Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Spell For Sophia is my fourth published book. I am a shaman and Reiki Master so magic infuses my everyday life. The first three book in the Teen Wytche Saga incorporated systems of magic I am well familiar with, but I had to research much of the magic used in Spell For Sophia.
Extreme math anxiety and taller students who mistook me for a leaning post, marred my youth. Despite these horrors, I graduated summa cum laude from the University of California at Davis. I live a nearly normal life with my extraordinary daughter, two shamelessly spoiled dogs, and an enormous dragon.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Spell For Sophia is a stand-alone book, but in many ways it is the sequel to my third book, Spell Fire. One of the most unusual characters in the book is a Walk-in (when a soul takes over another soul’s body). That character was inspired by my encounter with a Walk-in while I was a psychic on a police case.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
When I lived in northern California, I would light a tea candle and work until the flame extinguished. Now that I live in the desert, I shy away from rituals that would add heat to my home.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
I spent my childhood looking for a magic wardrobe that would transport me to Narnia. So C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia was a strong early influence.
What are you working on now?
I had started the fifth book in the Teen Wytche Saga, but set it aside to write a New Adult novel. The characters are older and quite different from the Jefferson High and Athenian Academy teens in the Teen Wytche Saga.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
My best promotional tool is school visits. I’ve had sales bumps with several sites, including the Romance Studio and blog tours arranged by I am a Reader, Not a Writer. Of course, the best one-stop site for the Teen Wytche Saga is http://www.AriellaMoon.com.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Join writers’ organizations like SCBWI, Romance Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime and enter their writing contests. Attend writing conferences. Hone your craft and never give up!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Nora Roberts once said, “You can fix a bad page of writing but you can’t fix a blank one.”
What are you reading now?
I just finished Alexis Hall’s fun and imaginative novel, Iron and Velvet and look forward to reading the sequel. I have a stockpile of books waiting my attention.
What’s next for you as a writer?
A slight shift in genre and expanding my readership is next on my To Do list.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
I’d grab one of my Harry Potter books, and two books on my Christmas list: Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger, and Shadows & Dreams by Alexis Hall.
Author Websites and Profiles
Ariella Moon Website
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