Thursday, December 1, 2016

On Friends, or, The Girl who gave me a Unicorn

So, Iffy Magic has been out since August (cue the hurrahs!). While I must regrettably confess that I'm not a millionairess just yet, I've had the great pleasure of sharing the misadventures of Prim & Co. with friends and family, and making new reader friends, too.

And the process of bringing my book to print has helped me to (re)learn that I am surrounded by amazingly talented, kind and imaginative people. As an introverted writer, my primary tendency is to retreat into a nook with my trusty battered laptop and ignore the world in favor of my own mental kingdoms.

But that is not how stories grow well, at least not mine. Idea seeds are nourished by more than the ink in my veins; by nights of watching silly movies with friends, sharing links to crazy awesome music videos, walks and talks and mundane smiley faces. Sharing my half-baked stories with my friends helps transform them into something newer and better, sometimes even into a story I could never have imagined on my own.

I will always be grateful for all those who fell in love with Prim's story and made it their own: My sisters, who argued over my weak plot points and laughed uproariously at my bad dialogue until I fixed it (mostly). My splendiferous agent/editor Natalie, who tirelessly helped me to polish the narrative to a proper shine. So many marvelous people, including the girl who gave me a unicorn. When I sent my friend (and artist/animator/musician extraordinaire) Audrey Bagley an error-riddled earlier draft of the manuscript, she envisioned a book trailer far grander than my feeble imaginings. I almost cried when she sent me this little animated snippet of her work-in-progress:


Nobody had ever given me a unicorn before! Nobody had seen the jewel-in-the-rough quite the same way she did. It was like watching my story born all over again! Thank you, Audrey, for giving me a unicorn (and a gorgeous book trailer, cover, and story art!).

So my wish for the holidays and 2017 is that we never forget or neglect the amazing people in our lives in the pursuit of our dreams. Dreaming alone only gets you so far, after all.

Here's to a new year, new ink, and new friends! May you all find your unicorns.


P.S. Need a stocking stuffer? The Iffy Magic ebook is now 99 cents and the print book is $9.99!


Thursday, November 3, 2016

A Rose by Any Other Name . . .

So why did I choose the name "Evening Primrose" for Iffy Magic's faux fairy godmother? Quite honestly, there was no other rose I would ever pick besides a primrose to be my protagonist's name. Years ago, my sisters and I asked our mother what her favorite kind of rose was, and she named the primrose because it is wild. It can survive and thrive where other delicate hothouse posies would wither and perish. Likewise, Primrose Goodwing is no tame flower fairy.

In researching primroses, I poured through the gorgeous illustrations of Wild Flowers of America by H.W. Rickett, which contains 400 flowers in full color from paintings by Mary Vaux Walcott, as well as additional paintings by Dorothy Falconn Platt.

I must admit I was a bit shocked to discover just how much the primrose does not match the multi-whorled image of a traditional rose sold on Valentine's:

Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis


Evening Primrose, Pachylophus hirsutus


Feisty flowers indeed!

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The Glass Dryad's Price

Happy Wednesday! Today's miniquotable brought to you by my favorite shady lady, the Glass Dryad, a dark sage who helps both villain and hero for the right price . . . .




Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Deleted Scene: To Catch a Gnome

I am thrilled to announce that Iffy Magic has been officially nominated for a Whitney Award in the YA Speculative Fiction category! I received this nifty picture to share on my blog:


To celebrate, I'm sharing one of my favorite deleted scenes!

In the original draft of Iffy Magic, the enterprising gnome Snitchquick had a bit of a "grander" role . . . meaning he tagged along with Prim when she entered the Mortal Vale and wreaked absolute havoc on unsuspecting humans.

