S.J Magnolia's Blog

1). Thank you joining us today Elayna, for our readers that haven’t had the pleasure of reading your books, please tell us a little about yourself and the genre you write in?

E). Hi! My name is Elayna and I live in New Brunswick, Canada. It’s extremely beautiful where I live, but I prefer to call myself an indoor cat. I like to cook, watch reality TV, knit, and read. I’m excellent bug bait, and I prefer to remain inside. 

The Lovely Elayna

I write upper YA/NA fantasy romance, although I have a future project that is firmly NA.

2). When did you first realize you wanted to take that leap and become a writer? 

E). This is a funny story, but I just… decided to try it. I have always been a voracious reader, and after the pandemic, I realized I didn’t want to let life pass me by. I first picked up a pen and started writing on the eve of my 31st birthday, and I haven’t stopped since. 

3). Where do you find inspiration for your books?

E). My books just sort of… appear. I don’t have inspiration, per se, because they just happen.

4). Are you a planner or a fly by the seat of your pants when ideas and stories come to you?

I’m a pantser. I literally just sit down and write, and the books just sort of come to me as I go. It’s very rare I know what will happen before I write it. 

5). What do you find is the hardest part of the process? And is there anything you know now that you wish you would’ve known when starting out?

E). For me, the hardest part is not knowing where the story is going. I like editing, because it’s polishing something I’ve already written. 

The thing I wish I knew is that it’s okay for first drafts to be bad. Really bad. You can’t edit something that isn’t there. 

6). I may have a slight crush on the MMC of your latest trilogy The Binding Chronicles, Books 1 and 2 are available now with the third coming later this year. Anyone that hasn’t read it definitely run and do so. I want a Sebastian lol. Without spoiling too much can you give us a brief summary of the first 2 books and maybe a hint for Book 3?

Ahhhh Sebastian, I love this series so much.

E). The Binding Chronicles is such a fun story! It’s an arranged marriage story between a vampire prince and a bookish human. They are magically bound together and are unable to go more than 30 ft apart without experiencing extreme pain and eventual death. Talk about forced proximity! 

In the last book, Sebastian and Luna finally come up against the queen. She’s… not delightful, to say the least. It’s full of twists and turns, and I can’t wait for everyone to find out what happens. 

7). I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity/arranged marriage trope. Do you have a favorite?

E). Gosh, if I had to pick one, I’d pick enemies-to-lovers. 

8). Do you have favorite authors? Name your top 3 I know that’ll be tough and have they influenced your writing career in any way?

E). I don’t know if I can narrow it down to three, because I’m a mood reader and my reaction to books often reflects the mood I’m in at the moment. I am a very big Jennifer Lynn Armentrout fan, and love all her works. I credit Outlander as getting me back into reading after my son was born, but truly, if it’s fantasy romance, I probably love it. 

9). When you’re not writing what would we find you doing?

E). I’m probably cooking, drinking wine, or watching reality tv (or all three). I obviously love to read, but other than that, the kitchen is my next great love. 

10). What has been the most memorable moment for you in your career thus far?

E). To be honest, everything with Tethered has taken me by storm. I don’t think I’ll ever forget everyone’s reaction. 

11). Do you write full-time or have a day job? Do you have any advice for writers struggling to find balance in their work/ writing/ family life?

E). I teach online part-time for 15 hours a week, and I write the rest of the time. My best advice is to find time that works for you to write in, and try to make that work in your schedule. I get up an hour before my kids to write because my words flow best in the morning. Then I get them to school before writing some more. Afternoons are more teaching/marketing, and I try to keep my evenings free for my family. 

12). Do you have a favorite hero/ protagonist and/or villain/antagonist you’ve written thus far? What makes them special to you?

E). Of everyone I’ve written, Aileana and Xander from Of Earth and Flame are my favorites. This is because their story is my heart. It’s really personal to me, and they feel very close to me. 

As for villains, I think Queen Marguerite might take the cake. She’s really quite evil, which you’ll see more of in Treasured.

13). Do you celebrate after you finish writing each book? How do you celebrate?

E). I have cake! It’s one of my loves (I have a sweet tooth.) 

14). What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? What is the worst?

E). Someone once told me it’s okay to fail–it just gives you a chance to improve the next time. I love that. So often, failure is frowned upon, but it’s a part of life. 

I’m not sure about the worst, but I don’t love it when people give one-size-fits-all advice. Everyone’s situation is different, and what works for me might not work for you. 

15). If you could live in any world from your books, which one would it be and why? Would you be the hero or villain of your own story? And if you could bring 3 of your characters, who would it be and why?

E). Honestly my stories are dark, so I don’t know if I’d pick any of them. However, if I had to pick, I would pick the United Era of the Four Kingdoms. This takes place several thousand years after this current era, and there is actual technology. Once I’m done with Treasured and Of Shale and Smoke, I will be writing there for a bit. 

All her beautiful books in order.. love love love

16). Have you ever suffered from imposter syndrome? How do you work through it?

E). At least once a week. I usually go to my writer’s group to talk through it, which really helps. I also don’t look at reviews that are less than 4 stars because of mental health reasons. 

17). What is next for you after your current trilogy is finished? Yes, I’m shamelessly being nosy, I need to know all the things.

E). I have several secret projects on the go. One takes place in the Rose Empire, which is in the past from this current timeline, and the other takes place in the future.  I built this world with the expectation that I would be writing here for a while, and I’m excited to explore other timelines. 

I hope to return to the Four Kingdoms in the future, I have another book in mind, but after Of Shale and Smoke my heart is going to need a bit of a break.

18). Is there anything you’d like to add? 

Thank you for having me! 

On today’s edition of Fiction Friday I had the pleasure of interviewing Casey L. Bond who is one of my many favorite authors. It was an honor to have her here in my space and get to know a little more about her. Let’s get started shall we.

1). Thank you for joining us today Casey, tell us a little about yourself and the genre you write in.

C). Thanks so much for the interview! I write Fantasy Romance (YA & NA) with “phoenix” characters – ones who rise from the ashes of their circumstances. I like my female main characters fierce, the love interests morally gray, and the worlds I build to be unique and atmospheric. 

