Okay, so you all know that I’m blogging every week this year! Part of me is excited and part of me still wonders what have I gotten myself into!
By the way, perfection will not be part of my plan at all. Perfection is a set up to feeling lousy and giving up early. Merriam Webster’s definition of perfection is, “An unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence.” Uh– no thank you.
I am ignoring the desire to be perfect. That’s the only way I’ll be able to write one blog post a week. Otherwise I’d worry, polish, and basically edit myself out of writing one sentence. Believe me, I’ve done it before. Ugh!
Nature is imperfect and takes our breath away, time after time. The flowers above are not perfect, but they are beautiful as is. I need to keep that in mind each time I sit at my laptop to write.
Take a deep breath. No one is perfect and it’s wonderful.
So, join me this year in ditching perfection for other things like:
Let’s focus on the process rather than the product. It will help us loosen up and be open to where creativity takes us in all parts of our lives.
Children are great at this. I need to remember to bring more joy into my life by accepting the imperfect.
I’m going to express myself more this year in different ways that are true to who I am.
It’s got to be fun! Yay
Isabelle Hardesty writes stories about girls doing magical things and kicking butt. She writes these stories for all readers, and girls like her, who didn’t see themselves in their favorite fantasy adventures growing up.
She is the author of THE DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES and THE DELACOURT SHAPESHIFTER TRILOGY.
The heroine of her young adult novel, THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR, is just the courageous mixed with awkward teen she would have fallen for and been inspired by as a kid. Juliette Mariana Fontaine is Afro-Latina. She’s a budding telenovela actor, who’s a recent high school grad, and she re-awakens both good and evil magic in her hometown, Belle Fleur, which is tucked near the swamps in South Florida.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR is book one in the DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES, a three-part series. Book two is MIDNIGHT IN BELLE FLEUR, which is published, and the last book is RETURN TO BELLE FLEUR, available later this year.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR was named quarterfinalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition and was named to the Coverfly RED LIST. It is in the top 10 fantasy book manuscripts on Coverfly.
Isabelle was recently in Atlanta for Dragon Con, one of the country’s largest multi-media conventions focusing on science fiction and fantasy literature, art, and gaming. She is a returning author panelist at Dragon Con, where she discusses her books, the writing process, evil witches, and more!
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.
Isabelle Hardesty writes stories about girls doing magical things and kicking butt. She writes these stories for all readers, and girls like her, who didn’t see themselves in their favorite fantasy adventures growing up.
She is the author of THE DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES and THE DELACOURT SHAPESHIFTER TRILOGY.
The heroine of her young adult novel, THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR, is just the courageous mixed with awkward teen she would have fallen for and been inspired by as a kid. Juliette Mariana Fontaine is Afro-Latina. She’s a budding telenovela actor, who’s a recent high school grad, and she re-awakens both good and evil magic in her hometown, Belle Fleur, which is tucked near the swamps in South Florida.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR is book one in the DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES, a three-part series. Book two is MIDNIGHT IN BELLE FLEUR, which is published, and the last book is RETURN TO BELLE FLEUR, available later this year.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR was named quarterfinalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition and was named to the Coverfly RED LIST. It is in the top 10 fantasy book manuscripts on Coverfly.
Isabelle was recently in Atlanta for Dragon Con, one of the country’s largest multi-media conventions focusing on science fiction and fantasy literature, art, and gaming. She is a returning author panelist at Dragon Con, where she discusses her books, the writing process, evil witches, and more!
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.
Adventure in Berry, France – A True Story by Isabelle Hardesty
by Isabelle HardestySometimes adventure can come around when you least expect it.
Before my trip to Paris, my friend, Margaret said, “Call me when you’re in Paris and we can meet up.”
We both lived in Miami, at the time, and worked together. She told me she would be visiting an old friend who lived in Berry, France. It seemed like a vague situation that I didn’t feel comfortable with.
