Thursday, November 24, 2016

Caroline Quigley ~ an interview and her novel ~ Phoenica Rising




I AM PLEASED TO WELCOME AUTHOR
Caroline Quigley

 image description
 Title: Phoenica Rising: Keeper of Light (Book One)
Author: Caroline Quigley
Genre: Epic Fantasy Saga
Length: 278 pages
Release Date: May 10, 2015
ISBN-13: 978-1511545624
Imprint: Chimera


Author Bio:
Caroline is an Irish writer, a left hander and a twin (twin sister); she lives in the West of Ireland in the beautiful Burren region with her husband Eoghan and her two cats Parker and Harvey. Caroline is also a natural intuitive, holistic healer, with a strong connection to the Angelic realm, spiritual guides, ancestors and Mother Nature.

In the 1990’s, she studied acting and attended the Academy Drama School in London and the Lee Strasberg Studio, she studied film making at film base in the IFC, (Irish film centre) and directed a short film and several small documentaries in Dublin. Caroline ran her own theatre and film company Trapdoor Productions in Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1990’s.

After a significant personal healing she moved into the mind body and spirit field and studied spiritual and angel healing, holistic medicine, meditation and flower remedies, setting up as a private therapist, holistic practitioner, intuitive and angel healer, while also conducting workshops, seminars and classes.

In 2008 Caroline started writing and wrote An Angel Calling, her first book, a universal meditation and angel story book that was published in 2011, which has sold very well. She has also written two correspondence accredited diploma courses, Angel Healing and Celtic Angels, for the BSY College Group in the UK.

Caroline has written a book of adult fictional short stories called Eala's Journey set in the West of Ireland and a young children's picture book called Florie's Angel.

Pheonica Rising (keeper of light) is Caroline’s first teen, young adult, fantasy, adventure novel, and is also part of a trilogy series. Phoenica Rising was inspired by the beautiful, magical, Burren landscape.

Caroline loves all that is mystical, inspirational, creative and positive, and is also a nature and animal lover.

BANTER – STUFF ABOUT YOU

Q: How would you describe yourself as a color? Think personality here. Are you a light and airy pastel person, or more of a deep, dark, sultry and mysterious color?
A: I would describe myself as a pale silver powder blue color, an almost celestial mystical color. Pale blue represents the sky and celestial realms, (which I love) also peacefulness and serenity.  Silver is a magical creative color and also the color of communication (think mercury / quick silver). I identify with both.

Q: Are you a morning person, or a midnight candle burner?
A: To be completely honest I can be both. I love the dawn and the bright new day and a mystical sunrise, but also the magic of twilight and sunset.

Q: If you could morph into any creature what would it be?
A:     Pegasus (mythical creature)
             If you don’t mind me asking, why?  
A: For a start they are simply beautiful, wise, noble, and I love horses and Angels. They can also gallop,  fly away and access the celestial realms.
        
Q: When you think of a garden, do you picture vegetables or flowers?
A: Flowers :
Roses, thousands of them in all shapes and colors. Also I love wild gardens, with tiny wild flowers and rugged Celtic landscapes.

BOOKS – ABOUT THE CRAFT

Q: When did you start writing and why?
A: I originally started writing when I was very young about 7 years old. Then my teens took over and I gave it all up. I re-started writing again when I was 39 years.

Q: Where do you get your ideas?
A: I am a left hander and a twin, so I am naturally right brained, creative and intuitive. However, I always listen and trust in my intuition. I often feel inspired to write, especially when I am out in nature.

Q: How did you come to write your genre of choice?
A: As I live in the West of Ireland, I was inspired by the natural landscape and lime-stone mountains that surround me, also the many Celtic ruins, sacred sites and castles.

I also wanted to write a Celtic Fantasy story for Young Adults, especially my Niece that was fun, inspiring, mystical and exciting.

Q: What do you think is the hardest part of writing a book?
A: Editing it afterwards.

BOOKS - NOW LETS PROMOTE – STRUT YOUR STUFF

Q: What are you working on now? Would you like to share anything about it?
A: I am working on Books Two and Three of the Phoenica (Feen-ica) Rising YA Trilogy Series.

Book Two: Phoenica Rising - Battle of Light.

Book Three: Phoenica Rising -  Trilogy Of light.

In Books Two and Three:  Phoenica (Feen-ica) really moves into her power as a young Celtic warrior, healer and mystic. And her relationship with Keenan (true love) moves strongly forward, as she claims her true birthright.

In Book Two: Phoenica must also face down the Graydens (Grey Aliens) on Earth.

In Book Three: Phoenica finds herself battling for her life on an unknown planet, as she desperately tries to find her way home to Keenan (true love) and the mystical world of Juna.

Q: Do you have a new book coming out soon? Tell us about it.
A: Currently, I am working on the Phoenica Rising Trilgoy series.
Book One: Phoenica Rising – Keeper of Light,  is currently out and is Published with Ravenswood Publishing.

Ravenswood Publishing have also recently re-published a non-fiction mbs book of mine called “An Angel Calling”, now in its 3rd edition, under the Gaia Essence Imprint.

I am also working on a romantic novel called “The Cheese Cutter”,  and a book of Celtic nature inspired poems called “Liminality”.

