The Lizard Lady in YA Fantasy Curse of the Moon

My May release, Curse of the Moon (Book 2, the Secret Warrior Series) is a YA fantasy/paranormal (with romance) set present-day in our Virginia Mountains. Native American and mountain people lore, my love of herbs, colonial America, and wild imagination are part of the inspiration behind the Secret Warrior Series. Shawnee warrior/wolf shifters, witches, a warlock, the Star People, and other shifters and creatures run through the series and this story. I'm also being praised by reviewers for my wacky sense of humor. Can't think why. :) 

The lizard shifting witch in Curse of the Moon is drawn from mountain people lore about an old woman who basks in the moonlight as a large lizard. They call her the Lizard Lady. According to the tale, she’s been spotted not far from where we live on a farm in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. I first heard about the Lizard Lady from late valley historian and author, John Heatwole, who interviewed elderly valley and mountain folk and recorded their accounts in his book, Shenandoah Voices. He also had a radio show, and that’s the very first time I heard about The Lizard Lady. She caught my imagination, but it’s taken me about twenty years to bring her to life. What a fun character to write. 

I named her Lilith Dubois, and she lives in a ramshackle old house back in the hollow in the mountains. Not only is she a lizard shifter in the moonlight, she’s a witch with memorizing eyes. If you gaze into their green depths, she can put a spell on you that only she can break. This sort of enchantress is called a gorgon. Bad things happen if you look into their eyes. Tough not to do.

The old mountain home that inspired Lilith's house is one my hubby likes to photograph. (Many locals know the place.) He's captured it in spring, summer, and fall. His autumn pic is my favorite and perfect for the story because it takes place in fall.

Story Blurb for Curse of the Moon:

The bad news? Morgan Daniel’s wolf is out of control. The good news? There’s a treatment. She just has to get a potion from a lizard shifter witch--without looking into the witch’s eyes. Easy, right? But when the witch puts a spell on her younger brother, Morgan has to do the witch's bidding to save him. 

Fortunately Morgan isn’t alone. She has Jackson to lean on, a few witches coming into their powers, a secret warlock, and the always mysterious Chief Okema. What could possibly go wrong?

***For fun: If you had a super power, what would it be?

Like the Secret Warrior Series on FB: https://www.facebook.com/BethTrissel2YAFantasySeries/ 

Curse of the Moon (Book 2, The Secret Warrior Series) is available at all online booksellers. At Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Curse-Moon-Secret-Warrior-Trissel-ebook/dp/B01DH16746

The Story Behind Old Doors

I love old doors, large, small, quaint, cozy, bold, dramatic, dark...such mystery. What secrets they may hide. I'm not alone in my fascination with doors and the people/stories behind them. Disney's Monsters, Inc is all about kid's doors and monsters in closets, but I digress. In my Dec. 14th release, YA fantasy romance, The Hunter's Moon, Morgan Daniel is struck by the door leading into Wapicoli Lodge, the massive family hub of her soon-to-be heartthrob, the handsome Native American teen, Jackson. She's also wonders at the totem standing to one side of the entrance.

      ' All along the colorful painted pole were wolf carvings, mostly faces, with gaping jaws and fangs; others were carved with their mouths shut. In some instances, the entire beast was displayed, its legs stretched out. What or who was it chasing? '
    
      Then she spies the door.

     'Above the wooden door stout enough to withstand a battering ram were yet more wolf carvings. They stared down at her as if they held the secret to an age-old mystery. Perhaps they did.
    
      Goosebumps scattered over her from head to toe. Where was she?'

Good question, and one we spend the rest of the story exploring. That door definitely stirred my curiosity, mingled with a sense of dread. 

Story Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she's hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home.

And that's just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets.

The Hunter's Moon is available in pre-order at many sites now: At Amazon at Barnes & Noble 

Next in my Secret Warrior Series, Curse of the Moon, is in edits and I'm at work on the third, The Panther Moon, published by The Wild Rose Press.

For more on me, please visit my blog: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com

Taking the Plunge into YA!

I've pondered an evolving story/series for years, but sensed it needed to be YA. The urge to write in the young adult genre grew as I spent time in the company of my now teenage nieces. We invariably watched YA TV shows and movies together and discussed aspects we liked and those we didn't. Eventually, I shared my own story ideas. With much cheering on, I decided to write Secret Warrior, a YA fantasy romance series set in the mountains of the Shenandoah Valley (modern-day) in a remote region called Fort Valley, with a unique Native American/werewolf twist. 

The primal beauty and intriguing history of this hidden valley, combined with my knowledge of the Shawnee tribe, the lore of the mountain people, and draw to fantasy, inspired me. I'm drawing on what I already know and love, and weaving in those elements with younger characters. Although the series is targeting teens, adults will also enjoy Secret Warrior. I'm delighted The Wild Rose Press offered me a three book contract. Book one, The Hunter's Moon, is in the galley stage now. Each story is novella length. I thoroughly enjoy working on this series, and am glad I took the plunge.

I love my gorgeous cover by Debbie Taylor!

Story blurb for The Hunter's Moon:

Seventeen year old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she's hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home.

And that's just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets.~

Release date TBD.

For more on me and my work visit: https://bethtrissel.wordpress.com/