The Dream World

This is my first guest blog. It’s featured on The Search for the Lure of the Vampire, a site maintained by Bertena Varney. If you don’t know who she is, you should. She’s a vampire historian. If you like vampires or any vampire shows, you should be following her somewhere.

I Made Front-Page News!

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:13:02 -0400

I Made Front-Page News!

The Mysterious Meave

Mon, 25 Jul 2011 07:00:06 -0400

As soon as he entered the restaurant, her beauty hit him like a blow to his solar plexus.

She was breathtaking with her raven hair and eyes as green as emeralds!

Who could help but notice her?

Question was – why was she sitting at the table by herself? Such an exquisite creature should have been surrounded by doting admirers.

But here she was. Alone. Inviting. In need of being rescued from boredom.

What else could Jamison do but to come to her aid?

There were several empty tables in the restaurant, but none of them interested him as this particular table.

Never being the bashful sort, he boldly approached her and asked if the seat next to her was taken. After all, she could have been waiting for some gentleman friend to join her.

She lazily looked him up and down with those sparkling green eyes, and then as if he met with her approval, she indicated the chair and motioned for him to sit.

As he did so, he suavely introduced himself as, “Jamison, Jamison Thincastle.”

She flashed him a brilliant smile that lit up her whole being and thrust a dainty hand forward saying, “My friends call me Meave.”

Jamison smiled warmly. “Meave,” the name echoed deliciously off his tongue.

He hailed a waiter, ordered ale and inquired if the lady by his side had ordered her meal to which she informed him that she had.

Quickly, he ordered a thick steak, cooked rare. After the waiter disappeared to the kitchen, he gave her a wink and said, “If they get it here before the hour, it will be a rare thing, indeed.”

Meave gave a tinkling laugh, her eyes sparkling once again.

There was something in those eyes… A man could positively get lost in them.

“And what do you do, to make yourself so bold, Jamison,” she asked.

Jamison feigned shock then grinned rakishly, “Me? Why dear lady, I rescue damsels in distress. You were in danger of being bored, so I came to your aid.”

Again she laughed. “Matter of fact, I’ve been bored for ages.”

”What? No mister…”

She shook her head to cut him off. “I’ve been on my own for nigh on two years.”

“Criminal!”

“I’ve been doing some traveling and happened upon your quaint village. Tell me, what do you people do for excitement around here?”

Before Jamison could answer, the waiter appeared with his frothy pint of ale.

Taking it from him, Jamison lifted it in a salute to his host saying, “I’m sure if we put our heads together we can come up with something that might amuse you.”

Meave lifted her own glass in a toast. “I’m sure you can, Jamison,” she replied knowingly.

Unlike Jamison’s dire prediction, their meal was served together.

Throughout the meal, their conversation was full of sexual innuendo, stirring Jamison’s blood all the more.

It also quickened her desire for him.

As soon as the meal was finished, Jamison took her to a quaint bed and breakfast that he knew too well.

It wasn’t breakfast that he was interested in. Not yet.

It was morning before he finally fell asleep exhausted from the night’s excursion.

While he slept, Meave watched him. His great chest heaved with his breathing. She knew he would be experienced in lovemaking, and she thought that she must have surprised him that she had been able to give as good as she got.

She wasn’t tired. Far from it. She was exhilarated. She had been seeking a new companion and for this handsome fellow to plop himself down beside her was a stroke of luck indeed.

Of course he would have to be turned, accept and join her in her lifestyle with the mystic arts. He would also have to give up all of his wicked ways for her alone.

That would be more to her liking. In fact, she would demand it for him to be her new companion.

Win a FREE Copy of "Outcast of the Dream World"

Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:24:00 -0400

I will mail a FREE copy of “Outcast of the Dream World” to the first person to respond to this post with the correct answers? Note: Contest begins Monday morning (7/25).

Here are the questions?

What is David?

What is Shannon?

What is Cassie?

What is Jamison?

What is Meave?

What is Eldon?

What is Victoria?

Hint: Read my prior blog posts for hints! Monday morning’s blog will help too. These are all characters from my book. Three of the answers are “Human.” One is not technically a witch but a “Human Cursed by a Witch.” The rest you must figure out on your own.

Only answers in the form as comments to this blog post will be considered. All of the answers must be correct.

Have fun, and let me know what you think of my other posts. What else do you want to know about the Dream World series?

"Outcast" Featured in examiner.com!

Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:34:14 -0400

"Outcast" Featured in examiner.com!

Things Are Not Always As They Appear

Mon, 18 Jul 2011 16:11:00 -0400

She sat at her desk in her parlor trying to find a way to get through this holiday season.