           Calico curled around my ankles the instant I stepped outside. “You owe me some serious catnip!” he grumbled. “I think I burned out my sense of smell tracking down your stinker Snitchquick.”
            “Well, where is he?” I demanded.
“Hiding somewhere in the peach orchard behind the cottage,” Calico said.
            My eyes narrowed. “Then I’ll just have to flush him out.” Appendix B of the Pocketbook was devoted entirely to the management and containment of pestiferous magical creatures. If I recalled correctly—and I always did—the most common method of gnome-catching was to lay a trail of diamonds that led to a hidden ambush. It was gnomic nature to snatch all things shiny. By the time Snitchquick arrived at the ambush point, his arms would be so burdened with gems he wouldn’t be able to evade the wrath of my wand. At least, that was the idea—the only one I had.
            “Keep close, but stay out of sight,” I whispered to Calico. Drawing my wand, I slipped silently into the peach orchard. The boughs were already spangled in dripping water gems. My own jewels tinkled as they slipped free from the tip of the wand and hit the wet ground. I added lavender spinel and aqua tourmaline, cloudy moonstone and darkly gleaming garnets, and luminous pink pearls as large as a dove’s egg. When I arrived at the heart of the orchard I sat on tree stump and waited. Patiently . . . for a few minutes. Not so patiently for a couple more. Come on, any time now. Nothing happened.
A voice behind me said slyly, “Miss me, pretty pixie?”
“Gotcha!” I whirled around to face Snitchquick. The gnome tottered on the branch of a peach tree under the weight of an enormous armful of jewels. My spell would’ve bound him in ivy vines to the tree trunk—if it weren’t for the sudden shower of gems that pelted me in the face and skewed my aim. 
“Aye, you definitely missed me,” Snitchquick chuckled as he leapt to the safety of another peach tree. “Nice try, but did you honestly think a pile of magicked winkers would catch my eye?” He flicked a ruby at me. “Snitchquick is more into objects with the exciting aroma of a story about them.”
            Silly me. I should’ve left him a trail of dirty socks.
Snitchquick appeared to have done quite well for himself since he hitched a ride with me to the Mortal Vale. He wore a fine linen table cloth draped across his shoulders like a cape and his long pointed ears waggled through Mayor Brunoldo’s white-plumed hat. Bright scarves and kerchiefs wound around his river reed tunic like a makeshift baldric. All together, his wardrobe looked like a cross between a lunatic pirate and a noblewoman’s laundry bag.
 I pointed my wand squarely between his beady black eyes. “So you’ve had your bit of fun, but now it’s time to surrender my magic bean and take the nearest portal back to Faerie,” I said in my severest tone.
Snitchquick skittered behind the trunk of another peach tree. “Ahem,” he coughed delicately. “About the bean. I’m afraid I already traded it, so there’s no use demanding it back.”  
A faint groan escaped my lips. Just splendid! Somewhere in the Mortal Vale, a magic bean could wreak havoc on somebody’s vegetable garden at any moment. I tried not to start as Calico leapt onto Snitchquick’s bough and snuck up stealthily behind him. Splendid. Now if I could only keep the nimble gnome distracted before he could make another escape attempt.
“Bean or no bean, you’re done making mischief in Shambley,” I said. The star sapphire thrummed as I funneled magic into the coregem.
            “Don’t be doing anything hasty now,” Snitchquick said. “I played into your clumsy trap of my own free will, ’cause I believe we can come to some kind of a trade agreement, an understanding, if you will, between two respectable Faerie Folk— ” He squeaked as Calico pounced on him. A shower of peaches pummeled them both as Calico pinned Snitchquick to the ground.
            “You crushed my feather!” Snitchquick said indignantly.
            Alas, the gnome was correct. Mayor Brunoldo’s hat was quite crushed.
            “Gross! You were right, Prim,” Calico said, spitting fibers of Snitchquick’s reed tunic from his mouth. “This fellow isn’t edible at all.”
            Snitchquick’s smile was lined with pointed ivory. “But are you, kitty-cat?”
Calico gave a strangled hiss as Snitchquick twisted free of his grip and bit the end of his tail.
“Indigestible fiend! I’ll show you what real fangs feel like!” Calico streaked after Snitchquick in a lean blur of fur. The wily gnome dove into an adjacent barley field, the tall stalks shaking in a violent breeze as Calico followed close behind him.
            I sighed. So much for taking care of my little gnome problem today. 

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Iffy Magic - Imaginary Soundtrack

If you'd like a free mp3 copy of the book trailer's "Glass Dryad Song" (sung and composed by the fabulous Audrey Bagley), email me and I will send you one!

I have paired a song with each chapter of Iffy Magic that I think matches the mood. Please check out and enjoy the gorgeous music by these artists!

Prologue: "Stella" by the Forest Elves
1. “Transcendence” by Lindsey Stirling
2. “Lullaby” by Emmy Rossum
3. “I wasn’t born to follow” by Carole King
4.  “Strangely beautiful” by Amethystium
5.  The Butterfly” by Celtic Woman
6.  It’s Amazing” by Jem
7. “Flute” by the Barcode Brothers
8. "Bridges" by Eivør
9. “Sweet Dreams are Made of These” by Emily Browning
10. “Ambulances” by Ladytron
11. “The Fairies’ Wind” by Trobar de Morte
12.  “Numbers” by Great Northern
13. “Requiem for a dream” by Clint Mansell
14. “Stories” by Eivør
15. “Marvelous Things” by Eisley
16. “Not gonna get us” by t.A.T.u.
17. “Nightmares(Corvus Corax Mix) by The Last Dance
18.  Coloring the Void” by M83
19.  Skies on Fire” by The Green Children 

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Life Motto & Miniquotable

This week's miniquotable is brought to you by Primrose Goodwing, and her mother, Rose Pogonia:


This idea ties into my favorite quotation by Erica Jong, and also the motto I try to live by: "Courage is the only magic worth having."

