All Things Faerie

During this writing adventure, I’ve had a lot of fun researching the fantastic world of Faeries.

It’s been wonderful discovering everyone’s unique views on these mystical creatures. There are countless legends and an amazing quantity of Faerie stories out there. Some people call them fairies. I prefer to use the term Faerie—it’s simply a matter of style and taste; I’m no authority. I also have a very distinct view of what Faeries look like, what they can do, and how they act. So does everyone else.

I thought it would be fun to add a unique element to this blog for you. It’s an experiment, but I believe that it will add something very special for everyone.

On the right, you’ll notice I’ve posted a box called All Things Faerie. I’ll upload my own images, as well as images that are sent to me. I’m looking for photos, original art, or doodles that incite a feeling of Faerie lore or deep mystical emotion. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy—although FYI—I’m partial to nature. You’ll notice one of the images there is a photo of a Faerie Ring. I discovered that ring in my yard. It inspired me to write about Faeries. Here’s my post about it.

I’d love to hear what you think. And if you have an image you’d like uploaded, send it to onfallenwings @ gmail . com That’s it for today. I’m editing book two like crazy and preparing to start a detailed outline of book three soon. J

Thanks to the Boy on Privet Drive

Ten years ago, while visiting my in-laws in Southern Utah, I found four colorful books neatly placed on their piano. I picked one up and read the title: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. “They’re good books,” my father-in-law told me as I flipped to the first page. I was skeptical. Truthfully, I hadn’t read a page of a book for enjoyment’s sake since living in France. There, I was able to discover Dumas, Hugo, and Voltaire in their native languages. I had experienced rich description and a flow of writing that I never thought I would see again.

I flopped on the couch and started reading.

Before leaving their house, the next day, I had finished the first two books and borrowed years 3 and 4. I was hooked.

A lot has happened in the ten years since learning about the little boy wizard. The world has changed. I have changed. Through it all, I’m grateful to have experienced that wonderful series. I haven’t stopped reading because of it, and I still read The Deathly Hallows every few months, because I don’t want to forget.

It’s also been a lot of fun to follow the movies. Though they don’t equal the brilliance of the books, they’re a way for my younger children to experience Harry Potter with us. My kids scream at the scary parts and cheer for little Dobby. We had a Harry Potter marathon this week and laughed together and we lived the story all over again. Tomorrow night, at midnight, the last movie comes out. I’m a little sad.

As the experience closes, I must wonder: What’s next? Who has the great story to lift the world to a better place? I’m searching for that story.

In the meantime, thank you, Harry. Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you, Ms. Rowling for daring to dream and sharing your world with us.

WIP It!

After a 3-week reprieve from my Work In Progress, I’m back. I must say, it’s refreshing to see it again. Even though it needs a lot of work—I’ll repeat that: A LOT OF WORK—I’m enjoying seeing my characters again. There’s so much I had forgotten and much more that I can’t believe is on the pages—that’s a good thing.

During my time away from my WIP, I polished up On Fallen Wings, sent out a couple queries, researched, and took some time to think about where I want this story to go. In my head, I have four books, based on the current story and characters, outlined, making this a series. On paper, I have three books outlined.

I’ve noticed quite a few writers who create stories, titles, and even trilogy names before finishing, or even starting, their books. I’m jealous of that. While I’m good at planning, I’m horrible at names—I’m worse at naming books. It took so long for me to finally come up with On Fallen Wings that I’m struggling with a sequel title to match the tone. I’ve also thought of adding a series name to the titles, but the one I’ve chosen creates a huge dilemma—it gives too much away.

I’ve also thought a lot about the genre of my books. I originally wrote them as YA, with fantasy elements; however, the YA market seems to lean more toward current stories about high school kids experiencing paranormal or fantastic events—hence the name of the genre. While my characters are high school aged, they aren’t current. They don’t live in New York City, or attend the local High School, or didn’t just move to a new town; they live, breathe, and die in a place very far from what we know. My story is fantasy. It’s not high fantasy, it’s not epic, just fantasy. It’s about Faeries.

So, while my mind struggles with names and genres, I continue editing my WIP. Still unnamed, still needing work, and still needing a home, it keeps me occupied and engaged. I love this journey and, while I strain to solve some elemental problems about publishing, I’m still working hard, hoping to give you all a fantastic adventure to read soon.

In the meantime, I thought I would share a little link to an 80s band that didn’t do so much. They are the inspiration to the title of this post. Please enjoy the You Tube video by DEVO.

Go where you want, die where you must...

This is a poor copy of a photo I took in 1995 at Kaibab National Forest in Arizona. It was Memorial Day weekend, and this is what I woke up to. You can't see it, but to the far right is the Grand Canyon. I still remember every detail about the day I took this picture. It was magical and full of inspiration.

On my wall, I have a poster of the original photo. At the bottom of that poster, I inscribed an old French proverb: "Go where you want, die where you must."

In a way, this photo and the proverb are my motto.

I hope this post reaches you in good health and peace of mind. I hope it offers you a little inspiration. Life is wonderful. Find its beauty, then share it with your words.