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Print Length: 250 pages Publisher: Entangled: Teen (January 7, 2014) Sold by: Macmillan Buy the book: Amazon Penelope is a witch, part of a secret society protecting humans from demon attacks. But when she was a child, a demon killed her parents—and stole her magic. Since then, she’s been pretending to be something she’s not, using her sister’s magic to hide her own loss, to prevent being sent

Talia Aikens-Nuñez wanted to be a meteorologist, a politician and a lawyer. She never thought she would be a writer. It was the birth of her daughter that caused her to start writing. Raising a bilingual child inspired Talia to write multicultural children’s books. Talia’s family loves nature so much that she and her husband vowed that they will always try to live close to water. She, her husband, daughter and newborn son live on a river in Connecticut.

When did you first get bit by the writing bug?

After the birth of my daughter, I started writing books for kids. I wanted to write fun and imaginative books for kids that featured multicultural characters.

Why did you decide to write stories for children?

I wanted my kids to be able to see and read books featuring multicultural characters that did not focus on race or ethnicity.

Do you believe it is harder to write books for a younger audience?

No. I love to try to think like an 8-12 year old. My favorite part of writing for the age group is trying to capture their imagination and fun-loving nature.

Can you tell us what your latest book is all about?

OMG… Am I A Witch?! is the enchanting story of a little girl who discovers her magical powers after turning her annoying older brother into a dog using a spell found on the Internet.

A classic story of “be careful what you wish for.” OMG… is a hair-raising, action packed tale of a girl looking for a spell reversal and finding herself in the process.

What inspired you to write it?

It just came to me one day as a fun and imaginative idea.

Where can readers purchase a copy?

They can purchase a copy from the publisher’s website (Pinwheel Books):
https://pinwheelbooks.myshopify.com/collections/our-books/products/omg-am-i-a-witch

Amazon (for Kindle): http://www.amazon.com/OMG-Am-Witch-Talia-Aikens-Nu%C3%B1ez-ebook/dp/B00FQI9SZO/

Amazon (paperback): http://www.amazon.com/OMG-Am-I-A-Witch/dp/0985424850/

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/omgam-i-a-witch-talia-aikens-nu-ez/1117110410

What is up next for you?

I am trying to find a home for my next children’s book, Dragon Guardians.

Do you have anything else to add?

I hope everyone enjoys the fun and magical adventure of April and her friends. You can find me online at http://talia-aikens-nunez.vpweb.com and like me on Facebook at  http://www.facebook.com/taliaaikensnunezchildrenswriter

Thank you for spending time with us today, Talia. We wish you much success.

OMG… Am I A Witch?! is the enchanting story of a little girl who discovers her magical powers after turning her annoying older brother into a dog using a spell found on the Internet. Follow April and her friends, Grace and Eve, on their spellbinding adventures as they race to reverse the spell before her parents find out.

A hair-raising and action packed tale of a girl looking for a spell reversal and finding herself in the process, OMG… Am I A Witch?! is sure to delight children while teaching them important life lessons like “Be careful what you wish for!”. Is April really a witch? Will she be able to undo the spell in time? Is she gonna be punished FOREVER? and will her brother ever stop growling at her? Join us and find out!

Available today, October 31st thru Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, on Kindle and MagicBlox!

Author: Talia Aikens-Nuñez
Illustrator: Alicja Ignaczak
Paperback | B&W interior
150 pages
Release date:Oct. 31, 2013
Ages 8-12

Talia Aikens-Nuñez is a children’s book author specializing in bilingual and multicultural children’s books. Her first book, Escucha Means Listen, was released by Musa Publishing in 2012. OMG…Am I A Witch?! is Talia’s first chapter book and she is currently seeking a home for her next children’s chapter book, Dragon Guardians. Talia lives with her husband, daughter and newborn son on a river in Connecticut.

Visit Talia online at http://talia-aikens-nunez.vpweb.com/

Visit Pinwheel Books to enter for your chance to win one of five copies of this book: http://pinwheelbooks.com/

Would-Be Witch (A Southern Witch Novel)

May Contain Spoilers

From Amazon:

In the small town of Duvall, Texas, the only thing that causes more trouble than gossip is magic.

