Manic Monday: What’s Up Natalie?

I’m not sure if I actually have any regular faithful readers of this blog who read what I post here. Or if the thousands of “hits” each month are bots.  But I’m writing this post in faith that there are some actual human beings who read what I write here.

So if you are a human being reading this and if you have read my blog for a while, you may have noticed that over the past year or so (*scratches head and says “Has it really been that long?”*) I have been inconsistent in posting. Yeah, I’ve posted Writer Wednesday spotlights of other writers. Sure, there have been some Sci Fi Friday posts. And yes, there have been posts about my most recent release (Emily’s Heart).

But when is the last time I wrote a Manic Monday post? I can’t remember.

Anyway, I have reasons (numerous) that I’ve been lax in my blogging. Some are lame, like feeling like since no one comments much on my blog that I may in fact be visited solely by Internet bots rather than real people so what’s the point in writing? Or that I was busy – blah, blah, blah.

But mainly I’ve been lax with my blogging because I’ve been dealing with some heavy shit in my life.

“What kind of heavy shit?” you ask.

First, there was my retirement from the practice of law in June of last year. You may be thinking that such an event should have freed up time for me to blog my brains out. And that’s logical.  But in truth, saying good-bye to my profession was a major life-change event which I’d wanted for sooooo long and was glad for but when it actually happened sort of took me by surprise at being sad about it. In recent years I had worked (very) part-time at being a lawyer and had stopped taking litigation cases so I wasn’t in court. It had become a small part of my life taking third seat to being a mom (always first) and my writing. But still, it had been a major part of my life – and my identity – for over twenty years (saying that makes me feel fucking old).

My very wise husband who knows me sometimes too well warned me. “Give yourself six months, Natalie.” I rolled my eyes and let his words of wisdom go in one ear and out the other (as I do too frequently). “Whatever,” I thought. 

Guess what happened? He was right. (Don’t you hate it when your mate is right?) It indeed took me about six months to fully release the old job and identity and to get into a new routine and be okay with the whole thing. It was like for the second half of last year, I’d get up and get my kid off to school then sit at my desk and play at being a writer, all the while feeling guilty that I wasn’t really “working” or having anxiety that somehow I was neglecting some serious shit that needed done, and then feeling worse because I was feeling down about retiring to write full-time when so many writers I know don’t have the opportunity to do that though they want to, so get over yourself all ready and be fucking happy! I wasn’t happy and then felt guilty about not being happy.

But wait, there was more. And this is the heavy stuff that as I writer I feel I should be writing about and talking about but mainly I want to just ignore it and hope it goes away. At the end of the summer last year, my mom was diagnosed with cancer.

For the fifth time.

And it’s bad. Really bad. Like the oncologist using the word “palliative chemo” kind of bad.

As if that weren’t heavy enough, on the heels of us finding out about my mom’s cancer, my dad had a stroke. He has been in and out (mostly in) a nursing home ever since. He’s alive, but extremely diminished.

My mom is only 73. My dad 76.

They aren’t that old. And I’ve had to face the fact over the past six months that it is more likely than not that neither of my parents will make it to the age of 80. In fact, it is quite possible that one of them will be gone before the end of the year.

I just typed that without crying. For months I could not have.

The story of my mom’s cancer is actually one of hope and of sort-of miracles and of human strength and endurance. It’s a story of pain and relationships and love and family. It’s a story that could educate others with the BRCA1 gene (my mom is BRCA1 positive). It’s a story that many may relate to and find interest in.

But I’m not able to write it. At least not now.

When I first found out my mom’s dire diagnosis, my writer friends said “write about it.” It was good advice. And I tried.

Some people can wrest poetry from pain. I’m not one of them.

Grief shuts me down. Sorrow makes me withdraw to the within. And try as I might to exorcise it through words, it does not work.

I was able to complete my third novel and maybe I did channel some of my pain into the prose. Emily’s Heart is, after all, an Apocalyptic story that tends to the darker side of things. But *spoiler alert* the end is a happy one and I was stuck for months last year, unable to wrest that happy ending out of myself because I did not feel happy. The fact that it finally came out of me at all is a sort of small miracle that I can’t explain.

Over the past nine months or so, my writing was filled mainly with anger and angst, heartache and unhappiness.

So I spared you all of that and kept my blog a cancer and sickness-free zone. 

