I am thrilled to host another Story Empire colleague today to talk about her newest release. D. Wallace Peach has won awards for her pristine storytelling abilities and this new book is another fantastic example of her work. But, I’ll let Diana tell you all about it. Having had the pleasure of reading this book, I can highly recommend it. You can read my review HERE!
Thanks so much for offering to host me on Day 4 of my tour, Jan. It’s a pleasure to visit with you in the great state of Texas. I have two magical beings from the Tale of the Seasons’ Weaver to share with your readers.
For this story’s characters, I drew from Celtic, Germanic, Scandinavian, and Slavic folklore, as well as the rich lore of the Arctic, Japan, Greece, and Native American cultures to create my own similar, but different, characters. Today I’m going to focus on the original lore behind two characters: Nelithi (one of my favorites), a dangerous winter spirit borrowed from Japanese folklore, and the Oak Witch, a character drawn loosely from Scandinavian lore.
Nelithi
Yuki Onna, meaning “Snow Woman,” is a mystical and eerie figure from Japanese folklore, deeply associated with winter and snow-covered landscapes. She is often depicted as a tall, ethereal woman with long, flowing hair, pale or icy-white skin, and a kimono as white as fresh snow. Yuki Onna glides over snowdrifts without leaving footprints, embodying both the beauty and danger of winter. In many tales about her, she has no feet at all.
Her nature varies across legends. In some, she is a vengeful spirit who preys on travelers, freezing them with her icy breath or luring them to their deaths with her otherworldly beauty. In other tales, she is a tragic figure, caught between her supernatural existence and human emotions. Yuki Onna is sometimes portrayed as sparing those who show kindness or keep promises, revealing a more compassionate side.
The Oak Witch
The Huldra is a beguiling figure from Scandinavian folklore often associated with forests and a wild, untamed nature. She’s typically described as a strikingly beautiful woman with long hair and a captivating presence who entices travelers or woodcutters with her beauty. If treated kindly, she can bring blessings and aid. However, if disrespected or wronged, she can be vengeful, leading people astray or causing them harm.
Unlike the Oak Witch in my tale, who can shift into a crow, in Scandinavian folklore, the Huldra’s supernatural nature is betrayed by her hollow back, resembling the inside of a tree, and sometimes by a tail—often that of a cow or fox.
Blurb:
“Already the animals starve. Soon the bonemen will follow, the Moss Folk and woodlings, the watermaids and humans. Then the charmed will fade. And all who will roam a dead world are dead things. Until they too vanish for lack of remembering. Still, Weaver, it is not too late.”
In the frost-kissed cottage where the changing seasons are spun, Erith wears the Weaver’s mantle, a title that tests her mortal, halfling magic. As the equinox looms, her first tapestry nears completion—a breathtaking ode to spring. She journeys to the charmed isle of Innishold to release the beauty of nature’s awakening across the land.
But human hunters have defiled the enchanted forest and slaughtered winter’s white wolves. Enraged by the trespass, the Winter King seizes Erith’s tapestry and locks her within his ice-bound palace. Here, where comfort and warmth are mere glamours, she may weave only winter until every mortal village succumbs to starvation, ice, and the gray wraiths haunting the snow.
With humanity’s fate on a perilous edge, Erith must break free of the king’s grasp and unravel a legacy of secrets. In a charmed court where illusions hold sway, allies matter, foremost among them, the Autumn Prince. Immortal and beguiling, he offers a tantalizing future she has only imagined, one she will never possess—unless she claims her extraordinary power to weave life from the brink of death.
Excerpt: Erith and Nelithi
The path climbed through evergreen boughs and under the limbs of leafless oaks grasping at winter’s rare blue sky. Trees gave way to a stone courtyard where exquisite ice statuary surrounded the otherwise austere towers of the palace, the place a defensible fortress more than a fairytale castle. Dark windows stared down at us, far from welcoming, and I couldn’t shake the thinly veiled dread inching up my spine.
Felix accepted my satchel from the antlered shifter and drew me aside as our entourage continued up the path. They filed through a filigreed gate standing in the woods without the support of walls. It marked the border between winter’s eternal realm and the Court of the Seasons, a white landscape that in a little more than a day would blossom into spring.
The crow squawked from atop the head of an exquisitely carved ice sculpture at the courtyard’s center. The frozen likeness of an ethereal girl graced a low pedestal, her features so finely crafted I almost expected her to turn and meet my gaze.
“Who is she?” I asked.
Felix scratched his jaw. “The girl or the crow?”
“The girl.”
