Ariella Moon's Blog, page 46

Fairy Houses in Turkey?

Did fairies once reside in Turkey? Do they still? My friend Christine Hammond sent me this photo from Turkey. She has no idea why the locals call these fairy houses. Anyone out there have the answer?

I've just returned from Wales where fairies - good and bad - abound. The landscape is far different from Turkey. The fairy forests are lush with new growth. Moss drips from the trees forming little anthropomorphic heads. Dryads (tree spirits) watch with unblinking eyes, and tree tangles, mossy boulders, and waist-high ferns hide dark druid caves.



In swift-moving river gorges, bad fairies attract young, up-to-no-good venturers. Slick stones try to lure the foolhardy to premature death. The dryads and skull-like stone people silently warn you to move along.


In one pool, hidden deep in the forest, a dragon peeked out from behind the falls, and water fairies appearing as electric blue lights, clung to the edge of the water. Ah, Wales.

My new novel, Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga, releases July 18th. My To Do list is endless. But when the fairies send messages from across the globe, who am I to ignore them?
~Ariella Moon

Smoke Darkens the Sky Above Palm Springs

While slogging away at the manuscript for Book 3 in The Teen Wytche Saga, I noticed the sky outside my window had darkened and turned a peculiar shade. Further investigation (Miss Gracie and I opened a nearby sliding glass door and sniffed the air) confirmed the presence of smoke. LOTS of smoke.

Of course, we took a break and turned on the news. 33 mph winds were pushing smoke from a fire near Mountain Center our way. What to do? Miss Gracie still needed her evening walk. The sky continued to darken. We decided to go for it.

Heat radiated up from the sidewalk, even though the newscaster swore the high winds made the temperature feel cooler than it really was - 107 degrees. Miss Gracie refused to walk on the grass, which was much cooler than the sidewalk, but probably took more effort, given her short legs and "low undercarriage." We lasted about 15 minutes, clocking in far below our normal mile and a half.

Hopefully the fire fighters have better stamina. Darkness is falling fast. May they stay safe and wrestle this blaze under control soon.

~Ariella Moon

AP Fan Fest and Spell Struck Release

It's a super busy week at the Moon household. No time for jet lag after my 10 days researching an upcoming book set in Wales. Tomorrow marks my publisher's big Facebook Fan Fest. There is still time to enter the drawing for free giveaways, including many books (a copy of mine included!) and a Kindle Fire.

Hope you'll stop by!

Here's the link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/370292336405909/

Over 50 authors will answer fan questions, and prizes will be given away throughout the day. I'll be stopping by around 7:00 P.M. EDT (4:00 P.M. PST). Hope you have lots of questions for me. Just don't ask me to math!

On Thursday, the fabulous new cover for Spell Check will be revealed and its sequel, Spell Struck, will launch.

Like I said, busy week!
~Ariella Moon

At What Cost: J. Andersen

J Andersen tackles the difficult and often controversial subject of teen pregnancy in today's Author Spotlight. Welcome J. Andersen!


