Don’t forget to get your FREE copy of The Fairies of Carlow: The Outsider ebook! Available until midnight tonight, the ebook is available on Amazon.com.
Category: The Fairies of Carlow
The Fairies of Carlow: The Outsider
It’s time for you to learn about Princess Fruhlingsmorgen (please call her Morgen)!
The ebook is available for FREE today and tomorrow ONLY.
Go to Amazon.com. If you search for my name ‘Sonja Danielson,’ you can see my entire catalog of titles. Or you can search for ‘The Fairies of Carlow’. Or you can use the direct links in the left margin of this website.
The Outsider, book 2 in the Fairies of Carlow series, stands alone, but you will get a glimpse of Fern, the Gilded, and Sir Thomas from book 1 of the series, The Gilding.
I hope you enjoy Morgen’s story! Sonja
Don’t Judge…
One of my favorite philosophies is: You never know what someone is going through, so be nice.
I also like the idea that “unless you walk in someone else’s shoes, you can’t understand what they’re going through.”
I try to keep those in mind whenever I run across someone. If they’re happy, sad, angry, despondent, etc. it’s important to approach with love.
I can remember how it felt to be judged without that person knowing what was going on in my life, and inside my head.
I remember being the one judging. It makes me cringe and I want to find those people to apologize to them.
I think I’m this retrospective because I’m writing Lady Zepherine’s story. She’s going through a lot that I went through and it can be difficult to open those doors. I’ve been very successful in locking up those memories, especially from high school, and now I am taking a key to those rusty locks.
It’s not as traumatic as other people’s experiences, but it was a lot to handle when I was a young teenager. Wait, aren’t all teenagers the same age? Chronologically, yes. But I was young, emotionally and physically. Which can be difficult when you’re in middle and high school.
I can’t wait for you to read Lady Zepherine’s story! Sonja
Happy Birthday, EII
Okay, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on April 12, 1924. Why is her birthday being celebrated today?
Two reasons: King George II and the fickle British weather.
In 1748, King George II decided to move the traditional military parade, called Trooping of the Colours, away from his November birthday because it was too cold. He combined his birthday celebration and the parade at a time of more temperate weather.
Since that time, all British sovereigns are able to choose the date of their ‘official’ birthday, as well as having a more private celebration on the day they were actually born.
Queen Elizabeth II chose June, which is normally a beautiful month weather-wise in England. Originally, she proclaimed that the Trooping of the Colours would be held on the second Thursday of June, but in 1959 decided Saturday would be a better day for the celebration.
Why am I so interested? Because the Kingdom of Carlow from the Fairies of Carlow series is very Irish and is headed by a monarchy. A lot of their rituals and celebrations are based upon those of the British Royal Family.
But, in the Fairies of Carlow, the royal princesses are named after roses and their gowns (Victorian-ish) are the color of their namesake rose. The boys wear morning coats, trousers, and cravats. They are able to fly, but the higher the rank, the less likely they do. It’s a status thing.
The weird thing is that The Gilded Fairies are the highest fairies in the land. Their presentations are always anticipated and feature highly-coordinated and complex flying skills. So, the royals and nobility ride in carriages–and The Gildeds fly. Nothing is perfect, even in the fairy kingdom.
OH! I have to ask: Do you have a place in your garden where the fairies are able to gather? Chairs and tables are best so they have a place to have their tea, which they conjured. It’s a complex process to gain permission to cross into the human world. It’s also very tiring to cross that border. Princess Zepherine may do both in my new book based on her life.
Make way for the fairies! Sonja
It’s Nice To Be Noticed!
Sunflowers are not wallflowers. I mean, look at her! She faces you and demands attention.
As a writer, it’s difficult to do that. We are, by nature, solitary beings but it’s important to seek recognition. Especially when you’re not on the New York Times Best Sellers list…yet.
The hard part is exposing your work. That can be difficult. Good writing shows a soft, mushy part of your psyche, something you may not want to revisit or have anyone else see.
Writing the Fairies of Carlow series is cathartic for me. I can take all those angsty moments of growing up and put them into the story. Then I get to say what I should have said back then, or done what would have made things better. (Such as, standing up to those bullies, or not taking myself too seriously.)
Sometimes, as I’m writing a scene based on something that really happened to me, I cringe at the memories. Once the story’s finished, I feel better about it, but getting there is a slog through the emotional swamp.
