Isabelle Hardesty's Blog, page 3

Seattle Heat Wave and Lavender Fields

A few weeks ago,  we had a heat wave in the Pacific Northwest. Many people think that since I’m from Miami I am used to heat waves of over 100 degrees.

Well, not really. When I grew up in Miami, we had heat waves that would take temperatures into the 90’s. Rarely did it go into 100 degrees and up. Besides, most  homes have air conditioning in the South Florida area.

So, when my husband and I found out it was going to go up to 116 degrees Fahrenheit in Seattle, we both said, “Yeah. No.”

My husband planned the perfect cool get away for us! It was a family trip with our four-year old son and we were headed to the picturesque San Juan Island. It was supposed to only go up to 83 degrees! YES!

As we drove the hour to the ferry boat, we checked the temperature of San Juan Islands. The cool 83 degree forecasted weather had shifted to 91!

Despite the weather being almost ten degrees warmer than we expected, we were wise enough to remember to be thankful–thankful that it wasn’t 116 degrees!

One of the highlights of our time on the island was our visit to Pelindaba Lavender. It was fragrant, beautiful and  so serene. My son, husband and I enjoyed their lavender flavored ice cream. Yummy!

We got home later that night and were glad that it was cooler. Ahhhh.

Sometimes technology makes us feel like we can outsmart Mother Nature. We weren’t able to escape the heat wave, but we were able to get away to a cooler part of the scorching heatwave.

Isabelle Hardesty has always had a love of magic and nature and weaves this into her books.  Her favorite things include silly socks and yummy chocolate. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Hardesty is a Miami native and writes OWNVOICES work. Find her novel THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR on Amazon.

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Tulips in the Sun and Having Patience

Okay, okay. I’ve heard it before–we all have. You can’t rush something. Things happen in time. Well, I really wanted to rush my tulips.

I love flowers!  What can I say? I even feature them in my novel, THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR.

What happened next?

In March I gave a friend a flower pot with tulips and she sent me a photo of her tulips and they had several buds.  I thought, surely I had done something wrong. My tulips that I had in the sun didn’t have any buds.

I  then moved my smaller flower pot inside. I was so delighted when I saw the first bud! I felt so accomplished! Luckily my outdoor flower pot was too heavy for me to move. So it remained in the sun.

As the days passed, I would go outside and look at my tulips in sun with mixed emotions. I was glad their color was a rich green, and they looked so healthy, but they didn’t have any buds yet. What was taking them so long?

Well, to this day, my tulips in the sun have not bloomed, but they now have beautiful and healthy buds ready to open when they are truly ready. My plants are healthy and are even producing small bulbs near the soil! I have never seen this with tulips, before. What a joy!

Rushing my indoor tulips gave me one flower, but it was short lived.  My tulips have shown me to have more patience in my life.

Tulip time, not my time.

So, as this year continues to flow, I am more mindful allowing things to unfold in their time, not mine.

Thank you for reading!

All the best,

Isabelle

 

Want to see amazing tulip photos from Skagit Valley, Washington and learn more about this lovely flower? Visit https://tulipfestival.org/

The photo below is from my beautiful tulips in the sun. Photo credit: Isabelle Hardesty

 

Isabelle Hardesty has always had a love of magic and nature and weaves this into her books.  Her favorite things include silly socks and yummy chocolate. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Hardesty is a Miami native and writes OWNVOICES work. Find her novel THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR on Amazon.

The post Tulips in the Sun and Having Patience appeared first on Isabelle Hardesty.

Valentine’s Day, And a Batido Recipe Inspired by The Witch of Belle Fleur

Hello from the Pacific Northwest,Brrr! It’s been chilly here and at the same time warming up. I so look forward to the spring!

I know it’s cold, but do you know that batidos are easy to make? A batido is a milkshake! One of my favorite batidos is a mango batido, and I feature it in my book, The Witch of Belle Fleur, along with other yummies. It reminds me of my childhood.

Click here to get a Mango Batido Recipe from my blog. Let me know how you tweaked it to meet your taste and dietary needs. There are several milk and sweetener alternatives that I’ve included in the recipe.

As Valentine’s Day is around the corner, it seems that this year it’s all about self-care and appreciating loved ones and friends.

 

You are special.
You matter.
You are unique.
You are important.
You make a difference.
Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here are links to all my books. Have you read them yet?

The Witch of Belle Fleur 
Jade’s Awakening
Jade’s Descent  
Jade’s Paradox
The Delacourt Shapeshifter Trilogy Complete Boxset Books 1-3

Happy reading!

Best wishes,

Isabelle
www.IsabelleHardesty.com

 

Isabelle Hardesty has always had a love of magic and nature and weaves this into her books. Hardesty is an award winning art educator and is currently working on several creative projects. Her favorite things include Dragon Con, silly socks and yummy chocolate. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Hardesty is a Miami native and writes OWNVOICES work.