What is your motto?

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

The Alternate Iffy Magic Cover

Today I have a special surprise: the other cover for Iffy Magic! This is the gorgeous rough draft for the runner up:


While I ultimately went with the official cover because I liked the defiant upheld chin and ethereal wing expanse, I still think the alternate by Audrey Bagley is lovely, too.


Which one is your favorite?


Thursday, September 15, 2016

Miniquotables!

I've decided to start a new category for Iffy Magic fun: miniquotables! I will be choosing quotations from the book to pair with pictures and share online.

Please enjoy this week's batch of shiny sentences:





 



I would love to see your Iffy Magic miniquotables, too. Take your favorite quote from the book and paste it onto a picture you've taken, and then email your masterpiece to me at gossamerpage@gmail.com for a chance to be featured! Feel free to reuse quotes with new pictures.

*Here is the blank canvas for the next miniquotable!







Thursday, September 8, 2016

The Original Glass Dryad

Stelliferous artist Audrey Bagley created this version of the Glass Dryad first. While she ultimately decided to redesign the tree witch, I still love the rowan berry jewels and mystical oriental charm of this piece.

The Glass Dryad has very noticeable black splinter teeth in this image. Historically, black teeth were viewed as a hallmark of beauty in Japanese culture. "Ohaguro," the Japanese custom for "dyeing one's teeth black," was popular for hundreds of years up until the Meiji era.


I think the eerie magic of the Tree Witch is evident in both images!




Thursday, September 1, 2016

Ebook Giveaway!

Want to win a free ebook copy of Iffy Magic?


 Thanks to Michelle Terese of Women of Vienna for hosting an ebook giveaway! To be one of 5 lucky winners, all you have to do is send an email to womenofvienna@gmail.com. 

Don't waste time! 


 Winners will be chosen at random and announced September 8th.
 

 May the odds be ever in your favor! 


Tuesday, August 23, 2016

The Origin of Geomar

The unicorn Geomar is one of my favorite characters in Iffy Magic. He's semi-senile, dangerously powerful and on a desperate hunt for the best friend he lost almost a century ago, not understanding that mortals age far more swiftly than the dreams of Faerie Folk. I imagine him as an equine Don Quixote, always ready, like Miguel Cervantes's man, to proclaim to any who dare scoff at his near impossible quest:

“To surrender dreams — this may be madness. Too much sanity may be madness — and maddest of all: to see life as it is, and not as it should be!”

The inspiration for his character came from a birthday card given to me by my very own Fairy Grandma:


One look at the urgent, earnest expression in the eyes, the defiant toss of the head, and I knew this chivalrous creature needed a story of its own. And yes, the featured equine is a pegasus, not a unicorn . . . .


Guess you'll just have to read the book to find out how Geomar gains wings!

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Secrets behind Iffy Magic Art

Today I am going to share secrets behind the creation of the book cover and book trailer!

Secret #1: The wings on the book cover are REAL.


Okay, so the wings are made of fabric and wire, but the pattern overlaying the wings comes from a Pearl Morpho butterfly. Specifically, from this photo I took many years ago at a museum:


Secret #2: You can catch a tiny glimpse of Prim's wings, which she trades to the Glass Dryad for passage into the Mortal Vale, in the book trailer. I have highlighted them in a red circle:


 Secret #3: There is a bit of Fargo hidden in the book trailer!


I sent my fabulous illustrator/animator Audrey Bagley a picture of frost climbing my window during winter, and she came up with the genius idea to use it as a hidden texture throughout the book trailer. For example, the frost texture was used to give the star sapphire coregem depth: 



*Stay tuned next week to discover the origin of the unicorn Geomar, my favorite equine Don Quixote!


Tuesday, August 9, 2016

Book Launch/Trailer Day!

 

I've blown all my wish seeds and Iffy Magic is out in the world, at last! Thanks in no small part to the keen and creative editorial vision of Natalie Lakosil, the gorgeous illustrated and animated art by Audrey Bagley, and my ever supportive friends and family.

And now it is with great pleasure that I share Sealoch Studio's book trailer!