The Lovely Casey, her crown and some of her work xxx

2). How long have you been writing for? What is your favorite part about being an author?

C). I’ve been writing for twelve years and have been published for nearly ten! My favorite part about being an author is seeing how my stories impact and entertain others. Story is a powerful magic.

3). Where do you find inspiration for your books?

C). I draw inspiration from music, dreams, life experiences, and observations – anything really. 

4). Are you a planner or a fly by the seat of your pants when ideas and stories come to you? What can’t you live without in your writing space while writing?

C). I can’t plot or plan to save my life. I’m what some call a ‘discovery writer,’ and typically just sit down and write and let the story and characters flow. I do think that those who are like me generally sort of plot mentally. I know the main story points and the ending. I just let the characters take me to each one. 

In my writing space, I love having books around me. Maybe they inspire story. But I love the view out my window. It’s peaceful and West Virginia is a beautiful state. 

5). What do you find is the hardest part of the process? And is there anything you know now that you wish you would’ve known when starting out?

C). I think the hardest part is finding time to do everything. But this job isn’t simply penning a book and then washing your hands of it. There is a lot of coordination and marketing takes up a huge chunk of an author’s day. After all, who knows the book better than the one who wrote it, right? 

6). For new readers to you, which of your books would you recommend as a starting point?

C). That’s such a hard question! I would say that if you’re into witchy romance – When Wishes Bleed is a good place to start. If you’re more into Egyptian mythology – House of Eclipses would be your jam. And if you love a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers – Where Oceans Burn is where to begin. 

It’s sooooo pretty

7). I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity/arranged marriage trope. Do you have a favorite?

C). Enemies-to-lovers all day long. It’s my favorite because the dynamic has to change and watching that unfold is really exciting. 

8). Do you have favorite authors? Name your top 3 I know that’ll be tough and have they influenced your writing career in any way?

C). I do have favorites. Holly Black, Sarah J. Maas, and Adrienne Young. 

9). When you’re not writing what would we find you doing?

C). I love to walk and swim depending on the time of year, but my favorite thing to do is spend time with my family.

10). What has been the most memorable moment for you in your career thus far?

C). There have been so many, but the first that comes to mind was getting to sit on a panel with Jennifer L. Armentrout. I might have been mentally shrieking in fangirl the entire time. 

11). Do you write full-time or have a day job? Do you have any advice for writers struggling to find balance in their work/ writing/ family life?

C). I write full-time now. I would say that it can definitely be difficult. Family always comes first for me. But when my kids were little, I would get up early or stay up late and write when I could (during naps, etc). And even if you write in little chunks, it’s progress and you will finish the book. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Everyone deserves grace.  

12). Do you have a favorite hero/ protagonist and/or villain/antagonist you’ve written thus far? What makes them special to you?

C). I think Elira from Where Oceans Burn might be my favorite because I’ve written outcasts before but Elira is the top warrior in her kingdom, but that comes with loneliness, too. She was very fun to write because she was so headstrong, so her arc is broad and interesting. Conversely, I think that Anubis in House of Wolves was fun to write. I LOVE Egyptian mythology so bringing him into the world (or should I say unleashing him into it) was incredibly satisfying. 

13). Do you celebrate after you finish writing each book? How do you celebrate?

C). Usually by taking a little time off to do whatever I need to catch up on and whatever I’d like!!! It helps me refocus and reset. 

14). What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? What is the worst?

C). The best piece of advice I’ve received is to keep my head down and write (avoid drama, work hard, and keep producing the best books you possibly can). I’m not sure what the worst piece was, but it may be the opposite of that sentiment. 

15). If you could live in any world from your books, which one would it be and why? Would you be the hero or villain of your own story? And if you could bring 3 of your characters, who would it be and why?

C). I would choose Where Oceans Burn because I have a deep and abiding love for the ocean. I would prefer to be the hero, though I love a good villain! LOL! I’d bring Elira, Crest, and Koa.

16). Have you ever suffered from imposter syndrome? How do you work through it?

C). I really don’t think I have. I understand the sentiment, but I also know that I work very hard so if any of that work pays off, I feel like it’s been earned and isn’t undeserved necessarily. That’s not to say I feel like I deserve more than anyone else, only that I am grateful if my hard work succeeds. 

17). What are you currently working on? Do you have any upcoming events where readers can come meet you and have their books signed?

C). I am about to release the third book in the When Wishes Bleed trilogy (August 18th)! And I just started a fantasy duology retelling I can’t reveal too much about just yet. But I hope to release book one in the fall or early 2024 and book two a few months later so that people don’t have to wait long to read through the whole story. 

18). Is there anything you’d like to add? 

C). I appreciate you so much! And thank you to anyone who takes the time to read and enjoy the characters, stories, and worlds that live rent-free in my head.

Thank you so much to Casey for stopping by and letting us get to know her and about her books. For anyone looking to check out her work here are all her socials:

@authorcaseybond on IG, Twitter, Facebook

@authorcaseylbond on TikTok 

I’m diving into Where Oceans burn by Casey so till next time,

Love, a fantasy loving Magnolia xx

It’s been a hot minute since I posted one of these and although I’m not quite the Debbie Downer I was feeling in my last post I am still feeling a great deal of overwhelm managing life, finding balance, moving forward and being present for all the things.

Writing has been hard. The words don’t seem to be flowing quite the way I want, and it’s frustrating. New ideas, new stories seem to be bombarding me and I write them down thinking it’ll free up space to get back to what I should be writing and it feels like my sub-conscious is having a parade for the imposter syndrome and negative thoughts I talked about in my last post and I choke. (And not in the fun way people).

I’m just going to say though bringing Positive Patty to the party for a moment that as far as blog writing goes I’m super excited for the next few weeks as I have had the pleasure of interviewing a few of my favorite authors and getting to know them outside of their amazing books which I love. So I’m looking forward to that and so should you.

