Curse of the Tahiéra is now available on Amazon Kindle!

Funny, thought B & N's NOOKbooks verison is only available in the US, the Kindle version is available internationally!

Yay! Soon Curse of the Tahiéra will be available on Amazon's Kindle too!

Personally, I still prefer paper books... but that's just me, I'm an old-fashioned girl;-)

Authors Promoting Authors Book Blitz for My Father's Colors by Marian L. Thomas!

Buy on Amazon

The Drama-Filled Journey of Naya Moná Continues...

How do find a daughter you never knew you gave birth to? That is the question that Naya must answer as she once again finds herself on a journey filled with betrayal, lies and shocking secrets of her past.

How far would one go for love?-That is the question that Chris wastes no time answering. He will do whatever it takes to remove his wife’s pain, even if it means being the one to cause her the most.

Fame & Fortune-Have been the determining factor for Misty ever since her father passed away. How far will she go, this time, to achieve it.

Carl Thompson-Has found the love of his life,
only she doesn’t know it. Green eyes and hazel brown hair fill his dreams for the future. Does he have enough love for the both of them?

For more information about Marian L. Thomas, please visit: http://www.marianlthomas.com/

Yay! Curse of the Tahiéra is now availabe on Barnes and Noble NOOKBooks
Now to get them to get the title right...In NOOKbooks it is now called 'Curse of the Tahi-cute-ra' - the Tahiéra would be miffed if it knew! It is NOT cute, it is evil;-)

Curse of the Tahiéra is a finalist in the Indie book Awards 2010in the category fantasy! I am so proud!

See a list of the finalists and winners here.

Winners and finalists in the category fantasy:

FANTASY

WINNER

• Magic, Mensa, and Mayhem, by Karina L. Fabian (Swimming Kangaroo) (ISBN 978-1934041789)

FINALISTS:

• Curse of the Tahiéra, by Wendy Gillissen (Booklocker.com, Inc.) (ISBN 978-1601458391)
• Gaea, by Robina Williams (Twilight Times Books) (ISBN 978-1606191835)
• Utherworlds, by Philip Straub (Ballistic Publishing) (ISBN 978-1921002618)

Lovely new review by Siobhan of Moonslipper.com:

Curse of the Tahiéra is an enchanting fantasy novel from Wendy Gillissen. For a debut novel, it’s very, very impressive. It features three main characters in a magical, ancient world - Rom, a half Tzanatzi and half human young man, Yldich, an Einache Shaman, and Eald, an Einache boy.

Rom seemingly meets Yldich by chance, but this meeting is destined to take place as Yldich knows that their lives will be intertwined forever as only Rom can save the Einache people from an ancient evil. Can Yldich help Rom to see his gifts and understand his destiny?

Dreams, dreamwork, astral travelling, ancient curses and romance are just some of the elements that make up this excellent read. I was totally drawn into the story, which is full of rich and colourful details (which I love) and made me feel as if I already knew Rom, Yldich and Eald. Like another review I saw, I really enjoyed reading this book at bedtime, as it somehow made me have vivid and telling dreams after reading it. Absolutely magical!

There’s battles, heroism and huge acts of friendship and love, which ensure this is a very inspiring and positive novel to read. I can’t wait for the next book!

Visit Moonslipper

Yay, Curse of the Tahiéra has won first place in the Reader Views Awards 2009, category fantasy!

See the list of winners and finalists here!

Lovely review and recommendation of Curse of the Tahiéra by Adrienne Dumas of the Faeries and Angels Magazine! ♥

Curse of the Tahiéra is a finalist in the Reader Views Awards 2009!!! Yay!!!

Winners will be announced on the Reader Views website in March 2010!

Eliseo Mauas Pinto did a wonderful post on my work on his Celtic Sprite blog! Thank you Eliseo, I'm honoured!:-)

CELTIC SPRITE: Wendy Gillissen : Profile of an inspired lady

Wow! Today I heard Curse of the Tahiéra won the Silver medal in the Readers Favorite Book Awards category Fantasy - Sci-Fi!
Happy dance!!!:-D

Curse of the Tahiéra is among the finalists of the Readers Favorites Awards contest 2009!
Category: Fiction - Fantasy/ Sci-fi.

The winners are announced on January 15, 2010.
Visit Readers Favorite

"When I finished this book, I was so happy to find out that there will be another book by the same author continuing this story about the Einache and Tzanatzi people. Wendy Gillissen is a very skilled writer, and she has created a wonderful, fantastic world with characters that are relatable on many levels. This novel is, on the surface, a wonderfully written and entertaining fantasy novel, but it has depth. It teaches us all a lesson about war, and how there are always two sides to every story.

