I’m happy to welcome multi-published author Judy Penz Sheluk. Today, Judy shares interesting myths and superstitions about the moon and her new anthology, Moonlight.

Here’s Judy!

Whoot! After culling down 93 submissions to 20 and months of hard work, today is release date for Moonlight & Misadventure. As with the previous Superior Shores Anthologies, authors were required to incorporate the underlying theme into their story. Misadventure, that was an easy one. After all, these are stories of mystery and suspense. But why moonlight? Simply put, as a Cancerian, I’ve always been fascinated by the moon. Here are 10 moon myths & superstitions:

1. A wish made on the full moon will only come true if you stare at the moon and tap your right index and middle fingers against your left wrist at the same time.

2. My mother, who was a superstitious sort, always believed that it was unlucky to see the full moon through glass, whether that was a windshield or a window. I’ll admit I still try to avoid doing that, even though I know it’s ridiculous.

3. In the Philippines, it is believed that no marriage should take place except during the period of the full moon, as good fortune comes only during that period.

4. The Irish believe it’s viewing the new moon through glass that should be avoided, and that even the position of the new moon is important; for luck the new moon should be seen over the right shoulder, never the left.

5. Many believe the new moon is also a time to set positive intentions for the month. I try to do that when I remember.

6. The Farmers’ Almanac suggests that crops that grow above the earth, such as corn and wheat, should be planted while the moon is waxing, so the moon can pull them out of the ground as it grows bigger.

7. Conversely, the Almanac tells us, root crops, such as turnips, carrots, and yams, should be planted while the moon is waning, allowing vegetables to grow deep into the ground.

8. Urban legend has it that chaos and crime increase with the full moon. In fact, the word “lunatic” is derived from “luna,” the Latin word for moon. In fact, in 18th-century England, people on trial for murder could campaign for a lighter sentence on grounds of lunacy if the crime occurred under a full moon.

9. It is lucky to expose your newborn to the waxing Moon. It will give the baby strength.

10. It is unlucky to see “the old moon in the arms of the new” or the faint image of the full disk while the new crescent moon is illuminated, especially if you’re a sailor. Storms are predicted.

Synopsis

Whether it’s vintage Hollywood, the Florida everglades, the Atlantic City boardwalk, or a farmhouse in Western Canada, the twenty authors represented in this collection of mystery and suspense interpret the overarching theme of “moonlight and misadventure” in their own inimitable style where only one thing is assured: Waxing, waning, gibbous, or full, the moon is always there, illuminating things better left in the dark.

Featuring stories by K.L. Abrahamson, Sharon Hart Addy, C.W. Blackwell, Clark Boyd, M.H. Callway, Michael A. Clark, Susan Daly, Buzz Dixon, Jeanne DuBois, Elizabeth Elwood, Tracy Falenwolfe, Kate Fellowes, John M. Floyd, Billy Houston, Bethany Maines, Judy Penz Sheluk, KM Rockwood, Joseph S. Walker, Robert Weibezahl, and Susan Jane Wright.

Bio

A former journalist and magazine editor, Judy Penz Sheluk is the author of two mystery series: The Glass Dolphin Mysteries and the Marketville Mysteries. Her short crime fiction appears in several collections, including The Best Laid Plans, Heartbreaks & Half-truths, and Moonlight & Misadventure, which she also edited.

Judy is a member of Sisters in Crime National, Toronto, and Guppy Chapters, International Thriller Writers, the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Crime Writers of Canada, where she serves as Chair on the Board of Directors.

Find the Book: https://books2read.com/u/47NPkj