5 Weird & Wacky Phobias ~ Guest Post with Author Traci Douglass

It's that magical day of the year, October 31, when witches rule and adorable little goblins dress up to trick or treat us in masks meant to scare. In the spirit of this spooky 24 hours, it's my pleasure to host Traci Douglass, author of the Seven Seals series of paranormal romances, who has an unusual list to share with us.

5 Weird & Wacky Phobias

by Traci Douglass

Happy Halloween!

I'm so happy to celebrate this time of the macabre, the strange, the wack-a-doodle with all of you.

Since Quinn, the heroine in my new book, Seal of Awakening, suffers from claustrophobia, I thought it might be a good day to take a look at the wacky world of phobias. Here is a countdown of the top five strangest phobias I've found (and yes, apparently I have way too much time on my hands and far too much access to Google Search):

#5 Pogonophobia - Fear of Beards

‘Nuf said.

#4 Oenophobia - Fear of Wines

Wine? Really? What’s not to love?

#3 Mertophobia - Fear or Hatred of Poetry

Poetry is a beautiful thing. Except when it’s bad. Then it’s just awful.

#2 Geniophobia - Fear of Chins

Yeah, ‘cause that’s not creepy at all…

#1 Bogyphobia - Fear of Bogies or the Bogeyman

Hey, it’s Halloween. There had to be one Bogeyman in the bunch right?
Happy Halloween Everyone!!! Stay safe!

Fun post, Traci! Who doesn't love this holiday? Except maybe sufferers of Samhainophobia, who have a fear of, you guessed it, Halloween? –AH

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Be Sure to Check out Traci's Newest Novel

Title: Seal Of Awakening
Series: Seven Seals Series: Book Three
Author: Traci Douglass
Publisher: SpinTale Publishing
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: 70,000 words/261 pages
Cover Artist: Kim Killion

Embrace the geek, save the world…

Socially awkward geneticist Quinn Strickland has willingly forgone the pleasures in life to reach her career objectives. Alone and approaching thirty, she uses her independence to mitigate any risk of a broken heart. Her strategy works until the day a handsome stranger bursts into her lab and her orderly plans shoot straight to Hades. He claims to be her personal divine protector, a powerful, ancient warrior sent to defend a prophetic time bomb existing within her own genetic code.

The Scion’s alpha-geek Wyck is offered the opportunity of his immortal lifetime as head of his own covert operation. He arrives at a Colorado lab expecting starched white coats and sterile surroundings—not a redheaded spitfire in charge of both his project and his libido. His skills have carried him from the battlefields of ancient England to the pits of Hell and he has no plans to be felled by one woman, regardless of her shag-worthy charms. Divine duty requires him to protect the apocalyptic Seal encrypted within Quinn’s DNA, but his heart has other ideas. When his personal feelings interfere with his age-old vendetta, he’s forced to decide between desire and retribution.

Buy Seal of Awakening Now

For Kindle

Paperback

About Traci Douglass

Traci is the author of paranormal romance/urban fantasy and contemporary romances featuring a sly, urban edge, including her current Seven Seals series. Her stories feature sizzling alpha-male heroes full of dark humor, quick wits and major attitudes; smart, independent heroines who always give as good as they get; and scrumptiously evil villains who are—more often than not—bent on world destruction. She enjoys weaving ancient curses and mythology, modern science and old religion, and great dialogue together to build red-hot, sizzling chemistry between her main characters.

She is an active member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), Indiana Romance Writers of America (IRWA) and Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal Writers (FF&P) and is pursing a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Writing Popular Fiction through Seton Hill University. Her stories have made the final rounds in several RWA chapter contests, including the 2012 Duel on the Delta, the 2012 Molly Awards, and the 2012 Catherine Awards. An earlier draft of the first book in the Seven Seals Series, Seal of Destiny, won the paranormal category of the 2012 Marlene Awards sponsored by the Washington Romance Writers.

Other current projects include upcoming books in the Seven Seals series, a new contemporary novella series due out in early 2014, and a new futuristic suspense series with hints of the paranormal and plenty of romance.