I have some news to share over the next coming weeks as things fall into place. I can share one thing right now: I have a book signing in Calgary, Ab August 5th, from 12-4 pm at the Crossiron Indigo store. You can also now purchase my books in that store and hopefully more to come. You guys heard it first, and an official announcement will be made as soon as I get my shit together, lol.

I got 2 kayaks for Christmas and recently got to try them out, I know totally random thing to say, but its wellness Wednesday, and this day is for the good, bad, and ugly. But back to it, I love them, I loved every second out on the water in my kayak, I was happy, at peace, it helped empty my head of everything that’s been holding space there rent free for months and I could just enjoy it. My only problem now is how can I go more often? How can I do more of filling my cup and still do all the things I need to? Any advice, people? Dead serious, I’m firmly on this struggle bus and would like to get off now. (my lord the heads in the gutter today lol almost said something else inappropriate, my inner smut goddess ooo I like that from now on that’s what I’m gonna call it I guess is alive and well)

Just living my best life on the lake x

The inner dialogue is strong today so I’ll take that as my cue to shut up before i blurt something that might get me in trouble. In all honesty though I would love to hear any tips and tricks you amazing humans who have their shit together may have to help me make some semblance of a schedule, routine whatever to get me off the struggle bus and moving forward in a productive way. And I just want to say a huge thank you to all of you that show up and read this blog, laugh at my nonsense, reach out with comments, advice and appreciation for the honesty and realism I try to bring to this blog when I show up. I love you to bits.

Till next time,

Love, smut goddess Magnolia xx lol

On this edition of Trippin Tuesday, I’m taking you with me on my road trip to City & Country Winery in Calgary, Ab, for my first official book signing as an author.

City & Country winery is located at 544 38a Ave SE in Calgary, Ab.

The venue was recommended to me by my friend Brittney who is not only a powerhouse Ceo of several endeavers, a beauty queen, advocate for women in business and a former guest on Savvy Business Saturday, she’s a wonderful human being always willing to lend a hand to anyone so when I asked where I should go she didn’t hesitate to recommend Chris Fodor and the staff at City and Country Winery. The process of booking, setting up, and holding the event with Chris was easy, and he made it look effortless. I chose to hold the event during public hours with the hopes of not only having my friends and family able to come but I could also meet new people and gain new readers in a relaxed setting. Steph Loran from Permanently Pretty also came for the event doing permanent jewelry for those looking to add a little sparkle while having their book signed. You best believe I didn’t leave without getting a beautiful bracelet from her to commemorate the occasion.

All set up x

Steph is doing her thing, giving Katie a beautiful anklet.

We set up just inside the door and to the left. The aesthetic here was right up my alley and we took a few minutes once everything was ready to appreciate the local art for sale on the walls and getting a tour of the facility learning about how the wine is made, cool things I didn’t know and a few laughs along the way before the event started.

Wine options mmm

The Charcuterie board was available to order. Soooo good.

We tried several different wines and ordered a charcuterie board to snack on while I greeted friends and strangers to talk smut and my journey to becoming an author. It was surreal for me signing a book I wrote, answering questions about what makes my book different in a very saturated market, and my motivation to finally take that step. It’s no secret to those of you that know me but for those of you new to this blog and me, I was diagnosed with Lupus and Inflammatory Arthiritis in April of 2020 just before lockdown and years of hospilization and no answers. When Covid hit, I had a lot of time to think and reflect and come to terms with my disease and how my life would look moving forward. It dawned on me that I had put a lot of dreams on hold thinking time was endless and I’d get to it eventually reality is much more cruel, time is not promised. So I decided why the hell not and put words to paper. It was a labor of love and a lot of hard work. Self-publishing is no joke, and I had to learn so many new skills just to market my book, but i digress. I’m getting off topic, I had an absolute blast talking (which let’s be honest I’ve never had a problem doing) about my book, I was inspired and was even introduced to a lovely couple who may or may not have unintentionally influenced a future romance based solely on their jobs and personalities. He is an RCMP officer, and she is a forensic scientist. Need I say more.

The whole experience was magical, yes magical, and I did pinch myself a few times just to make sure I was awake. I definitely recommend City and Country Winery if you’re looking to host an intimate gathering, want to do a ladies’ night wine tasting, or just go and enjoy the atmosphere. when the boxes were packed up, the food all gone we had wine, shared stories, laughs were had and I left light on my feet (ok that could’ve been the wine) but overjoyed and so damn proud of myself.

Thank you to everyone that came, thank you to Chris and the staff at City & Country Winery for making my first event memorable, Stephanie from Permanently Pretty for my beautiful bracelet and being there, Ayslinn from Sugar and Bake for the delicious cupcakes, my love and family for supporting me and my bestie Katie for not only coming with me but for the weekend of tom foolery we proceeded to have after.

Till next time,

Love a thankful and blessed Magnolia xx

On this first edition of Fiction Friday back you guys will have the pleasure of meeting the delightful Edie Cay, an amazing historical romance author I got to meet at the Historical Romance Retreat in San Diego so let’s get this show on the road, shall we?

1). Thank you for joining me today, let’s start easy with what got you into writing.  E).   I got into writing because of two things: the third grade and insomnia. My third grade teacher, Mrs. Canavan, would have us write short stories. At age nine, these were mostly one page affairs, which she would give us prompts to work with. I enjoyed these, though sometimes I misunderstood prompts and went a completely different direction than the rest of the class (I still struggle with this). My insomnia has been a lifelong affair, which I have passed on to my son. (I understand now, and Mom, I’m sorry.) When I was either in third or fourth grade, my parents gifted me my first journal, so I could record my thoughts on paper and be able to sleep. That also backfired, as I spent hours scribbling in journals all the way through adulthood. While it was rarely stories, I wrote about what I noticed, and what happened during the day. Thoughts I had about puberty, changing friends, and dreams I had. This all spurred a daily writing habit as well as practicing my descriptive skills. By high school, I was writing plays and poetry, and in college, I majored in creative writing.

