Ariella Moon's Blog, page 6
April 5, 2022
The Cave Guardians of Iona
Travel The Two Realms: Iona, Scotland
Part Two
Captain Mark of theBirthe Marie
After tea and shortbread thins to warm us, we reversed course. Now heading against the wind, Captain Mark switched from sail to motor to propel us through the choppy blue-gray, green-tinged waves.
Eyeing the coast, a sinister sight skipped my pulse. Where two rocky hills almost met, stood the blackest of black caves. The downward point of a giant boulder wedged between the two hills stabbed the cave opening. Malevolent eyes set in a circular, seemingly disembodied face, stared at us from the cave’s dark maw.
Not a human face. Not an animal face. Something else.
What is it? I wondered, my knuckles whitening as I tightened my grip on the ship rail.
I had to find a way to include this frightening sight in The Viking Mist. Here is a brief excerpt from the published novel:
Barely visible in the mist-dimmed light, and hunched in the depression between two rocky peaks, nestled the blackest of black caves. ’Tis as I remember, Disa thought when she spied the long, narrow boulder wedged into the cave’s roof; its distinctive downward point, as pale and sharp as a dragon’s fang, impaled the darkness just inside the hollow’s inky maw.
Beneath the stone tooth, two glowing amber eyes popped open, piercing the impenetrable gloom.
Disa stiffened and held her breath.
The disembodied orbs scanned the calm sea within the island ring. Then, as if sensing her human presence, the predatory eyes narrowed and searched beyond the inner waters, halting to fasten their malevolent gaze upon her.
In the fixedness of that stare, the monster and years faded, and as though bewitched, Disa saw instead the half mad glare of the Norse slaver and the smear of blood across the man’s knuckles when he grabbed her wrist and little Bree’s arm. Fear stole the strength from Disa’s limbs, and the oars clattered at her feet as a silent scream rose from her core.
As we continued back to Iona, Captain Mark steered us into another quiet cove, where we encountered a giant boulder wedged between two cliffs. To the right of the gap, a naturally formed basalt staircase named "the Fairy Stairs," rises to nowhere. Magic is all around us!
In next Tuesday's Travel The Two Realms, we will explore Scotland's Loch Ness.Until then, stay kind and magical.
Copyright March 2022 by Ariella Moon
The Cave Guardians
Travel The Two Realms: Iona, Scotland
Part Two
Captain Mark of theBirthe Marie
After tea and shortbread thins to warm us, we reversed course. Now heading against the wind, Captain Mark switched from sail to motor to propel us through the choppy blue-gray, green-tinged waves.
Eyeing the coast, a sinister sight skipped my pulse. Where two rocky hills almost met, stood the blackest of black caves. The downward point of a giant boulder wedged between the two hills stabbed the cave opening. Malevolent eyes set in a circular, seemingly disembodied face, stared at us from the cave’s dark maw.
Not a human face. Not an animal face. Something else.
What is it? I wondered, my knuckles whitening as I tightened my grip on the ship rail.
I had to find a way to include this frightening sight in The Viking Mist. Here is a brief excerpt from the published novel:
Barely visible in the mist-dimmed light, and hunched in the depression between two rocky peaks, nestled the blackest of black caves. ’Tis as I remember, Disa thought when she spied the long, narrow boulder wedged into the cave’s roof; its distinctive downward point, as pale and sharp as a dragon’s fang, impaled the darkness just inside the hollow’s inky maw.
Beneath the stone tooth, two glowing amber eyes popped open, piercing the impenetrable gloom.
Disa stiffened and held her breath.
The disembodied orbs scanned the calm sea within the island ring. Then, as if sensing her human presence, the predatory eyes narrowed and searched beyond the inner waters, halting to fasten their malevolent gaze upon her.
In the fixedness of that stare, the monster and years faded, and as though bewitched, Disa saw instead the half mad glare of the Norse slaver and the smear of blood across the man’s knuckles when he grabbed her wrist and little Bree’s arm. Fear stole the strength from Disa’s limbs, and the oars clattered at her feet as a silent scream rose from her core.
