A modern fairy tale woven with truths about staying the course, faith in the face of not knowing and trusting the journey to unfold to its amazing promise. With it's whimsical characters, and the depths of each setting, Griffith takes us through a memorable story of a young girl's growing up through her life's fantastical changes. Great reading!! - Amazon
Description:
Published: November 2014
“There was a flash of light, the ground quaked, and suddenly a large silhouetted shape lifted itself from swirling white flames.”
Shawna’s ordinary life is forever changed when monstrous creatures come scratching at her door, and a black unicorn mysteriously comes to her aid. She then finds herself at the mercy of a sassy old witch, a quirky fairy who’s allergic to her own fairy dust, and a world of magic and nightmares. A world, she discovers, that is not only her own, but is unraveling from an ancient curse. The truth of its origins, and of the shattered sapphires, will take Shawna and her companions on a fantastical adventure through the hidden secrets of the shielded realms.
When there is darkness in our lives, and the path is not always clear, all we need to do is believe.
Author's Interview with main character Shawna/Ava Hart
Author: So, Ava, how did you feel the first time you realized you had magical powers?
Ava: You mean that time in class? Oh man, that was awesome. I mean, I was totally freaking out, but it was so cool to give Krystal what she had comin’ to her. But it was a bit freaky to see that blue light sparking all up and down my arms.
Author: How does your magic work?
Ava: Uhhhhh, well, it’s kind of complicated. I have to watch my emotions. If I get too angry or upset it can just lash out, like when I blew Krystal into the wall, but I’m getting better at controlling it now. Mira said it comes from the natural energy around me or something, and that the intention behind it determines how it works.
Author: Can you tell me about the first time you met Mira?
Ava: *Laughter* Well, what would you think if a giant, black, talking unicorn suddenly came out of nowhere? I was in such shock at the time that I thought I was just having a very realistic dream. But of course it wasn’t a dream. Later on, Mira came to be one of my best friends. I couldn’t have done it without her.
Author: This is a tough subject for you, I can tell. Would you rather not talk about Mira?
Ava: Yeah, let’s talk about something else.
Author: All right. How about something simple. What’s your favorite food from the wolf clan you live with now?
Ava: I’d have to say torthai-feoil pie with honey sap. That’s gaelic for fruit-meat pie. It’s the fruit from the griffon tree but it’s more like meat, but sweet, and dark red. Kind of like if cows were more like strawberries. It’s kind of hard to explain.
Author: Honey sap?
Ava: Oh, honey sap is amazing! It’s a lot like honey but it comes from the sweet-tree instead of bees. The sweet-tree usually grows along river banks with blooming bonnets, and if you hug its trunk that looks like amber glass it starts oozing honey sap! You can’t hug it for too long, though, ‘cause you might get all sticky.
Author: Tell me about Orin. How is he doing?
Ava: He’s all right. We’ve both been really busy with lessons so I don’t see him a whole lot. The blue-wolf family took him in, but since he’s of age he’s been living on his own really. It’s been good for him to have a community, and to go hunting with Antares every day after everything he’s been through.
Author: So you two…
Ava: Oh my gosh, no! We kissed that one time, and we had feelings for each other, but he has a lot to work through. He’s a great friend, but that’s all I want to keep it as. Besides, I’ve met someone else.
Author: Oh? Who?
Ava: Um, well, not exactly met, but we know each other. Well, we’ve seen each other. Well, I’ve seen him I guess. His name’s Conlan, and he’s a wanderer, as in explorer, and he comes back with all these great stories and artifacts, and he’s also a really good hunter, one of the best, and has even killed a dragon, but don’t tell Sirrush that. Am I rambling?
Author: What’s the one thing you regret about leaving earth?
Ava: Tara. My best friend. I miss her like crazy. If I could figure out how to, I would bring her here.
Author: Any parting words? What would you tell everyone back on earth if you had the chance?
Ava: I would say, magic does exist! And to not get caught up in things that don’t matter. My life on earth feels like the dream now. I can’t believe I used to care so much about what brand I was wearing, or what band I listened to, or what my hair looked like. There are much bigger and much more important things out there, like true friends, family, and creating a better world. And to remember that when there’s darkness in our lives, and the path is not clear, all we need to do is believe.
Goodreads ** Amazon ** Barnes&Noble ** BookDepository
About the author:
Elayne Griffith grew up writing, drawing, climbing trees, and riding unicorns…er, horses as a young girl. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and many years of job-bouncing, she suddenly had an epiphany: life is short, do what you love to do. She quit her job in the city and moved back to nature. Many bags of rice and beans later, she has written her first novel. She currently lives in the mountains, happy as a caffeinated squirrel, while continuing to pursue her writing and artistic career. “Follow your passion, for it is your greatest love.”
Wow I'm so happy that I won!!(Kalliope C.) ^_^
ReplyDeleteHow do I get my prize??