Tag: ohio

Midnight Guardian series, Random Ramblings

Places that inspired the world of the Midnight Guardian

Hurricane-Sandy-flavored-ice-cream-at-Magic-Fountain (1)Because the Midnight Guardian series is based in southern Ohio and because I actually live in southern Ohio, I’m often asked about places that I write. Everyone wants to know the same thing. “That place in the book seems so familiar,” they say, “what place is it really?”

The answer isn’t easy. I don’t write about a specific place and just change the name. My settings are often compilations of multiple locales with a dash of artistic flair mixed in.

I’m most asked about the Dairy Dog, a seasonal ice cream/hotdog stand in the series. These summer-only shops are part of the landscape in southern Ohio. You’ll find one in every town and village.

I took most of my inspiration from Briskers Dairy Bar (formerly in Oak Hill, Ohio) and the Dairy Boy in Crown City, Ohio. I also drew on my memories of the Jumbo (formerly in Rio Grande, Ohio) and Swirly Top (Jackson, Ohio). To those inspirations I added a much coveted strawberry shake, a gazebo with honeysuckle and twinkling lights, and in Shadows Rising I added live music.

For pics that inspire and remind me of Keira’s world, check out my ALL THINGS MOGDOC board on pinterest.

Midnight Guardian series

Celebrating National Library Week

rioHappy National Library Week Everyone!!

Even in small towns like mine, we are so blessed to have such robust libraries with strong collections and expert staffing. Please don’t take them for granted.

This week, come out to the Davis Library on the campus of the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio, to see my “Books with Bite” Author Talk at 1 p.m. on Thursday, April 18th.

Got a question? Go ahead and post it in the comments below and I’ll be sure to cover it during the talk.

YA Indie Carnival

YA Indie Carnival: Spooky, Scary, Eerie

Happy Halloween EveryBODY! Muwhahaha!

In the “spirit” of the holiday, this week’s YA Indie Carnival posts are about the Spooky, the Scary, & the Eerie. That puts me in mind of a fave ghost story from my hometown.

In the mid 1800s, there was an old man by the name of Deluse. He lived alone in a modest house outside of town. Deluse kept to himself. Continue reading “YA Indie Carnival: Spooky, Scary, Eerie” →

Midnight Child

Recon at the mouth of the serpent

serpent moundYesterday, I headed to The Great Serpent Mound in Adams County for some research. It will be an important locale for Book 3 in the Midnight Guardian series. Part of southern Ohio history, the mound was created by an early people in the likeness of an uncoiling snake with an egg near the snake’s mouth.

Scientists first believed that the Adena people of 800 BC – 100 AD built the effigy. Burial mounds located near the serpent were from that time period. However, more recently evidence was gathered that indicates the mound could have been built by the later Fort Ancient culture (1000-1550 AD), which had a nearby village.

My grandmother first took me to Serpent Mound as a little girl and I was always intrigued by it. Walking the trail, there are signs to point out how the serpent was laid out in conjunction with sunrise and moonrise, aligning with the solstices. At approximately 3 feet tall and over 1300 feet long, the mound is an amazement…considering that the bulldozer hadn’t yet been invented.

Of course, there are many fictional tales regarding the creation of Serpent Mound. There’s even one about it being built by the refugees of Atlantis. Hmmmm…

Of Sun & Moon

Where to Buy

I’ve received several requests recently for the entire list of places where you can purchase Of Sun & Moon, so here it is. Below are direct links. When looking for it, I’ve found that you can find it much easier by searching for me as the author, Bryna Butler. Apparently there are dozens of books with “sun” and “moon” in the title.

Paperback: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Online | Createspace

eBook: Amazon Kindle | B&N Nook | Apple iBook* | Smashwords | Diesel | Coming soon to Kobo/Borders

Check out Scarlet Kira’s Of Sun & Moon review and her interview with me on Books for the Insomniac.

As always, thank you for your support of independent authors like me.

*Sorry, no direct link, search for it in the iBooks store