I told her, “Yeah, sure.”
Honestly, I had no intention of calling her and staying with her friend. I wanted to get away and have a relaxing time, going to museums and seeing Paris. I was ready for a solo vacation—just me, myself, and I.
But, after being there two days, I realized I should give her a call. I love Paris and had been there a few times, even visiting with my two sisters, in the past. This trip was different. I was in a different place in life and decided to call Margaret. Maybe she would visit Paris before heading back to Miami, I thought.
She answered the phone and asked her friend if I could visit.
Then I hopped on a bullet train and said yes to adventure.
The call led to an amazing few days in Berry. It was like walking into another world.
The home we stayed in was magnificent. It was made of stone and wood and was the home of the family who made the ceramic tiles for the castle beyond the stables and lake.
Yup, you read that correctly.
Needless to say, in the morning as I stood, gazing over the lake, and watching the horses mill about, I pinched myself to confirm that it was not a dream.
An unexpected twist!
Next morning my friend asked me if I would be okay with staying three days more because the family dog, a gorgeous long-haired snow-white dog, ran off.
The hostess, who was so sweet and wonderful, didn’t feel comfortable being alone without her dog. Her husband would return from Paris on Saturday.
I felt a mixture elation and guilt. I hated that a dog might be out there suffering and that I was benefiting from her absence. I stayed the extra three days and had an amazing time.
Yes, I even had tea in the castle! The hostess’s parents owned the castle. Again, I’m telling the truth, here.
Takeaway
There are good people in the world. Wonderful adventures are around the corner. Be open to adventure when it knocks on your door.
My book, The Witch of Belle Fleur, is about a teen who says yes to adventure! She says yes to becoming a telenovela actress and she says yes to becoming a witch.
Juliette is faced with challenges, as we all are, but it’s how she overcomes life’s challenges that’s exciting. She finds that working with others like her is the only way to defeat evil.
I hope you enjoyed my tale of my time in Berry. It is a story I love telling.
Oh, and about that dog—she came home with her new dog boyfriend. I guess she said yes to adventure, too!
Happy reading!
About Isabelle Hardesty
Isabelle Hardesty Isabelle Hardesty writes stories about people doing magical things and kicking butt. She writes for all readers, and people like her, who didn’t see themselves in their favorite fantasy adventures growing up.
She is the author of The Witch of Belle Fleur, which is part of her book series, The Destroyer Witch Chronicles. Isabelle Hardesty is also the author of The Delacourt Shapeshifter trilogy, Sea Witch High duology, and Viola the Vampire Witch duology.
She lives with her husband and family in Atlanta. For more information at www.IsabelleHardesty.com.
5 Reasons We Love Telenovelas
by Isabelle Hardesty3 Reasons YA Fantasy Author is Enchanted with Mangrove Trees
by Isabelle HardestyI love mangrove trees, and as I Miami native, I remember seeing these wetland beauties line Greynolds Park’s waterways. These trees enchanted me so much, I even ventured into kayaking to be closer to them. I loved watching the rippling water lap along their roots.
In my book, The Witch of Belle Fleur, mangrove trees play an important role in Juliette’s transformation into a witch. I won’t give away too much, but it’s memorable! I can’t wait for you to read it!
Here are a three reasons I love mangrove trees:
I made sure to add mangroves in The Witch of Belle Fleur.
Read more about the book, here:
In a family brimming with secrets, Juliette learns her mother was a Destroyer Witch, and her father was a Healer Witch. This teen telenovela actress doesn’t have time for magic, yet magic finds a way into her life.
Juliette must choose between becoming her town’s Lead Witch or just walking away from magic and being a regular human, like her drop-dead gorgeous best friend, Victor. Eventually, she finds out that Victor has a few secrets of his own…
Although her instincts tell her to run from magic, magic might be the only way she can save her dying aunt.
