Guest Blogger: Laurie Stolarz

Hi, Enchanting Reviews! Thanks so much for inviting me to guest-blog here!

Okay, so my spooky entry involves my first novel, BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES. As some may already know, I grew up in Salem, MA. When I mention this to people, they automatically assume that the city itself had a lot of influence on my work. But actually, it didn’t – at least not in the way that one might think.

I mean, yes, Salem definitely had its influence on me. It was no big deal, for example, if a Witch (a male or female who practices Wicca as their religion) was in my class or on my sports team. Salem has many Witches, so the religion is accepted and people take it seriously. But, aside from that, I saw Salem as being a pretty regular place with regular stores, regular people, and normal places to eat.

True, Salem is abundant in history, but at first glance – at least for me – it appears to be even more abundant in tourism, particularly around Halloween. Just walk by the Salem Witch Museum with its humungous gift shop full of flaming eyeballs and cackling witch dolls; the Pirate Museum with its employee-turned-actors ordering passersby to walk the plank and pretending to steal your loot; and see the Salem Wax Museum, which boasts a lab in which to see the horrors of Frankenstein and his evil creature. Even last weekend, I thought I’d give Salem another chance by taking my son to see the Salem Witch Village, the first museum in the country to clear up the misconceptions of the Wiccan religion by teaching the history, practices, and beliefs of modern Witches today. But I was discouraged to learn that they’d turned their once educational village into a haunted one.

All this in mind, it shouldn’t come as a big surprise that growing up I didn’t really think much of Laurie Cabot’s, Salem’s official Witch’s, claims of having psychic abilities. I merely saw these claims as an extension of her commercial potential.

Laurie Cabot is famous in the city, as well as around the world, having written books on Witchcraft, appeared on television, and given lectures all over the country. To me, she was a business-savvy woman, someone who capitalized on Salem’s commercialism, what with her long black dress and jet black hair. But psychic ability? I had my doubts.

Growing up, I’d see her around the city, shopping at the grocery store where I worked, and doing business at the local bank. She owned a magick supplies shop in Salem – and still does – and so I assumed her long-black-dress-wearing-psychic-ability-claiming way of life helped to fuel her sales, not to mention supporting the rights of Witches by showing the world that they do indeed exist as every day people. One Halloween, for example, I remember there being a two-hour wait to even step foot inside her store.

I didn’t begrudge her for any of this, mind you. A marketing major in college, and an entrepreneur to the core, I simply thought what she was doing made good business sense – right along with those flaming eyeballs.

Years later, in graduate school for creative writing, I wrote BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES. My impulse for writing the novel stemmed from a couple things. First, I wanted to write a novel that would have appealed to me as a teen, namely one that had a blending of suspense, romance, and drama. Secondly, I thought it might be interesting to have my main character dabble in folk magic and herbal remedies as a means of self empowerment. My grandmother, who had some experience with the sixth sense, used these herbal remedies in her day-to-day life. And so my main character, Stacey Brown, ended up practicing folk magic. She uses it as a way of dealing with recurring nightmares that turn out to be premonitions warning her that her roommate is going to be killed in four days.

So, long story short, the first draft of my novel was complete. It was two days before I was to defend it in front of my thesis committee, and I was shopping at TJMaxx. I was standing in the “home goods” department, scooting down to check out a water fountain thingamigjig, when I felt someone grab my arm from behind, and shove something into my palm. I turned around, only to find Laurie Cabot – long black dress and all.

Though I’d seen her many times before, we’d never formally met, nor had I ever spoken to her. She was physically trembling when she saw me. I looked down to see what she’d placed in my hand. It was a crystal. She told me then that she’d had a nightmare about me the evening before – and that in that nightmare, I was killed.

She went on to describe the killer, giving specific details about his age, personality, what he looked like, and how he spent his time. Then she warned me not to be alone for the next four days – not to drive by myself, or do anything out-of-the-ordinary.

All the while she was telling me this, I just kept thinking – this is my novel, right down to the four-day timeframe, right down to the crystal, the description of the killer, and the motivational pull.

A friend of hers came down the aisle a few moments later. Laurie turned to her and said, “This is the girl I told you about –the one from my dream.” If it was a lie, the friend played along, not showing even a speck of confusion.

Laurie told me that it was meant to be that we’d met and that she’d keep me in her thoughts until the fourth day passed.

It’s been eight years since that happened, and I’ve still never told her about my novel. Maybe someday I will. Maybe I’ll even forward her this link. It’s probably about time she knew she predicted the plot of a novel that’s now sold over 150,000 copies and spawned a series that’s sold over half a million books, worldwide.

I guess you could call it a coincidence. And before you ask, no, there was no way she could have read my novel beforehand. Only my thesis committee and a handful of classmates had read the book in its entirety at that point. And, remember, we had never even met before.

But I suppose it’s all up for debate. What isn’t debatable: I won’t be making anymore assumptions, nor will I be doubting Laurie Cabot’s psychic abilities ever again.

For more information on me and my work, including the BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series, my newest spooky title, PROJECT 17, or the forthcoming chiller DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, go here:

www.lauriestolarz.com.

Also, check out some of the book trailers below.

BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qSuyeHq1RI

PROJECT 17: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Nkt9p0eLDM and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wakkVfTrcJg&watch_response

DEADLY LITTLE SECRET: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x63FGdfksFY

Enchanting Interview: Laurie Faria Stolarz

Interview with LAURIE FARIA STOLARZ, author of the BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series.

How did you start writing?

I've been writing since before I could even hold a pen. As a small child, I was constantly telling stories to whomever would listen to me. When I'd exhausted my family with my endless babbling, I'd go out and tell my tales to the neighborhood kids – passing the stories off as truth. I'd tell of going into the meadows at night and wrestling with a mountain lion or the time I found a boa constrictor in my mom's garden and had to grapple for my life, winding the snake from around my neck just in the nick of time. Telling stories is just something I've always done. I used to write plays and scripts for my Barbie dolls and make people watch the performances. My love of creating stories continued into school when I'd have to write a paragraph or short essay about what I did during Christmas vacation or summer break. I never thought my own life was exciting enough, so I was forever inventing stories.

People along the way, including some teachers, would tell me that I should pursue writing as a career but, at the time, it wasn't a possibility. We didn't have a lot of money growing up and majoring in something like English wasn't really an option. It was more like a luxury. I ended up going to business school, following in my older brothers' footsteps. It wasn't until after I got my B.S. in marketing that I pursued my graduate degree in creative writing. I'm thankful for my marketing degree now, however, because it really helps me with my books.


Why Young Adult?

I love young adult culture. I think it's a time in one's life that's filled with so much drama, excitement, tension, beauty, grit, and angst – sometimes all rolled into one. There's so much opportunity in there for a writer.

What sparked the idea for BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES? Did you know when you first got the idea that it would become a series?

I first started Blue is for Nightmares in an adolescent fiction writing workshop at Emerson College. I knew I wanted to write a mystery/thriller. I loved suspense novels as a young adult and I really wanted to write something that would have appealed to me at that age, adding in elements of humor, romance, and drama. I wanted my main character to be relatable for teens; I wanted her to be flawed, to have secrets, and to have lots of opportunity for growth.

When I started the novel, I had no idea I would delve into the world of magic and witchcraft. That is until I did a free-writing exercise in my workshop class. I had no idea what I wanted Stacey, my main character to do, so I had her meditating in front of a blue candle, looking for answers. Because I had made Stacey originally from Salem, MA, like me, people in my writers group made the witchcraft connection with the candle. They encouraged me to go in that direction. That one scene ended up being the inspiration for the novel and now the series.

Even though I grew up in Salem, I didn't know too much about the formal practice of the Craft, though I had heard growing up that my grandmother had experience with the sixth sense. I started doing research and asking lots of questions. I learned a lot this way. I learned of passed down home remedies, interesting family superstitions, tea readings, card readings, and specific experiences with the sixth sense, some of which find themselves in the novel.

