by Avery Arujo | Jul 25, 2025 | Book Updates, The World of Moonridge
Today, I want to focus on where the idea for the town and the characters featured in the Welcome to Moonridge series came from.
I grew up in a small town that, to me, always felt a little magical. Sure, it had its flaws (what small town doesn’t?), but there was something about it that I loved. I felt like I was in my own little world where anything could happen. I wanted to recreate that and incorporate all the “what ifs” that I could.
As a kid, I was very “unconventional.” Ok, I’ll admit it. I was a weirdo. I was the one dreaming of casting spells, pretending I had secret powers, and desperately hoping to wake up one morning and discover I was a real witch. Spoiler alert: it didn’t happen the way I wanted it to. It was a sad day when I finally realized there was no way I could shoot magic beams out of my hands, or turn someone into a toad. Yes, I was bullied for being different, but what helped me get through this was a small but mighty group of eclectic, diverse, unapologetically weird and loyal friends who embraced each other’s quirks. We were the outcasts, and we stuck together. This continued into college where I really met my people. Many of us are still incredibly close today, and some of them even gave me permission to turn them into characters in this series.
When I started building Moonridge, I knew exactly the kind of town I wanted it to be. Small and cozy, sure, but also open-minded and tight-knit. An inclusive place where my diverse group of friends and I could exist peacefully. A place where your differences aren’t simply tolerated, they’re celebrated and everyone is welcome. I wanted it to be a place where people don’t always get along, but at the end of the day, they take care of each other. I needed that. I think we all do these days. The world feels really heavy and gross and almost too much to deal with at times. Between all the division, the transphobia, homophobia, racism, misogyny, the wars—including what’s happening in Palestine—it’s a lot. So I made Moonridge my escape. A town with a big heart, where people (and supernatural beings) rally together to fight the darkness. A place I wish existed in real life.
Now, let’s talk characters, because this is where things get really personal.
Hazel, our stubborn, spell-slinging witch? She’s me. Or at least, a version of me that I wish I could show all the time. I’m painfully shy, but once I feel safe, I open up. Hazel doesn’t have that shy filter. She’s brave in ways I wish I could be. She says the things I only think. She stands up, speaks out, and doesn’t apologize for her power. Writing her has been healing in ways I didn’t expect. Maybe one day I’ll be more like her.
And Blake? Big, broody, soft-on-the-inside Blake? That’s my partner, through and through. He’s a very tall, very bearded, gruff teddy bear of a man. The body swap idea came straight out of a late-night COVID conversation. I asked him what it would be like if we were to swap bodies for a day. What would feel weird? What would he do as me? What would I do as him? The answers were, shall we say, enlightening. And hilarious. And that’s where the first spark of Once Upon a Blue Moon was lit.
La’Tasha, Hazel’s no-nonsense bestie? 100% inspired by one of my real-life best friends. She’s the strongest, most beautiful person I know. She’s a soul mate, a therapist, a walking search engine, and one of my fiercest cheerleaders. I love her deeply, and Hazel deserved to have someone like her by her side. That unconditional, ride-or-die type of friendship is a kind of magic all its own. It was just as easy for me to develop La’Tasha as it was Hazel and Blake. There was no way there could be a Hazel without her.
Calvin is based on another close friend. What’s been especially fun is that both of these dear friends have been deeply involved in developing their fictional counterparts. We brainstorm together and map out character arcs. It’s collaborative storytelling at its absolute best. I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve come up with for their books. (Oh yes, La’Tasha and Calvin will both find love amidst the dangers of Moonridge in coming installments.)
And then there’s Coco, who’s loosely inspired by a goddaughter, and Leo, the lovable disaster of the group, is very much based on my bestie’s brother. Every time Leo stumbles his way into a magical mess, just know … yeah, there’s some truth to it.
So when I say Moonridge is personal, I mean it. These stories are magical and fictional, but also stitched together from real relationships, conversations and daydreams. This town and these characters are my heart on a page.
Thanks for letting me share them with you.
by Avery Arujo | Jul 20, 2025 | Book Updates, Date Night With Death
I know, I know—I’m behind on blog posts. This one was meant to go up Friday, and here we are on Sunday. But I promise, I’ve got a good excuse: I just finished line edits for Date Night With Death! The manuscript is officially off to my amazing proofreaders for the final round.
If you’ve been following along, you know I wrote the first two Welcome to Moonridge books back to back. After polishing up Blue Moon and getting it out into the world, I returned to Date Night for another read-through to reorient myself, and that’s when something unexpected happened. I had a breakthrough!
While working through a chapter that felt like it was missing something, the missing piece of a future plot thread clicked into place. I’ve already outlined books three, four, and part of five, but there was a lingering issue I hadn’t quite figured out. It had been gnawing at me in the background, but a little voice kept saying, “Leave it. It’ll make sense later.” And it finally did. The writing gods and goddesses are so weird!
