When fellow The Wild Rose Press author Sarah Hoss offered to host me today for a virtual birthday party, I was very excited. This is the first birthday I’ve had as a published author with my novel released. For the occasion, Silver Lake is going on sale for .99 cents, and the best birthday present I can think of would be for more people to read and enjoy my suspenseful reunion romance/ghost story!
So far this virtual party is all I have planned. Hopefully some family fun and a nice dinner are in my future this weekend. My interest in having some quiet time to read in bed far outweighs my desire for a big celebration of any kind. But as I fondly remember some of the more wild birthdays in my past, I thought I’d research and share some interesting info on birthday traditions and statistics.
Birthday celebrations, like many of our traditions, have pagan roots. It was believed that evil spirits visited people on days of change in their lives…birthdays obviously being one of those days. To offer protection, friends would gather and surround the susceptible person, making merry and sounding horns to frighten off evil spirits.
The gods were believed to reside in the sky, so candle flames on a cake helped to send up prayers. Making a private wish while extinguishing the candles was another way of asking favor from the gods.
In the U.S., one study showed that September and October are the most popular months for birthdays…most likely because 9 months prior, the holiday season was at its peak, not to mention long, long nights and short cold days. The most common date for a U.S. birthday was found to be September 16th. The least common, aside from February 29 because of leap years, was December 25th.
The well-known birthday song was written by two American sisters, Mildred and Patty Hill. It was originally “Good Morning to You”, but became popular when the words were changed to “Happy Birthday to You”.
Hope you enjoyed some birthday history and facts! Please enjoy the blurb of Silver Lake below and take advantage of the limited-time sale on all electronic versions!
Blurb:
Rain Anderson can't decide which is more unsettling—encountering the ghost of her missing friend, or reuniting with the man whose love she foolishly rejected. But one thing is certain: the past has come back to haunt her, quite literally.
Five years ago, Rain's tight-knit group of high school friends unraveled when one vanished during their senior year. Now, a parent's deathbed request has reunited the friends at Silver Lake, including Jason Lansing, the man Rain discarded. Rain and Jason discover the powerful attraction between them has survived, but though Jason is willing to forgive, he can't let himself forget. The possibility of falling for Rain again is too risky.
Slamming doors, crashing objects, flaring fires—clearly the ghost has a message to share. As Rain and Jason struggle to unravel the truth, they must face a desperate spirit in need of help…and a burning passion that refuses to die.
**********Don't forget- Silver Lake is just 99 cents this weekend!*******
http://www.amazon.com/Silver-Lake-ebook/dp/B009AEE6DO/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1345749376&sr=1-1
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/silver-lake-kathryn-knight/1112989132?ean=2940015628333
http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=177_139&products_id=4973
Thanks so much for having me Sarah!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome!
DeleteHappy birthday, Kathryn! You book sounded so intriguing, I just bought it for my Nook.
ReplyDeleteInteresting info on the origins of birthday celebrations. I like to keep mine low-key and I have one coming up later this month.
I'd heard that people are more prone to die around their birthdays, so many there's some fact to support the early beliefs that people needed to be protected at that time.
Thanks so much Susan, I hope you enjoy Silver Lake! I didn't know that about birthdays...must be something to that change of life theory. Happy Early Birthday to you - I agree, low key is the way to go!
DeleteThose were some fun facts. Happy birthday, Kathryn!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed, Robena - I love learning history behind traditions. Thanks so much for stopping by and the birthday wishes!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Kath! I'm sending you a virtual Lindt chocolate bar, because I know it's your favorite! (My favorite are the Lindt balls!)
ReplyDeleteMy Nana passed on her birthday. She went out to breakfast with her friends, lay down to take a nap, and never woke up. Which may be the best way to go, but still...
Silver Lake is on my Nook. I just need more hours in the day to read!
Thanks Tiffany! Yes I love those dark chocolate Lindt bars, I just ate one, lol. That's sad about your Nana but probably the best way to go...so odd on her birthday, there's that change of life thing again. I hear ya about finding time to read! I just volunteered to read Kelly Moran's The Drake House, but I'm working on finishing Wraith Redeemed by Melissa Fox, plus another book!
DeleteHappy Birthday, Kathryn! I can't wait to read it now that I finally have it. LOL Thanks for the birthday fun facts. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Calisa, I can't wait to hear your feedback on Silver Lake...hope you enjoy. Thanks for coming by and for downloading Silver Lake :)
DeleteThanks everyone for stopping by! This was a fun interview and I am so glad Kathryn agreed to it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for having me Sarah! Looking forward to an interview with Tenlee tomorrow on my blog :)
DeleteThank you, She was excited to do it!
ReplyDelete99 cents - woo-hoo! I can't wait to read, and congrats on the one year anniversary.
ReplyDelete