This week, I’m delighted to be taking part in the blog tour for author K.C. Tansley’s new book The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts. The book hooked me from the first page and took me on a whirlwind ride filled with ghosts, a gruesome murder and a terrible curse. When K.C. told me that she’d learned how to cast spells in preparation for writing the book, I wanted to know more. So, over to Kourtney:
When I decided to write a book about the supernatural, I didn’t want to wing it. I’d had some premonitions and some ghostly encounters, but I’d never cast a spell. Never tried to break a curse.
My writing process requires that I experience what my character is doing or come as close to it as I can before I write it. That’s just how I do it. So I did what any good writer would do. I started researching it. I read dozens of books on spell casting and witchcraft. They all started at the same point, meditation as a gateway to spell casting, but none of their explanations of meditation made sense to me.
I put them down and wondered how I was ever going to tell this story. If I couldn’t get meditating down, I couldn’t learn any of the way cooler stuff. And if I couldn’t experience it, how was I going to write it? I kept pushing onward, picking up one more book and hoping that this method would click. And it did.
Laurie Cabot’s Power of the Witch made sense to me. I finally learned how to meditate. Hurdle one was down. I powered through her book. It explained how belief fuels reality. If you believe something strongly enough you can bring it into being. So wishes come true because your mind is focused and clear in its request.
I learned how to cast a circle because for spell casting it’s important to be in a protected space. The ingredients for a spell are almost like a recipe for a meal. Combine the right elements and it all goes great. Don’t and you’ve got a dud. I learned about the energies of rocks, herbs, and oils just like Kat does in the book. Spells use different ingredients to help focus your mind and draw more energy to go into your spell.
Once I’d learned all I could from books I went to Salem, MA, and took workshops with Laurie Cabot. It was an incredible experience. We learned about the power of intent. Thoughts and words are very powerful. You have to be careful what you ask for and what you put out into the world because it can manifest. Send out hatred and it manifests. Send out love and it manifests.
We did a crystal gazing exercise where you asked a question and the other person had to look into the crystal and see something. They would let their mind relax and suddenly see something in the crystal. It could anything like a skull, a bird, or a star. Some image would take shape before their eyes. This was the response to your question.
We learned about how there are signs all around us if we just pay attention. And nudges. You know when you feel a nudge to do or not do something? Listen to it.
We did a meditation exercise where we were randomly partnered with someone we didn’t know in the group. I had privately written down the name and physical description of a friend with an ailment. I then counted my partner into a meditation and only gave him the person’s name and age and location. He had to visualize the person. My partner was remarkably accurate in his description of the person. My partner even picked up on ailments that we later discovered my friend had.
I can’t explain how my partner did it, but to say that there is some magic in this world.
Personally, I love thinking that the world we live in isn’t as ordinary as we think. That there is magic all around us, if we just pay attention. And that where my tagline came from: believing in the unbelievables.
Because I do. Do you?
About The Book
In The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts, prep school junior Kat Preston accidentally time travels to 1886 Connecticut, where she must share a body with a rebellious Victorian lady, prevent a gruesome wedding night murder, disprove a deadly family curse, and find a way back to her own time.
Bio
K.C. Tansley lives with her warrior lapdog, Emerson, on a hill somewhere in Connecticut. She tends to believe in the unbelievables—spells, ghosts, time travel—and writes about them.
Never one to say no to a road trip, she’s climbed the Great Wall twice, hopped on the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, and danced the night away in the dunes of Cape Hatteras. She loves the ocean and hates the sun, which makes for interesting beach days. The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts is the first book in her YA time-travel murder mystery series.
As Kourtney Heintz, she also writes award winning cross-genre fiction for adults.
