Tag Archive for: isabelle hardesty

Dragon Con 2023 Schedule for Isabelle Hardesty

/0 Comments/in /by

 

 

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.

Dragon Con 2022 Schedule for Author Isabelle Hardesty

/0 Comments/in /by

Isabelle Hardesty is happy to be a returning author panelist at DRAGON CON 2022! She is headed to Atlanta for Dragon Con, one of the country’s largest multi-media conventions focusing on science fiction and fantasy literature, art, and gaming. There she will discuss her books, the writing process, witches, and more!

Click here to see Isabelle’s schedule on Dragon Con. Or click image below to jump to Dragon Con’s app viewable in browser to see Isabelle’s schedule. (The iphone or android  Dragon Con free app is great and easy to use)

Title: Upcoming & Dream YA Adaptations
Description: After the success of Shadow & Bone on Netflix, there is more hope than ever that adaptations can be great. Many of our favorite books have been optioned. What would you love to see on screen?
Time: Fri 01:00 pm        (Young Adult Literature Track)
Location: A707 (Length: 1 Hour) MARRIOTT
Jenn Clack, Jess Lyles, Natalie Simpson (Moderators) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty

 

Title: Worldbuilding for YA         
Description: Magical, fantastical, and science fiction worlds are incredibly rich. Join us to hear how our authors build their worlds for young readers.
Time: Fri 04:00 pm        (Young Adult Literature Track)
Location: A707 (Length: 1 Hour) MARRIOTT
Natalie Simpson (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Sherrilyn Kenyon, A.J. Hartley, F.T. Lukens

 

Title: Upload: The Dream of Freeyond  
Description: Nathan and his gang of not so merry misfits face off corporate influences, baby making possibilities, and create a siphoning system to help those less fortunate in Lakeview. While there’s ups and downs in the virtual afterlife, all is not easy outside either, whether for Nora and her newfound LUDD buddies, or Ingrid with her pseudo deadness and clone growing efforts. This slightly shorter season caused some concern but only you can be the judge on if Upload carried into its second season strongly enough.
Time: Fri 05:30 pm        (American Sci-Fi and Fantasy Media Track)
Location: M301-M301 (Length: 1 Hour) MARRIOTT
Ben Meeks, Jennifer Neault (Moderators) Panelists: Kevin Eldridge, Isabelle Hardesty, Marisa Wolf

 

Title: Romance in YA
Description: Let’s talk about love! Romance is a common element in YA, so let’s talk about our favorite romance tropes, the epic loves of YA, and what balance of romance is right for different stories.
Time: Fri 07:00 pm        (Young Adult Literature Track)
Location: A707 (Length: 1 Hour)  MARRIOTT
Natalie Simpson (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Rachael Allen, Berta Platas, Claudia Gray

SATURDAY (9/3/22)

Title: YA Witchcraft (Beyond Hogwarts)
Description: Join us to talk about witches and magic in YA beyond Harry Potter.
Time: Sat 11:30 am        (Young Adult Literature Track)
Location: A707 (Length: 1 Hour) MARRIOTT
Natalie Simpson (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Kaitlin Bevis, Shami A. Stovall

 

Title: Beyond Europe! Exploring the Richness Brought to Fantasy by the World Beyond Europe
Description: We will discuss Fantasy Literature and all of the diverse cultures from around the globe.
Time: Sat 02:30 pm        (Fantasy Literature Track)
Location: Embassy CD (Length: 1 Hour) HYATT
Robert Small (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Dyrk Ashton, D. J. Butler, Milton Davis, Shemer Kuznits

 

Title: Delphic Oracle
Description: Only the Truly Gifted can channel the powers of the Delphic Oracle! We have managed to assemble such rare people -however, the power is too great for one person. The audience will have to decipher what our Gifted Panelists say.
Time: Sat 04:00 pm        (Fantasy Literature Track)
Location: Embassy CD (Length: 1 Hour) HYATT
Panelists: Eric R. Asher, Michael Chatfield, Esther Friesner, Isabelle Hardesty, Jody Lynn Nye, Alexi Vandenberg,

 

