September 27, 2025 • 9 mins
Claribel Ortega returns to her much beloved middle grade series Witchlings with the fourth book, SCEPTER OF MEMORIES. In this new book, evil dwells in Ravenskill and it’s up to the Spares to prevent it from taking over. Seven, Thorn, and Valley are determined to stop Ambert Lophiifor’s plan of taking over the Twelve Towns. With Seven’s Uncle powers and their new coven behind them, surely they’ll be able to defeat him at last. But strange things are happening around Ravenskill—the Witchlings’ allies are starting to forget them! When the Witchlings are charged with the crime of practicing unnatural and dangerous magic, no one is there to come to their defense. Without any support, the Witchlings are forced to flee beyond the borders of the Twelve Towns and into the swirling grey mists of the Enchanted Grim, hoping to find the one witch who might have the knowledge and power to help them: Delphinium Larkspur. The Grim is an uncharted wilderness filled with monstruos, where no normal witch would ever be able to survive. But there’s nothing normal about the Witchlings, their courage, or their friendship. Together with their Nightbeasts, they are determined to find a way to save their home. Even if it means embracing the monstruos within themselves.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, and good morning, Claire Belle. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning, I'm good. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Absolutely fantastic and excited to share a conversation with you
because I love the way that you write. I just
wish I would have had you in my library at
Ponderosa Elementary School back in the early part of the
nineteen seventies because this is exactly the way I like
to read.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I mean the way that you go in and you
give our imaginations that opportunity to play. I mean it's
almost like you're saying, hey, look, in a very creative way,
I'm going to invite you the reader to explore your
own assumptions, and you're giving me permission to do so
many things as a reader.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yeah, that's you know, thank you for noticing that. On
It's a very intentional thing that I like to do.
For me. My books are really about saying something. I
want to be able to give a message things that
are important to me, and especially with the relationship with
Seven and Bali, who is Vali Seven's goalie at the
(01:01):
beginning of the series, I wanted to show that, you know,
sometimes our first impressions aren't always correct. And their convenience
understandings when we meet someone new. So yeah, that's such
an important thing for me in the series overall as well.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Let me ask you a question about the way that
you write and you also host a podcast. The different
is it a different personality because I mean, even on
your podcast, I mean you're a story sharer. I don't
want to say storyteller. I liked because you share adventures.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, I mean I was a reader first before I
was ever an author. Reading has always been a huge
part of my life, and it's one of the reasons
why I decided to become an author in the first place.
So reading books and talking about sort of how other
authors navigate storytelling is really fun for me. I love
(01:54):
to do it. I love to sort of investigate how
other people work on their books and also to see
how I would have done something differently so it wasn't
working in those books, which often they're not on Bad
Author book Club is the intentionally pick sort of the
wackiest books of fiction books by celebrities that we can find.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Now, listeners need to know that your podcast is called
Bad Author's Book Club. I love that, and I love
the fact that you're talking about books and authors and things.
Because I even have a podcast called View from the
Writing Instrument. There's not enough coming from the authors in
the way of us getting to know who they are
as people. And I love the fact that, like today,
you being here is a gift because we get to
share your experiences as an author with those that are
(02:38):
reading as well as listening.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Thank you so much. I've sort of a staple of
my career. I started building my social media platform before
I even had a literary agent or have finished my
first book. I sort of started sharing my journey on
Tumblr first forever ago and talking about my writing journey
and then my needs to get an agent and then published.
(03:02):
So a lot of people who follow me today has
been following me since the very very very beginning. It's
really nice to sort of see that same group of
people who still supporting me. I feel like my own
little onto your section on the internet. It's really great,
and I do think it's important for authors to show
that we're not just book writing machines. Right of writing
(03:24):
to me is about human connection and so showing who
I am as a person. I think it has been
really crucial to my career and it's something that I
like to do as well.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Please do not move. We'll be right back with Clara
Belle or Taga. Hey, thanks for coming back to my
conversation with Clara Belle or Taga. Well, one of the
things that you put focus on, we're trying to find
that one witch who can help them out. That is
the mission, that one that's like the needle in the haystack.
