Author of Witch of Ware Woods trilogy
Today, I am thrilled to be spending time with paranormal fantasy author Sonja F. Blanco. She is joining me to talk to us about her latest book, the third in the Witch of Ware Woods series, Spells and Shadows, which released on the April 16th, 2024.
Helen: Welcome Sonja. Congratulations on the release of your latest book. Tell us all about Spells and Shadows.
Sonja: My latest book is Spells & Shadows, book 3 in the Witch of Ware Woods trilogy. It just released on April 16th, 2024, and I am SO excited for readers to fall in love with this final installment! It’s an action-packed, magical ride with huge revelations and all the feels.
To give context to this latest book and the trilogy as a whole, here’s a brief overview:
The WoWW trilogy is an upper YA, contemporary paranormal story with coming-of-age and hero’s journey elements. There is a B-story romance that is palpable, on page, and nongraphic.
The Main Character is Sara, and the narration is third person CLOSE, single POV.
Witch of Ware Woods (book 1) is about Sara finding herself and who she really is. It is about CHOICE.
Death & Dragons (book 2) is about Sara coming into her role. It is about TRUST in yourself and others.
Spells & Shadows (book 3) is about Sara embracing what she is capable of. It is about BELIEVING in yourself.
Ahhhh! Can you tell how excited I am?! Bwahaha!
Here’s the blurb for Spells & Shadows:
A forbidden spell.
An evil forged by shadows.
And a defiance that will bring the magical world to its knees.
Sara is reeling from a twisted betrayal and her unexpected part in increasing the Shadow Mother’s strength. Now she is forced to trust the secretive Global Council to vanquish the wicked entity. Except Sara isn’t one to place her fate in the hands of others.
When her intentions go horribly awry and dissent fractures the Global Council, Sara scrambles to convince the individual sacred sites of witches, shifters, and vampires to set aside centuries of deep-rooted distrust and join Ware Woods against the growing darkness. But not everyone believes in Sara.
Needing to stop the Shadow Mother before she claims Thomas, Sara risks everything on a bloody spell for knowledge—and discovers a fiery revelation.
As Ware Woods shatters around her and the safety of everyone she loves hangs in the balance, Sara must do the inconceivable. Become the sacrifice.
Helen: Ohhh, High stakes from the off! I can see why you are excited. What were your thoughts behind the cover?
Sonja: Each book in the Witch of Ware Woods trilogy features a different tree on its cover – a tree whose presence is woven into the story. For Spells & Shadows, it is the cherry tree.
Like falling sand in an hourglass, the tumbling blossoms symbolize the running-out-of-time tension as Sara races to defeat the Shadow Mother and save Thomas (her bonded mate) and the magical world. No pressure!
Although cherry blossoms are usually pink or white, I’m not a pinky kinda person and neither is Sara. Hence, the tree on Spells & Shadows is purple – a pinky compromise AND a symbol of nobility, power, peace, and magic.
The wispy “shadows” in the background signify the villains and are the same blues as on the book 1 cover, signifying the story coming full circle. The white speckles, consistent on all the covers, are glimmerings of magic.
On the paperback and hardcover versions, there is a “special” blue dragon. *non-spoilery, wink wink*
Helen: It is really interesting to find out about the details behind the cover design. I love the range of trees you’ve used and the reason behind them, and we’ll be looking out for that dragon! Who is your protagonist and why did you write them?
Sonja: The Witch of Ware Woods trilogy’s protagonist is Sara, an eighteen-year-old witch who is a hot mess of self-doubt, recklessness, kickassery, humor, and fierce independence. Her inner dialogue is relatable, and her growth is inspiring. She is a reflection of all of Ware Woods (and I do mean ALL) and her voice was the loudest in telling this story. It has always been Sara’s story to tell.
Helen: She sounds amazing. Which genre do you write in?
Sonja: I write fantasy because I love the wonder, the escape, the “what if” imagined worlds were real, and the freedom that comes with writing whatever fantastical story comes to my mind. And because I believe magic is real. It is hope, it is laughter, it is enjoying a delightful book, and so much more. I love being able to provide this escape to readers.
Helen: From what you’ve said, this Witch of Ware Woods is a trilogy, so if this series is complete, tell us about what are you working on next?
Sonja: Sure! My current WIP is a rivals-to-lovers story set in a multi-layered world with a rich mix of gritty and lush elements. Inspirations for this work include Dante’s Inferno, the Day of the Dead, and the Tree of Life.
Helen: That sounds a very interesting mixture. Can’t wait to see what you write! When writing do you listen to music? Create playlist for your books?
Sonja: Listening to music is a big part of my writing. I like to mentally write while taking long walks and listening to my playlist. This way, my monkey brain is occupied on not tripping while my creative brain takes the story in a number of directions before deciding on which is best for the story. My playlist is mostly a mix of rock, metal, and some alternative. For particular scenes or moods, I may listen to a specific song (usually on repeat) to immerse myself in the vibe.
Once I have a scene mentally written, I prefer to type it up in silence or with non-verbal white noise in the background. For the WoWW trilogy, I listened to a lot of ambient forest sounds.
Helen: I tend to write with clasisc music in the background, though sometimes silence works too. When you look back over your writing career, what is the best thing to happen you?
Sonja: The best thing that happened to me since I began writing was finding this incredible bookish community. Just – wow. I am truly grateful for all the amazing readers and writers I have connected with – online, in social media, and in real life. To gush over the same books and characters and scenes, to share recommendations and resources, and to genuinely connect through a love of story is priceless.
Helen: Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been lovely learning about your books. Was there anything else you’d like to share before we finish?
Sonja: While the WoWW trilogy is fantasy, there are many real-world influences on the story. For example, the setting of Ware, Massachusetts does exist. I spent a portion of my childhood traipsing the woods near this town. More on this and other real-life influences on the trilogy are addressed in an Author’s Note at the end of Spells & Shadows.
About the Author
Sonja F. Blanco
Sonja F. Blanco grew up in New England where she ran barefoot through the woods, chased lightning bugs, and tapped maple trees for syrup.
Having an ancestor who was hung as a witch, Sonja is naturally drawn to all things magical and fantastical—trees and cemeteries in particular.
At 5’2” she is often caught climbing tables, chairs, and small children to reach the upper shelves. She likes coffee and tea equally, both of which most certainly contributed to her diminutive stature.
Witty comics easily amuse her, as do heavily jowled Hell Hounds that talk in their sleep.
She writes fantasy as if it were real, because believing makes it so.
Follow Sonja:
Purchase Sonja’s book: Spells and Shadows via Amazon
Link to book on Amazon UK: eBook | Paperback
Link to book on Amazon US: eBook | Paperback
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