Nyx in the House of Night is OUT TODAY!

If you're a fan of PC & Kristin Cast's House of Night YA Vampyre series, you'll want to add this amazing anthology of essays that will enhance your understanding of the popular series.
Nyx in the House of Night: Mythology, Folklore, and Religion in the P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast Vampyre Series offers fascinating discussions on a diverse range of topics to enhance any reader's enjoyment of the series. And this book is beautifully illustrated.

I contributed with my essay on the "Magic of Being Cherokee," that offers insights into the foundation of the Cherokee culture and beliefs that are woven into this series, making the Vampyre lore in the House of Night unique.

"Introduction: Nyx in the House of Night" --P. C. Cast
"Night in the House of Good and Evil: Nyx's portrayal in the HoN series" -- Karen Mahoney
"The Dangerous Dead: Vampire Mythology in the HoN series" -- John Edgar Browning
"By Their Marks You Shall Know Them" (on tattoos) -- Jana Oliver
"The Divine Cat" -- Ellen Steiber
"Reimagining 'Magic City': How the Casts Mythologize Tulsa” -- Amy H. Sturgis
"The Magic of Being Cherokee" -- Jordan Dane
"Freedom of Choice: Kalona, A-ya, and the Raven Mockers" -- Jeri Smith-Ready
"The Otherworld Is Greek to Me" -- Trinity Faegen
"The Elements of Life" -- Bryan Lankford
"Misunderstood: Multiple Partners in our Matriarchal (and Patriarchal) Past" -- Kristin Cast
"She Is Goddess: Goddess Worship in the HoN Series" -- Yasmine Galenorn
"Worshipping the Female Deity" -- Christine Zika
"Cruithne Mythology and the House of Night" -- P. C. Cast
Behind the House of Night Names

Find out more at SmartPop's Nyx page.

The House of Night Vampyre Series

Late last year I was asked to participate in writing an essay for the House of Night series anthology. The House of Night is a vampyre series created by the wonderful mother daughter team of P. C. Cast and her daughter Kristen. Since my first YA book – In the Arms of Stone Angels – has an American Indian teen boy as a central character (and focuses on the Euchee tribe of Oklahoma), I chose to write about the Native American influences in the series—in particular, the Cherokee.

My essay in this book is called “The Magic of Being Cherokee.” This series from the Casts is rich in Cherokee folklore and creatively twists real myths to build on the growing tension as the series progresses with its memorable heroine, Zoey Redbird. And the anthology will have wonderful essays on many other topics to enrich the reading experience, so fans of these novels can uncover the many gems hidden within the pages of this hugely popular vampyre series.

And with permission of the publisher, I am posting the beautiful and mysterious looking cover to Nyx in the House of Night. This cover almost makes it look as if this is a magic book of spells. I can’t wait to have the real deal in my hands.