The #Friday56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice
A weekly meme about page 56 or 56% of ereading/audiobooks:
You’re meant to share a quote from the 56th page of a novel in print and/or a quotation at the 56% of an ebook or audiobook; from your current reads, recently read or a story you’ve slated to reading – whilst talking about the selection you’ve highlighted and a few thoughts about the story or the scene*. This last bit I’ve added as otherwise its a lot of random words & quotes without definition.
Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!
I LOVE finding new ways to interact with authors on blog tours – which is why I selected to feature a new meme for my tour stop this week. I’ve noticed the #Friday56 over the years but I’ve never participated in the meme until today. What I liked about the meme was from a different perspective than it was created – rather than readers selecting the extracts from the stories they are reading, I felt it would give authors a chance to disclose an extract from their story which would have a bit of depth towards becoming introduced to their characters and their world-building; hence why I asked a few interlinking questions this week for the #Friday56!
Similar to the special guest author #TopTenTuesday’s I’ve hosted recently (ie. Ghost Punch, Secrets behind “The Tobacconist’s Wife” and the Verin Empire) – this is a new way of hosting authors on Jorie Loves A Story whilst creating new content to work with the book blogosphere meme’s and giving my readers and visitors a like something different to enjoy whilst their on my blog. I’ve loved creating these features this Autumn and you can look forward to more of them throughout the next year, 2021!
When I first learnt of the premise behind “River Magic” I was quite intrigued – it isn’t everyday I come across stories which focus on Earthen Magic and Spirituality. I have a fierce appreciation for the natural world and I love stories which have either an ecological or environmental spirit within them whilst at the same time, the lead character in “River Magic” sounded like a girl in the midst of better understanding who she was and what she was meant to do with her life. In that regard, I love coming-of age stories and/or stories about characters undertaking a journey wherein they either learn more about who they are or they discover a path they are meant to be walking.
I loved how the author approached my prompt for today’s #Friday56 – how she reflected about her own beliefs as a Druid and how she inserted a bit of her own path and beliefs into the backbone of “River Magic” whilst also giving us something to chew on when it comes to numbers and numerology. I don’t study it myself but I have noticed there are certain numbers which seem to percolate themselves into my life at different intervals – you can notice numerical patterns in your life even if you are not studying the numbers themselves. I always found it interesting how that works out.
Today it is an honour to host a new blog tour with Storytellers on Tour – a blog touring company whose championing Indie Storytellers and giving us all a lovely chance to feature their collective works. I am looking forward to working with them as oft as I can and I look forward to the conversations and features which hosting will inspire to bring to my readers on Jorie Loves A Story!
Brew yourself a cuppa and let’s find out more about River Magic!
River Magic
Subtitle: A Rituals of Rock Bay novel
by M.A. Phillips
Budding clairvoyant Lacey Moran seeks to understand her dreams and find her life’s purpose along the St. Lawrence River. If only her visions of silver arms and Cian O’Connor’s blue eyes were easier to understand! The pieces begin coming together when she encounters a mermaid in the river, joins a group of Druids, and opens herself to romance with an old friend.
Can Lacey overcome her doubts, or is she in over her head?
Genres: Fantasy Fiction, Magical Realism
Places to find the book:
ISBN: 979-8552896707
Published by Shadow Spark Publishing
on 24th October, 2020
The #Friday56 | as it applies to RIVER MAGIC:
by M.A. Phillips
This is artwork featuring “Lacey” from “River Magic”.
Topic for this week’s #Friday56 as suggested by Jorie:
Share a quote of “River Magic” from page 56 and talk about what went into creating the scene or dialogue found on that page and what inspired the choices you made in creating this particular portrait of the story. Likewise, do you find numerology has any presence in your life? Maybe reoccurring numbers pop up every so often or you find yourself drawn to certain numbers? I felt compelled to ask as this prompt focuses on the fifty-six page rather than any others in the stories being featured.
“Lidia suggested they perform a love spell to encourage Henry. Since their relationship status moved at the speed of tree growth, Lacey finally agreed. One full moon evening, she spent the night at Lidia’s house. Grace pretended to be sick, but they knew their interest in the occult gave her the creeps.
They carved Henry’s name into a pink candle, anointed it with rose oil, and lit the wick. The girls invoked the elements and prayed to Aphrodite. A fence fell inside them that night as they crossed into a new taboo.”
– quoted from “River Magic”
In this excerpt, Lacey is recalling some of her first forays into Paganism and spell work–specifically love magic. So many of us, when starting out in witchcraft and other magical traditions, dabble with, or at least consider, performing a love spell. I wanted to capture some of the atmosphere of that–the full moon at night, teen girls having a sleepover, lots of pink. You can almost imagine the teen magazines on her friend’s bed.