During her junior year, sixteen-year-old Maggie Reynolds expected to shop for prom dresses not maternity clothes. Now, instead of studying for the SATs, she’s reading, What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Maggie’s ‘Mother Dearest’ lives in fear that Maggie will somehow taint the family name, so Maggie can’t turn to her for help. Meanwhile, her father is oblivious to anything but his 9-9 job. And her boyfriend, Justin? She’s pretty sure he’ll stay by her side.While Maggie wrestles with her options, Justin offers a solution: abortion. It would solve all her problems quickly, easily, and effectively. And her parents would never know, which means they won’t throw her out and cut her off like they’d always threatened if she got herself knocked up. But an easy decision becomes difficult when Maggie’s aunt discovers her secret and sets out on a mission to stop the abortion, putting a kink in Maggie’s plan. Now Maggie must decide which choice she can live with: abortion or teenage motherhood. Either way, it’ll be a tough road to travel.Young Adult RONE finalist award and the USA Best Book Award finalist in Youth Issues
Excerpt“You’re pregnant?” It was a harsh half statement, half question punctuated with clenched teeth.“Wha—?” Maggie was too shocked to realize what had happened, but when she looked back to where she stood, she spotted a sheepish looking Lauren mouthing the words, “I’msorry.”“Ugh.”“Well, are you?” His grip on her tightened.“Justin, you’re hurting my arm.”He let go and motioned for her to sit with a quick thrust of his hand toward the table, but his eyes revealed his anger. He was furious, but then she saw a hint of fear hidden behind his golden irises. In those moments, she was five years old again, the day she’d broken her mother’s favorite vase. Her mother had loomed over her, drilling her for information. Pointed and yelled. This time, it was Justin.“Are you, or aren’t you?” His eyes crinkled, his brow furrowed, and a deep crease appeared on his forehead. Trying to control his reactions proved to be impossible, and soon, his leg bounced under the table, and he wiped the nervous sweat on his palms off on his jeans.This still wasn’t the place to talk. The cement walls of the school were beginning to feel like a jail cell; anywhere she went, Maggie felt trapped.“Can we talk about this after school?” Maggie said, trying to be assertive.His knuckles turned white as he clenched his fists. “No, we can’t. If you’re pregnant, I need to know.”This wasn’t how she had pictured it. She was supposed to plan the conversation and the place. Definitely not in the corner of the cafeteria with people walking by who might hear her secret, a secret she hadn’t decided how to handle. Thank you so much, Lauren!Justin grabbed her wrists from across the table. “Maggie, it’s a simple yes or no question. Are. You. Pregnant?”She could feel the rage rolling off him in waves, and she knew stalling was not an option.“Yes.”The silence grew louder, and Justin didn’t move. He stared at her, his eyes shifting across her eyes in a quick staccato. She didn’t know she could feel so uncomfortable, so she tried to ease that discomfort by looking away. When she met his gaze again, he glared at her, not saying a word. He never spoke. Not when he let go of her wrists, not when he got up from the seat across from her, not when he left the room.

At What Cost is available at
Amazon:http://www.amazon.com/At-What-Cost-ebook/dp/B008BEDPPO/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1345589010&sr=1-1&keywords=at+what+cost"

Barnes and Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/at-what-cost-j-andersen/1111557851?ean=2940014771320

Astraea Presshttp://astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/id=12328251
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 Jessie Andersen lives in a small town in Western New York with her husband and three kids. A former English teacher, she now spends her time writing while the kids are at school and the baby is sleeping. She volunteers at the local library and sings in the church band. You can find information about her books at ”http://jandersenbooks.com 
and you can follow her blog at http://Readbetweenthelinesbookclub.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/jandersenbooks

Miss Gracie Makes a Stand

Miss Gracie is sick of the manuscript deadline and Spell Struck launch madness. Her demands are as follows:
1. Reinstate Toy Time.
2. Reinstate TV Time.
3. Reinstate Popcorn Night.
OR she will hop the next flight to SFO, join a coven, and never speak to Ms. Moon again.

Spell Struck,  Book Two in The Teen Wytche Saga By Ariella MoonRelease Date: July 18, 2013 Book Three in The Teen Wytche Saga will be available in December if Ms. Moon makes the deadlineStayed tuned, and watch the airports for Miss Gracie!

Spell Struck, Book 2:The Teen Wytche Saga ~ Cover Art Complete!

I just got my first glimpse of the final cover art for Spell Struck, Book 2: The Teen Wytche Saga. Artist Amanda Matthews, you rock! I am beyond happy! Next up: the revamped cover for Spell Check, Book 1: The Teen Wytche Saga. Big reveal for both on Spell Struck's release date, July 18th.

So who is on the cover of Spell Struck?

Hint: The mysterious newcomer brought to Jefferson High by a love spell, and the bewitching Goth Girl/Fledgling Wiccan who cast the spell.

What if the one person who saw through your lies and loved you,  harbored a secret that could cost you everything?
Spell Struck, Book 2:The Teen Wytche SagaByAriella Moon  Available July 18

Amy Mullen Writes about Love and Revenge in A Stormy Knight

When I heard Amy Mullen had written a novel set in 12th century England - the same era as my yet to be published Middle Grade fantasy - I was thrilled. Love the cover! Don't you? I suspect Amanda Mathews's handiwork. I'll reveal the covers she designed for my Teen Wytche Saga on July 18. Meanwhile, here's more about A Stormy Knight by Amy Mullen.