The good news is that as this year progresses, I’m feeling more and more able to write without it being filled with misery. The shadowy veil of sad feelings is lifting and I’m more focused on the here and now – on the living – than on things past.

I’m in the mood to celebrate. I wrote three books!! Can I hear a woot, woot?! I completed a whole series (The Akasha Chronicles). *Does happy dance*

I am an incredibly blessed person to be able to devote my working hours full-time to doing what I love to do. I get to write the stories that fill my head. And I get to go out to book events and meet readers and chat story with them (one of my absolute favorite pastimes).

I have a wonderful daughter, husband and three furry critters that I share my house and life with. And I am alive, and this is no small miracle.

So as I move with more hope and optimism than I’ve had in a while into the middle of this year, here is what’s coming on my blog and in my writing:

Natalie Wright, Manic Monday

1. Manic Monday will return! I don’t promise that I’ll have a Manic Monday post every week, but I am feeling the itch to speak my *manic* mind so stay tuned for my rants, ravings, musings and Monday weirdness.

2. Writer Wednesday is here to stay. In the past, I have devoted Wednesdays to featuring other writers and occasionally to posting writing tips. Both of those things will continue to happen on Wednesdays. (If you are a writer and would like to be featured on my Writer Wednesday, please shoot me an e-mail to NatWritesYA (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll speak of it).

But I also have a new feature that I’ll add to Writer Wednesday in upcoming weeks that will appeal to writers of all makes, models and types – and will get the writerly conversation going.

3. Sci Fi Friday continues. For any of you paying attention, you may have noticed my new Friday feature, Sci Fi Friday. These posts are about scientific discoveries that I come across that strike me as having science fiction implications. I also reserve that time to review science fiction books or movies, OR generally to post anything science of science fiction related.

H.A.L.F., by Natalie Wright Arrives Spring, 2015

I’ll continue to devote Fridays to all things science and sci fi as I gear up to release the first book of my next series, H.A.L.F., a young adult science fiction series. While my last series was (mainly) fantasy, I’ll be writing science fiction (mostly) for the foreseeable future AND science stuff fascinates me. So if you, too, enjoy hearing about science fact that seems more like science fiction, then make sure you hang out with me on Fridays to discuss new technology and scientific discoveries. 

So that’s what’s up with Natalie. What’s up with you? Drop me a line in the comments below or you can reach me by e-mail at NatWritesYA (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thank you for reading to the end 🙂

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SAFECon 2014 a Huge Success

I had a great time this past Saturday, March 20, 2014 at SAFECon in Prescott Valley, Arizona at the public library. For a smallish town, Prescott Valley turned out a nice crowd for this first annual event. It was a free event geared to teens, but people of all ages showed up. I particularly enjoyed seeing the creativity and hard work that the teens put into their cosplay. SAFECon provided me yet another opportunity to meet and talk story with wonderful tweens, teens and adults as well. I love my job!!

A special shout out to Jamie. She’s a mom with a young, budding artist. Jamie’s eyes got moist in the corners as she talked about her daughter’s art – an obvious pride in her voice. What impressed me was Jamie’s devotion to her daughter following her dream and doing what she loves. So often, parents and other adults try to steer their children away from careers in the arts. It’s understandable. Living the life of an artist can be one filled with rejection, pain, and poverty! It is (often) not an easy life.

But Jamie is a mother who recognizes the joy that creating art brings to her daughter. And her daughter won second place in the art contest at SAFECon! Congrats!

I also got to chat with reporter and writer Patrick Whitehurst who was kind enough to mention me in his news story that appeared Sunday, 3/20 in the Daily Courier. Here’s the whole story:

3/30/2014 6:03:00 AM Sci-fi, Anime, Fantasy, Etc. convention for teens draws fans, authors, artists