The family magic seems to have skipped over Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets in the way of the supernatural are a few untimely visits from the long-dead, smart-mouthed family ghost Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.

After a few bad experiences with her magic, Tammy turns to the only one who can help: the very rich and highly magical Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers, but the locket isn’t the only thing passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning…to stay away from anyone named Lyons…

Review:

Would Be Witch is a very fun read.  I’m surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did because a love triangle, something that doesn’t usually work for me, is central to the plot.  I thought it was well done, and I could see Tammy Jo being conflicted over Bryn and Zach.  Bryn is new, off-limits, and dangerous, while Zach, her ex-husband, has been a steady anchor her entire life.  Marrying young, she quickly discovered that being his wife was a lot less romantic than being his girlfriend, so she filed for divorce, over his objections.  Their relationship is a hot mess, just like the rest of Tammy Jo’s life.  Maybe I liked the story so much because Tammy Jo is propelled from one crazy adventure to another, with hardly a moment to catch her breath. 

Things get started with Tammy Jo losing her job at the bakery.  Her pride won’t allow her to sell the cake she’s just slaved over to her old rival from her high school days.  She’s rather be unemployed and keep possession of said cake than  accept insults and a reduced price in exchange for her masterpiece.  She figures it will keep her fed for a few days until she finds a new job, anyway.  Then she’s involved in a fender bender, is robbed of a family heirloom, and is being stalked by werewolves.  Because Tammy Jo comes from a long line of witches, she takes everything in stride, except for losing the necklace that houses the soul of Edie, her great, great grandmother’s twin sister.  Devastated by the loss of her relative, she wishes that magic hadn’t skipped over her, because she really could have used the help tracking down the thieves and the stolen ghost.

This is a rollercoaster read.  Tammy Jo has to juggle Zach, a sheriff’s deputy, and Bryn, a warlock whose family she is supposed to have nothing to do with, for reasons unknown to her.  With her mom and her aunt both gone, she has no magical help, so she’s determined to use Bryn to assist her on the magic side.  She doesn’t realize that there are strict rules about magic and when it can be used, and unless she agrees to be his apprentice, he’s not letting her see any spells from his spell book!  I loved the back and forth between Tammy Jo and her suitors.  Zack is a good ole boy who doesn’t believe in magic or in Edie, and Bryn comes off as just a little shady.  I was always wondering whether he had her best interests at heart, and more often than not doubted that he did. 

In addition to the guys feuding over her, she’s also being pursued by a pack of very angry and vengeful werewolves.  They have accused her of killing one of their pack, and nothing she said allowed her to reason with them.  They are scary, murderous monsters, too, so every time Tammy Jo got a bug up her butt and decided that she had to go do something dangerous and foolish, I was stressed that the wolves would get a hold of her and tear her to shreds.  While I appreciated her courage and determination, there were a few times I wished she would just chill somewhere safe until someone could give her a helping hand.  At least she had Mercutio, her kitty companion, to rely on.  While I am usually a dog person, this cat was pretty cool, and I was a bit hopeful that he would start talking.  Instead, he gets into a lot of fights, so he really did have Tammy Jo’s back.

As the tangled and twisted tale unfolded, a few things became apparent.  One, that Tammy Jo really did need a keeper.  She is constantly getting herself into hot water, some of which she  can’t get back out of.  Two, nobody in her tiny town was trustworthy, and several people even had grudges against her, which made figuring out who to trust an impossible task.  And three, maybe magic hadn’t skipped her generation after all, leading her to so many more complications. With no one around to show her how to harness her magic, she just makes everything that she’s trying to fix that much worse.  Mix in a zombie, a visiting vampire, and an offended hairdresser, and Tammy Jo just doesn’t know what to do to keep herself safe and locate her missing necklace.

Would Be Witch is a fast paced and energetic read with fun characters and more danger than you can shake a stick at.  I am looking forward to Barely Bewitched, the next book in the series.

Grade:  B/B+

Review copy provided by author

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Good morning, Kimberly!  Can you please describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Kimberly Frost] I’m an author who hails from the Midwest originally, but who moved south to outwit a series of wily snowstorms. Unfortunately, while I never have to scrape ice off my windshield in Texas, it turns out tropical storms and hurricanes are fairly fierce in the region.

