Carol Ann Moore Explores Feminine Power Through Timeless Storytelling
PHOTO: Author Carol Ann Moore at her home in rural France, where she crafts timeless stories of feminine strength and myth.
Empowering Women’s Voices Through History, Myth, And Magical Realism
Carol Ann Moore discusses The Aella Chronicles, exploring history and feminism through magical realism, reclaiming women’s stories, and illuminating their voices, while inspiring readers with themes of sisterhood, justice, and empowerment.
Carol Ann Moore, celebrated for her enchanting and empowering series The Aella Chronicles, masterfully blends history, feminism, and magical realism to reclaim women’s voices from centuries of silence. Writing from her tranquil home nestled in rural France, Moore interweaves themes of sisterhood, vengeance, and enduring hope into her stories, forging a profound connection between the past and present.
With The Aella Chronicles, Moore redefines feminist fiction through the perspective of her immortal protagonist, Aella Saluagius, an elemental witch whose journey spans centuries of female experience. Her novels, while steeped in myth and magical realism, pulse with modern urgency, challenging historical injustices and reimagining how these structures might be dismantled. “History is written by the winners,” Moore explains. “I want to show the stories of women that have been overlooked, hidden, and distorted.”
Carol Ann Moore redefines feminist fiction with compelling narratives, blending myth, truth, and depth to empower and inspire readers.
The series, initially a single novel titled Sisterhood, has evolved into an expansive chronicle of women’s experiences throughout history. After readers expressed curiosity about Aella’s backstory, Moore was inspired to unravel the immortal witch’s journey through a sweeping historical tapestry, starting with The Coven of Cagliasaro, set in 16th-century Italy. Moore aims to rewrite Sisterhood as a second edition once the series is complete, ensuring her narratives flow cohesively across time periods.
At the heart of The Aella Chronicles is a common thread that binds its female characters: their shared aim to challenge misogyny and seek justice. Drawing inspiration from historical injustices such as the law of coverture, which stripped married women of legal independence until the late 19th century, Moore’s storytelling balances fact and imagination with seamless artistry. Her background, steeped in the rich stories of her matriarchal heritage, lends authenticity and emotional depth to her fictional worlds. “My maternal grandmother, with her no-nonsense personality, is a huge inspiration,” Moore shares. “As for Aella, she’s everything I would hope to be if I had her gifts.”
Moore’s creative process begins with setting and theme, often drawing upon real-world accounts of women’s oppression to shape her characters’ journeys. Her plots emerge organically, driven more by her characters’ evolution than rigid outlines. “I never plot the story,” she admits. “My characters often take it to places I never imagined.” This fluid approach allows her narratives to remain vibrant and alive, capturing readers’ imaginations while tackling complex feminist themes.
When creative blocks arise, Moore pushes through by committing to writing, one chapter at a time. “I employ the same advice I gave my students: get the story down on paper, and you can make it look pretty afterward.” It’s this tenacity and belief in her craft that keep her motivated, especially when self-doubt threatens to creep in.
Beyond her compelling plots and evocative world-building, Moore leaves readers with a powerful message of empowerment. She hopes her stories not only offer an escape from the mundane but also inspire women to challenge societal norms and embrace hope and sisterhood. “The rules and negative socialization women experience from childhood are not how we have to live, if we’re lucky enough to have the choice,” she says.
Encouraging aspiring feminist writers to persevere, Moore advocates reading widely and building the “muscle” of writing by practicing regularly. “Write about what you love or feel passionate about, and keep showing up to your notebook or computer. There will always be people who don’t like your style or content, but if you waited for approval from everyone, you’d be waiting forever.”
As for what’s next, Moore’s upcoming book, Daughters of Medeina, will take readers to a mythical forest and a fortified city in Northern Europe. Exploring themes of perfection culture, sisterhood, and the reclamation of ancient feminine power, the story promises to deliver another spellbinding adventure. Readers can expect its release in early 2026. Looking further ahead, Moore hopes to bring The Aella Chronicles to a new audience through audiobooks.
Carol Ann Moore continues to forge her legacy as a visionary storyteller, empowering her readers through narratives that blend imagination, truth, and the unyielding strength of women’s voices.
Source: Reader’s House
