The Mystical Emporium
Home to all thing magical in the life of Marie-Claude Bourque, author of mystical romance and fantasy
ANCIENT WHISPERS
AMERICAN TITLE V WINNER
"Infinitally romantic and creative"
RT BOOKreviews
Dorchester ~ Love Spell
ISBN: 978-0-505-52833-9
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- Bushwhacking, Booze, and Nothing to Lose September 2, 2010Song of the day: Nothing to Lose by Operator Okay, tell me the truth. Do you ever have a moment where you just stop and wonder why it is that you write? Why do you subject yourself to torturous, lonely hours of work, real work, on a book where often there seems so little reward? [...] […]jbrayweber
- A Behind the Scenes Look at the Bustle September 2, 2010Okay, so it’s a horrible pun. But really, if you’re looking at the historical development over time of the bustle, could you resist? The fact remains that one of the classic elements of refined lady steampunk wear is the bustle. But what people seem to forget is that the bustle wasn’t always part of Victorian [...] […]bluemooncomm
Archive for the ‘Mystical Movies’ Category
Spell Inspiration: Expelliarmus…
My boys were wondering what exactly did the expelliarmus spell in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie so I looked it up and thought I’d post it here:
(from Wiki)
Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm)
Pronunciation: /ɛksˌpɛliˈɑrməs/ eks-PEL-ee-AR-məs
Description: Produces a jet of scarlet light. This spell is used to disarm another wizard, typically by causing the victim’s wand to fly out of reach. It can also throw the target backwards when enough power is put into it. If it hits, or gets close, to another spell, if powerful enough, it will deflect the spell, causing it to hit its caster. As demonstrated in Prisoner of Azkaban, simultaneous use of this spell by multiple witches or wizards on a single person can throw the wizard back with much greater force.
Seen/mentioned: First seen in Chamber of Secrets, when Snape disarms Gilderoy Lockhart in the Duelling Club; from then on it is commonly used throughout the rest of the series. Draco uses it to disarm Dumbledore and Harry uses the spell to not only disarm Gregory Goyle in the Room of Requirement, but also to reflect Voldemort’s killing curse during the final battle, killing Voldemort. He also used it to battle Death Eaters when they were chasing him on broom across London. It is seen by the Death Eaters as Harry’s signature move, as he had used it to duel Voldemort in both Goblet of Fire and Deathly Hallows.
Suggested etymology: Latin expellere meaning “to expel, to thrust away” and Latin arma meaning “weapons of war”.
On HP5, Waterbending and the Drake Sisters
I watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix today, a first for my boys, second for me. That is a lot to cram into a movie and I still love it. I couldn’t help noticed how at the end in the big battle Dumbledore make a water ball just like they do in The Last Airbender movie.
If I am not mistaken, the same producer or director that made the two movies. Exact same special effect anyway, which is not to say I minded at all. Love the special effects in both movies. The water bending/control of the elements in magical battle is pretty clever.
I stopped by the grocery store and trying to avoid temping sweets opted for a new book instead. The lastest in the Drake Sisters series by Christine Feehan. I read the first 5 books so far and owned them all. There was a little too much romantic suspense in the last one but I still like the cozy atmostphere of the books with the seven magical sisters. I’m frantically trying to catch up with my library books right to avoid fines (my own personal charity) so this one will have to wait.
Still, getting a new book is always a treat!
Brightest Blessings!
Of reviews, mines and others…
I’ve been taking a small break from posting. Not sure if it’s because I was so tired from trying to get back in shape, or the heat in Seattle or just a strange feeling of being in a sort of limbo with writing.
My book’s out, it’s done and I’m thinking of new projects. Yet reviews and feedback are still coming, I’m oddly and sickly addicted to goodreads. Looking to see if I got new reviews, rating and what not. One day you’re up, the next day in the depth of despair.
I’m kidding but not so much. I think the best way would be to adopt an attitude where reviews and rating don’t touch you. By that I mean to remain untouched equally by good and bad reviews. Not think too highly of my writing or too little based on what others say.
It is what it is, now time to move to the next book.