As we continued back to Iona, Captain Mark steered us into another quiet cove, where we encountered a giant boulder wedged between two cliffs. To the right of the gap, a naturally formed basalt staircase named "the Fairy Stairs," rises to nowhere. Magic is all around us!
In next Tuesday's Travel The Two Realms, we will explore Scotland's Loch Ness.Until then, stay kind and magical.
Copyright March 2022 by Ariella Moon
March 29, 2022
The Fairy Cat of Iona
Travel the Two Realms: Iona, Scotland
Part One
Many see only the human realm.To them the second realm, inhabited by fairies and mythical beasts, goddesses and gods, sorceresses and wizards, is invisible. But if you steady your gaze on liminal spaces at just the right time, you'll discover the Two Realms coexist. One such place is Iona.
Iona, a small Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides, inspired I-shona (the sacred isle) in The Viking Mist. I confess, Iona's overwhelming association with Saint Columba and Celtic Christianity placed it low on my Must See list during my second research trip to Scotland. But how could I ignore a small island that was the also the target of Viking raids and the final resting place of Scottish and Viking kings?
Scot AnSgeulaichewww.ansgeulaiche.co.uk
Modern-day bard Scot AnSgeulaiche led our Celtic Spirit Journey. Scot and a few others from our small group were ahead of me the day we hiked to Iona's fairy mound. A cat crossed the path as one woman asked, "Do you think we will see any fairies?"
Scot pointed to the cat. "There's one."
Right. Being allergic to cats, I paid scant attention to the tabby. My daughter, however, stopped to pet the cat.
After we spent some time on the grassy fairy mound, the sun grew low in the sky, signaling the onset of dusk (gloaming), a liminal "between" time. The air chilled. Descending the mound, we again encountered the cat, which appeared to have been waiting for us. The fairy mound must have gifted me with the Sight, because now I noticed the cat's eyes were abnormally large and round, not at all as they had initially appeared. The cat's bright eyes now swirled with colors, magic, and mischief. Seeing my shock, the fairy feline grinned.
The encounter fostered within me a new understanding of the Fairy realm. It also gave birth to a new Two Realms character, Muirgen, a shape-shifting fairy cat. You will first meet Muirgen in The Viking Mist.
The coves and caves near Iona proved equally surprising and magical. I will tell you about them in next Tuesday's Travel The Two Realms, when a sailing adventure led to a scary paranormal discovery.
Until then, be kind and magical.
Copyright March 2022 Ariella MoonMarch 10, 2022
We Have A Giveaway Winner!
Thanks to everyone who entered The Viking Mist Giveaway!
Congratulations to the winner, Clemencio!
Clemencio, I have emailed you regarding your prize.
Please check your inbox.
I look forward to sending you your gift.
Happy reading, everyone!
#thevikingmist
March 1, 2022
March's Dark Moon: New Beginnings and an Exciting New Book!
New Moons mark new beginnings, making the March 2nd dark moon the ideal time to launch The Viking Mist. Besides, I could not resist the magical correspondences linked to this Pisces New Moon—casting a glamour, shape-shifting, and water magic—all vital elements in The Viking Mist, sequel to The Beltane Escape and The Amber Elixir, a Two Realms Arthurian companion novella .
At its core, The Viking Mist, is a time bending tale about fate, second chances, and healing old wounds. Halfling Talfryn has five days to navigate the world of lethal Cold Iron, locate the human mother he has never known, and recover a stolen elixir that could mask a murderer — a quest he cannot survive without Fenella’s aid. Will the Thaness of Thorburn honor their alliance, knowing the venture will jeopardize her freedom and second chance at love?
In this sequel to The Beltane Escape and The Amber Elixir, secrets abound, fates interweave, friendships fray, and no one is safe.
The Viking Mist Available NowThis ebook was so anxious to sail, it arrived a day early on AMAZON and Rakuten Kobo
February 2, 2022
Cover Reveal Day!
