is your inspiration
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
ReplyDeleteI think I would have a hard time putting this book down after starting to read it.
ReplyDeleteThis series sounds like it is populated by interesting characters.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Happy Monday!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favorite type of candy?
ReplyDeleteHope you're doing well despite this heat.
ReplyDeleteAre you working on another book?
ReplyDeleteWhat caused you to start writing?
ReplyDeletehow old were you when you starting writing
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
ReplyDeleteHappy to find a new to me author, I need more summer reads.
ReplyDeletedo you have any other books started
ReplyDeleteAmelia, Beth, and Jonan all sounds like interesting characters!
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Happy Wednesday!
ReplyDeleteHave a good night.
ReplyDeleteWhat is your favourite breakfast treat?
ReplyDeleteDo you make writing notes on your phone when you're out and about?
ReplyDeletedid you always want to be a writer
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting that your character Beth has psychic senses.
ReplyDeleteNancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Happy Thursday!
ReplyDeleteDo you have any pets?
ReplyDeletehave a wonderful weekend
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
ReplyDeleteWhat is your pets' names?
ReplyDeleteHappy Friday!
ReplyDeleteDo you dream about a book you're writing?
ReplyDeleteis there an author that inspired you
ReplyDeleteWhat's your next book going to be about?
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday!
ReplyDeleteWhat's your go to breakfast?
ReplyDeleteHappy Saturday!
ReplyDeletesounds like an amazing book, thanks
ReplyDeleteHappy Sunday!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week!
ReplyDeleteHow are you doing these days?
ReplyDeleteHope you are safe from weather problems.
ReplyDelete