Tour & Giveaway: Faery Marked by Mary Waibel

What Inspires Me

Guest Post by Mary Waibel

marywaibel.blogspot.com

Thanks, Kristen for hosting me for my Faery Marked blog tour, and for letting me guest post on the blog!

Artwork by Lee Smith

I’ve often been asked what inspires my writing. While I’ve found gorgeous pictures that have made me want to use them in my setting, I can honestly say that I’m most often inspired by music.

I am constantly listening to music, whether actively listening and singing along, or just letting it play in the background while I write, do housework, or sit on the deck with friends and family.

My playlists range from Gregorian chant to heavy metal rock, but my favorite songs are ones that tell a story. I love it when I’m listening to the lyrics and my imagination takes over and plays a mini-movie in my mind.

Daniel Maclise [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

One of my favorite groups to listen to for inspiration is BLACKMORE’S NIGHT. They really fuel my creative juices on the fantasy front. Must have something to do with the Renaissance Faire vibe of some of their songs. The mood they set works wonders while I’m twisting fairy tales into something new.

Village on the Sand, Peasant’s Promise, Written in the Stars, Hanging Tree, and Ghost of a Rose all paint vivid scenes in my mind. One day, I’d like to take one of these scenes and turn it into a story that I hope will do its inspiration justice.

For my contemporary works, I listen to more modern music. Groups like Coldplay, Nickelback, Evanescence, Breaking Benjamin, Kamelot, Avantastia, and Metallica litter my playlists.

Do you find inspiration in music? If so, what artists inspire you and why?

Book Blurb:

When Callie Rycroft wakes to find purple flames flickering on the ceiling, she believes she’s still dreaming. But soon she’s forced to accept that she has magic―a special magic that grants her entrance into the Faery Realm.

For centuries humans have been banned from Faery, but dangerous times call for dangerous measures. Declared Champion by the Faery Queen, Callie is assigned a Guardian, and tasked with finding the Cordial―a magical elixir needed to keep the portal to the Faery realm a secret from humans.

The upside? Reece Michaels, the boy she's been crushing on for years, is her Guardian. Callie hopes that, by spending time with Reece, he'll start to see her as more than just his best friend's sister.

The downside? She's in a race not only against time, but against another Champion, and a rogue Guardian―a Guardian who stands to threaten her developing relationship with Reece.

Magic, mistaken identities, and hidden agendas are the least of Callie's worries when she learns that the Cordial requires a sacrifice. Will Callie be willing to risk everything―even Reece―to complete her task as Champion? Or will she let the portal open, and doom both realms?

Available at AMAZON

  Mary Waibel kept me up all night with this book! Whenever I started Faery Marked, I immediately got lost in the world of Callie. The way that the author introduces the reader to the world in this book is so immersive. You can't help but be swept away by the vivid descriptions and wonderful writing.

  Callie was a great main character. I really enjoyed following along for her, and it was so easy to root for her. There are a lot of unknowns and suspense with this book and the author does such a fantastic job at pacing to keep you turning pages. I was smitten with Reese from the beginning, and I loved learning more about him as the story went on.

  Honestly I cannot wait until the next book in this series! Faery Marked definitely has me hooked, and Mary Waibel cannot deliver soon enough! Fantasy fans will fall in love with this wonderfully crafted book!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

Win a signed copy of Faery Marked and other swag. Details HERE. Don’t miss out on this LIMITED TIME OFFER!!!

About the Author:
YA author Mary Waibel’s love for fairytales and happy-ever fill the pages of her works. Whether penning stories in a medieval setting or a modern day school, magic and romance weave their way inside every tale.

Strong female characters use both brain and brawn to save the day and win the heart of their men. Mary enjoys connecting with her readers through her website: marywaibel.blogspot.com