Sunday, August 2, 2009

Guest Blog and Book Contest- Rachel Vincent

I am so honored to have a guest blog today by Rachel Vincent.

My debut YA novel, My Soul to Take, is about a high school junior who discovers that she’s a bean sidhe when teenage girls in her area start dropping dead for no apparent reason. Since I began discussing the book online, I’ve run into an astonishing number of people who don’t know what a bean sidhe is.
Even when I add the common, anglicized spelling—banshee—some people still look confused. So I’m here today with your bean sidhe primer. A sort of cheat sheet, to make sure everyone’s on the same page, just in time for the release of the book. ;-)
First the definition: “Bean Sidhe” roughly translates to “woman of the faeries,” which basically means: woman who isn’t human. It’s a pretty broad category. Specifically, in Irish folklore, bean sidhes were female spirits who wailed to warn of the approaching death of a human and/or to mourn the dying.
Now the pronunciation: though most people just say “ban shee,” the proper pronunciation is actually “bahn shee.”
There are a lot of familiar beliefs about bean sidhes, but for the Soul Screamers series, I’ve altered and elaborated on the folklore for my own purposes, so even those who are familiar with the concept will hopefully find some interesting surprises in My Soul to Take. Below, I’ve made a list of the most common details in bean sidhe lore, and how they apply—or don’t apply—in the book.

In folklore: Bean sidhes wail only for one of the great Irish clans: the O’Briens, the O’Neills, the Kavanaghs, the O’Grady’s, or the O’Connors. At one point, having a family bean sidhe was almost considered a status symbol, if you can imagine that. ;-)
In My Soul to Take: Bean sidhe premonitions are not limited to any particular clans or families, but Kaylee’s last name—Cavanaugh—is my little bit of homage to the original legends.

In folklore: When a Banshee is caught, she is obliged to tell the name of the doomed.
In My Soul to Take: Kaylee isn’t running from anything but her own misunderstood abilities, so there’s no reason to try and catch her. But even if you could, she couldn’t tell you who’s about to die. Sadly, she can’t say anything while she’s wailing.

In folklore: Bean Sidhes often have long streaming hair and are dressed in a dark hooded cloak over a green dress.
In My Soul to Take: Kaylee dresses like any other teenager. She wouldn’t fit in very well in high school wearing a heavy hood and cloak, now would she? ;-)

In folklore: A bean sidhe’s eyes are bright red from weeping all the time.
In My Soul to Take: Bean sidhes don’t weep all the time—only when someone is very close to death. And even then, their cries are brain-scrambling screams, not actual tears. So Kaylee’s eyes are a very normal blue—at least as far as humans can tell. ;-)

In folklore: When several Banshees keen together, it means that someone very great or holy is going to die.
In My Soul to Take: If multiple bean sidhes were to wail at the same time… it would probably mean a very bad day for everyone involved, no greatness or holiness necessary.

In folklore: Bean sidhes mostly appear as either a young woman, a grand lady or an old hag.
In My Soul to Take: Bean sidhes can be of any age and any social status. They look human. Just like your mother or sister. So if you’re sitting on the bus on the way home from school and some girl starts screaming bloody murder… you better hope she’s not staring at you. ;-)

Thanks for having me, Andrea!

Thanks to Rachel Vincent, I have a copy of My Soul To Take to give away! (Read my review of it here--I LOVED it!)

HOW TO ENTER:
+1 Post a comment saying that you would like to be entered (make sure to leave your e-mail address or your comment won't count!)
+1 Post about the contest on your blog and leave the link in your comment
+1 Become a follower (or if you already follow me, let me know!)
~~For each thing that you do, please leave a separate comment or you will only be entered once!!
~~The contest will end on Monday August 10th at 11:59pm
~~This contest is open to anyone, anwhere! (updated from earlier--another reason why Rachel Vincent rocks!!)

80 comments:

  1. Oh, this sounds good. Please enter me!

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  2. I follow.

    dlodden at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  3. Please enter me. dasuzuki at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Please enter me, this sounds like a great book..

    lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I am a follower. :)

    lovestoread0708(at)yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. This book sounds so great!

