Witch Dance

Housekeeping
  • Had a great release of Witch Dance earlier in the week. I’m so happy to get that book out in the world. It’s the first time I’ve ever written anything other than The Waiting Series and I’m super proud of it. Several reviewers have mentioned to me that it has the same twist and turns they’ve come to expect from an Elizabeth Burgess novel, and I couldn’t be more pleased with that compliment.
  • If you’ve received an ARC or bought the book via pre-order or on/after release, there’s a pretty significant error where all the italics was accidentally removed. (Instances where Starling’s grandfather is speaking to her). My formatter is working to fix this as soon as possible. 
  • What’s next…I’m currently writing the second book in the Hopewell Coven–Queen of Angels. I estimate I’m about halfway done and hope to publish by the end of the year. 
  • The SEVENTH book in The Waiting Series (The Flood) is with my editor. I’m expecting a summer release. 
  • As soon as QoA is complete, I’ll finally return to the Douglases, Caissys, O’Malleys, and Adams. Y’all, I’ve missed these people like crazy. 

I think that’s pretty much it with me. Thank you all so much for reading these stories and giving your support. I really appreciate it. 😀

Witch Dance is here!!!

  
  

Witch Dance by Elizabeth Burgess

Series: Book 1 of The Hopewell Coven

 

WHERE TO BUY THE BOOK 

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1WJbNRj

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Centuries ago, The Cailleach entrusted the Hopewell Coven with the honor of guiding the Apacik Indians, a Native American tribe hailing from the Mississippi Flatwoods. Natural-born Healers, the Apacik’s innate ability, to either restore the sick or inflict pain upon the healthy, made them vulnerable and desperate for clear direction about how to use their gift. The Hopewells could advise them, instruct them, even befriend them, but under no circumstances could they fall in love. Pure bloodlines were essential to power, and as the Supreme Order of Witches, The Cailleach demanded all their members marry within covens. 

Birthed out of the forbidden marriage between an Apacik man and a Celtic witch, fifteen-year-old Starling Hopewell is the only one of her kind. A half-breed. The Cailleach never allow her or her parents to forget it. Because of her mother’s position as leader of the Hopewells, Starling is allowed to train for Elementals, testing that will confirm if she is worthy to enter their Order, but evil lingers. Within The Cailleach—dark magick infiltrates its leader and its Elders—and will stop at nothing to bring the half-breed down.

Four trials. Four elements. Four weeks to master them all.

Embrace Destiny. Face the Fire.
  
 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR  

For Elizabeth Burgess, writing is not only what she loves to do, it is freedom, salvation, and escape. It is life. Introduced to the art of words at a young age by Junior High English teacher, she poured herself into a self-study of all things poetry and prose throughout the entirety of her high school and college career—hoping to one day become a lyricist in Nashville. As the years went on, her dreams changed and morphed, but her love for words did not.

 A nurse by trade, Elizabeth loves incorporating the medical field in each book she writes. Her favorite characters are always flawed, and if you see her wearing any color besides black, you know she’s sick. Thanks to her maternal grandparents, she believes she can do anything if she sets her mind to it, and will always offer you a glass of sweet tea if you come over. When she’s not working on her next novel, she enjoys Saturday nights in Death Valley, listening to Fleetwood Mac on rainy days, and taking pictures of her beloved Louisiana.  

Elizabeth is the author of The Waiting Series and the upcoming novel, Witch Dance, Book 1 of The Hopewell Coven. She lives in Northeast Louisiana’s farming country with her partner Terri, two Catahoula Curs, Bowie and Pike, and host of spoiled cats.

 

 
 
 

 

Witch Dance…Prologue

  
The first book in my newest series (Hopewell Coven) releases on April 26th. I’m excited to share the Prologue with y’all today. Enjoy!!!

Witch Dance Prologue

Houston, Mississippi

Present Day

Bound and kneeling in the middle of the fiery circle, Starling Hopewell fought to calm her nerves. Impossible. Futile. Death was coming. She felt it. She knew it. She welcomed it. To the right of the blaze, her three aunts clung to one another, each of them wishing they could help their darling niece. On the other side, her grandmother—The Imperial One—stood with a smug grin tugging at her lips. In Starling’s direct line of vision… her parents. They were the reason she was here, and surprisingly, her motivation to succeed. Though their definition of success and hers held two different meanings entirely.

“Call the water down, Starling. Focus on the oceans above and call it down. Just like we practiced,” her mother said, yet Starling’s mind heard the fear in Lansing Hopewell’s heart. I’m afraid she won’t survive this. My baby won’t survive. Why did I bring her into this world knowing what I know? Lansing glanced at Starling’s father. Why did I love you? Why do I still? Our daughter will die for our love.

A flame caught the wind blowing scorched brush closer to Starling. Instinctively, she cried out as a spark hit her forearm.

“Mother,” Lansing screamed, “don’t do this.”

“Don’t do this?” Morganza Hopewell’s icy blue eyes glared at her second-born child. The one named as her successor. “I didn’t do this, Lansing. You did. You and your husband. This is what happens when you fall in love with your charge. It’s the price you pay. Half a witch.”

“Take me, Mother. I will take Starling’s place.”

“Lansing.” Payne Bennett’s arms wrapped around his wife’s shoulders. “This must be.”

Jerking around to face her husband, she pushed away from him. “Our daughter is about to die, Payne. And you say this must be.”

“Yes, my love.” Payne couldn’t explain it to his beloved even if he tried, but this was Starling’s destiny… to be consumed in flames. She would not call the water down. “It must.”

Morganza paced the edge of the circle, taunting Starling by flinging drops of water from her fingertips. “So you think you’re a witch? Conjuring three elements makes you nothing more than what you’ve always been… a half-breed. Starling, you’re unworthy of the Hopewell name.”

“My father always said you were a heartless bitch, Morganza.” Payne glared at his mother-in-law.

“The Mirro was always generous with compliments, and other dalliances, if I remember correctly. Pity he’s not here to see his granddaughter fail.” Lifting her hands upward toward the sky, Morganza whispered an incantation to the night. Thunder clouds swirled overhead. “I’ve made it easy for you, Starling, because even if you are half Native, you’re still my granddaughter. All you have to do is pray for rain.”

Bowing her head, as if she were obeying Morganza’s suggestion, Starling whispered her own chant, not in her grandmother’s Celtic tongue, but her father’s Apacik language. “Un Apacik alhihat ishay, hoti un bahĂ­l kahl. The Apacik people will dance until the world ends. The Apacik people will dance…”

Surrendering to her fate, Starling called out to Lansing over the now-raging fire. “I’m not afraid to die, Mom. Listen to my father. He knows.”

“No, Starling. Don’t give up. Focus on the oceans. You can do this, sweet girl. You can break through the firewall.”

The blaze reached Starling’s feet, searing and blistering her skin. “I cannot call the water and air, nor can I summon the earth or fire this day. Imado’si’, help me,” she whispered to her deceased grandfather. Closing her eyes, she concentrated on the blackness, the pain. Death. Dancing. With one final breath, Starling Hopewell gave herself up to the flame.

***Pre-order Witch Dance NOW***

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