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
Available Now
- 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 ‘Writing Steam Witch’ Category
Tarot Inspiration: The Lovers
I though I’d share with you the one Tarot deck I own and love. I am new to Tarot reading and picked this one “The Mystic Dreamer Tarot” just because I love the artwork. As I became more and more into reading (A simple one card draw and following meditation), I realized that this deck made a strong connection with me. I was glad when I read that my Tarot expert friend Arwen gave this deck a high review.
I chose here to show the interpretation of the artist as opposed to the explanation on the actual Lewellyn deck which I like a lot as well.
The Lovers
symbolisme : men and women, 2 trees one with 12 flames representing the 12 signs of the zodiac and the other the tree of knowledge, guardian angel ( changed it into a face in the moon)
the men represents the consious mind, and the women the subconscious mind. guardian angel represents the higher self in ourselves
the lovers means a choise we will have to make, a choise between “following your heart” and “and what make sense” The Lovers remind us that we cannot attain our full potential with our conscious, rational mind alone. We must marry it to our subconscious, representing our emotions and intuition.
SONG OF THE DAY: Die Another Day by Madonna
STATUS: wrote 27 pages on Steam Witch last week! Quite a productive week! Off to my summer holiday this afternoon!
Witches: The Nature of Our Ways
Here is a nice little text from the late Scott Cunningham from his Standing Stones Book of Shadows. I really like to read and reread this.
THE NATURE OF OUR WAY
* As often as possible, hold the rites in forests, by the
seashore, on deserted mountaintops or near tranquil lakes. If this is
impossible, a garden or some chamber shall suffice, if it is readied
with fumes of flowers.
*Seek outwisdom inbooks, rare manuscriptsand crypticpoems if
you will, but seek it out also in simple stones and fragile herbs and
in the cries of wild birds. Listen to the whisperings of the wind and
the roar of water if you would discover magick, for it is here that
the old secrets are preserved.
* Books contain words;trees contain energies andwisdom books
ne’er dreamt of.
* Ever remember that the Old Ways are constantly revealing
themselves. Therefore be as the river willow that bends and sways
with the wind. That which remains changeless shall outlive its
spirit, but that which evolves and grows will shine for centuries.
* Therecan be no monopolyon wisdom. Thereforeshare what you
will of our ways with others who seek them, but hide mystic lore from
the eyes of those who would destroy, for to do otherwise increases
their destruction.
* Mock not the rituals or spells of another, for who can say
yours are greater in power or wisdom?
*Ensure that your actions are honorable, for all that you do
shall return to you three-fold, good or bane.
* Be waryof one who would dominate you,who would control and
manipulate your workings and reverences. True reverence for the
Goddess and God occurs within. Look with suspicion on any who would
twist worship from you for their own gain and glory, but welcome those
priestesses and priests who are suffused with love.
* Honorall living things,for we are ofthe bird, thefish, the
bee. Destroy not life save it be to preserve your own.
* And this is the nature of our way.
excerpted from:
WICCA A Guide For The Solitary Practioner
PP. 111 – 187
1989, Llewellyn Publications
ISBN 0-87542-118-0
SONG OF THE DAY: All The Right Moves by OneRepublic
STATUS: Lots done today including 1200 words added to Steam Witches and the backstory of another character: fallen Victorian lady Lady Clara Lowell
Romancing the Sorcerer
(Note: I wrote most of this post for the romcom blog)
I am quite sad I have missed The Sorcerer’s Apprentice on the big screen. I know that Nicolas Cage’s track record varies a lot, but ever since Wild at Heart, for me he can do no wrong.
I love everything magic: wizards, sorcery, witches, you name it. I love Merlin, Gandalf , Morgan, Samantha of Bewitched and every character who can cast a spell. These days I’m even addicted to watching the Wizards of Waverly Place with my kids.
I think my love affair with sorcerers started when I was a kid and read (and reread) a French historical series called Angélique by Anne and Serge Golon. Set in the 17th century, the series featured a heroine whose one true love was her first husband, a count and alchemist who was left limping after a brush with the inquisition and that she believes dead for a big part of the series until she is reunited with him after many adventures. He was older and wise and yes, very sexy.
Later in my teen, I fell for a powerful wizard from the first Dragonlance series written by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. This wizard, called Raistlin Majere, is physically weak but extremely powerful. And maybe that is why I love wizards and sorcerers so much, it’s their powers that make them so alluring.
There is a great scene in one of the Harry Potter movie where Snape dramatically enters the classroom, his robes billowing behind him as he closes the window shutters with one flick of his wand. I love that scene. So much power! How can I not fall for Snape there! I know, he’s a little creepy, but I always liked the underdog. When Harry Potter screams his Patronus charm –yells Expecto Patronum in the dark forest — in yet another very intense scene of a Harry Potter movie, I can see how enticing he will become as a grown wizard.
