Kringa, Croatia: The First European Vampire

The Croatian region of Istria, which borders Slovenia, was once owned by Italy, and there remain many Italian influences, including that Italian is one of their two official languages. To the ancient Romans, the land was known as "Terra Magica," the "Magical Land." It's a region rife with numerous legends, from faeries to giants, from ley lines to Perun, the Thunder God. During my recent trip to Croatia, I also had the opportunity to visit the site of another Istrian legend, that of the first historic European vampire!

Jure Grando Alilović (known in Italian as Giure Grando) was born in 1579 in the small village of Kringa, located about 22 miles north of Pula. Jure Grando worked as a stone mason, and "Grando" is likely a nickname, referring to his large build. He married a woman named Ivana, and they had two children, a daughter Ana and a son Nikola.

Jure Grando died in 1656, at the ripe old age of about 77, from some unknown illness. Although he lived a long life, the legend claims this his "life" didn't end with his death. Each night, After his death, he allegedly rose from the grave as a vampire. The term used to describe him was strigoi (or štrigon and štrigun), which can refer to both a vampire or a warlock. As Jure Grando came back from the dead, he was considered more of a vampire, and there were stories that he actually drank blood. 

It's claimed that the reason Jure Grando became a vampire is that he wasn't buried properly, that his tongue hadn't been pierced by a nail. No explanation was given why he hadn't been buried in the right way, which had been presided over by Father Giorgio. For an incredible 16 years, Jure Grando terrorized Kringa, stalking the village during the night. He would knock at a door, and then someone living at that home would die within a few days, a victim of the vampire. It's unknown how many villagers died in this manner. 

In addition, Jure Grando allegedly visited his wife, on many occasions, sexually assaulting her, and even drinking her blood. Ivana described her former husband as a smiling corpse. Soon after Jure Grando's nocturnal attacks began, his two children were sent away to Volterra, Italy, a small town southwest of Florence, ostensibly to protect them from their vampiric father. 

In 1672, after sixteen years of terror, nine villagers, including prefect Miho Radetić and Father Giorgio, assembled in the graveyard to finally put an end to Jure Grando. They dug up his grave, opened his coffin, and found that he was a well preserved corpse, which was smiling, and not the rotted and decayed body he should have been after all of those years. Father Giorgio said some prayers over the corpse, hoping to make it stop its predations, and one of the villagers tried to puncture its heart with a stake of hawthorn, a famed method of destroying a vampire. Unfortunately, the stake wasn't able to pierce his flesh.

After more prayers, one of the villagers, Stipan Milašić, attempted to decapitate the vampire, using either an ax or a saw. The corpse bled profusely as the blade cut into its flesh, and the vampire screamed out in rage and pain. However, once decapitated, that was the end of Jure Grando, and he never harmed anyone in the village ever again. His final resting place is currently unknown, and there isn't any marker in the local graveyard to indicate where he was buried. 

Jure Grando was the first person described in European historical records as a vampire. Although Vlad Dracula existed during the 15th century, about 200 years before Jure Grando, Dracula wasn't ever mentioned as a vampire until Bram Stoker's novel in 1897. The tale of Jure Grando was first written about seventeen years after his decapitation. The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola (Slava vojvodine Kranjske), written by Janez Vajkard Valvasor, was published in 1689 in Germany. This work was an encyclopedia, consisting of four volumes, that described the travels of Janez, including his visit to Kringa, and the vampire tale of Jure Grando. Janez also mentioned that Kringa was a market village where there was always "more wine than water."

Some of the superstitious beliefs of the Istrian people were also mentioned in this book. For example, "The people of the Istrian countryside are firmly convinced that sorcerers suck the blood of children. This sucker of blood they call 'strigon' or 'vedavec'. They believe that after his death a 'strigon' wanders about the village around midnight, knocking at, or striking, doors and that someone will die within days in the house whose doors he has struck. And if someone dies during this period, the peasants insist that the 'strigon' has eaten him. Even worse is the belief of these gullible peasants that the wandering 'strigoni' furtively creep into their beds and sleep with their wives without ever letting out a single word."  

Other books over the years would reference the tale of Jure Grando as well, including Letters on Truths in Popular Superstition by Herbert Mayo, which was published in 1848. Interestingly, this book was one of those used by Bram Stoker in his research for his novel Dracula. As Jure Grando was decapitated at his end, the character Jonathan Harker used a Kukri knife to decapitate Dracula at the end of the novel. Jure Grando and Dracula shared the same fate.

There was also an article that appeared in November 1856 in the Chamber's Repository which also related a story about Jure Grando. It stated, "The widow Grando also complained that she was tormented by the spirit of her husband, who night after night threw her into a deep sleep with the object of sucking her blood." And as for the death of the vampire, "A hawthorn stake was brought forward, and as often as they strove to drive it through the body the sharpened wood rebounded, and it was not until one of the number sprang into the grave and cut off the vampire's head that the evil spirit departed with a loud shriek and a contortion of the limbs."

