Update on the Magical Worlds of Bianca D'Arc

I've been very busy since my trip South. First, I caught a nasty flu bug and have been sick for about two weeks, but getting better every day. Second, I've been writing some new stuff in a couple of different worlds - my contemporary paranormal world and a new contemporary urban fantasy setting that I hope to pitch to one of the larger "New York" publishers this Fall.

I've also been dabbling with fairies. Well, editing in the fey realm at least. I'm happy to report that everything's on track for a pre-Christmas release of a short story I wrote last year about this time called Solstice Dreams. It's the tale of a High Court Sidhe Knight and his forbidden love for a Dark Fey Sorceress. They're both on a quest to find the jolly old elf who lives near the North Pole, but neither can find him until they find love.

It's a short, sweet, hot tale about forbidden fey love and a shared quest that becomes not-so-important in the face of passion. It will be coming out from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid - my first publication with them - in December. We're editing it now. It'll be Volume 7 of their Celtic Love Knots series and my story will be in with one by Barri Bryan.

Aside from my fey folk, my dragons are doing very well indeed. I came back from my trip to find that Prince of Spies had been released in paperback and was bopping around the Fantasy, Futuristic and Ghost Top 100 Best Seller List on Amazon.com. Yay! For some odd reason, it's also listed on the Contemporary Top 100 Best Seller List, which is great, but kinda weird too, since this book is set in a medieval-ish fantasy world. LOL.

In other dragon news, Wings of Change tops the MBAM Best Seller List and I couldn't be happier! Thanks to everyone who's already bought the novella and especially to those who've let me know how they liked it! I'm working feverishly on FireDrake, the next Dragon Knights novel, which should be out in ebook formats next May.

So I've been kept really busy with dragons, fey and other magical creatures. I hope some of you will come see me at the booksignings I have lined up for every weekend this month. I'll be signing at the New Jersey Romance Writers Conference book fair on October 6th at the Woodbridge Sheraton. The following weekend, I'll be signging at the Borders in Middletown, NY, and the weekend after that, I'll be at the Borders in Marlborough, MA. Details are on my website, so please come out and see me if you're in the area!

Fair Folk

Did our ancestors call these mythological creatures "fair" because they were beautiful or because our ancestors were begging them to be fair in their dealings? That's kind of a tricky question that popped up while I was doing some research for my next Dragon Knights novel. Perhaps I'm sheltered, but I always thought the term "Fair Folk" was simply another name for elves, fairies, and the like. I thought it had something to do with their reputed beauty, or maybe their complexion - which might be a holdover from Tolkein's elves in my mind.

I've come to find that the term might actually be a bit more sinister in nature than I believed. By naming them "fair," perhaps our ancestors were employing a bit of wishful thinking. They hoped calling them "fair" would make them deal fairly with the human population. There are so many legends about changling babies and fey folk playing tricks on humanity, this explanation of the name bears some thought.

Still, I think I'd rather live in my little Polyanna world and believe the word "fair" refers to their coloring and/or countenance. In my books, at least, that's the way I'm going to take it. You heard it here first - and it's something of a spoiler - the next Dragon Knights novel, FireDrake, will feature a race of magical warriors known as the Fair Folk. Mine will be easy on the eyes and lethal - a fascinating combination. As to how they deal with humanity? Whether it's "fair" or not, remains to be seen...

The Care and Cultivation of Faeries

The magic spell is upon me,
I'm glad that I did not wait;
For life's at its best in the morning,
As you pass through the garden gate.
- Howard Dolf

Faeries are nothing if not sensual creatures. Otherwise, why would romance authors write find them so fascinating? And what is more sensual than a flower garden? We humans find pleasure in the rich symphony of a garden's smells, colors, textures and tastes. To the Fae, these are more than just simple pleasures - they are life itself.

So how does a fantasy romance author’s Faery garden grow? When you’re planning your flower beds this year, tuck in a few of these plants that have been known to attract the Faery folk.

Bluebells
These tiny flowers summon the Fae to midnight revels in your garden. Drink a little elderberry wine at Beltaine, and you might see them!

Ferns
After long spring nights of dancing, give your Fae a place to bed down at dawn. They’re quite fond of ferns, which are perfect for moist, shady areas.

Heather
Make this one of the first flowers you plant, because heather is a natural portal between the Faery world and our own. Same with primoses.

Roses
A Faery favorite, sprinkle rose petals on the ground and dance gently on them while asking for a Faery blessing.

Thyme
Sprinkle sprigs of thyme in front of your door and on your windowsills to let the Fae know they are welcome in your home.

St. John’s Wort
This attractive, ground-hugging plant is called Fairy’s Horse in Ireland, where the Fae ride through the air on its scent. Leprechauns are said to bury their treasure under it, so plant lots!

Tulips
Fae mothers like to put their babies to bed in tulips, so be careful when you cut some to bring indoors! You may have an anxious Faery mommy turning your house upside down in search of her infant.

These are just a few suggestions. Just about anything colorful and/or aromatic will do. One popular plant you may want to avoid, or at least plant far away from your Faery garden, is peony. Historically these have been used to repel Faeries.

Don’t forget to provide shelter for your new tenants. This can be as simple as piling up stones to form a sheltered space underneath, or just lay an old clay pot on its side.

Don’t have a garden space? Don’t despair! Get a large shallow clay dish and plant a miniature rose and some creeping woolly thyme. Sink a little dish of water in the soil, add some rocks and some moss, and you’ve created a charming environment for your Fae.

Just be careful – once you’ve drawn them into your world, take care of them! They like presents, lots of presents, and they can wreak havoc if they think you’ve forgotten about them. Regular offerings of bread, butter, milk, and honey will bring you good Faery karma.

Happy gardening!

~Carolan Ivey
ABHAINN'S KISS, a novella of the Faery realm, available now from SamhainPublishing.com!