It’s no wonder I chose to make ANCIENT WHISPERS heroes sorcerers. Not only they possess this incredible magical power, but these modern wizards are also tall, strong and extremely handsome. Most were warriors in their time and learned magic as they became immortal in order to find their lost soulmates who are now reborn in modern time.
Replacing wizard’s robes with long coats that hide the magical components needed for their spells and the enchanted dagger that cuts through various dimensions, these sorcerers are everything I always dreamed of: strong, sexy, and powerful, very powerful. They make a woman want to hide in their arms, absolutely protected from anything within the safety of their coats, their masculine scent enveloping them like an overwhelming yet enticing shadow.
And since I like sexy, I had to think of how magic could be used for seduction. And I’m not talking love spells of attraction here. I’m talking full use of magic “within the moment”.
When I started to write about my sorcerers, each deadly, haunted by a tortured past, I hadn’t read any modern romance with wizard, sorcerer or alchemist hero. I am sure they exit and I’d love to find more. Just last month I discovered Jim Butcher’s series the Dresden files. When I read on the book cover that it was like a wizard Robert B Parker book, I knew I had to read the series (I’m a Robert B. Parker addict). I bought the first one and wasn’t disappointed. I’m waiting impatiently for the next ones in the series which I just ordered. And now it looks like I have to wait for the DVD to be able to lust over Baltazar Blake. I know some critiques haven’t been kind but for me, Nicolas Cage… in a big long coat, casting spells! What’s not to love!
SONG OF THE DAY: Just Dance by Lady Gaga
STATUS: Doing a whole lot of writerly things today including over 2000 words on Steam Witch and writing the backstory of my hero Captain Asher Blackmore.
Spell Inspiration: Sectumsempra
I watched Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince with the kids yesterday and we couldn’t remember what this spell did.
It didn’t take long to see it in action.
Sectumsempra:
(from wiki)
Description: A dark spell that creates large, blood-oozing gashes on the subject as if said subject had been “slashed by a sword”. Invented by Severus Snape.
Seen/Mentioned: Used by Harry in 1997 against Draco Malfoy, and then later against both the Inferi in Lord Voldemort’s Horcrux chamber, and Snape used it against George Weasley (was unintentional; aimed for a Death Eater that tried to curse Lupin) in the Order’s flight from Privet Drive. Harry learned it in Snape’s old Potions textbook. In 1998, the spell is said to be Severus Snape’s “signature” spell.
Etymology: Latin sectum, “cut”, and semper, “always”.
Notes: The spell can apparently be used against any object, but was not effective when used against Inferi because they could not bleed. The movement of the wand seems to affect how someone is cut, suggested by the erratic patterns of slashes left on Draco Malfoy’s face and chest, produced by Harry Potter’s wild wand-swings while using the spell against Draco. Wounds caused by this spell can be healed as proved by Severus Snape who after Harry hit Draco Malfoy with this spell he healed Draco’s wounds and told him to go and get treated with dittany at once so that he would even avoid any sign of any wound. However it seems that it depends on the caster’s magical abilities because Molly Weasley could not heal and restore George Weasley’s ear that was cursed off by this spell.
“Blood spurted from Malfoy’s face and chest as though he had been slashed with an invisible sword. He staggered backward and collapsed onto the waterlogged floor with a great splash, his wand falling from his limp right hand. “No —” gasped Harry. Slipping and staggering, Harry got to his feet and plunged toward Malfoy, whose face was now shining scarlet, his white hands scrabbling at his blood-soaked chest.“
Song of the Day: Hello Seattle by Owl City
Status: Learnd great time management tricks from Kerri Nelson in her Celtic Heart-RWA online class. Had a chance to write a few pages on my heroine’s journal. Maybe her backstory, her past.
Remember this now…
A image of Quan Yin to remember to breathe and find joy in the moment.
1) Song of the day: Cherry Bomb by Joan Jett
2) Status: Another day of not being able to write and too much obsessing searching the web for solution to things I can’t change. Writing is indeed not for sissies.
Writing Magic…
I’ve been thinking a lot about my writing lately and after reading many books and reading various blog post, I do know I have to focus on one thing and write it well…
But oh..sigh… what is that? Romance? Sexy? Fantasy? I have so many interests. But that is when it hit me. I always write about magic. I love it, loved reading the fantasy with Wizards of D&D, loved Harry Potter, can’t get enough of all the magic movies I watch with the kids and of course, my latest find Jim Butcher.
This is not the Bewitched kind of magic that I write, but a dark, fantasy like magic set either in modern time or like my new project in a Steampunk world.
So here I have it, my unifying writing theme, magic and the mystical.
Which explains yet the change in blog theme, and the new layout. Hopefully, I can focus this blog a little better by talking about what I am so passionate about.
And what a great time to change then when everyone is gone to the RWA conference. The silence is helping me think about these things while I am working hard on the steampunk novel and brainstorming a new Ancient story.
