Guest Post & Giveaway: Cassiel Knight

Many times since Key of Solomon was released, readers have asked why mythology and archeology?  What led me to write a book with these elements?

For as long as I can remember, which, sadly, isn’t all that far but far enough back I can recall devouring books and stories with mythological elements. Before I knew better, I thought Greek and Roman mythology with some Viking thrown in were the only mythology that existed. As a teenager, I think I read every story and knew all of the major gods and goddesses and a lot of the minor ones. As paranormal started to take wing, I knew I’d found a place I could indulge in my love of mythology.

When I first conceived the idea of this story, I knew I wanted to work in some kind of mythology with paranormal elements but I didn’t want to do what everyone else was doing (meaning no vampires or werewolves and, despite their popularity now, demons/angels hadn’t taken off by then). 

During my research into that elusive “something different”, I discovered the mythology surrounding King Solomon. I was raised on the Bible and knew all about Solomon. Or, I thought I did. I was so intrigued with the notion that he was supposed to be a magic user and had a ring given to him by God that allowed Solomon to control and compel demons. And his famous temple? The stories say it was built by these same demons. Key of Solomon just took off from there. And I loved writing the scene in the book where he uses the ring to compel the demons into the bronze jar.

Archeology was easy as I think I was an archeologist or explorer in another life. <grin> I’d always loved history, much more than I love the present. It’s funny, because I like the future too. Or at least, envisioning what the future might look like. For the past, I’m fascinated by what our ancestors accomplished with what they had. The beautiful and magnificent structures. Sure, we build magnificent structures now but there are few I would call beautiful.

I think the past is much more appealing even with the lack of computers and assorted technologies. And since the assorted technologies have allowed me to armchair travel to the past, I get to indulge my love of history and archeology in my stories. In fact, the story I’m shopping now is fully immersed in archeology and Egyptian mythology with a tomb raiding heroine.

I'm offering up reader's choice of a print or ebook of KEY OF SOLOMON. Just answer the question in the comments and you're entered.

As a reader, do you find mythology and archeology interesting? If so, why does it intrigue you and what kind of mythology would you love to read more about?

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BLURB

Key of Solomon

Samhain Publishing

Book 1 of the Relic Defender series

Trust no one…except the one who walks in the dark.

Anthropology PhD candidate Lexi Harrison never bares it all when she belly dances for a strip club crowd. She doesn’t have to—she’s that good. Every performance earns money toward her degree, and restores the sense of power her painful childhood ripped away.

Something is different about tonight. A man whose silver gaze seems to touch her skin beneath her veils. When a rowdy customer crosses the line, he comes to her rescue with the speed of a hawk—complete with wings.

Mikos Tyomni has never seen anyone dance like Lexi. Trust his tormentor, Archangel Michael, to put him in close contact with the cause of his downfall: a mortal woman. Particularly this mortal woman. The Defender. He has only thirty days to win her trust before Hell’s deadliest demon attempts the mother of all prison breaks.

No matter how sexy the messenger is, Lexi’s career plans don’t include some crazy idea she’s the last line of defense against the forces of evil. Until her university mentor’s murder leaves her holding the key to Hell. And fighting a losing battle against a passion forbidden by Heaven.

Cassiel Knight 

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