And here we go, Clara Belle, take us away.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, so a fort Sumpter of Memories that the fourth
book in the Witch th series, the Witchlans are leaving
the Pearl Towns for the very first time to find
the same Sceptor of Memories in order to save their home,
and along the way, Simon's also hoping to find a
witch named Selfinium Larkspear, who's actually the first switch to
(04:16):
have the same sorts of powers that Seven has. Without
giving away too much, she's hoping that they can find
her so that she can help her control her magic
because it has been a little bit chaotic, they believe,
and hopefully with the help of this switch, Seven can
help harness her powers and then finally defeat the big bad.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
At least that's the hope Without spoiling the story, can
you let us on the inside, because I know that
there's unnatural and dangerous magic involved here, and the Witchlings
they're accused and charged for it.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, so the Witchlings very existent, seems illegal in the
fourth book, which is why they have to escape the
twelve Pounds and go rust towards the Enchanted Grim, which
is where all the monstros the monsters of this world
originate from. And so because of seventeen powers, they're actually
able to walk through this expanse that not every witch
(05:16):
can get through. And it was really fun for me. Actually,
a fun fact about writing book for is it only
took me thirty eight days on which is a record
for me. And part of the reason was because I
was so used to this world and these characters, and
it was the first time I got to explore like
a whole new part of the world and kind of
separate them from their support system on a side, from
(05:38):
the three of them, and sort of isolate the characters
and really focus on them and their journey. So it
was really fun for me to do. But absolutely there
is there's a lot of new exciting things in this
book for fans of.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
The series, for sure, let's talk about those thirty eight
days only because we have listeners, and we have we
have secret writers that check in with your books as
well as the podcast, and they're afraid of that one
thing called editing. How are you able to put a
book together in thirty eight days because most people would
run away or they would hide it underneath their bed
or up up in the attic. How did you get
something like this in thirty eight days? Done well?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So the first draft was done in thirty eight days.
It took me about I would say two months after
that to revise it. So the thirty eight days, which
was just for the first draft that it was, actually,
according to my editor, who is very tough on me,
the cleanest first draft that I have written. And part
of the reason why I was able to do that
is because I stopped focusing as much on word count
(06:34):
and started to focus on chapters. So I outlined very intensely.
My outlines are usually about twenty to twenty five pages.
I have a paragraph to a page for each chapter,
sometimes including a little bit of dialogue. But I detail
every single thing that happens in the chapter. And so
(06:55):
my goal when writing now, as opposed to before, is
to finish one chapter a day, including weekends. Usually the
word count is out the window, and I just focus
on getting from point A to point B for the plot.
And that has been a game changer for me in
terms of speed.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
That's what my editor told me. Just get the book out,
Just give me the story. We'll figure it out. Do
not think about how many pages you're doing. That's my job.
Then i'll give it back to you.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, and you can. You can revise and ad later.
And I understand when you're first starting out and you're
trying to find an agent, there's so much emphasis put
on word count, and I understand that, but I think
sometimes we focus so much on word count that we
forget about actually getting to the plot points that we
need to hit. That's what was happening to me. I
would say, Okay, I hit my word count for the book,
(07:44):
but the book I'm not done. And I was putting
too much emphasis on that word count. So this new
method for me has been just every since.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Let's talk about the book cover. And I know we're
not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but
how can we not. I mean, the colors in this
are absolutely phenomenal. The fact that it says which Lean's
the font is just brilliant. I think it touches the imagination.
But yet the characters are very anime and I have
to ask you, are you going to put this on
Hulu or even on any other channel, because I mean,
(08:12):
there's a series here. I know there's a series here
because I feel it when I read it.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Well, I can't give away too much, but I can
say that there are things happening behind the scenes that
would probably make my readers very excited. The cover artist's
name is Lucy Marlin and she has been absolutely incredible
for each book cover. The Witch things just they do
come to life. I really really agree. And I'm hoping
(08:39):
after book five, which is the last Famess arc, that
I will get to a graphic novel spin off as well,
and I think that would be wonderful. But in terms
of adaptations, I would just say stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, Where can people go to find out more information
and stay tuned? As you say, They.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Can find me on my website, which is Claraville Orteta
dot com and I'm on threads, Instagram and TikTok at,
Carbal Underscore or Tega I love it.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Please come back to the show anytime in the future.