Once I saw how to fix it, I got excited. Like, really excited. I ended up expanding a minor side character’s role. She’s now a major player, not just in Date Night, but in the books to come. That shift meant cutting three chapters and writing four new ones, but I can honestly say the book (and the series) is going to be stronger for it.
Here’s what’s next:
- I expect to get proof edits back by mid-August.
- After that, I will dive into typesetting the paperback.
- The cover is pretty much good to go, but I’m going to sit on it for a while. I’m planning to reveal it on Friday, August 15th.
- In the coming weeks, I’ll also be sharing new character bios, including the fabulous Real Vampire Wives of Obsidian Hills.
- We’re still working on the contact form for the site. Hopefully, it won’t be much longer.
If you’re a reviewer, ebook advance copies will be available on StoryOrigin and NetGalley around the beginning of September.
There’s still a lot to do, and even more to share. Stay tuned!
by Avery Arujo | Jul 5, 2025 | Once Upon a Blue Moon
(aka: Yes, Hazel and Blake banged. No, I didn’t write it out.)
So, I wanted to take a little time to talk about the lack of spice in Once Upon a Blue Moon. It’s a question I’m sure many of you have had, and one I felt like I should address in a blog post because, let’s face it, people love their spice! And it’s a totally fair question. This is a romance, after all. But the answer isn’t as simple as “because I didn’t want to.” So I thought I’d break it down here.
1. I wanted the story to be accessible to more readers.
My first (and most basic) reason is because not everyone is into steamy scenes. Personally, I don’t mind a little spice, but I’m definitely not a “super spicy” reader. I wanted Blue Moon to be something that anyone could pick up and enjoy, without worrying about when things were going to get graphic. This was especially important because the tone of the book walks the line between lighthearted paranormal chaos and cozy small-town mystery. Open-door spice just didn’t feel like the right fit.
2. Sometimes spice overshadows the story.
Let me be clear: I’m not anti-spice. Some of my favorite books are steamy, and when it’s done well, it can add to the character development and emotional stakes. But I’ve also read a lot of books where the spice felt like the main event and the actual plot was hanging on by a thread. (Sometimes a very thin thread.) I’m more of a story-and-character girlie. I want the emotional payoff, the angst, the banter, the longing. That slow-burn “please just kiss already” energy. That’s what drives me as a reader (and as a writer).
3. There were sex scenes in the first draft. They didn’t make the cut.
I’ll be honest with you: there were two semi-spicy scenes in the original draft. One was when Hazel and Blake were still body-swapped (yes, I went there), and the idea was that it would be a comical, chaotic, slightly awkward way of exploring intimacy and gender. But the more I sat with it, the more weird it felt. I got super in my head about it. They were basically having sex with themselves but using the other’s body as a vehicle. It got too tangled, too fast and it started to feel kind of nasty.
The second scene came at the end of the book, and if you’ve read it, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Hazel and Blake have switched back, saved the town (for now), and head to her room to, well, do what two very horny, very tired people do. But again, it didn’t add anything. The story had already hit its emotional crescendo. My beta readers agreed it felt better to leave it out. We all know what happened next. We didn’t need a play-by-play.
4. The romance evolved into a mystery-romance hybrid.
Originally, this was meant to be more of a paranormal rom-com, but the mystery of what’s happening in Moonridge took over and (in my personal opinion) made the story even better. The dynamic between Hazel and Blake deserved space to breathe. I was dealing with a very complicated relationship between two people who have basically been a thorn in each other’s side since grade school. They secretly crushed on the other for years, but also really hated each other. There was a lot to unpack, and it felt more important that they got to know each other on an emotional level so they could build a stronger connection. Their relationship arc became less about “when will they hook up” and more about “how will they navigate this tension while saving the town and maybe catching feelings?”
5. Now, about Book 2…
Date Night with Death is more romantic, for sure, but it’s also darker. It takes place around Halloween, there’s a splash of light horror, and yes, it deals with actual death. (You kind of have to when the Grim Reaper plays a love interest.) The romance is deeper, more tragic, and a little more intense. I’ll talk more about this later, but if you’re looking for a book where the emotional stakes are higher (and yes, where the attraction is more pronounced) you’ll want to keep an eye on this one.
So, will there ever be spice in this series?
Maybe. I won’t say never. But I also won’t write it just to check a box. If it serves the story, then sure. If it reveals something meaningful about the characters or their relationship, I’ll absolutely go there. Until then, my spicy reader friends, I hope you’re not too disappointed. And to my closed-door crew: I got you.
Thanks for being on this journey with me. Moonridge is only just beginning to reveal its secrets.
Stay tuned!
by Avery Arujo | Jul 1, 2025 | Book Updates, Once Upon a Blue Moon
I can’t believe I’m actually typing this.
