I’m ecstatic to have finished the second book in my Issy Castillo LatinX aromatherapy series, titled A Whiff of Murder. And just to give you a whiff of the book, here’s Page 1.

Chapter 1

“Cuando existe unpeligro real, los perros no ladran.”

“Where there’s real danger, the dogs don’t bark.”

— Spanish Proverb

Thursday, 7:10 AM

He slid as silently as a cat across the dew-kissed grass that trembled in the early morning sun. The little droplets shone like so many tiny pearls before he crushed them underfoot. The birds swooping across the treetops greeted the new day with exuberant song. But he couldn’t have cared less about the birds or the beauty of nature.

It had been a frustrating night. The dorms and each and every off-campus apartment were locked up tight as a virgin’s chastity belt. Not even the invitation of an open window in this heat! Just the ACs buzzing like so many bumble bees. You’d think the stupid bitches were afraid of the campus rapist. He let out a mirthless chuckle and reached into his pocket to clasp the small white bottle to satisfy himself that it was still there. He hadn’t gotten the opportunity to use it last night, but he kept it within reach just in case. And the longing, that deep, dark, mind-bending longing that only one action could alleviate, still plagued him like a ferocious itch. He might have to expand his horizons and settle for some anemic white girl.

Hold on! There was something! His perambulations had taken him past a long, low campus building. And in one of the basement windows there was a light showing. Signs of life. Slowly he stepped around to the entrance, and slithered downstairs.

Which door was it? Might as well try them all.

{ 0 comments }

Two dozen gorgeous Valentine’s Day Roses from my husband of many, many years. There were so many, I needed 2 vases! May you be as happy as I have been.

{ 0 comments }

Do you know who she is? I’m thinking an African or Brazilian orissa or orixa. Could be Oxum, but that’s just a wild guess. She is very precious to me.

{ 0 comments }

Can anything as sinfully delicious as chocolate also help you obtain wisdom? The Maya people believed that eating chocolate aided meditation and brought a person closer to the gods.  In this recipe, the vanilla will also help you gain peace and understanding and the cinnamon may improve your recipe. This recipe is in my book, What’s Your Potion? written under my Morwyn name and published by Schiffer Publishing. (Book available from the publisher, Amazon, etc.).

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon ground almonds, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and a dash of salt. Set  aside. In a medium saucepan, heat 1 quart  milk until it bubbles; lower the heat. Stir in the dry ingredients and beat with a rotary beater until smooth. Stirring constantly return the saucepan to boiling. Add 1/4 cup light cream and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract and heat gently. Before serving, stir the cocoa once more with rotary beater until froth. Pour into mugs and garnish with a sprinkling of ground cinnamon or insert one cinnamon stick to each cup.

{ 0 comments }

Boil 1 cup water, let stand for 2 minutes so botanicals don’t get scorched. Add mixture; let stand for 3 minutes. Remove botanicals. Now go to your sanctuary, sip the tea, and relax.

{ 0 comments }

A Sanctuary of Your Own is now in print! Create your own sacred space and recharge. Bring a sense of the sacred to your environment so that no matter where you are, you can connect with spirit. This book shares ideas and techniques for transforming any space into a haven designed to bring balance, serenity, and joy into your life. Order from www.Llewellyn.com, from the product page on this site,  or from Amazon.

{ 0 comments }

I’ll be signing and selling all my books this Saturday, Feb 9 at the Longmont Public Library meet the authors event on Bowen St. from 1-3:00 All my books will be on discount sale for $5 each plus I’ll promote my upcoming A Sanctuary of Your Own.See you there!

{ 3 comments }

{ 0 comments }

Very soon I’ll be able to post a copy of the cover of my new book, A Sanctuary of Your Own, to be released by Llewellyn Publication in early fall. in the meantime, here’s a relaxing photo of my home for you to enjoy.

{ 0 comments }