I also researched the more formal practices of Witchcraft and Wicca, as well as other folk magical practices/home remedies that pass down within families. Having done this research and seeing the way that Witchcraft is so often negatively portrayed in the media, I wanted to show the true peaceful nature of this earth-based religion, without the hocus-pocus. I wanted to weave an education into the story, using Stacey Brown as a reflective, self-empowering young woman.

When I sold Blue is for Nightmares, I knew I wanted to write a trilogy. But, the ending of Silver is for Secrets, the third book, is somewhat of a cliffhanger, which is why I wrote the fourth book, Red is for Remembrance. Teens write to me all the time, asking if I plan to continue the series. We'll see.



What do you like best about writing a series?
I like being able to stick with characters that I grow to enjoy so much. I get to present them with new and interesting challenges, and figure out what they're going to learn and how they're going to grow with each one.


BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES is really a mix of paranormal, mystery and a touch of thriller. Did you know the story would be all three when you began writing?

I knew it would have elements of mystery, suspense, drama, and romance, but the paranormal aspect was a surprise to even me. When I first started Blue is for Nightmares, I wanted to write a book that would have appealed to me as a young adult. The paranormal aspect happened by accident (one of the best accidents that ever happened in my writing) in a free-writing exercise in grad school, but the other elements were very important to me as I began writing.



What's your favorite quality about Stacey?
I love that she's so relatable. She's not the prettiest girl in school, nor the smartest, or the most popular. She doesn't get along so great with adults. She has a lot of secrets. And she's constantly learning and striving to do the right thing.


Which character, if any, surprised you the most?
Stacey surprised me in Red is for Remembrance when she went after Tim. It was very scandalous.



What was the most memorable scene to write?
The ending of Silver is for Secrets – the transcripts between Stacey and her therapist and the letter she wrote to Jacob. People write to me on a regular basis, telling me these last two chapters make them cry every time.


What's your favorite moment in the book?
The scene in White is for Magic when Stacy is in the hotel room with her mother. They share a really nice moment when Stacey realizes how similar she and her mother really are – after years of thinking they couldn't be more different. We learn that Stacey's mother has secrets, too, and Stacey learns the reason her mother is against all-things-magic. It's very touching.

What's next for you?
I might have something brewing related to the Blue is for Nightmares series – it's still too early to tell. Otherwise, I'm currently working on a new series. Deadly Little Secret, the first book in the Touch series, is due out in the fall of 08.


Look for a great contest coming from Laurie and Enchanting YA very soon!

Interviewed by Lisa
Feb. 2008

Enchanting Review: Blue is for Nightmares (Deluxe Spellbook Edition)

BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES (DELUXE SPELLBOOK EDITION)
LAURIE FARIA STOLARZ
Paranormal YA
Llewellyn
Trade paperback
ISBN 978-0-7387-0391-6
283 Pages
$9.95
Print - Available now

Rating: 4 Enchantments



Stacey Brown's determined to do everything in her power to protect her best friend Drea from what she sees happens to her in her nightmares; nightmares that have always seemed to have come true in the past. And if saving Drea from a crazed stalker means that the secrets about the spells she casts have to come out, then that's the sacrifice Stacey's willing to make to keep her best friend safe.

I was drawn into this story from almost the very first page. A combination paranormal, murder-mystery and even thriller, this book defined page turner. Stacey's a strong character who doesn't want to see her recent nightmares come true, so she begins to light candles and cast spells to protect her roommate and best friend Drea. But when a fellow student is found murdered, Stacey grows increasingly worried the stalker is getting closer to his intended target of Drea.

My only fault with the book is that it took me awhile to get used to is the fact it's told in first person, present tense but after a chapter or so, it really wasn't a factor.

Fans of a good paranormal mystery would enjoy this first book in Ms. Stolarz's series.

Lisa
YA Director
Enchanting Reviews
January 2008