Fred Gracely's Blog

This review of Moon Spirit is so positive and captures so much of what I hoped the book would be. I was so excited to read it, but then I couldn't help feeling a little sad (and stupid about that). Despite getting reviews like this for Moon Spirit, I'm struggling to find readers. I know I shouldn't whine, but START WHINING: when someone like Neil Patrick Harris publishes a mediocre book, it gets millions of readers. I think I've written much better books, yet....maybe a reader a day? That is if I'm willing to tolerate losing money on advertising. :END WHINING

START THANKFULNESS: All the whining aside, I am really happy that my books get the recognition they do. I get up at 4 a.m. everyday to write before I head to my job, and it's a labor of love. I pour my heart and soul into my stories and characters, so it feels good that some people appreciate my hard work. NO END TO THANKFULLNESS..

Here's the review that I loved but felt a little sad about:

Review of Moon Spirit (NetGalley)

Middle grade is one of my favorite genres, especially if it discusses prophetic fate and a fortunate/unfortunate kid discovering a world of magic and myth. There are multiple examples of these tropes from Spiderwick to Percy Jackson and Narnia to Harry Potter. Fred Gracely’s character Max is one such fortunate kid, who stumbles into myth and mayhem one night with the discovery of a girl made of moonbeams and the Orb that will turn his life upside down.

Neither a mythological world, nor a hidden magical land, Moon Spirit is Fred Gracely’s urban take on ancient artifacts. Dragging the consequences and evils of an ancient lost civilization into the suburbs of Max’s world makes this middle grade fantasy a rollercoaster of innocent romance, hilarious characters and a found a family more unique than you can imagine.

And when I say unique found family, I mean each character with their individual quirks and a hilarious blend. Here, no one’s left behind and no one is excluded, irrespective of the circumstances. Such stories always hold deep in my heart, a special heroism that comes from around the hero, as much as it comes from the hero.

Various characters in the story stand in their own roles, justified in their feelings and consequent actions, which leads to an array of good, bad and grey characters. This is the best part, my favorite, about the story. The characters though none of them come from true evil, each takes a path based on their own beliefs which leads to a final showdown, a gripping, world ending climax and a helplessly sad and understandably just ending.

Such stories make for the best material to collect for middle graders, where a hidden lesson can be taught to the growing minds about communication, quirks, uniqueness, family, camaraderie, belonging, beliefs, and actions.

Max, like any urban protagonist in a difficult setting, stumbles across an otherworldly creature and a single decision he makes, a single action of bravery and goodwill towards a moon spirit, leads on an adventure. Unlike tropes that follow an unfortunate protagonist into a magical world, here, the magic comes crashing down on the protagonist in his own urban world. The orb, the source of all magic in the story, though a tangible inanimate object, fells like an intangible character as it shapes Max’s crucial moments with its independent decisions. Understandably, some rules of magic were unclear. However, in the large scheme of the story, those can be overlooked sometimes.

The twists in the plot, small and big, are plenty. Not all are reserved for the middle or the end, some of them are hilarious and surprising, come at the very beginning. This makes Moon Spirit a page turner. Once hooked onto Max’s journey with Orb in his charge, the story leads us into his new, adopted life, where he meets other adopted children. In a roundabout way, the undercurrent in the middle of the story questioned what was normal? And I found the answer to be- normal is nothing but that which makes us feel safe and at home.

I do, however, have to say, I lost interest when a second love interest was introduced in the story for her not to serve, neither as plot device nor as a character arc device. The entire school setting, though necessary to the urban world and adoptive family dynamic, felt lacking and sometimes entirely unnecessary. However, I am not the fairest judge of this section of the story, for the relatability that it holds for middle grade reader is lost on me.

However, the interval of its presence was too small. Small enough that the school and the side characters stemming from them were soon forgotten. The tension between the family thickened, their camaraderie tightened and soon what was supposed to be a single person adventure ended up as a chaotic family adventure.

It is a not-so-merry-go-round of ancient civilization, moon worshipping cults, magical devices (the orb), shadow spirits, evil creatures and mean humans, all together, to make the odds against our small protagonist seem impossibly too many.

