Ariella Moon's Blog, page 45

Sophie Turner a Spell Check Lookalike?

As emails from cover artist Amanda Matthews reached me in Wales, I watched with delight as the cover art for Spell Check, Book 1: The Teen Wytche Saga unfolded. Amanda's depiction of Evie O'Reilly, my teen protagonist, was quite different from my own mental image of Evie. But the face on the cover of Spell Check reminded me of someone. I just couldn't figure out who.

Distracted by fairy forests, grand manor homes, and royal palaces that appeared to have sprung from the sea, I never did solve the mystery. Back home in southern California, my attention was split between the nation's largest wildfire raging a few miles from my home, and the release of my second Young Adult novel, Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga. 

An email from a close friend finally solved the mystery. Marhya wrote asking me if I had noticed the keen resemblance between the girl on the Spell Check cover and Sophie Turner, the actress who plays Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones.


There are other photos that do a much better job of highlighting the resemblance, but I went with this one because it was free to reproduce under Creative Commons. But those of you who watch the show, will agree Marhya was right. Perhaps Sophie Turner modeled before she landed the series.


What do you think? Lookalike, or no?
~Ariella Moon

Lisa Orchard Hosts Ariella Moon

Lisa Orchard, author of the The Super Spies series for teens and tweens, spotlights Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga, on her blog today. Hmm...spies and witches. Lisa, maybe we should collaborate!

Lisa has a wonderful site. Hope you'll stop by!

http://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/ariella-moon-introduces-her-new-release-to-us/

July's Full Moon

Blessing Moon
Monday, July 22, 2013Moon enters Aquarius at 2:07 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time
World cultures named each month’s full moon as a way to track the passing year. July’s harvests and storms gave rise to many names: Blessing Moon, Thunder Moon, Hay Moon, Full Buck Moon, Mead Moon, and Ripe Corn Moon.
The July moon is a good time to reflect upon the blessings in your life and to see the magic in all you have accomplished.
~Ariella Moon 

God is Dog Spelled Backward..

For awhile, when you pulled up Spell Struck on Barnes and Noble's Nook Books site, it was shown with Michael Ellerbe's book, Dog is God Spelled Backward. Now, the link shows Spell Struck and Spell Check, Books 1 & 2: The Teen Wytche Saga. 

Good news for me, but Miss Gracie is quite unhappy. Perhaps this morning's monsoon severed her spell link. Hmmm...



http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Spell-Struck-by-Ariella-Moon?store=ebook&keyword=Spell+Struck+by+Ariella+Moon

Mountain Fire Reaches 25% Containment

Clouds shrouded the San Jacinto mountains this morning, fostering hope that rain would help stem the Mountain Fire. By late afternoon the clouds had burned off, revealing much smaller plumes of smoke and no flames on the Palm Springs side of the range.


As the sun set earlier this evening, planes continued to fly over the fire dropping orange fire retardant. 3500 fire fighter battle the blaze. Today's favorable weather helped them reach 25% containment. Rain likely tomorrow.

Feeling safer. Back to work writing book 3 of Teen Wytche Saga.
~Ariella Moon

Amy Mullen Spotlights Spell Struck

Amy Mullen, New York author of A Stormy Knight, features Spell Struck on her blog today. Hope you'll stop by! I love to hear from readers, so comment if you'd like.




Amy and I share a publisher, Astraea Press, and the fabulous Amanda Matthews designed both of our covers.

Thank you Amy!
~Ariella Moon

Mountain Fire Spreads

Mountain Fire, Day 5The nation's top priority fire rages a scant few miles away. Today was the first day ash and soot didn't rain down upon my home, and breathing was a little easier. Winds are strong and fickle in these parts. They, the steep and rugged terrain, and the triple digit heat that remains in the 80s overnight, make this fire difficult to contain. 

On the best of days, desert residents stay indoors to avoid the summer heat. After sunset, heat still radiates around me. A neighbor watching the blaze on the sidewalk beside me says, "It's too hot out here. I'm sweating. I'm going inside." I can't imagine how the firefighters manage with their 45 pounds of gear, working in the belly of the dragon.