Edie Cay, ladies and gents. x

2).  What do you love most about writing historical romance? And what do you find challenging about writing in this genre? E).  What I love most about reading historical romance is how closely the narrative follows the emotional life of the characters. Literary fiction doesn’t necessarily go so in-depth, nor do the other genres—there’s no time! And honestly, I struggle with writing that. While I am very emotional on the inside, my cultural background (the Midwest, hat tip) instructed me to keep it bottled and smile politely. Sometimes it can be hard to uncork those feelings.

3).  If you could go back in time to any point in history and live, where would you go and why? E).  So this question is hard for me because I understand the spirit of it—romantic times of hair whipping in your face on the Highlands of Scotland, or the spray of salty sea air…but honestly, all I can think about is how many times I would have been dead already without modern medicine. I remember using my great-grandparents’ outhouse. In summer. No, thank you. My practical, super boring answer is NOW. I want to live NOW. I love electricity and computers and vaccines! I’m grateful for not having pox scars, birth control, wearing pants, getting an education, and texting friends who live across the oceans. (But legit, I think Ancient Rome would be fascinating. Plus running water and heated floors. Not all bad, right?)

4).  I’ve read you’re a member of RWA, The Beau Monde, the Historical Novel Society, and a founding member of Paper Lantern Writers. Can you tell us a little about these organizations and your roles for them? E).   I am a member of the Beau Monde, which is now the Regency Fiction Writers since they disaffiliated from the Romance Writers of America, a move I wholly supported. Regency Fiction Writers is the best resource for historical information, in my opinion. The members are incredibly knowledgeable, and for less than most organizations cost, they offer free classes monthly, as well as paid classes (also for a pittance). In addition, they pay their lecturers, which is important. It shows they value the work the lecturer has put into becoming an expert. I have given a monthly lecture and will speak at the conference in July about Prizefighting (and how women were involved, of course). The Historical Novel Society started in England, but the Americans were so enthusiastic that we now outnumber the UK team. The conferences are a blast, and I have had the pleasure of speaking at them in the past. What I do regularly is write reviews for their quarterly publications. Reviews can also be found online. No payment, but you get free books out of the deal! I also write articles when asked. It is definitely skewed more towards literary historical fiction as opposed to including all types, like historical romance, but I and a few others are out there talking about why historical romance is amazing. Paper Lantern Writers is an author marketing collective. What that means is that a group of us came together to help each other market our books. Our common thread is the historical aspect—while I write historical romance, others write historical mystery, biographical history, and heritage fiction. We decided to give it a go because as readers ourselves, we all enjoy more than one type of book. Don’t we want to help each other, since authors aren’t competitors but colleagues? We blog regularly, and I do live-streaming interviews monthly with some big-name authors on our YouTube channel.

5).  As an author, each story is our baby so to speak, but I was wondering if any of your books so far hold a special place in your heart, If yes, which one and why? E).   The Boxer and the Blacksmith is probably my favorite in the series. Bess Abbott is a truly remarkable character and one whose story I needed to tell. I wrote it as I became a first-time mother at the age of thirty-seven. I didn’t know how to be nurturing and soft, and I felt like I had a lifetime of sharp edges and hard surfaces. Bess Abbott’s taking on Violet is that journey of finding a new way to love: the consuming way a parent loves a child.

Loved this book, well deserved award x

6).  Now I love a strong female main character, in The Boxer and the Blacksmith, Bess Abbot is amazing. Is she based on an actual person? If yes, who? If no, who or what inspired her? E).    Bess Abbott is based on a real person! She is based on Elizabeth Wilkinson Stokes, the best boxer of the 18th century. There are some differences—Stokes was small, whereas Bess is big. But I took one of Stokes’s biggest fights and based it on Bess’s central match against the Irish fighter (because in real life, she fought an Irish fighter). For the purposes of fiction, I showed how women could be either a serious athlete or be in the ring for “Foxy Boxing.” Bess is an athlete who has trained hard and is the best in her field, as was Elizabeth Wilkinson Stokes.

7).  We met at HRR in San Diego, and being a first timer I was blown away by how cool all the events were, the costumes, and the connections I made. Do you attend many retreats like that one? What’s your favorite thing about these events? E).  That was my first time at Historical Romance Retreat too! I’ve been to many conferences, but HRR was the most fun by far. It’s half cosplay, half conference. I learned things during the conferences, but it wasn’t high-pressure the way the Historical Novel Society conference is, where there is so much information you feel like your brain is going to explode and you’ll never make sense of all your notes. I’m not much for costumes, but I am going back to HRR this year!

8).  Name a woman or women through history that you feel was underrated and deserved more recognition than she got. I love history so I’m looking forward to this answer and what I’ll learn. E).  Well, the first person on my under-rated list is absolutely Elizabeth Wilkinson Stokes. She was a fighter, a trainer, and a businesswoman. She never lost a fight, and she worked hard to make sure everyone followed the rules—rules that would later become known as The Broughton Rules because another boxer, John Broughton, became famous and imposed them for his fights, though he never did with the regularity that Elizabeth did. In fact, they were about the same age, and while he gained the favor of the king’s son, Elizabeth disappears from history after the death of her husband, James Stokes, in 1734. I am dying to get over to London and dig around in some parish registries to see if I can figure out what happened to her. No one has found her yet.