Patrick Whitehurst/The Daily Courier Assassins Creed cosplayers Geoff Schoen and Joe Ashton show their skills during Saturday’s SAFECon at the Prescott Valley Public Library. Matt Hinshaw/The Daily Courier Joel Adams slinks by the audience dressed as Slenderman, a malevolent phantasm. Patrick Whitehurst The Daily Courier PRESCOTT VALLEY, Arizona – Darth Vader walks into a room next to Princess Daisy from Mario Brothers. That isn’t the opening line of a joke, but a description of Saturday’s Sci-Fi, Anime, Fantasy, Etc. Convention (SAFECon) at thePrescott Valley Public Library. Crowds dressed in a variety of costumes, and some participated in a “cosplay” costume competition. The event, geared toward teens in the quad-city area, featured workshops, panel discussions, a martial arts exhibition, art competitions and refreshments. Artist and illustrator Samantha Violette attended to share her anime and comic art with those in attendance. She traveled to the con from her home in Tucson. She produces her art primarily in watercolor and pencils. Her art can also be seen online at http://www.samanthaashleyviolette.com. As a fan of comics and anime, Violette attends conventions throughout the state. “It’s for work, but it’s also a hobby of mine too,” she said. “I think conventions are great. It’s a chance for like-minded people to get together, to make new friends and find common interests.” While small compared to other conventions she’s attended, Violette said she enjoyed meeting new people at SAFECon. “I was very impressed by how well-organized it was,” Violette said. Other attendees for the event included comic book artist Dave Beaty, graphic designer Alec Kozak, and Natalie Wright, author of the popular Akasha Chronicles trilogy that began with the book “Emily’s House.” Wright chatted with a number of fans during Saturday’s SAFECon and made a few new ones along the way. “I like meeting people, so I enjoy talking to everyone. I especially enjoy meeting young people who use their creativity to express themselves,” Wright said. “This convention is particularly cool because it’s devoted to teens.” Wright’s novels focus on teens. A complete list of her books can be found at http://www.nataliewright.net. Follow reporter Patrick Whitehurst on Twitter @pwdcourier

Celebrate Read an E-Book Week and Deep Discounts on The Akasha Chronicles

Hey, did you know that it’s Read an E-Book Week? To show my support of the event, I’m offering DEEP discounts on the e-book versions of my books at Smashwords.com. Click on the link to download all three books of the Akasha Chronicles in the e-book format of your choice (Kindle, Nook, iBooks, etc.). 

Emily’s House is FREE! (usually $2.99)

Emily’s Trial is $1.50! (usually $2.99)

And Emily’s Heart is $2.00 (usually $3.99)

The coupon codes are shown on the book pages.

But hurry. On 3/9/2014 the prices will return to normal retail.

Hop on over to Smashwords and enjoy the great deals authors and publishers are offering for one week only 🙂 And thank you for your support of this event.

My Writing Process Blog Tour

A Writer’s Space: Where the Magic Begins

I was invited by the lovely and talented young author, Chele Cooke, to participate in this fun and unique blog tour. This week I’m answering four questions about my writing process. I’ve tagged three other authors to answer these questions on their blog next week.

1) What am I working on?

Emily’s Heart by Natalie Wright

Having recently launched my third book, Emily’s Heart (Book 3 of The Akasha Chronicles). I’ve been spending a lot of time writing blog posts, answering interviews, and generally flitting around the cybersphere. But I’m also gearing up to start a new teen, science fiction series (working title H.A.L.F.). I’M SO EXCITED about this new series!!! Well, it’s not so new. I had the idea back in 2010 and actually finished the first draft in the summer of 2012. But I shelved it for a while so I could finish up The Akasha Chronicles. But even though it was “one the shelf”, by brain and subconscious were still hard at work on it. I’m stoked about the new direction the story has taken in my brain. It will be like The X-Files meets the T.V. show Roswell with a pinch of The Good, the Bad and The Ugly. I’m in the worldbuilding and character development stage right now, but will be sitting my butt in the chair in March to bang out a (second) first draft. I hope to release Book 1 of the series in the Spring of 2015. Stay tuned 😉

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?

The Akasha Chronicles

My first series, The Akasha Chronicles, isn’t quite like anything else out there! There are a couple of reasons. First, my writing tends to cross the borders between genres. Take Emily’s House (Book 1). It’s full of magick and myth putting it in the fantasy genre (complete with a spiteful pixie, a banshee, and magickal powers), but it also has a science fiction bent (time travel and black holes at the Large Hadron Collider). Second, The Akasha Chronicles is about Emily’s spiritual journey. On the surface, it’s a fun series with lots of action and adventure, a bit of romance and the third book is a dystopian lovestory. But taken as a whole, it’s a chronicle of a spiritual warrior’s journey. There aren’t many books written for teenagers that are about a young person’s spiritual journey! It’s just about absent from teen literature. But readers (especially the 1.4 million reads on Wattpad) have proven that teens enjoy books that make them think. That make them question. And that give them hope.

3) Why do I write what I do?