*Looking for the book? You can find it at these online retailers:

Purchase in print: 
Amazon

Purchase the ebook:
Smashwords
*(read the first 20% of the book free on Smashwords!)

International:
Amazon international sites, including
 Amazon UK
Amazon Japan 
 Kobo 
 

Monday, August 8, 2016

Iffy Magic's Muse & Author Dean Hughes's Review

I started writing Iffy Magic in the fall of 2008, about eight months after my mother's sudden passing in February. I needed a way to push against the ache of silence, a way for me to find her again—


Bonnie. Mom. Teacher. Artist. Storyteller.

Many of my happiest memories of my mother involve stories. She was always reading to my sisters and I, always marking little blue and black x’s in the wispy paper-thin Scholastic catalogue they sent children home with from school, and taking us to the library for ink treasure hunts. Always teaching me to believe in the wonder of fairy tales and how to learn from the kindness and bravery of characters like Taran Wanderer, Cimorene, Aslan, Frodo, and Barbara Cooney's Hattie. Creating Primrose and coming along with her on her journey to become a true fairy godmother allowed me to find joy again not just as a writer, but as a daughter. As a (once-upon-a-time) child. As just another soul in this scarred and beautiful globe of wishes we call Earth.

I am so thrilled to share Iffy Magic with the world tomorrow! But first, I would like to share a review given by writer Dean Hughes, author of over 100 published books including Soldier Boys. I was serendipitous enough to be a student in his creative writing class at BYU over ten years ago.

Without further ado—

“Queen Calypso, a character in Iffy Magic: Confessions of a Faux Fairy Godmother, describes the ‘Motley crew of vagabonds’ who inhabit the story:  ‘We have a stray Lord of Feles, an Elder unicorn, a faux fairy godmother and a wicked fairy . . . all working together to create unparalleled mischief.’

But more than mischief, these vagabonds create a delightful team of eccentrics who use their magic to create an intriguing plot, an enchanting world—and great fun for the reader.  The plot may take the Cinderella story for its inspiration, but the wonderful characters, ingenious plot and unfailing writing style make for a more layered, evocative and entertaining story than the original tale ever achieved.

S. E. Page is a skilled stylist [ . . .] Her descriptions, her clever language, her funny insights, create a voice that holds and charms the reader with every sentence.  Readers of all ages will come to love Primrose Goodwing, the would-be fairy godmother, and the magical world she lives in.”

Saturday, August 6, 2016

Faerie Era Exclusive! Interview with Zenaides

This week I am proud to include a Character Interview of Iffy Magic’s very own Zenaides by Sadie St. Elle-Maid of the Faerie Era, the premier news folio in the Faerie Vale.

*Read Part I and Part 2.

St. Elle-Maid: It’s not often that I have the distinct dishonor of interviewing a pernicious pixie. How do you take your tea, one lump or two?

Zenaides: No sugar, thank you. A pinch of dried hemlock will do nicely. And 'pernicious pixie’ is a rather droll term, don’t you think? “Wicked fairy” suits me just fine. 

St. Elle-Maid: As a thoroughly vile wicked fairy, how many mortals have you hexed? And what is your favorite method of hexing; toad, frog or newt?

Zenaides: Not to brag—that’s a hexable vice, after all—but I must admit that I lost count after the first hundred or so. Over the centuries, I’ve found myself growing weary of the common amphibious spell. I’ve recently started experimenting with fowl play in a group hexing; “duck, duck goose” is my current favorite.

St. Elle-Maid: Fascinating. And when did you first realize your destiny as a nefarious foe of good fairy godmothers everywhere?

Zenaides: Oh, some ages ago . . . I think there was a princess. Mine, actually! But she had the heart of a viper and I had the temper of a dragon, and, well—enough about dull little old me. I only agreed to this interview because I wished to meet the foolish nitwing who cast slanderous aspersions on Primrose Goodwing.

St. Elle-Maid: Aspersions? I never—

Zenaides: I believe you accused "Little Miss Pixie Perfect" of employing forbidden dark magic to create the notorious glass slippers.

St. Elle-Maid: I was only repeating my sources. My readership deserve the absolute, unvarnished truth—

Zenaides: Malicious gossip you fanned to a bonfire! You should be ashamed of your shoddy exposé. I count Miss Goodwing as my particular acquaintance and can state with unequivocal candor that she is an upstanding pixie who could go far as a wicked fairy. Very far.

St. Elle-Maid: Oh really? Do tell us her wretched secret!

Zenaides: There’s nothing secret about it. I knew from the moment that we crossed wands that Primrose has a rebel spark in her. She won’t let nonsensical notions of the proper way to be a fairy godmother get in the way of—

St. Elle-Maid: Wait, you two dueled? Who won?