Christmas was upon her and there was hardly a crumb in the house to eat.

The great potato famine was upon them, leaving her a greater number of orphans than usual.

Some of them were those whose parents had died, some whose kin had abandoned them in hopes of going to America seeking a new life and planning to send for the children when they were settled.

The whole country was in dire straits.

SHE was in dire Straits.

With only a mere pittance how was she going to provide for these children during this holiday season?

There was no money for fresh food. The flour for the bread was being carefully measured out. There were scant bits of shriveled vegetables to supply their meals.

The potatoes that would have been there mainstay were rotted and inedible.

The strain of brokering food to feed the children bit into the budget so that the clothes the children wore had been patched until they more resembled Joseph’s coat of many colors.

Even the blankets upon their beds were threadbare.

Indeed if there had been any money, food would have been their first concern, followed by clothing, then the other amenities needed.

The auburn haired woman dropped her head in her hands in despair. Tomorrow is Christmas.

Would that she could provide some small treat for the children but that was impossible.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door.

Ginny, the housekeeper and Marion’s right arm, answered the door and informed Marion that the authorities had brought in another waif for to her house.

But this girl was different. She was older than the others and seemed quite independent.

However, tonight she had no place to go and the Constable wanted to know if Marion could add one more to her folder for a day or two until more could be found out about her.

How could Marion refuse?

At least she could provide a roof over her head and a place to sleep. Thus she agreed to take the girl.

Marion led the way up the stairs to the third floor and attic room. However, on the second floor they paused by the room were a rattling cough sounded from the sickbed of a little girl who was about four-years-old. Between Marion and Ginny, they had been taking turns with the sick girl, but she had steadily gotten worse.

Her fever had raged until breaking, bathing the girl in sweat, subsiding only to return. The doctor had come and gone only to shake his head in despair. It was only a matter of time before the child would cast off her earthly bonds and join her dead parents.

For some reason, the sick child touched the newcomer; and she asked if she could look in on the babe.

More than once that evening she was caught up in the child’s room as if keeping her own vigil. Eventually the girl with her long brown hair had to be secured in her room lest she cause mischief.

Finally, that night the children were put to bed. Ginny knew that Marion was exhausted, and offered that she would stay with the sick child for that Christmas Eve.

The next morning, they found the child had gone to join her parents. Sometime during the night she has simply slipped away.

So quiet was her death the Ginny had dozed off and had not stirred.

But there was a great surprise that awaited them. On the child’s bed was a fresh woolen blanket.

In fact, Ginny had been covered with a knitted throw to keep her warm.

As Ginny went downstairs, the smell of Evergreen boughs that draped the banister rails mingled with scrumptious aromas that wafted throughout the first floor.

At the foot of the stairs stood Marion, a look of utter bewilderment upon her face. Together they went to the kitchen to find the Christmas dinner was well underway.

A goose was baking in the oven, and an assortment of fresh vegetables rested on the counters with four loaves of fresh baked bread and three fruit pies.

Where had all this come from? Who could have done such a thing?

The patter of little feet running down the stairs then into the parlor were followed by the shrill cries and giggles.

When Marion entered the room, she found that each child clutched at some toy that been left for every one of them. Two of the children were still clutching at new woolen blankets that somehow covered their beds during the night.

What had happened? Where had all these wonderful things come from? It was as if they had been visited by St. Nicholas himself!

Marion went into the desk to find a small leather pouch.

Glory be!

When she opened the pouch, several gold coins spilled out into her hand.

Under the pouch was a letter. It was instructions for Marion to take it to a man, a lawyer for the girl who had appeared to them the previous night.

The solicitor had been instructed to ensure that Marion would want for nothing, for better times ahead and until a time that she would be able to be self-sufficient.

Especially during the famine she was to be provided for. It was signed “Cassie“.

Could the girl be the bearer of this good fortune?

She was interrupted by Ginny informing her that the girl was gone.

Somehow Marion was not surprised. It seemed as though she the girl had left these things as parting gifts, perhaps payment for the single night’s repose.

For today she would be thankful and enjoy the day for the day’s sake.

However, in the coming days she would search to discover more about the black-clad girl with waist length brown hair.

Purchase Outcast of the Dream World

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:59:55 -0400

Purchase Outcast of the Dream World:

Outcast of the Dream World is available as a hardcover or softcover book, as well as a Kindle edition. If you are a book blogger and would like a free copy to review, please contact me at sandra_chandler@yahoo.com. Happy reading, and keep your teeth to yourself!

Romancing Victoria

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:06:05 -0400

He watched her from across the room noticing the fluid movement of her exquisite body.

Asking a friend who she might be, he was not totally surprised to discover that she was a model - not just a model but one of the most sought after in New York City.