 

Traci would love to hear from you. You can connect with her on:

Her Website: http://www.tracidouglass.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TraciDouglassAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Traci_Douglass
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6767293.Traci_Douglass
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/tracisdouglass/boards/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/tracidouglass
Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/user/TraciDouglass
RebelMouse: https://www.rebelmouse.com/TraciDouglassAuthor/

Written Fireside's "A Witch By Chance..." Read the Complete Story

October's Written Fireside magical romance has reached a sexy and surprising conclusion. Nine authors, including yours truly, have jointly written a free read for you. If you missed any of the pieces, here's the complete list:

Part 1 by Lori Connelly Tuesday October 1st
Part 2 by Aileen Harkwood on Saturday October 5 (see post below this one.)
Part 3 by Zara Stoneley on Tuesday October 8
Part 4 by Kari Lemor on Saturday October 12
Part 5 by Sarah Lefebve on Tuesday October 15
Part 6 by Carmel Harrington on Saturday October 19
Part 7 by Teresa F Morgan on Tuesday October 22
Part 8 by Lynn Marie Hulsman on Saturday October 25
Part 9 by Jane Lark on Tuesday October 29

I love what all the other writers have done with the story of Ivy, Chance and Karma. Best round robin I've read. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I have!

Written Fireside: A Witch By Chance

...a Halloween Round Robin Story

This month I'm lucky enough to be invited to participate in a Written Fireside story with Lori Connelly and seven other writers. Our story, A Witch By Chance, was started on the 1st by Lori. Now it's my turn to pick up the threads and weave them together.

If you haven't already read Part I, you'll find it here. And now...

A Witch By Chance

Part II by Aileen Harkwood

Surprised, Ivy jumped, losing her grip on the window frame. Her toes slid out from under her. Flailing wildly, she started to fall. With a sharp jerk on the fabric and an ugly tearing sound, her skirt ripped and kept on ripping, while she frantically reached for any handhold available.

Her fingers connected with the leather bound book she'd used to prop open the window and she latched onto it as a lifeline. Instead of staying wedged under the heavy window sash, however, the book gave way, sending her flying backward, where she landed on her butt with a gloppy splash in a puddle so soupy with muck it was sure to call to any pig within a five mile radius. Following her to the ground, the heavy old tome nailed her in the ribs with one of its sharp corners, bounced up, thwacked her in the nose and finally came to rest, balanced precariously on her forehead.

“Oww,” Ivy said. “Oww, dammit.”

Everything hurt, not the least of which was her dignity.

“Good to see you could manage on your own,” that delicious voice spoke again.

Ivy reached for the book and lifted it off her face to find the stranger leaning over her, hands in pockets, regarding her with a bemused smile.

His hair was the color of his voice, a dark, deliciously thick chocolate brown, his eyes a golden hazel with a touch of indolence. He squatted down next to her as she sat up, the book now in her lap and thankfully covering her–
   
“Oh, God.” Her skirt was torn all the way up, from hem to waist, exposing a the thong no one in town would ever dream she wore.
   

Gallantly, the stranger pretended not to notice and extended a hand. His forearm was bare, the sleeve of his black sweater pushed back to the elbow. She noted taut, spare, though powerful muscle, and a small, crescent shaped scar on the inside of his wrist. Who was he? How had she never met or even noticed him here in Ashton Harbor? Strangely, of everything about him, it was the scar that seemed familiar. Where had she seen that mark before?
   
“Uh, okay,” Ivy said.
   
She started to take the offered hand when she remembered the book that had miraculously mud-free thus far. She scooped it up, holding it tightly to her chest, when a shiny object on a long ribbon began to slide from between the pages. Though both her hands were slimy with mud, instinct won out and she scrambled to catch it before it could fall.
   
But the object on the ribbon wouldn’t be caught. It slipped through fingers, snaked over the tops of her hands as if alive, and coiled around her left wrist, where the ends caught themselves and joined.
   
“What the–”

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Ready to go on to Part III? I'm afraid you'll need to wait until the 8th, when erotic romance writer Zara Stoneley continues the story on her blog. Don't miss it. I know I won't. I can hardly wait to find out what happens to Ivy next!