A Stormy Knight - By Amy Mullen
Will his love burn brighter than his need for revenge?Book Back Blurb:In twelfth century England, Gemma de Vere and Nicholas de Reymes find love at a young age. Too naïve to truly understand what is happening, their fledgling relationship is torn apart by political games and scheming minds. Nicholas and his family disappear into the night and Gemma is left with a shattered heart.
Seven years later, Gemma still harbors a broken heart, and retreats into a life in which she will not be foolish enough to fall in love again. Mysterious deaths and accidents begin to plague those living within the walls of Blackstone Castle, and her father falls ill. She has no choice but to seek the assistance of King Henry.
Help arrives in the form of her childhood love, the handsome and imposing Nicholas, who is now a fierce and loyal knight bent on revenge. The pain and anguish he feels over the fate of his family casts Gemma as his enemy. To him, she represents all the misfortune in his life as he tries to keep her at arm’s length and far away from his heart.
Their journey towards truth is riddled with treachery and danger from an unlikely source. Will they find their way back to each other, or will his need for revenge outweigh the love he feels in her arms?
Excerpt:

     "You defy me," he said as he spun around to face her, "and you do it at every opportunity. You have caused me great pain, and I will have no more of it. You lead my men astray and cause them to be weak. I cannot be lord with you undermining my authority within these walls!"      Gemma steadied her voice, her only option clear, "I shall leave then. I will go to my uncle in Wales. We shall remain married. There is nothing that can change that, so your hold on this land is secure. 'Tis all you care for. I once loved it here, but living with a man who does not know how to trust me is too much to bear."      "You are my wife, like it or hate it, and you will do as you are told! You will stay out of my way, and you will not step foot outside of the keep until I say so." His entire body was tense, his voice harsh.      "Nay," she said while lifting her chin, "I shall leave. What you do not know, Nicholas de Reymes, is that I love you."      He froze as she spoke but did not say anything.      "And because of that love" she continued, tears falling in earnest, "I can no longer abide this life. For the second time, loving you has been a mistake. My feelings betray me, and they anger you. I will be gone before I cause you more pain. I will take Isabel with me, and my father can come when he is up to travel. All I ask is you treat him well in my absence."      "You will do no such thing!" he said. "It makes no sense, and I will not have you telling me what you are going to do. You are my wife, and you will do as I say. I will keep you safe, and I cannot do that if you are not here."      "'Tis not up to you," she said, her voice low, "and you will not stop me. I love you, but I must be stronger than love. I realize now you feel I am the cause of all pain here. 'Tis only right I lift the burden and leave so all who reside here are safe." She abruptly left the room, unable to face him for a moment longer.

About The Author:
Amy Mullen is a freelance writer and romance author living in Corning, NY, with her husband, Patrick, two children, Rayna and Haylen, and an orange cat named Steve. Her first novel is a medieval romance titled “A Stormy Knight.”
Amy has been writing about love both lost and regained since she was old enough to have her first broken heart. Her love of history and her intermittent jaunts into amateur genealogy led her to a love affair with writing historical fiction. When not writing, she snaps pictures, enjoys the company of her children, and when time allows, loves to bury her nose in a good book.
Buy Links:
http://www.amazon.com/A-Stormy-Knight-ebook/dp/B00DLWNP1K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372172178&sr=1-1
http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=25047128

Build A Literary Community: Invite Readers to Participate

Today I'm happy to welcome guest host Barbara Millman Cole, an award-winning short story author, magazine columnist, editor, writing teacher, and creativity coach. The following article originally appeared in Author Entrepreneur Magazine, and is reprinted here with permission.