As much as there is to discuss the characters, there is equally much to say about the plot, plot devices, themes and premise. However, little can be said without spoilers.

One such little thing is picking the magical setting and ancient tale apart. Gracely has taken a lighthearted stab at cults around the world with their twisted agendas. The words ‘moon worshipers’ also feel like a generic reference to multiple religions around the world. There are no specific or detailed references to make the point, but the word itself and the problems stemming from them say as much. These small details make the story wonderfully fit for an older audience.

If the references are lost on the younger mind, there is enough familiarity blended in for them to think about these it after the story has ended. And that is what we want for the younger minds, for these stories to linger long after they have been put down, for them to think in spirals.

Things I liked about the Moon Spirit
Marta
Zoe
The stupid evil side kicks
Chaotic sibling dynamic
The Orb, the magic
The past, a thousand years ago.
Conclusion
Fit for multiple age groups, this is one middle grade fantasy that has in its pockets something for everyone- invigorating plot, rich cast of characters, championing peculiarities and heroism in little details. Moon Spirit is an urban fantasy wrapped over popular middle grade tropes and many, many important themes for growing ones.

https://writingabhi.wordpress.com/202...

Everything changes the moment an abandoned teenage boy agrees to guard a beautiful moon spirit girl’s magic orb and is dragged into a tale of ancient evil spanning a thousand years.

The book is Moon Spirit and I just put it up on NetGalley for digital download and reading (release date is October 13th).

It was recently selected as a Booklife Editor's Pick “…infinitely relatable…brilliant imagery…skillfully mixes the real world with the mystical…readers will feel as if they are journeying alongside Max as he faces a dark force too terrifying for words and his own staggering role in an ancient mystery.”

Readers' favorite has given it 4 five star ratings, saying, "Fantasy fans won’t want to miss Moon Spirit....an excellent read, well-crafted with fantastic worldbuilding…a refreshing take on classic themes, blending action, mystery, and the coming-of-age journey.”

and

“…high-spirited adventure bursting with imagination, drama, and humor…Readers seeking an exuberant and complex urban fantasy romp will find Moon Spirit hits all the right notes. Highly recommended.”

I hope you'll check it out.

Well, it's already here...

I released Book 2 of the Misfit's Magic series, Shades of Winter, on November 24th. It's available on NetGalley, for anyone who wants to check it out for free.

It has a bunch of good reviews here and on NetGalley, was picked as an Editor's Pick by BookLife and has 5 five-star reviews on Readers' Favorite, but it's still getting no traction since I have zero reviews on Amazon.

If you have read it and are willing, would you take a moment and post a review on Amazon to help me out? That would be really awesome of you.

Thanks!

Fred

For the next month, both Misfit's Magic The Last Halloween AND Shades of Winter will be up on NetGalley for people to read and enjoy. I wanted people who hadn't read the series to have a chance to start reading from the beginning.

Shades of Winter has been getting great reviews. It was recently selected as an Editor's Pick by Booklife (The Last Halloween had that honor too). This made me so happy. The reviewer said:

“This buoyant fantasy sequel, the followup to the memorable The Last Halloween, blends the fun, camaraderie, mysteries, and tension of magic and boarding school settings with chatty gargoyles and inspiration drawn from Arthurian legend...offers the exciting thrill ride full of intrigue and mystery that readers hope for from the genre…...Continually inventive, this fast-paced, action-packed sequel will keep young readers entertained until a satisfying conclusion…”

I hope you give the series a shot.

Fred

I'm super excited that over 2700 people joined in my giveaway! Congratulations to the five winners. I'll pack your signed copies, bookmarks, and stickers this weekend. I LOVE giving my book away (although my son, who works in finance, keeps telling me I should be trying to sell it instead. Yeah, yeah...).

If you didn't win the giveaway and still want to read this book, I have The Last Halloween marked down as low as it can go on Amazon (I make 0.01 per sale, which my son also isn't happy with me about) so more people can read it. It's also in Kindle Unlimited and as an audiobook on Audible and Spotify.

For anyone interested in reading the sequel to Misfit's Magic: The Last Halloween, it's available on NetGalley: Misfit's Magic: Shades of Winter.

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...


The release date is December 1st, with pre-ordering available November 1st. I'd love to have some ARC readers give it a read and provide feedback in advance of either of those two dates!

