Welcome Denise!

 Denise Bevan, who has an exciting new book out, so I've invited her here to celebrate...by making her write my blog post for this week. Hey, it's fair...I need time to read her new book!

So, welcome Denise! 

Why fantasy? Why this story?

Inspired by a post that Alex Cavanaugh wrote during his recent blog tour (https://dianeburton.blogspot.com/2022/04/iwsg-and-alex-j-cavanaughs-new-release.html), I thought I’d share a bit about the origins of Druid’s Moon.

Why this story?

I’m lucky enough to say that it was an idea that came from a dream! I’ve had a few story-like dreams over the years. They’re not usually particularly detailed, but the feeling of each one is quite strong, and that’s what I try to capture when I come to write the story.

For Druid’s Moon, I had a vague image of a man and a woman in a storeroom in a cave, with the door barred, and antagonists on the other side of the door, doing their darndest to get in. Somehow, I knew that the man had been a beast, and that there were even more evil creatures in the depths of the cave, and they had to be defeated.

I wrote the first draft over one summer, and quite a few things changed during subsequent edits: the motivations of the two villains, the various villages and towns, how that ancient parchment survived in its shallow burial spot (and why it was there to be found in the first place)... Also, especially, the opening scene, which was rewritten many, many times. Halfway through the summer, I even answered a short questionnaire on the story (https://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2012/07/encyclopedia-brown-clarissa-drapers.html)!

Druid’s Moon was written back when I was still writing stories in longhand, then typing them up. I miss having the time to do that! Though I think my first drafts have become a lot cleaner since then – many fewer notes to self in the margins!

Here’s a glimpse of some of my notebooks (https://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/2012/12/baby-faces-blogfest-nano-luddite-photos.html):

The aspects that made it different, for me, were the fact that for the first time in a long time, I was writing contemporary characters. Lyne was also the first Canadian character I’d written in quite a while, and it was a bit of a relief not to have to double check her language and slang choices!

On the other hand, suddenly I was in Cornwall, and needed to research all sorts of location and language features!

The story was my second fantasy, but the first that wasn’t Young Adult! It was interesting to explore the reactions of both the main characters, and those of their friends and colleagues (and antagonists!), to the fantastical elements. I kept wondering how I would react, and whether, if I were in Lyne’s shoes, I would believe Frederick’s history...

Druid’s Moon also features standalone characters, even though, as is the way of all my characters, they’re distantly related to a few of the ones from different books. But they don’t actively feature in any other novel – unless I dream up a new story and their tale requires a sequel!

Do you have story ideas or images come to you in dreams?

Have you ever written a story you thought was complete, then later came to write a sequel?

Druid’s Moon

By Deniz Bevan

Beauty to his Beast…

Lyne Vanlith, an archaeologist who seeks a logical explanation to any mystery, discovers an ancient Druidic curse on her first dig. When the signs foretold by the curse descend on her, Lyne can’t find a reasonable interpretation.

And that’s even before a Beast rescues her from a monstrous sea-creature. She drops a grateful kiss on the snout of the Beast, who transforms into a man, Frederick Cunnick, Baron of Lansladron. Lyne is meant to be Beauty to his Beast—and break the curse forever.

Now both spellkeeper and monster are targeting Lyne. She must take up her legendary role, to defeat the curse and save Frederick—and herself. Instead of logic, for the first time, Lyne must trust her heart.

Release date – September 20, 2022
$14.95, 6x9 trade paperback, 226 pages
Fantasy – Romance (FIC009090) / Paranormal (FIC009050) / Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, Legends & Mythology (FIC010000)
Print ISBN 9781939844866 / EBook ISBN 9781939844873
$4.99 EBook available in all formats

A firm believer in burning the candle at both ends, Deniz Bevan is generally writing a new novel while editing another and blogging about her reading and research adventures. Other days, she tries to stay off the web altogether, as she delves into the history, mystery, and romance of her characters’ lives. http://thegirdleofmelian.blogspot.com/

Links:
Apple - https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1588920227
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09HRDWJZ8
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940165040276
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781939844873
Scribd - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844873&language=0
Amazon UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09HRDWJZ8
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59360035-druid-s-moon