Social Media
Website: http://kctansley.comhttp://kctansley.com
Blog: http://kourtneyheintz.wordpress.com
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kourtneyheintzwriter
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KourHei
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13530245.K_C_Tansley
Buy Links:
Another ‘victim’ for my TBR list – thanks for sharing, Andrea. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great read Karen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Karen. I really appreciate making your TBR list. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is an awesome synopsis – bull’s eye. I remember Salem well. Thanks for writing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lovely blog tour, Andrea. It’s got to be an interesting book. Wishing you a wonder-filled week. Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is Teagan, full of magic 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks Teagan. I had an awesome time building the world of the unbelievables. 🙂
LikeLike
Talk about diving deep into research! Fascinating to hear about the process and impressive that KC (Kourtney) went to such great lengths to try to capture the proper nuances of her fictional world.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If writing isn’t magical enough, it must make for a very interesting life to do this kind of research!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carrie, I have this need to experience what I write or approximate it as best I can. I have to slip into my character’s skin as completely as I possibly can. 🙂 It was pretty cool to do these workshops and experience the supernatural. I definitely an a believer.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What a wonderful review, Andrea. I truly respect the efforts this author made to write authentically.
LikeLike
It’s been great learning about Kourtney’s journey, she’s tireless in her research, writing and promotion of her work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laine. I have an entire shelf devoted to magical texts and spells. Isn’t Andrea awesome!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome. Very inspiring. I will go to Amazon and buy this book.
LikeLike
It’s well worth buying Elizabeth, a fantastic read.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for finding the time to read it and review it. And also sharing your blog space with me. You’re the best! 🙂
LikeLike
You’re very welcome Kourtney, it’s great to be a part of the journey 🙂
LikeLike
Aw thank you so much! 🙂 Please let me know what you think.
LikeLike
You’ve totally redefined the meaning of research, Kourtney! As I’ve said before, you’re one of the hardest working writers I know. I’m casting a spell on you for record breaking book sales!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. I have to admit, I’ve always been intrigued by witchcraft and supernatural stuff. It was really fun to dig into this research. Aw thank you so much. Cast away! I really appreciate it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a great review, thanks Andrea. I (personally) have a lot of difficulty with the idea that ” belief fuels reality”. It’s another version of Descartes’ “I think therefore I am” which I consider a nonsense, and still yet another version of “Believe in the Lord Jesus and be saved”. We hear this all the time… believe that you can do it and you will. At best, it can boost confidence but (in my opinion) has little to do with hard reality! If I want to be a high jumper (or a writer) I have to practice as well as believe.
LikeLike
Thanks Bruce – I don’t have much truck with blind belief and books like The Secret that say you can have anything you want if you only believe. What witchcraft teaches along with intent and belief is action – you have to take action in the real world for anything you do in the world of magic to have a chance.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, thanks for replying, Andrea. I had second thoughts about my comment because of course “believing” doesn’t in itself destroy the need for action!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to second what Andrea said. Blind belief does not make things happen. But a focused belief and an intent and an action combine to make things more likely to happen.
What I am playing with in the story is how people’s beliefs color their reality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautifully presented, Andrea. This was far more than just another book promotion. My attention was peaked all the way to the end. Great work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Kourtney has given us some really interesting insights into the research she put into the book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sheri. I worked with each blogger to tailor a post to their blog and also showcase something cool from my book. Andrea was so wonderful to work with! That’s awesome to hear, thank you so much–I spent a week working on 4-5 blog posts trying to polish them up and create something special.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicely done. Andrea’s post are always professionally presented and I know I’m always in for a great read. Many of the showcase blogs seem a bit ragged around the edges but not yours. Congratulations to the two of you.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very interested to learn about your research methods – they are amazingly thorough – to say the least! Good luck with your book, I shall have to seek it out soon and add it to my never diminishing pile😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great read Jenny and Kourtney works very hard to make her books successful.
LikeLike
Jenny, I tend to want to get as close as I can to something. If I can do it, I do. If there was a portal to time travel through I would have gone through it. 🙂 Thanks. Aw, I love making a tbr pile. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
A very interesting and thought-provoking post.
LikeLike
Thanks Cynthia, it’s fascinating to read about the different ways we prepare to write.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Cynthia. 🙂
LikeLike
I love research, learning etc and can imagine it would have been near impossible to write this book without that level of dedication Kourtney. I am so looking forward to reading your book!
