Using Tarot to Create Characters

Characters are difficult for me to write. Understanding and connecting to them enough to bring them to life within a story take more time than I’d like. So I’m always looking for a short cut to help speed up my creative process.

While writing Cursed Seas, I decided to use Tarot cards to help me grasp my characters. I choose the Tarot of Mermaids deck listed on Amazon to bring me clarity. I definetly liked the colors and the flowing aspect to the cards.

There are several books on using tarot with writing, but I went my own way. I drew one card to represent each character (hero, heroine, and villain) overall. And then two cards – one for who they are at the start of the story and one for who there are at the end of the story.

The Heroine – Kaycee

Kaycee is represented by the Queen of Swords. She is emotional, perceptive, confident and seeks balance and judgement. This works well as she is the future queen of the merkin. In the beginning of the story, she is represented by the Tower. Everything in her life is turned upside down. She is at a transitional phase in her life. At the end of the story, she is represented by The Sun. After all her trials and temptations, there is Joy.

The Hero – Alexander

Alexander’s character is defined by the Knight of Wands. He is an explorer, swift, strong, noble but a bit hasty to make and act on his decisions. He is represented by the Strength card in the beginning of the story. He has courage and an inner strength to overcome obstacles which is good since he cursed to live in exile at the story’s beginning. By the end, he is now represented by The Magician. He’s using his skills to take action and be resourceful in his new life.

The Villain – Vile Air Mage

My villain, a Vile Air Mage, is represented by the reverse King of Pentacles. He is authoritative, controlling, proud of the things he sees as achievements and very rigid in his beliefs. Justice symbolize his start because he thinks taking over the merclans will bring about the changes he thinks are necessary to the mages on land. At the end, he is the Hermit. Alone, committed to his goal of domination despite the resistance he encounters.

I hope you’ll read Cursed Seas for yourself and discover how I imagined these characters.


Prime Days Deals

Thanks to the Good Omens tv show, I decided to join Amazon Prime. This will be my first year participating in the Prime Days discounts. It’ll be nice to have some Christmas presents taken care early. I’ll update my list throughout the sale period, so come back and see what’s new.

*Note – If you purchase from these affiliate links, I’ll get a small amount from Amazon. Verify prices and product details before purchasing.

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ZS – Beloved Dragon Mate by Dominique Eastwick

Zodiac Shifters

A collection of books with an astrological spin on love. From Aries to Virgo… discover all-new tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.

Zodiac Shifters features New York Times, USA Today, and other bestselling authors. Each month expect new releases based upon the twelve astrology signs.

Pisces – artist, dreamer, romantic

Beloved Dragon Mate by Dominique Eastwick

Ky the Searcher wants nothing more than to save his dying clan. Women are few and far between for the Dragons of Zambonia. With so few females born, it is now time to search for suitable mates amongst the covens of the planet. Ky and his ranger brothers have been dispersed to the four corners of the planet, tasked to find women both honorable and worthy to be dragons’ mates. But, at the first village, he finds a diamond in rough. His life mate.

The witches of Willow’s coven might be so beautiful they make a man forget his name, but below the exterior is little more than vanity and pettiness. Men come from far and wide to mate with the beauties. So why, when the Dragon Ky arrives, would he be any different? Why would he possibly see anything past the plain woman whose beauty burns on the inside? But the vulnerable within her coven rely on her. Can she take a step for what she wants and leave them at risk?

If Ky and Willow can get through a wall of opposition with a little help from a interfering otter familiar, they might find what they each thought never to have. True love.

The Storm is brewing.

Release date: Jun. 31st 2019
 

KOBO     B&N/Nook 

 

Excerpt – Spicy

He reached for her, but she stepped back pulling her blouse off and letting her skirt drop to the dirt. She lifted her face to the sun, allowing its warmth to suffuse her before running and diving in. Coming up for air, she turned to see him stalking her like a tiger. But this prey planned to be caught.

The only shame was his perfect body now lay half hidden by the small waves. “I told you the water was perfect and warm.”

“You are perfect.” His eyes burned into hers. “It’s about to get a hell of a lot hotter.”

“I’m counting on it.” Wading over to him, she pressed her breast against his muscular chest. She was about to kiss him when Floof (her otter familiar) showed up behind him. “Floof, you might want to paddle off.”

“Why would I do that?”

“Because I am about to pleasure your witch.”

Floof froze but momentum kept him floating in a circle. “Can he hear me?”

“Can you hear him?”

He gave her a cheeky grin. “No, but it dinnae take a genius to figure out what your sassy otter would be saying.”

“You heard my man. Unless you want to watch a show…”

Ew, human sex. No thank you.” Floof made a beeline for the shore. After a quick shake, he scurried into the woods, likely heading back to the safety of the shack.

The moment she refocused on Ky, he lifted her into his arms, adjusting her legs around his hips and placing his erect cock in direct contact with her pussy. The intimate touch had her shivering. Kissing her, he moved them deeper until the waves lapped around her shoulders. She pulled back from the kiss, becoming one with the water.