Thanks. I really appreciate all the support this community has shown me! You are all terrific.

I'm very excited to announce that the sequel to Misfit's Magic: The Last Halloween, entitled Misfit's Magic: Shades of Winter, is available for reading on NetGalley!

I'd love to have people on GoodReads check it out and let me know what they think.

Here's the link to the listing:

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...

So far, it's gotten three five-star reviews on Readers' Favorite:

"...a must-read for those seeking a well-crafted, urban fantasy novel with a rich plot, engaging characters, and thought-provoking themes." -Jaqueline Neves for Readers’ Favorite

"The storyline undulated between slightly spooky and downright macabre, offering an unforgettable read...perfect for the fans of Wednesday, the TV show." -Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers’ Favorite

Happy Reading.

Thanks!

Note that the cover there now is a "draft cover." I'm working with the illustrator to finalize the design.

I am so excited to have finally taken the sequel to Misfit's Magic: The Last Halloween, entitled Misfit's Magic: Shades of Winter, all the way to the point of getting the cover art and interior formatting done.

I'm a bit of a perfectionist in story crafting, and I spent way too much time adjusting this one until I felt it all hung together perfectly. It was supposed to be released last Spring! But, I wanted it to carry its message and theme in fully satisfying ways, and that took some extra work.

The first book's story could be thought of as a tale of "living for the future" or "wishing things were as they could be." In that book, Goff desperately tries to find something to hold on to but faces incredibly hard odds of surviving, let alone achieving that.

The sequel is a natural companion to that. It's about "living for the present" or "wishing things were exactly as they are." Goff has finally found something to hold on to, something he cherishes, but the world of magic roars back into his life and tries to rip it from his hands and destroy it.

It has time travel, epic battles, and new magical creatures: a blood wraith, which is a witch / werewolf / vampire blend and a crimson shade, a banned magical creature that wizards can summon to gain control over the magical realm and access to ancient secrets.

It was so much fun to write! I'll put it up for pre-order on November 1st for a full release on December 1st. Stay tuned for details!

I was in bed at 1:30 AM, in my pajamas (plaid flannel), falling asleep with my phone an inch away from my nose, watching the live stream of an award ceremony when I became an award-winning author. I’ve dreamt of such a moment for decades, ever since I started writing, but I never imagined the flannel pajamas. That was an unexpected detail. At least I was in my bed and not up on stage, where the flannel pajamas would have been something out of the “at a party in your underwear” nightmare category.

I had planned to attend the ceremony, but complications on my end made that impossible. I canceled my flights and hotel room and anxiously awaited the streaming to begin. Since they were holding it in San Diego, and I was in Massachusetts, I knew it would be late, and it was. The stream didn't open up until 10 PM. That may not be late for you, but I get up at 4 AM every morning to write, so 10 PM feels like binging Stranger Things until midnight, and staying up until 1:30 AM feels like an all-nighter.

To be honest, it was the most bizarre feeling in the world watching the live feed when the announcer called my name. I had just won the Benjamin Franklin Gold Medal for Children's / Young Adult Audiobook, and it was happening in real time on the opposite coast, but I was in bed here in Massachusetts. I felt like I was in that hall with all those people, but I couldn't head up to the podium to accept the award. All I could do was tap excitedly on my phone, as if they could look up and see me (yes, I did that). The announcer looked around the room, shrugged his shoulders, and the medal was carried away. I can only imagine that there is a plastic bin in the back labeled "No-show winner. Mail this, or whatever." Regardless, I was so excited, I didn’t sleep a wink the rest of the night.

It wasn’t like I had ghosted the Independent Book Publisher Association (IBPA). I emailed the COO to tell him I had planned to be there in case I won gold but, unfortunately, would be unable to attend. Still, I felt bad and sad not being there. The only silver lining is that I escaped a rare opportunity to ramble incoherently for a full minute and forget to thank my narrator, my wife, and my editors in front of several hundred people in the publishing industry.