Easy to say, hard as hell to do but I’m working at it. Almost there…
The worst thing about book reviews though is not about me obsessing about my rating but me reading reviews of books I am about to read, I’ve noticed that it influence my thinking.
I never read reviews before and had my likes and dislikes and that was that.
But now I find myself analyzing the book I’m reading based on what other think. That’s not good, not good at all.
I hate that sheep mentality. I like to make my own mind. I have very weird taste. But now I know how easy it is to fall in with everyone.
Which is why I wish I hadn’t known that The Last Airbender had bad reviews.
I actually liked the film. But I remember reading reviewers saying the acting was really bad so I was looking fir that and found some, which is is a shame because it would have been more fun to just be swept by the show as my kids were. No preconceived idea, no knowlegde of what others think.
Just take it as it is…
It’s that strange thing called happiness…
I’ve been feeling quite a lot of stress lately, blog tour maybe, or waiting for and reading reviews, wondering what’s happening next.
But today, I don’t know, I felt suddenly very energetic and happy. Surely it’s not because of my upcoming birthday tomorrow. No I think the bit of exercise and the eating right has been helpful.
I just feel up to the upcoming challenges of writing the next novel and the next. I’m kind of back to square one it seems. Time to write another book, try to sell it and see if it’ll make it on the shelves.
I actually wrote this week! The steampunk project is slowly coming to life!
And I finished my first Eloisa James novel. It was fun. I’m learning a lot about writing a relationship, writing the seduction between two people. I’m trying to get better at that in my writing, so I do need to start reading a whole bunch of romances. Sounds like a good summer project.
Watching the 4th Harry Potter movie tonight…. I do love these movies!
Blessed be
Inspiration rushing through…
I saw How to Train a Dragon today. Wow, it’s been a while since I really got into a movie like that.
I love this feeling of rooting for the hero and where everyone does what they are supposed to do and everything is tied up just perfectly in the end. The script is perfect in my book. All expectations are met and the ending is super satisfying. It reminded me why I so like to write fantasy. I’m still filled with goosebumps and pack with ideas.
I stopped by our local Barnes & Noble to see if they ANCIENT WHISPERS but not luck. It will be in June 1st. But it’s been sighted in Alabama which is very cool.
But I was thrilled to find the latest in the Dragonlance saga, Dragons of the Hourglass Mage. I just love this series and Weis and Hickman are getting better with each book. I’ve started to read it already and yes I can read again!!!
I have to do dragons one day. Had this great premise for a series a year ago and it all came back to me. Plus I’m getting tons of inspiration for my ANCIENT series. People are already asking for the next book in the series. I’m crossing my fingers for that to happen!!
Blessed be
Something to get used to…
I came accross a comment on a blog this week about Ancient Whispers’s blurb.
What can I say… It wasn’t mean really, just showed the commenter wouldn’t pick up the book to read and compared my story to another book I never heard about.
It scared the hell out of me. Not the comment really, because it’s normal for people not to be thrilled about your work, but just the feeling of reading someone taking in a public forum about something I wrote.
When we had critiques in the RT Bookreviews during the American Title, it wasn’t bad at all. Perhaps because those were meant to be read by us as well.
But this, a comment on a review blog, felt like hearing gossip about me I shouldn’t know about. My first reaction was that I’ll never survive the reviews. Good or bad, I fear it will be hard for me to read anything written about my work.
Yes I know it’s part of the game and according to Norman Mailer most books get 50/50 good and bad reviews. But still, I know it will be an odd experience.
Can I block it all out? Just not read them and escape to the fantasy works of my next novel? Or perhaps plant my feet solidly in the reality that is my life with my family and love ones?
One more thing to get used to I suppose…
Been watching a bunch of movies lately and I have to say that both Alice in Wonderland and Sherlock Holmes have taken their placed in the list of favorites! I want to see those again soon!
Blessed Be
The harsh reality of…
Relaxing at bedtime with my little one, I’m thinking of movies that moved me, that I’d have a hard time seeing again but…
Maybe they show the harsh realities of life: The Piano, The Red Violin, The Hanging Garden, Margaret’s Museum.
I wonder how many people have seen those.
1500 words today. Good work. 1/3 into the book.
Blessed Be
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