After a visit to Pula, we headed inland and stopped in Kringa for a brief visit. Unfortunately, it was a holiday so the village was very quiet, and everything was closed up. Almost no one could be seen on the village streets, almost as if the village was uninhabited, although that wasn't the case. There is a Jure Grando Museum but it was closed at the time of our visit. There are also four churches in tiny Kringa, including the Parish Church of St. Peter & Paul, the Church of St. Anne, the Church of St. Catherine, and the Church of St. Anthony the Hermit. I've read of a vampire-themed bar in Kringa, but I didn't see it while wandering the village and maybe it closed in the recent past. 

In August 2006, a plaque was installed on the outside of a school in Kringa, commemorating the villagers who destroyed the vampire Jure Grando. It's a small plaque, which many people might overlook, and the lettering has faded some so it's not as easy to read. It's also written in Croatian, so many tourists might not understand it. However, the term "vampiru" might stand out if you read the place closely. 

The plaque states that the villagers included: Prefect Miho Radetić, Stipan Milasic, Matej Hrvatin, Nikola I Jure Macina, Juraj Zuzic, Martin Udovivic, Nicola Krajsa, and a Pauline monk, Father Juraj I Nikola Nyena from Lupoglav. It also states, in a rough translation, that "at the local cemetery" they "confronted the vampire Juri Grando and freed Kringa forever" from "nocturnal attacks" as "evidenced by the record of Johan Weikard Valvasor."

The story of Jure Grando is fascinating, and it was cool to get to visit the village at the center of that tale. Istria is a compelling destination, and this was but one of the highlights of my visit to this region, and I'll be writing plenty more about Istria in the near future. 

Georgian Chacha: The Devil's Brandy

In the legends of the country of Georgia, wine was a gift from God while chacha, a pomace brandy, was a creation of the devil.

It's said that God created wine to remind Georgians of the wonders of heaven, and he first shared wine with all of his angels, as well as the devil. Though they all enjoyed the wine, it motivated the devil to try to compete with God and create his own alcoholic beverage. The devil created chacha, a potent spirit, and let God sample the fiery beverage. God finally declared that if Georgians drank three glasses or less of chacha, they remained with him, but if they had a fourth glass, they belonged to the devil.

As Georgians love to drink, they came up with a way to avoid falling under the influence of the devil. They simply drink chacha rapidly, in quick shots, so the devil won't be able to keep track and count how much they actually drank.

Chacha is a Georgian pomace brandy, similar in many respects of Italian grappa, though it is sometimes called Georgian "vodka." Pomace consists of the leftover skins, pulp, and seeds from the winemaking process. The origins of chacha are murky, with some claims that it has existed for about 1000 years in Georgia. It was commonly made in makeshift stills at homes and generally wasn't commercially produced until the 20th century. It is potent, often with a 40-60% ABV, and sometimes is aged in qvevri or oak barrels. For centuries, it has been claimed that chacha has medicinal properties, a remedy for a long list of ailments.

Chacha is still very much a niche spirit outside of Georgia. During the period of January to July 2018, Georgia exported only 219,500 bottles of chacha, though that was a 114% increase over the similar period a year before. Chacha is available in Massachusetts, and you'll find some single-varietal versions, such as Saperavi and Rkatsiteli. At a recent Georgian business event, I had the opportunity to taste my first chacha, and I hope to taste many more in the future.

The Askaneli Brothers Premium Chacha (about $22) is produced by a company with roots extending back to 1880, though its modern existence started around 1998. They own vineyards in the regions of Kakheti and Guria, producing wine and chacha. Made in the Kakheti region, this chacha matured in oak barrels for at least 12 months, and is filtered, which accounts for its colorless nature. With a 45% ABV, this chacha has an intriguing floral aroma and was surprising smooth and mild on the palate, with only a minor alcoholic bite. It possessed pleasant and more subtle flavors of hazelnut and citrus with floral accents. It was elegant, with a fairly long finish, and is definitely a very good value at this price. It is certainly not harsh like I've found in some similarly priced grappas. A hearty recommendation.

Have you tasted chacha before? What were your thoughts? Do you have any recommendations?

The Tipsy Sensei Returns!

Nate Randall, the Tipsy Sensei, is back and facing terrible Kaiju, gigantic monsters that bear some resemblance to beasts like Godzilla and Ghidorah.

The Tipsy Sensei is the name of my fictional series of supernatural thrillers which feature Sake-expert Nate Randall who faces off against a variety of supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore. At his side is his friend, Hato, an immortal Samurai and a master of the katana, bow and other weapons. Currently, the Tipsy Sensei series consists of four short stories and three novels, with more forthcoming. And the Tipsy Sensei has now expanded from fiction to the gaming world.

A new role-playing game has just been released, Tiny Frontiers: Mecha and Monsters, which was created by game-designer Alan Bahr. With a minimalistic set of rules, you can pit giant robots against mighty monsters. As an example, think of the movie Pacific Rim. It is a fun game that is easy to learn, and is appropriate for all ages. A number of other writers were invited to contribute to this role-playing game, to create a variety of settings for the game. I was fortunate to have been chosen for inclusion, and one of my contributions is a setting that includes the Tipsy Sensei!

