Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Wings & Things with Guest Blogger: Dina Rae


 Welcome back author Dina Rae 
to the Book Boost!


She's here to discuss ancient religions and here's what she had to say...


In my recent novel, Halo of the Damned, I used research about the ancient Yezidi religion (spellings vary).  The Yezidis originated from northern Iraq.  The religion spread throughout the Kurdish community, eventually making its way into Europe.

Yezidis worship angels, especially Malak Tawas (spellings vary).  The peacock symbolizes this angel who many believe to be Satan.  Malak’s story in the Koran matches the same stories in the Bible and Old Testament about a rebellious angel who wages war with a third of all of God’s angels against God and the remainder of angels in Heaven.  Once defeated, God sends all of them to Hell.

Yezidis believe God created Malak first, before all other angels, in His image, therefore he is also God.  They also believe the world was first created as a pearl.  Their holy books are Black Book and Book of Revelation.  Their afterlife ideas are vague, but lean towards reincarnation.  I found the religion fascinating and used it as part of the plot.

A Note from the Book Boost:  Thanks for joining us today, Dina.  I'm doing an angel book right now and really enjoying it.  Your research sounds fascinating!  Please tell us more about your book.


Blurb:

A chain of advertising agencies, a new breed of humans, and a fallen angel to worship…

Andel Talistokov is known for his slick advertising agencies across the globe. He is a fallen angel that uses advertising as a weapon for Satan's work. His growing power emboldens him to break several of Hell’s Commandments. Furious with his arrogance, Satan commands him to return to Hell after finding his own replacement.

Yezidism, an ancient angel worshiping religion, quietly expands throughout the West. Armaros appears as a guest of honor during their ceremonies. He mates with young women to produce nephilim, a mixed race of humans and angels. They are alone and unprepared for their supernatural power.

Joanna Easterhouse, a recovering drug addict, steps out of prison shortly after her mother's fatal accident. She and her sister, Kim, unravel their mother's secretive past. Intrigued, they learn their bloodline is part of a celestial legacy. Both worlds collide. Halo of the Damned is a horrifying tale that weaves research together with suspenseful twists and turns.


Excerpt:

As Andel waited for his servant and slave, Marcus, to come and clean up his sinister mess, he noticed blood all over his Armani suit. He licked the sides of his face, still savoring the taste. The Turkish rug that lay under his daughter’s corpse was also ruined.

Unlike the suit, the rug was irreplaceable. He remembered when an Iman had given it to him hundreds of years ago. It was priceless, and now he had to part with it.

He looked at the decapitated, beautiful head one last time and remembered what a true bitch she turned out to be. 

His intercom buzzed. “Come into my office,” he hissed, as he remotely let Marcus inside.

“You called, Master?” he obediently asked, as he stepped into his office, looking at the floor. He zeroed in on the remnants of the cadaver. Pieces of flesh, bone, and organs were chewed up and stringy. This was not the first time he had cleaned up Andel’s mess.

“May I ask what she did that brought your wrath upon her?”

“I’m downsizing,” Andel smirked.  

Want More Dina?

Visit her on the web here:  www.dinarae.co

Follow her blog here:  www.dinaraeswritestuff.blogspot.com

Pick up a copy of her book today!  Click here.


10 comments:

blcsdina said...

Thanks so much for having me! Dina Rae

cornelia amiri said...

Thank you for the wonderful blog post. The historical tidbits about the ancient Yezidi religion are fascinating - I absolutely love learning new, usual things about ancient history. The blurb is amazing, the last line gave me chills but it also seemed rather funny. The book looks incredible.

Diane Scott Lewis said...

I enjoyed the religious details and the excerpt, Dina. You're so good about promoting your book. I need to be better!

April Grey said...

Fascinating information about an ancient religion that I've never heard of.

Thanks so much,

April Grey

Linda Hays-Gibbs said...

Wow, girl you are all over the place. No, I never knew that about peacocks but it makes sense. I love al the stuff you are teaching me about angels, as you know I am all into angels. Great interview girl.
Linda Hays-Gibbs
My Angel, My Light As Darkness Falls

Carrie Lynn Barker said...

Peacocks and Satan... hhm. Interesting bit of info. I'll be thinking twice next time I see a peacock running around town!

blcsdina said...

Thanks Everybody for commenting!

P.L. Parker said...

Very interesting post Dina. Love it when research is shared.

Unknown said...

Such an original and intriguing idea. Well done!

Patricia J. Esposito said...

What a wicked last line in your excerpt! I loved it. I'm always amazed how research opens up a story, and it sounds like you've done extensive. I was interested just reading your brief background of the story here. Good luck with the novel!