How Music Plays a Role in My Stories by Mary Morgan

I’ve often said music feeds my soul for creativity. It stirs the muse and my writing soars. Dragon Knight’s Ring was an emotional story for me. Since this was the last book in the Order of the Dragon Knights (my first series), I had to search for different types of music—ones that would be epic and convey the emotion of the final story.

Here's my playlist for Adam and Meggie’s from Dragon Knight’s Ring, and the other Dragon Knights along with the scene I was writing…

 

1. “A Celtic Lore” by Adrian von Ziegler, from the album The Celtic Collection. I listened to this song during the beginning of Adam and Meggie’s courtship. It was soft, hesitant—like both of them.

2. “Yearning Hearts” by David Arkenstone, from the album Celtic Book of Days.  Adam is desperately trying to find out what is bothering Meggie. He’s hoping to spark some memory of their past together by skipping stones across the river.

3. “King of the Woodlands” by Peter Gundry, from the album The Dream Weaver.  A meeting between the evil druid Lachlan and Meggie. Cannot say anything more. This song was perfect.

4. “The Witch’s Tale” by Peter Gundry, from the album The Lost Book of Fantasy. The druid, Lachlan is preparing and plotting his one last battle against the Dragon Knights. 

5. “The White Witch” by Peter Gundry, from the album The Lost Book of Fantasy. Adam’s journey to visit his home, Castle Leomhann. He’s unprepared for what he will find. 

6. “Circle of Life” by Adrian von Ziegler, from the album The Celtic Collection. I listened to this many times while writing the scene where Meggie’s memories are restored, and she greets Adam. 

7. “Storm Cry” by David Arkenstone, from the album The Celtic Book of Days. Adam’s quest to reach Meggie before the battle begins.

8. “Morrigan—Goddess of War” by Peter Gundry, from the album The Dream Weaver. A fitting song for the pre-battle between the Dragon Knights, Lachlan, and the Dark One.

9. “The Quest of Culwch” by David Arkenstone, from the album The Celtic Book of Days. I used several songs for the final battle, but constantly played this one until I knew I had poured out every detail.

10. “Ceridwen—The Potion of Knowledge” by Peter Gundry, from the album The Dream Weaver. My farewell song to the Dragon Knights. It starts slow and then builds to this powerful ending. Did I cry writing this ending? Aye! I sobbed buckets! The Dragon Knights dwelled within me for fifteen long years. 

Currently, the Wolves of Clan Sutherland (my third series) dominate most of time and thoughts. Usually, I turn to YouTube for my music selection. Here’s a brief sample: 

Nordic and Viking Music

YouTube: https://youtu.be/pm7QtSXNcno

I’m curious. Any writers out there who use music to aid in their writing? Do share!

 

Coffee, Tea or Cocktails?

 

By Maureen Bonatch 

 

I’ve always been a drinker. It started out with my love of Cherokee Red, and then progressed to Mountain Dew, to Diet Coke, and now, coffee. Or in the evening it’s often herbal tea. And always —water. I’m a huge water drinker. 

A drink can make or break my mood

Such as a good cup of coffee in the morning (vs no coffee in the morning—just think how that can impact your mood if you’re a coffee drinker!), or one to enjoy while visiting with friends and family. Or a glass of wine, or a sipper of tequila—you get my point. 

That’s why several of my series have a bar setting. The first with Destiny Calling and Not a Chance at the Last Call bar. Then, Grandma Must Die, featured a few visits to Switzer Land. It’s the perfect place to visit with friends, and make new ones. 

A Charmed Cocktail Cozy 

It only made sense to create my new charmed cocktail series with a bar setting. Night Moves may be one of the main settings, but some of the focus is on Marissa, my main character, striving to perfect her charmed cocktails and become a stellar witch mixologist. 

 I know, personally, I’ve had mixed drinks that taste like water, or wine that tastes like someone switched it with vinegar, but when you get that perfect drink (alcohol or not) it’s like a little piece of nirvana. At least for me it is. 

That’s Marissa’s talent. When she can make a fabulous charmed cocktail the results can be fabulous, but when she doesn’t quite hit the mark, the results can be anything but! And they might come with some surprising side effects, like her ability to communicate with her cat, Jasper. Along the way Marissa gets herself mixed up in amateur sleuthing to help solve some crimes, all while having a lot of fun and getting into all kinds of shenanigans. 

Want to learn more or preorder? Click right here.

