Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!!
You might be quite gobsmacked to find me blogging about #WyrdAndWonder this early in the year as Winter and Spring are notoriously the months where I am either a) battling my way through bouts of migraines or b) gearing up for a horrid Spring full of pollen and illness as a result of my allergies triggered by a season others always get to enjoy. Hence why despite my love of Winter, it isn’t always an easy passage of time for me – but this year, I am thankful to announce I am not only migraine-free but my allergies are not being triggered due to the early onset of pollen either – something I credit strongly to my new protocols for managing both health ailments and hopefully, blessedly a turning tide in my overall health and wellness.
It feels wicked brilliant to not just be part of the planning committee behind the event this year but to be OUT FRONT and chattering about the event, too! I’ve missed those early announcements and blog posts in recent years and am so thankful I can be more present and visible this year.
This year is a special year all round – for me personally as a reader (as I will be announcing tomorrow during my new #TheSundayPost) I am attempting to focus on the backlogue reads which have haunted me over the years as they have been sitting quietly awaiting my attention on my shelves. Towards that end, I am also taking part in #Februwitchy which is a celebration of #WitchyReads – stay tuned to Jorie Loves A Story and my bookish feeds @joriestory for further clues of which stories and authors I’m featuring throughout February!
One series in particular I’ve tried to read and dive inside is Night’s Edge by Julie E. Cznerneda. For those who have been following my blog throughout the years – you might remember how wicked happy I was to be on the latter novels blog tours for her Science Fiction Space Opera series #theclanchronicles and the journey I took inside that particular series (as I read and reviewed the series by order of the Clan).
I received the first two novels in her Night’s Edge series closer to the time I was concluding my visit within The Clan Chronicles. However, as I was soul-attached inside the other series, I found my transitions into her Fantasy world a bit difficult. This year marks my 5th Year since I’ve attempted to read and review Night’s Edge (no, that wasn’t planned, I literally just found out when I looked up my drafts archives!). Considering we’re going BIG this year, I’m going BIG and challenging myself to finally find my way into Night’s Edge!
Aside from announcing my focus on Night’s Edge, I will be also reading the sequel to “Esme’s Wish” which is the lovely Middle Grade dragon series I previously read in 2020 which hooked me heart and soul. I’ve had the sequel for a few years now, as I just never found myself able to re-attach due to work and life and strife – as we all face time to time. This year? I’m re-reading “Esme’s Wish” ahead of May, giving myself time to re-immerse into this world and find what is awaiting me – as this is a trilogy and I’m on absolute pins to hear the announcement of the third!
→ As this is our first #WyrdAndWonder announcement to ring out in the book blogosphere I’ll keep mum about the rest of my readerly plans but I do want to take a moment to announce I’ll be hosting at least 2x Twitter chats this year – one will be showcased through my chat @SatBookChat with will use our tag #SatBookChat on all tweets during the chat itself whilst the second will be featured on @WyrdAndWonder and use our tag #WyrdAndWonder.
→ Further details on dates/times and the guest authors will be revealled at a latter time. I will say I am planning the #SatBookChat to be on a Saturday @ 11a NYC | 4p UK and the #WyrdAndWonder chat will be on a Thursday either at the same time or thereabouts as I am working round my work schedule with my two (half) days off to host the chats.
May is when we all go a bit wild over our mutual love of FANTASY and this year, wells, you could say we have even MORE to CELEBRATE because we’re now a Power of Five #WyrdAndWonder Team! Yes, that’s correct, there is a sisterhood of five behind your favourite fantastical event and I can’t wait to reveal whose joined our lovely team and has become part of the JOY in celebrating the fantastic with all of you!
Are you ready to start the fantastical celebration?
What do you want to do this Wyrd And Wonder? And, will you join us?!
Fantasy truly is much more than a genre – it is an exploration of hidden worlds & themes which are universally appealling to a wide audience – crossing through all boundaries and uniting everyone together who finds a niche of Fantasy their jam. This is why we wanted to create a happy space to celebrate this wicked wonderful section of Speculative Fiction – to find the joy in what others are finding for themselves & uniting together to highlight every which way to Sunday Fantasy gives us a burst of #randomJOY and lifts our souls!