 

 

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The Witch of Belle Fleur on Kobo, Nook, Etsy, and Amazon

Hello from Mill Creek,

I am thankful for you! Thank you for being part of my journey as an author. I wish you all the best in your various projects you may have going on starting soon.

I now have my books on Kobo, Nook Etsy and Amazon! Check out these links! By the way, only Etsy has my limited author book box!

An Interview with a Witch, Juliette Mariana Fontaine

A fun Q & A with Juliette Mariana Fontaine. She’s the The Witch of Belle Fleur!

Q. What’s it like being a telenovela actress?

A. It’s crazy, fun and connects me to my aunt. We love watching them together.

Q. Who’s your BFF? Are you blushing?

A. No, I’m not blushing. My best friend is Victor.

Q. Where is your favorite place in the world? I assume you’d be there with your BFF.

A. Yes, he’s pretty much always with me, unless I’m on set or at home doing boring stuff. It would be the swamp. Don’t look so scared, you’d be surprised how relaxing and nice that place can be. It centers me.

Q. Well, that’s a lot to say about a place that gives me the creeps. Don’t the alligators and snake scare you?

A. I guess I have a way with animals, they don’t bother me at all. Don’t freak out, but I have a pet alligator, Heathcliff.

Q. Well, that’s a new one. Okay, last question. Belle Fleur was once called the most magical city in the US. So, I have to ask, do you believe in magic?

A. I mean, yeah, who doesn’t?

Q. Why are you laughing? It’s a serious question. Some of our readers want to know.

A. I thought you were going to ask questions about telenovelas and acting.

Q. Ok, I see the question makes you uncomfortable. How about this. If you could be a witch, would you?

A. Maybe, if it could make the world a better place.

 Grab your copy today!

Oh, here’s a new review for The Witch of Belle Fleur! Thank you, readers! Please keep these reviews coming! There are now 9 reviews for this book. I can’t wait to reach 10!

5.0 out of 5 stars   Wow – what a ride!

Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2020

“Just when I think I know what’s going to happen, I guess wrong, and go forward to read on in this roller coaster of witchcraft and excitement. What a really great read! So happy I was turned onto this writer – looking forward to reading more of her work!”

 Grab your copy of The Witch of Belle Fleur today!

AMAZON USA

AMAZON MEXICO

AMAZON CANADA

AMAZON UK 

AMAZO N AUSTRALIA YAY! The Witch of Belle Fleur & Midnight in Belle Fleur are

now both available on KOBO!  KOBO US

KOBO MEXICO

KOBO BRAZIL

KOBO CA

KOBO UK

KOBO AUSTRALIA

Here are links to all my books. Have you read them yet?

Why I went Live on Facebook and More!

Thank you for those of you who stopped by during my FB live on the 11th. Well, for the first few seconds, it was pretty daunting. All these thoughts raced through my brain. What would I do? What would I say? And then I relaxed. I made believe I was speaking to one reader, just one, who wanted to know about Juliette, Victor and the magical world in Belle Fleur. And then I went on and on for 47 minutes! LOL!

So, I guess I actually like going live on FB. Next stop will be Instagram, for all you Intagrammers out there!

Autumn YA Fantasy Book Giveaway & FB Live Event Oct. 11th

Are you ready for some autumn reading? Jump into  The Witch of Belle Fleur  and immerse yourself in Juliette’s world.

For Juliette, nature is part of her magic. Her favorite place in the world is the swamp. Its sounds, smells and views make her heart leap. Victor Hernandez, her drop-dead gorgeous best friend makes her heart leap, too.

The two of them discover that there is more than the love of the swamp between them as magic takes over both of their lives.

Magic is a way for Juliette to help her sick aunt. As she learns who she really is, magic becomes a two-sided force that scares her. She’s both Destroyer and Healer witch and fears that the Destroyer side is pulling her in, deeper and deeper.

Juliette grows in magic as it lifts her to new experiences in her life. It allows her to try new things and find her strength.

Magic is life. When she’s at death’s door, nature’s magic saves her, linking Juliette to a force greater than herself.

 Grab your copy today!

AMAZON

Join Me for a Facebook Live Q&A Event (Sunday) 10-11

3:00 Pacific / 6:00 Eastern

I’ll be talking about my new book, doing a live reading, and answering questions. Plus, two lucky commenters will win a free digital copy of THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR.

Join the event —-> https://www.facebook.com/IsabelleHardestyWriter

Happy reading!

Best wishes,

Isabelle

www.IsabelleHardesty.com

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October Book News and Review Copies Available!

Hello from Mill Creek,Happy October! I hope this new month finds you well. Even though I’m from Miami, I do like the cooler fall weather and fall colors!

What I’m thinking about!

I’m having so much fun writing Midnight in Belle Fleur. I love writing about strong female characters. Growing up, I had many moments in life when I wasn’t sure if I should own my strength.

