The Real Magic Behind the World of Moonridge

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.