The door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Thanks so much, I would love to.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Will you be brilliant today?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Okay, thank you. Have a great day.
Hello, and good morning, Claire Belle. How are you doing today?
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Good morning, I'm good. How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Absolutely fantastic and excited to share a conversation with you
because I love the way that you write. I just
wish I would have had you in my library at
Ponderosa Elementary School back in the early part of the
nineteen seventies because this is exactly the way I like
to read.
Speaker 2 (00:20):
Oh, thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
I mean the way that you go in and you
give our imaginations that opportunity to play. I mean it's
almost like you're saying, hey, look, in a very creative way,
I'm going to invite you the reader to explore your
own assumptions, and you're giving me permission to do so
many things as a reader.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Yeah, that's you know, thank you for noticing that. On
It's a very intentional thing that I like to do.
For me. My books are really about saying something. I
want to be able to give a message things that
are important to me, and especially with the relationship with
Seven and Bali, who is Vali Seven's goalie at the
(01:01):
beginning of the series, I wanted to show that, you know,
sometimes our first impressions aren't always correct. And their convenience
understandings when we meet someone new. So yeah, that's such
an important thing for me in the series overall as well.
Speaker 1 (01:16):
Let me ask you a question about the way that
you write and you also host a podcast. The different
is it a different personality because I mean, even on
your podcast, I mean you're a story sharer. I don't
want to say storyteller. I liked because you share adventures.
Speaker 2 (01:32):
Yeah, I mean I was a reader first before I
was ever an author. Reading has always been a huge
part of my life, and it's one of the reasons
why I decided to become an author in the first place.
So reading books and talking about sort of how other
authors navigate storytelling is really fun for me. I love
(01:54):
to do it. I love to sort of investigate how
other people work on their books and also to see
how I would have done something differently so it wasn't
working in those books, which often they're not on Bad
Author book Club is the intentionally pick sort of the
wackiest books of fiction books by celebrities that we can find.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
Now, listeners need to know that your podcast is called
Bad Author's Book Club. I love that, and I love
the fact that you're talking about books and authors and things.
Because I even have a podcast called View from the
Writing Instrument. There's not enough coming from the authors in
the way of us getting to know who they are
as people. And I love the fact that, like today,
you being here is a gift because we get to
share your experiences as an author with those that are
(02:38):
reading as well as listening.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Thank you so much. I've sort of a staple of
my career. I started building my social media platform before
I even had a literary agent or have finished my
first book. I sort of started sharing my journey on
Tumblr first forever ago and talking about my writing journey
and then my needs to get an agent and then published.
(03:02):
So a lot of people who follow me today has
been following me since the very very very beginning. It's
really nice to sort of see that same group of
people who still supporting me. I feel like my own
little onto your section on the internet. It's really great,
and I do think it's important for authors to show
that we're not just book writing machines. Right of writing
(03:24):
to me is about human connection and so showing who
I am as a person. I think it has been
really crucial to my career and it's something that I
like to do as well.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Please do not move. We'll be right back with Clara
Belle or Taga. Hey, thanks for coming back to my
conversation with Clara Belle or Taga. Well, one of the
things that you put focus on, we're trying to find
that one witch who can help them out. That is
the mission, that one that's like the needle in the haystack.