Q: How can we find you? Do you have a web page, FaceBook page or any buy links?
A:  Yes, I do. Here are the links.   
http://ravenswoodpublishing.com/bookpages/phoenicarising1.html
http://www.ravenswoodpublishing.com/authors6.html
http://ravenswoodpublishing.com/bookpages/anangelcalling.html
https://plus.google.com/u/0/117037063418011187216/posts
https://www.facebook.com/caroline.quigley.author

Blurb:
An intuitive girl called Phoenica (Feen-ica) moves to the west of Ireland where she meets her Psychic Grandmother. They accidentally discover the mystical world of Juna and Phoenica learns that an alien race of light suckers called Graydens, have invaded and taken the young Juna to be their slaves.

Phoenica aligns forces with a tree guardian, a fearsome faerie warrior and an Earth Angel. Together they must cross the golden river, overcome Grayden mists, fight off vicious pygmy shrews, climb the caves of Nadu and locate the gentle Juna tribe.

On her journey, she crosses paths with a mysterious stranger and finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But first she must learn to fight the Graydens and their savage hybrid creatures.

Can Phoenica find the courage to save Juna, fall in love and claim her birthright? Or will the light hungry Graydens plunge all that she knows into darkness?

Excerpt:

Phoenica Rising – Keeper of Light. (YA)
Author: Caroline Quigley

Chapter : 16:
The Phoenix

And as she stood in the doorway, she knew that she would remember this day for a long time. Morning dawn had been so bright and powerful, never had she seen it this colourful. It was so golden, mixed with a red orange hue. The light seemed to glow all around her as if silently dressing her with its light, golden rays illuminated her every step. Phoenica felt drawn to stop at the local well and as she filled her metal flask with water, she observed that even the well water seemed to have a subtle pink hue. She walked past the village, it was now 5.30am, but I still feel the same, she thought.

As she reached the edge of the village, she walked over to the willow trees and then sitting with her back against the trees, she fished out her little compact mirror. Hmm!, no change at all, she thought, looking carefully into the mirror. Her aura looked the same. Had Meelina made a mistake?, she wondered. Was she truly the light bearer?

Phoenica decided to bless her day and thank the Universe and The Sophia, for all the goodness around her. She silently prayed to The Sophia to help her find her courage, so she could fulfill her true destiny. It was 6am, nothing unusual was happening apart from a mild tingling in her left hand, but she’d had that for days now. And then sitting with her back against the willow tree, Phoenica dosed off.

She drifted into a deep sleep, and she had an amazing vision of some kind of bird. It looked like a golden orange Phoenix, it had appeared right in front of her. It’s amazing, she thought, so colourful and bright, as it seemed to radiate a lot of light and heat. It was warm, very warm.

Phoenica then politely asked the Phoenix to move back, but somehow it ignored her and just stayed put. She now felt irate and hot, so once more she asked the Phoenix to move back. “Move back please,” she asked, but again the Phoenix didn’t budge, this time she shouted loudly “Move back now, Move back.” The Phoenix then began to slowly fade into the background.

It was almost as if she had woken herself up by shouting. Oh! It was just a dream, she thought and turning over she tried to sleep. Yet, there it was again, the exact same heat, except this time, she could feel and sense a slight burning sensation on her left forearm. What’s happening? She thought.

Then the heat started again, this time she felt it. “Awwh,” she called out, and as she looked at her left fore arm, it was bright red as the skin seemed to be peeling slightly. What’s happening to my arm, she thought, did the Phoenix scorch it?

“Oh my Sophia,” she exclaimed, “What’s happening?” as her arm really began to hurt.

“Aghh” she cried out, lying on the ground while holding her arm. “Someone help me,” she shouted. Then she remembered her flask with the well water and she poured some of it on her arm. This at least seemed to soothe her arm for a few moments. It was now 6.57am. Phoenica looked down at her left forearm, the skin was now glowing red hot, as it seemed to emerge from the inside. Then it suddenly became hotter and hotter, as she lay back down, and gingerly holding her arm, she now felt tears roll down her eyes.

“Aghh,” she cried loudly, “This is too much! Sophia help me please.”

Moments later, a black raven flew by dropping leaves and wet clay, a voice inside her head told her to put them on her arm. Phoenica did as she was asked, and somehow the leaves and wet clay seemed to form a poultice which helped deaden the pain. She lay there, breathing softly until the pain subsided. She felt better and as she removed the poultice from her arm, it was sore, but the burning sensation had at least stopped. As she looked at her arm she saw that her skin was still glowing and the outline of a bird had started to appear.

“It’s a Phoenix,” she exclaimed, now completely amazed.

It seemed to glow even brighter, eventually forming a golden orange colour. Biting her lip, Phoenica gently held out her arm, as she poured cold water on it. The burning sensation had stopped, it now felt much better. She looked at her watch, it was exactly 7am.

She lightly massaged her arm and held it out, and she gasped, as the dark orange mark of the Phoenix, was now firmly stamped on to the skin of her left arm, like a tattoo, she thought. The seventh cycle had begun.

What people are saying...
"This is a great adventure story suitable for both children and adults. If you love fantasy stories or anything to do with Ireland or Celtic myth and legend this could be the book for you.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and especially how it includes the different elements of nature and technology that allow new concepts to be defined in the fantasy genre. For children it keeps the ideas flowing and is paced just right for them to keep up with the story and allow their imaginations to enter the realms of Juna and Miron.

I'm looking forward to see what happens with the characters and how these tales develop. Happy I discovered this book."
- Hen (Amazon)


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