It’s an honor to host the first day of this week’s RRBC Author Spotlight Blog Tour featuring Yvette Calleiro. She writes young adult fantasy and paranormal books that sound absolutely intriguing! I love the cover you can see above. Yvette is a born writer who has found inspiration for her stories in her dreams. Now those dreams are manifesting again in her latest book, “The One Discovered.” I can really relate to Yvette in that her story has expanded to several books as her characters took over. I love it when that happens! Read on to learn more about this amazing, up and coming author!
It Began with a Dream…
by
Yvette M. Calleiro
What better way to share with you this journey that I’m on than to begin at the beginning. I am an avid reader and have been since as far back as I can remember. As a child, I used to love writing, but I stopped writing as I grew older and life became more cumbersome. About six years ago, I rediscovered my love for writing, and my life has been a whirlwind of enjoyment ever since!
I woke up one morning from a dream that was so intense and so vivid that I was emotionally distraught. I can’t really share the dream with you without giving away a major event in my first book, but I will tell you that it involved a girl whose life was forever altered by a tragic event, and she was being forced to make a choice in that very emotional moment. I woke up before she made the choice (which was extremely irritating). I felt her angst, her pain, and her utter turmoil. I lay in bed processing it all and then ran to my office to write it all down (I now keep a journal by my bed for such moments). I just wrote the dream. Nothing more. It was just that powerful that it had to be given life.
At the time, I was co-teaching with a dear friend, Armando. I was also heavily absorbed in PC and Kristen Cast’s world in their House of Night series as well as Cassandra Claire’s Mortal Instrument series. Armando loved to share with me tidbits of Wicca and history as I spoke to him about the novels that I read. I fell in love with many aspects of Wicca, and somehow my dream kept coming to the forefront of my thoughts. I finally accepted that this dream was an untold story that needed to be shared, and I would pull my favorite ideas from books new and old to create their story. After all, all stories are ideas that were born from somewhere!
What came first was what they looked like. I could still picture them from the dream. I’m old-school and had to write it all out in a journal first. Their physical characteristics, their personalities, their power(s)…all of that came easily. Their names, on the other hand, took a while. I even had the background story lined up before their names were known to me! It was that background story which allowed the characters to whisper to me what their names would be: Sofia, Rafe, Angel, and Ar’ch (pronounced ar-rick). I shouldn’t have favorites, but I can’t help it. Ar’ch was definitely my favorite at the beginning! It’s not a common name (actually, it’s never been used as a name). But it’s perfect and it’s his, and it fits the story line beautifully!
Once I finally allowed myself to listen to my characters’ voices, the whole story wrote itself (well, the basics were at least born). Still, there was a lot of research that I had to do. Anyone who knows me knows that my absolutely worst subject is History, but I wanted to loosely base the back story on a few historical events. Granted, I’ve had to “slightly alter” those events to incorporate my Diasodz, but it was important to me that it would make sense if it were real. I also researched Wicca and nature’s elements and their properties. I’m sure that there will be naysayers who can point out that one thing or another isn’t authentic, but – hey – it’s MY world! I want it to be as realistic as possible, but I can’t help it if the Diasodz have their own ideas on what is real and what isn’t.
The journey of writing The One Discovered was so fulfilling, and I knew I had to share this world with readers. I tried going the traditional route. Apparently, they weren’t too interested in my query letter. My family and the few friends I shared it with kept encouraging me to publish it. One friend in particular, Rob, became my first true fan! He’s more into sci-fi and super heroes than paranormal, but he became hooked with my characters and their story. His eagerness to know more and his passion about my story kept me going at many times throughout this journey. He has a way of saying something or asking me a question which then causes a whole new character or story line to be created. In fact, because of Rob, one of the characters from book one was saved. I had plans on killing her off, but he told me that he thought she was awesome. The very next night, that character told me off (hehe) and a whole story line for her was created! So, if you also fall in love with Mel, you can thank Rob for saving her! 😉 I thank him all of the time because she’s become my new favorite. 🙂
I finally decided to self-publish. It’s been two years since The One Discovered was released, and I still feel like I am in unknown territory. Self-publishing, blogging, creating a web site, having a Facebook author page, and connecting through Twitter…. It’s overwhelming, nerve-wrecking, and exciting all at the same time! Originally, I thought there would only be four books in this series, but as I am currently writing book four, I know there will at least be one more after this one (possibly two). I hope you’ll stick around to fall in love with my Diasodz and the journey they must endure to save us mere humans from a life not worth living…
Yvette is the author of the young adult fantasy/paranormal books, The One Discovered, The One Enlightened, and The One Betrayed.
Follow Yvette on Social Media:
Twitter: @YvetteMCalleiro
Facebook: http://facebook.com/yvettemcalleiro
Website: http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Dreams can be a great source of inspiration. I always struggle to fond the perfect names for my characters. Names are so important!
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Yes, they are! I’ve had to change some of my character’s names when they came alive and it clearly didn’t fit him or her. Sometimes they introduce themselves, which is so cool! Thanks for stopping by, Michelle.
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It took me a while to find my characters’ names, but when they were finally revealed to me, they were perfect! There is an underlying meaning to them which isn’t revealed until one of the last books. 😉
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I have one whose name came to me and it was a long time later before I realized it had an underlying meaning. Amazing how that works!