And here we go, Clara Belle, take us away.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
Yeah, so a fort Sumpter of Memories that the fourth
book in the Witch th series, the Witchlans are leaving
the Pearl Towns for the very first time to find
the same Sceptor of Memories in order to save their home,
and along the way, Simon's also hoping to find a
witch named Selfinium Larkspear, who's actually the first switch to
(04:16):
have the same sorts of powers that Seven has. Without
giving away too much, she's hoping that they can find
her so that she can help her control her magic
because it has been a little bit chaotic, they believe,
and hopefully with the help of this switch, Seven can
help harness her powers and then finally defeat the big bad.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
At least that's the hope Without spoiling the story, can
you let us on the inside, because I know that
there's unnatural and dangerous magic involved here, and the Witchlings
they're accused and charged for it.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Yeah, so the Witchlings very existent, seems illegal in the
fourth book, which is why they have to escape the
twelve Pounds and go rust towards the Enchanted Grim, which
is where all the monstros the monsters of this world
originate from. And so because of seventeen powers, they're actually
able to walk through this expanse that not every witch
(05:16):
can get through. And it was really fun for me. Actually,
a fun fact about writing book for is it only
took me thirty eight days on which is a record
for me. And part of the reason was because I
was so used to this world and these characters, and
it was the first time I got to explore like
a whole new part of the world and kind of
separate them from their support system on a side, from
(05:38):
the three of them, and sort of isolate the characters
and really focus on them and their journey. So it
was really fun for me to do. But absolutely there
is there's a lot of new exciting things in this
book for fans of.
Speaker 1 (05:50):
The series, for sure, let's talk about those thirty eight
days only because we have listeners, and we have we
have secret writers that check in with your books as
well as the podcast, and they're afraid of that one
thing called editing. How are you able to put a
book together in thirty eight days because most people would
run away or they would hide it underneath their bed
or up up in the attic. How did you get
something like this in thirty eight days? Done well?
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So the first draft was done in thirty eight days.
It took me about I would say two months after
that to revise it. So the thirty eight days, which
was just for the first draft that it was, actually,
according to my editor, who is very tough on me,
the cleanest first draft that I have written. And part
of the reason why I was able to do that
is because I stopped focusing as much on word count
(06:34):
and started to focus on chapters. So I outlined very intensely.
My outlines are usually about twenty to twenty five pages.
I have a paragraph to a page for each chapter,
sometimes including a little bit of dialogue. But I detail
every single thing that happens in the chapter. And so
(06:55):
my goal when writing now, as opposed to before, is
to finish one chapter a day, including weekends. Usually the
word count is out the window, and I just focus
on getting from point A to point B for the plot.
And that has been a game changer for me in
terms of speed.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
That's what my editor told me. Just get the book out,
Just give me the story. We'll figure it out. Do
not think about how many pages you're doing. That's my job.
Then i'll give it back to you.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, and you can. You can revise and ad later.
And I understand when you're first starting out and you're
trying to find an agent, there's so much emphasis put
on word count, and I understand that, but I think
sometimes we focus so much on word count that we
forget about actually getting to the plot points that we
need to hit. That's what was happening to me. I
would say, Okay, I hit my word count for the book,
(07:44):
but the book I'm not done. And I was putting
too much emphasis on that word count. So this new
method for me has been just every since.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
Let's talk about the book cover. And I know we're
not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but
how can we not. I mean, the colors in this
are absolutely phenomenal. The fact that it says which Lean's
the font is just brilliant. I think it touches the imagination.
But yet the characters are very anime and I have
to ask you, are you going to put this on
Hulu or even on any other channel, because I mean,
(08:12):
there's a series here. I know there's a series here
because I feel it when I read it.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Well, I can't give away too much, but I can
say that there are things happening behind the scenes that
would probably make my readers very excited. The cover artist's
name is Lucy Marlin and she has been absolutely incredible
for each book cover. The Witch things just they do
come to life. I really really agree. And I'm hoping
(08:39):
after book five, which is the last Famess arc, that
I will get to a graphic novel spin off as well,
and I think that would be wonderful. But in terms
of adaptations, I would just say stay tuned.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
Yeah, Where can people go to find out more information
and stay tuned? As you say, They.
Speaker 2 (08:56):
Can find me on my website, which is Claraville Orteta
dot com and I'm on threads, Instagram and TikTok at,
Carbal Underscore or Tega I love it.
Speaker 1 (09:05):
Please come back to the show anytime in the future.
The door is always going to be open for you.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Thanks so much, I would love to.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
Will you be brilliant today?
Speaker 2 (09:13):
Okay, thank you. Have a great day.
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