A Warm Welcome to Christy Gissendaner and Her Brand New Release, Christmas Spirits
Baoule
Spirit Lovers
Guest
Post by Christy Gissendaner
Romantic
problems, infertility, and general unhappiness in the real world can be cured
by commissioning figurines of spirit mates. Blolo bian (males) and Blolo bla
(females) are generally carved from wood and are created to the specifications
found most desirable in a spirit mate. Food, money, and attention can be given
to the spirit mate to keep them appeased, thus allowing a person to find
happiness in the real world.
Active
relationships are maintained between spirit mates, particularly in a dream
state. It is believed that nocturnal visits from a spirit mate will initiate
healthy interaction between a person and his or her physical mate.
Much
detail is given to these figurines - plump bottoms, elegant necks, thick legs.
All the attributes desirable in a proper Baoule mate. Social status and
individuality is acquired by use of adornment, costume, and hairstyle. Even
skin tone is considered when commissioning a spirit mate statue.
This very
primitive…yet romantic...practice provided the inspiration for Christmas
Spirits, a holiday themed novella set in modern-day Georgia. A chance reading
in an old encyclopedia and Tedros, the “spirit” of Christmas Spirits, was born!
The story is meant to portray the reality of spirit lovers, and I took a very
atypical approach to most romance novels.
Keep
reading to learn more about Kia’s quest for happiness and just what role Tedros
plays in her search for happiness.
Genre: Paranormal,
Contemporary, African American, holiday romance
Publisher: Christy
Gissendaner
Word Count: 20,000
Book Description:
Kia Mays has
little time for anything as her lifelong dream of being a fashion designer
comes to fruition. For Christmas, she takes time out of her busy schedule to
visit her family in Georgia where her beloved grandmother, Naya, reveals a
secret of her Baoule heritage.
In Baoule, located
on the Ivory Coast of Africa, the people believe in spirit lovers, which you
are separated from at birth. Tedros, Kia’s lover from the spirit world, appears
to her and reveals that he is there to assist her in finding a mortal lover.
Elliot Melton, the
brother of Kia's new sister in law, is also invited to share the season with
the family. With the help of a meddling grandmother and an otherworldly spirit,
Elliot and Kia soon find out that Christmas is the best time to fall in love.
Buy Link:
Excerpt
Naya
motioned her toward the living room with a smile. “Sit down.
I’ll be right back.”
The couch
was the same one that had been in the home Naya had shared with Geoff for
decades. It was worn and threadbare, but
still comfortable.
She settled
into the cushions with a heartfelt sigh of relief, dropping her head against
the crocheted afghan that always hung on the back of the couch. Not a thing had changed except the fact that
her grandfather wouldn’t be there to greet her.
She blinked
several times to clear her eyes. It was
their second Christmas without Grandpa Geoff, and it still saddened her whenever
she thought of him.
“Are you
ready?”
Kia looked
up expectantly when Naya appeared carrying an item wrapped in tissue
paper. Naya glanced at the gift in her
hands, then gave Kia a considering look.
Her dark eyes seemed as if she held the secrets to all life’s
mysteries. “I’ve never shared this with
anyone but your grandfather. Not even
with your mother.”
Kia sat up
straighter. It wasn’t like Naya to beat
around the bush. She was about as
straightforward as they came. “What is
it?”
Naya sat
beside her, still cradling the item in her hands. “The others wouldn’t understand, but
you…” She paused to touch Kia’s
cheek. “You’re the most like me. You’ll understand the importance of what I’m
about to show you.”
Kia was
used to her grandmother’s dramatics, but this was different. A force inside her recognized the truth of
it. She barely drew a breath as Naya
unwrapped the tissue paper to reveal what was beneath. She didn’t know what to expect, but it surely
wasn’t what was revealed.
She glanced
at the wooden figurine with a puzzled frown.
“A doll?”
“No, not a
doll.” Naya’s wrinkled fingers stroked
the figure gently. “It’s your soul
mate.”
“Um,
Naya? I hate to disappoint you, but I’m
not really into wood. Rubber, maybe,
but…”
Behind her
bifocals, the rolling of Naya’s eyes seemed overly pronounced. “Hush your mouth. He may hear you and take offense.”
Kia’s frown
deepened. Naya was getting on in years,
but Kia had never suspected senility.
“Perhaps you should rest.”
Naya gave
her a stern look, one that brooked no argument.
“I’ve not lost my mind, Kia LaShae, and shame on you for thinking
so. This figurine…” she held it up to
the light. “Is the physical
reincarnation of your spirit lover, the one you’ve been separated from since
birth. The one you will rejoin in
death.”
“My spirit
lover, hmm?” Kia tilted her head to one
side and studied him. “He’s a bit
smaller than I would’ve liked.”
Naya put a
hand to her forehead and mumbled a few words of her native language, ones Kia
doubted were very complimentary. “In
Baoule, when you experience bad luck with your flesh and blood lover, it’s
because your spirit lover needs to be appeased.
You must show attention to him to end the bad luck.”
Kia took
the figurine from Naya and turned it over in her hands. “Nice ass.”
“He’ll not
like you poking fun at him,” Naya warned.
“Who’s
poking fun? He does have a nice
ass.” Kia pulled up his shirt and ran
her forefinger over his ridged wooden abdomen.
“Nice six pack also.”
“I created
him according to your specifications.”
Kia lifted
an eyebrow. “I didn’t say anything about
a six pack, Naya.”
Her
grandmother shrugged. “I took the
liberty of adding a few of my own.”
Kia touched
the waistband of the hand sewn, miniature jeans he wore. “Really?
Exactly what sort of traits?”
Naya
slapped a hand over hers. “Later,
Kia. First I must know if you have any
questions.”
Kia placed
the figurine, her supposed spirit lover, on the coffee table and crossed her
legs. “Yes, I do. Did you forget your medication? You don’t seriously expect me to believe this
mumbo jumbo, do you?”
“Have I
ever lied to you?”
“There was
that bit about the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.”
About
the Author:
Christy Gissendaner is a paranormal and
contemporary romance author who believes laughter and love should go hand in
hand.
Christy lives in
Alabama with her husband and three sons. She’s always hard at work on her next
novel, but in her spare time she loves blackjack, karaoke, and anything
resembling a vacation!
To find out more,
please visit http://christygissendaner.webs.com
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