When I doubted myself, I always had my siblings and mother to remind me of who I was. When we shrink from our strength, it doesn’t help anyone. I hope my books remind my wonderful readers of their strength.

Book Spotlight!

I was so thrilled when a reader said she saw The Witch of Belle Fleur in this fabulous article! 10 Witchy Reads for FallI am so pleased that my book is listed with these amazing witchy books! Thanks, Denise B. Young!

Sale / Promo info!

I had to share this new sale! This .99 cent sale is for the first books in both of my series. Get both The Witch of Belle Fleur and Jade’s Awakening for .99 cents each.

Please spread the word because these prices won’t last too long. The first book is about witches and the second is about fairies and shifters. Both are awesome fall reads and make lovely gifts!

Did you know….



Reviews are as easy as 1,2,3!

I will be happy to give a free ebook copy of The Witch of Belle Fleur to any reader on my newsletter who can complete an honest book review in the next 3 1/2 weeks.

If this sounds good, please respond to this email and I send you a free e-book copy. Thanks!

If writing a book review feels like writing a book report from high school, don’t fret! It’s as easy as 1,2,3.

1. Write one sentence and let others know if you liked the book.

2.  Write one sentence about your favorite character.

3. Would you recommend this book? How many stars will you give this book? Now, go to this link and add your review for The Witch of Belle Fleur.

If you’ve read some of my other books, click here to leave a review for them. Thank you, ROYAL REVIEWERS! 

Book Review Q&A:

Q: Should I write a summary/synopsis of the book?

A: No. This isn’t a book report for school so, relax. Also, readers don’t want any spoilers.

Q: I’m shy. Is there a way to leave an anonymous review?

A: Yes! On Amazon, go to the book review page and click on the  light blue bar at top. Now edit your name.

Done!

What it Means to Be A Witch – A Look into Juliette’s World – YA Fantasy Novel Own Voices #ownvoices

 

 

For Juliette, nature is part of her magic. Her favorite place in the world is the swamp. Its sounds, aroma, and views make her heart leap. Victor Hernandez, her drop-dead gorgeous best friend makes her heart leap, too.

The two of them discover that there is more than the love of the swamp between them as magic takes over both of their lives.

Magic is a way for Juliette to help her sick aunt. As she learns who she really is, magic becomes a two-sided force that scares her. She’s both Destroyer and Healer witch and fears that the Destroyer side is pulling her in, deeper and deeper.

She grows in magic as it lifts her to new experiences in her life. It allows her to try new things and find her strength.

Magic is life. When she’s at death’s door, nature’s magic saves her, linking her to a force greater than herself.

To read the first two chapters of The Witch of Belle Fleur for free, click here and go to the “Look Inside” feature above the book cover.

As always, thank you for stopping by!

Have a magical day!

 

 

Isabelle Hardesty is a writer of young adult fantasy.

She enjoys writing about characters who are like people you know and people you want to know.

Isabelle lives in Seattle with her husband and son. She loves being with her family, eating chocolate, and connecting with readers. When she is not writing, you can find her either researching for her next book or painting.

 

The post What it Means to Be A Witch – A Look into Juliette’s World – YA Fantasy Novel Own Voices #ownvoices appeared first on Isabelle Hardesty.

Summer and Finding Your Center

 

So much has happened since I wrote that popular blog post, Cheerio on my Mat, back in February.  I don’t have to walk you through what’s been going on in the world. We know all know, too well.

Instead this post is about how I’ve found my way back to my yoga mat in an entirely different way. Previously, my yoga class was in a group of people with an instructor. It was great, it was what I needed at that time.

Now, my yoga practice has evolved into using What’s App, Google Hangouts, and You Tube. Several weeks ago, my neighbor asked me if I’d like to join her and a few of her friends for virtual yoga.

Previously, I had asked my niece, who is a yoga instructor, if she could recommend a yoga instructor on You Tube. She recommended Adriene, but between writing, running after my toddler, and regular day-to-day activities, I had forgotten to follow up and actually get on the mat.

So this virtual class was exactly what I needed. I jumped in on day 14 of Adriene’s 30 Days of Yoga. It was great as I moved my body and took time to find my center. In two days, we begin again, at day one. I can’t wait!

Maybe it’s a virtual yoga class with a few other people. Maybe it’s something else that finds you. Whatever it is, let it find you.

Please email me at: isabellehardesty (@) gmail dot com with any questions or comments.

~Isabelle

Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:

How I Found My Publisher and Agent 

How do You Organize Your Bookshelf?

How to Use Twitter as a Resource for Writers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isabelle Hardesty is a writer of young adult fantasy.

She enjoys writing about characters who are like people you know and people you want to know.

Isabelle lives in Seattle with her husband and son. She loves being with her family, eating chocolate, and connecting with readers. When she is not writing, you can find her either researching for her next book or painting.

The post Summer and Finding Your Center appeared first on Isabelle Hardesty.