Last year, I read this really great book that ended with a cliffhanger. You know how I am about cliffhangers. Often a star is deducted from my rating because I am so frustrated that story is not finished. In this case Zoraida Grey and the Family Stones had only 1/2 star deducted for my first and only 4 1/2 star rating. I have been patiently waiting. Wait, that is a lie. I have been chomping at the bit. Wait, that may be an exaggeration. At any rate, I am relieved the story can now continue in Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen by Sorchia Dubois.
Ms. DuBois is here to today to talk spirits. You know, spirits, like whiskey, which has a significant role in her books. Turns out, we not only share an appreciation for whiskey, but there is a reason for it. Read on to find out why. And then come back tomorrow for my review of Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen.
Guest Post
Zoraida Grey and the Spirits
by Sorchia DuBois
To celebrate the release of the second book in the Zoraida Grey series, I’m blogging all around about signs of the zodiac and the characters in the story. The series is about a small town fortune teller and how she wreaks havoc in a haunted Scottish castle. Book 2, Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen, takes the characters on the road as Zoraida and company track down a wayward relative who may have the keys to Castle Logan. Be sure to stop by my Witchmageddon page to enter my giveaway for a natural stone birthstone pendant and to see the rest of the book launch festivities.
Now, it’s no secret that Zoraida (and I) like a wee nip of Scotch. Since Laphroaig is my preference, most of my characters tend to lean toward the smoky side as well. But not everyone. Here are the signs of the Zodiac and their drink preferences Plus a few notes on Characters from Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen as well as characters in my very own clan.
Aries—Adventurous and dynamic. Try a little vodka or a mixed drink like Sex on the Beach (vodka, peach liqueur, orange juice, cranberry juice.) My mom was an Aries and she did enjoy gin fizzes. I think she would have loved a vodka and lime as well.
Taurus—Beer. Stable and practical, these people enjoy earthly pleasures and hard, productive work! Jock, a mysterious member of Zoraida’s family, is a definite Taurus though his birth date is lost in the distant past. He loves mead better than life, but in dire circumstances, he isn’t picky. He’s a craftsman and a family man at heart—though you can’t tell by looking.
Gemini—Tequila. Party animals all the way, Gemini will chug marguerites or whisky sours with sugar on the rim to show their dual nature. Both the hero and the villain of the Zoraida Grey series are Geminis. They do like their whisky but one of them prefers brandy and the other swigs Laphroaig straight from the bottle.
Cancer—Zoraida Grey is a Cancer. Just because Cancer is a watery sign doesn’t mean she can’t handle the strong stuff. Since I’m the author, Zoraida likes Laphroaig—that’s what her Granny gave her for coughs when she was little. Other Cancers who have not had the benefit of a Scottish witch upbringing may prefer a good gin for its subtle mix of flavors.
Leo—Red Wine. My daughter is a Leo, though she isn’t drinking anything of the kind right now because she is about to pop out my first grandchild—a girl—in early October—on or near my birthday. I’m certain she will welcome a glass of velvety red wine soon thereafter and this drink perfectly fits her personality. She’s elegant and earthy but embraces the fire her sign is known for.
Virgo—White Wine. Elegant and independent and often purists, Virgos demand the best. They are dedicated and hardworking but sometimes get a little too uptight. A crisp white wine brings them back to their nurturing, helpful focus. Al, Zoraida’s ex-boyfriend is a Virgo. He tends to hang on too tightly and Zoraida isn’t ready to be somebody’s wife just yet. At least, she doesn’t think so.
Libra—Whisky or whiskey. I happen to be a Libra so I can say this for certain. I enjoy a good bourbon or a Jameson. A smoky Rob Roy made with Laphroaig or a sweet Manhattan will also do the trick. We Libras like a balance of flavors and appreciate strong and clear alternatives. Zoraida’s granny is a Libra. She prefers a peaceful life, but when that isn’t possible, she’ll settle for a little dark and brutal revenge.
Scorpio—Moonshine. Intense and focused, Scorpios are all in! Zoraida’s best friend, Zhu, is a Scorpio. She is hardcore ride or die. Don’t let her diminutive stature and her oriental beauty lull you into a false sense of security. Zhu’s personality often resembles that of a wolverine with a toothache and she has the moves to make it stick.