He placed his hand on the space between her breasts and supported her back with the other. “Yer so damned gorgeous, yer like a bloody sea nymph.”

She didn’t open her eyes, just allowed her other senses to take over. His touch mingled with the water she loved so much. “Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn’t have been born a mermaid.”

“You have ensnarled me like no siren could have.” His hand moved to one of her breasts, and she moaned.

“The lake calls to me. I always wondered if it was because I’m a Pisces. No one else in the village is, and I’m the only one obsessed with the lake.”

“It does allow us privacy. I want to take you back to the beach and taste you again. Lick you as you find your orgasm.”

About the Author

Award Winning Author, Dominique Eastwick grew up a US Navy Brat, so if there was a Naval base that was probably home. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband, two children, crazy lab and lazy cat.

Dominique’s love of reading started when she was told to read TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD in high school. A book that opened her eyes to the joys of reading and entering into the world of the author. To this day she ranks this book as her favorite.

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ZS – Waterlocked by C.D. Gorri

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A collection of books with an astrological spin on love. From Aries to Virgo… discover all-new tales of paranormal romance and urban fantasy.

Zodiac Shifters features New York Times, USA Today, and other bestselling authors. Each month expect new releases based upon the twelve astrology signs.

Cancer – Attentive, Possessive, Caring

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Waterlocked by C.D. Gorri

Waterlocked Cover

Nathan Silvertongue is a Dragon Shifter, bound to the sign Cancer, and a Warden of Terra. Called into duty upon the disbanding of the Hounds of God, Nathan ignores the first few attempts of the Heralds to get in touch with him. Living on a tiny unmarked island, the SeaDragon left mainstream life decades ago, preferring his isolation and solitude, but that all changes when she shows up.

Phoebe Bright has been promoted to the rank of Junior Station Master by the Heralds of Terra. Her job is to wrangle and confirm assignments for her charge. If only she could find him!

Tracking down the elusive SeaDragon hasn’t been easy, but this Witch isn’t about to give up. Not even when he slams the door in her face. Literally.

If he won’t talk to her, he won’t talk to anyone! Phoebe conjures a spell that leaves the two of them on his island without any means to communicate with the outside world until they come to an agreement.

Sparks fly as tempers and lusts grow wilder with each passing day, will they survive being waterlocked with only each other?

Release Date July 2nd, 2019

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Excerpt

How dare she come into his home, intrude on his island, and order him about! Not now. Oh sure, he’d waited for a hundred years, or three, to be called back by the Heralds. Waited for the world to realize what he’d meant in the fight against the Dark. But no. He’d not been missed. All he’d sacrificed had been dismissed. Grossly discounted, in fact.

He’d had family once. A mate. A home. All gone while he was out doing his duty. Arianna, how could you? Pain squeezed his chest briefly as he recalled his greatest mistake with agony. Forgive me, my brethren.

The names of the fallen whispered across his mind. Bluewing, Diamondscale, Onyxclaw, and young Ambereyes. Four of the finest Dragons he’d ever known. All Wardens of Terra. Like him. Though they’d carried no sign of the Zodiac, they’d had other gifts. But still, they’d fallen under the betrayal of the one he vowed to protect above all. The elemental Arianna.

Nathan shut down the images of the past. His Dragon growled against the pain in his mind’s eye. But like a steel door, he switched it off, focusing instead on the curvy little Witch who’d dared bring up his past.

“Leave,” his voice was quiet. Dangerous. But did she heed his warning? No. Of course not. Stepping forward once more, she raised her hands as if in surrender and spoke.

“You have been called upon, Nathan Silvertongue. Terra needs you,” bright blue eyes bore into his and Nathan shuffled back.

No, he would not fall for her plea. He was wiser now. Stronger. He would not be fooled by the Heralds again. Standing up, tall and only half-nude, he stalked the shorter woman until she backtracked to the door from whence, she came.

The sun was just breaking out behind the storm clouds that had been passing more and more frequently overhead. Not a good sign, he acknowledged. The storms he’d seen on the weather tracker were coming. Fast. He needed to get his supplies, but first, he had this to deal with.

“The Wardens may have been recalled, but I am not one of them. Not anymore. Leave my island, Witch. You’ll find no heroes here,” he slammed the reinforced door in her pretty little face.

About the Author

I’m C.D. Gorri, Steamy Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy YA Author, and Creator of the Grazi Kelly Universe. I am proud to be a two-time Smashwords USA Today Happy Ever After Hot List Indie Author!

I’ve always been an avid reader, and I have a profound love for books and literature. When I’m not writing or taking care of my family I can usually be found with a book or tablet in my hand. I live in my home state of New Jersey with my husband, our children, and our dogs, Dash and Chewie.

I’m a busy mom of three and finding time for leisurely reading was never easy, so I write stories that are fast-paced, yet detailed with satisfying conclusions. If I thought making time to read was difficult, I was in for a huge surprise when I started writing, but now that I started, I can’t picture myself doing anything else! I love writing powerful women and strong heroes who face relatable problems in supernatural settings! I plan on increasing the GK Universe with each and every story I publish. You can follow me on social media to keep up to date on all my new releases and events!

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