I began writing as a kid and could never seem to quit. I should probably have outgrown my love of paranormal stories sometime around college, but it just never happened. Though I haven’t personally had any encounters with supernatural creatures, I suspect they are biding their time, waiting for the day I’m too old to be believed. This is why I’m always on the lookout. If any readers know of a good vampire café or werewolf-infested wood, I hope they will send me a message, preferably with a Google Map attached as I am hopeless at navigation without one.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Can you tell us a little about Would-Be Witch?

[Kimberly Frost] I’d love to.  Tammy Jo Trask is a small town girl from East Texas who has descended from a long line of witches. The family magic seems to have skipped over her until an heirloom locket is stolen. Now the soul of the family ghost (a 1920s flapper) is in jeopardy, and she has to turn to a gorgeous wizard for advice. Unfortunately, there’s a family prophecy that makes him off-limits. There’s a love triangle, an ocelot, and plenty of comedy and adventure as Tammy Jo’s spells go wrong throughout the story. In her defense, it’s not her fault that her magic malfunctions.

A blurb for the Southern Witch series:

In this “coming of age in the world of magic” story, urban fantasy meets humorous mystery in small-town Texas. Plucky pastry chef Tammy Jo Trask comes into her spell-casting powers unexpectedly, but malfunctioning magic makes her a reluctant heroine. As her adventures continue, she learns the secrets of her supernatural heritage and embraces her butt-kicking destiny. Gorgeous love interests and an ocelot sidekick add to the charm of this bestselling book series.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Kimberly Frost] I’d been reading a lot of humorous mystery and dark urban fantasy and wondered what would happen if I merged the two. I always enjoy eccentric characters, so I thought I’d set it in a small town where there could be a lot of them. Tammy Jo answered the casting call in my head when I was searching for a heroine. She popped up fully-formed with an East Texas accent and can-do attitude.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three words best describe Tammy Jo?

[Kimberly Frost] Funny, loyal, determined

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If Bryn had a theme song, what would it be?

[Kimberly Frost] He’s Irish, and while he was growing up, he did his magical training in Dublin over the summers. Though he moved to Texas at thirteen and went to Yale for undergrad and law school, he’s still an Irish rebel at heart, especially when the World Association of Magic abuses its power. So for Bryn a possible theme song would be Saints & Sinners by The Young Dubliners.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Name one thing Tammy Jo is never without.

[Kimberly Frost] Hope. No matter how ridiculously tough the obstacles, she soldiers on.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things will you never find in Bryn’s bathroom?

[Kimberly Frost] Hair putty, Formica counters, a live shark

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Kimberly Frost] The works of Joss Whedon, numerous comedic films and television shows, early books in Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, and early books in Laurell K. Hamilton’s Anita Blake series.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Kimberly Frost] We get three? I actually only really need my brain. I was driving to work the other day and a scene occurred to me. I called and left myself a two-sentence voicemail capturing the gist of the scene so I’d remember it and could write it later. For posting big word counts, though, I find a laptop helps.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Kimberly Frost] The Best Man by Kristan Higgins.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Kimberly Frost] The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

[Manga Maniac Cafe] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Kimberly Frost] I like to talk about books and movies over coffee or cocktails with friends. Also, I like to read, watch things on Netflix, travel, talk on the phone for hours, and occasionally bake ridiculously complicated cakes.

[Manga Maniac Cafe] How can readers connect with you?

[Kimberly Frost] Visit my website at http://frostfiction.com/

On my site, there’s a contact form to email me directly, a newsletter sign-up form, and my Facebook link.

Thank you so much for letting me visit Manga Maniac Café. I hope readers will comment to win free books and visit my website to download the free short story, “Magic Ingredient”

[Manga Maniac Cafe] Thank you!

