TODAY, WE ARE EXCITED TO FEATURE OUR TEAM MEMBER, AUTHOR LORRAINE CAREY, WHO IS GIVING SOME INSIGHT INTO HER PROTAGONIST FROM 'WOMEN OF WILLOW WOOD' TRILOGY, DANI REYES #RWRTeamBlog #ReadWriteRepeat

Daniella Reyes

Daniella Reyes — The High Empath of The Willow Wood Women

Daniella Reyes was born beneath the blazing skies of New Mexico—a land steeped in secrets, whispers, and enchantment. I can attest to this as I have lived there for six years. Her story began as mine did: in a classroom, where compassion met the inexplicable. As a teacher and an empath, Dani’s calling was never just about shaping young minds—it was about protecting fragile souls. It didn’t take long for Dani to pick up the troubles those little bodies were dealing with.

The seed for Daniella’s creation was planted during my own years as an educator. I once had a student—bright, broken, and far too young to carry such pain. When her life was suddenly swept into an underground network that shielded abused children, I learned that hidden forces were working behind the veil—real people who operated in silence to save the innocent. That moment haunted and inspired me, birthing the idea for a secret society of powerful women, bound not by blood, but by purpose.

Daniella Reyes—Dani to those she dares to trust—is a raven-haired beauty from Albuquerque, raised by her mystical Aunt Miranda after years of watching her mother heal from an abusive marriage. The scars of her past run deep, yet it is within those wounds that her greatest strength begins to stir.

As a new teacher, Dani quickly discovers that her gift is not a blessing she can ignore. She feels the emotions of others as if they are her own—fear, sorrow, pain—echoing through her body until she can no longer look away. When several of her students show signs of silent suffering, Dani’s empathic power ignites a chain of events that will alter her life forever.

Her search for truth draws the attention of a clandestine sisterhood known as the “Women of the Willow Wood”, a secret order of healers, mystics, and warriors who fight unseen battles for the light. They offer Dani a choice—remain ordinary, or embrace the ancient power coursing through her bloodline. Reluctant yet fearless, she steps into their shadowed world, where loyalty is tested, and betrayal wears many faces.

But not everyone welcomes her gift. Her principal deems her unstable, colleagues whisper behind her back, and even her lover begins to suspect dark forces surround her, accusing her of witchcraft. She will find friendship with a trusting fifth-grade teacher whom she will enjoy meeting at the local coffee shops and browsing through the unique boutiques in Old Town Albuquerque. Still, Dani finds refuge in her morning runs through the beautiful Bosque, where the rhythm of the earth grounds her spirit and reminds her that her destiny cannot be outrun.

As the trilogy unfolds, Dani evolves from a compassionate teacher into a formidable empath-warrior. Her path leads north to Santa Fe, where a revered Curandera awakens her to her true purpose—missions that transcend this realm and pierce the veil between the living and the dead. She will learn to wield her gift not only to save her students but to fight darkness in every form it takes, human or otherwise.

Haunted by her past, hunted by shadows, and guided by ancient goddesses, Daniella Reyes becomes the beating heart of the Women of the Willow Wood—a woman destined to stand between the light and the darkness, no matter the cost.

**********

COMING SOON: On Wednesday, 29th October we are delighted to welcome author, Camille Boucheron, who will be sharing an excerpt from her novel, ''Haunted Hearts'.