In my last novel, Halloween Nightmare At Fenway, Nate and Hato faced off against Doctor Toshio Yagi and Major Zannin Iwafuku, who were onryō, vengeful ghosts that wanted to replay World War II. As an alternate future history, I used these same villains and their goals to create a setting, Hyakki Yagyō, for the Tiny Frontiers game. Out of the mists of Japanese mythology, Doctor Yagi and Major Iwafuku were able to use potent magic to summon a myriad of Kaiju to the Earth, trying to destroy those countries which defeated Japan during WWII. In response, the U.S. and its allies created the Steelnecks, powerful Mecha which they hope to counter the Kaiju. And Nate Randall might be the turning point in this epic battle.

What will happen next? That is up to you as you can role-play many different scenarios and endings. In addition, you'll find eighteen other settings for the Mecha and Monsters game, providing a wealth of diversity. Plus, I wrote a second setting for this game called Mecha Chef.  Consider Iron Chef but where giant robots must first hunt down their ingredients, huge Kaiju, and then create a special dish from their flesh.

Check out Tiny Frontiers: Mecha and Monsters and experience the Tipsy Sensei's new adventures.

Halloween Nightmare At Fenway: The Tipsy Sensei Returns

Will the Boston Red Sox defeat the St. Louis Cardinals and win the World Series or will a supernatural terrorist act bring death and chaos instead?

For four months, since the brutal murder of his beloved wife and son, Nate Randall, the Tipsy Sensei, has been in mourning at a lake house in New Hampshire. Hato, an immortal samurai and Nate's friend, convinces him to return to Boston, to investigate a new supernatural threat, one with its origins in the darker aspects of World War II. Soon enough, Nate and Hato find themselves facing a terrible threat which is connected to the dead and has no compunction at torturing and murdering innocents.

As they struggle to unravel the mystery behind a series of horrific crimes, Nate and Hato face some of their most dangerous foes ever, including a master swordsman who could even be more skilled than Hato. Due to these perils, Nate and Hato recruit Detective Jessica Mayer to assist in their investigations.

Eventually, their investigation leads them to the historic Fenway Park, during the World Series, which may be the target of the threat. Can Nate, Hato and Jessica prevent their supernatural enemies from launching what could be greatest terrorist act on American soil? And even if Nate, Hato and Jessica can succeed, what will be the cost?

The Tipsy Sensei series continues in a new novel, Halloween Nightmare At Fenway, that is now available as an e-book on Amazon and it will be available as a trade paperback later this month. Prior to reading Halloween Nightmare At Fenway, you might want to read the prior two Tipsy Sensei novels: Demons, Gods & Sake and Hand Fed Tigers.

I'll also note some of the restaurants mentioned in this new novel, including Bergamot, Dumpling Café, JM Curley, Oishii, Painted Burro, Posto, South End Buttery,  Taberna de Haro, Taranta, and Tasting Counter. 

Kanpai and I hope you enjoy my new novel, Halloween Nightmare At Fenway.

Hand Fed Tigers & A Contest

Hand Fed Tigers, the new Tipsy Sensei novel, is now available as an ebook, with a trade paperback due out later this month.

Zombies, Cats & Ninjas.

This new novel takes place directly after the events of Demons, Gods & Sake, as Nate and Hato return to Boston, hoping for a respite from all the dangers they recently faced. Nate wants to reconnect with his wife, angry after being kidnapped by ruthless yakuza. In addition, the police want Nate so he must handle that problem too.

As they return to Boston, they find that a series of "zombie" murders are occurring in Boston, and there might be a legal connection between the victims. Are these supernatural zombies, or is there a more rational, scientific explanation? And how will the police stop the killings?

As Nate ponders the zombie problem, he is unaware that a mysterious organization is seeking him and have retained the services of a skilled ninja to kidnap him. Why do they want Nate? And how far are they willing to go to get him?

And how are cats involved in all of this? From cat prostitutes to a Japanese island of cats, there is a feline presence throughout the novel. Should Nate fear this presence? Will he feel the razor-honed claws of a cat?

The Tipsy Sensei series continues with a more personal challenge for Nate. Assisted by Hato, a master swordsman, Nate must confront deadly adversaries who will stop at nothing to acquire their objective. What price will Nate pay to defeat them?

CONTEST

In honor of the ebook release of Hand Fed Tigers, I am holding a contest where I will give away three copies of my new book. All you have to do is answer one question: What does the Japanese word "neko" mean?

Please post your answer in a comment to this post. On Wednesday, November 6, at 10am, the contest will end and I will randomly draw 3 names from all those who provided the correct answer. Those 3 people will each win an ebook copy of Hand Fed Tigers.

Good luck!

Hand Fed Tigers (Tipsy Sensei #5) & Special Price on Demons, Gods & Sake

The Tipsy Sensei series continues in a new novel that will be available this upcoming week through Amazon as an ebook, and later this month as a trade paperback. Hand Fed Tigers is the 5th installment of the Tipsy Sensei series and it involves zombies, ninjas & cats.

After defeating supernatural Oni, ruthless Yakuza and a Master Assassin in Japan, Nate Randall and Hato return to Boston, hoping for a respite from danger. Nate also hopes to reconnect with his wife, though aware that she is going to be furious after having been kidnapped. In addition, the police still seek Nate so he needs to resolve that situation as well.

As he tries to handle those issues, a series of zombie murders, which may or may not have a supernatural origin, terrify the city. What is the connection of the victims, which includes several people connected to the legal profession?