Would-Be Witch
Southern Witch Book 1

Kimberly Frost

Genre: Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy

Publisher: Berkley (Penguin)

Date of Publication: Re-release September 3, 2013

ISBN-10: 0425267555

ISBN-13: 978-0425267554

Number of pages: 320

Amazon BN IndieBound

Back Cover Blurb:

In the small town of Duvall, Texas, the only thing that causes more trouble than gossip is magic.
The family magic seems to have skipped over Tammy Jo Trask. All she gets in the way of the supernatural are a few untimely visits from the long-dead, smart-mouthed family ghost Edie. But when her locket—an heirloom that happens to hold Edie’s soul—is stolen in the midst of a town-wide crime spree, it’s time for Tammy to find her inner witch.
After a few bad experiences with her magic, Tammy turns to the only one who can help: the very rich and highly magical Bryn Lyons. He might have all the answers, but the locket isn’t the only thing passed down in Tammy’s family. She also inherited a warning…to stay away from anyone named Lyons…

About the Southern Witch Series:

In this “coming of age in the world of magic” story, urban fantasy meets humorous mystery in small-town Texas. Plucky pastry chef Tammy Jo Trask comes into her spell-casting powers unexpectedly, and malfunctioning magic makes her a reluctant heroine. As her adventures continue, she learns the secrets of her supernatural heritage and embraces her butt-kicking destiny. Gorgeous love interests and an ocelot sidekick add to the charm of this bestselling book series.

About the Author:

Kimberly Frost is the national bestselling author of the humorous Southern Witch series, which currently includes Would-Be Witch, Barely Bewitched, and Halfway Hexed. After her first release, Kimberly won the 2010 PEARL Award for best new paranormal author.  Her second series featured darker paranormal romantic suspense stories.

These "Etherlin" books launched in November 2011 with the novella, “First Light".  It appeared in the multi-author Christmas anthology, Tied With a Bow, reaching the extended New York Times Bestseller List.  The subsequent Etherlin novels included All That Bleeds, a featured Barnes & Noble “Must Read Romance”, and All That Falls, a Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence finalist.

Learn more about Kimberly and her books at: http://frostfiction.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyFrost

https://twitter.com/FrostFiction

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1958136.Kimberly_Frost

http://frostfiction.blogspot.com/

a Rafflecopter giveaway Link to grab code http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/YmExMTJmZmM0NTczY2U4Y2JhMWU1MGJkZGZiMWE4OjM2OA==/

Jake’s plan for a carefree holiday at a musical performing arts camp in the Windy City hits a sour note when he stumbles upon a long-hidden message from his mother, art historian Karen McGreevy. She had traveled to Chicago thirteen years earlier on a dream assignment, never to return home. With his violin and his mother’s mysterious letter in hand, Jake, his best friend Julie, and new pals Ben and Natalie are heading west, where they will follow the clues and uncover the truth about a missing masterpiece, the meaning of friendship, and the enduring bond between a mother and her son.

Coming in November from MB Publishing!

A thrilling graphic novel adventure that unlocks the mysteries of ancient Egypt!

The Egyptian capital of Cairo is a buzzing hive of treasure hunters, thrill-seekers, and adventurers, but to 12-year-old Ronald “Rocket” Robinson, it’s just another sticker on his well worn suitcase. But when Rocket finds a strange note written in Egyptian hieroglyphs, he stumbles into an adventure more incredible than anything he’s ever dreamt of.

Rocket and his friends soon run afoul of master criminal Otto Von Stürm, who’s planning the theft of the greatest treasure in history—an ancient pharaoh’s fortune, secretly hidden for centuries. To stop him, they’ll have to de-code an ancient riddle, solve a cryptic puzzle, face off hungry crocodiles, and navigate a centuries-old labyrinth full of traps. All while staying one step ahead of Otto’s bloodthirsty goons.

The streets of Cairo come alive in Sean O’Neill’s lively, vibrant, full-color illustrated pages. Young fans of ancient Egypt will immediately be drawn in by the references to hieroglyphics, mummies, pyramids, and pharaoh’s tombs, all lavishly illustrated in O’Neill’s fun, accessible style.

Coming in October from BoilerRoom Studios.

The Survivors: Body & Blood is the third installment of The Survivors Series!

How many answers you seek are just a part of you, waiting to be found?

The game has changed.

Fresh from her first brush with mortality, a fragile Sadie Matthau is playing human with Cole Hardwick while the Survivors endure unimaginable tragedy. Wrought with the first deaths of their own kind, a tyrant who will torture them, and an opponent more terrifying than anyone could have foreseen, the Survivors are facing their end.