Title: Creators Panel – How to Manage It All: Work, Business, Family, etc.
Description: A panel discussion that focuses on women in areas of publishing, writing, editing, comics, & art from a woman’s perspective.
Time: Sat 05:30 pm        (Diversity Track)
Location: Inman (Length: 1 Hour) HYATT
Sheena Wiley (Moderator) Panelists: Nnedi Okorafor, Isabelle Hardesty, Karen Ceesay, Melissa Simpson

 

Title: Fantasy Dating Game
Description: Cosplay meets literature in the adventure to see if our favorite characters can finally find love after all their adventures Authors will cosplay (or just act) as their characters and see if ‘True Luv’ of ‘Con Luv’ will happen.
Time: Sat 10:00 pm        (Fantasy Literature Track)
Location: International South (Length: 1 Hour HYATT
Panelists: Doug Burbey, Michael Chatfield, Isabelle Hardesty, A. J. Hartley, Chris Jackson, Gini Koch, D. R. Perry, Mera Rose, Tamsin L. Silver

SUNDAY (9/4/22)

Title: Fanworks in YA
Description: When the book ends, the fanworks begin. Whether you’re into fanfic or fanvidding, creating or consuming, come talk about how fans contribute to their favorite canons.
Time: Sun 11:30 am        (Young Adult Literature Track)
Location: A707 (Length: 1 Hour)  MARRIOTT
Jenn Clack (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Mari Mancusi, Heidi Tandy

 

Title: The Flash: Time Sickness Quarantine
Description: There’s a lot of buzz going on about Flash these days. It’s going into its 8th year, it survived the CW purge, and now it’s due back for a 9th Season. There’s been a lot of shifting, some new faces popping up, relationships developing and of course, the path of true love is never smooth, especially when heroes are involved. Share in a discussion over this most recent season of the Flash and our thoughts on what’s coming.
Time: Sun 01:00 pm        (American Sci-fi and Fantasy Media Track)
Location: M302-M303 (Length: 1 Hour)  MARRIOTT
Eternal Zan Bowden (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Kristin Jackson, Rob Levy, Cammien Ray

 

Title: The Expanse – Goodbye Rocinante
Description: To much acclaim and sorrow, the crew of the Roci, finishes their portion of this epic story. We got the final season of this thoughtfully spun out story, from Remember the Cant to a resolution of the Free Navy, we have seen some real ups and downs. We’ll look at the whole length of the five years on both Syfy and Amazon and how it handled science and politics, personality and the alien.
Time: Sun 04:00 pm        (American Sci-fi and Fantasy Media Track)
Location: M301-M301 (Length: 1 Hour) MARRIOTT
Stephanie Hammer (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, D. J. Bodden, Stuart Jaffe, Robert Ross

 

Title: Which Witchkind Are You? Witches in UF
Description: Our panel of authors will discuss the various types of witches used in their work, and some of their favorite depictions from others.
Time: Sun 05:30 pm        (Urban Fantasy Track)
Location: Chastain 1-2 (Length: 1 Hour) WESTIN
Carol Malcolm (Moderator) Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Jennifer Blackstream, Corinne O’Flynn, Melissa F. Olson, Rachel Rawlings

 

MONDAY (9/5/22)

Title: The Dangerous Edge: Writing Suspense
Description: Authors share secrets on how to generate maximum suspense in a narrative.
Time: Mon 11:30 am        (Horror Track)
Location: Peachtree 1-2 (Length: 1 Hour) WESTIN
Panelists: Isabelle Hardesty, Clay Gilbert, Glenn Parris, Hank Schwaeble, Jessica Ann York

 

Title: Pulling the Strings: Supernatural Organizations Behind the Scenes
Description: Often in urban fantasy an organization or group governs or polices the supernatural community. This panel will explore examples appearing in the works of our panelists and discuss whose interests those entities are most concerned with.
Time: Mon 01:00 pm        (Urban Fantasy Track)
Location: Chastain 1-2 (Length: 1 Hour) WESTIN
Carol Malcolm (Moderator) Panelists: Jim Butcher, Isabelle Hardesty, R.R. Virdi, Melissa F Olson, Carol Malcolm(M), Jennifer Blackstream, Stephanie Mirro

 

 

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.

 

Author Isabelle Hardesty Podcast Interviews

/0 Comments/in /by

Here are links to some of the podcasts I’ve been featured on as a guest.  Thank you to all the fabulous hosts!