This story captures your interest from the first few pages. You might be wary at first because there are over 400 pages, and relatively small type, but you will be thankful that there is more to the story. There are so many details, you really begin to feel like you are in this story and you know the characters, and become worried about their fates. Rom is a young boy of the Tzanatzi race, a race that has been feared and therefore ostracized by others. He meets a Yaever (a dream-walker, one who is able to visit other worlds and influence them) named Yldich, who has had a prophetic dream about Rom. Rom discovers that he is both a key participant in starting and ending the war that is going on between the people of his world, and he is not sure which side he wants to fight on.

You will truly not be able to put this book down. It contains elements of fantasy, adventure, magic, war, and romance. I highly recommend Curse of the Tahiera by Wendy Gillissen to young adults and adults that enjoy a well-written and well-imagined fantasy. This book is complete, and has a satisfying ending. So I was surprised to see that there would be another book, but I am looking forward to Gillissen's next book set many years later, and finding out what happens to this world that she has created."
Reader Views, Victoria Gonzales

Wendy, how and when did your love for fantasy begin?

I think it really started a long time ago. I am from the Netherlands and my parents were in love with the United Kingdom. They even named me after the Welsh Moon Goddess. We travelled to the hills of England, Scotland and Wales each year since I was five years old. I loved the lonely moors, the ancient trees and the crumbling castles where, if I really concentrated I see the medieval knights and ladies walking around.

My love of reading fantasy started with reading Lord of the Rings in English at age 15 or so. It was a library book in three volumes, and you can imagine my chagrin when I had finished part two, The Two Towers, and part three, The Return of the King was checked out and not available for a week. Talk about a cliff hanger!

What can we expect from your debut novel, Curse of the Tahiéra?

“Curse of the Tahiéra” is not a typical fantasy: it’s more like a semi-historical novel set in an early medieval setting that will remind some readers of the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon world. I suppose it is really three books rolled into one: it’s a quest adventure, a coming of age tale, and a story of healing the wounds of war.

The story revolves around Rom, a young man shunned for his Tzanatzi ancestry. When he crosses paths with Yldich, a mysterious Einache Shaman, they embark on a journey which will change their lives and that of their people forever.

Faced with power-hungry Southern nobles, rowdy Northern Einache warriors, shamans and Yldich’s spirited daughter Maetis, Rom has to grow up fast if he is to fulfil Yldich’s prophecy and free his people from a curse that has haunted them for five hundred years.

Tell us about your association with OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids).

I have always been a very spiritual person, though I never gravitated towards organized religion. From a very young age on, I was convinced of the sacredness of all life. Nature-based spirituality like druidry is a way to study and celebrate the sacredness of life and the earth. I enrolled in the OBOD bardic training course (the first stage of becoming a druid, where the emphasis is on music, story-telling, and other forms of creativity) when I had first started writing, and I must admit I have been a very lazy bard as far as studying the gwersu (Welsh for lessons) is concerned. But I have been into so many bardic activities: writing, playing the Celtic harp, jewellery making… so though I am not a very conscientious student, I am living the bardic way, so to speak ;-)

Does your knowledge of Clinical Psychology, dreamwork and past life therapy ever seep into your writing?

Yes, I suppose it’s inevitable! I think my experience as a psychologist and past life therapist really helps me get into the minds and hearts of my characters and manifest them as three-dimensional beings. Healing the wounds of the past, which is what I do as a therapist, is also very much the focus of my first book. (In part two, “The Search for Tzanáta” the focus is more on power – finding your own power, and the consequences of denying or misusing your true power.)

Dreams as a reality underlying daily life has also made its way into my book – as Yldich, my shaman character explains, there are different kinds of dreams – nonsensical dreams, dreams in which you lea

Sheila de Chantal, coffee lover (like me) and prolific book blogger added a lovely review of Curse of the Tahiéra on her blog One Person's Journey through a World of Books!

"I like a good fantasy adventure. Following Rom and Yldich through the pages of this book looking for an ancient curse was a wild adventure that I slowly picked up on the rhythm of the book. Sometimes language can throw me off and words such as erstwae and Daydach proved to be stumbling blocks for me and in the beginning of the book I had a hard time with these words. Thank goodness author Wendy Gillissen put the definitions (any many more words like them) in the back of the book for reference!

As our two characters travel North together there are a series of dreams that deeply trouble Rom and cause quite a plot for this read. I found it interesting how Wendy wove a deeper meaning into these dreams and how a troubled past can truly effect your present if not dealt with. For what I would call a YA read, this book was a bit deeper than I had anticipated."

