Tag Archive for: author

Dragon Con 2023 Schedule for Isabelle Hardesty

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I am so happy to be back at Dragon Con as an author panelist!

 

Here is my schedule with times and locations. I will have my books on sale there, and have two different times in my schedule below to sell books directly to my readers!  I can’t wait to see you there! Click here to see photos of me at Dragon Con on my Instagram account from previous years.

 

Title: Women Redefining Creativity: A Trailblazing Writers’ Panel
Description: Embark on a captivating journey as we celebrate women’s perspectives in the realms of publishing, writing, editing, and comics. Join this enlightening panel discussion that unveils the power and influence of female voices in shaping our creative world.
Time: Fri 11:30 am
Location: Hanover AB Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: Signing Showcase Diversity Track
Description: Authors from Women Redefining Creativity: A Trailblazing Writers’ Panel will sell their books at this event
Time: Fri 01:00 pm
Location: Overlook Westin (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: Paranormal YA Fiction
Description: Vampires, werewolves, ghosts – paranormal is back in YA in a big way. Let’s talk about the books about things that go bump in the night.
Time: Fri 05:30 pm
Location: A707 Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: The Gather: Welcome Home!!!!!!
Description: The best Gathering around of authors and fans! Who knows what surprises and treasures are to be found. We have more authors than the app will allow us to list, so you will be sure to find some great books to take home with your amazing Con stories.
Time: Fri 08:00 pm
Location: International South Hyatt (Length: 4 Hours)

 

Title: YA Today: Are there Boundaries? What are They?
Description: What’s going on in YA fiction? What are the kids looking for? How far can a writer go? How far is too far?
Time: Sat 11:30 am
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: YA Novels that Readers Will Love
Description: As you write your YA novel, are you thinking of the audience? Reach out and touch that kid–or adult who loves YA–and make them love your characters and your books.
Time: Sat 04:00 pm
Location: Embassy EF Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: Writing Outside Oneself: Stories and Characters that Go Where We Have Not
Description: The best part of Fantasy is the ability for authors and readers to live many different lives and see many different perspectives. It can be tricky to do so while not causing harm, our panelists will discuss this and ways to learn what we just don’t know.
Time: Sat 07:00 pm
Location: Embassy CD Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: YA Page to Screen
Description: You found out your favorite book is coming to the big screen. You’re both excited and anxious. Past experiences — from bad casting to leaving out essential plot details — are enough to make us all more than a little nervous. Is the book almost always better than the film or show?
Time: Sun 10:00 am
Location: A707 Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: Self-Publishing for Young Adult Audiences
Description: What makes for success in the YA self-publishing space? Let’s talk to authors who succeeded and how they did it.
Time: Sun 05:30 pm
Location: A707 Marriott (Length: 1 Hour)

 

Title: Maps: More than Squiggles on a Paper
Description: Which comes first the map or the journey? We will explore how maps have been used in our favorite stories to provide structure and context to a world as well as how our authors created their own maps.
Time: Mon 11:30 am
Location: Embassy CD Hyatt (Length: 1 Hour)

About Isabelle Hardesty

Isabelle Hardesty profile image

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.

An Interview with a Witch, Juliette Mariana Fontaine

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A fun Q & A with Juliette Mariana Fontaine. She’s the The Witch of Belle Fleur!

Q. What’s it like being a telenovela actress?
A. It’s crazy, fun and connects me to my aunt. We love watching them together.

Q. Who’s your BFF? Are you blushing?
A. No, I’m not blushing. My best friend is Victor.

Q. Where is your favorite place in the world? I assume you’d be there with your BFF.
A. Yes, he’s pretty much always with me, unless I’m on set or at home doing boring stuff. It would be the swamp. Don’t look so scared, you’d be surprised how relaxing and nice that place can be. It centers me.

Q. Well, that’s a lot to say about a place that gives me the creeps. Don’t the alligators and snake scare you?
A. I guess I have a way with animals, they don’t bother me at all. Don’t freak out, but I have a pet alligator, Heathcliff.

Q. Well, that’s a new one. Okay, last question. Belle Fleur was once called the most magical city in the US. So, I have to ask, do you believe in magic?
A. I mean, yeah, who doesn’t?

Q. Why are you laughing? It’s a serious question. Some of our readers want to know.
A. I thought you were going to ask questions about telenovelas and acting.

Q. Ok, I see the question makes you uncomfortable. How about this. If you could be a witch, would you?
A. Maybe, if it could make the world a better place.

 Grab your copy today!

Oh, here’s a new review for The Witch of Belle Fleur! Thank you, readers! Please keep these reviews coming! There are now 9 reviews for this book. I can’t wait to reach 10!


5.0 out of 5 stars   Wow – what a ride!
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2020
“Just when I think I know what’s going to happen, I guess wrong, and go forward to read on in this roller coaster of witchcraft and excitement. What a really great read! So happy I was turned onto this writer – looking forward to reading more of her work!”

 

Happy reading!

Isabelle

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.

Remember to Notice Spring

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As we wonder how much toilet paper we can possibly store in our homes, let’s not forget that spring is here.

Beautiful things are happening right now, while we all deal with everything going on in the world.

Millions of flowers are blooming nearby you. Velvety, new leaves are unfurling for the very first time, greeting the warmth of the sun.

There will only be one spring this year. I am trying to notice the good and the beautiful.

In the middle of all of this, I’ve found yoga again.

I hope that this spring brings peace, health and calm to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adventure in Berry, France – A True Story by Isabelle Hardesty

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Sometimes 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.

Berry in France (1789).svg

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 profile image

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.

Blogging and My New YA Fantasy Novel

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I’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.

  1. I wanted to command time and not let 52 weeks zip by
  2. It’s a great way to turn off that inner critic and just write
  3. I’m curious to see what I come up with
  4. It’s a great way to connect with readers
  5. This will help me be a little more fearless

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.