Welcome to *Wyrd & Wonder*
Wyrd and Wonder is an annual celebration of the fantasy genre. Sign up to join the party as we explore worlds of myth and magic, re-imagine traditional tales, cheer on heroes (prefer villains? Sure, we won’t judge you) and discover the secret doors that lead from familiar streets to adjacent realms where a discourtesy or a misstep may land you in hot water. We’ll be reading books, watching movies, playing games and sharing our thoughts online through blog posts and social media with as many like-minded adventurers as care to join us – there’s always room by the fire for a newcomer with a tale to share. (official 2022 blurb)
Imyril, Lisa and I have chosen to expand our Wyrd And Wonder team to the Power of Five – blessedly our two new partners were as eager to join us as we were to welcome them to our fold! You might already recognise them – as one is a long-time participant of the events we host – wherein she writes up brilliant themed essay posts and shares her fantastical journey with us all every chance she can as she curates “A Dance Through Books” – please give a warm welcome to Annemieke! Whilst we also are welcoming a Wyrd And Wonder newcomer who made a splash last year, Ariana and her sister maintain “The Book Nook”. We’re delighted to have both Annemieke and Ariana joining us – as they are dynamically adding to the joy of curating the event and just as wicked as we are about maintaining the vibe and joy of sharing #WydAndWonder within our online bookish communities however which way they find us.
This marks our 5th Year co-hosting #WyrdAndWonder (Imyril, Lisa and I) and it is only fitting on our Wood Anniversary to be choosing a focal point about Forest Fantasy & Woodland Fantasies wherein however you interpret that definition to be explored is open game this #WyrdAndWonder. For us, as a team of three now expanding into a team of five, it is allowing us to bring you further content across new social channels. This year, you’ll be happy to note, we have a brand new WYRD AND WONDER #bookstagram feed wherein if you’re not following us on Insta you might want to add this page to your bookmarks/follows!
We definitely believe that if you partner well and allow everyone to play to their strengths, everything you hope to accomplish will be pulled off even better! Thus, watch for future announcements about whose going to be ‘behind-the-Insta- for #WyrdAndWonder whilst whose manning the decks on the twitterverse and which of us is going to be hosting our beloved RAL. There is loads in store for participants this year – from special themed categories of joy celebrating the 5th Anniversary to the return of our Wyrd And Wonder Challenge Posts and even a bookish bingo for those who want to journey their way into a more fantastical adventure.
The support we’ve had these past five years and the joy of seeing people re-celebrate Fantasy with us as we’ve hosted events every May & October has truly warms our hearts as it started off as such a humble event and now has become a beloved anchour to @SciFiMonth – wherein every November as a community we celebrate Science Fiction and every May, we celebrate Fantasy. Imyril and Lisa run #SciFiMonth but I’ve been truly blessed by their friendship as we’ve co-founded and run #WyrdAndWonder together along with our lovely new co-hosts and teammates, Annemieke and Ariana! What a wonderful new chapter in our lives!
- (snag our lovely graphics & use the attributions to show your participation!)
You’ll have to let me know if you’re participating this year with us
during #WyrdAndWonder in the comments below this post!
For those who want to let us know officially their joining us – fill out this form.
The beauty of #WyrdAndWonder itself- is being able to escape into the realms of Fantasy and seek out the fantastical – however which way that might personally appeal to the reader and the seeker! Let us help you adventure with us whilst seeing what you’ve decided to read, listen or watch throughout May! I hope some of the authors I’ve read and reviewed over the years have sparked a curiosity in you to seek out yourself and likewise, I know I’ve been wicked inspired throughout the years to seek out new authors myself.
Whether this is your fifth year or your first, we welcome you to #WyrdAndWonder! Join us as we dip our bookish hearts into this region of Speculative Fiction which gets us wickedly giddy with expectations and imaginative blissitudes!