9).  If you could sit down and have a meal, interview, and converse with anyone in history, who would be sat at your table? Name your top 5. E).   My table would include Leonardo Da Vinci, Artemisia Gentileschi, Anna Magdalena Bach, Heloise D’Argenteuil, and Anne Boleyn. Leonardo Da Vinci makes the list because he was a prolific polymath. I think he had ADHD, given that he slept at weird hours and was good at so many different things. His dinner conversation seems like it would be fast-paced. Artemisia Gentileschi, another Italian, she was painting at a time when women were discouraged from doing so, and she painted her women like real people: not these near-to-fainting goddesses, but rather Judith is sawing Holofenes’ head off, which is just plain hard work. Her experiences and willingness to buck trends make her a fascinating dinner companion. Anna Magadalena Bach is invited because as Johann Sebastian Bach’s second wife, she continued to work as a court musician after they were married. She was significantly younger, but extremely well-educated, and an excellent singer. She butted heads with Johann’s eldest son, C.P.E. (who did his best to ruin her life after his father died), but she worked, gave birth to thirteen children (!), and sacrificed everything to care for her adult daughter with Down’s syndrome. She was a woman who knew about sacrifice, and hard work, and frankly, deserved a night off. Heloise D’Argenteuil was a smarty-pants, same with Anne Boleyn. Both women seduced men (maybe on accident?), because of their big brains. Heloise was a very young woman when she met Abelard, but their romance (which ended in his castration and her being shut into a nunnery) was a romance of the minds. She later became an abbess, with a position equivalent to a bishop. As for Anne Boleyn, history does not show her in a favorable light, but people often fail to realize that she was devoted to the Protestant cause. King Henry VIII was educated to go into the clergy before his elder brother died and made him the next king, so Henry had an extremely in-depth understanding of church writings and philosophy. Anne smuggled Protestant tracts into England and they read and discussed them early on in their courtship. Again, this is all about how brains are the real sexy. And that also makes them excellent conversationalists.

10). Tell me three things about you that I might find surprising? E).  I don’t know what is surprising anymore? But here are three unusual things about me: a. I was a hair model in high school. Just the back of my head. b. When I was in my twenties, I worked full-time as a pianist. I played the ballet and taught piano lessons. c. I have scuba dived in all five Great Lakes in less than 24 hours. You can watch a documentary about it on www.big5dive.com

11).  What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? And what is the worst piece of advice you’ve ever heard? E).   The best advice I’ve ever been given: “When in Hell, just keep going.” It applies to driving through storms, it applies to rough patches in life. Just get through to the other side. The worst advice: “You only need a two hour layover at the Charles De Gaulle airport.” It’s the worst airport in the world. A transfer there takes daaaaaaays. Avoid!

12).  What is something as a writer that you know now that you’d wished you’d known starting out? E).  I wish I’d realized that the market for historical romance is Romance readers, not historical fiction readers. There is still a big prejudice against romance books in the world, and when I try to market my books to historical fiction readers, I encounter resistance. Sometimes those blushes and stammers say, “Oh, but not like that smut stuff, right?” Yes. I DO mean smut stuff. Yes. Get off the high horse. You can have sex scenes and depth of character and a real plot all at the same time. If you’re doing it right, that smut is part of character growth and is indispensable to the narrative.

13).  Do you have any words of wisdom for anyone wanting to write their own story? E).   Words of wisdom is hard, but I will say this: Make a product you are proud of, the very first time. Even if you pay more for a cover than conventional wisdom recommends. Or you get more rounds of edits than other authors because you are unsure. I lose sleep for the weeks leading up to each new release. But what lets me sleep after is knowing that the overall product is the best book I could possibly make.

14).  What’s next for you? E). So many things! I have two short stories coming out this fall/winter. Both are connected to my boxing world. I’m also writing Book 5 in The Blood Is Up series, which is the final installment. And I have designs on a brand new series as well! 

Thank you so much, Edie, for joining us today, I look forward to reading your new stories and to seeing you again at future events. Anyone looking to follow Edie or read some of awesome work here are all the deets on where to find it.

Blog: www.paperlanternwriters.com/blog

instagram: www.instagram.com/authorEdieCay

Facebook: www.instagram.com/authorEdieCay

newsletter sign-up: https://dashboard.mailerlite.com/forms/331417/82198284124292936/share

Book links for When the Blood Is Up series:

1.     A Lady’s Revenge https://books2read.com/u/38EojZ

2.     The Boxer and the Blacksmith https://books2read.com/u/3JXDEJ

3.     A Lady’s Finder https://books2read.com/u/brwX0e

4.     A Viscount’s Revenge https://books2read.com/u/49LOY0

The Grand Mistletoe Assembly, a historical romance anthology with my story, “The Footman’s Mistake,” set in the same world as the When the Blood is Up book series available for pre-order: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/zk90pzt05b

Other fiction:

In Her Element, a contemporary romance novelette, available on Kindle Unlimited https://amzn.to/3HeOpJ4 

Till next week I hope you get lost in a good book and an adventure that moves your soul.

Love, a whimsical Magnolia xx

Today’s Trippin Tuesday I’m taking you with me on my trip to Calgary, Alberta for my walk for Lupus that I participated in on April 23rd of this year. This was such a humbling experience for me. It was, I’m struggling to find the right words to be honest. I wasn’t feeling good leading up to that day as a flare-up decided to grace my presence, reminding me I did not need or want lol.

For those of you unfamiliar with Lupus, it is an auto-immune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues, life with this disease includes chronic inflammation and pain (of the skin, joints, brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, and blood cells). It is often accompanied by another auto-immune disease, in my case, I also have inflammatory arthritis. My flare-ups vary from manageable to not getting out of bed and needing help getting to the bathroom and doing easy mundane tasks I usually can do (ex., cutting my food or washing my hair).

I was not feeling well that day but I showed up anyway xxx

Leading up to this event I was very inflamed, my clothes weren’t fitting, headaches, and overall feeling very gross and disheartened. However, I made a commitment and was determined to see it through. One of my best friends, Katie, came up and was doing the walk with me. I fundraised a little and have an open link if anyone wishes to donate to the Lupus Foundation of Alberta whose mission is to provide education and support to people suffering from the disease and work toward a cure. When we showed up at the venue, I was in awe of all the families that had turned up in solidarity with people they love fighting this battle and the costumes ( side note: next year I’m totally dressing up) were brilliant. We registered, grabbed our t-shirts, got in line for our photo ( FYI to the camera guy don’t make somebody feel bad by saying Oh it’s just you two before taking a picture mmkay) heard the announcements and we were off. It’s a 3km walk and I felt great afterward so I plan on doing the route twice next year to give myself a little more of a challenge.

