I noticed it was beginning to get dark. And for a couple seconds, it was scary-like that meant the world was breaking, or expired, or bruised, or something worse. It was really scary for a couple seconds but then I calmed down. Up above, the moonlit clouds looked rippled, like the ribcage of some giant thing digesting me. And I wondered if the direction I was going went down into the digestive system or up out of it. Wondered what difference it made. There was a bug hovering over a small pool of ice cream on the sidewalk. Like a firefly, but it wasn't a firefly. And I could've stepped on it and killed it. But I didn't. Be thankful, little bug. For in my world, you are just a little bug.
A compelling book urging modern women to reconnect with their inborn femimine powers. Reclaim your inner witch with the magical rituals, divination tools, spells and ancient wisdom in this revolutionary book. A witch is a woman in her power. She's wise, a healer, someone who is aligned with the cycles of Mother Nature and the phases of the Moon. Yet for so long, the word 'witch' has had negative connotations - being used as an insult, a slur and to perpetuate fear. In this book, third generation hereditary witch Lisa Lister explains the history behind witchcraft, why in past centuries the word 'witch' has led women to be tortured, drowned and burned at the stake, and why the witch is now waking once again in women across the world today. This book will help women to remember, reconnect and reclaim the word 'witch' and its power. It explores the many different versions of witchcraft and their core principles and practices, and shares ancient wisdom made relevant for waking witches, including how to: · Align your energy with the wheel of the year, the sabbats and the cycles of the Moon · Connect with and trust your intuition · Use divination tools such as oracle cards, scrying and rune reading · Cast circles, create altars and set sacred space · Work with the elements of nature and use herbs and crystals · Discover and work with five different aspects of the witch: the Force of Nature, the Creatrix, the Healer, the Oracle and the Sorceress · Rediscover your powers and manifest your reality with spell casting Lisa also shares her own journey to reclaiming the word 'witch', along with personal, hands-on rituals and spells from her family lineage of gypsy witch magic.
It’s 1946 and Mabel has never been happier. She’s a wife, a new mother, and the owner of the town’s most popular bakery. The black clouds that had followed her in the past have parted and her future has never looked brighter. Or so it seemed. A devastating loss and murder abruptly turn Mabel’s tranquil life upside down. As rumours run rampant, conclusions are drawn, and doubt takes hold, Mabel is left questioning her marriage, her faith and her very existence. Or so it seemed is a stand-alone, page-turning mystery that reintroduces many of the unforgettable characters fans of The Bread Maker have come to either love or loathe, cry for or curse. Readers of this evocative and stirring novel will also be treated to a rich cast of new characters, including Mabel’s strange neighbour, a handsome young priest, and a hilarious gaggle of mischievous boys; all of whom come together to remind us that things aren’t always as they seem.
Hundreds of years of ridicule, persecution, erasure, misunderstanding, and institutionalization could put anyone in a bad mood. Killjoy invites you into her kastle for a queer exorcism and celebration of the past. Lesbian feminist histories can have a haunting effect on the present. This book explores the making and experience of Killjoy’s Kastle, an immersive walk-through installation and performance artwork (by Allyson Mitchell and Deirdre Logue) that materializes the frightfully acrimonious past for today. Inspired by Evangelical Christian hell houses, the exhibition has been staged in four cities so far – Toronto, London, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia – inviting visitors to interact with humorous and frightening manifestations of the spirits that haunt feminist and queer history. Whereas traditional hell houses set out to scare and convert, Killjoy’s Kastle cheekily aims to provoke and pervert, giving expression to old and new anxieties and creating a space for critique, affect, and discussion. Inside Killjoy’s Kastle fills this space by exploring the kastle’s theoretical and political legacies in chapters by queer and feminist scholars and in vignettes by artists who participated in the project. The many colourful photos in the book also bring Killjoy’s Kastle to life, offering an important visual context. By taking the kastle as a starting point, the contributors consider the role of lesbian feminist histories and direct-action aesthetics in contemporary communities, particularly the ways in which political artwork can produce new ways of knowing about the past.