Like all the residents in the towns and cities threatened by the fire, I am grateful for the brave, hard-working men and women - 3,000 strong - fighting the blaze. Stay safe and good luck. ~Ariella Moon

Jennifer Rae Gravely Spotlights Spell Struck

Big thanks to author Jennifer Rae Gravely (Knight of the Dead), for spotlighting Spell Struck on her beautiful blog today! Hope you'll stop by and leave a comment.
http://jenniferraegravely.blogspot.com


~Ariella Moon

10 Fun Facts About Ariella Moon

Earlier this week, 50 Astraea Press authors, including me, participated in a marathon Facebook Fan Fest. One of the highlights for me was reading each author's 10 Fun Facts. In case you missed it, here are mine:

                                         
                                                      Photo by Charlie Stinchcomb

Little Known Facts1.     I’m tiny. Bigger than Tinkerbelle. Taller than the Seven Dwarves. But eye-to-eye with middle school students.2.     I’m allergic to cats. So, of course, they adore me.3.     I won a national essay contest in the 6th grade.4.     I know a teacup Chihuahua named Nano and a Dachshund named Elphaba.5.     I once worked a J.K. Rowling book signing. She was very nice. J6.     I used to kidnap my daughter from school (okay, I’d lie and say she had an “appointment”) so we could see the first showing of the Harry Potter movie. 7.     I grew up on Moon Drive.8.      I’m a shaman and an author, so chances are, if you need me, I’m in another realm.9.     I once worked as a psychic on a police case.10.  If you ask me to do math, I will cry.

~Ariella Moon

Spell Check and Spell Struck, Books 1 & 2, The Teen Wytche Saga

Astraea Press http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=25881125 Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Spell+Struck+by+Ariella+Moon&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3ASpell+Struck+by+Ariella+Moon
Barnes and Noblehttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Spell-Struck-by-Ariella-Moon?store=ebook&keyword=Spell+Struck+by+Ariella+Moon

Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga Releases Today

What if the one person who saw through your lies and loved you, harbored a secret that could cost you everything?
Of course my internet crashed on Spell Struck's release day, and the huge wildfire near my home continues to spew ash everywhere. Cars send up billowing clouds of the stuff, like Pig Pen in the old Charlie Brown comics. 
Despite these complications, Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga, released as planned. Yay! Here's a little bit about it:
Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga
Goth outcast, Salem Miller, believes her love spell failed until Aidan Cooper arrives at Jefferson High. When he chooses her over the popular girls, Salem knows magic brought him. But can she summon enough wizardry to save her sister? Salem fears Amy’s next suicide attempt will succeed. Magic brought Aidan. Maybe it can cure Amy. Salem’s last hope lies hidden within a damaged grimoire, nearly destroyed by a wrongful love spell. Was her rightful love spell enough to restore it?
Newest Jefferson High transplant, Aidan Cooper, doesn't expect to be attracted to a goth. Then he realizes Salem is throwing a glamour—pretending to be something she’s not. Guess it takes one to know one, since his whole life has been a lie. But if his kidnappers discover he's broken their No Attachments rule, he'll never see Salem again. Worse, he’s terrified they’ll harm her when they discover she possesses the ancient grimoire. To protect Salem, Aidan must destroy the grimoire, and escape his captors.
While Salem races to unlock the Get Well Spell, Aidan scrambles to overcome his past. With their star-crossed paths at odds, will time run out for both of them?

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Spell+Struck+by+Ariella+Moon&rh=n%3A283155%2Ck%3ASpell+Struck+by+Ariella+Moon

Spell Check, Book 1: The Teen Wytche Saga


Two girls, One guy, and a Spell Book. What could possibly go wrong?
Spell Check has a fabulous new cover! At Astraea Press and Amazon, the e-book version of is on sale for 99 cents! I'm sure Barnes and Noble will soon follow. The sale is limited. In case you are new to the series, here's a bit about Spell Check:
Ever since Evie’s photojournalist dad died, paralyzing fear prevents her from picking up a camera. If Evie can’t pull it together soon, she’ll lose her position as Yearbook Photo Editor and suffer academic failure. Even worse, Evie will lose Jordan, her secret crush, if she can’t stop her supposed friend, Parvani, from casting a love spell on him. Despite a falling out, Evie never forgot Jordan. Now they are lab partners, and the chemistry between them definitely sparks. Soon the moon will be in the optimum phase for magic. Parvani possesses a brimstone-hissing spell book. To save Jordan, Evie must join forces with Salem, the school Goth. The clock is ticking. Can Evie get her mojo back in time to check this spell?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Spell+check+by+Ariella+Moon