Authentically myself ( I really dislike this picture lol)

They had snacks waiting at the finish line and once everyone was settled they gave out some awards for best dressed, etc. Now for the hard part, I’ve been struggling for words. When I was diagnosed with Lupus I was given an overview by my rheumatologist about this disease, what it entails, how my life will look moving forward, and the optimistic point that death from this disease was in their opinion quite low with proper precautions, lifestyle changes, and so on. But being me, I took to Google to do some research of my own which, let’s be honest, just makes it worse. too much information, not the right information, and vague information, so until that day I was firmly in denial of how serious this disease could be. They spoke about this family that was there, a big group of about 20 people who had been doing this walk since 2003 and had continued doing the walk long after their daughter had died from this disease in 2009. they created a beautiful framed art piece for them and the family all came forward to accept and have their picture taken with it. At that moment I did notice they were all wearing a shirt with her picture on the front and my heart broke for them. I openly cried for their loss and I openly cried for the realization that I now knew someone who had died from the disease I have. It was real now in ways it wasn’t before. I could do everything right and there was no guarantee. Life has no guarantee, ever. I struggled to find words for how I felt, for these strangers I had just met and felt for, to how I felt and finally understanding in some small way why it is so hard for my family to talk about it.

Go time…

I could ramble on but I feel like I should end this post on a positive. I did it. I have opened my heart and mind to all possibilities and ideas and adventures I can have with the time I do have. I will live with no more regrets, I will live with no more negative thoughts or self-doubt ( that is hard it’s a working progress) but the main point of all this is I WILL LIVE. I will be selfish with my time and my energy and when my time comes I will leave this place having done what I wanted, loved how I wanted, and content that although life handed me lemons I made one hell of a lemonade with it.

Till next time (and next year),

Love a contemplating life and humbled Magnolia xx

I wish I could start this post with joy and the positivity I usually feel and put forth, but I can’t, not today. I am firmly on the struggle bus for the last month and a bit, I’ve had so many beautiful and good things happen that could usually overshadow the negative things but I’m overwhelmed, emotions are all over, imposter syndrome, self-doubt and overthinking have been solid bed mates this last while.

Sitting down to write this post I found my thoughts jumbled, and my emotions high, I’ve cried and closed the laptop, to come back and try again, yet still struggle to summarize what I’m thinking and feeling, what I’m wanting to say and how to get my point across about my realities without sounding self-deprecating in the process. Most of my readers know I wrote my first novel and published it in January, crossing off a huge dream from my bucket list. I started writing book 2 shortly after and was doing quite well until I ran into a stone wall mentally. Imposter syndrome is a very real thing and I feel it in spades. The words haven’t been flowing and all the glowing reviews have me worried I can’t produce another good book which has me questioning why I did this to begin with , was it a one time thing, should i just quit while I’m ahead, and so on. I’ve struggled to be present for this blog which I love and I feel stuck.

Writing aside I’ve also faced health challenges in the last while, my flare-ups have been harder to manage, my emotions have been harder to maintain, I had two cysts removed from my face, and am losing my hair. I make jokes about just buying wigs and then I can pretend to be somebody else, spice up the bedroom but it’s a lie to cover the fact I feel I’m losing more and more of myself to these diseases wreaking havoc on my body. Positive Patty has left the building in a hurry and Debbie Downer is making her bed smirking at me in all her glory. I hate it.

As a mother, this year which is only half a year in has seen our son turn 18, becoming an adult and soon to graduate high school. We pulled our youngest from school and into online school due to bullying and harassment. Seeing the change in her grades and behavior for the positive has been a blessing and I couldn’t be prouder. I’ve also seen my oldest struggle to leave an abusive relationship and learn the hard way actions have consequences, words spoken in anger can’t be fixed with I’m sorry, and facing a reality she had no plans for, with a tiny human needing her more than ever. It’s devastating as a parent to see your children flounder and fall, they aren’t young anymore I can’t kiss it better and a band-aid magically fixes it. I can’t fight the monsters under the bed or out in the world for them and it hurts the heart. We hope as parents we raise our kids to go out into the world and have the tools necessary to survive but nobody prepared us for the world we live in now.

A world so filled with hate and discontent. A world where we question everything we say so we don’t offend anyone, where we use social media to hide behind our shitty behavior, and where bullying, abuse, and malice are on a 24-hour clock with no days off. Where women demean other women and men are scared to talk about their feelings. Suicide is higher than ever. Women are facing jail time over the right to their own decisions about their bodies. You can’t love who you wish and you can’t express who you are because it’s deemed wrong. All of these things run rampant in my head every day making me fear for the future I’m sending my children out into the world for.

The highs are really high and the lows are really low, it’s leaving me in constant unrest trying to pull myself back up and be present for those that really need me right now. Actions speak louder than words and practicing what I’m preaching is hard, I don’t have all the answers, I don’t have any answers that would help healthily lol. The curse of the mama bear. I am lucky to be surrounded by great humans who will get in the trenches with me, swim in it, and pull me back out if I’m getting too comfortable. Amazing friends that remind me it’s ok, I’m doing okay and give me that dose of reality when needed. I am acknowledging my feelings and thoughts, they are valid and I am doing my best to get up each day, practice gratitude, value the small things, and give myself the credit it deserves for trying. Trying on good days and more when trying on the hard days. Life is really messy right now but it won’t be forever so I need to focus on what is in my control and let go of what isn’t right?

This Wellness Wednesday didn’t go as planned, it’s messy, real and honest which I hope as you read this resonates with you in some small measure. I hope you find yourself nodding at parts, up in your feels and know you are not alone. I am here, I see you and I’m damn proud of you for trying, even when it’s hard. Sending anyone on the struggle bus with me all the love, patience and kindness you need for yourself and I’ll meet you on the other side of it.

Love an unwell but still trying, Magnolia xx

Today’s edition of Trippin Tuesday is the last part of my trip to San Diego. Bittersweet and I could’ve done several more posts maybe we’ll visit San Diego again sometime but for now, let’s talk about my tourist time. I found when I prepared this post I was overcome with so many emotions going through the photos and deciding what to talk about, how raw I wanted to be talking about what I felt in the moments. It was amazing and humbling, I’ll shut up now and get going.