Scaffold Your Literary Life
Build a Literary Community: Invite Readers to ParticipateBy Barbara Millman Cole
“Heroes didn't leap tall buildings or stop bullets with an outstretched hand; they didn't wear boots and capes. They bled, and they bruised, and their superpowers were as simple as listening, or loving. Heroes were ordinary people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else's. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back.” 
― Jodi Picoult,  Second Glance
Reading this passage by Jodi Picoult causes our emotions to well, our thoughts to awaken, and our imaginations to travel deep into the story community she creates. Without blatantly asking us to join her, she pulls us in with her literary style. We pause a moment to ponder her subtle idea. In this short passage, she defines the act of building community as “people who knew that even if their own lives were impossibly knotted, they could untangle someone else’s. And maybe that one act could lead someone to rescue you right back.”  These words make us think about our own relationships to the people in our communities and how we forge relationships by giving of ourselves, in the simple hope that someone else will feel compelled to reach out for us in return.

 As authors, we aim to stir imagination, engage minds, and ultimately, invite our readers to participate in our work. Simply, in so doing, we hope to find and build our own literary community.

 When we are young, we are taught to include everyone in our games on the school playground. We are taught to find ways to make the game fun for all, and as children we readily alter the rules of our games to involve the whole group. We build our friendships by letting everyone participate and add to the game. As writers, we are charged with the same social duty – to bring our readers into the circle and let them play along with us as we construct our stories.

No matter our style, there is a community of readers thirsting to find and join us in our efforts to express our stories. We literally will build our literary communities by writing in a way that makes our readers feel they are partners in our work.

What do I mean by ‘partners in our work’? A good piece of writing mesmerizes its audience to such a degree they forget their own lives for the moment, leave their world, and enter into the world the writer creates. As authors, we strive to illicit audible gasps, awes, or sighs; physical sudden jerks, sharp pains, or sweet longings; and mental solutions, predictions or, vows in the hearts and minds of our audience. Swept by atmospheric tides, pulled into tumultuous eddies, or caught up in emotional currents purposely placed before them, the readers cannot help but choose to participate in what they are experiencing.

What better way to approach our writing projects than with this laudable aspect of artistry at the fore of our personal mindsets? How do we begin? By tapping into our own intuition, allowing ourselves to go deep into our own minds and hearts to discover what we want to impart as artists. If we ourselves are swept up, pulled, and caught by the tides, eddies, and currents of our own imagination, imagine how that will translate into our stories.

When we invite our audience into our stories, provide them with images, phrases, and metaphors that stimulate them to weave the story along with us, we allow our readers to be part of our work. Readers who feel fully engaged with our stories will become part of our literary community. As authors, we begin our novels, short stories, memoirs, plays, poems, and personal essays with the goal of inviting our readers to participate with the simple hope they will reach out to us and join our literary community in return.
Barbara Millman Cole is an award winning author of Short Literary Fiction, content editor, and creativity coach, who helps writers delve deep to discover their true meaning. Understand why you create so you know what to create. Contributing author of Creativity Coaching Success Stories and author of the forthcoming book, The Painted Woman and Other Short Stories, she can be reached at bmillmancole@sbcglobal.net. Find Barbara online at http://www.meetup.com/The-Writers-Place/.  ©2013 All rights reserved.

Elaine Cantrell Plunges into Romantic Fantasy with The Enchanted

Elaine Cantrell first came on my radar through her enchanting posts on the Astraea Press Authors' loop. When I discovered her heroine had one of my favorite magical names - Morgane - I had to know more! Whereas I had started out writing historicals then switched to contemporary YA with my Teen Wytche Saga, Elaine's writing career had the opposite trajectory. But I'll let her tell you about her switch from contemporary to historical writing. But first, here's an introduction to The Enchanted. 