She unwittingly brings magic back to all witches in Belle Fleur, including Thane, an ancient evil witch who wants Juliette’s power and soul.
A hot new mysterious guy comes to town and turns up the heat. Juliette’s feelings for him grow, just as she sinks deeper and deeper into the new world of magic.
Can Juliette balance her Healer and Destroyer sides while she tries to defeat the evil that hunts her and those she loves?
Pre-order your copy of The Witch of Belle Fleur here.
Please email me at: isabellehardesty (@) gmail dot com with any questions or comments.
~Isabelle
Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:
How I Found My Publisher and Agent
How do You Organize Your Bookshelf?
Isabelle Hardesty is a writer of young adult fantasy.
She enjoys writing about characters who are like people you know and people you want to know.
Isabelle lives in Seattle with her husband and son. She loves being with her family, eating chocolate, and connecting with readers. When she is not writing, you can find her either researching for her next book or painting.
Cheerio on My Yoga Mat – Ditching Perfection Part 2 by Isabelle Hardesty
by Isabelle HardestyThis year I’ve jumped back into yoga, or rather stretched into it. I’m older and hopefully wiser. I’m ditching perfection and showing up—which isn’t always easy. So here is my third blog post of many this year. Yay me! I didn’t give up on my blog challenge.
This blog post was inspired by the little Cheerio that was hidden in my yoga mat—courtesy of my little one! LOL! I made sure to take a quick photo of it before I rolled up my mat.
Even though the yoga instructor always says not to compare oneself to others, I can’t help but sometimes feel like I’m going for the gold in the Olympics each time I step on the mat.
Ugh!
Well, this time, I had a cute little reminder to chill out and enjoy the process. I swooped low for a forward bend and noticed this cute little Cheerio on my mat just behind my feet.
The cheerio dissolved my self-imposed perfectionism. I smiled as I unwound and enjoyed the moment on the mat.
What did the little Cheerio on My Yoga Mat remind me?
Let go and stop trying so hard
Enjoy and give in to the moment
Remember the love of those around you. That Cheerio represented my toddler’s hugs
I don’t know if a Cheerio is going to show up on your mat, or another silly moment will pop up for you. When it does, recognize that it’s there to remind you to give in to the moment.
I’m still over the moon for my new book coming out soon. The main character has a bunch of things thrown at her at once. She’s a recent high school grad, new telenovela actress and new witch. Whew! Juliette juggles it all in THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR.
I was inspired to write the book because of my love of nature and my fascination with magic.
Read more about the book here.
About Isabelle Hardesty
She is the author of The Witch of Belle Fleur, which is part of her book series, The Destroyer Witch Chronicles. Isabelle Hardesty is also the author of The Delacourt Shapeshifter trilogy, Sea Witch High duology, and Viola the Vampire Witch duology.
She lives with her husband and family in Atlanta. For more information at www.IsabelleHardesty.com.
Ditch Perfection and Jump Into Creativity Part 1
by Isabelle HardestyOkay, so you all know that I’m blogging every week this year! Part of me is excited and part of me still wonders what have I gotten myself into!
By the way, perfection will not be part of my plan at all. Perfection is a set up to feeling lousy and giving up early. Merriam Webster’s definition of perfection is, “An unsurpassable degree of accuracy or excellence.” Uh– no thank you.
I am ignoring the desire to be perfect. That’s the only way I’ll be able to write one blog post a week. Otherwise I’d worry, polish, and basically edit myself out of writing one sentence. Believe me, I’ve done it before. Ugh!
Nature is imperfect and takes our breath away, time after time. The flowers above are not perfect, but they are beautiful as is. I need to keep that in mind each time I sit at my laptop to write.
Take a deep breath. No one is perfect and it’s wonderful.
So, join me this year in ditching perfection for other things like:
Let’s focus on the process rather than the product. It will help us loosen up and be open to where creativity takes us in all parts of our lives.