Ran into this guy outside a souvenir show and thought, why not? As I put my dollar in all I could think about was Tom Hanks in Big and I can admit I was a little concerned. Turns out he just wanted to tell me to get off my ass and do all the creative and wonderful things I think about. Lol, I was totally called out yet still remained an adult.

Went to the Ghirardelli chocolate shop, and I may have brought some home.

Cocktails with Monica xx (FYI these Crown Royal lemonades are delicious)

Ahoy Matey, it’s the pirate life for me.

Beautiful Day to explore….

Stopped to check out a local artist sing. @HEENMUSIC_ is her name on TikTok and Instagram if you’d love to check her out and support her music.

We walked our way down the pier to Seaport Village and strolled through the shops, took in the sights, and had a delicious burger and a cold beer. I went into all the little shops picked up souvenirs for my kids, took a hundred photos, and walked about 12 km that day. I’ll spam you with photos next.

This is Alexander, the owner of Gran Havana Cigars. I had a great conversation with this man about life, kids, and adventures. He was so nice and gave me a little history of cigars as well.

This was another cigar shop I went in and I stood and watched this man roll the cigars so beautifully. It took me back to visiting my papa in the UK, sitting by his chair watching him roll his cigarettes and tell me stories. It’s strange how sights and smells can transport you to memories of times long past. My Papa has been gone since I was 6 and it was so real at that moment.

The next day we went aboard the U.S.S Midway and I don’t have the right words to articulate how I felt going through the ship, reading all the names, seeing how they lived and what they sacrificed for. At one point, I had stopped and was reading the letters given to families of soldiers lost in action and their heroic acts. I openly cried and needed to find a corner to get my shit together. Poor Monica had never seen me lose my shit before, lol. Only people who have served or have family who have served truly know the extent of the sacrifices made to defend your country. How hard it is to say goodbye over and over and pray it’s not your last. In a lot of cases, they come home, but they aren’t the same anymore, and you grieve the loss of a person who’s still standing next to you. My father served, and his last deployment brought home a man I didn’t know anymore. A man who would less than two years later leave and never come back. This experience was extremely emotional for me, humbling, and eye-opening. It was hard, but I did find some measure of closure that day. And I had the privilege of speaking to a veteran before we disembarked who honored me with a photo and stories. I truly recommend making this a stop while in San Diego.

The famous statue of strangers sharing a kiss when the Japanese surrendered on August 14th, 1945.

I found Waldo (hehehehe)

I’ll share a few more photos below and that will be a wrap for now on my San Diego trip. I might do a foodie post later as I had some amazing food while I was down there. I wanted to add as this was such an amazing trip that when I got home for my birthday I had a tattoo done commemorating the trip with a picture of the statue and a crown from the logo of HRR. I wanted to remember how I felt that day forever and I think it is perfect. Thank you for coming on a trip with me, hope you enjoyed the photos, and the memories and I gave you something to add to your bucket list. Till next time,

Love, an emotional but happy Magnolia xx

On today’s edition of Wellness Wednesday I’m gonna rant. Not the entire time, but I do have some thoughts and then some updates maybe some moaning about the shitty weather and well whatever else come to mind .

Let’s start with the name change on my Friday segment, and get that out of the way for those of you who reached out and asked why I had changed the name. When I started this blog and came up with the idea of having a theme for each day of the week, I wanted them to be witty and rhyme in a manner. Anyone who actually knows me or has taken the time to actually read my blog would not have made the assumption that I have since been made aware of. Fan Fiction Friday was born out of my love of the written word. I love books, I love reading, and I’m first and foremost a fan of anyone who writes. This day was to showcase authors in interviews I custom designed to fit the author I was speaking to and also share reviews of books I loved and books I did not. I am a fan of fiction, and it was on a Friday. Now that sounded a little stupid, so I shortened it to the title it previously held. However, it was brought to my attention that this specific day was “unintentionally condescending” and “off-putting.” Umm, what? So, being the calm, rational-minded person I am, I went to my computer to see how my blog showcasing authors I admire could be considered those things. Google gave me my answer. Fanfiction (one word) is considered very faux pa by authors as they feel it is stealing of their work when fans create written work based on their characters, etcetera. Which is fair, I would feel that way as well. As I stated above though, if anyone who knows me or actually took the time to read my blog, they wouldn’t have made an assumption about me and would’ve noticed that it is two words and I’m not stealing anyone’s work or copying anyone or being condescending in any manner.

I’ve been writing this segment for 2.5 years, and in that time, I’ve interviewed so many amazing authors, shared their work, and had my fan-girl moments, and I’ve loved every second of it. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I truly believe that wholeheartedly, and I could’ve kept the name, ignored the comment, and gone on my merry way. But in sticking with being authentic and honest, I have to say I was hurt, I was extremely hurt that work I’m extremely proud of would have those words attached to it. I was upset that an assumption was made. I’m an author and I think a negative review of my book would have been easier to take than how I felt being told my blog was those things and that they didn’t want it associated with their brand. Again, I respect the honesty, and in no way do I begrudge this person their opinion. You’re just wrong. In this case, you are just wrong, and that’s okay too. I stewed on it for a few days, putting off my whole schedule as I worked through my feelings and what I wanted to do. I almost scrapped the whole segment, but after talking to my trusted inner circle, I decided I would shorten the name to Fiction Friday so there is no confusion moving forward.

I will be back to doing interviews next week, this week will have another round of reviews and I’m hoping in between posts I can get the review section on the home page started and filling up with reviews. My rant is over now. It wasn’t really a rant, more a voicing of an opinion but whatever.

Moving on, let’s talk about the next coming weeks and what you can find on the blog, what’s going on in my world, and how I’m semi-managing it all, lol. This Sunday, I walk for Lupus in Calgary, Alberta. If you’re new here or have been living under a rock, I have Lupus and Inflammatory Arthiritis. This walk is near and dear to me. This will be my first charity event I’m doing for myself and something I’m affected by. I’m nervous, excited, and proud of myself .

Let’s go.

