Author: Marilee Brothers Title: Midnight Moon Series: Unbidden Magic Publication: December 24, 2012 Publisher: Bell Bridge Books Genre: YA Paranormal Source: Netgalley/Blog TOur
The Trimarks are planning an invasion. And the only thing standing in their way is Allie and the moonstone . All Allie wants is a normal life - friends, boys, school dances. Right. Like that's going to happen. In two weeks, during the summer solstice, Allie's going to face the biggest challenge of her life, fighting against time to save the world from a Trimark invasion. You'd think the world of weird might leave her alone to plan how she's going to survive. But nothing in Allie's world is simple or easy, especially when she's attacked by Trimarks trying to steal the moonstone. Then Sammie disappears into the faery world of Boundless, and Allie must follow and bring her home, only to find the fairy queen, Luminata, isn't about to let Allie leave. So, what's a girl with magical powers supposed to do? Fortunately, she has a team to help her, a team with special talents of their own.
Thoughts: Allie's a smart-mouth, sarcastic character with a hole load of trouble and big responsibility hanging over her. Everyone wants a piece of the magic for their own gain but Allie just wants to fulfill this crazy prophecy to stop the Trimarks and get her life back. As usual events happen that make her task so much harder, thinking she's found the girl to help her, Sammie only to realize that matters have just become more complicated and she is further from her goal than she ever imagined. I can relate to the attitude of Allie, she just never gets a break. Constantly on edge about the safety of her family and she's gets kidnapped many times throughout the entire series. I liked that she gradually learned different aspects about her moonstone and her heritage. The male interests are both good supporters of Allie's cause but the characters I liked most was the mysterious family friend Kizzy and Nicole, the sister of Allie's ex, Beck. They each brought spunk, vulnerability and heart to the story that is enjoyable to read. The writing and pace moves slowly and at times too much was going on. A couple moments, I wondered why certain characters were introduced only to go away. The characters as whole are okay, barely managing to contain the chaos that they have to deal with to stop the evil Trimarks. Overall, this a clean read that's full of drama, humor and witty sass. Allie and friends will appeal to younger teen audience.
Author Bio: A former teacher, coach and school counselor, Marilee lives in Washington State and writes full time. Her books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon, and Midnight Moon. Marilee is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads Amazon | BN
Author Bio: A former teacher, coach and school counselor, Marilee lives in Washington State and writes full time. Her books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon, and Midnight Moon. Marilee is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Keeping it Real
One of my greatest challenges as a writer of a fantasy series was how to portray my protagonist, Allie Emerson, as a typical teenage girl who is accidentally thrust into a strange, new world without a roadmap. In the first book, Moonstone, she receives a magic moonstone. Although its functions are a mystery to her, she finds she’s able to perform telekinesis and, if the circumstances are right, hear people’s thoughts. In subsequent books, her powers grow and expand. But, bottom line, Allie is still just an adolescent girl, attempting to deal with typical adolescent problems like homework, her dysfunctional mother and boyfriends. In order to emphasize the contrast between the normal and the paranormal, I chose to begin each book by firmly grounding Allie in the tiny town of Peacock Flats, Washington. Peacock Flats is a very real place although I’ve changed the name. I drove by it every day on my way to work as a counselor in an alternative school located on the Yakima Indian reservation. It has a post office, a diner and a hardware store, all of which are surrounded by acres and acres of apple orchards, fruit warehouses along with an occasional cow pasture. Tractors chug slowly along dirt roads. Allie describes it as “fruit intensive.” In Moonstone, the story begins with Allie falling off a ladder face first into a cow pie. Moon Rise finds Allie, dressed as a gypsy, at the annual Halloween party in the gymnasium of her high school. She bends over to pick up a quarter and ouch, she becomes the next victim of a “serial ass pincher.” Moon Spun begins with Allie dressing for her appearance as Fruit Bowl queen, only to find she’s neglected to do laundry. Her only option is to borrow a pair of her mother’s too small panties, an act that results in disaster. Think: Allie riding on the Fruit Bowl float. Big puffy skirt. Windstorm. In Shadow Moon, Allie is at the winter formal with her former archenemy, the newly reformed Cory Philpott. The last book, Midnight Moon, finds Allie once again at school, decorating the gym for graduation along with her misfit lunch buddies. A bit of magic ensues. In telling Allie’s story, I’ve drawn on many experiences from my former life as a teacher, coach and school counselor. I hope my effort to depict Allie as a typical teenage girl faced with unusual challenges resonates with readers. Even though I’ve completed the series, Allie Emerson remains real to me and will always live in my heart as one of my favorite characters.
