Completed Manuscript
I suppose it’s no surprise that my first Children’s book would feature witches. I did dress as one on Halloween every year until I left elementary school. In real life I’m a cynic, but as a reader I love the idea of magic being in the world just beyond the ordinary mortal’s reach. And as a writer, I find fantasy a wonderful tool to take current topic’s and make them new and exciting.
The premise of the novel is that witches founded a new society after fleeing witch persecution during the Salem Witch Trial. Close to three hundred years have passed since then, so the island has formulated their own culture, history, and ideas. It’s a matriarchal society, and I show how that can be just as cruel, problematic, and detrimental to people as a patriarchal world.
There are countless stories I could have told with this premise, but I chose to focus on sixteen year old Beatrix Espinosa, a young woman who is tired of everyone assuming she wants to be just like her mother--the powerful Shaman. She dreams of escaping the island altogether and becoming an Explorer like her uncle, but her mother forces her to be her healing apprentice. It’s a good thing she finds Joaquin Paraceli--a gorgeous guy her age who also has to deal with a manipulative parent. They decide to leave the island together when they turn eighteen. Still, their relationship isn’t an easy one. Beatrix finds a way to see Joaquin even after their covens begin fighting with each other. But there’s one thing that could make their Explorer dreams crumble: Beatrix might want to be Shaman.
I suppose it’s no surprise that my first Children’s book would feature witches. I did dress as one on Halloween every year until I left elementary school. In real life I’m a cynic, but as a reader I love the idea of magic being in the world just beyond the ordinary mortal’s reach. And as a writer, I find fantasy a wonderful tool to take current topic’s and make them new and exciting.
The premise of the novel is that witches founded a new society after fleeing witch persecution during the Salem Witch Trial. Close to three hundred years have passed since then, so the island has formulated their own culture, history, and ideas. It’s a matriarchal society, and I show how that can be just as cruel, problematic, and detrimental to people as a patriarchal world.
There are countless stories I could have told with this premise, but I chose to focus on sixteen year old Beatrix Espinosa, a young woman who is tired of everyone assuming she wants to be just like her mother--the powerful Shaman. She dreams of escaping the island altogether and becoming an Explorer like her uncle, but her mother forces her to be her healing apprentice. It’s a good thing she finds Joaquin Paraceli--a gorgeous guy her age who also has to deal with a manipulative parent. They decide to leave the island together when they turn eighteen. Still, their relationship isn’t an easy one. Beatrix finds a way to see Joaquin even after their covens begin fighting with each other. But there’s one thing that could make their Explorer dreams crumble: Beatrix might want to be Shaman.
The Shaman Apprentice Playlist
- Autumn Shade II by The Vines
- Beautiful Thing by The Pierces
- Beautiful World by Rage Against The Machine
- Come Around Again by JET
- Don't Miss You at All by Norah Jones
- Fair by Remy Zero
- First Day Of My Life by Bright Eyes
- Girl, You Have No Faith in Medicine by The White Stripes
- Going Under by Evanescence
- Hello by Evanescence
- Hurt by Johnny Cash
- I Don't Mind by The Pierces
- I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You by Colin Hay
- I Should've Known by The Pierces
- I Will Follow You Into the Dark by Death Cab For Cutie
- If I Ever Leave This World Alive by Flogging Molly
- Imagine by John Lennon
- In My Life by Johnny Cash
- In Need by Sheryl Crow
- Maybe I'm Amazed by Jem
- Move On by JET
- Northern Sky by Nick Drake
- One Of These Things First by Nick Drake
- The Prettiest Thing by Norah Jones
- Run by Ben Kweller
- Such Great Heights by Iron & Wine
- That I Would Be Good by Alanis Morissette
- Those Sweet Words by Norah Jones
- Whisper by Evanescence
- Wildflower by Sheryl Crow
- Winding Road by Bonnie Somerville
- Winners And Losers by Social Distortion
- Winning Days by The Vines
Read about my works-in-progress.