Because I have to write what I write! It’s as if I don’t have a choice. I have lots of ideas but some grab hold and become like an obsession, begging me to give it voice. Those ideas become notebooks full of notes, folders full of research, drawings of characters and scribbled on maps. The ideas that begin to fill a notebook become a novel.

4) How does my writing process work?

My stories typically start with a plot. I often have a story come to me in beginning, middle, end form. I then work from the plot idea and consider characters, worldbuilding, etc. I do not outline per se, but I do write a synopsis hitting the main plot points. I spend quite a bit of time working on character back story and I try to understand the main characters and their motivations, etc. before I begin to write. I try to write the first draft in a short period of time (short for me means 30-60 days), then I let it simmer for a while. Then I go back to the manuscript and read, revise, re-write and repeat. I do that until I’m sick of looking at it and can’t think of any way to improve it. At that point, it’s ready for initial beta reader/content editor. Then the revision process starts anew. My books generally take about 9-13 months to complete. Now that I’m no longer practicing law, I might be able to produce books more quickly. We’ll see 😉

Chele Cooke Author of Dead and Buryd

Thank you again to Chele Cooke for tapping me to participate in this blog tour. Please check out Chele at her website and do read her debut novel, Dead and Buryd.

And next week be sure to check out Heather Sunseri’s blog for her post about her writing process. Here is a little bit about Heather.

Heather writes young adult science fiction romance (but don’t let the science fiction trip you up—it’s mostly romance). Born and raised in a small town in Central Kentucky, which can be quite boring at times, she had no choice but to create stories in her head in which she can be anything from an FBI agent to a mad scientist who clones human beings to an actual cloned human with supernatural mind control abilities. You can find out more about the stories Heather writes and her publishing journey at http://heathersunseri.com or if you want to discuss other fun life experiences, join her on her brand new experimental blog, http://alifedissettled.com. 

Emily’s Heart has Arrived!

Emily’s Heart by Natalie Wright Book 3 of The Akasha Chronicles

Emily’s Heart, Book 3 of the Akasha Chronicles, has arrived!!!!! *happy dance*

Before I share links and all that, I want to send a HUGE thank you to family, friends, followers, fans and readers all over the world who have supported me and my writing! For any of you who are writers, you know what a wondrous yet solitary path the writer walks. And during the novel-writing process, there is always a period of time when the writer is quite certain that the entire novel is a pile of camel dung. When I arrive at the camel dung period in my writing process, my interaction with readers helps lift my creative spirits.

Emily’s Heart was a challenge to write. If you’ve read book 2, Emily’s Trial, then you know that I painted myself into a pretty tight corner! So much had gone wrong. So much to set right. “How will Emily set this right?” readers asked.

That was a good question, and one that I did not have an answer to during most of the writing process. That’s right, I began writing without knowing how it would end! But I trusted that if I wrote long enough, the end would figure itself out. And it did, but it wasn’t without a couple of months of crying, screaming, pouting, ignoring, writing and tossing, many chocolates, and sleepless nights. Then one day, the ending came and life was good again ;-D

Advance readers report that Emily’s Heart is my best book yet. I hope you all agree.

Emily’s Heart is now available on Amazon worldwide and paperback on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and CreateSpace. It will go live on iTunes and Barnes & Noble on February 1. Links for all retail are below.

If you are new to the series, I now have an Amazon exclusive boxed set available which contains all three books in the series. It is 30% OFF of the cover price for the individual titles if purchased separately. Boxed Set on Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HY474BS

Thanks again and happy reading!

Barnes & Noble – Both Paperback and E-Book

CreateSpace – Paperback. Use Coupon Code 5RW292Y5 for 25% off

Powell’s – Paperback

E-Books at Amazon:

U.S.          DE          CA          IT          MX        JP

U.K.          ES          AU          IN          BR       FR

http://widgets.itunes.apple.com/widget.html?c=us&brc=FFFFFF&blc=FFFFFF&trc=FFFFFF&tlc=FFFFFF&d=&t=&m=ebook&e=ebook&w=325&h=370&ids=775369037&wt=discovery&partnerId=&affiliate_id=&at=&ct=

Will Love Blossom in Emily’s Heart?

Cover Art for Emily’s Heart Art Copyright 2013 Claudia McKinny

I’ve been writing like a banshee, trying to finish up Emily’s Heart, the third and final installment of the Akasha Chronicles. Emily has had to fight her way through more than a few battles in the last two books, but she hasn’t seen anything yet! Emily and crew are surrounded by danger at every turn in Book 3.