BLURB: Allie Emerson is hoping for a few quiet months to catch her breath after a summer that included the discovery she is not only a twin and of faery blood, but also destined to play a pivotal role in the faery world. School has barely begun when Allie must kiss her hope of a normal year goodbye. She can’t escape her unfinished business with the fae, the Trimarks, or Junior Martinez whois making it clear he plans to win her back. Signs, portents and whispers are pushing Allie to “find the girl” before it’s too late. Hoping her twin can help her solve the riddle of their destiny, Allie uncovers old secrets and begins a cross-country journey that puts her in more danger than ever before. If she succeeds, she may just find the answers that can save everyone she loves. Amazon | BN
Junior’s back from Mexico with his movie star entrourage. Beck is using his half demon charms to “heal” a new girl. Mom’s still wacky and now she’s dating Principal Hostetler! High school is still an obstacle course of drama queens, bullies and nutjobs. The Trimarks are still a menace and the moonstone pendant has reveale even more mind boggling powers. In other words, Allie Emerson’s life as the Girl Voted Least Likely To Save The World From Evil has gone from Weird to Super Charged Super Weird, and it’s about to get even weirder. “You’re a faery princess.” So says the mysterious and handsome Ryker, whose talents include turning himself into a hawk. Not to mention he and Allie are destined to marry. In faery land—Boundless. If they can save it from forces even more deadly than Trimarks and high school. The third book in the Unbidden Magic series plunges readers into a rich other world of danger,humor, romance, fable, fairytale and magical destiny.
Chapter One I bit my lip but a little yelp of alarm escaped. It was officially time to panic. My panty drawer was empty. Faye, my mother, was hovering nearby. Actually, she couldn’t have been anywhere but close by because our home was a twenty-four foot travel trailer? Sigh. Long Story. She tapped her forehead. “Well, duh, Allie. It is Saturday . . . laundry day.” Oops. I’d totally forgotten that my reign as queen of the annual Fruit Bowl Festival coincided with Designated Laundry Day. I mean, geez, can you blame me? It’s not like I’ had a lot of practice being the queen of anything, much less the biggest deal in Peacock Flats, Washington, population 922. After a prolonged sigh of disgust, Faye said, “Too late to buy new ones. You’ll have to wear mine.” “Eeewww,” I said. “Beggars can’t be choosers,” Faye said. I followed Faye down the short hallway to her bedroom. Technically, I guess it could be called a bedroom. It had a bed. What it didn’t have was room. Faye and I were squished together between the end of the bed and a wall lined with built-in drawers. Faye rummaged around in a drawer and pulled out a tiny scrap of nylon, a gift from her former boyfriend, Brain Dead Roy. Skimpy, bright red and two sizes to small for Allie. “Get real!” I said, trying to keep the sneer out of my voice. “Like I’d wear something your boyfriend gave you for Valentine Day.” Faye rolled her eyes and muttered, “Ex boyfriend. This is my last clean pair. I can’t help it if you don’t plan ahead.” “Well, I’m not wearing those. They’re too small.” “Fine,” Faye snapped. “Wear dirty ones.” “I can’t,” I wailed. “I’m the queen!” “For Pete’s sake, Allie, it’s not like anyone can to see them under that.” That was a voluminous plum-colored gown spread out on her bed. I sighed in defeat. She was right, of course, but I didn’t have to like it.