One of my favorite lines from the novel is in this section: “A fence fell inside them that night as they crossed into a new taboo.” Converting to a new spiritual path involves overcoming baggage from our family religions. I had to work through some of that myself. While the love spells I performed as a teen did not turn out well for myself or others, the experiences solidified my respect and belief in magic. Boundaries toppled, and I learned to embrace new possibilities like Lacey.
The numbers three and nine are very significant to me personally and in my Druidry, so I do a lot of things in threes. There’s also a number that pops up in my life from time to time. It’s related to a memory of mine. Whenever it shows up, the memory revives. It’s almost become symbolic of a time in my life that feels like forever and a day ago. That said, I don’t do much with numerology. A member of the first Pagan circle I belonged to was very interested in numerology and how it intersected with tarot, so I understand its importance in some peoples’ practice.
This is artwork featuring “Cian” from “River Magic”.
About M.A. Phillips
M. A. Phillips lives in Northern NY with her husband, daughter, and three cats. She is a writer, English teacher, and practicing Druid. Some of her short stories have been published in Stone, Root, and Bone magazine. Her debut, River Magic, is an adult magical realism novel featuring a friends-to-lovers romance, contemporary Pagans, and a vengeful mermaid.
When she isn’t writing, you can find her in the garden, sewing, or enjoying a book with a side of tea. You can read more about her spiritual and creative journey on her blog, or on Twitter & Instagram.
This blog tour is courtesy of:
Follow the Virtual Road Map
as you visit others participating:
As this particular one has a bookaway along the route:
NOTE: Similar to blog tours wherein I feature book reviews, book spotlights (with or without extracts), book announcements (or Cover Reveals) – I may elect to feature an author, editor, narrator, publisher or other creative person connected to the book, audiobook, Indie film project or otherwise creative publishing medium being featured wherein the supplemental content on my blog is never compensated monetarily nor am I ever obligated to feature this kind of content. I provide (98.5%) of all questions and guest topics regularly featured on Jorie Loves A Story. I receive direct responses back to those enquiries by publicists, literary agents, authors, blog tour companies, etc of whom I am working with to bring these supplemental features and showcases to my blog. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them: I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers. Whenever there is a conflict of connection I do disclose those connections per post and disclose the connection as it applies.
{SOURCES: Book cover for “River Magic”, book synopsis, author biography, author photograph of M.A. Phillips, the tour banner and book tour banner as well as the promotional graphics (with artwork from the series) were all provided by Storytellers on Tour and are used with permission. Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Guest Contributor / Reviewer banner and the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2020.
I’m a social reader | I tweet my reading life
.@joriestory Special #Friday56!
Find out more about this new #MagicalRealism release by reading an extract from page 56 + the #guestpost which explains what is happening in-scene!😁
📗💚https://t.co/plsQ1llbLO#WyrdAndWonder | #StorytellersOnTour #FridayReads pic.twitter.com/CKx0GA8n1z
— Jorie blasts off into #SciFiMonth🚀 (@joriestory) November 27, 2020
You're quite welcome – I look forward one day to gathering a copy of this novel in print and experiencing it for myself; was thankful you were open to a creative prompt post and I truly loved how you answered the topic!! Esp as it gives a lot of insight into the story/world!😁
— Jorie blasts off into #SciFiMonth🚀 (@joriestory) November 27, 2020
Comments via Twitter:
On Day 5 of the RIVER MAGIC #BookTour, Jorie joins us with a fun post! Come and check it out!#StorytellersOnTour #RiverMagic #ReadIndie https://t.co/TQKhoNSRnV
— Storytellers On Tour (@sot_tours) November 27, 2020
#FF Follow those awesome Roadies too, who took part in the #RiverMagic #BookTour: @__its_justine__ @SadiesSpotlight @thecunningwife @R_M__Andrews @earthspirals @joriestory @WovenFromWords @starlitbook
Don't forget about the author: @ditzydruid and the publisher: @ShadowSparkPub— Storytellers On Tour (@sot_tours) November 27, 2020
What’s on page 56 of @ditzydruid’s River Magic? Check out @joriestory’s blog post to find out! https://t.co/BqBfIyzLso
— Shadow Spark Publishing (@ShadowSparkPub) November 27, 2020
This was such a fun prompt. Head on over to Jorie's blog for a snippet of River Magic and some thoughts on my experiences with love spells. https://t.co/7rUSAzEYwz
— DitzyDruid ~ author of River Magic (@ditzydruid) November 27, 2020
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