And, *drumroll!* if this is your first visit to Jorie Loves A Story and you’d like to visit how I’ve celebrated Wyrd And Wonder these past years – let me introduce you to the stories & authors I’ve had the pleasure of reading – especially as each one was an adventure of its own & opened my eyes to new worlds & new visions of what Fantasy can represent:
Year One : Wyrd And Wonder:
Liminal Lights by J.M. Bogart (Middle Grade Fantasy)
Frozen Fairy Tales (anthology) by World Weaver Press (Fantasy)
The Magic Cup by Howard Behar (short story)
The Breedling & the Trickster by Kimberlee Ann Bastian (Magical Realism)
Heroes Best Friend (anthology) by Seventh Star Press
Unspun: Anthology (focus on) Kaki Olsen (Re-told Fairy Tales)
Woven by Bree Moore (audiobook) (Fantasy)
Shifty (anthology) by Marian Allen (Fantasy)
← technically this was our #SpooktasticReads mini-event!
Year Two : Wyrd And Wonder:
#25PagePreview for WyrdAndwonder feat.
Empire of Sand (The Books of Ambha, Book One) by Tasha Suri (Epic Fantasy)
Adrift (Staying Afloat, Book One) by Isabelle Adler (Space Opera)
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon (Dragon Fiction)
Nebula Awards Showcase 2016 (edited by) Mercedes Lackey (Speculative Fiction Anthology)
Heir to the Lamp by Michelle Lowry Combs (YA Fantasy, Stories of the Jinn)
The Sun and Moon Beneath the Stars by K. Parr (Upper YA Fantasy)
Mark of the Raven & Flight of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse (High Fantasy, INSPY)
Lost on the Water by D.G. Driver (Fantasy, Ghost Story, YA Fantasy)
The Haunting of Hillwood Farm by Kathryn Knight (see also my Notes)
To Court a Queen by H.L. Burke (Fantasy Romance)
Tiger Lily by Wendy Dikec (aka Abigail Drake) (Urban Fantasy, Fantasy Romance)
Sea of Lost Souls by Emerald Dodge (Urban Fantasy, Mythological Fantasy)
The Magical Midway series by Leanne Leeds: (Cosy Mystery, Urban Fantasy)
Witchiest Witch On Earth (book one)
Life on the Lion (book two)
Unbearable Magic (book three)
library loan requests for #wyrdandwonder year two:
ADRIFT by Isabelle Adler *my purchase request (#ReviewPit author) (Space Opera)
Year Three: Wyrd And Wonder:
The Monster Apprentice by Felicity Banks (Middle Grade Fantasy)
Ultra Squad: Adventures Under the Strangebow by Julia Devillers (Graphic Novel)
Solomon’s Bell by Michelle Lowery Combs (YA Fantasy, Stories of the Jinn)
Ariella and the Curse of Dawnhaven by Owen Crane (Middle Grade Fantasy)
Cycles of Norse Mythology (Cycle One) by Glenn Searfoss (Norse Mythos)
Esme’s Wish by Elizabeth Foster (Middle Grade Fantasy)
Year Four: Wyrd And Wonder:
Dalya and the Magic Ink Bottle by J.M. Everson (Middle Grade Fantasy, Stories of the Jinn)
The Marvelwood Magicians by Diane Zahler and (Narrator) Sarah Zimmerman
(Middle Grade Fantasy, Circus) (audiobook)
The One Great Gnome by Jeff Dinardo and (Narrator) Simone Stevens (audiobook)
Cassandra by Kathryn Gossow (Mythological Retelling Fantasy)
Tree Magic by Harriet Springbett (Mythological Fantasy, Earth centred Fantasy)
Bel Nemeton by Jon Black (Arthurian Legend and Mythological Fantasy)
The Fighter of Aldea by Kira Weston (Alternate Future Fantasy, Low Fantasy)
The Princess and the Pirate by Felicity Banks (Middle Grade Fantasy)
Magical Neighbours by Mary Ellen Spencer and (Narrator) Rosemary Benson
(Middle Grade Fantasy)(audiobook)
Mean Spirit by E. Chris Garrison (Urban Fantasy)
and, now dear hearts,
I shall leave you with an invitation
to Kindly visit my co-hosts:
These link to their individual announcements!
