Rhiannon Aspenfell, an Ilvermorny Thunderbird from New Orleans, is brought into protective custody by the Order of the Phoenix. As she strengthens her magical powers and discovers ties to her mythological destiny, she also finds herself in a love tr...
Rhiannon was a real goddess in Welsh mythology. People have taken liberties with the myth in pop culture over the years, and this story has pulled from lots of those elements plus my own twists. If you want to go down the rabbit hole, Google "goddess Rhiannon" and learn all about her. Of course she was popularized in the 70s by Stevie Nicks — right around the time my character Rhiannon was born.
Since choosing an actual actress to play my new OC for "Black as a Night" I really started thinking about would play Rhiannon in "Within the Wings of a Storm" — in my head of course— I know the ages are all wrong to play in real life.
Throughout writing I really just pictured Rhiannon as various paintings I found of the goddess herself (pics included in the some of the chapters), especially the one I chose for the cover. But since we have real actors for Sirius and Severus, I decided Rhiannon needed one too.
I envision Rhiannon as a young Sarah Michelle Gellar circa 1995/1996– she actually would be only a few months younger than the Rhiannon character back then (when the Harry Potter stories take place) based on her real birthdate. Her look is THIS blonde Sarah Michelle Gellar in the first pic, but her vibe/strong sexuality is a lot like Sarah Michelle's character Kathryn Merteuil in the 90s movie "Cruel Intentions" (Also pictured.) I can totally see Rhiannon and Severus Snape being the couple that gets their kicks from sexual conquests like in that movie. Fitting, actually, that Alan Rickman played that male character in the stage play Les Liaisons Dangereuses, off of which "Cruel Intentions" was based. I love how it all fits together. Now that this light bulb 💡 has gone off in my head, I can totally see myself writing a one shot (or book) with Snape and Rhiannon acting like those characters. 🔥 Especially now that they are both professors. Watch out, seventh years! 😈
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Sarah Michelle Gellar in the mid 90s in promos for Buffy the Vampire Slayer (above). She totally has Rhiannon's magically green eyes.
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Sarah Michelle Gellar as Kathryn Merteuil in Cruel Intentions (above), a modern day take of the play Les Liaisons Dangereuses
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Alan Rickman in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (above)
If I had to choose a more modern day, slightly more appropriate (current) age actress to play Rhiannon, I would choose Amanda Seyfried, based on looks alone. She probably could still pull off a 19 year old, since she looks perpetually young. She would just have to channel the sexuality of her character in "Red Riding Hood," because otherwise she's a bit too much of a Mary Sue. She definitely has the Rhiannon look here though!
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Amanda Seyfried as Red Riding Hood (above)
Watching Amanda with Gary Oldman in Red Riding Hood and in Mank is so cool...I love thinking that Rhiannon and Sirius actually stood next to each other. ❤️ 😂
Well, there's my tangent on what Rhiannon Aspenfell REALLY looks like. Choose your favorite and go with it! Or you can stick with the paintings and your own imagination. 😆 Hope you've enjoyed this book and that you'll head on over to enjoy Deborah Ann Woll as Colleen Gilmore in my sequel, "Black as Night," as soon as I get it posted!