As Nate ponders the zombie killings, he is unaware that a mysterious organization is seeking him and have retained the services of a ninja to kidnap him. Why do they want Nate? And how far are they willing to go to get him? And how are cats involved in all of this?

The Tipsy Sensei series continues with a more personal challenge for Nate, a Sake expert based in Boston. Accompanied by Hato, a master swordsman, Nate must confront deadly adversaries who will stop at nothing to acquire their objective. What price will Nate pay to defeat them?

Hand Fed Tigers should be available as an ebook on Monday or Tuesday.

I'll also note some of the restaurants mentioned in this new novel, including Painted Burro, Posto, Bristol Lounge, Clam Box of Ipswich, Bergamot, Tampopo, AKA Bistro, and Taberna de Haro, I've also mentioned a few restaurants from Portland, Oregon, including Pok Pok, Miho Izakaya,and Zilla Sake.

Prior to reading Hand Fed Tigers, you might want to start with Demons, Gods and Sake (Tipsy Sensei #4). This was the first Tipsy Sensei novel and introduced Hato, the immortal samurai, who protects Nate. In this book, Nate must protect an ancient artifact of great power which is being sought by supernatural oni, a ruthless yakuza clan and a master assassin. The action ranges from Boston to Japan, and it currently has nine 5-Star reviews on Amazon.

With the imminent release of Hand Fed Tigers, I am offering the ebook of Demons, Gods & Sake at a special discount from Sunday, November 3, through Tuesday, November 5. As part of the Kindle Countdown Deal, Demons, Gods & Sake will initially be available on Sunday for 50% off, at $1.99. During the discount period, that price will eventually rise to $2.99 and then back to its original price. So, for the best deal, make sure to pick up a copy on Sunday.

Kanpai!

New England Authors Expo: Book Sale & The Tipsy Sensei

Would you like to meet me and obtain signed copies of my two Tipsy Sensei books? Would you also like the opportunity to meet other local authors and check out their books?

If so, then you should attend a special Book Sale being held by the New England Authors Expo on Wednesday, July 31, from 4pm-9pm, at the Danversport Yacht Club. The Expo is FREE to the public and the first 100 attendees will also get a FREE gift bag.

The Expo's Book Sale will consist of numerous New England authors, illustrators, publishers, writer's groups, schools, associated businesses and sponsors. It is an excellent place to buy books and gifts, meet many authors and artists, and discuss book writing, illustrating and printing with dozens of publishing professionals.

For a list of all the participating authors, illustrators and more, please check out this Book Sale site.

I will be at the Expo selling paperback copies of The Tipsy Sensei & Others ($13) and Demons, Gods & Sake ($15). If you purchase copies of both books, it will only cost you $25.00. And as a special bonus, I will give my blog readers an additional $2.00 off their purchase. All you have to do for this discount is tell me you saw it mentioned on my blog.

The Tipsy Sensei & Others is a collection of nine food, wine and Sake short stories, including the first three stories in the Tipsy Sensei series. Demons, Gods & Sake is a novel and the fourth installment of the Tipsy Sensei series. I am currently working on Hand Fed Tigers, the next novel in the Tipsy Sensei saga.

Come see me, purchase copies of my books and chat about Sake, writing, Japanese legends, and more. Plus, check out all of the other local authors at the Expo, and pick up plenty of books to read over the summer, whether on the beach or within your air-conditioned house.

The Expo takes place at the Danversport Yacht Club, The Harborview Ballroom, 161 Elliott Street (Rte. 62), Danvers, MA 01923.

I hope to see you there!

The Tipsy Sensei & Others. And A Contest!

This month is the First Year Anniversary of the publication of my first short story, Yurine's Pot, the beginning of the Tipsy Sensei series. Since then, I have published two more short stories and a novel in the Tipsy Sensei series. I am also pleased to publish this month my second paperback book, The Tipsy Sensei & Others, my new collection of nine food, wine and Sake short stories. It is available through Amazon as a Trade Paperback and an Ebook. I hope to conduct some local signings of the paperback and will announce them on my blog once they are scheduled.

The nine short stories contained within this volume range from romance to mystery, fantasy to thriller. It collects together the first three Tipsy Sensei stories as well as adds a new story centered on a popular character from Demons, Gods & Sake. You will also find five other food and wine stories.

The collection contains:

Yurine's Pot (Tipsy Sensei #1): Nate Randall is a Sake expert in Boston and his son is dying from cancer. Nate receives an ancient, magical item that allegedly can cure any illness. Others desire that item as well, and may be willing to kill for it. Can Nate save his son, and if so, at what cost?

The Ghost Of A Ninja (Tipsy Sensei #2): Several thieves have been slain under mysterious circumstances. Is the ghost of a ninja responsible? Nate is asked to help a friend who is worried that he will be murdered next. Can Nate solve this mystery and save the life of his friend?

The Fox & The Katana (Tipsy Sensei #3): Nate has been approached by a kitsune, a fox spirit, who wants Nate to murder her mate. She claims that her mate is a remorseless and sadistic killer who has slain innocents across the U.S. Can Nate kill this kitsune? Or is Nate being set up, a pawn in some intricate scheme?