Blessings!
Ideal reader…where are you?
Stephen King talks about writing with his ideal reader in mind. I think it’s his wife.
At first when I started writing, I wrote for myself, with a look over my shoulder in fear of anyone finding out what I did. (What? She wants to write novels? Who does she think she is?)
Then at the online critique group, the same 3 people started reading and commenting on my work: John, Candi and Jenn. My ideal readers. From then on, I wrote thinking of what they would say of the latest new twist. It was a whole lot of fun. “Let’s up the action for John!” “I wonder what the girls will think of this sex scene”
Now after all the reviews, I’ve lost thinking of my ideal readers. All I’m hearing in my head is critiques. Argh!
It’s sucky, as my boys would say, because i’m finding myself playing it safe. And I don’t want that. When I wrote things in Whispers that I felt were unsafe at the time, now as I see them again, they feel fresh and just right.
I’m afraid the current WIP may be quite bland. I got too many naysayers in my head. As if I’m writing a scientific article not a wild steampunk ride.
I’m not blogging about this to complain. I’m just learning here. Publishing a first book, receiving feedback from readers and reviewers, worrying about the next books, it’s all so new.
It’s a learning curve. With everything new you do, you learn. I’m stepping back now and observing, taking notes. I see where my time is well spent, where it’s not so much.
In this case, I see that in my head I’ve lost my trusted ideal readers and replaced them with too many outside voices. I need the small circle first. The one that allows me to write wild things, take me and the story out of my comfort zone.
I’m about to write an action scene now… I better pack it in to make John go “wow”!
Writing report
Still working hard on the Steampunk novel. I didn’t manage to write everyday (bad bad girl)
Somehow having to get up at 4 am to stand in line to register my kids for daily swim lesson (an event that happens every two weeks in the summer) completely threw me off my game. I was much too tired.
But I made up for it in 4 days anyway, having written 6250 words already. Way over my 3500 words minimum.
So all in all a good writing week! (although I can’t get out of my mind that if I didn’t blow off 3 days, my quota would have been stellar)
I am really into craft these days and learned a whole lot from Jim Butcher. If you are a writer, go to his site and read his blog. I am a real plotter and I love his talk of tags and traits for characters and how he plans his scenes and sequels. I’ve used his advice to plan some scenes and I really like it!
Off to a new writing week!
Back to reset time…
(1) got my writing and exercise done today (a friend brought me to a very nice outdoor private pool in Seattle. It takes ten year to be a member once you put your name on the list. I have nice friends!
(2) squeezed in to the library in the nick of time to get books on hold for me: another Jim Butcher (love him, love him), a whole bunch of Jane Porter (I’m becoming a devoted fan: she’s smart, true and her books talk about real issues women like me face: I admire and love her writing and look up to her as a writer). I also got odds and ends romance books from the paperback section that you can keep for as long as you want (some HQ presents, superromance and some regencies)
Which leads to 3)
Back to reset time. To when I was not an author but a writer, to when I didn’t care about goodreads and reviews and selling and amazon ranking. When I read for pleasure and I wrote because it’s so damn cool.
I also occasionally find myself wanting to just chill with some Spanish hottie from a HQ Presents just for fun, but I can’t relax because I’m too busy analysing it, thinking I can write one!
No no no! I am writing a steampunk! Why can’t I just chill and focus on my word quota and making sure my wordbuilding make sense and stop panicking on days I see no one is adding my book on goodreads!
Why can’t I just read a book. So what if I don’t learn! I’m stuck here in so much panic that I feel I must only read to learn! Which is silly because it’s when we read in a relax way that we internalize the story. Studying is fine but doesn’t have to be all the time!
So reset mode here! Go back there M-C! Stick with your close friends for feedback (musetrackers I love you!) and write write write! Read for fun! Relax! You can always check goodreads and Amazon in two years! See what happened when you were not looking!
Ah!
Brightest Blessing!
Writing report…
I’m starting to find my groove again. I vowed to write a minimum of 500 words a day and for the last few weeks I’ve been doing just that (and more)!
This week I added 5000 words to the steampunk novel. I’m halfway into my first draft with 33,000 words. I’m hoping this will continue so that I can reach a nice 65,000 words first draft.
I’ve purposefully removed any pressure from writing this. It’s tough. I have to make a constant effort not to think about marketing it or comparing it to popular steampunk authors like Cherie Priest or Gail Carriger.
I keep doing this and (of course) don’t measure up and so I get very discouraged. I think that my own brand of steampunk is not “right” and that blocks me completely.
I was the same with Ancient Whispers but then I was still playing and publishing was so far removed from my mind.
Now I have to constantly remind myself to write what I need not what I think editors want.
It’s such a great feeling to be immerse in your own world, to write because you want to be in this cool place and know these cool people. I am almost there and I see that the key is to keep writing everyday and not think about selling. That will come later.