Help Celebrate this New Series with a Giveaway

To kick off the new series, and new pen name, I’m hosting a giveaway for the Charmed Cocktail Series. Here’s all the details of how to enter to win:

 If you like cozy mysteries, cats, and mixed drinks (alcohol optional), then you'll love the Charmed Cocktail Cozy Mystery series from M. L. Bonatch! The first book, CURSES, COCKTAILS, AND CORPSES will be released as part of the WHEN THE CAT'S AWAY collection from Molly Fitz and other cozy mystery authors. Help celebrate this new series by entering this giveaway! Go here now to get all your chances to win: 

 Giveaway link - https://gleam.io/competitions/36N7M-m-l-bonatchs-charmed-cocktail-cozy-mystery- 

 What’s Your Drink of Choice?

Just a small-town girl, Maureen Bonatch leads a double life. She lives in a magical world as a novelist, and as a nurse leader in reality. Maureen’s first novella was a paranormal romance published when blogs were a new-fangled thing. She’s since changed her focus to writing paranormal cozy mysteries as M.L. Bonatch and urban fantasy as Maureen Bonatch. 

While she’s not busy writing or doing nurse-things, she’s a mom to her twin daughters, bicycling in the beautiful woods of PA with her hubby, doing the bidding of a feisty Shih Tzu, and dancing as much as possible. She believes music can be paired with every mood, laughter is contagious, and that caffeine and wine are essential for survival. 

Follow M.L. Bonatch all through cyberspace- she's new in town and can use some friends!

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When Secondary Characters Demand their Story by Mary Morgan

 

As a writer, I’m constantly surprised by the secondary characters in my stories. Often, they emerge silently through a scene. Yet their powerful presence does not go undetected by me or my readers, and they soon demand their own story. Let me expand further with one of my favorite secondary character who also became one of the greatest heroes I’ve written.

The Journey of a Fenian Warrior Leader… 

To understand this great warrior, Aidan Kerrigan, let me tell you about the world of the Fae…

I have always been fascinated with Celtic mythology, so it only made sense that I would develop and expand the world of the Fenian Fae Warriors. Theirs was a world rich in legends, colors, and senses. I’ve based my own fictional account on the legend of the Tuatha Dé Danann—one of the invasions of Ireland. They were known as the Shining Ones or the Fae. The Tuatha Dé Danann were defeated in two battles by the Milesians, whom historians and scholars alike agree were probably the first Gaels in Ireland. It was agreed that the new invaders (Milesians) and the Tuatha Dé Danann would each rule half of Ireland. Therefore, it was that Amergin of the Milesians chose that half of Ireland which lay above ground, leaving the Tuatha Dé Danann to retreat below. They were led underground by Manannán mac Lir, God of the Sea, who shielded them with an enchanted mist from mortal eyes. As time passed, they became known as the Sidhe (Shee), or Ireland’s faery folk. 

The great Aidan Kerrigan was a tale I feared to write. When he first appeared in the story, Dragon Knight’s Medallion, Order of the Dragon Knights, Book 2, I panicked. I did not know he was a Fenian Warrior until he walked through the crowd of people at the airport to greet his daughter, Aileen. His presence loomed mighty and grew with the previous stories in the Legends of the Fenian Warriors. Regardless, I knew then his and Rose’s love story had to be told. 

With each Fenian Warrior’s story, I shared a layer about this Fae. Little did I know when I penned Aidan’s first line of dialogue that he was the leader of the Fenian Warriors, came from royalty, and his sister was Queen of the Fae realm. He chose not to reveal any of this to me. And this is why I became terrified. What more could he share?

Well, dear readers, Aidan made it simple. He told me to write a love story, stating, “For you see, love is greater than all the power attained in the world—be it human or Fae.” 

Therefore, I took you back in time to when Aidan was the leader of the Brotherhood. To when this great warrior had no blemish to stain his life and love tossed his world upside down, altering everything he knew. 

And the lovely Rose MacLaren was a perfect match. As he professed to her, “I saw beauty inside the depth of your soul. Your intelligence would rival any Fae in the herbal gardens, and you possess a wisdom that sparks from a desire to learn more. You challenge me, leannán.”

 

I hope you’ve enjoyed a glimpse behind the scenes of this powerful love story.

 

(Leannán = Gaelic for lover, sweetheart, beloved.)

 As leader of the Fenian Warriors, Aidan Kerrigan’s accolades are many and his loyalty to the Fae unwavering. When an unexpected mission sends him to the human world and a chance encounter with Rose MacLaren, he’s tempted for the first time in his existence to discard duty and claim what is forbidden.

 

Rose MacLaren, a Society of the Thistle member, yearns to expand her botanical knowledge with her love of history. After her rescue by a handsome stranger, she is compelled to look beyond what her rational mind comprehends and unravel the secret of the standing stones, as well as the man who captivates her. 

 

In a mystical world ruled by ancient laws and edicts, can a fierce warrior choose a path destined for love? And will a woman honoring the ways of the land believe in a myth only spoken of in legends? If they do, will their love be enough to defy death’s punishment?

