I’m happy to have Alayna Williams at Smexy today to talk about oracles! I reviewed her new release, Dark Oracle earlier today.
Ancient and Modern Oracles
By Alayna Williams
The Delphic Oracle is probably the most famous oracle of the ancient world. The priestess of the Temple of Apollo, the Pythia, wielded a great deal of political influence over leaders who sought her advice and the priestesses who served the temple. The Temple of Apollo was sited over a crevasse in the earth emitting noxious vapors, leading to modern-day speculation that the Pythia’s visions were not sendings from Apollo, but toxic hallucinations. The Delphic Oracle operated from roughly the eight century BC until 393 AD, when all pagan oracles were ordered to be dismantled by the Emperor. After that, no one knows what became of the priestesses.
I was intrigued by the idea of an order of women exerting subtle and powerful influence over the ancient world. I wondered what would happen if that order of priestesses went underground and survived to the modern day. What would their role in world events be? In DARK ORACLE, the title of Pythia is handed down through generations of women, all oracles with their own unique talent for foreseeing the future. Delphi’s Daughters are a secret organization, nudging world events and gathering information through vast networks of helpers. Their behavior is sometimes sinister, sometimes pure, but always secretive. No one but the Pythia herself knows how the puzzle of world events fits together, and her priestesses are often left in the dark, guessing at her motives.
In the DARK ORACLE world, the current Pythia is a pyromancer. She sees the future in dancing flames. The heroine of the story, Tara Sheridan, is a cartomancer who uses Tarot cards to create criminal profiles. Other characters have abilities with scrying, astronomy, and geomancy. Delphi’s Daughters come from all walks of life: they are physicists, soccer moms, artists, farmers, and dancers. They are women just like women you know and walk past on the street. But they are women with a secret.
In thinking about how such an order might survive into the modern world, I imagined the limitations inherent in being an oracle in a secret organization. It would require secrecy, sacrificing a large part of one’s life, and committing to a larger ideal. I decided that, as time passed, fewer and fewer women would be interested in unquestioningly serving Delphi’s Daughters. In DARK ORACLE, the order is dying out. Tara Sheridan has left the order after her mother died, refusing to return. After surviving an attacked by a serial killer that left her scarred for life, she is unable to bear children. And there are no young women in Delphi’s Daughters any longer.
The Pythia must try to continue the line, whatever the cost. She is challenged to convince the rebellious Tara to return. Or she must find new blood to move into the future, a new order for a new age. And blood will be spilled in the process.
Alayna Williams has an MA in sociology-criminology (research interests: fear of crime and victimology) and a BA in criminology. She has worked in and around criminal justice since 1997. More information on her new release, DARK ORACLE, is available at http://www.alaynawilliams.com
"Alayna" is also known as Laura Bickle, the author of Embers from Pocket Juno.
Thanks Alayna!!
Alayna is offering a copy of Dark Oracle today! To enter, leave a comment or question for Alayna. Contest open through Friday, June 11th. Open to all and please be sure to leave an email address.
Thanks once again for the opportunity to question an author and win a book! I´ve bought Embers just a few days ago, because I´ve read so many positive reviews, but haven´t had a chance to read it yet. I really wish I had more time!
I´d like to know if your characters are all purely fictional or if bits of them are based on people you know or maybe even yourself?
Love and Greetings from Germany,
Tine
tine_86@hotmail.de
Dark Oracle sounds like an interesting book.
I love covers and would like to know if you are happy with the cover for "Dark Oracle" or if you had a different image in mind.
greetings from Germany
Sabrina
abouthappybooks@gmx.net
I love all these different paranormal creatures coming out now. The oracles sound intriguing.
dyromance at gmail dot com
Sounds interesting, I like that you took this old order and brought it to life.
So if anyone finds out who they are..certain death?
blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com
Hi, folks! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. :-)
Tine, thank you so much for picking up EMBERS – I hope you enjoy. Sparky in EMBERS, Anya's fire salamander familiar, is a composite of all the pets I've owned. He's just as petulant, cranky, and sweet as they've been.