And I’ve faced my battles too while writing this danged book! Sometimes I’ve felt as besieged as Emily is ;-/

But the good news is that I’ve fought my way out of blind alleys and dark corners, and the end is near. Phew! *wipes brow*

This week I’ve been working on the book description. If you’re a self-publishing writer, you can probably relate to how ridiculously difficult it is to write the description for your own book. I’ve tried to write this about a half dozen times, but each time either ended up with two sentences or three pages! 

Here is my latest attempt. It’s a bit different. Maybe that’s good. Maybe it’s not. 

I appreciate honest feedback from any and all about your thoughts on this book description for Emily’s Heart. Is it too long? Too short? Does it pull you in? Does it make you want to read the book? Or does it bore you? Confuse you? Your comments are most welcome.

Emily’s Heart:

Seventeen-year-old Emily Adams unwittingly unleashed the shadow god’s dark energy power into the world and started an Apocalypse. But Emily is also the only one that can end the dark god’s reign. Though the powerful faerie magic of the golden torc is still coiled around her arm, self-doubt threatens to undo her. Emily wants nothing more than to feel the soft kiss of her one true love, but he won’t even speak to her. Her first crush is still quite dead and her best friend remains a prisoner in the dark god’s house of nightmares. A growing legion of black-eyed shadow people, devoid of conscience, roam the streets. Emily needs help now more than ever, but redemption seems far off indeed as she faces the darkness alone.

Emily will need an army of her own if she is to save the world from an eternity of darkness. But will a small band of Lucent geeks and freaks be enough to send the dark god packing?

Amidst chaos and ruin, will love blossom in Emily’s Heart?

Teaser Tuesday: Maybe it was the Moon, or Maybe it was his Tongue in my Ear

Emily’s Trial, Book 2 of the Akasha Chronicle by Natalie Wright Cover Model, Ashley Philips

In Emily’s Trial (Book 2 of the Akasha Chronicles), Emily’s adventure continues. She may be a magical Priestess, but she’s also a sixteen-year-old girl looking for love. Can desire be so strong that it can tempt a girl to use her sacred magic in a forbidden way? Here’s a teaser from Emily’s Trial:

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The shock of the crisp October air felt
refreshing. It was chilly and smelled of fallen leaves. The moon was high and
large, about three quarters full. The trees were almost bare. There were a few
couples in the yard, most of them pressed close, their lips locked, hands
roaming. I tried not to look because it felt creepy to watch people make out.

Owen walked me to a swinging seat hung
from an enormous oak tree in the middle of the yard. I sat down and felt glad
to have the wood swing beneath me.

“Hey Sporty, why don’t you go inside and
get yourself a drink or something,” Owen said to Fanny.

“Nah, I’m good.” Fanny stood her ground
in front of the swing. I glared at her hard, trying to get her to take the hint
and give me some alone time with Owen. Either she couldn’t see me glare in the
dark, or she chose to ignore me because she didn’t budge.

I was getting pissed as hell at her. I
didn’t need Fanny acting like a mother hen, hovering over me all the time. It’s
like sometimes she and Jake don’t get that we’re growing up. It’s like they
still want everything to be like it was when we were ten or something.

Owen just shrugged his shoulders, sat
down next to me, and he put his arm around my shoulders. He leaned his lips
close to my ear and whispered, “So, you ever go anywhere without the pest?”

I threw my head back and let out a huge
laugh. He hit the nail on the head.

“Yes,” I said.

“Good to know,” he whispered back then
gently flicked his tongue into my ear. The flames of my passion were licking
upward from my loins. I was thinking hard to Fanny to scram. But Fanny has zero
telepathic skills, and she pretty much sucks at reading body language too so
she didn’t get the hint to scram. Is she
hoping to watch us make out or something? Fanny sticking around was
starting to feel like prying, not protection.

Owen kept his arm around my shoulder but
removed his tongue and lips from my ear. Suddenly, my ear felt cold, and a
shiver ran through me. Owen seemed to know the effect he had on me. He wore a
look of smug satisfaction on his face.

“So, Sporty, since you won’t take a hint
and beat it, entertain me. What sports do you play?”

“Volleyball, softball, basketball.”

“Aren’t you kinda short for basketball?”

“Guard,” she said.

Riveting conversation, and not nearly as
entertaining as having Owen’s tongue in my ear. Owen must have thought so too
because he changed the subject quickly.