The Wait is Over!
I can finally reveal the gorgeous cover
Designer Amanda Matthews created for
The Viking Mist
Book 2, The Two Realms Trilogy
On Sale March 2nd!
Now is a great time to catch up on the Two Realms series.
The Beltane Escape, Book 1, The Two Realms Trilogy
Available in Paperback and for a limited time on Kindle Unlimited.
"Ms. Moon creates a magical world and a
complex cast of characters that leap right off the page!"
~ InD'Tale Magazine, Crowned Heart for Excellence review.
A noble more powerful than the king kidnaps Fenella, Thaness of Thorburn, to gain control of her strongholds. But he fears she is tainted with magic - power the Lady of the Lake needs to free herself from Merlin's spell. Fenella, lured back in time, has nine days to cross a dangerous world of magic, unshackle herself from a sorceress, and return to captivity before her kidnapper destroys all she holds dear.The Amber Elixir, A Companion Novella (Book 1.5)
"Ariella writes fantastic fantasy...This was a page turner, I didn't want to put the book down!"~Amazon Five Star Review
What if the Lady of the Lake was new on the job and pressured by opposing forces - Merlin and Morgan le Fay? The Amber Elixir plunges readers into a world of magic, forbidden romance, and intrigue, where fairies shape-shift, the new Lady of the Lake must prove her worthiness to win back a lost love, and Morgan le Fay seeks a spell that could alter the balance of power in the Two Realms.
Amazon Barnes & Noble
December 28, 2020
New Zoom Writing Lab on Point of View!
Presented by the Palm Springs Writer's Guild
January 15, 2021 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Pacific Time)
https://palmspringswritersguild.org/event-4071218
Whose head are we in?
Point of View (POV) is the lens through which your story is recorded. In this writing lab, we’ll discuss the main types of POV and their limitations and benefits. We will also examine using multiple points of view, and how to keep your reader oriented. You will discover which POV is best suited for your author’s voice. 
For Deep POV, a technique that can boost your writing to the next level, we will dive beneath a character's surface traits to explore what factors inform her/his perception and world view. You’ll discover how to use dialogue, inner monologues, style-shifting, and other techniques to reveal Deep POV.
Mastering POV and Deep POV will enhance your story and increase reader engagement!
To register or read more: https://palmspringswritersguild.org/event-4071218
October 30, 2020
3 Must-Read Witch Stories
October is the month of the Hag, the shadow side of the Wise Woman or Crone. In other words, October’s poster character is the stereotypical Witch. Rarely do we see a young witch, a kind, helpful witch, a male witch, or a beloved witch. Often absent during the Season of the Witch are stories told from the witch’s perspective. Below are three fabulous, magical books that pass my personal witches’ anti-defamation standard.
1. Room on the Broom
By Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Suitable for preschool to 2ndgrade, but adults will love this read aloud/read along book, too.
Currently #1 in Children’s Literature, Children’s Fantasy & Magic Books, and Children’s Halloween Books, Room on the Broom is a delightfully written and illustrated rhyming story of a generous witch and the animals that help her when the wind blows away her hat, bow, and wand.
2. The Girl Who Drank The Moon (Winner of the 2017 Newbery Medal)
By Kelly Barnhill
Suitable for grade levels 5-9, but young adults and adults will also love it.
Among its many accolades: Chosen as Best Book of 2016 by numerous libraries, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2016, A Publisher’s Weekly Best Book of 2016, and a 2017 BooklistYouth Editors’ Choice.
The Girl Who Drank the Moon is an enchanting tale with multiple, entwined plot lines that are threaded together with love, fantasy, wanting, magic, wonder, and tragedy. From the first plot twist, I fell in love with Barnhill’s imperfect, touching, and compelling characters. I eagerly anticipate reading her other books.
3. Wicked: Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years)
By Gregory Maguire
Maguire’s Wicked stunned my world. This origin story, a re-telling of L. Frank Baum’s classic Oz tale from the witch’s point of view, had me cheering first for the novel, then later for the Tony Award-winning musical it spawned. Time-tested, Wicked is the perfect backstory to see you through quarantine and beyond.