The rest of my characters are purely fictional. I like to think that my daily life isn't exciting enough to generate exciting characters. ;-)
Sabrina, I'm really excited about the cover. I got the books in the mail a few days ago, and I love how the purple and red "pop."
Dyockman, I deliberately try to do things a bit out of the box with my books. Oracles were a fun topic to research, and I loved having the opportunity to mix myth and reality.
Blodeuedd, in the DARK ORACLE world, if a woman discovers she's an oracle, there's no certain death. She'll be discovered by Delphi's Daughters, the descendents of the Oracle of Apollo, and trained to use her powers. Delphi's Daughters use a variety of talents – astronomy, geomancy, cartomancy. They're also very diverse in terms of their backgrounds and careers. But certain death isn't in their destinies…that would make for a very short line of oracles!
And for those wanting a sneak peak at DARK ORACLE, the first chapter is here:
http://www.juno-books.com/dark-oracle-excerpt.html
I read Embers last week and loved it. It would be great to win Dark Oracle.If i do not I will buy a copy.
Lisa H.
Hi Alayna!
Your guest post really has me dying to dive into DO. I can't wait!
No need to enter me. *wink*
Hugs, VFG
Hi Alayna,
I'm following you across the blogs! Your interview on Bitten By Books was so interesting.
I enjoyed Embers very much, and I love that you choose unique subjects to write about.
Please enter me to win a copy.
PolarisGreen[at]gmail[dot]com
This is such an interesting concept for a story…kind of female version of a much longer standing Skulls society.
I can't wait to get my hands on a copy and start reading it.
*hugs*
Anna
s7anna@yahoo.ca
Great post! It's got me even more eager to get my hands on it and read it!
Thanks, so much, Allison!
Lisa and Lillie, I'm so glad that you both enjoyed EMBERS. Thanks for picking it up!
Hugs, VFG!
Anna, Delphi's Daughters have a pretty exciting dynamic. They're like a family, in many ways — and most families quarrel. I was really fascinated to see how the politics of a group of women with special powers would work out.
Hi, Sullivan! I hope that you enjoy it. ;-)
This sounds like a really interesting story. I love the colors of the cover :)
throuthehaze at gmail dot com
Hi Alayna! I am happy to say that I have Embers on the way and I can't wait to read it. I also have Dark Oracle on my TBB list. It sounds fantastic! Thanks for the contest and count me in. bpatrick64113@sbcglobal.net
Thanks, throughthehaze!
Barb P, thank you so much for picking up EMBERS and putting DARK ORACLE on your list! I hope that you enjoy them!
*Hugs*
Dark Oracle does sound interesting.
All the best with the release Alayna!
Oh, and I've actually been to Delphi (amazing view :)
Dark Oracle sounds great, love the cover too!
van
Littopandaxpress(at)yahoo(dot)com
Dark Oracle sounds intriguing!
chey127 at hotmail dot com
Thanks so much, van_pham and chey!
orianna, I'm so jealous that you've been to Delphi! I read a book about the geology and archaeology of the place that discussed the noxious fumes at the site, and how that might have contributed to the idea of it being a sacred place.
What was it like? Is it as beautiful as it looks in pictures?
Sounds like a great story. I am so looking forward to reading it.
Please enter me in this contest.
:D Alayna–I really want Tara's jacket on the cover of the book! Also, tarot cards as a way to fight crime–IT CAN BE THE NEW POLICE PROCEDURAL ON TV! Just think about it–it can cash in on the current trend AND draw in a new crowd who likes paranormal stuff!
Though I think the trend is going back towards medical dramas ::sigh::
I love the paranormal stuff! I haven't read any books about oracles. What made you decide to write about oracles?
lizzi0915 at aol dot com
Dark Oracle sounds really really really interesting! I can't wait to read it! Thank you for making this awesome contest international! :)
Giada M.
fabgiada @ gmail.com
this sounds great and i'm so loving the cover! please enter me in the contest…
k_sunshine1977 at yahoo dot com
I love the concept for this- I'm such a dork for myths (especially Greek!) Please enter me!
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail
Thanks, Pamk!