In my new Fairies of Carlow book, based upon Lady Zepherine, I’m taking a look at the bullies who made me miserable during middle school and high school. Oh, it’s hard to look back on those people (both male and female) and remember what I had to endure! But there’s plenty of material! Silver lining? Hopefully!
Pressing on that sensitive nerve ending, Sonja
New Book!
(c) 2019 Available on Amazon.com (c) 2019 Search for Sonja Danielson on Amazon.com 
(c) 2019 Leave a review!
Recently, I posted about an upcoming book in the Guinness the Therapy Dog series. Now that I’m in final edits for that one, I have decided to write a fourth book in my popular Fairies of Carlow series!
A reader (and Ig friend) asked questions about Lady Zepherine, the mentor Gilded Fairy from The Fairies of Carlow: The Gilding.
That got me thinking, and the good lady demanded that her story be told. I am discovering her history and will tell the story of her younger years.
How did she become a Gilded Fairy? Who is she related to (since all Gildeds are royal)? What is her relationship to Fern the Gilded? Why is she Fern the Gilded’s mentor? Did she ask for that role, or was she assigned?
All those questions (and more!) will be answered in the new book. The title is pending!
I hope you will enjoy this new book! Sonja
Last Chance!
Today is the last day to grab your free ebook of ‘The Fairies of Carlow: The Gilding!’
Go to Amazon.com using the direct link in the left margin of this website, or search for ‘Sonja Danielson’ on Amazon.com.
This book tells the story of Fern, whose only focus is blending in. She gets her gift and becomes a Gilded Fairy, one of the most illustrious fairies in the Kingdom of Carlow.
Read about her adventures and how this gift affects her friends and family.
There are some big surprises!
Leave a review on Amazon.com and on Good Reads! I would love to hear what you think. Sonja
Free eBook!
Go to Amazon.com and get the ebook for The Fairies of Carlow: The Gilding FREE!!!
The direct link is in the left margin of this website, or you can search for ‘Sonja Danielson’ on Amazon.com.
This is book 1 in the series. The other two ‘The Fairies of Carlow: The Outsider’ and ‘The Fairies of Carlow: The Commoner’ are also available. All three can be purchased in paperback or you can get them as an ebook.
I’m planning on the fourth book in the series, thanks to a question about Lady Zepherine. (You can meet her in ‘The Gilding’). Currently, I’m in the planning and plotting stage. If you have any ideas, I would love to hear them!
I hope you enjoy ‘The Fairies of Carlow: The Gilding!’ Sonja
Ask Me Anything!
It’s Wonderful Wondering Wednesday and I’m awaiting your questions. I do reserve the right not to answer it, but would love to hear what you’re thinking.
You can ask me here or via email at sonjadanielson.com.
Are you wondering about The Fairies of Carlow series, or Guinness the Therapy Dog, Lucy the Wonder Dog, The Voyage, or something else?
I tend to say everything in my posts, but if I missed something that left you wondering, I will address it.
Tell me what you want to know! Sonja
Another Look-
(c) 2020 
(c) 2020
Here’s another look at the journals I keep for each story. The photos show the journals for the Fairies of Carlow series.
I keep one journal for each book, with the pages divided into several sections: main characters, settings, events, chapter summaries.
They help keep continuity while I’m writing the book, and any books that may share characters or settings. (I’m a big fan of series’!).
By using a journal I can make sure the eye and hair colors of each character are consistent as I write. Sometimes, these things get lost inside my head and I can’t remember if I made someone a blonde, redhead, or a brunette. Also, I include height, preferences, things they hate/love, etc. Some characters get a full page, others get a half-page. It depends on how much I need to know about them.
For the Fairies of Carlow books, I found journals with covers that match each fairy’s signature color. (Confused? Now’s a good time to buy the books and find out what I’m talking about!)
I happen to love journals and tend to buy way too many of them. I have a stack of blank journals and a ton of pens that I need to find a use for. Did I mention my love of pens?
I have found that I don’t like gel pens… and try to find anything but those these days! I don’t know, the ink smears, it bleeds when you drip tea on it… But I love ballpoint pens and feel so posh when I use a fountain pen. I was given a Mont Blanc decades ago and feel so special when I use it. (But talk about wet ink and bleeding under drips of tea!)
Anyway, consistency is the key to good writing. Floor plans need to make sense. The barn needs to stay in the same place. And the sun needs to set in the same direction every evening.
Write on! Sonja