I find that each podcast has it’s distinct style and that always makes for a fun experience! As the podcasts air, I’ll be sure to add to the list!

Strong Females & Magical Storytelling Interview on Trina Talk—-➤ https://bit.ly/3NIjVQN

Story-Power Interview—-➤ https://apple.co/3xnSjti

Blasters and Blades Podcast Interview—-➤ https://bit.ly/3LcwVfV

Creative Cuppa Podcast Podcast Interview —-➤   https://bit.ly/3j6Rmz2

Follow Your Curiosity Podcast Interview —-➤  https://bit.ly/3DL0Ach

Writers Drinking Coffee Podcast Interview —-➤      https://bit.ly/3AMw007

 

 

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.

Brave Enough to Pick Flowers by Isabelle Hardesty

/0 Comments/in /by

Sometimes in life I’ve doubted myself and thought my ideas weren’t good enough.  We believe others have a special gift or power.  But then you step into your truth and see that all along, you’ve had the power. Your ideas are good enough.

There I was, with yet another chance to pick a perfect bouquet. In all the times I’ve had the chance to make my own bouquet from a field of flowers, I wasn’t brave enough to do it.

 

 

I’ve seen hundreds of bouquets. I think of the exquisite bouquet I held when I got married in 2007. I think of the Hollywood bouquets given in gestures of love in classic movies and television shows. I think of the many bouquets I’ve received and given. Those bouquets, each and every one of them, seemed perfect.

Well, I stood in the flower garden section of the U-Pick farm on a crisp Saturday morning with my son and husband, and I looked at the flowers. The flowers danced in the wind. I wasn’t sure if it was an invitation or a dare.

 

There were too many wonderful choices! Too many amazing colors! There were also sunflowers nearby, and I love those–they make me think of Van Gogh. As my mind raced, I realized I was losing my courage.

 

And then I took a deep breath, closed my eyes and enjoyed just being among the flowers. I opened my eyes and walked up to a pink flower and began collecting.

 

I made my bouquet one flower at a time. I walked to another flower, and added it to my collection. I did this about a dozen times, until I had a bouquet that made my heart smile.

The only way I was able to brave the overwhelmingly beautiful field of flowers was to focus on one flower at at a time.

One flower.

 

Now, whenever I have the opportunity to make my own bouquet of flowers, I know it will be the perfect blend of colors and scents.

 

 

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.

Tulips in the Sun and Having Patience

/0 Comments/in /by

Okay, okay. I’ve heard it before–we all have. You can’t rush something. Things happen in time. Well, I really wanted to rush my tulips.

I love flowers!  What can I say? I even feature them in my novel, THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR.

What happened next?

In March I gave a friend a flower pot with tulips and she sent me a photo of her tulips and they had several buds.  I thought, surely I had done something wrong. My tulips that I had in the sun didn’t have any buds.

I  then moved my smaller flower pot inside. I was so delighted when I saw the first bud! I felt so accomplished! Luckily my outdoor flower pot was too heavy for me to move. So it remained in the sun.

As the days passed, I would go outside and look at my tulips in sun with mixed emotions. I was glad their color was a rich green, and they looked so healthy, but they didn’t have any buds yet. What was taking them so long?

Well, to this day, my tulips in the sun have not bloomed, but they now have beautiful and healthy buds ready to open when they are truly ready. My plants are healthy and are even producing small bulbs near the soil! I have never seen this with tulips, before. What a joy!

Rushing my indoor tulips gave me one flower, but it was short lived.  My tulips have shown me to have more patience in my life.

Tulip time, not my time.

So, as this year continues to flow, I am more mindful allowing things to unfold in their time, not mine.

Thank you for reading!

All the best,

Isabelle

 

  • Want to see amazing tulip photos from Skagit Valley, Washington and learn more about this lovely flower? Visit https://tulipfestival.org/

The photo below is from my beautiful tulips in the sun. Photo credit: Isabelle Hardesty

 

Isabelle Hardesty has always had a love of magic and nature and weaves this into her books.  Her favorite things include silly socks and yummy chocolate. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. Hardesty is a Miami native and writes OWNVOICES work. Find her novel THE WITCH OF BELLE FLEUR on Amazon.

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

/0 Comments/in /by

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.