Guest Post + Giveaway: Laura Deluca

Today I have a special guest, Laura Deluca, Young Adult author of Destiny and Destiny Unveiled. Let's see what she has to share with us today, and don't forget to enter the giveaway!

There are tons of books out there written about witches, but there is something that makes my books a little different than the other paranormal novels out there.  I have been studying witchcraft, in the form of Wicca, for almost ten years. I am, in fact, a witch myself. I practice with a group of women, much like Gabriella’s mother, and I use the knowledge born from experience to add a little realism into the fantasy of my stories. 

     Now, I’m not saying that everything that happens in Destiny is completely realistic. Far from it. The Destiny series is fiction, after all, and meant to be fun and entertaining.  But I do strive to add real elements of Wicca into the mix. The rituals performed often use symbolism that any pagan would recognize. The ritual tools, the way the sacred space is set up, and even the wording of the spells, are all very realistic.  Only some of the results are exaggerated. Unfortunately, I haven’t met any real witches that can touch the ground and make a flower grow out of the snow or make a cut vanish with just the touch of their hand.  But even the healing aspects of the story are based off of real energy healing. I have been practicing Reiki, which is a form of energy healing, for the last four years.  In this practice, we lay our hands on our patrons and allow the energy of the universe to run through us, into the patient.  Results aren’t as spectacular as those in Destiny, but it always leaves people feeling more energized and definitely eases pain. 

     So much of the Destiny books are drawn from my own spiritual experiences with witchcraft, which is indeed a timeless tradition.  One of my fellow pagans, radio personality Raven Moonshadow, summed it up best in her review of Destiny.  “This is her (Laura’s) first young adult novel and I was really impressed with how closely she kept within the actual concepts of the earth-based religions. I think having a book like this written by someone who follows the religion herself is a huge boost to the published work. The fact that she kept most elements as close to reality without delving into "Hollywood" stereotypes is a testament not only to her as a writer, but also to honoring her own religion, showing the respect that any religion would deserve.” 

     Raven’s review made me so happy, because this is exactly what I was trying to achieve. Destiny is a book inspired by Wicca, and written out of my respect and love for this most sacred of paths. But don’t worry. I managed to pull all this off without getting preachy, and I definitely maintain the fun elements that any fantasy novel needs to be a success.  In the Destiny series, you’ll find love, suspense, and shocking revelations you’ll never see coming. So, if you want to read a book about witches, read a book written BY a witch. Get yourself a copy of Destiny and/or Destiny Unveiled.     

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A big thank from thank you for Laura Deluca for stopping by.