December 26, 2012 – YA Chit Chat

Today, I have the lovely and talented J.A. Belfield guest hosting on my blog. Julie is the author of the urban fantasy Holloway Pack series. The second book in the series, “Blue Moon”, released December 3, 2012. If you’re into hot, sexy and romantic tales of werewolves, then you should really check out this series. They are smouldering, romantic reads. And now, without further ado, J.A. Belfield!

*Applause*

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There’s Magic In Them There Pages

Almost every writer out there who tells folk that they write will get asked: Where do your ideas come from?

My usual answer is ‘my head’.

But, thankfully, when it comes to Blue Moon, I have something a little more interesting to share.

You see, Blue Moon only ever ended up being written because after I’d finished Darkness & Light—what was meant to be a standalone rather the opening of a series—I missed spending time with Jem & Sean.

So I sat for a little while, trying to figure out what kind of journey I could take them on next. And voila. I had it—well, the basis for it, at least.

Magic.

And I pretty much took it from there.

The instant the idea of magic popped into my head, I got excited.

‘But,’ I thought, ‘where the heck do I find out about magic that sounds believable.’

My next thought?

‘Doh!’

Okay, let me explain.

Not a lot of people know this, but I have an older sister. Whilst Jem’s sister Jess might not exactly replicate her, the relationship between the two females certain parallels that between me and my sister.

Also, just like Jem’s sister, my sister has an interest in witchcraft and magic.

So, I called her up, asked what she’d got that I could use for research.

Just so happened she had a seriously awesome tome of a spellbook, containing ancient spells. There were even little tidbits of history in there alongside each spell, telling where they’d originated from, and for what they were traditionally used.

Well, I nearly pee’d my pants in excitement.

I’d only opened up the book for a little peek.

Hours later, I had pages of notes, words scrawled, ideas formed, and a list of every single spell that caught my eye.

From there, I pretty much studied every spell I’d chosen, worked through my idea for the storyline, and figured out how I could weave them in until I had the entire plot outlined in my head.

By the time I’d finished I was as excited to start Blue Moon as I had been Darkness & Light, and within weeks, a second Holloway Pack novel was born.

So, know this, anyone who reads Blue Moon, every single bit of magic in the book was researched and recorded as being tried, tested, and above all, successful.

Which means: there really is magic in them there pages.

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J.A. Belfield One day, a character and scene popped into J. A. Belfield’s head, and she started controlling the little people inside her imagination as though she were the puppet master and they her toys. Questions arose: What would happen if …? How would they react if …? Who would they meet if …? Before she knew it, a singular scene had become an entire movie. The characters she controlled began to hold conversations. Their actions reflected the personalities she bestowed upon them. Within no time, they had a life, a lover, a foe, family … they had Become.

One day, she wrote down her thoughts. She’s yet to stop.

J. A. Belfield lives in Solihull, England, with her husband, two children, three cats, and a dog. She writes paranormal romance with a second love for urban fantasy.

Where you can stalk J.A. Belfield: