Issue #8

Welcome to the Halls of Olympus! We are the Muses- goddesses of the arts and proclaimers of heroes! (Just kidding! We are a misfit of writers who love Greek Mythology and supporting other writers.) You have found the Muse Magazine, home of the celebration of the beautiful art of literature. Join us and hear our tale...

"Write hard and clear about what hurts." -Ernest Hemingway

Due to some personal struggle, this section was neglected by the Head of Muse Magazine. I deeply apologize to all Olympus members and want to congratulate you on all achievements you have had in the past month. You are amazing people and I know you will only reach higher levels of accomplishments.

Love, your Muse Magazine editors.

The Spotlight Muse this month is: Sclark71517
Muse of House Ourania and Head of Muse Magazine.

1. What inspired you to start writing?
When I was younger, writing was a form of release-something to help me escape my hardships. I took a 10 year break and last year, I made a promise to someone very special to me that I would take it up again and publish one of my works.

2. Do you complete research for your books? If so, what's your method?
I do. It usually depends on what exactly I am researching. For Selena, I have researched werewolf mythology, herbology/aroma therapy, dream meanings, mental disorders, physical responses to stress, etc. A lot of Selena is drawn from personal experiences, but I like to check facts as well. Usually through books or internet sources.

3. If you had to pick one animal or thing that would represent your writing, what would it be?
A Phoenix. I've spent my whole life in a sense of disarray. Always wondering if I was good enough or strong enough, but this time last year, that all changed. I decided to finally do something for me. To love myself. To follow my dreams no matter what anyone else said. I am rising from the ashes of my past.

4. What do you consider your writer's kryptonite?
Self Doubt. The silent killer. Constantly nagging at me and making me question my every move. I am still battling to overcome it though I fear it has become apart of me.

5. Any plans for books or a series?
I actually have plans to make Selena a three book series as well as four more series (if not more) within the same world. I created the world Selena lives in with endless possibilities as it has seven kingdoms each with the potential for epic stories.

6. What is your ultimate goal for your book? tv show? movie? best seller? Hobby?
I would like it to be published and on the shelves of my favorite book stores. The idea of it being a best seller or more seems foreign to me. To be honest, all I really want is Selena to help someone who may suffer with the same mental turmoil feel like they aren't alone.

7. Do you have a favorite character that you have written? If so, who? And what makes them so special?
I have three to be honest.
Selena- She is the embodiment who I am (just with some added bada**ery). She constantly questions herself and her future but will never hesitate to help her family.
Silver- She is the embodiment of who I wish I was. She is confident and fearless while being open about her struggles and opinions. She doesn't let the opinions of others tear her down.
Dominic- He is modeled after my own husband and the men in my life. He is a good hearted man who was fiercely misunderstood. He refuses to allow Selena to give up on herself while fighting his own issues as well.

8. Any last notes about your book for the readers?
Selena may be a werewolf novel; however, it is more so a mental health book. It may seem sporadic at times due to the first person story telling. I am not sure if she will ever go anywhere, but she is a piece of me and has been my therapy in some of the hardest times of my life. I hope you love her as much as I do. But beware, this book does contain some hard topics that get a new perspective. It may trigger survivors of abuse and depression or anxiety.

Title: Selena: Rise of the Phoenix

Cover:

Blurb:
Six years after she was forced to rule alongside her father as Crown Princess, Selena Alastair continues to fight for her birthright as Queen of the Werewolves. She must face a Councilman, whose sexist views hinder her ability to gain her crown and she must fight the demons that lie awake inside her.

During a trip to rescue her sister from the Black Moon Pack, Selena finds the mate she so desperately didn't want. In an attempt to avoid him, she leaves with her Beta Silvester and her twin sister Thea as fast as she possibly can. Unfortunately for her, Selena has another blackout -something she has been suffering from lately- and is brought into a dream-like state. She is given a message to 'Beware the Viper'. Selena has never heard of the Viper, but she makes it a point to find out. This blackout was different, this one sent her a message, a possible omen and she needs to protect her pack from whomever or whatever the Viper is.

To add further conflict,  our young Princess has more enemies than she realized. While on a run with her wolf Kenna, Selena is kidnapped by a group of rogues.  But like the Phoenix, who rises from the ashes stronger than before, Selena must burn before she is truly ready. Her heart will break once more when she discovers the one she thought wanted her gone was merely a pawn.

**Please note this story has been unpublished and is slowly being republished in full edit first draft**

Tips from Bandit26139

1. Have a modern setting, be descriptive about it and how the characters interact with their surroundings. If it's urban, usually you'll want to have a setting that hints at city life and the technology in that area. However, that being said, you'd want to make your characters probably more 'modern' with relatable characteristics. Fantasy contains a ton of world building and typically supernatural elements, so those should be expressed in character development and how it 'alters' changes the settings around them.

2.. When considering how characters interact with their surroundings, you need to understand the basis behind their personality and the way they act. Some helpful questions would be: Are they new to the supernatural/fantastical elements? Is this a place where such occurrences are common/accepted? Are they experienced and have a greater understanding of their abilities? Additionally, you will want to build upon this by describing not only the mental aspects of their conflict/thoughts about the supernatural, but also about small nuances and details about how they physically appeared to be immersed in this 'urban land'. What sets them apart from others? What drives them to explore and interact with the world? Are they trying to learn more about themselves as an individual? Are they just trying to make it through and not stand out?

Tip from poetic_oceanxX and JC_Walker99
Characters have modern traits/characteristics and fit in the timeline. Make sure they are well thought out and have consistency within the character building. Think about how the characters interact in this world. Are they normal? Creature? Is magic/creatures known by all or a secret world?

This Month's Spotlights are:

Spotlight Author: Bdicocco

What inspired you to start writing?
I think I was inspired to start writing simply because I loved reading so much!  My first attempts at writing anything creative was when I was really young--about 8 years old--when I wrote short rhyming poems. By the time I was 10, I decided to dabble in writing fiction, and I haven't stopped since.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
Writer's block can be hard. If it's simply because I don't have an idea to write, I'll try to seek out inspiration by reading a book or looking at writing prompts. If I'm having a hard time figuring out what I want to happen next in the book, I'll take a break from writing for a few days but keep it in the back of my mind. Usually inspiration will strike in the shower or late at night while I'm trying to fall asleep. And if I'm just feeling lazy and know I should write but don't have the motivation, I like finding a friend to do writing sprints with me.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I write primarily fantasy, but I try to keep it accessible by setting it in a place similar to the world we live in (like New York City, or an 1800s-reminiscent town). I just love magic and secretly wish I could cast spells, so writing fantasy is the perfect fit for me! I also like to include either a romantic or mysterious subplot to keep readers guessing. Basically, I try to write books that I'd like to read!

Title: Shift

Cover:

Blurb:

Editor's Choice!
Kayden Lee is a girl from New Jersey with newly divorced parents and an annoyingly perfect cousin staying with her for an entire summer.

Blaze Merg is a wizard... but not a particularly good one. He's still surprised that he managed to graduate, and finding a job has proved to be a lot more difficult than expected.

Their lives become intertwined just as the magical world erupts into chaos. Spells begin failing, people start dying, and the two are magically bound together against their will. As the magical community struggles to survive without magic, Blaze and Kayden try to find a way to break the spell that has physically bound them together. But as they navigate through magical politics, they must also control their growing attraction to one another, which may just be another unfortunate side effect of their spell gone wrong.

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/47902476-shift

Spotlight Author: Luna_Mermaid

What inspired you to start writing?
Can't exactly remember when I officially started going into writing, but the earliest I can recall was writing a full book at age 12. I didn't have a lot of friends so naturally I wrote adventures that I would take with these 'friends'. Then, it later spread out as my interests were changing as I got older. As I also got older, anime helped a lot with how to go about story lines as well as writing out a story from start to finish. I never got into many books as I was a picky reader, but that also gave me a reason to write was to write about the things I would want to read.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
Usually it varies on how bad the block is. Lot of it is from watching anime, playing video games, or listening to music. But for the most severe cases when all of that doesn't work, I just let it ride out until the creative juices come back to me.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I don't have a set genre. Right now, my main sequel is a fantasy. But I am also revising my mystery sequel from the one I wrote in high school. I've also donned on other projects such as a fanfiction for a popular early 90s video game and as well as a horror novel. Mostly the reason for the fanfiction was because a lot of fanfics are about anime chars or harry potter fics and I thought I'd give it a go to share something of different pace. As for the horror, I'm writing about a journalist on her career as being a 'death watch' reporter. Basically how I would describe her job is to see inmates who are scheduled to be executed. These duties would be observing the inmate, talking to him about anything they would want to talk about, and witness about every moment until the execution has been carried out for each inmate. I would say that I am writing this because I want to dig in further on the controversial topic of the death penalty of the U.S. Please note, it is not to sway anybody to be for or against it, it is to give an approximate expectation on how things are run on death row and how each day is for the selected inmate since each facility does not give a more detailed operation or giving the side of each inmate on how they are feeling, etc.

Title: Sea of the Forsaken

Cover:

Blurb:
2020's WATTPAD'S NOBEL PRIZE WINNER - FANTASY CATEGORY
HONORABLY RECOGNIZED IN THE 2020 SERANIAN AWARDS

It was supposed to be a normal visit to her uncle's place. Everything was planned out to prevent anything from happening by her parents, but it didn't end that way in the end. After taking a dive in an underwater cave with her cousins, Lynae and Meredith, something changed within her. Ever since that day, Amelia, Lynae, and Meredith uncover more on their family's secret lineage resulting in them becoming something that they thought was not possible. Now showing their true scales, they adjust their lives into becoming more than just mermaids, but as the rightful rulers of the five water realms along with two mermen. They meet other merfolk along the way to help guide them into making each of their designated realm a better place for everyone. However, not everyone would agree with what the five rulers have in mind as for what is best.

The main concern would be set on the five after they discovered that they each inherited a special power from each sibling. But with those powers come with great distress. Fearing that history may repeat itself, the mer are keeping a close eye on Amelia since she is the reincarnate of the one whom was good at heart but became corrupt to the very end resulting in her transforming into a great beast that terrorized the underwater kingdom.

If you want to take a dive into an adventure that stretches around the world while witnessing the supernatural elements these mer face everyday, then you are in the right place. Come under and see why the merfolk are not just a fairytale, but a lost race that the humans have forgotten for over centuries.

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/165844373-sea-of-the-forsaken

Spotlight Author: NiyaJay20

What inspired you to start writing?
What inspired me to start writing was the thought of having the ability to make up anything and everything come to life in a story. I have always found books to hold so much more life in them then something on television. The characters are more alive because you can feel how the author has put a piece of themselves in their work. I just want to introduce people to the world of my imagination and hope they enjoy the ride!

How do you handle Writer's Block?
I handle writer's block by remembering what I enjoy about my story along with what my readers look forward to reading. I like to sit down in front of my computer and just turn on a playlist of chill music and just vibe with it and let my imagination take the wheel. Most of the time I just replay what's going on currently in the story and pick out what I want in the chapter that will help further develop the plot and the message I'm putting out there through my story.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I like to write fantasy, romance, adventure, and mystery stories. I don't know, to me I feel like these genres make up great stories. It keeps the readers on the edge of their seats while clenching their chests because of the about of love being demonstrated throughout the story. Fantasy novels let you go beyond the chains of reality and wander into the world of the unknown. The readers are taken into this new image that their not able to see every day and something about that just makes the story even more exciting to me.

Title: Olympian Blood

Cover:

Blurb:
When Werewolves meet Greek Mythology the drama begins.
Artemis and her siblings have never had a pack, they've been by each other's side since day one and they intended on keeping it that way. So when they wish to start over in a new town they never expected to be thrown into a war that will decide the fate of the werewolf world forever.

A journey that will make them question everything...
Family.
Friends.
Love.
Memories. 

Will the two people with the power to stop this war be able to put aside their differences, or will their decisions be their downfall?

Having long given up on love Artemis sees no need in having a Mate. Though coming from a broken past, fate seems to have other plans for her. And it all starts with Aaron Celest. 

"So you're the healer?" Aaron asked.
"So you're the Alpha?" I asked sizing him up.

"That I am," he said beginning to look me up and down.
"Your gonna be trouble aren't you, Mate," Aaron said offering me a smirk.

"Depends what you mean by trouble, Alpha," I teased.
"You will be mine" Aaron declared, moving a strand of my hair from my face.

"No, I won't," I said grabbing his hand and moving it away from my face.
"Trust me you would regret it if I was," I said turning away and walking up to my room.

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/224867844-olympian-blood

Spotlight Author:  KimberlyTanithMarie

What inspired you to start writing?
What inspired me to start writing was my husband. I had recently gotten married and had moved to a new country, leaving behind my job, family and everything I had known.
It was then that he suggested I follow my dream. As I had always wanted to be a writer but ended up choosing a more "realistic" path because of pressure from my parents.
I figured why not, and so as of February 2019, I began experimenting and I haven't looked back since.

How do you handle Writer's Block?
I don't ever really get writer's block. It's more like I end up getting excited about my next idea and have to try and force myself to finish work on the current idea lol.
But in the event that I do get disinterested in a plot, I take a break from it and go work on something else.

What genre(s) do you write and why?
I write a bit of everything but the main underlying genre is always romance. Why? Simply because I've always enjoyed a good love story, after all, love makes the world spin heehee.
I also wanted to explore more with the concepts of love, and experiment with different storylines. Romance books don't always have to be cliché, and with the sudden influx of the admiration of toxic relationships I wanted to do something different.

Title: Mine at First Sight

Cover:

[EXTRACT]:
"You are a forbidden taste
of truth in this illusion
that I am trapped in..."
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* ᴀ ꜰᴀɴᴛᴀꜱʏ-ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇᴡᴏʟꜰ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ *
--------------------------------------------------
[BLURB]:
The Malvar Empire has a fixed social structure.

At 18 years old, humans are sorted like cattle, and divided up to work as servants.

Except for Lenna Windenburg, a human healer, the first in centuries to have magical powers.

As news of her unique amethyst eyes spread across the land, the Lycan King, Edric, moves in to claim her as his.

With the threat of war from beyond the border, Edric must do whatever it takes to keep his empire safe.

Even if it means working together with a human.

🔅Rated PG13: Contains thematic issues, mild sexual content and language.
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🥇2020 Readers Choice Awards winner of the Vampire/Werewolf category

Link: https://www.wattpad.com/story/209784569-mine-at-first-sight

Here is a pocket prompt to get your creative juices flowing:
Magic is the life force of the city.

What is the Olympus Writing Group?

"It's a Writing Community with a unique twist on it. We create a positive environment in our Community and allow our members to be mentored by their Muses (House Leaders) in nine houses inspired by the Nine Muses of Greek Mythology. Writing is a journey and we recognize that. But just because you're taking a journey, doesn't mean you have to take it alone or that you can't ask for help. That's why we're here. Take your writing journey with us. Experience the mentorship of our experienced Muses (House Leaders). Be a part of a positive environment. Meet people who will support you on your journey. And above all, know that you do not walk this path alone."

The Houses are:
Clio (Historical Fiction)
Euterpe (Non-Fiction, (General Fiction: New Adult, Young Adult, Adult))
Thalia (Humour, Short Story, Poetry)
Melpomene (Thriller, Mystery/Suspense, Horror)
Terpsichore (Sci-fi)
Erato (Romance, Drama, Chicklit)
Polymnia (Fan Fiction, Teen Fiction)
Ourania (Paranormal, Vampire, Werewolf, Urban Fantasy, Magical Realism)
Calliope (High Fantasy, all other forms of fantasy aside from Magical Realism and Urban Fantasy, Adventure, Action)

If you are interested in joining the Olympus Writing Group, apply in the link below:
https://www.wattpad.com/story/220998019-olympus-writing-group-open-for-new-members-and