“Nelithi. Winter’s angel of death. Surely, you’ve heard of her.”
A chill prickled my skin. Memories gathered behind my eyes of shawl-wrapped grandmothers whispering warnings to little faces. “Every child knows the legend of Nelithi. She was a human girl who’d lost her feet to frostbite, and useless to her family, they’d left her to perish in the snow. But the Winter King took pity on her and made her immortal. She appears to people dying in the cold and ends their suffering with a single breath.”
“A mercy.” Felix gazed up at the frozen likeness. “To spare them her torment. She may also pass by good-hearted souls who keep their promises.”
I puzzled over the fates of those compassionate oath-keepers. In letting them live, did Nelithi abandon them to a slower, more painful death? I angled my head for a peek at her gown’s ice-bangled hem. Sure enough, she had no feet. “The villagers say she kills in their homes as well. Even when the hearth is warm.”
“Only if invited in,” Felix said. “No different from any of the old spirits.”
The crow cawed and took flight. It landed before the lone gate and transformed into a black-haired, ruby-lipped beauty in a diaphanous gown, sheer as smoke, her shoulders cloaked in ebony feathers.
I stifled a squeak. “She’s not…. She’s a….”
“Oak witch.” Felix shrugged as if he’d just informed me of the existence of spoons. As the witch stepped through the gate, she fluttered her feathery lashes at him and bared a sly, sharp-toothed smile. Then she darted uphill toward the island’s crown.
Bio
Best-selling author D. Wallace Peach grew up surrounded by her father’s well-loved paperback books. Fantasy was a staple, but it was Tolkien’s The Hobbit that planted the seeds which would grow into a passion for writing.
Peach started writing later in life when years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books. She was instantly hooked.
In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.
Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.
Links
What a beautiful description and illustration. I love that your inspiration came from various cultures, Diana.
Thank you, Carla, for swinging by Jan’s. You’re too kind. I became fascinated with the magical worlds that are part of so many cultures, and they’re lots of fun to share as part of the tour. Happy Reading!
What a beautiful write-up! Congratulations, Diana!
Thank you, Kymber! Appreciate you stopping by!
Thank you, Kymber. I’m catching up on tour comments and was delighted to find you at Jan’s too! So kind of you. Thank you for checking out the post. It’s much appreciated. Have a beautiful day.
You have a beautiful day, too, Diana!
You’re welcome, Jan! 😍💖
Your creation of Nelithi is beautiful, Diana! I enjoyed learning more about the characters. Thank you for hosting, Jan!
I agree about Diana’s creation of Nelithi. It was exactly as I had pictured her. Thank you for stopping by and supporting Diana, Miriam!
Thank you for the kind visit and comment, Miriam. I know how busy you are and I appreciate it. I look forward to my day with you! Hugs <3 <3
You’re welcome, Diana! I look forward to having you! 😍
Sorry, not sure how I missed this one Jan! What a great review and this picture with Nelithi is just stunning. I love diving into each character! 🙌🏽💓
That’s the beauty of blogs, Cindy. They don’t go away. So glad you made it by to help support Diana. Hugs!
Thanks for dropping by, Cindy. Jan has such a popular blog that I knew I needed to stop by again to thank her visitors. Have a great week, my friend. Huge hugs.
This excerpt really intrigues me as I have a deep fascination and appreciation for Japanese art and culture. I’ll be delving into Yuki Onna to learn more about this bit of Japanese folklore. Diana certainly pulled out all the stops when she created her characters, and Nelithi seems incredibly interesting to me.
Fantastic, Mike! I agree that Diana pulled out all the stops with these characters and the story itself. You are in for a treat! Thanks for stopping by!
I thought this character might intrigue you, Mike. I didn’t modify her much at all for the character in the story. She seemed nuanced to me: beautiful, tragic, powerful, cold, and emotional, all at the same time. Japan has beautiful mythology, lots of monsters and ghosts, and I was so excited to find “someone” who was perfect for the book. Just a few days and you’ll have it in your hands!
Another entertaining and informative promo from Diana, Jan. I loved the book, and I still enjoy reading the histories of all the fascinating characters Diana has created. A great read! <3
I feel the same, Debby. I love these behind-the-scenes views from the extensive research Diana had to do for this story. Thank you for stopping by!
So fun to read. Happy weekend! 🙂
Thank you for stopping by Jan’s, Debby. I just swung back around, and saw your comment. I’m so glad you’re enjoying some of our world’s “real” lore. I’ve been mesmerized by it since I was a kid. Hugs, and have a great week!