Zenaides: I know I said that I rarely indulge in the classical hexes anymore, but I do believe a toad hex will suit you well. The warts do wonders. 

St. Elle-Maid: Don’t be coy now. You’re clearly avoiding my question.

Zenaides: Am I, poppet? Why not try out my hex for a day and then guess who won.

St. Elle-Maid: I’ve been a toad twice this month already; a unique hazard of my profession, I’m afraid. Might I try something a little more exotic this time, perhaps an “aardvark”?

Zenaides: Intriguing! As you wish.

After a brief stint flirting with dark magic as a ghost mime, Sadie St. Elle-Maid earned her Silver Quill chronicling the mysterious mass evaporation of cloud ponies over Mirage Desert. She has headed the Character Interview section of the Faerie Era for two centuries now and is widely regarded as the supreme expert of hexological pathologies.


Friday, August 5, 2016

Faerie Era Exclusive! Interview with Primrose Goodwing



This week I am proud to include a Character Interview of Iffy Magic’s very own Primrose Goodwing by Sadie St. Elle-Maid of the Faerie Era, the premier news folio in the Faerie Vale.

*Read Part I

Prim: Salutations! I’m—

St. Elle-Maid: Four-leaf clover tart?

Prim: No thank you, I’m allergic to four-leaf clovers. What was I saying? Oh yes. Salutations! I’m Primrose Goodwing and I have a message from the Sponsor a Mortal Foundation—

St. Elle-Maid: A lovely hobby, to be sure—but Titania’s Toes! I just adore your shoes. The tiny gold Zanzibar bells on the curled tips are such a daring touch. Did you glamour up those little wonder soles yourself?

Prim: I’ve been conjuring shoes ever since I was little. My iffy magic often got me into trouble with my teachers, so I stared down at my feet quite a lot, but that gets rather boring, doesn’t it? Embellishing my slippers with a bit of sparkle became sort of a habit—ahem. But I’m actually here today to talk about how citizens of the Faerie Vale can help poor and afflicted mortals in desperate need of—”

St. Elle-Maid: That’s nice. Would you ever consider replicating the famed glass slippers that you made for your first mortal venture?

Prim: It’s impossible to reflect magic the same way twice, especially since each human soul is unique—

St. Elle-Maid: But would you consider trying?

Prim:  Well, I . . . 

St. Elle-Maid: Excellent, how exciting! You could name your shoe line after the first girl you made them for, what was it? Dear little Cinderbell.

Prim: “Cinderella”—

St. Elle-Maid: Yes, that’s what I said. So how early before you can start taking orders? Faux glass slippers are all the rage at Faerie Court these days.

Prim: Never. And that’s not what I’m here to talk about. Right now, legions of mortals are suffering because they lack fairy godmothers—

St Elle-Maid: Your “Little Miss Pixie Perfect” act is charming, really. But rumor has it that your zeal for delivering happily-ever-afters is masking a dark and terrible secret.

Prim: It is? 

St. Elle-Maid: Aha! You said it, not me. But even without your confession we have the testimonial of one Calla Lily, your former classmate at Meadowlark. She says and I quote, “Of course Primrose is all about keeping her pet humans happy. That way the dumb mortals don’t notice that she’s bleeding crystallized bliss from their hearts. It’s how she makes her precious glass slippers.” 

Prim: Why that slimy, cross-eyed newt! She’s a liar—

St. Elle-Maid: Tender ears, darling. Queen Calypso herself reads this publication, you know. 

Prim: You listen here, I only agreed to this interview because I thought I could share an important message. Once humans and Faerie Folk lived and worked side by side, but now contact between Vales is strictly regulated. And why? Because most humans are viewed as dangerous, dirty creatures unworthy of magic. We have forgotten the many times a single human has saved the Faerie Vale. Excalibur could never have existed without the heart of the mortal child Arthur. When we stop believing in humanity, we stop believing in ourselves. We squander our potential to do good in both worlds.

St. Elle-Maid: Bluebonnets! Your sweet little speech almost convinces me. I’m tearing in my left eye, truly I am. So how do I adopt one of these human creatures? And can you throw in a pair of glass slippers if I adopt two of them? 

Prim: No!

After a brief stint studying fashion at the Emperor’s Nouveau Clothing Academy, Sadie St. Elle-Maid earned her Silver Quill chronicling the Cobbler’s Strike of the Leprechaun Colonies. She has headed the Character Interview section of the Faerie Era for two centuries now and is widely regarded as the supreme icon of Faerie Court style.