Since my diagnosis, I have been making a conscious effort to be more present and more intentional in what I want and who I want to be. I’ve removed anything and anyone from my life that was toxic and I made a deal with myself to stop being scared, stop making excuses, and do all the things I’ve put off thinking I had all the time in the world to do. In doing that and in the space of 3 years, I have written and published a book (working on Book 2 right now), I’ve hiked a mountain and fallen in love with it, I’ve had memories I wouldn’t ever want to lose tattooed on my skin reminding me of how far I’ve come, I’ve set goals and I’ve crushed them. I’ve faced wanting to die and almost succeeding, to waking up each day and being grateful I didn’t. My point is, I’m grateful every day for the small things, the big things, and everything in between. This disease is hard, I’m fighting my body every single day, I’m in pain all the time, I get angry, I get sad, and those feelings are valid. The difference between now and then is my conscious effort to acknowledge the feelings, process them, and still move forward anyway. I find that as humans, we get so caught up in our own heads, others’ opinions, procrastination, and avoidance that we miss so much. This life-altering disease changed my whole world, I could be bitter, and if I’m honest, some days I am. I also know facing this has fundamentally changed me for the better as well.

Next week will be a doozy, so I’ll try and get things set up on autopilot while I manage my schedule. Tomorrow’s edition of Truss it Up Thursday I will be having you guys give me advice on what to wear, which nails to pick, and how I should do my hair for my Book signing event on Friday, April 28th, also in Calgary. This is also a first for me lol and I’m excited, nervous, and all things. The day before, I have my appointment with my rheumatologist, going over how I’m feeling, what’s working, what’s not, and my overall health. Fingers crossed all good things. I will be documenting everything from Sunday till Saturday and share all the highs and lows of my week, the events, the appt’s, some sass, and maybe some fun too. I’m taking on a new hike next Saturday and finally visiting the Harry Potter themed bar after. Essentially, it’s a lot of firsts this week and definitely not lasts. More goals will be checked off, and more will be made.

One day at a time

Let’s have a little fun so we can end this on a good note. What’s on your bucket list? Give me some ideas on things I could add to my goal/bucket list, and I’ll randomly pick a few and do it. Yes, I will do it just please don’t go crazy lmao. And what are some things you’d like me to add to the blog?

As Always, till next time.

Love, Magnolia xx

It’s time for Part Three of my trip to San Diego last fall. Last week we went over the first three days of HRR, so today is our last full day and my journey to being a princess. Ok, I wasn’t an actual princess but I felt like one. This was a whole day let me tell you.

First up, The Great Book Exhibition which was the Book Signing and Historical Fair. All the amazing authors including my friend M. Francis Lamond set up tables and were ready to meet fans/readers just like me and sign books you can purchase there or bring with you. This event was open to the public so it was filled to the brim with people excited to meet their favorite authors.

Our Special guest author for this event was Julia Quinn, the genius behind The Bridgerton Books which is now a Netflix show. I stood in line patiently to meet her and I did indeed meet her, she was very lovely, and signed a bookmark for me as she was sold out of books by the time I got to her. I can admit I felt weird about admitting I’d never read the books or watched the show when she asked but she was respectful of my answer. It was a cool experience.

I guess to anyone curious, my answer was I don’t follow Fads, when something gets so popular and hyped up I will generally walk the other way. I hate when something is pushed so much that you form unrealistic expectations and then you read the book or watch the show and then you’re left disappointed that it doesn’t match up to what your head imagined. If that make sense? I did explain this better to her lol. Another example is Daisy and the Six, the book and show are huge right now and I have not read the book or seen it. This doesn’t mean I won’t in the future, just not right now.

Edie CayRenee BernardCaroline LeeCecilia ReneCeleste BarclayHeather McCollumEmilee HarrisRuth. A CasieDonna Hatch &Belle AmiM. Francis LamondVirginia HeathChasity Bowlin

There were so many amazing authors at the event, getting to meet them and learn history (which I love FYI) and form friendships was one of the best things about this trip. I got to meet Sabrina Jeffries who I am a huge fan of, I was pretty stoked about that and I acted normal with no verbal diarrhea of any kind. You should be very proud of me. I get nervous I talk and even I’m surprised by what comes out of my mouth so we can count that as a win for me. Lol

This is the beautiful Invitation to the HRR “Bridgerton” Grand Regency Ball.

Remember when I said I needed a crown? I did, and I got to wear that beauty with my blue “Bridgerton” style gown to the ball. I took so many pictures that night. It was magical. I danced and can unanimously agree I was god awful at it. Tried my best it was a NOOOOOOO. And twerking in a ballgown wasn’t trendy, lol. There was a wonderful lady giving instructions and the music was beautiful. Everyone looked amazing in their finery, laughing dancing, and taking all the photos and videos we could to memorialize the moment. It was amazing, and if you ever have the chance to attend a ball, do it. Go all out, and be swept away in the experience.

The Gents Very flirty Sahara on her way to tryst xLadies, compose yourselves lolThese two danced beautifully together.Selfie with ChristinaChasity those ankles my mySahara & ScottCaroline Lee Lord & Lady McCollumLord & Lady LewisLike my crown?The dancing

Alas, the clock struck midnight, and this belle of the ball needed to sleep, so off to dreamland I went. Sunday came too quickly, and we were having our farewell breakfast, exchanging numbers, swapping photos, and solidifying newly found friendships. I met so many amazing people on this trip, and the wealth of knowledge I gained helped me immensely when it came time to publish my first book. I have a newfound appreciation for authors in the historical genre, romance or not, the work that goes into these stories, the research and authenticity brought to these stories is amazing.

My StashAnd more…My Crown, Chip, and name card xMy dedicated HRR shelfLove my poker chip.

That’s all folks for HRR. It was amazing. I loved it 10/10 recommend doing it one cool thing I should mention is the event runs twice in one location before going to another destination so I’m eager to find out where the 2024 HRR is being held. Next Tuesday, I will show you all the places I got to be a complete tourist, the places that I’m irrevocably changed from, and the laughs we had along the way.

Love, Lady Magnolia xx