Forest of the Ox Demon: A brand new story featuring Hato, a popular character from Demons, Gods & Sake, the first Tipsy Sensei novel. This is a historical tale of medieval Japan, exploring Hato's mysterious past, and involves ninjas, brigands and a supernatural creature.

You Had Me At Foie: A tale of romance, a bond formed over a delicious dish of foie gras.

Feast For A Killer: What would you do if an assassin showed up on your doorstep to kill your spouse?

The Perfect Wine: An obsessed wine lover seeks a legendary perfect wine. Can such a wine exist? And if so, what price would you pay to drink such a wine?

The Veil Of Flowers: A geeky and unusual story, told from the viewpoint of a yeast in a barrel of Sherry.

The Passwords: A more traditional mystery, where a man must decipher an enigmatic letter to provide justice for a murdered friend. The key to the cipher involves wine.

Check out my latest book and please understand that you can read this book even if you do not own a Kindle. You can download a Free App for your computer or smart phone that will allow you to read any Kindle ebook.

While you read The Tipsy Sensei & Others, I will be working on Nate's next supernatural adventure, Hand-Fed Tigers (Tipsy Sensei #5). Could it involve zombies and cats?

Now, on to my Anniversary Contest. This is a picture of Jessica, Courtney & Laura, some new fans of Demons, Gods & Sake. The photo gave me an idea, to collect pictures of other fans holding a copy of any of my books. I have decided to make it contest with a cool prize.

The contest will run from now until midnight, April 5, 2013. To enter, just send me a picture of yourself holding one of my books. If you only have an ebook, just send me a picture with your ebook reader showing the cover of one of my books. You will get an extra entry if the picture is of my latest book, The Tipsy Sensei & Others. You can also earn up to four extra entries if your picture is especially creative, which I will determine at my discretion.

The Grand Prize will be that I will immortalize you as a character in the next Tipsy Sensei novel, Hand-Fed Tigers. The character will bear your name and might also share some of your interests and personality. We will work together on the details. You will also receive a copy of the paperback version of Hand-Fed Tigers.  At least two Runner-Ups will also receive copies of the ebook of Hand-Fed Tigers when it is ultimately released.

So start taking your picture with the Tipsy Sensei!

Signing Event For Demons, Gods & Sake: Feb.2

Have you read my Boston-based, supernatural thriller yet?

As I previously mentioned, my new novel, Demons, Gods & Sake is now available as a Trade Paperback through Amazon. The Trade Paperback is 252 pages long and sells for $14.95. This novel is the fourth installment of the Tipsy Sensei series, the adventures of Nate Randall, a Sake Expert from Boston. The novel is also available as an Ebook and the prior three Tipsy Sensei short stories are available as Ebooks too.

Demons, Gods and Sake can now be found at three bookstores, The Book Oasis in Stoneham, Bestsellers Cafe in Medford, and Pandemonium in Central Square, Cambridge as well as the AKA Bistro restaurant in Lincoln. I am hoping to make it available in a few other local and independent book stores in the near future. If any restaurants, book stores or other businesses would like to stock my new novel and/or do a book signing, please contact me.

On Saturday, February 2, from 2pm-3:30pm, I will be presiding at an author event and signing my novel at Bestsellers Cafe in Medford. So come on down, meet me and pick up a copy of my book. I will be answering questions about my book as well as any Sake questions people have. Pick up a copy for yourself or get one for the book lovers in your life.

Hope you see you at my author event and signing!

Signing Event For Demons, Gods & Sake: Dec.16

Have you read my thrilling supernatural thriller yet?

As I previously mentioned, my new novel, Demons, Gods & Sake is now available as a Trade Paperback through Amazon. The Trade Paperback is 252 pages long and sells for $14.95. This novel is the fourth installment of the Tipsy Sensei series, the adventures of Nate Randall, a Sake Expert from Boston. The novel is also available as an Ebook and the prior three Tipsy Sensei short stories are available as Ebooks too.

Demons, Gods and Sake can now be found at two bookstores, The Book Oasis in Stoneham and Bestsellers Cafe in Medford, as AKA Bistro restaurant in Lincoln. I am hoping to make it available in a few other local and independent book stores in the near future. If any restaurants, book stores or other businesses would like to stock my new novel and/or do a book signing, please contact me.

On December 16, from 3pm-4:30pm, I will be signing my novel at Bestsellers Cafe in Medford. So come on down, meet me and pick up a copy of my book. I will be answering questions about my book as well as any Sake questions people have. Pick up a copy for yourself or get one for a holiday gift for the book lovers in your life. Next year, on February 2, from 2pm-3:30pm, I will be doing a larger author event at Bestsellers Care, and we might even get to drink some Sake too.

Hope you see you at my book signing!

Demons, Gods & Sake: Paperback Edition Is Now Available

The Tipsy Sensei series continues in a new novel, Demons, Gods & Sake, which is the fourth installment in the adventures of Nate Randall, a Sake Expert from Boston. The novel is now available both as an Ebook as well as a Trade Paperback through Amazon. The Trade Paperback is 252 pages long and sells for $14.95. It will make an excellent holiday gift this season!