LikeLike
She’s definitely dedicated Yolanda, she makes your mind whirl with everything she gets done 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thank you. 🙂 Can’t wait to hear what you think!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pingback: TGWIG’s Blog Tour Continues | Kourtney Heintz's Journal
This is just too much fun. Yes, yes, I’m in! I don’t usually read Y.A., but this book entices me. Have you read A Discovery of Witches, by the way? Great explanations of spells and everything witching. Excellent fiction. I find it fascinating how you take meditation into witchcraft. Wonderful.
LikeLike
It’s great fun with lots of magic Pam. I read Discovery of Witches and very much enjoyed it – I have the sequels to read but haven’t made it to them yet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read all of Deborah Harkness’ books at the same time as my daughter – we have a great time discussing the witch power! xo
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thank you. I haven’t read A Discovery of Witches but I’ve heard lots of good stuff about it. The thought is that when you meditate you tap into a different area of your brain and can access things your normal conscious mind cannot. It’s a really cool thing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
I believe it – and am now going to tap into my witching power!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It is interesting to know the depths of research Kourtney went to in preparation of writing her book. Thanks for passing this on.
LikeLike
It is and I’m sure it made the process of writing it even more interesting.
LikeLike
Thanks. I really like to immerse myself in as much as I can. I also read a bunch of books on that era in Connecticut so that I could be historically accurate. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
How fascinating, Kourtney. Your preparation for writing this novel makes my past prep activities sound most tame i.e. having a few sessions learning how to cast a falcon, some archery (not that successful), and a musical session with some Troubadours. Learning how to cast spells would have come in useful, although I wouldn’t have wanted to go as far as raising an army of the undead, as my Sorceress did in this particular novel.
Thanks, Andrea, for introducing Kourtney — although her name is familiar to me, I think. Must check out her novels, especially now I know what close attention she gives to her research.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sarah, her adult novel Six Train to Wisconsin is definitely worth a read too. I think you both put me to shame as far as research goes – I guess my first novel didn’t need much research as I already knew a lot about the subject – that’s my excuse anyway 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
The novel I’ve been busy editing didn’t require much research either, as the setting (although fictionalised) is familiar to me, as is the time period.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that’s amazing research that you did. I wanted to figure out how it would feel for someone who was coming into this as a total newbie. I figured me learning spell casting was the best way to approximate it for Kat.
Yes, definitely don’t try to raise an army of the undead–for all our sakes. 🙂
I ❤ Andrea!
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m enjoying reading about your experiences in our blogging circle, Kourtney. And yes, I do believe in the unbelievables (nice tag line). What you wrote here reminds me of a quote by Marianne Williamson. “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Good job with the blog tour.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s amazing how many posts Kourtney has managed to write that delve deeper into the story Lori 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aw thank you Andrea. I really wanted to tie the tour to the book. Sometimes it took me a week to come up with a topic. Other times, 5 would spring to mind and I’d store them for later. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Lori! I tried to come up with something that could encapsulate all my work–both adult and YA. Believing in the unbeleivables hits on both, but especially near to my YA worldbuilding. What a great quote. Thanks. I’ve been trying to get out as much as I can online the past two weeks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
So happy for you that your book is being received well. Congratulations on your hard work paying off.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love that you learned how to cast spells, Kourtney. Your description of your experience and what you learned brings to mind the concept behind The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne. I am a total believer in what you put out into the universe comes back to you, and that fully intentioned wishing can come true. The slightest doubt or hesitation can stop a wish in its tracks.
So excited to read your book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great thing to learn as research for a book – very interesting background 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Kate. It was so of the most fascinating research and it really trickled into the world view of my story. I haven’t read that book. I really liked how Laurie Cabot explained why spells work and how intention and focus matter.
Aw thank you! Your short story anthology is on it’s way to me!
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s as fascinating to read the author’s “back story” for a book as it is to read the final product. Thanks to both of you, Andrea and K.C., for this glimpse into the writing of a really cool book!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is isn’t it JM? Sometimes the story leads you places you never thought you’d go vice versa 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I tried to create the posts to complement the book. To give readers a little taste of the book and reveal something about the writing process. Backstories are so cool. I’m always wondering how an author did something or why they picked something or what inspired something. Aw thank you for reading it and coming along for the blog tour! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Five Things I Learned from My Editor by K.C. Tansley | Sheila Hurst
Hi Andrea and KC! Great to see you here KC over at Andrea’s wonderful site! Many congratulations again on a wonderful book tour, great to read more about your writing process and research. Fascinating, all of it. And as before, I am very much looking forward to reading your book as soon as I can!