Once Upon a Blue Moon is officially out in the world today.
It’s fine. I’m fine.
Truthfully, this is a day I wasn’t sure would ever come. Anxiety and I are old frenemies. My go-to response to anything exciting is: “Everyone will hate it and also me.” (Shoutout to intrusive thoughts for always being early to the party.) But I’m doing my best to shut that noise down and focus on something more important: this book is finished. It’s here. It’s real. And I am so proud of it. I hope you are, too.
Hazel and Blake (my two leads in this book) came to me during the first year of the pandemic. At the time, they were part of a cozy little paranormal rom-com idea. Nothing too serious. Just magic, moonlight, and maybe a kiss or two. But as I kept writing, something shifted. Bianca started to take up more space. Then Ravena appeared, fully formed, with a mysterious past and plans of her own. Suddenly, this wasn’t just a love story. It was the beginning of a battle for Moonridge. Sure there is romance, but there’s also mystery, and the stakes really grew. Suddenly it wasn’t so much about Blake trying to figure out how to handle boobs, and Hazel worrying about using the restroom as a guy. The stakes were much, much bigger.
And then it grew even bigger because a bigger bad showed up. (Because of course it did.) But I’m getting ahead of myself. They don’t come into full view until book two.
To say that the story exploded in my hands in the best possible way would be an understatement. By fall of 2024, I had committed to making this a series. As soon as I sent Blue Moon to my beta readers, I dove straight into book 2. I wanted to make sure my idea would work and I would have enough content. And boy, do I ever. As of today, I’m switching between editing book two and plotting out books three and four. Yes, each book will have new leads falling in love amidst paranormal chaos. Spoiler alert: You’ve already met two of the leads for books three and four if you’ve read Blue Moon. Their love interests will be introduced in book two.
I’m getting ahead of myself. More to come on that. For now, all I can say is I hope you fall in love with this town and these characters, because there’s so much more coming and it would really suck if no one read it. 🙂 I can’t wait to share it all with you.
One last request, if you read Once Upon a Blue Moon, please take a few minutes to leave a review on Amazon or Goodreads (or wherever you share bookish thoughts). It makes a huge difference, especially for a debut indie author. And if you want even more Moonridge in your life, sign up for my newsletter to be the first to know about sneak peeks, exclusive extras, and early reader opportunities.
Speaking of early reader opportunities, I’m hoping to have Book 2 ready for early readers around the beginning of September. If all goes as planned, It’ll be available on NetGalley, BookSprout, and StoryOrigin.
One last note, we are working on building an automated contact page so you can send in questions, theories, or character crushes, and I’ll be answering some of them on the blog. He’s hoping to be able to build it so it will weed out spam and hate mail to keep my anxiety at bay. Fingers crossed.
This journey has been weird and wild and wonderful, and it’s only just getting started.
Thanks for being here.
Welcome to Moonridge. 💙
Love,
Avery
by Avery Arujo | Jun 24, 2025 | Book Updates, Once Upon a Blue Moon
I can’t believe we’re just one week away from the release of my debut novel, Once Upon a Blue Moon! This story (the first in my Welcome to Moonridge series) has been living rent-free in my head (and heart) since the early days of the pandemic.
It all started during COVID lockdowns, when I, like many of you, was searching for a little magic and escape. That’s when Hazel and Blake first appeared. A sarcastic witch. A grumpy werewolf. And then … they swapped bodies. I couldn’t stop thinking about them. What started as a fun novella idea quickly spiraled into something much bigger (and way more chaotic) in unexpected ways.
Enter Bianca. Or as you’ll come to know her, Ravena, the town’s perfectly polished, suspiciously serene wellness guru. Once she stepped onto the page, I knew Once Upon a Blue Moon wasn’t just a one-off story. It was the beginning of something bigger.
By the time I finished the first draft, I was fully in love—with Moonridge, with the characters, with the idea of building a series where love, magic, and mystery collide in one charmingly weird town. I dove straight into writing book two (Date Night With Death), not only to keep my momentum, but to make sure I could truly commit to the long game. Spoiler alert: I could. I did. I’m all in.
So what’s next?
Each book in the Welcome to Moonridge series will center around a new couple finding love while facing off against something supernatural and sinister. You’ll revisit familiar faces (and meet a few new ones), and a much bigger, darker threat will begin to unfold in book two (something even more dangerous than Ravena).
Book two stars Mina, the human B&B owner with a love of baked goods and giving unasked-for advice, and her unlikely love interest: the actual Grim Reaper. (Yes, you read that right.)
I have plans for at least 4–5 books following this arc, and honestly, I already have more ideas than I know what to do with. Moonridge is alive in my head, and I can’t wait to invite you in.
Thank you for being part of this journey. I’ll be back soon with more updates, but in the meantime … mark your calendars, pre-order if you haven’t yet, and get ready to fall under Moonridge’s spell.
