SUPERNATURAL FUN FACTS: GUEST BLOG BY SHERRY SOULE

SUPERNATURAL FUN FACTS: GUEST BLOG

BY SHERRY SOULE

Author, Sherry Soule has put together four unknown facts about her popular YA series, Spellbound. In this fun post, you can learn more about the intriguing, supernatural legends that makeup the eerie world of Fallen Oaks. Read on to learn some things you didn’t know…and really don’t need to. 😀 

Fun Fact #1

Shadow People, (also known as Shades) are usually vague human shapes, completely black or dark in color, with no discernible facial features. Sometimes they appear as mere silhouettes, generally lacking any characteristics of gender.

However, there are many types of shadow beings; there are hooded shadows, cloaked ones, solid or wispy, and even smoky shapes. They dart into corners, through walls, into closets, or behind bushes, and buildings. Sometimes they simply fade into the dark recesses of the night. Lacking in the description is one common denominator unifying the many different types of Shadow People that enter our world—they are all thought to be “intensely dark.”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines paranormal as an adjective meaning “not scientifically explainable.”

In the Spellbound books, Shadow People are ominous creatures that were once slaves of a band of fallen angels. When they rebelled, the Fallen hexed these creatures to spend eternity in a hell dimension. A few have found a way to slip through the gateway. The real worry is—what happens if they ALL escape?

Spooky, huh? So, do you believe in Shadow People?

Fun Fact #2

One of my inspirations for the über spooky town in my YA series was the video game, “Silent Hill.” Readers of the Spellbound series have often wondered if the town had a real-life counterpart, and if there was a particular town that inspired the haunted area, we’ve come to know and fear in the books…

Actually, there have been many speculations, and now here’s a place you can actually visit for REAL…

So, while researching the different elements of Fallen Oaks and looking for a foggy and woodland area, I came across Marin County in California. The popular SF Bay Area tourist spot planted the seed for what developed into what we’ve come to know and love as, Fallen Oaks. The coastal town is actually located in the Madrone Woodlands near Larkspur, California neighboring Muir Woods. (You need to use a Bing map to locate the region.)

Echoes of the tragic disappearances still plague the town. When the season passes and all the tourists leave, the haunting memory of past events once again shatter the peace of the inhabitants of Fallen Oaks…

Have you ever been to the coastal towns of Marin County?

Fun Fact #3

Werewolves and Lycans (shortened form of the word lycanthrope, which means shape-changer) are two completely different species. The terms are definitely NOT synonymous. The werewolf can only transform on a full moon, and they represent more of witchcraft and curse, unlike the lycan who can transform into a wolf at will. The lycan species are also considered shapeshifters, but can ONLY shift into wolves—not into other animals. Lycans are also capable of walking on their hindquarters, and are much more muscular than werewolves. Lycans and werewolves do share these qualities; they both have enhanced physical attributes, enhanced strength, reflexes, coordination, speed, and regenerative abilities. However, these traits seem to apply to lycans, even when in human form.

Furthermore, lycans can retain their human intelligence and personalities while transformed, whereas werewolves become pure animal, devoid of any memory regarding their actions once they shift. Silver is the lycans only weakness, as they seem to be violently allergic to it.

In MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, (second book in the series), the story hinges on a terrible secret guarded by some of the town’s residents as one-by-one teens are attacked by a mysterious creature.

Do you think it’s a lycan or a werewolf stalking the kids in Fallen Oaks?

Fun Fact #4

A Grimoire, or in some cases it’s called a Book of Shadows (BoS), is used to store magical information, like a textbook of magic spells, rituals, supernatural-related data, and invocations. Some grimoires can even be a sort of magical journal that keeps a record of a witch’s magical experiments and exploits.

Overall, a grimoire is used predominantly by Wiccans; however, this does not mean that those outside of Wicca can’t use a grimoire.  Nor do you have to be in a coven, like the Blood Rose Circle or Generation Hex.

I used the grimoire concept in a different way in my YA series about a teenage witch, where the magical book is used more like that of a diary and contains prophecies, a demon index, and spells, which was written by her ancestors and passed down through the generations.

Do you have a grimoire or personal journal?

Places you can cyberstalk author, Sherry Soule:

Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.com

Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.com

Twitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherry

goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-broken

Thank you so much for letting me chat up my new YA series with all of you. It’s been an honor to share the eerie urban legends associated with the Spellbound series. If you haven’t seized your copy of my books yet, please do so. Thrilling and extraordinary adventures await you!

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