    :) Erica
    thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Am a follower :)


    thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'd like to enter this giveaway!

    sensitivemuse at gmail dot com
    I also posted a link to this contest on my sidebar Here

    ReplyDelete
  9. oops I'll have to make a separate comment for posting a link to this contest on my sidebar here

    ReplyDelete
  10. I definitely learned something new reading this. Thanks :o) I am in Denmark, so unfortunately I cannot enter the competition, but it sounds like an awesome read.

    ReplyDelete
  11. this book sounds so great. i love the background on banshees! thanks for running this contest.

    meaghan_koci (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Please enter my name in your draw. Thanks.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am a follower.
    wandanamgreb (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm such a Rachel Vincent fangirl! Go on and enter me for this one, babe. I've got it posted at Win a Book; thanks, as always for the mail.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ooooh, I'd love to win this! I really like Rachel's Shifter series.
    Thanks for the great giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Please enter me!

    chey127 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Please include me in your giveaway.
    Thanks
    Debbie
    Debdesk9(at)verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  18. Please enter me.
    I love Rachel Vincent :D
    Taylor_1332 (at) hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  19. definitely a must-read for me!

    lilibethramos@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. posted link to contest on my sidebar: http://lilibethramos.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Please, enter me! :)

    laurenscrammedbookshelf@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I already follow. (+1)

    laurenscrammedbookshelf@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have a link to this contest on my blog's sidebar: http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  24. please enter me in the giveaway
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  25. I'm a follower
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would love a chance to win. Thanks!

    lynda98662 @ yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I already was a google follower

    lynda98662 @ yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'd love to read this!

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. And I'm a follower

    janemaritz at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love learning things like that about banshees, great interview.
    please enter me to win the book.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Please include me.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Posted on the sidebar here:
    http://donnasbloghome.blogspot.com/

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am already a follower.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. count me in please!
    throuthehaze at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Count me in please!
    ashley.newcomb at asu dot edu

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a wonderful guest post from Rachel. I've been waiting for a YA book to emerge from Rachel's genius! Thanks for the chance to win!

    espressogurl at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'm publicly following (rubymoon/Ally)


    espressogurl at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi, Rachel!

    I've read awesome things about your new YA series, including one of my best friends pretty much raving (here is her review) so I can't wait to read My Soul To Take! Please enter me in the contest, thanks!

    - Wendy (omgitswendy at gmail dot com)

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'm a follower!

    - Wendy (omgitswendy at gmail dot com)

    ReplyDelete
  40. I've been looking forward to this and would like to be included! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I follow you. Can't wait to read this! please enter me.

    ReplyDelete
  42. i loved my soul to lose and am thrilled with the opportunity to win my soul to take. THANKS!

    ReplyDelete
  43. whoops... forgot to leave my email

    brunigirl05@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. i am now a follower of the blog

    brunigirl05@yahoo.com

    :-)

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hi I would like to win!
    booksbya.k@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I follow! Please enter me!

    booksbya.k@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I am collecting RV books, please enter me.
    zenfoxflower(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I am not following you!
    zenfoxflower(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I would like to enter!

    equinester@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I would like to be entered, thanks!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Please enter me, I'd love to win it for my daughter! I'm a follower.

    c_fjones(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Fiona :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'd love to be entered!!
    I love Rachel's writing.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Please enter me :)
    chayanna82(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Sounds great!
    Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.

    avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it

    ReplyDelete
  56. Perfect to offer my daughter.
    Count me in!
    ;)

    jafantu[at]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love when I can be completly girlie with a book!
    :)

    catarina.magoito AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Nice review!
    I definetly want to take a peak!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Found your blog through this giveaway and I'm becoming a fan!
    Don't know if I deserve winning the book, bu I will try!
    ;)

    ReplyDelete
  60. Please count me in =)

    tynga85(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Please count me in.

    Hi, Rachel

    Jeanie

    lunasea16 @ comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  62. Open to all :) Then I am in.
    This sounds like a good new series

    blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Like to? I'd LOVE to be entered for this! I just know I'd enjoy this unique story.
    Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  64. I'm a follower
    Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  65. Please enter me for hun!!

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  66. I posted a link to this contest on my sidebar =)

    mishtakes AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  67. I'm a follower.

    lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  68. this sounds fun, pls count me in

    gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  69. i follow

    gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  70. +1 Follower
    +1 Commenting

    Thanks for the contest.

    barbrafl737 (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  71. This book sounds great please enter me


    sommer_bee@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete