Guest Blog with Sherry Soule

 SUPERNATURAL FUN FACTS

Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from California, where it’s getting pretty foggy! Well, it’s the start of summer here, and even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m cranking the air conditioner and chatting on Twitter about my love of YA books.

Thanks for letting me stop by today as part of my Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer. It’s a thrill to get to be a guest and meet all of you lovely followers.

My tour has a great response and it is nice seeing the familiar names in the comments box at each stop. For those of you who haven’t heard of my epic blog tour it’s not too late to join the fun! Hashtag on Twitter: #MMBlogTour

To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s new paranormal novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, she has put together 4 unknown and fun facts about the YA Spellbound series. In this fun post, you can learn more about the intriguing, supernatural facts that makeup the eerie world of Whispering Pines. Read on to learn some things you didn't know...and really don't need to. :-D

 Fun Fact #1

 Shadow People, (also known as Shades) are usually vague human shapes, completely black or dark in color, with no discernible facial features. Sometimes they appear as mere silhouettes, generally lacking any characteristics of gender.

However, there are many types of shadow beings; there are hooded shadows, cloaked ones, solid or wispy, and even smoky shapes. They dart into corners, through walls, into closets, or behind bushes, and buildings. Sometimes they simply fade into the dark recesses of the night. Lacking in the description is one common denominator unifying the many different types of Shadow People that enter our world—they are all thought to be “intensely dark.”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines paranormal as an adjective meaning “not scientifically explainable.” Spooky, huh? In the Spellbound books, Shadow People are ominous creatures that were once slaves of a band of fallen angels. When they rebelled, the Fallen hexed these creatures to spend eternity in a hell dimension. A few have found a way to slip through the gateway. The real worry is—what happens if they ALL escape?

So, do you believe in Shadow People?

Fun Fact #2

Readers of the Spellbound Series have often wondered if the town of Whispering Pines had a real-life counterpart. Is there a particular town that inspired the haunted area we’ve come to know and fear in the books?

Well, yes, now here’s a place you can actually visit for REAL.

While looking for a foggy and woodland area, I came across Marin County in California. The popular SF Bay Area tourist spot planted the seed for what developed into the fictional version of the town we’ve come to know and love as, Whispering Pines (one CP told me it sounded like a retirement community. LOL). The coastal town is located in the Madrone Woodlands near Larkspur, California neighboring Muir Woods. (You need to use a Bing map to locate the region).

Echoes of the tragic disappearances still plague the town. When the season passes and all the tourists leave, the haunting memory of past events once again shatter the peace of the inhabitants of Whispering Pines...

Have you ever been to the coastal towns of Marin County?

Fun Fact #3

Werewolves and Lycans (shortened form of the word lycanthrope, which means shape-changer) are two completely different species. The terms are definitely NOT synonymous. The werewolf can only transform on a full moon, and they represent more of witchcraft and curse, unlike the lycan who can transform into a wolf at will. The lycan species are also considered shapeshifters, but can ONLY shift into wolves—not into other animals. Lycans are also capable of walking on their hindquarters, and are much more muscular than werewolves. Lycans and werewolves do share these qualities; they both have enhanced physical attributes, enhanced strength, reflexes, coordination, speed, and regenerative abilities. However, these traits seem to apply to lycans, even when in human form.

Furthermore, lycans can retain their human intelligence and personalities while transformed, whereas werewolves become pure animal, devoid of any memory regarding their actions once they shift. Silver is the lycans only weakness, as they seem to be violently allergic to it.

In my new novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM (second book in the series), the story hinges on a terrible secret guarded by some of the town’s people as one-by-one teens are attacked by a mysterious were-creature.

Do you think it’s a lycan or a werewolf stalking the kids in Whispering Pines?

Fun Fact #4

A Grimoire, or in some cases it’s called a Book of Shadows (BoS), is used to store magical information, like a textbook of magic spells, rituals, supernatural-related data, and invocations. Some grimoires can even be a sort of magical journal that keeps a record of a witch’s magical experiments and exploits.

Overall, a grimoire is used predominantly by Wiccans; however, this does not mean that those outside of Wicca can’t use a grimoire.  Nor do you have to be in a coven, like the Blood Rose Circle or Generation Hex.

I used the grimoire concept in a different way in my novel, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN (first book in the series) where the magical book is used more like that of a diary and contains prophecies, which was written by the heroine, Shiloh’s ancestors and passed down through the generations.

Do you have a grimoire or personal journal?

Moonlight Mayhem
By Sherry Soule

Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.

Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast!

It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.

When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil.
But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…

Moonlight Mayhem can be purchased at these stores:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | IndieBound

Where you can find author, Sherry Soule online:
Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com/
Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com/
Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry
YouTube BOOK TRAILER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvA
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken