Showing posts with label #inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #inspiration. Show all posts

Saturday, September 4, 2021

Finding Inspiration in Unusual Places

 

 By Maureen Bonatch 

I don’t care very much for sports. If invited to a football game I'm honest and admit that I'm only there for the snacks. Most sports, except for hockey. 

Hockey is the only sport that can maintain my interest and I have some understanding of the game. 

My daughters played hockey for a while in their youth. Part of me was glad that they developed other interests before they were old enough to allow checking in the game (checking is a defensive technique which usually includes ramming into players on the other team).

                                                      My girls during their 'hockey career'
    

Over the years my hubby and I have enjoyed many professional hockey games. Some of the professional hockey players were simply amazing in their skill, speed, and grace on the ice. 

As someone who cannot ice skate well—mostly when it comes to stopping, or I should say, not being able to stop without the help of a wall—watching them glide across the ice as if they had wings fills me with awe. 


                                                                  Me & the hubs...

The game was magical to watch. 

 Which got me to thinking… 


What if some of the players had paranormal abilities? Would there be restrictions to make it a fair game? I envisioned that shifters or werewolves protecting the star players and thought that vampires might have the best speed on the ice. 

But what about witches? Couldn’t they use a spell to help ensure they won the game? Would spelling be forbidden to make it a fair game? 

 Hexes, Highballs & Hockey was Born 


                                                        Get Your Copy Today Right Here.

 How can one tiny spell create such a mess? 

 Hi, I’m Marissa Hale and I’ve spelled up some trouble. 

 You see, I live in Boca, Florida. Most of the time all the mishmash of paranormal play nice in the sandbox—except when it’s an ice rink.

Of course I’d be the one to test the boundaries of the “no spelling” rule at the hockey arena when my friend, Grace, begged me to go to a game. My careless spell to conceal the nacho cheese disaster, which happened when a big blob landed on her treasured jersey, caused more trouble than the wrath I avoided from my hockey obsessed friend. 

Due to the ridiculous rule, Grace inadvertently gets blamed and tossed into the arena’s jail for illicit magic…and I might have accidentally spelled one of the players. 

When I try to make things right, my sleuthing skills uncover secrets, and more trouble than I bargained for. I might need more than my chatty cat and charmed cocktails to solve this mystery…

Where Do You Find Inspiration?


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! 

Monday, August 9, 2021

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!


 



Monday, November 9, 2020

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/