I published Misfit’s Magic The Last Halloween last October after writing for decades but keeping it all private (I’ve got a whale-size imposter syndrome). My experience so far becoming an author has been great. Some people around the area know me for the fact that I’ve donated over two hundred copies of Misfit’s Magic to Little Free Libraries, Public Libraries and local brick-and-mortar bookstores. I’ve received many great reviews and even an Editor’s Pick from Booklife by Publisher’s weekly. And, now it’s an award winning audiobook. I’m still smiling, even a day later, while I type this.

Misfit’s Magic: The Last Halloween has an awkward, lonely, bullied young misfit thirteen-year-old boy as a hero (yes, he’s modeled after me at that age). It tells the story of how he accidentally becomes a wizard and must save the town he’s been desperately trying to escape. It’s spooky, whimsical, and carries a positive message about friendship and the idea that the heart has its own special kind of magic.

I think the combination of being a funny, exciting read and having a positive message, making it a "feel-good read,” is what has resonated with so many people, and I couldn’t be happier about that. It’s what I set out to accomplish when I started writing it. I’m a big kid at heart, and I like big, fun, exciting stories that don’t darken my soul. If that’s the kind of book you enjoy too, look for it at local libraries (Little ones and those larger Public ones) or at bookstores and online. Links are available on my site, fredgracely.com. Readers from 8+ have found it a great read.

On parting thought: if you wear plaid flannel pajamas, I recommend not wearing them when you receive a major award. As for me, I’ll be sleeping in a Tuxedo from now on. Just in case.

Misfit's Magic: The Last Halloween

I find it interesting the different approaches writers have to crafting a novel. It's a daunting task for sure. You have to design the ensemble, theme, message, through-lines, act structure, and the conclusion. On top of that, a novel is 700 to 1000 hours of work (not including proofreading) and its something you can't tweak easily like a painting or a song. Changes late in the game are VERY expensive and risky. It's easy to make a mess of things if you try to change too much. In a well-told story, everything should connect, so changing anything means a lot of rework.

Some writers spend a ton of time creating storyboards comprising hundreds of little yellow, pink, green, and blue sticky notes organized on a corkboard. Others use deeply nested outlines with fancy circle, arrow, and diamond bullets for each level.

Me? I'm not that formal. For a few weeks before I write, I just noodle about the story I want the book to tell. And then I just start writing and see where it goes. I've tried the sticky note and bullet point outline thing, but it always ends up being a waste of time. How do I know how I want the story to unfold until I read what I write?

I know that sounds a bit crazy, but I believe in my intuition and follow it. It makes for a wild ride as a write. I'm often as surprised as a reader will be by the scene that come out.

So far, I've written two books this way and am very happy with the outcome: Misfit's Magic: The Last Halloween and Moon Spirts: The Orb, Book One (release in Spring 2023).

I'm working on the sequel to The Last Halloween now, and it's a blast. I didn't know that thunder snow storms were going to be a part of the story until it just came out of my fingers. I also didn't know that I'd be incorporating an Anamilix (a magical creature that can transform into any shape) until it felt right that Val -- a new character who desperately wants to be friends with Goff, Halstrom and Lydia -- should have a secret like that.

While I beat myself up sometimes for not planning more, I also love the adventure of watching my intuition -- and my characters -- take control of my fingers and type out fun, exciting, surprising, whimsical, touching, scary stuff.

Misfit's Magic: The Last Halloween has been getting really good reviews here and on other sites. It was even given an Editor's Pick on BookLife by Publisher's Weekly recently.

Phew
When I decided to publish this book, he "imposter syndrome" parts of me where going crazy -- you will get trashed! This isn't good enough yet! Nobodey will like it! etc.

I'm so happy that the opposite has happened. While not EVERYBODY has enjoyed it, many people have. That's enough. I don't write to get praise. I write from the heart. I cry and laugh and get all stressed out as I write scenes for my characters. That said, it's nice to know that I'm not just painting seashells (something nobody actually ever wants). In fact, since the book is doing well and people are resonating with its positive message (thanks to Mark Buxton for the brilliant phrase describing the book: "The heart has its own kind of magic" Love that.), I started a kickstarter project to see if I can raise enough money to print hardcovers to get into libraries. That's always been a dream of mine.

Here's the project if you want to check it out:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...

Looking forward to the launch this fall, but not happy about summer rapidly slipping away!