 

On sale for 99¢ for a limited time! 2/12/21 – 2/26/21

AMAZON

 

 

The "Series Bible" by Jessica E. Subject @jsubject #AmWriting #AmWritingRomance #Romance

 

My "Series Bibles"

Hello everyone! It’s great to be back on Paranormal Romantics. This is my first post as a member of the blog in a few years and I'm so happy to be back. For those who don't know me, I write sci-fi and paranormal romance, some MF, some ménage, and some LGBTQ+. My recent series include Alien Next Door, Galactic Defenders, and Shifter Towers. You can find me here on the seventh of each month.

Today, as I work on the first book in a new series, I wanted to talk about my "series bibles." Some may think of them as a series planner, but, to me, they're much more than that. I use them to keep track of my characters, settings, and add multiple odd notes that I need to remember for subsequent stories in the series. Sometimes the information is very important, and other times, it's simply for my own musing. 

Depending on what platform an author uses to write their stories, these "series bibles" can be kept in many different places. I tried writing on the computer with Scrivener, and kept a "series bible" there. I have since gone back to writing in a notebook, and therefore, my "series bibles" are in their own separate notebook, as shown in the above picture.

I start my "series bible" while still in the planning stages of the series and while plotting the first book. And as I write and finish a book in the series, I add notes to my notebook, things to remember when writing the next book. I try to leave spaces so I can add information along the way, but sometimes the pages look like a brainstorming page from when I was planning a story in public school.

These "series bibles" make my life easier as an author. Instead of scrolling or flipping through the pages of an already published book from the series to find information I need, I rely on my "series bible." I can find things so much easier in there.

Map of Saramto from my Shifter Towers "series bible"

If you're a reader, would you be interested in seeing what's contained in an author's "series bible?"

If you're an author, do you use a "series bible," and what type of information do you include inside?

Check out my latest release...

DEMON ON JACKSON STREET

Shifter Towers #5

by Jessica E. Subject

Jet

Once upon a time there was a demon who was the best at convincing people to sell their souls. That was me. Is me. And now I have a new assignment, one Father told me would be difficult. I didn’t know what “difficult” meant until I met the young man, someone who has barely anything. Collecting his soul should be easy, right? There are so many things I can give him. Except, he doesn’t believe he deserves a better life. I have to find something he desires before the assignment is given to my brother. Because Crow uses the most villainous means to obtain souls. Lines I don’t cross. And I don’t want to see Toby hurt. There has to be another way.

Toby

I’m not like them. I can’t shift into a predator to defend myself, or even into a small rodent to run and hide. The wolf shifters know that every time they rough me up and steal my food. I always wish for a guardian angel to protect me from them. Then one day Jet appears, looking nothing like the angel I’d imagined. But I don’t know if I should trust him. He makes me feel things no other alpha ever has. Dangerous things. Not good when I have to stay focused on my grandmother. I don’t know how much longer I’ll have her around.

Available from:

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Inspiration for a Series at the Tomb of the Eagles by Mary Morgan

Often times, readers will ask where I get my source of inspiration for my stories. And my answer is simple. My travels! I’ve been blessed with several adventures to England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Each time I’ve visited, I have started a story and/or series. Thank goodness for my leather travel journal.  

With my recent new release, MAGNAR, The Wolves of Clan Sutherland, Book 1, I uncovered a treasure trove of inspiration.

During our trip several years ago to Northern Scotland and the Orkney Islands, my husband and I were fortunate to have a personal guide escort us. David Ladd was exceptional in his knowledge—from referencing the names of flowers in the most obscure places to the wildlife and history, especially during our travels on Orkney. He took us on an amazing adventure, oftentimes off the well-worn path, revealing spectacular vistas. I shall always treasure our time with him and for allowing me to crawl into the Tomb of the Eagles in South Ronaldsay, Orkney. For a few hazarding moments, I worried David and my husband when I had trouble getting out of the small tomb. Was I worried? No. 

Before I entered, rain and wind pelted us on our mile walk up the hill. Once I crawled inside the small tomb, I stood and encountered utter silence—no howling wind and no rain leaked through the crevices of stone. It was as if I entered another time and place—literally. Here were my immediate reactions within this cairn: Peace. Stillness. I am not alone.

Let me explain further about the Tomb of the Eagles…

Located above the dramatic South Ronaldsay cliffs, the Isbister Chambered Cairn—better known today as the ‘Tomb of the Eagles’—is one of Orkney's top archaeological sites. Discovered by a local farmer Ronnie Simison in the 1950s, the Stone Age tomb revealed an amazing collection of bones and artifacts, placed here some 5,000 years ago. Among the human bones, there were many talons and bones of the white-tailed eagle.

The Tomb of Eagles played an important part in the book. I took my experience and wove it into the story and through Magnar.

To learn more visit: http://www.tomboftheeagles.co.uk/