The stakes for Nate Randall, a Sake expert from Boston, couldn't be higher. Later this month, Demons, Gods & Sake will also be published as a Trade Paperback and I hope to do some local signings. As soon as it is available as a paperback, I will let everyone know.

Though I recommend that you read the first three stories in the Tipsy Sensei story before reading this novel, it is not a necessity. It is a self-contained story, describing the main events of the prior three stories. Please also understand that you can read the ebook of this novel even if you do not own a Kindle. You can download a Free App for your computer or smart phone that will allow you to read Kindle ebooks.

Here is a brief teaser about the contents of Demons, Gods & Sake:

To the Japanese, the number 4 is considered unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is also the word for death. In Tipsy Sensei #4, there is much death and the entire world faces a dire threat.

Two months ago, Nate Randall, a Sake expert, received an enigmatic phone call warning him that an Oni, a Japanese demon, might be in Boston. After having previously encountered other supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, Nate had little trouble believing that a demon could threaten Boston.

Now, his fears have come true. A formidable Oni is in Boston, seeking an ancient weapon of power and willing to kill anyone in its way. This weapon might be a legendary sword, the Doji-Giri Yasutsuna, once used to kill the great Oni Shuten-doji.

Nate faces other dangers too, as the Oni is not the only party seeking the weapon. A ruthless Yakuza clan is also involved. Nate soon finds himself being pursued by these enemies as he might possess the key to locating this magical artifact. Nate receives assistance from a mysterious ally, but can he be trusted? And what secrets is that ally concealing?

In his previous adventures, the stakes were on a relatively minor scale. This time, the fate of the world might depend on Nate's actions. Can Nate prevent his enemies from acquiring this powerful weapon? What will he have to sacrifice to prevent his enemies from winning?

The action spans the globe, from Boston to Japan, introducing new characters and bringing back others connected to previous stories in the Tipsy Sensei series. The stakes have never been higher, the action has never been more exciting, and the twists have never been more intriguing.

Check out this latest installment in the thrilling Tipsy Sensei urban fantasy series. While you read Tipsy Sensei #4, I'll be working on Nate's next supernatural adventure.

Demons, Gods & Sake (Tipsy Sensei #4) Is Now Available

The Tipsy Sensei series continues in a new novel that is now available through Amazon as an Ebook. Demons, Gods & Sake is the 4th installment of the Tipsy Sensei series and the stakes for Nate Randall, a Sake expert from Boston, couldn't be higher. Later this month, Demons, Gods & Sake will also be published as a Trade Paperback and I hope to do some local signings. As soon as it is available as a paperback, I will let everyone know.

Though I recommend that you read the first three stories in the Tipsy Sensei story before reading this novel, it is not a necessity. It is a self-contained story, describing the main events of the prior three stories. Please also understand that you can read this novel even if you do not own a Kindle. You can download a Free App for your computer or smart phone that will allow you to read Kindle ebooks.

Here is a brief teaser about the contents of Demons, Gods & Sake:

To the Japanese, the number 4 is considered unlucky because it is sometimes pronounced shi, which is also the word for death. In Tipsy Sensei #4, there is much death and the entire world faces a dire threat.

Two months ago, Nate Randall, a Sake expert, received an enigmatic phone call warning him that an Oni, a Japanese demon, might be in Boston. After having previously encountered other supernatural creatures from Japanese folklore, Nate had little trouble believing that a demon could threaten Boston.

Now, his fears have come true. A formidable Oni is in Boston, seeking an ancient weapon of power and willing to kill anyone in its way. This weapon might be a legendary sword, the Doji-Giri Yasutsuna, once used to kill the great Oni Shuten-doji.

Nate faces other dangers too, as the Oni is not the only party seeking the weapon. A ruthless Yakuza clan is also involved. Nate soon finds himself being pursued by these enemies as he might possess the key to locating this magical artifact. Nate receives assistance from a mysterious ally, but can he be trusted? And what secrets is that ally concealing?

In his previous adventures, the stakes were on a relatively minor scale. This time, the fate of the world might depend on Nate's actions. Can Nate prevent his enemies from acquiring this powerful weapon? What will he have to sacrifice to prevent his enemies from winning?

The action spans the globe, from Boston to Japan, introducing new characters and bringing back others connected to previous stories in the Tipsy Sensei series. The stakes have never been higher, the action has never been more exciting, and the twists have never been more intriguing.

Check out this latest installment in the thrilling Tipsy Sensei urban fantasy series. While you read Tipsy Sensei #4, I'll be working on Nate's next supernatural adventure.

Yurine's Pot: A New Sake Short Story

If your son was dying of cancer, what would you do to save him?

I have taken a big step, self-publishing a new short story for the Kindle. I have always loved writing fiction, and have previously posted five of my food & wine related tales on my blog. I have written plenty of other fiction that has yet to be posted anywhere. It is time to take the next step, to start publishing my work and the advent of the e-book has made that more accessible. So this story is a pioneer, blazing a path for me which I hope will lead to a better realm.

The tale, Yurine's Pot, is a modern fantasy, revolving around an ancient Japanese legend about Sake. A father, whose son is dying of cancer, may have discovered a mystical cure but others are willing to kill for it. Is the legend real or is the father merely deluding himself? What is the father willing to sacrifice to save his son?