Visit Sheila's Blog

In case you're wondering: Curse of the Tahiéra is not officially classified as YA, though I imagine readers from ages 12 and up should enjoy the book depending on their taste.
Wendy Gillissen

Dreams are a big part of Curse of the Tahiéra. Dreams telling of the past, dreams foreshadowing the future...

Past life dreams are often vivid and linger long after you wake up. You experience yourself being someone else, possibly even of different gender, in another time and place - but the feelings and thoughts are real and immediate.

Did you ever have a past life dream?

In the course of my life I've had several, including a dream of a life as a medieval crusader, a young man in Cornwall who was killed by pirates (my own fault mind you, by trying to cheat them!), a pirate, a female druid... and many more!

I have two choices for the cover of The Search for Tzanáta, the sequel to Curse of the Tahiéra.
As you can see, the one on the right features the lovely artwork of Michèlle Ross, a black-and-white pencil drawing of Ayra, a new character, playing a moonlight harp for the Woodland Elven King. The one on the left features my favourite tree on Kefalonia, the island where my novels were conceived. They are equally beautiful in their own way, so I am having a hard time choosing.

Which cover should I choose? Comments are more than welcome!

"If you're a Tolkien fan, or maybe you prefer Robert Jordon or Terry Goodkind, then this book is for you. A spiritual adventure joins wayward travelers on a journey searching for the means to unravel an ancient curse.

The author's experience with psychology, past life therapy and dream work is poignantly portrayed in Rom's journey through the Underworld, which is reminiscent of a shaman's journey in the act of soul recovery.

This story, refreshingly original, blends dreams, deep spiritual understanding, the workings of karma, love, and compassion into a tale of healing and bonding.
This is a mystical novel that will take you on a journey through your own imagination and dreams and reveals stories behind stories and dreams within dreams at every turn.

Called a "Dreamwalk" by author Hans Brockhuis, of the Nada Chronicles if you're ready for a refreshing fantasy with themes that have not been overdone, nor overworked, then take a spiritual romp with the Curse of The Tahiera and Wendy Gillissen.

Wendy received her inspiration for Curse of the Tahiéra after a visit to the Greek island of Cephalonia, which only served to deepen her love of the world of "castles, elves and ghosts," from her childhood years visiting England, Scotland, and Wales.
A Celtic harpist in her spare time between her past life therapy clients, workshops, and writing, Wendy has completed work on the second book in the series, The Search for Tzanáta, which should be published shortly. Available on Amazon.com."

Laurie J. Brenner,
Voice of the Angels.com Magazine – Winter Issue, 2009

I was interviewed about my debut novel Curse of the Tahiéra by Michel Weir of Perpetual Prose yesterday. By e-mail of course - it would be a little difficult meeting face to face, what with me living on the other side of the world.
Perpetual Prose is a community for writers, book lovers and editors. I discovered it through Twitter, where I found a link to an excellent interview with Roxanne Smolen, fellow writer.

I like e-mail interviews: they give me time to think about the answers, and let me answer at my own pace instead of blurting out what comes into my head - though I do try to blurt first, then edit. Because sometimes the spontaneous answers are the best! I also like it when an interviewer takes the time to do a little research on the author and her book(s) so the questions are not run of the mill but personal.

I will post a link when the interview is published on Perpetual Prose!

I wrote a guest post for The Book Faery Book Reviews on what made me write in the first place;) She also hosts a giveawy for Curse of the Tahiéra, so here is another chance to get your hands on a free copy!

Find the guest post and giveaway here!

When I discovered Secret of the Dragon's Eye 1. is set in World War II Britain and 2. features one of my favourite mythical beasts, a dragon, my curiosity was raised and I couldn't wait to read the novel.
Mr. Hart has done his research well: in the first half of the book, life in wartime Britain is described with a lot of convincing detail and a little (British?) humour thrown in for good measure.
I couldn't wait to meet the dragon, and I wasn't disappointed: Sir Thaddeus Osbert is anything a dragon should be: he has charisma, wisdom, heart, and buckets full of dragon charm. He also has a weak spot (for sugar) which, like his fondness for humans has gotten him into trouble in the past.
It doesn't take long for Thaddeus' young friend Gavin to experience the horror and futility of war and revenge first-hand, and Gavin and his friends learn important lessons about love, courage and friendship as they are caught up in the battle for the legendary sword Excalibur, coveted by both the British wartime government and the Nazis. And just as they think all battles are done, Sir Thaddeus' past catches up with him.
A charming and exciting children's / YA historical fantasy adventure that will also appeal to adults who are young of heart!

I have always had a thing for dragons. Ever since I first read the Dragonriders of Pern books, I realized dragons had been getting bad press for ages and were much more sensitive creatures many people give them credit for.