Sagittarius—Champagne. This is my husband and he does indeed have a taste for the bubbly. A bit rigid, Sagittarius have a flare for the dramatic but sometimes stick with one drink rather than try something new.
Capricorn—Scotch or something simple. On the rocks or with a twist is about as exotic as Capricorns want to get. My son and my dad epitomize this sign: simple, to the point, easy—and effective. In Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen, Cade Pettitpas embodies this down to earth sign. He was a shrimper in the Caribbean but has moved into more lucrative waters when Zoraida meets him.
Aquarius—boxed wine or Everclear. Unpretentious and quirky, Capricorns don’t give a winged rodent’s rear end what anyone thinks. They do as they please and enjoy everything. Azili, a very old soul and a friend of Granny’s, may be a Capricorn though exactly when she was born into this plane is a mystery. She likes the finer things, but when it comes right down to it, she doesn’t need a thing from anybody—except maybe Cade Pettitpas. That relationship is fraught with peril for them both.
Pisces—These dreamers and healers crave something sweet. Absinthe or Moscato or maybe or a mixed drink with Schnapps. They like to dance and they hate reality checks. Jaqueline, the daughter of a Voodoo priestess and a Scottish wizard, is a Pisces. She’s destined to be a healer—if she can survive her mother’s barbaric plan.
So there is a bit about my own family and the characters in Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen. Let’s hear from you!! Do these drink choices fit your sign of the Zodiac?
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About Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen
Magic may save Zoraida’s skin, but what about her heart?
Zoraida Grey needs help. With the witchy Logan clan holding her best friend hostage in a haunted Scottish castle, she can’t trust anyone—certainly not beguiling but dangerous Shea Logan. And Al, her overprotective boyfriend, doesn’t believe in magic.
Only one creature strikes fear in the blackened hearts of the Logan witches. Trouble is Jock disappeared five centuries ago leaving a trail of destruction across the Gulf of Mexico. Now he’s stepped into a steaming pile of Voodoo.
Can Zoraida drag wayward Jock back to Scotland? And what’s she supposed to do with two men who promise completely different futures?
A Scottish wizard, stripped naked and painted blue—a Voodoo priestess bent on immortality—a yacht-load of Caribbean pirates. What can possibly go wrong?
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Excerpt from Zoraida Grey and the Voodoo Queen
“By the way, where is this house of Odette’s?” I have a bad feeling.
“That way.” Cade grins, white teeth shining in his broad handsome face. He takes the cigar from his lips and motions with it, directly into the heart of the blue-green bank of clouds at the outer edges of Hurricane Mab.
A dull rumble of thunder rolls across the Gulf. The water, still and smooth a moment before, swells with a rising wind. The deck vibrates with the pulse of the storm.
“Of course it is.” I am no longer surprised by anything. The carafe of wine looks better by the minute, but that bottle of Laphroaig looks better still. Shea, his eyes crinkled, laughs at me inside my own head—which is both infuriating and strangely comforting.
“Do you always turn to liquor in every emergency, little witch?”
In hindsight, I guess I do. Zhu’s and my standard method of coping with a difficult day was to crack open a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer, order a Mega-size serving of cheesy fries from Hufstedler’s Café, and turn on the sappiest movie we could find. But what we called difficult days then seem like a romp in the daisies compared to the past few weeks. It’s going to take more than a couple of drinks and some greasy comfort food to fix this.
Cade pats my arm. “Don’t worry, ma chère. We race the storm to a quiet inlet I know well. The Black Magic Woman can harbor safely within sight of Odette’s house high on a hill. And maybe, if we are fast enough, we find Old Jock before he knows we are there. To do that, we must fly.”
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Links
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About the Author
Award-winning author Sorchia Dubois lives in the piney forest of the Missouri Ozarks with eight cats, two fish, one dog, and one husband.
A proud member of the Scottish Ross clan, Sorchia incorporates all things Celtic (especially Scottish) into her works. She can often be found at Scottish festivals watching kilted men toss large objects for no apparent reason.
Social Media Links:
Website: www.SorchiaDubois.com
Blog: https://www.sorchiadubois.com/sorchias-universe-the-bloga/
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Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/SorchiaDuBois/e/B00B60NOUQ/
Goodreads author page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879978.Sorchia_DuBois
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Email: SorchiaDuBois@GMail.com
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sorchia-dubois
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