by: C.B. Oresky
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Release Date: October 26, 2022
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Clara and Angelica Grace have never met ghosts. They’ve never sailed on a tall ship, ridden wild unicorns, or fought with magical weapons. Instead, the teenage twins have a wretched existence, ignored by their troubled parents in a rundown home and tormented by the town’s snobs.
Everything turns topsy-turvy all of a sudden when discovery of an ancestor’s hidden journal with an odd key to an unknown door leads them into an entirely different realm.
The girls go on a thrilling oceanic voyage to search for mysterious whales, train with a seasoned warrior, and are befriended by a wise Master. But all is not a bouquet of lovely lilies…they are hunted by a cunning warlock and must rid themselves of The Warlock’s Curse.
The four things I can’t live without are my garden, my friends, my Scottie dog, and my husband. I love plants and nature. Where ever I have lived I’ve always left a lovely perennial garden that is, in the summer, filled with buzzing bees and baby bunnies. Where in life would one be without their true friends, those that lighten the load, those you can share a fine meal with and laugh with. The Scottie dogs are so adorable and intelligent…they keep me on my toes for sure. Finally, my beloved husband for always helping and inspiring me to be my best.
What is your favorite television show?
My favorite television show right now is House of the Dragon. The costumes and scenery are beautiful, although I could do without most of the violence. The show is a prequel to The Game of Thrones, and illustrates the beginnings of the reign of House Targaryen. I love the strong princess, Rhaenyra Targaryen, who must deal with the fact that many are opposed to having a female ruler, although she certainly is intelligent enough to lead. The ridiculous expectations this society holds for women, as opposed to men, are evident.
Lastly, who would not love a series with dragons? The Targaryens have ferocious fire-breathing dragons that they ride in battle.
If you could be any character, from any literary work, who would you choose to be? Why?
If I could be any character, from any literary work, I would be Galadriel, the elf queen in The Lord of the Rings. Galadriel is an enigmatic being with a flowing river of golden hair, who has lived through the ages and is very wise. She is very strong, as she is a bearer of a Ring of Power: Nenya the Ring of Water. This ring helps her keep the elves’ enemies at bay. Like Galadriel, it would be really cool to see in another person’s mind and communicate telepathically. Possessing a magical mirror which reveals events in the past, present, and future, might prove useful as well.
What have you got coming soon for us to look out for?
I am currently writing a book about my spiritual life and the troubles I faced with my beloved friend, a Scottie dog named Jetsun: a dog who knew himself and what he wanted, a dog who was way above mundane human consciousness, a dog who was enlightened.
What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis are the authors who have most influenced my writing, both for their genius, elegant, vivid writing, and creative world building.
I love C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series, especially The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. In the story the Pevensie children are brought to a country estate for safety during the World War II London bombings. Exploring the old house, they discover a wardrobe: a magical portal to Narnia where old prophecies need to be fulfilled and evil spells shattered.
Like C.S. Lewis, I sought to develop a quick-moving adventure, full of amazing imagery and sensory delights. In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, I feel the soft fur coats as the children jostle through the wardrobe. I hear the snow crunch under their feet and shiver in the bitter cold as they traipse through the forever frozen land the White Witch has enchanted.
I also wanted to explore the deep magic found in Narnia in my writing: the mystical, speaking animals that are so believable…the written wonders that whisk me off to a place so real—I never want to leave.
As for Tolken, I love how Tolkien’s artistry with words, masterfully paints scene after scene about a magical world where creatures talk and everything from the trees to the mountains seem alive. Knowledgeable about myth, the Oxford English scholar wove classic themes into his epic tales: The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. These themes, which I have also used, include the battle between good and evil and the hero’s journey…facing adversity a character matures and is forever changed.
“Just five more minutes,” Clara said, sitting up. Her huge deep eyes roamed calmly about the room, captivated by its quaint beauty. Her gaze settled on her favorite piece of furniture— Abigail’s old vanity. Clara blinked. She was certain she saw a blurred shadow pass across the front of the vanity, from right to left! The old perfume bottle atop it then shook and slid forward an inch, making a low scratching sound.
A chill seized Clara. She shivered, clutched the blanket, and drew the covers more tightly around her. Even the cats, Welthmeow and Arameow, had noticed something. Their almond-shaped, sapphire-blue eyes followed Clara’s gaze. The cool room grew cold, horribly cold. In the muted light, an ethereal form was materializing right before Clara’s eyes. It slowly took the shape of a slender woman dressed in a silken gown of forest green. The apparition hovered by the side of the vanity, eyeing it seemingly with great longing. Without hesitation the wisp of a figure sat down, picked up a silver-plated brush, and tended her flowing tresses.
Excerpted from The Warlock’s Curse by C.B. Oresky. Copyright © 2022 by C.B. Oresky. Published by arrangement with The Wild Rose Press.
Purchase The Warlock’s Curse from:
Places to find C.B. Oresky:
Thanks for hosting!
ReplyDeletethis looks like an engaging fantasy book.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book.
ReplyDeleteThe blurb sounds really interesting, like a story full of adventure.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds wonderful. Great cover!
ReplyDelete