The definitive work on the subject, this Dictionary - available again in its eighth edition - gives a full account of slang and unconventional English over four centuries and will entertain and inform all language-lovers.
Fire unleashed and uncontrolled When a romantic romp becomes more, Kenna puts on the brakes. She’s not looking for long-term, not now. But then a series of shocking surprises has her reevaluating her life. She’s pregnant with the child she’s always longed for and didn’t believe possible. Her pregnancy activates fire witch powers she didn’t know she had. And her knitting, crafting, home-body mom turns out to be a wicked fierce fire witch fighting for the good of humans everywhere. When her mom is kidnapped, the paranormal policing force refuses to help, leaving the rescue mission to Kenna. Can Kenna master her newly awakened fire witch powers in time to save her mom? With the help of her old friends Lizzie and Jack, her ex-lover Max, and a feisty little magical book that refuses to be silenced, Kenna might just have a shot.
My cold, soaked, naked body was exposed, and I immediately knew I was in danger. As my lip began to quiver and involuntarily protrude, I became drenched with an overwhelming, instant yearning for my mum. Yet no sound would escape my mouth, so I stood there cornered like a mouse surrounded by the steal of a trap set to spring at any moment just waiting to secure me in its unforgiving clutches. My startled, fearful eyes only minutely reflecting the implosion that had just been detonated within my inner sanctum. I was rigid with fear as my body stiffened; my mind silent offering no guidance to navigate its way to a place of safety. I was defenceless, weak, alone and oh how his salivation seemed to intensify. This was one of those acute moments in time where the lens ultimately sharpens its focus and the shutter snaps rapidly. The question is: had you orchestrated this moment to quench your sordid desires and are you about to make the most heinous decision that will manifest into a lifetime of Blame, Shame & Guilt? I close my eyes and silently pray that I will be spared the torment.
Humberfield is a quiet village, most people go about their day to day business and getting along with lives. But some residents have secrets, revenge on their minds and a need to set things right in their lives, no matter the cost to others... But sometimes, people are just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like Melyssa Woodman, she is the woman who has everything, a new boyfriend, lovely job, expensive flat and looking forward to a bright future. Her best friends have gathered on a huge yacht for a weekend of fun and frolics. But there is something else in the water, a gigantic primeval sea creature intent on crashing the party. With the situation becoming more desperate, Melyssa and her friends must try their hardest to survive the night and the aquatic monster. In this collection, there are eight other tales of obsession and injustice, including: The factory worker who has to spend the night searching through a warehouse of fridge freezers to find a terrifying secret inside one of them. And more... From the mind of storyteller Kingsley Pilgrim, 'Humberfield' is a fast paced read. Intriguing and full of suspense and twists. The tales are dark, but not horror, not sci- fi, not supernatural.
The heartwarming and feel-good read from the Sunday Times bestselling author ‘The feeling you get when you read a Milly Johnson book should be bottled and made available on the NHS’ Debbie Johnson When Connie discovers that Jimmy Diamond, her husband of more than twenty years, is planning to leave her for his office junior, her world is turned upside down. Determined to salvage her pride, she resolves to get her own back. Along with Della, Jimmy's right-hand woman at his cleaning firm, Diamond Shine, and the cleaners who meet at the Sunflower Café, she'll make him wish he had never underestimated her. Then Connie meets the charming Brandon Locke, a master chocolatier, whose kindness starts to melt her soul. Can the ladies of the Sunflower Cafe help Connie scrub away the hurt? And can Brandon make her trust again? Praise for Milly Johnson: 'Every time you discover a new Milly book, it’s like finding a pot of gold' heat 'A glorious, heartfelt novel' Rowan Coleman ‘Absolutely loved it. Milly's writing is like getting a big hug with just the right amount of bite underneath. I was rooting for Bonnie from the start' Jane Fallon ‘Bursting with warmth and joie de vivre’ Jill Mansell ‘Warm, optimistic and romantic’ Katie Fforde