Lisa + Imyril + Annemieke + Ariana
via Twitter: @deergeekplace + @Imyril + @Signourney + @queenzucchini
via Insta: @deargeekplace + @Imyril
+ @inlinewithannemieke + @booknookreview
Be sure to keep a watchful eye on our @WyrdAndWonder feeds for the content we’ll be sharing as we move closer towards May; expect monthly engagements from the Power of Five – across social channels & our blogs. We are happily ready to start visiting blogs & start the Fantastical conversations which we know will be enjoyed by all who LOVE Fantasy! Join us for our 5th Year and let it be fantastically engaging for everyone who joins us on this adventure.
{SOURCES: Post dividers by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Wyrd And Wonder 2022 banners and badges created by Imyril (Image Credit: tree wolf image by chic2view on 123RF.com) and is used with permission. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: May Calendar banner and the Comment Box Banner.}
Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2022.
Help us get the signal out about #WyrdAndWonder
and share our Announcement Tweets with your followers!
#WyrdandWonder will be back for our FIFTH outing this May – and we've got exciting news to share. We've got banners, we've got a sign-up, we've got new co-hosts (eeeee!) and we can't wait to celebrate the fantastic with you all in May! https://t.co/z8VBi1UK7I
— imyril (@imyril) February 5, 2022
If you go down to the woods… Announcing #WyrdAndWonder 2022! https://t.co/rdwZ1zH6ql pic.twitter.com/elfYXVq6Uk
— Lisa (@deargeekplace) February 5, 2022
Knock on Wood | Wyrd and Wonder’s 5th Year Teaser Announcement! https://t.co/hjl9hOlLus
— 🐉 Annemieke | inactive (@Signourney) February 5, 2022
Been bursting with this news all week – I get to be a part of announcing plans for #WyrdAndWonder’s fifth year because… I am one of the co-hosts!! So excited to be part of the team and bring the magic in May! https://t.co/ryjp5aJTFN
— Ariana Jane (@queenzucchini) February 5, 2022
I’m a social reader, I tweet my readerly life:
.@wyrdandwonder Hallo, Hallo dear #WyrdAndWonder community; those of us 'behind' the event are cooking up something super special to be revealled for our 5th Annniversary of our lovely fantastical event!!!👏👏Be sure to stay tuned and get ready for the #Fantasy month of JOY!!🧝
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) February 1, 2022
Celebrate the Fantastic!🐺#WyrdAndWonder turns FIVE!
We're gearing up for a wicked awesomesauce MAY whilst we #EnterTheFantastic with a MONTH of celebrating of a genre we all LOVE!😍
Find out about how we're now a Power of 5:https://t.co/cIoldY39HY pic.twitter.com/4Wn0Kbn0sw
— Jorie Story 📖🎧 (@joriestory) February 5, 2022
Hello Jorie!
I love that you’ve linked your posts from previous years, I shall definitely be diving into those – I think you and I have quite different reading influences and I’m excited to see what new books I discover by keeping up with your posts! For example, I hadn’t heard of the Night’s Edge series before, and it sounds very interesting. Very excited to be a co-host with you and the others!
Very much looking forward to all the excitement that is coming. It is definitely a cheer in my current world.
I’m glad you are mostly allergy and migraine free so far. Hopefully that stays that way <3
It feels good to start a New Year on positive footing — not just health wise but with an exciting new chapter in regards to Wyrd And Wonder I agree — our new team dynamic is a lovely bit of encouraging cheer in my world, too. I’ve been so unudated by work, I had to sort out how to get some ‘me time’ back into the clock! Focusing on this with all of you is part of the turning tide — plus, I’m drafting posts more and sorting out specific books I want to be reading and slowly am achieving the goals I set out to accomplish.
In that respect, I think this will be a better year for me. I pray your health and your families health are as good as mine right now. And, yes, fingers crossed my allergies and migraines will continue their hiatus!! If so, it will be one of the luckier Springs I’ve experienced in over a decade! :O