Children are great at this. I need to remember to bring more joy into my life by accepting the imperfect.
I’m going to express myself more this year in different ways that are true to who I am.
It’s got to be fun! Yay
She is the author of THE DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES and THE DELACOURT SHAPESHIFTER TRILOGY.
The heroine of her young adult novel, THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR, is just the courageous mixed with awkward teen she would have fallen for and been inspired by as a kid. Juliette Mariana Fontaine is Afro-Latina. She’s a budding telenovela actor, who’s a recent high school grad, and she re-awakens both good and evil magic in her hometown, Belle Fleur, which is tucked near the swamps in South Florida.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR is book one in the DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES, a three-part series. Book two is MIDNIGHT IN BELLE FLEUR, which is published, and the last book is RETURN TO BELLE FLEUR, available later this year.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR was named quarterfinalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition and was named to the Coverfly RED LIST. It is in the top 10 fantasy book manuscripts on Coverfly.
Isabelle was recently in Atlanta for Dragon Con, one of the country’s largest multi-media conventions focusing on science fiction and fantasy literature, art, and gaming. She is a returning author panelist at Dragon Con, where she discusses her books, the writing process, evil witches, and more!
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.
Isabelle Hardesty writes stories about girls doing magical things and kicking butt. She writes these stories for all readers, and girls like her, who didn’t see themselves in their favorite fantasy adventures growing up.
She is the author of THE DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES and THE DELACOURT SHAPESHIFTER TRILOGY.
The heroine of her young adult novel, THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR, is just the courageous mixed with awkward teen she would have fallen for and been inspired by as a kid. Juliette Mariana Fontaine is Afro-Latina. She’s a budding telenovela actor, who’s a recent high school grad, and she re-awakens both good and evil magic in her hometown, Belle Fleur, which is tucked near the swamps in South Florida.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR is book one in the DESTROYER WITCH CHRONICLES, a three-part series. Book two is MIDNIGHT IN BELLE FLEUR, which is published, and the last book is RETURN TO BELLE FLEUR, available later this year.
THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR was named quarterfinalist in the ScreenCraft Cinematic Book Competition and was named to the Coverfly RED LIST. It is in the top 10 fantasy book manuscripts on Coverfly.
Isabelle was recently in Atlanta for Dragon Con, one of the country’s largest multi-media conventions focusing on science fiction and fantasy literature, art, and gaming. She is a returning author panelist at Dragon Con, where she discusses her books, the writing process, evil witches, and more!
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.
Blogging and My New YA Fantasy Novel
by Isabelle HardestyI’ve been working on my book, The Witch of Belle Fleur. It’s a YA fantasy about a teen who is a telenovela actress and a witch! It was fun to write and I’m adding bits and pieces in my upcoming blog posts.
My little one is growing and growing! How is this happening so quickly?
One of my goals is to write a post each week during this year. This wasn’t my idea. I happened to read a blog post by Tim Ferris. You can read his blog post here. As I read it, it scared me. That’s when I knew I had to do it!
Why did I decide to write a post a week? Yes, Tim Ferris is cool, but it was more than that.
I look forward to seeing how I grow with this self-imposed challenge.
Isabelle Hardesty is a Miami native who uses her creative work to share her experiences growing up in South Florida. She is committed to creating rich and strong female characters in her books. Hardesty wants young people and women of color to see themselves in her novels and know they are a meaningful part of the world they’re in.
Hardesty received her BFA from Pratt Institute and has worked in NYC as an assistant fashion designer. Her rich and textured life experiences allow her to create characters and plots that engage readers. One common thread in all of her professional experiences is that storytelling is always king.
Isabelle Hardesty’s first published work was a short story that was published in an anthology. This short story grew into The Delacourt Shapeshifter Trilogy.