Author Bio: A former teacher, coach and school counselor, Marilee lives in Washington State and writes full time. Her books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon, and Midnight Moon. Marilee is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
Author Bio: A former teacher, coach and school counselor, Marilee lives in Washington State and writes full time. Her books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon, and Midnight Moon. Marilee is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Website | Blog | Facebook| Twitter | Goodreads
Chat with Author Marilee Brothers
LLM: Tell us why we should read Moon Rise? What makes it stand out in the vast pool of young adult literature? MB. You’re right, there is a vast pool of young adult literature and I suppose it’s a matter of choice. Like any author, I love to introduce new readers to my series and hope they will want to read all five of the books. So, if you’ve read the first book Moonstone, and want to know what’s going on in Allie’s world, you definitely need to read Moon Rise. In addition, I’ve heard from many mother-daughter combinations who’ve read the series. The moms seem to appreciate the fact that the books are what I call clean teen reads meant for young and pre-teens. Not a lot of graphic sex, cursing, blood-sucking, etc. LLM:What book are you reading now? MB. I’m reading Game Change about the 2008 presidential race, Gone Girl and A Dance with Dragons, the fifth book in the Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin. As you can see, I read pretty much whatever I can get my hands on.
LLM:What character in Moon Rise was the hardest to write? MB. Beck Bradford was the hardest for the following reasons: He’s half lust demon (father’s side). His mother is devoutly Catholic and writes Christian fiction for a living. She has done her best to protect Beck and his twin sister, Nicole, and brought them up in the church in an effort to temper their instincts. Therefore, Beck is struggling with his dual nature. He wants to be good but has to literally fight the demon within. He becomes a romantic interest for Allie in Moon Rise and also plays an important role in Book 5, Midnight Moon.
LLM:What is the best part about being published? MB. Having just received form 1099 from my publisher, I can say for certain it’s not the money – LOL! I absolutely love hearing from people who’ve read my books and make it a point to answer every email I receive. LLM:If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world which would it be? MB. Can I jump back to present time? If so, I love historical fiction. Books like The Other Boleyn Girl fascinate me. How interesting it would be to go back in time and observe the political intrigue happening in the royal courts.
LLM:Did you do a ton of research for this book or for the series? Do you feel research is a key element to writing good fiction? MB.Yes, research is important. I’ve done a fair amount of research for all the books. In Moonstone, Allie has a special mark on her palm. Her sworn enemies, the Trimarks, have an inverted triangle somewhere on their palms. Consequently, I studied palmistry and what the lines mean even though I took liberties with my interpretation. In Moon Rise, I did a great deal of research about vortexes because, one again, triangles and the power of three come into play. I needed a semi-logical explanation for Allie’s ability to read minds using the moonstone. Since Beck Bradford is a whiz in physics, he figures it out. The climatic scene in Book 5, Midnight Moon, happens at Devils Tower in Wyoming. In the summer of 2011, my husband and I travelled there. We walked the trail around it and shot still photos and video.
LLM:Most loved scene or quote from Moon Rise? Why? MB. I can’t speak for anyone else but my favorite scene is the last paragraph of the book. "I lifted the moonstone toward the window, watched the light play across its surface, and made a decision. Just for tonight, I would put my problems aside and let unanswered questions remain unanswered. Instead, I would capture this tiny, fleeting moment of pure joy and hold it close, like the gemstone in my hand. Feeling blessed, I smiled at the moon.”
LLM:What is the question that you wish interviewers would ask, and the answer to that question? MB.My question: If you had one “do-over” in your writing life, what would it be? My answer: Start younger. I thought I knew how to write but I didn’t. Rejections slips robbed me of my confidence and I gave up for many years. Obviously, I needed an attitude adjustment. With age, came a little more wisdom. I began to study the craft of writing and it paid off. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner.