No doubt she had a bevy of beaus lined up waiting on her every whim. What would she see in someone like him? She had it all – looks, fame, money – she lacked for nothing.

Then again, neither did he. Except a woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

Finding out where she would be working the next day, he began forming a plan on how to meet her.

The next day a single red rose was delivered to her by a young man, a ball cap pulled low over his brow. Speaking with an Irish accent, he inquired her name then presented a card that read “from a secret admirer.”

The following day two red roses were delivered by the same man with the same message.

At first she wrote it off as some kind of joke, but the second day her curiosity was piqued.

Pressing the delivery person for more information, he only told her that he himself did not meet the person who had sent the roses but was told only to deliver them.

The third day a note was delivered instructing her to dine at a very upscale restaurant. “He must be fat and balding,” she thought. “Why didn’t he introduce himself?”

The deliveryman asked in his Irish accent “What could it hurt?” She’d be in a public place surrounded by only well-to-do patrons that could afford to dine there.

Besides she could get a friend to dine at the same restaurant but a separate table, that way if he turned out to be undesirable her friend could come to her rescue.

That night she wore a little black dress that hugged every inch of her curvaceous body.

When she arrived at the restaurant, she was promptly seated at a table by the window. Then her host took her request for her beverage of choice.

When the drink was delivered it was accompanied by a crystal vase bearing two dozen red roses wit delicate babies breath peeking between the blossoms.

Victoria couldn’t help looking about her hoping to catch a glimpse of her benefactor.

At a nearby table was a handsome fellow with thick dark hair. It was slightly curly and fell forward upon his brow and was curled upward at the nape of his neck. He looked remarkably like the delivery man who had delivered the roses.

As he lifted his glass to her in a salute, he grinned and a mischievous glint in his eye twinkled bright enough to light a spark in her heart.

She glanced at the roses then back at him to find that he had left his table and was on his way to join her, the grin widening as he walked.

When he stood before her he took hold of her hand, bowed over it and placed a light upon it. “Do I meet with your approval dear lady,” he asked. ”Or should I leave you to enjoy your supper in peace?”

Victoria smiled up at him and indicated the empty chair. He was certainly good-looking with an extra helping of charm. The Irish accent on entry endeared her all the more.

As he sat across from her he introduced himself only as Eldon.

He allowed her a few minutes to look over the menu before he called the waiter over to take their orders.

Then as they waited for the meal, he politely asked questions that would reveal more of her to him.

It seemed as though their entire conversation was about her. Even when she tried to discover more about him, he deftly changed the subject back to her.

After the food was served, the conversation was quelled as he allowed her to eat. He did reveal that he was from Ireland and had lived in the states a few short years. He had no family save those in Ireland.

The more he spoke, the more she was intrigued with him.

Their wine glasses were filled several times as they spent the entire evening talking and getting acquainted. Victoria wasn’t even aware when her friend had left; she was so engrossed with Eldon. In fact, the patrons begin thinning out until only they remained.

Realizing it was late, Victoria looked around her, then gave her lovely head a shake. “It’s late. They must be getting ready to close,” she said.

Eldon grinned and told her, “We can stay as long as we like. I bought the place earlier today.

I don’t think they like to take a chance on displeasing their new owner.”

Victoria couldn’t help her mouth dropping at the revelation. If this was true, then her date had to be quite wealthy indeed. Or it could be a clever ploy to impress her.

Okay. So she was impressed.

But it was the idea that they could stay and talk to their heart’s content that placed her most. She was having such a good time she didn’t want the night to end.

The staff busied themselves in locking up, clearing the tables and sweeping around the couple as they continued their conversation. They spent the entire night and well into the early hours of the day before Eldon finally asked if he could see her home.

She agreed, a little nervous of what the morning might bring. Her worries were put to rest as he stood outside her door. He was ever the gentleman and inquired if he could see her again that evening.

Unfortunately she had to fly to the West Coast for a photo op and she would be gone for a few days.

He took the news in good stride asking where the location would be.

Tossing all caution aside she told him.

As she flew across the country she cursed herself for being so taken with him.

After all she had known him less than 24 hours. What did she really know about him?

When she arrived on the set of the shoot, she was surprised to find a dozen pink carnations waiting for her with a note thanking her for a lovely evening and wishing her good luck with the shoot. Somehow she was not even surprised at the end of the day when she looked up to find him standing there waiting for her.

As far as Eldon was concerned, he had found the one woman who captured his heart.

Now all he had to do was to capture hers.

The Story of Shannon and Cassie

Tue, 05 Jul 2011 08:05:06 -0400

He sat on a tree stump, head in his hands, deep in thought.