Lexie, I think that it would make for an awesome police procedural! The Tarot has a lot of visual appeal, and I'd love to see Tara work a new case every week. :-)
Don't get me started on the medical dramas. ;-)
Bethie, I've been reading Tarot cards since high school. I always wanted to write a story about an investigator who used them in a nontraditional way. I'm also a huge mythology buff, and I've always been fascinated by the Delphic Oracle. I finally figured out a way to bring the two ideas together in this story.
Giada, thanks so much! I love my international readers. :-)
k_sunshine, thanks so much for the compliment on the cover! It's very pretty in person, too.
Bethany, keep on rocking the Greek myths! The Greeks knew how to build a story. I often imagine them roaming the landscape, finding dinsaur bones, and creating stories about Titans and monsters to explain them.
The concept and story described is so very interesting; I really would very much like to read this book.
Thanks for the giveaway contest!
gosia727(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Alayna!!! I'm really excited about Dark Oracle, looks like a great read.
In your work in law enforcement, have you ever worked with a psychic or tarot card reader?
heatwave96(at)hotmail.com
Thanks for the great post. Your book sounds really good, I am looking forward to it.
I have always loved myths and the stories that involved the Oracles were always the most fun to try and figure out what they were talking about.
bacchus76 at myself dot com
Pyromancer? That sounds cool! I would like to know where that idea came from. Sounds pretty unique to me.
patronus89013 at yahoo dot com
love to read book
elizabethcerna2011@gmail.com
Looking forward to reading the book.
dennypsp@hotmail.com
heatwave16, I've never worked with a psychic or card reader in law enforcement. Tara's adventures are what I imagine would happen if she was using cards, and trying to hide her methods from others.
Marianna, yes, the Pythia is a pyromancer. She tells the future by staring into flames. She's always got a lighter handy, just in case.
DARK ORACLE was a really exciting story to write. There are so many different ways to tell the future across cultures. The story also includes a geomancer, who foresees events by working with elements of earth.
I like the cover.
gpmargial(at)alice(dot)it
I've read and love Karen Chance's Cassandra Palmer series where the main protagonist is the Pythia… but the story only skims the oracle's ins-and-outs… I would love to read another pythia book!
Re-posted your contest at: http://contests-freebies.blogspot.com/2010/06/win-dark-oracle-at-smexy-books.html
I'm not sure if somebody asked this already, but, I am just curious if there would be other "other worldlies" in this series? Vampires? Angels? I'm just nosey :)
Cherry Mischievous
mischivus101-warrior [at] yahoo [dot] com
Hi, Cherry:
I've never read Karen Chance, but will have to put her on my list. Thanks for the tip! I love stories about oracles.
Historically, the title Pythia was given to the head priestess at the Oracle of Apollo at Delphi. In my interpretation of the myth in DARK ORACLE, the leader of Delphi's Daughters, the descendents of those priestesses, still carries that title in the modern day. But it's also as much a political title as it is a mystical one. The other oracles defer to her…well, except for Tara, who's a rebellious one. She's left Delphi's Daughters behind and wants nothing to do with them until they ask for her help. She blames them for the death of her mother, and she's quite reluctant to become involved with them again.
No "other worldlies" in this series. I wanted to keep the focus on the oracles, on their talents and relationships among one another.
Hi! Thanks for the giveaway! Oddly enough, someone had JUST told me about your book, Embers. Now I'm really intrigued and am definately adding your books to my TBR pile.
I'm wondering, as a fan of greek mythology, are we going to see other greek mythos represented in your books?
Ellaanabeth@yahoo.com
Hello!
What is your opinion on book trailers? Do you think they help in book sales?
Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com
Hi, Ellaanabeth! Charon, the ferryman from Greek myth, makes an appearance in the sequel to EMBERS, SPARKS. SPARKS is due out in September. In my world, he takes the form of a surly 1980's New Wave guy with a black trenchcoat and bad attitude. In the sequel to DARK ORACLE, ROGUE ORACLE (March 2011), the mythical Chimera gets recylced into a fearsome new mutant form.
Tracey, I don't have an opinion yet on book trailers. Probably because I don't have one, yet. I probably need to make time to teach myself some new software in order to do it.