The EnchantedBy Elaine Cantrell
Blurb: Forced by his father into a marriage he didn’t want, Prince Alan soon finds that his bride isn’t the sweet, submissive creature he expected. Morgane has the heart of a dragon and beauty beyond compare, but she isn’t thrilled about the marriage either. When black treachery threatens the kingdom, Morgane and Alan embark on a perilous journey that has an excellent chance of ending in failure and death for them and all their people.Excerpt:Morgane advanced on her enemy with deadly purpose.
"No!" Alan roared. "She has a knife."
Morgane tried to retreat, but it was too late. Aili's knife caught her in her thigh. Blood spurted as if from a fountain. Renweard was closer to her than Alan. His sword rose. Aili breathed her last as Morgane swayed and slipped to the floor.
Alan ran across the room and cradled her in his arms. In seconds he was coated with blood. "ʺWe must stop the bleeding!" he cried. "Where are the healers?"
ʺI will find one." Renweard left the room at a run with King Bowdyn right behind him.
Morgane's eyes fluttered open. "Your arms around me. No heaven can compare.ʺ
Alan pressed a kiss to her hair. "I love you, my brave Morgane."
Morgane sighed. "I could not let you face this battle alone.ʺ
Author’s Note:After spending most of the last ten years writing contemporary romance, I decided it was time for a change. So in the spring of 2012 I wrote my first romantic fantasy, The Enchanted. Several challenges immediately presented themselves. First, I knew that I didn't want the fantasy to overpower the romance which meant I'd have to balance my world building details with the romantic elements.

Challenge two was finding characters who'd fit into my newly created world. I didn't want plastic, stereotypical characters. I wanted real people with warts and human imperfections, people whose lives and problems would draw you in and make you care about them.

My third challenge was to craft a plot that included fantasy elements, yet at the same time allowed my characters to be in charge of their own destiny and in the process grow and change.

I'm pleased with the way it turned out. I enjoyed the experience so much I have another fantasy/sci fi romance in the wings waiting for December and its turn at publication. Given my new love affair with fantasy romance, will I write contemporary romance again? I sure will. I'm working on one right now, and I just love it. It will be my first full length romantic comedy.Author Links:http://www.elainecantrell.comhttp://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.comhttp://www.twitter.com/elainecantrellhttp://www.facebook.com/elainepcantrellThe Enchanted is sold at most online retail outlets.
Reviews:A sweet story, easy read, fairytale/fantasy/romance 5 stars. 
                                                   Teresa Cypher on AmazonA wonderful story that has swept into my heart. I will be remembering this one for a long time and reading it again.
                                                   Tifferz Book Reviews on Goodreads

Heather Gray on Writing Challenges

Heather Gray, author of Late for the Ball? and Mail Order Man is my guest host today. As I tackle the complexities of my YA series, The Teen Wytche Saga (Spell Check, and July release Spell Struck) I can identify with Heather's struggle to keep track of a growing cast of characters.
Welcome, Heather!

Writing:  Different Stories for Different DayWhat makes an author write so many different types of stories?  I can't speak for every writer out there, but I can tell you a little bit about me.
I'm boring.  I'm ordinary.  I live the same hum-drum life every day.  I never think outside the box.  NOT!
I don't want my life to be boring or ordinary.  That doesn't mean I need worldwide fame.  It just means I go out of my way to embrace and celebrate everything that life gives me.  Even when those terribly impossibly difficult things come up, I still look for something that I can grab onto and say, "I will be happy about this one thing today!"  I don't always ace the test, but I try.
So how does that translate to writing?
Sometimes I'm a little melancholy, a touch serious.  I'm contemplating the more difficult aspects of life, the pain we each encounter.  And I'm moved to write something that honors that part of my life story.
Then there are days when I can't help but laugh.  At everything.  The absurd.  The ridiculous.  Even the monotonous.  Those are the days I delve into a romantic comedy.  On a day when I want to find humor all around me, what's better than writing characters who make me laugh out loud?
Or suspense…Okay, I have to admit, I love to read suspense, but I'm not very good at writing it.  There's a LOT of skill (in my humble opinion) that goes into writing an edge-of-your-seat story, and I'm not there yet.  I'm still learning.  I hope one day to wake up in the mood for a magnificent mystery…and to be able to sit down and write it myself!
The first book I wrote, Mail Order Man, was a challenge.  It's an inspirational pioneer romance placed in Idaho Territory.  After having lived there for nine years and then moving to the east coast, I missed Idaho.  I've always enjoyed historical books, so I thought that would be a great place to start.  By the time I finished the book, I met other characters who simply had to have their own stories told, and so a series was born!  The second book, Just Dessert, will be out later this year.
One of the biggest challenges I've faced in writing a series is keeping my characters straight.  I have to keep a master list of every character I mention – what they look like, who they're affiliated with, what they do for a living and more.  I've started work on the third book in the series, and it's bind-boggling!  I accidentally gave someone red hair who I'd previously mentioned as being blonde, and one minor character ended up with a different husband in this book because I got her husband's name mixed up.  Good thing I have that list to check everything against!  Maybe not every reader will sit there and compare each book against the others…but I want to keep my characters straight.
While keeping those minor characters straight is sometimes tricky in a series, there are also some aspects of it that are so fun!  Have you ever read a book and fallen in love with a small character that you felt didn't get their due?  I have!  When working on a series, I get to take each of those minor characters and further develop them as the series goes on, even allowing some of those people to get books of their very own.  It's rewarding, and I love it!
My second release, Late for the Ball?, is a short story.  I had the most fun writing it.  I was given a prompt, and I just started clicking away at the keyboard.  Of course, once I completed the story, I had to go back and layer in different aspects.  Pesky little things like motivation, character growth, intrigue, and the occasional adjective.  I was able to develop this story in a unique way that I've not yet been able to do on a larger scale.  I learned something magnificent, though – I am capable – and I can't wait to do it again!
Thank you for stopping by and allowing me to be a part of your day—it's an honor I don't take lightly!