“Emily, my Miss Magic. Pretty impressive
what you did back there with supreme jerk of the evening, Tad. I want to
apologize for those knuckle draggers.”

“It’s okay, really.”

“No, it’s not. You’re smart, not one of
those sycophant bimbos usually hanging around with us. They’re not used to
girls who have more to offer than just someone pretty to look at and make out
with.”

I’m not sure if he was trying to
compliment me or not. Was he saying I was cute and  smart? Or was he
excepting me out of the category of girls pretty enough to look at and make out
with?

“What about you, Owen? Are you
interested in more than just someone to make out with?” asked Fanny.

“I’m here with you two instead of in
there. What do you think?”

Fanny’s face softened then, and she seemed
to relax a little.

“So answer me this Miss Magic. Aren’t
you bored with just spinning drunk assholes in the air?”

Of course I was. My boredom had gotten
so pathetic, I’d stooped to dropping salads on Greta.

“Yes. Yes I am.”

If you want to find out what happens, read Emily’s Trial. And now is the perfect time to hang out with Emily because Emily’s Trial is on sale through July, 2013. Regularly $2.99, you can snag Emily’s Trial now for 99 cents!

Thanks for reading and stayed tuned for more Tuesday teasers 😀

Purchase Emily’s Trial at these retailers:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/R58yyW

Smashwords: http://bit.ly/UJuq9M

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1ckGykI

Paperback available at Powell’s: http://bit.ly/R4hBS9

COVER TIME! Please Help me Choose

Yay, it’s choose the cover art time! This is one of the most fun parts of the book writing/publishing process. But I need your help! I would appreciate your thoughts on which of these three cover arts you like the best for my release due this fall, Emily’s Heart.

Does one of them stand out to you? Catch your eye more? Please drop me a comment below, or you can comment on my Facebook page. Thanks so much y’all!

So let me know, #1, #2 or #3 😀

(Cover Model is Ashley Phillips; Cover Photography by Teresa Yeh; Cover Art by Claudia McKinny at PhatPuppy Art)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! 5 Tips for Celebrating Spring as the Ancients Might Have

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The bacchanalian holiday celebrating all things green and Irish is just around the corner. But did you know that St. Patrick’s Day traces its origins to an ancient rite of spring known as Ostara? Long before there was green beer, Leprechauns with pots of gold and crockpots full of corned beef, ancient peoples paused in mid-March to celebrate the coming spring.

Because the ancient Celts passed on their traditions, histories and stories orally, little is known of the ways that the Celts honored the passing of the seasons. But the coming of spring is a reason to celebrate and our penchant to party this time of year may well be a rite of spring going back thousands of years.

If you’re tired of green beer and cabbage, here are five tips to help you connect with the ancient roots of Ostara and celebrate the coming Spring the way our ancestors might have:

 1. Sweep and Rake: Get out your broom and sweep away the leaves and dust blown in by the winter winds. Rake up the old leaves mushed onto the grass by the snow. Clear away the dead things left from fall and winter to make room for the new growth of spring.

 2. Tend Your Garden: Roll up your sleeves, grab your spade, and get your hands dirty. Even if your garden is a high-rise patio, tend to the plants in your part of the world. Snip the dead blooms, prune, feed, water and show the green things in your world some love.

 3. Take a Hike: Preferably with your sweetie. Enjoy a stroll through the neighborhood park or hike into the forest or desert near you. Take in the signs of the change from cold, dead and dreary to warm, blooming and colorful. Who knows, maybe the time together in the great outdoors will kindle the fires of romance.

 4. Create a Feast of the Season: Make an outing to a local farmer’s market or, if there isn’t such a market near you, check out the produce at your neighborhood grocery. What’s in season? What’s fresh? Collect your bounty of the season and cook a Spring Feast.

 5. Party! Share that feast that you lovingly prepared with your friends and family. If it’s warm enough, take the feast outside and party in your garden. End your evening with a fire to warm the hearts of your guests. It doesn’t have to be a bonfire. Build your fire in a fire pit, chiminea or fireplace. Or if none of those options are available to you, light some candles. The warm glow of the fire’s embers call to mind the warmth of the coming season.

~Magickal Graphics~

Emily’s House, Book 1 of the Akasha Chronicles, with its setting in both modern and ancient Ireland, is the perfect read for the St. Patrick’s Day season.

Emily’s House, Book 1 of the Akasha Chronicles, by Natalie Wright