The pleasure is mine Diana. <3
You wrote a great Amazon review Jan and this post was very intriguing. So much imagination and fascinating folklore and I loved the excerpt. Last time we visited Norway we met a singing Huldra. Her magical enchantment made everyone take pictures of her and post on facebook (it was a tourist thing). Huldras are referred to as Skogsrå in Sweden.
What a unique experience, Thomas. I hope you videoed Huldra singing. Thank you for sharing that with us. I’m glad you enjoyed my review. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I appreciate you stopping by!
I remember your post about the “singing Huldra” as well as the photo, Thomas. It was so much fun, since I’d included the character in my book and hadn’t ever seen one. 🙂 Thanks for swinging by Jan’s and for taking the extra click to read her review. She made my day with that one. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the post and excerpt. Have a wonderful day, my friend.
Any being who can shape shift into a crow has to be magic! (K)
I have this on my Kindle. I am looking forward to reading it. Congratulations, Diana.
Good to hear, Beem. You are going to enjoy it, I promise!!
Thanks for following the tour, Beem. I’m so glad your enjoying it, and I hope you have hours of entertainment with the read. 🙂
Yes, you have that right, Kerfe. The Oak Witch was a fun character to write. She’s not quite evil, but not particularly nice either. She thinks my main character Erith is ridiculous. Thanks for stopping by Jan’s place and for the fun comment. Have a beautiful day. <3
Just finished the book today. Of course I loved it. And I enjoy learning the history behind all the characters, so I’m loving the tour. Diana, expect my review Sunday. <3
I’ll be twiddling my fingers until Sunday, Debby. I’m so excited and happily happily grateful. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the story and are still enjoying the tour. 🙂 I loved finding these characters and blending them all together into the story. It’s getting toward dinner time here and I’ll be signing off soon. What a great comment to close my day. Hugs.
So much fun to read the ‘behind the scenes’ of story. Happy to end your blog day. <3
<3
Thank you so much for stopping by, Debby. I am looking forward to your stop on Sunday!
I feel drawn to the character of Nilithi, for some reason, just from the way she’s described and her folklore backstory. Congratulations to Diana and thanks to Jan for hosting! Sharing.
Thank you for stopping by, Liz. I found your comment in my spam folder. Wonky WordPress!! Anyway, I appreciate your support for Diana!
You’re welcome, Jan! I guess I’d better check my own spam folder.
A new release by one of my favorite authors? Many thanks for sharing the news, Jan – bought!
Yay! Thanks, Nicholas. I hope you enjoy this one. It’s quite different from my others in terms of the amount of magic. I went a little crazy. Lol. Thanks so much for stopping by Jan’s today. She’s been a wonderful support, and so are you!
Magic got to your head? Sounds great 😀
On purpose. Lol.
Fantastic to hear, Nicolas! You are in for a treat with this story. Thank you for stopping by to support Diana!
Sounds like a great book. I love everyting about mystics and natural spirits. Thanks for introducing Diana’s book!
Thank you so much for swinging by Jan’s to take a peek at the new release, Erika. Researching folklore, mythology, and mythology from all parts of the wintery northern world was wonderfully fun. If you decide to give the book a try, you’ll get your fill. Lol. Have a wonderful day. 🙂
I bet it was thrilling and exciting. About 2.5 years ago we went to Iceland. You could feel the mythology everywhere. It was amazing. So, I understand your passion for it and the motivation to bring this book to life! Wish you success and joy with it, Diana!
This book is a great combination of mystics and natural spirits, Erika. I think you’d love it. I certainly did! Thanks for stopping by!
I bet, I would! Thanks again for the introduction, Jan!
Terrific characters, Diana.
Everything: background, traits and powers in your characters is pulled together beautifully.
The image of Nilithi is stunning.
Thank you & kudos to Jan for hosting Diana’s new book on tour!
Thanks for stopping by on another tour day, my friend. Nelithi is one of my favorite characters because she’s so nuanced. I followed her original lore pretty closely in the tale, despite changing her name. Jan’s an awesome host and she wrote a wonderful review for which I’m incredibly grateful. Have a lovely afternoon, my friend. Hugs. <3 <3 <3
I did pop over and saw the review. Jan did write a terrific review.
I’m so bad! I have written reviews on Good reads, but I need to remember!
So many fab characters. I can’t wait to see who/what you’ve created next! xxx
🙂 I had more characters to share than I could fit in ten tour spots, but I got the important ones in. And Goodreads is a great spot for reviews, but nothing beats a Resa-post! Lol.