Ariella Moon is the award-winning author of the Teen Witch Saga, The Beltane Escape, The Amber Elixir, and "Covert Hearts," the Aspen Gold Readers' Choice Award for Best Romantic Short Story. Amazon
September 15, 2020
New ZOOM Writing Lab: "The Art and Science of Writing Winning Short Stories"
Palm Springs Writers Guild September Writing Lab:
“THE ART AND SCIENCE OF WRITING WINNING SHORT STORIES”
with author Ariella Moon
September 25, 2020 via Zoom
Palm Springs CA – The Palm Springs Writers Guild continues this season’s skill development Writing Labs with an interactive session highlighting the art and science of crafting short fiction. This ZOOM Writing Lab will be presented from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, Friday, September 25. Ariella Moon, author of numerous Young Adult Fantasy books and Covert Hearts, winner of an Aspen Gold Readers’ Choice award (Best Romantic Short Story), will conduct this lively and educational event.
Register for The Art & Science of Writing Winning Short Stories ($45 for Guild members, $90 for guests) at https://palmspringswritersguild.org/event-3970482/Registration. Limited space is available.
Ms. Moon recognizes that “the days when short stories were regulated to prestigious literary magazines ended with the rise of new reading platforms and indie publishing.” Platforms across traditional and digital sectors now offer boundless opportunities for writers, including flash fiction, novellas, and micro-stories. Her Writing Lab will examine how masters of short fiction reveal a character's essence and build emotion and address techniques including "mind the gaps" and Ernest Hemingway's iceberg theory. The lab offers hands-on opportunities to develop short fiction skills with an award-winning author.
The Palm Springs Writers Guild elevates and celebrates aspiring and seasoned writers throughout the Coachella Valley. The Guild supports and encourages those who write non-fiction and fiction, memoirs, and poetry with supportive critique groups, writing and publishing workshops, prestigious speakers, and a popular Book Fair. The Guild seeks to expand and enhance its community of writers with a variety of judged writing contests and a dynamic scholarship program for area students. For additional information on The Palm Springs Writers Guild visit: Visit: https://palmspringswritersguild.org/
September 4, 2020
Ariella Moon live interview on iHub radio!
Sunday, September 6, 2020
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pacific Time
Live Interview on iHub radio! Stick to the Script!
(Encore broadcasts throughout the week.) Listen at Stick to the Script.
I love being interviewed on live radio and podcasts! The challenge is to be quick-thinking, and to expect the unexpected (as happened with my live interview with Susun Weed). I am excited to be Steven Stewart's guest on his debut radio show, Stick to the Script!.
As part of iHub Radio's growing focus on the wealth of talent in the Coachella Valley, published author Steven Stewart brings together a great collection of authors, playwrights, screen writers and people associated with creating the words that inform and entertain our minds and exercise imaginations. Stick To The Script will include interviews that profile the diversity of scribes in the desert cities from best-sellers to those aspiring to write their first book. He looks forward to lively discussions with writers, actors, and other drama enthusiasts. You will also learn the challenges, the steps to achieving these works, and get to hear plenty of excerpts!
While in college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, Steven began his love for acting, drama, and the English playwrights. Shortly after graduation with an engineering degree, he attended the UCLA summer Film School, learning the art of filming and directing. Joining the Screen Actors Guild, Steven secured starring and supporting roles in many movies and T.V. shows. During this time, he created several unpublished literary works, including a novel, short stories, and a children’s’ animated book series.
A true renaissance man, Steven carved a career for himself as an engineer, builder, pilot, and apartment owner/manager. For the last few years, the writing of a column for a pilot’s magazine and a review of his older literary works has rekindled his passion for writing and drama. As a recent member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild, Steven has a novel in publication, a second on the way.
Join Steven Stewart live every Sunday from 6 to 7 pm Pacific on iHub Radio, with additional encore broadcasts throughout the week (check the schedule on this website).