For years, this fascination lay dormant but since I 'met' a fire-breathing dragon in one of my trance journeys a few years ago, I had been on the lookout for dragons on a more conscious level. My fire-breathing dragon had introduced himself to me as 'Fred', which made me giggle: such a common name for such an impressive creature. I felt 'Fred' (if that is his real name, I still suspect he was joking) around for quite some time, but I didn't really know how to deepen our relationship.

And then I decided to enrol in a shamanism 101 class.

Now shamanism has also been a subject to my heart for a long time. I have read quite a few books on the subject, fiction and non-fiction, and as a past life therapist I felt confident enough in my own shamanistic 'roots' to write the 500 year old shaman Yldich, one of the main characters in Curse of the Tahiéra.
Unlike I had expected, the class is mainly focusing on North American Native shamanism, which is fine with me though: I am eclectic through and through. So, I expected to meet a nice forest dweller on my trance journey to meet my totem animal. A petite big-eyed deer or a swooping falcon. I did not.
I met a dragon.
A big, red, fire-breathing dragon.

Now as 'coincidence' would have it, I was at this time also drawn to a YA fantasy novel written by a fellow writer, Derek Hart:'The Secret of the Dragon's eye', which, surprise surprise features an impressive fire-breathing dragon (not a red one, though): Sir Thaddeus Osbert. He reminds me a lot of Fred. In fact, there are strange parallels between Mr. Hart's book and 'Curse of the Tahiéra' (in which dragons make a short appearance) which makes me wonder: how many dragon-loving artists are drawing from the same source? The same archetypal well?

Anyway, I decided to bring my wee stuffed toy dragon from Wales, Sir Caradoc, to shamanism class last night. When my friend pulled into the only parking space left in the The Hague street, the Netherlands, she burst out laughing. There, in front of us, was a parked car with a bumper sticker of a red dragon on a green background.
A dragon from Wales!

Curse of the Tahiéra by Wendy Gillissen is one of those rare books that simply is a gift to the reader.
One of those books that will take you away into other worlds, reach out and fully grab your attention, immersing you completely into a rich and delightful story.

The story takes place both in the physical world and in the many levels of the spiritual world. Truly, it is a spiritual adventure, taking the reader through the cycles of life, death and rebirth, without stoppage in plot or character development.
The wise Shaman, Yldich, finds Rom, whom he has been dreaming of for many years and recruits him to travel north. Young Eald joins the journey. These three characters journey together, forging strong bonds.
Rom, figures out whom and what he is while the youthfulness of Eald provides a nice balance to the serious matters that Yldich weighs.
Rom has constantly had dreams of his past and among his dreams he finds the hidden tool to use against the Tahiéra.
The authority to the south represents the new world trying to override the old and makes you question which side will win in the end.
With a surprise ending, an unexpected love interest and a cast of rich characters, this book was impossible to put down.
Wendy Gillissen’s prose is lyrical and colourful, captivating and engaging.
Curse of the Tahiéra, is an unique intelligent fantasy book, one that offers the reader an adventure not to be missed.
Tina-Sue Ducross, Authors Promoting Authors

"When Rom, a young man shunned for his Tzanatzi ancestry, crosses paths with Yldich, an Einache Shaman, the pair embark on a journey which will come to change their lives, and that of their people, forever.
Dark forces are at work in Gardeth forest to the north, while in the south power-hungry nobles will stop at nothing to get what they want.
Embattled on all sides, but with the loving guidance of Yldich, Rom must face his own past and that of the land to heal the wounds inflicted by centuries of persecution and hatred. A 500 year old curse threatens all in its path and Rom is the key – providing he can conquer his own demons in time for the final battle.

Wendy Gillissen’s wonderful début novel is a powerful all-engrossing epic, in which love and forgiveness are essential lessons to be learned. Dreams and past lives are central to the story, and I was not surprised then to learn Wendy is a past life therapist who specialises in dreamwork. This understanding of her subject matter results in a sensitively crafted and profound spiritual adventure for both the main protagonists and the reader.
The rich history and cultures of the land in which the tale unfolds is entirely convincing, as are the story’s well rounded and sympathetic characters. I found the Curse of the Tahiéra very evocative of the myths and legends of the British Isles, particularly the Tuatha Dé Danann of Celtic legend. For all it’s depth, Wendy has succeeded in writing a thoroughly enjoyable tale which never once becomes heavy going or dull (the curse of many fantasy epics I have endured over the years!)."
Tangle Catkin, Fae Nation, Your Virtual Portal to Faerie

Alternative-Read.com: PRIZE WINNERS: Curse of the Tahiéra...Is your name here?

The winner of the Curse of the Tahiera giveaway has been announced!! Visit Alternative-Reads.com to see if you win a free copy of this enchanting fantasy adventure:)