LOL!!! Working on a Resa post for John’s new book!
(Hand is tomato with stumpy fingers and lots of pain. Went to the doc – tetanus shot and antibiotics. Misha is hiding, but has used the litter 2 times and drank water. MAYBE nibbled crunchies.)
I figured you’d be on antibiotics. Much better safe than sorry. And I can’t wait to hear about John’s new book! Take care and I’m glad Misha’s doing a little better.
I totally agree with you, Resa! Diana is such a talented writer! Thanks for stopping by!
My pleasure, Jan! Fab post!
It is very nice of you to host Diana. Her work is always worth it!!
Thanks for swinging by Jan’s, GP. She’s wonderfully generous and always willing to help another author. I’m grateful to her and so glad you stopped by! 🙂
It is truly my pleasure, GP. Thanks for visiting!
So nice of you to host Diana, Jan. This book sounds fantastic to me, and I’m looking forward to reading it. Diana is such an artistically skillful author.
Thanks, Tim. Jan is the epitome of nice and to prove it, she wrote a lovely review too. I’m delighted that you stopped by and thank you for the kind comment. Whenever you get a chance to dive into the book, I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
I think you will enjoy this book, Tim. It completely captivated me! Thanks for stopping by to support Diana today!
My pleasure, Jan. 😊
Sounds like another page turner to me, D. Can’t wait to get my hands on it. Thanks, Jan, for hosting. –Curt
the book’s about as fanciful as I could make it, Curt. I let the imagination loose! Lol. Thanks so much for swinging by Jan’s today and for the wonderful comment. I don’t know how you have time to read while adventuring, but if you do, I hope you enjoy the story. 🙂 😀
You hit the nail on the head with your comment, Curtis. The book is fantastic! Thanks for stopping by to support Diana!
Both fantastic characters and I love the background and thought put into them, Diana:) Thanks for hosting, Jan xo
Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by Jan’s and comment, Denise. It’s been fun sharing the origins of my magical characters. I’m glad you enjoyed these two. 🙂 Thank you so much for reading and reviewing and I look forward to my day with you! Hugs.
Thank you so much, Denise!
Oh, a fantasy! This looks really good. I haven’t read a fantasy in a long time so I need this. Huge congrats to D. Wallace Peach! Love you, Sister.
Thank you so much for visiting with your sis, Linda. She’s one of the kindest and most generous bloggers I know. And I appreciate your checking out the book. I love finding fantasy readers. 🙂 If you decide to give this one a read, I hope you enjoy the magic. Hugs. 🙂
This is SUCH a good book, sister. I think you will enjoy it. I certainly did! Thank you for stopping by!
I just picked up “Wildwood Healer,” Linda. I’d been meaning to since Jan mentioned it, and well, seemed like a good day to get it done!
Oh, fantastic, Diana. You will love the story! Thank you!
I’d been meaning to, but if I don’t do things immediately I forget. “Squirrel!” Lol. My kindle is very fat and happy.
I love this book so much! Thanks so much to Jan for hosting and to Diana for her amazing imagination.
Aww. You’re very kind to me, Colleen. I’m thrilled that you enjoyed the book. For me, giving my imagination a workout was the best part. Jan is a generous host, and the tour has been super fun. I look forward to visiting you too! Hugs.
I totally agree, Colleen! This book was so good! Thank you for stopping by to support Diana today!
You’re so welcome. I love her fiction. Thanks for being such a gracious hostess, Jan. xxx
Delightful blog tour to launch this book. Not really into fantasy and I loved this book.
Thanks so much, Jacqui. I saw your review and have to say that you had me smiling. I appreciate your generous read even though the genre isn’t a favorite. <3 <3 Thanks for swinging by Jan’s and adding your boost to the book!
I totally loved it as well, Jacqui. Diana is such a talented writer! Thanks for stopping by!
Congratulations, Diana! I’m so looking forward to reading your latest jewel. Once I’ve finished Jan’s excellent book, I’ll begin your book. Bravo!
Oh, thank you so much, Gwen. I’m honored that you are reading my book and I promise you are going to love this new story from Diana! I appreciate you stopping by to support Diana today!
Good morning, Gwen. Thanks so much for stopping by Jan’s, and do you know what? You’re going to LOVE her book. It’s such a feel good story and right up your alley. <3 <3 And I appreciate that you’ll be giving my “jewel” a try. Lol. It was a long time coming and it’s finally here. Hugs, my friend, and Happy Reading!