This short story is now available HERE and will be Free on Saturday and Sunday, before reverting back to its $0.99 price.

I hope that you enjoy this short story, and if you do, please leave a review on Amazon as well as leave me a comment here on my blog. If you have any constructive criticism, I would love to hear that as well. If this story is well received, it could be the first of more Sake-centric short stories.

Kanpai!

O-toso Sake For The New Year

Raise a sakazuki of o-toso and toast Oshogatsu, the New Year.

About 130 years ago, after adopting the Gregorian calendar, Japan began celebrating New Year’s Day on January 1. One of the numerous Japanese customs surrounding this holiday involves sharing glasses of o-toso, a special herbal steeped sake. The term "toso" literally means “to kill or defeat an evil spirit.”  O-toso is supposed to protect people from disease and promote long life, defeating the "evil spirits" which might harm someone. And you don't necessarily even have to drink it to garner its positive benefits. There is an old saying that if a single family member drinks some o-toso, then everyone in that family will be protected against illness. That sounds good but can be even better, for if every family member drinks some o-toso, then their entire village will be protected against illness. So the more people drinking o-toso the better it is for all.

Like sake itself, o-toso originated in China, sometime between the 2nd and 3rd centuries. A famous Chinese physician, Dr. Hua Tuo, who was skilled in surgery, anesthesia, acupuncture, and herbal medicine, is thought to be the inventor of o-toso. Hua added a special mixture of herbs to some sake to create an herbal medicine, o-toso. That was not his only alcohol-related invention for he also created another concoction called mafeisan ("cannabis boiling powder"), which was an  anesthetic and created through mixing herbs with alcohol, maybe also sake.

It would not be until around the 9th century that o-toso started being being found in Japan and it was first only available to the nobility. Over time, it would slowly spread to the common people as well, which makes sense considering the history of sake during those centuries. It appears that o-toso first became associated with the New Year during the Edo period, when pharmacies started giving out the o-toso herb mixture, called tososan, to their patients as an o-seibo, a year-end gift. At home, the patients could soak the tososan in some sake, and then drink the sake, hoping that it would give them good health in the New Year.

It is thought that the original tososan mixture consisted of eight herbs, including cinnamon bark, rhubarb, sanshou (Japanese pepper), and less common items like kikyou (platycodi radix) and okera (atractylodis rhizome). This mixture has changed over time, and it is now common to find tososan in Japan made from apiaceae, asiasari radix, atractylodes Japonica, Chinese bellflower, cinnamon, dried ginger, rhubarb and sanshou. You will also find other mixtures using a different combination of herbs. In Japan, there are numerous stores where you can purchase the tososan mixture to take home and mix into your sake. In the U.S., it is tougher to find, but you can find it at some Japanese grocery stores.

Different regions of Japan have developed their own o-toso drinking rituals, but one form seems to have become most dominant. There are supposed to be three o-toso cups, which resemble sakazuki, and they are of different sizes, so that they stack well together, one atop the other. The o-toso is poured from a vessel resembling a teapot and you are supposed to drink, while facing east, from the smallest cup to the largest.

There is some variation as to who drinks first in the household. In some regions of Japan, the head of the household will drink first while in other regions, the youngest member of the family will drink first, ending with the oldest member. It is felt that this progression will assist in passing youth onto the older members, though there may be a darker reason as well. There is allegedly an ancient Chinese tradition that young people would test drinks for their elders, to determine if the drink contained poison or not. So, if the o-toso were poisoned, you would not lose one of the revered elders.

In another older tradition, there appears to be different types of o-toso, though I had difficulty finding detailed information on these other types. The first, and smallest cup, is made with the usual tososan mixture but the second and third cups are prepared instead with mixtures called byakusan and toshōsan. Byakusan may be made with herbs and bits of meat and it is unclear what toshōsan contains. It seems that over time, the custom has become simpler, using only the tososan.

So raise a glass of o-toso and say "Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu." (Happy New Year!)

Shojo & White Sake

If you are wicked, then beware of white sake as it may poison you!

I previously discussed the tanuki, a legendary Japanese creature which loves to drink sake yet the tanuki is not the only supernatural creature in Japanese folklore which loves this delicious brew. The shojo is a Japanese sea spirit with long scarlet hair, red skin and a pronounced love for sake. In addition, the shojo possess magical powers which often seem to involve sake. The legend of the shojo actually has a Chinese origin, where they were called sheng sheng or xing xing. The term "shojo" translates as “heavy drinker” or “orangutan,” and sometimes is used as slang to refer to someone who really enjoys to drink.

In one Chinese legend, there was a young man named Kofu, a sake merchant who was also very dutiful to his parents. One of Kofu's new customers consumed vast amounts of sake yet never seemed to get drunk. When Kofu inquired of him, the customer stated that he was a shojo who lived under the sea. So, one day Kofu went to the shore, bearing a large pot of sake, and waited for the shojo to arrive. When he did, they spent time drinking and dancing and afterwards the shojo, who really liked Kofu especially because of his filial piety, rewarded him with a special pot of sake, which never emptied. This legend would later become the subject of a Japanese Noh play, a form of classical musical drama.