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Another great post, Yvette. I’m always fascinated by power of the mind to dream/create such incredible worlds. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks very much for the warm welcome, Marcha! 🙂
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My pleasure! I love getting to know my fellow RRBC members.
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Thank you, Natalie! I have VERY vivid dreams. Not all of them are book worthy, but those that are make for really interesting stories. Lol! 😉
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First of all, Let me congratulate you for winning the “Spotlight”, and on your tour. I may be late following your tour, but I never miss a tour. Good luck with this. 🙂
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Better late than never! 😉 Thank you for stopping by and supporting me. I truly appreciate it. 🙂
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So glad you came by, Joy!
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Congratulations on this incredible honor, Yvette! Well earned.
Thanks for hosting, Marcha!
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Thank you, Beem! I am honored to have been given this privilege. 🙂
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My pleasure, Beem!
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Hi Yvette,
Your dream reawakened your writing spirit. I’m so glad you wrote it down. I personally believe our dreams reveal our hidden desires that we have pushed down within us.
Congratulations on your series. It sounds marvelous.
Shalom aleichem,
Patricia
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Thank you, Patricia. I know that I am deeply connected to the themes of this series, and I am passionate about sharing them with others. I just hope others connect with them as I have. 🙂
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Reblogged this on Kim's Author Support Blog.
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Thanks for the reblog, Kim!
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😀
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You’re awesome, Kim! Really, truly! Thank you so much for always supporting me! 🙂
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Those of us who can dream in technicolor, surround-sound and aromarama are definitely the lucky ones, Yvette! 😉
Thanks for us all over today,Marcha 😀
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My pleasure, Jan! Thanks for joining us.
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I agree with you whole-heartedly, Jan. And how wonderful it is to find so many other readers and authors who are as lucky as we! 🙂 That’s one of the MANY things I love about RRBC! 🙂
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Congratulations on earning the RRBC SPOTLIGHT, Yvette! I loved your story of how you were/are inspired, and your cover is amazing. Thank You, Marcha, for hosting on your intriguing website.
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Thank you, Gwen. I appreciate you stopping by! 🙂
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My pleasure, Gwen! Thanks so much for stopping by!
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Congrats on your Spotlight, Yvette! It’s great to read more about you. I love the cover! Isn’t it amazing where ideas find us? Have a GREAT tour! 🙂
Marcha, thank you for being so supportive and such a great host 🙂
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Thanks, Harmony! Those of us who are whispered to are the lucky ones. 😉
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My pleasure! I love getting to know my fellow RRBC authors!
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Marcha, this is beautiful! Thank you for hosting me and for the wonderful compliments that you bestowed upon me. I am truly honored. And I appreciate everyone who retweeted your post today. I am blessed to be a part of such an amazing group of supporters. #RRBC truly is fantastic! 🙂
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You’re certainly welcome, Yvette! Yes, it’s an awesome group and very supportive. I could relate to so much that you said it felt as if I already knew you. 🙂
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Aw! *blushing* 😉
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Yvette, so nice to meet you, other than on twitter:). What an exciting series you have and that is some cover!! I dream whole stories but never remember them and if I do get bits and pieces and jot them down, I can’t read my own handwriting in the morning–it’s hopeless. I wish you wonderful luck with this series!! I’ll be checking it out.
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So true about forgetting! I get some of my best ideas working outside or mowing the lawn and I often forget what they were by the time I get inside.
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Thank you for visiting, Micki! I’m so glad you like the cover. It took ten tries to get that beauty so I’m happy people like it. 🙂
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Reblogged this on mallie1025 and commented:
Great new series
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Thanks for the reblog, Micki!
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Love the cover. Sometimes, I think dreams are more than the subconscious. It’s as if the characters are real and they whisper their desire to come to life in our dreams.
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That is so true about dreams and the subconscious. I have conversations in my head with my characters and it is very much like they are real. What is supremely weird is that I’m an astrologer and have done some work with fictitious characters that blew my mind!
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Marcha, thanks for hosting Yvette. I love the way you have you site set up–nice and easy to navigate.
Micki
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I could not agree with you more. I think of my characters were given to me by little fairies of energy who search for a human who is open to them and then share their “bedtime stories” with the human while he/she dreams. Once we accept them, they can whisper to us all of the time. Guess I got lucky! 😉
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I love hearing how inspiration strikes! Congrats on your “SPOTLIGHT” Honors, Yvette! I am excited for you and am looking forward to your week!
Thank you, Marcha, for hosting!
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Me, too, Rebecca. Muses can strike in the most amazing ways. You’re certainly welcome! My pleasure, all around!
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Thank you for stopping by, Rebecca. You have always been such a great supporter to me. I truly appreciate it! 🙂
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I like the way you’ve put this together, Marcha. Nice to get to know about you, Yvette… Good luck with your blog tour! 🙂
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Thanks for stopping by, Kev! Thanks for the compliment. I enjoy getting to know the authors on tour as well. Great opportunity.
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It sure is. 😊
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Thank you, Kev! I appreciate you stopping by and taking the time to read about me. 🙂
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My pleasure. 😊
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