In my research on all things magical the past few months, I came across a definition of a warlock I found intriguing, and it helped me understand why warlocks are misunderstood.

Evidently, the word warlock is “a translation of a Saxon word, wǣrloga that means ‘oath-breaker.’” They were also seen as “cunning male witches” whose “activities clearly went against the teachings of the Christian churches.”

The definition and the negative connotation of the word implies that warlocks are evil, the bad guys of the magical world. In fact, they have been portrayed that way in many movies and TV shows.

How would you feel if others saw you like this?

I’m a man, not a monster!

Yeah, I wouldn’t like it either. Not a pretty picture.

Warlocks definitely have an image problem.

And here’s what I think: not every warlock can be bad. That would be unreasonable and illogical. That would be like saying all bears are evil because a few have harmed or killed a human. Should an entire species be judged by the actions of a few?

That’s right, Mr. Bear. It wouldn’t be fair.

I prefer to see warlocks as the bad boys of the magical community, not the bad guys. Do they break the rules some times? Sure. Can they be bastards when they want to be? No doubt.

But are they completely evil and heartless? I doubt it.

Hmmm. Perhaps someone should write a book (or even a series) about warlocks that turns those misconceptions on their ear.

And maybe someone will.

Source: The Grimoire

It’s time for another author reading from Spell Bound, my upcoming release from Dreamspinner Press, featuring magic and men. Sounds sinful, right?

If you missed the first or second reading, click here for the first video and here for the second.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Blurb:

Mason Blackmoor just can’t compete with his brothers, much less his father. They represent the epitome of black magic, strong, dark, and wicked, and though Mason tries to live up to his respected lineage, most of the spells he casts go awry. To make matters worse, his active power has yet to kick in. While his brothers wield lightning and harness the cold, Mason sits on the sidelines, waiting for the moment when he can finally enter the magical game.

When a dead body is discovered on the football field of his high school, Mason meets Drake Carpenter, the new kid in town. Drake’s confident demeanor and quick wit rub Mason the wrong way. Drake is far too self-assured for someone without an ounce of magical blood in his body, and Mason aims to teach him a lesson—like turn him into a roach. And if he’s lucky, maybe this time Mason won’t be the one turned into an insect.

Not surprisingly, the dislike is mutual and Drake does nothing to dispel Mason’s suspicion that the sexy boy with a southern drawl is somehow connected to the murder.

If only Mason didn’t find himself inexplicably spellbound whenever they are together, they might actually find out what danger hides in the shadows.

To purchase Spell Bound, click here.

Source: The Grimoire

Um, wrong type of magic, but yes Channing Tatum humping the floor is quite magical in its own right.

What I’m talking about is witchcraft, sorcery, the paranormal version of magic, which has been around ever since our species first developed rational thought. It was the way our primitive ancestors explained the world around them to themselves and each other.

But as we developed as a species, we learned that what we thought was magical was actually just a natural process. The sun rose and set not because some god hoisted it across the sky but because our planet orbited around the sun as it rotated. The blooming of the flowers wasn’t because the fairies tended to the plants but because the plants had been pollenated by insects or the seeds had germinated and sprouted into new growth.

So even though we have science to explain so many aspects of our lives, why are so many people still fascinated by magic?

Sigh. Yes very fascinating.

But back to my question. I don’t claim to have the definitive answer, but I can tell you why magic fascinates me.

The Lure of the Unknown

Maybe I’m weird, but I like thinking there are things out there in the world that science and rational thought cannot explain. Having answers for everything makes life boring and routine. There’s a certain freedom that comes with fantasy and imagination. Do I hate science? Not at all, but magic appeals to me on a spiritual sense. It tells me there is more out there than what can be explained.

It Challenges Mortality

It’s part of our human nature to fear death to a certain extent. While there are not many certainties in life, death is one of them. We are all born, and we will all die. But magic gives us a potential out. If magic truly exists, if there was some spell we could master or fountain of youth to unearth, many of us might be tempted to do just that because face it, no one really wants to die.

It Can Give Us Powers

Since most of us were children, we were fascinated by the thought of flying, turning invisible, or shooting fire balls out of our hands. How many of us pretended to be some kind of superhero in our youth? That’s another draw of magic. It’s a fantasy that appeals to our inner child who secretly wishes to be more than just human.

So what is it about magic that fascinates you?

Source: The Grimoire