There is also a Japanese legend about events that allegedly occurred about 2000 years, when Mount Fuji  supposedly over night. Yurine, a poor man who lived nearby, loved sake and drank it almost every day. On the day after Mount Fuji appeared, Yurine got sick and could not drink his sake. Over time, he only got worse and finally decided he needed one final cup of sake before he died so he asked his young son, Koyuri, to procure some for him. But there was no sake in the house and they had no money so Koyuri was unsure what to do.

Koyuri took an empty gourd and wandered the beach, with no specific destination in mind. Fortunately for him, he eventually came upon a couple shojo, though Koyuri did not know it then, who were drinking an intriguing white sake from a large jar beside them. Koyuri pleaded for some sake for his ill father and they let him fill his gourd. Not only did Yurine love the sake, but it also seemed to make him feel better. So Koyuri returned to the beach four more times for sake and his father recuperated from his illness. But there was still a problem, a bitter and unpleasant neighbor named Mamikiko who loved sake but was poor.

He was jealous of Koyuri's sake and demanded some from the young boy. Yet when he tasted it, he quickly spit it out as he thought it tasted terrible, which puzzled Koyuri. Mamikiko then demanded that the boy take him to the source of the sake, which he did. The shojo let Mamikiko take some of the white sake and Mamikiko was initially very impressed with its aroma. But when he tasted it, he spit it out again because it had  a foul taste. The shojo then revealed their true identity, stating that their sake was sacred and could not only cure any disease but also granted long life.

But there was a catch, as not everyone who drank the sake benefited from it. Only those who were good and righteous gained the benefits while those who were wicked and evil found only a poison. Mamikiko panicked as he did not want to die, and started begging for forgiveness and stating he would repent and become a good person. The shojo believed that he was sincere and gave him a powder to counteract the poison. Mamikiko was true to his word and became a good man, making friends with Yurine. They eventually became partners, brewing white sake from a recipe given by the shojo, and both lived for 300 years.

So, it appears that those who are good people will most benefit from their encounters with shojo, and it certainly helps if you love sake. What sake lover wouldn't want a never-ending jar of sake, or a sake that granted long life? Ah, if only the legends were true.

As an aside, what is the nature of the shojo's "white sake?" It is unclear from the legend and I have not been able to find any definitive answers. It seems likely that it might simply be nigori, "cloudy" sake which contains sake lees and often has a whitish color. During that time frame, basically all sake was nigori, though the white color varied in intensity. The most ancient term for white sake may be nerizake, where "neri" means "to knead."  It seems that it was not until around the Heian era (794-1192 AD) that sake started to be separated from the lees, being placed into bags and squeezed to acquire just the juice.

A later term for white sake, which originated some time prior to the Heian era, was shiroki.  This was a special sake meant to be consumed by the Emperor and used in certain religious rituals, a type of sacred sake known as omiki. That would not be the same as the shojo's white sake, though it too was sacred. In the 17th century, another type of "white sake" was created, shirozake. It was created by the founder of the Toshimaya brewery, who claimed to have gotten the idea from a dream. Though white in color, it is not actually a sake but is a drink made from rice, koji and shochu. It is very sweet and the brewery still exists, continuing to make shirozake.

I haven't heard any recent reports of shojo sightings though.  Kanpai!

The Animal That Loves Saké

Which animal allegedly loves Saké but purchases it with fake money?

In the photo above, the animal that resembles a raccoon is a Tanuki. In Japanese folklore, Tanuki are mischievous shape-shifters with supernatural powers. They can transform into anything, whether living or inanimate, but their usual forms are monks and tea kettles. Supposedly, they place special leaves on their heads and chant before they can transform themselves into a different form. Some legends claim the leaves are from the sacred lotus plant of Buddhism.

Besides their shape-shifting ability, they can also cast powerful illusions on other items. For example, they can make leaves appear to be money, or even make dung look like delicious food. So definitely beware if dining with a Tanuki. As Tanuki most often inhabit forests and wooded area, their main targets for their mischieveous pranks are hunters and woodsmen. But they could play tricks on anyone entering their territory.

Tanuki statues, like above, are very common in Japan, especially outside restaurants and bars, where they beckon to people to enter those establishments. These Tanuki are most often depicted with a large stomach, over-sized testicles, a straw hat, a flask of Saké and a promissory note. Tanuki are supposed to love Saké and in the legends that often buy it with fake money, leaves they have cast an illusion upon.

The Tanuki is also considered a sign of good luck, and possesses eight traits that reflect this fact. On the Saké bottle they carry is often written the Hatchi symbol, which means "eight." The eight traits include: a hat to protect against trouble or bad weather; big eyes to see what is around them and help make wise decisions; a Saké bottle that represents virtue; a big tail that provides steadiness and strength; over-sized testicles that symbolize financial luck; a promissory note representing trust and confidence; a big belly symbolizing bold and calm decisiveness and a friendly smile.

The Tanuki is more than just a legend. It is actually a real animal, but it is not a raccoon or badger. It is a type of dog that can grow to up to 60cm in length and has distinctive stripes of black fur under its eyes. Tanuki are native to Japan, southeastern Siberia and Manchuria, and they live in the lowlands, forests and mountain valleys. They probably though don't really drink Saké.