LikeLike
It’s a fascinating tour, Kourtney shows us how to do it for when we need to go on tour too 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw thank you, Andrea. I’ve hard a terrific time putting these posts together. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely and I love your thinking Andrea 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sherri! Thanks so much. 🙂 These were really fun to write. I think of them as a behind the scenes companion for fans of the book to learn more about the inspiration, the research, the writing process, and just my personal takes on things TGWIG. 🙂 Glad you are enjoying them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kourtney I am in awe of the amount of research you do. The books sounds great and I wish you every success. Thanks Andrea for sharing another talented Author.
LikeLike
It makes you think about the different ways we all prepare to create – I would have probably just read a book 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed thats the beauty of creativity, we are all different.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much! 🙂 Aw that’s really great to hear. Thank you! Andrea is the best. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you to the introduction to this book Andrea, it is now on my list of purchases and reads for the year. Nothing quite like a good ghost story and introduction to KC and her work.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Randall, it’s been fascinating learning about Kourtney’s research and how it fed into the book.
LikeLike
Thanks so much Dalo. Delighted to make your TBR pile. 🙂 Andrea was so awesome to share her blog space with me and introduce my work to her amazing followers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is always so great to get an intro to a new author ~ book, and Andrea’s blog is a perfect vehicle to do so. Wish you great success 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Andrea, this book is on my list. I am very impressed with the research, being myself a researcher in heart 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Kourtney’s research is very impressive, but then if all research was that much fun, I could be a convert 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Oh that’s true 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I really threw myself into the research. I even got into a heated debate about breaking curses based on my research. 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Cannot wait to read your book! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks for sharing this most intriguing review, Andrea and good heavens Kourtney, you did your research! Love it how you dived right into it! And how does it feel to be so empowered once you know how life works 😉
I’m a strong believer of focused intention and visualization by personal experience. When I was a kid I often unintentionally (didn’t even know what I was doing) ‘dreamed’ my intentions into reality. This may not directly have anything to do with casting spells but it IS magical. And so I often ask myself; what if it was just part of the natural instead of what we call ‘super’natural? 😉
The girl on the cover looks a lot like you, Kourtney… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it is natural Karin – everything is connected, so it makes sense that we can alter reality by using our mind 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL. I really enjoyed this research, Karin! I always see things happening before they happen. I see what I want and then I take action to get there. I definitely believe in focused intention and visualization as key in helping me reach my goals. It actually does. When you want something, you have to focus your mind. All the ingredients in the spell echo that intention and build the energy toward one focused intention. This concept has a lot to do with casting a spell.
Aw thank you. I think she’s what I wished I looked like when I was younger. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed reading your approach to meditation and the “unbelievables,” Andrea. The power of intent is an enlightening philosophy, how wonderful that you opened up your world.
LikeLike
It was great to learn about Kourtney’s approach to research and how it fed into her book.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank Jet. This was actually a guest post by me. Andrea graciously shared me blog space so I could talk about my research for my book.
LikeLike
That is some serious research! It sounds like a great book!
LikeLike
It is Luanne, it’s a good example of where the research has enriched the book but it doesn’t get in the way – it’s just a natural part of the story.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Very cool and very impressive!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Aw thank you Andrea! 🙂 It funny how much I had to learn that didn’t ever get onto the page.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Luanne! 🙂
LikeLike
I believe in using “the secret” and have often imagined a bubble to protect me and my family. It has worked so far. 🙂 I never thought of the connection to that kind of use of intentions and spells by witches. It’s kind of creepy. I bet I would love to read the book.
LikeLike
It all has the same basis really, that energy connects everything so by using your intent to change that energy you can effect changes in the world. It’s a great read Susie, I’m sure you’d enjoy it 🙂
LikeLike