Oh, goodness! You’ve spun an intriguing web around me with the blurb and excerpt, D.! As a lover of mythology and folktales, your words drew me into the fantasy world you’ve created. I’m off to make a purchase! Wishing you all the best! And thank you, Jan, for hosting!
Oh, yay!! I promise you are going to enjoy it, Mary. It is SOOO good! Thanks for stopping by and supporting Diana. Happy Reading!
Thank you so much, Mary. I’m delighted that you’ll be giving the book a try and truly hope that you enjoy it. The mythology and folktales from around the world intrigued me, and I couldn’t resist them – especially the lore around Yuki Onna who became Nelithi. Thanks for swinging by Jan’s this morning and making my day. Happy Reading!
I’m frantically trying to finish the book I’m currently reading so I can start Diana’s book. Can’t wait!
LOL. The book isn’t going anywhere, Viv, so take your time. But thanks for the fun comment and making me laugh this morning. I hope you have a spectacular day. And Happy Reading. 🙂 <3
Your comment made me giggle, Viv. I’ve been in that same spot many times. I know you are going to enjoy it whenever you read it!
This sounds so intriguing. I can’t wait to read it! Thanks for sharing, Jan! Congratulations, Diana!
Thank you, Joy. You put a smile on my face this morning. I’m having a lot of fun sharing the background on my characters, and it’s a delight to be here with Jan today. When/if you get to the book, I hope you enjoy it. Hugs.
It is my pleasure to share this fabulous book, Joy! I know you are going to enjoy it!
So glad it intrigues you, Joy. It is SUCH a good story! I know you will enjoy it. Thanks for stopping by!
I also didn’t know Nelithi was of Japanese origin. What a beautiful depiction – much like Diana’s description and how I visualized her! Thanks, Jan!
I agree, Noelle. Diana’s graphic image really brings the character to life! Makes me want to go read the book all over again. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I just loved Yuki Onna’s legend and knew I wanted to include her, Noelle. She was so nuanced. She was one of the driving reasons for my decision to go with global rather than regional lore. Thanks so much for swinging by Jan’s, my friend. <3 <3
A lovely post, Jan. I didn’t realize that Nelithi was from Japanese folllore. I will check in the book I bought in Japan and see if I find her.
What a fun thought. I assume this is Robbie? For some reason, WordPress is showing you as anonymous. I’ve never figured that one out. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by to support Diana!
Hi Robbie (I also think it’s you). 🙂 Look up “Yuki Onna,” her real name. I’d be curious what you find. Her story captured my imagination, that’s for sure, and I knew she would be part of the book if I could make it happen. Thanks for swinging by Jan’s, my friend. Your support is highly appreciated. <3 <3 <3
So nice to see Diana here, Jan. Her book sounds terrific. Congratulations to her and thanks to you for hosting.
Thank you for swinging by Jan’s place for the tour, John. She’s a wonderful host and I’m looking forward to visiting with everyone. Have a wonderful day, my friend.
You as well, Diana.
This book is SO good, John. I can’t recommend it highly enough. Thanks so much for stopping by to support Diana today!
Good to hear, Jan. Thanks.
How interesting that you pulled from so many different cultures’ lore. I bet the research was fun. Great excerpt!
Thanks for swinging by Jan’s and for the great comment, Priscilla. The research was daunting at first because I was looking for one tradition that gave me everything I needed. I couldn’t find it. And some of the characters, like Yuki Onna, had entranced me. Once I decided to draw from multiple lores and mythologies, the gates opened and it was great fun. <3
It is amazing how many different layers Diana included in this story, Priscilla. I agree about the research. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Wonderful descriptions in this snippet.
Thanks for stopping by, Craig. I’m delighted to be visiting with Jan today and appreciate your visit!
Diana is a master at descriptive prose, Craig. This is just a small example. Such a good story! Thanks for stopping by!
I just started reading this book! Diana is so gifted with imagery. I am absolutely loving it! Thanks for hosting, Jan!
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, Yvette. I’m thrilled that you’re giving the book a try and enjoying yourself. Warms my heart. Jan’s always a wonderful host and I’m delighted to be here today. Happy Reading. <3 <3
Oh, how exciting, Yvette! It’s such a good story. Thank you for supporting Diana!
I’ve been following this book launch and love learning about these fascinating characters.
I was captivated by all the different lore, Darlene, and hoped it would be a interesting part of the book’s background to share. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. I know you research local legends for your Amanda books, so you know fun it is. Thanks for swinging by Jan’s today! Hugs.
These characters are so well developed and memorable, Darlene. Each one plays a vital part in the story. Thanks so much for stopping by to support Diana!!