BLURB: Her mom is still dating losers. Her boyfriend’s gone back to Mexico. Dad still hasn’t told his wife and kids that she exists. At school, the drama queens and bullies still rule. But worst of all for Allie Emerson (aka the Star Seeker of an old Gypsy prophecy) is that her powers have taken a hike. She can’t read minds anymore. She can’t move stuff just by looking at it. The other Star Seekers are counting on her psychic gifts more than ever, and the evil Trimarks are closing in, eager to snatch her magic moonstone necklace while she’s helpless. The hot new guy at school is ready and willing to fight her battles, but he comes with some wicked baggage. Dear diary: I’m a little worried. My new BF is a demon. Welcome again to Allie Emerson’s funny, scary, amazing, and always unpredictable life, as the girl voted least likely to save the world from evil. Amazon | BN
BLURB: A sickly mom. A crummy travel trailer. High school bullies and snarky drama queens. Bad guys with charming smiles. Allie has problems. And then there’s that whole thing about fulfilling a magical prophecy and saving the world from evil. Welcome to the funny, sad, sometimes scary world of fifteen year old Allie Emerson, who’s struggling to keep her act together (not to mention her mom’s) in the small town world of Peacock Fats, Washington. A zap from an electrical fence set off Allie’s weird psychic powers. The next thing she knows, she’s being visited by a hippy dippy guardian angel, and then her mysterious neighbor, the town “witch,” gives her an incredible moonstone pendant that has powers only a “Star Seeker’ is meant to command. “Who, me?” is Allie’s first reaction. But as sinister events begin to unfold, Allie realizes she’s got a destiny far bigger than she ever imagined. If she can just survive everyday life, in the meantime.
Chapter One One minute, I’m on a ten foot ladder adjusting the TV antenna on the twenty-four foot trailer behind Uncle Sid’s house where I live with my mother, Faye. The next minute, I sail off the ladder, graze an electric fence and land face-down in a cow pie. Swear to God. Though groggy and hurting, I rolled onto my back. A window in the trailer cranked open and I heard my mother scream. “Allie! Ohmigod! Somebody call 911!” I was surprised Faye managed to open the window. She’d spent most of the last two years in bed since, at age thirty-one, she Retired From Life. But really, call 911? We had no phone and I was the only other person in the area. Who was she talking to? Blaster the bull? I smiled weakly at the thought of Blaster in a phone booth, punching in 911 with one gigantic hoof. Okay, technically, I landed in a bull pie, not a cow pie. The mess dripping off my face was compliments of my Uncle Sid’s prize bull, speaking of which… It was then my wits returned. I felt the ground vibrate, heard the rumble of hooves. I reared up to see a half-ton cranky bull racing toward me, head down, mean little eyes fixed on my prone body. Faye continued to scream shrilly. I moaned and crawled toward the fence, looking over my shoulder at Blaster who bore down on me like a runaway train. When I tried to stand, I slipped in the wet grass and landed on my belly. Oh God, he was just inches away. I wasn’t going to make it! I rolled into a ball and screamed, “No, Blaster! Go back! Go back!” Laying on the wet grass, trembling with terror, I watched as Blaster stopped on a dime, blew snot out of his flaring, black nostrils and released a thunderous blast of flatulence—that’s what my teacher, Mrs. Burke, calls farting—and, of course, the reason Uncle Sid named him Blaster. “Back off, Blaster,” I said between shallow, panicky breaths. “Good boy.” I hoped the “boy” comment wouldn’t tick him off, what with his fully-developed manly-bull parts dangling in full view as I lay curled on the ground looking up. Yuck! Suddenly my vision narrowed and grew dark around the edges. It was like looking down a long tunnel with Blaster front and center, bathed in light. A loud buzzing filled my head. The next moment, Blaster took a tentative step backward, then another, walking slowly, at first, then gradually picking up speed until he was trotting briskly backwards like a video tape on slow rewind. Mesmerized by the sight, I sat up and watched Blaster’s bizarre retreat back through the tunnel. At that precise moment, I should have known something strange was going on. But hey, I was a little busy trying to save my life. As I crawled under the fence, my vision returned to normal and the buzzing faded away. I stood and swiped a hand across my sweaty face. At least, I thought it was sweat until a trickle of blood dripped off the end of my nose. Surprised because I felt no pain, I touched my face and found the blood was oozing from a puncture wound in the center of my forehead.
Author Bio: A former teacher, coach and school counselor, Marilee lives in Washington State and writes full time. Her books include Castle Ladyslipper, a medieval romance, The Rock and Roll Queen of Bedlam, winner of the 2010 Booksellers Best award for romantic suspense, Moonstone, Moon Rise, Moon Spun, Shadow Moon, and Midnight Moon. Marilee is a member of the Romance Writers of America, Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
My name is Latoya, I am a Librarian and photographer(though I haven't done much of this lately, I'm a litte rusty). So, feel free to chat with me, I don't bite..I promise!
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