Hardesty wove her love of magic and nature into her most recent novel, The Witch of Belle Fleur. Her book tells the story of Juliette, an Afro-Latina teen telenovela actress, teetering on the edge as she unravels her family’s secret of magic, only to discover that if she becomes a lead witch, she must let both good and evil magic return to her town. Midnight in Belle Fleur is the sequel and will be available this year. This year, Isabelle will be returning to Dragon Con where she will discuss books, creativity, evil fae and more!
Her book, The Witch of Belle Fleur, placed on ScreenCraft’s Cinematic Book Competition 2022 and is on the REDLIST. In 2022, she is the Young Adult category winner for the SPF Foundation 2022.
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.
5 Must Haves for Readers
by Isabelle Hardesty5 Must Haves for Readers by Isabelle Hardesty
Reading is a pleasure that we can sometimes take for granted. Stop. Let’s make sure you’ve got some creature comforts to make reading pure joy.
The Takeaway…
Some people find they don’t read as much as they used to. Maybe it’s the time of day they read. Or for some, it’s just about changing the lighting. Find what works for you and enjoy reading!
~Isabelle
Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:
How do You Organize Your Bookshelf?
Isabelle Hardesty is a Miami native who uses her creative work to share her experiences growing up in South Florida. She is committed to creating rich and strong female characters in her books. Hardesty wants young people and women of color to see themselves in her novels and know they are a meaningful part of the world they’re in.
Hardesty received her BFA from Pratt Institute and has worked in NYC as an assistant fashion designer. Her rich and textured life experiences allow her to create characters and plots that engage readers. One common thread in all of her professional experiences is that storytelling is always king.
Isabelle Hardesty’s first published work was a short story that was published in an anthology. This short story grew into The Delacourt Shapeshifter Trilogy.
Hardesty wove her love of magic and nature into her most recent novel, The Witch of Belle Fleur. Her book tells the story of Juliette, an Afro-Latina teen telenovela actress, teetering on the edge as she unravels her family’s secret of magic, only to discover that if she becomes a lead witch, she must let both good and evil magic return to her town. Midnight in Belle Fleur is the sequel and will be available this year. This year, Isabelle will be returning to Dragon Con where she will discuss books, creativity, evil fae and more!
Her book, The Witch of Belle Fleur, placed on ScreenCraft’s Cinematic Book Competition 2022 and is on the REDLIST. In 2022, she is the Young Adult category winner for the SPF Foundation 2022.
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.
5 Top Supernaturals We Love to Read About
by Isabelle HardestyOkay, let’s be real. We love to read about supernaturals. Why? Because, at least for me, they are a fun escape into a world that’s interesting and filled with surprises.
Some readers love zombies, others swoon for vampires. But which supernaturals do you love to read about?
Here are my top 5 supernaturals:
Witches ~ Yes, I write about witches, so I love to read about witches, too! The Witch of Belle Fleur is my novel about witches coming out soon! Witches are fascinating and they can be more realistic than supernatural, which only makes them even more interesting to me.
Vampires ~ How can I not have vampires on this list? My current projects include a vampire novel and I love the drama, romance and history that surrounds vampires.
Shapeshifters ~ Shapeshifting is the power I would probably choose, if I had the chance. I wrote a trilogy called The Delacourt Shapeshifter Saga, which is about a half shapeshifter and half fairy.
Werewolves ~ They are like shapeshifters, but limited in power. They seem more tragic and limited than shapeshifters, at least to me. I love their passion and courage.
Fairies ~ Fairies, or the fae, can be both light and whimsical or the more serious and sorceress kind, which is what I favor. This makes me think of Bex, one of my favorite characters from The Delacourt Shapeshifter Saga, She’s a pretty mean spirited fairy queen and may have her chance at redemption in an upcoming trilogy.
Hmm. What about you? Yes, I left off zombies. I’m just a wimp and can’t get my head around the fact they’re not real. I confess, that I love a good zombie story, now and then.
Please email me at: isabellehardesty (@) gmail dot com with any questions or comments.
