Tag Archive for: latino

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.

5 Reasons We Love Telenovelas

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3 Reasons YA Fantasy Author is Enchanted with Mangrove Trees

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I 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:

  1. Mangrove trees stretch their long and graceful roots into water and find a way to survive.  They are survivors!
  2. These trees are land makers. Dirt gets trapped in their roots and over time land is formed. They are creators!
  3. Mangrove seeds can travel miles and miles, finding a new home to thrive. They are travelers!

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:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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This 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.

 

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.

 

Print books and ebooks

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person holding opened book

There are some people who are devout print book readers, while others sing the praise of the ebook.

For print book fans, the feel of the pages are one of the things they enjoy. Many readers talk of the smell of the pages. Some say the weight of the book in their hands just feels right.

Ebook lovers say that they now are able to travel without having to drag a heap of books with them. Ebook readers enjoy the ease of downloading a book instantly, with ease.

Some readers are like me and see the benefit of both. I do love the feel of pages at my fingertips, but I also enjoy the clarity of the ebook page.

What’s your favorite way to read?

Whatever format, just keep on reading!

Please email me at: isabellehardesty (@) gmail dot com with any questions or comments.

~Isabelle

Related blog posts by Isabelle you may enjoy:

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.