It was in the wee hours of the morning that he had gotten the notification. It had not been a dream even though he had been wakened from a sound sleep.

It seemed like a vision, but more real than a vision could ever have been.

Now he sat alone in the darkness waiting for the one who would be delivered up into his hands for safekeeping.

He would be her protector, her guardian, her mentor. It would be an awesome undertaking for the power this girl weld was formidable. And it was something that he only had a glimpse of and she no clue.

Not yet.

Undoubtedly, he would need to enlist the help of his entire clan; the clan of leprechauns that he was the chosen leader.

He scratched his cinnimon colored beard in thought. He had not had time to call a meeting to inform everyone what was afoot; he would do that at first light when she had been delivered into his keeping.

Poor lass.

If what he had been told was true, she had already been through hell – and it was just the beginning.

First, to have lost her parents, then her lover, to be thrust into the company of strangers who had all but killed her… He shook his scraggly head in disbelief.

Silently he promised her that he and his clan would care for her no matter what it took or how long it took her to be rid of this curse that had been place upon her.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of people cutting through the forest and coming towards him.

As the two ghostly figures gently carrying the form of their daughter came into view., he rose from his seat and went to greet them.

The girl’s hair was so long that it dragged the ground and picked up twiggs and bits of dried leaves as they had travel with her.

Carefully, they placed her on the soft green grass at Shannon’s feet. He was aghast at at the sight of her.

She was dressed in a lad’s clothing as trying to disguise herself, passing herself off as a boy.

It hadn’t worked.

They had discovered her plans to escape from them and had cut her down.

He gave his head a shake. Well, she was in his keeping now and he would let no more harm come to her.

The two spirits, sadness etched on their faces, said nothing, only nodded at her and stepped back to let him take her.

As they faded into nothingness, a sound came from behind Shannon heralded that Shannon had been joined by two more of his clan.

Their shocked expression caused him to explain the girl’s dire situation to which they immediately went to her aid.

Together, they stayed by her side until the sun’s first rays peeked through the boughs of the trees and she began to stir.

Panic set in as she discovered her situation. But with Shannon and his clan to calm her, she soon accepted her fate.

What else could she do? She gave herself up wholly to his instruction.

In the days that followed, Shannon was surprised and pleased to find that she had a gentle streak in her that remained in spite of what had befallen her.

To be sure, she had to nurture a more hardened outlook on life, but if she came across some woodland creature that was hurt, she immediately went to its aid.

Such was Samson, a monstrous horse whose leg had been caught and mangled in a trap.

Bringing Shannon to the creature’s aid, she followed his instruction and concocted a poultice to put upon the wound and tearing off a sleeve of her shirt to wrap around it. Then Shannon cast a sleeping spell over him to make him rest until the medicine had done its work.

The massive horse was so grateful that he would allow none save herself to approach him and mount him to ride.

It was on one such outing that they suddenly crashed through some bushes and came upon the bank of a river.

Samson stopped short catching Cassie unaware and toppling over his head and into the water.

She sputtered about, kicking and splashing trying to swim out of the river.

For whatever reason, perhaps the fact that she had such power, but was thrashing about so helplessly, struck Shannon as funny.

Hilarious , in fact.

“Can ye not swim,” he asked.

She only sputtered and tossed her head about.

“Well, now would be a good time to learn, girl.”

Realizing that she was not going to die by drowning, she calmed and began moving her arms and kicking her legs as Shannon told her to do, while he mimicked her from the bank of the river.

She was always quick to follow his lead, never questioning him, only obeying him perhaps a s a child of his own should do; a fact that endeared her to him all the more.

More About the Dreamworld

Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:29:20 -0400

Beginning next week, I will post short stories about the evolution of the characters in the Dreamworld and their relationships. Please visit for inside glimpses and stories I was not able to fit into the book, Outcast of the Dreamworld. Also, I am working on publishing my second book of the series. Stay tuned for more! Happy Fourth of July!

Good Men, Even Vampires, Take Risks to Help Others

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:22:00 -0400

David, a vampire, is an outcast in the world of the living, amongst his undead brethren and in the Dream World.

He struggles against what he is, and through a series of mishaps finds himself thrust back into the world of the living while an innocent mortal is trapped in the Dream World.

To set matters right, David must free the mortal and return him to his rightful place, possibly risking his own immortal existence. He finds some help along the way from a witch, gypsy, leprechaun, magical ring and portals to another realm.

Join David through his journeys into Ireland and the Dream World. He just may find something for himself that he thought was lost forever.

Outcast of the Dream World is the first of a series of books by Sandra Chandler.

Photo

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:24:00 -0400

"Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:18:39 -0400

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”