~Isabelle
Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:
How I Found My Publisher and Agent
How do You Organize Your Bookshelf?
Pre-order your copy of The Witch of Belle Fleur today!
Isabelle Hardesty is a writer of young adult fantasy.
She enjoys writing about characters who are like people you know and people you want to know.
Isabelle lives in Seattle with her husband and son. She loves being with her family, eating chocolate, and connecting with readers. When she is not writing, you can find her either researching for her next book or painting.
5 Quotes for Creativity
by Isabelle HardestyDiscover these inspiring quotes that celebrate creativity!
These two quotes are perfect for a project’s beginning:
“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”
— Maya Angelou
“Creativity takes courage.”
— Henri Matisse
These two quotes will inspire you to keep going, when you may want to give up:
“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.”
— Barack Obama
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
— Albert Einstein
The following quote is perfect for some who may think that growing older means they must give up on their dreams:
“It is not true that people stop pursuing dreams because they grow old, they grow old because they stop pursuing dreams.”
— Gabriel García Márquez
I hope these inspirational quotes will help you achieve your dreams!
Please email me at: isabellehardesty (@) gmail dot com with any questions or comments.
~Isabelle
Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:
How I Found My Publisher and Agent
How do You Organize Your Bookshelf?
Pre-order your copy of The Witch of Belle Fleur today!
Isabelle Hardesty is a writer of young adult fantasy.
She enjoys writing about characters who are like people you know and people you want to know.
Isabelle lives in Seattle with her husband and son. She loves being with her family, eating chocolate, and connecting with readers. When she is not writing, you can find her either researching for her next book or painting.
5 Tips for Creativity
by Isabelle HardestyCreativity happens when we are bold enough to fail. Enjoy the creative process and be open to falling into creativity.
As an author, I use this, otherwise, I would close up, too scared to write anything! When I let the writing process take me away on an adventure, I loosen up and that’s when the ideas flow.
1. Don’t be afraid of being the first, or last, person to fail at what you are attempting. This goes for all forms of creativity.
2. Ignore what others may say while you’re stumbling and learning. Be like a child and have an endless reservoir of self-esteem and don’t give up.
3. Are you sure it was a mistake? Re-define and examine the mistake. Whose standard are we using to measure the outcome? Some things can’t work, but before you throw it out, see if it may be the beginning of something new!
4. Be willing to fall on your backside! Again, like a child, when we are open to failure, success can sneak in while we are not looking.
5. Find a community who can support you as you’re learning the ropes.
~Isabelle
Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:
How do You Organize Your Bookshelf?
Isabelle Hardesty is a Miami native who uses her creative work to share her experiences growing up in South Florida. She is committed to creating rich and strong female characters in her books. Hardesty wants young people and women of color to see themselves in her novels and know they are a meaningful part of the world they’re in.
Hardesty received her BFA from Pratt Institute and has worked in NYC as an assistant fashion designer. Her rich and textured life experiences allow her to create characters and plots that engage readers. One common thread in all of her professional experiences is that storytelling is always king.
Isabelle Hardesty’s first published work was a short story that was published in an anthology. This short story grew into The Delacourt Shapeshifter Trilogy.
Hardesty wove her love of magic and nature into her most recent novel, The Witch of Belle Fleur. Her book tells the story of Juliette, an Afro-Latina teen telenovela actress, teetering on the edge as she unravels her family’s secret of magic, only to discover that if she becomes a lead witch, she must let both good and evil magic return to her town. Midnight in Belle Fleur is the sequel and will be available this year. This year, Isabelle will be returning to Dragon Con where she will discuss books, creativity, evil fae and more!
Her book, The Witch of Belle Fleur, placed on ScreenCraft’s Cinematic Book Competition 2022 and is on the REDLIST. In 2022, she is the Young Adult category winner for the SPF Foundation 2022.
Isabelle Hardesty lives with her husband and son in the Pacific Northwest.