Back Cover Blurb :Fulfilling one's destiny has never been so…compelling.
Myra is cast aside by her parents, betrothed to a man she's never met, and forced into a life she never wanted. In the midst of it all, she finds herself strangely drawn into something she doesn't entirely understand.The earl is mocking, demanding and entirely unwilling to break the betrothal.  He speaks in riddles, but by night's end, one thing is clear: He is not who he seems.
Follow Myra into a world of intrigue and hidden meaning. Will she unravel the mystery before time runs out?

Excerpt :     As she reached the top of the ostentatious entrance, the Ateliers' butler announced her to the throng. "Lady Myra Sedulous." His voice rang out across the ballroom as she entered. Her name wasn't generally important enough to warrant a deluge of attention. However, being late as she was, more than the normal one or two heads twisted in her direction. Not accustomed to this amount of notice, she made her way over to the refreshments. Myra moved swiftly to avoid conversation but kept her pace unhurried. She effortlessly carried off the look of graceful purpose so many debutantes strived for but failed to capture.
     Myra was reaching for a glass of lemonade when a voice stilled her.     "You must be my betrothed." The words had the slightest accent. Myra tried but could not identify it.     Greek, perchance? If a man could sound both immovable and fluid at the same time, this man did. His voice was warm like a rich cup of chocolate yet chilly as the deepest days of winter. A thought flitted through her mind. Devour the chocolate or swear it off for life?     Myra turned to look at the man. Taller than any other at the ball, he was also broad-shouldered and fearsome in appearance. His hair was indeed darker than night. A deep olive color, his skin invited her to reach out and touch it. A shadow of growth covered his jaw, showing his utter disregard for the opinions of others. Determined to smile, she shifted her attention to his eyes and instead felt the corners of her mouth droop as their inky depths burned into her, making her feel transparent and bare. "And you are?" she asked, her voice quivering despite her best efforts to keep it steady.     The man had the gall to throw his head back and laugh. This was not, however, the laugh of a man meeting his betrothed for the first time. It sounded to Myra like the feral cry of a predatory animal. Surely prey about to be devoured could feel no less cornered than she did in that moment. "Why, I am the Earl of Allegory, of course. And you, my dear, are all mine."

Author Bio :Aside from her long-standing love affair with coffee, Heather’s greatest joys in life are her relationship with her Savior, her family, and writing.  Years ago, she decided it would be better to laugh than yell.  Heather carries that theme over into her writing where she strives to create characters that experience both the highs and lows of life and, through it all, find a way to love God, embrace each day, and laugh out loud right along with her.

Buy Links :Available in all electronic formats (for Kindle, Nook & other e-readers) for only 50¢ from Astraea Press.  http://astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/category=662245&id=24651949 

Where to Find Me :My Website – http://www.heathergraywriting.comMy Blog – http://www.heathergraywriting.com/blogFacebook – http://www.facebook.com/heathergraywritingTwitter – http://twitter.com/LaughDreamWriteGoodreads –  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4051662.Heather_Gray