Told from three points of view, The Survivors: Body & Blood is a bloodcurdling, mind-bending, heart-stopping ride. As Sadie and the Winters uncover more enemies, more history, and more answers, they find themselves brought closer together and ripped further apart. And all the while, a haunting Alexander Raven lurks at the edge of Sadie s lifeline, at the darkening fringes of her mind.

As the Survivors descend into chaos, Sadie realizes a painful truth: the deepest of secrets leave the darkest of marks.

Caught between a terrifying fantasy and her own grim reality, Body & Blood is the story of Sadie s dance with her demons, future, past, and present.

Released July 2013 from Chafie Press, LLC.

Filled with terrific suspense and budding romance, Daughter of Camelot is a fast paced adventure set against the turmoil at the end of the Arthurian era.

Raised in the shadow of a fort dedicated to training Knights of the Round Table, Deirdre thirsts for adventure.

Instead, at 14, she is sent to court to learn the etiquette and talents of a young woman.

Court life, however, is more fraught with danger than she expected, and Deirdre finds herself entangled in a deadly conspiracy that stretches deep into the very heart of Camelot.

All Deirdre thought she knew and believed in—loyalty, love, bravery—is challenged when she embarks on a quest to defy Fate and save the King.

Coming in September 2013 from Mabon Publishing.

By Mary Pleiss

When I was a little girl, the witches I knew came from fairy tales. They were old, ugly, and mean–life ruiners who cast evil spells with no provocation. My young friends and I ran into the problem of the witch in our play. We didn’t want to meet a witch in a dark forest or a bright one, even if that forest was the pair of trees in our backyard. Certainly none of us wanted to be the witch. But we knew we had to have a witch. Witches made things happen, provided scary, shivery tension, and gave the good characters something to fight against and overcome.

We often solved this problem by keeping the witch offscreen; we called out plot points detailing the unseen, unheard witch’s actions: “Now the witch is casting her spell. If you get to the swing set, you’re safe!” or, “You stepped into the witch’s clover patch–you’re trapped!” We could imagine the witch without casting her because we’d read stories and seen movies (mostly Disney movies and of course The Wizard of Oz). We knew witches well enough to weave them into our play without having to face the fact that we all had it in ourselves to be witches.

In sixth grade, I read Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I started thinking about witches in a different way. What made the people of Wethersfield believe Hannah Tupper and Kit Tyler were witches, when any reader could see they weren’t magical or evil–just a little bit different? Why did their neighbors feel the need to banish or imprison them? If Hannah and Kit weren’t really evil, what did that say about the fairy tale witches I’d always feared and hated?

The witches in our fiction today are very different from those in fairy tales, and it turns out that even the Wicked Witch of the West has more complexity than I realized when I was growing up. I knew her from the movie, but reading the books as an adult, and learning more about the history of the Oz books in particular and witches–and those who were accused of witchcraft–in western culture has witches in a new light. L. Frank Baum was heavily influenced by his mother-in-law, Matilda Gage, who was an historian and feminist who promoted influential theories about women who were called witches in history. Baum had those theories in mind when he populated Oz with witches who were more dimensional than what had come before; they had backstories and motivations, and while some of them were evil, just as many were good.

Since Baum, of course, a number of children’s and YA writers have included witches–and women accused of witchcraft–in their stories. Whether bad, good, or somewhere in between, those witches have developed into characters with more depth and complexity than even Baum could have imagined. As societal attitudes about the roles of girls and women have evolved, fictional characterizations of witches have changed, and we can’t  get away with taking the problematic witch offscreen or making her a one-dimensional villain. Now, when we write about witches, we work to make them as dimensional as all of our other characters, and our problem becomes the same as that we face with most other characters: how do we bring the witch to life?

Here are some suggestions and questions you can ask yourself if you’re including witchy characters in your fiction:

Consider doing some research into historical witches and witchcraft trials. You might find an angle or a detail no one’s ever written about before.

If your witches really do practice magic, is their power individual or communal, or some combination of both? Is magic learned or innate? Can you make witchcraft/magic a source of conflict, rather than a crutch that relieves it?

Does your character need to make choices about her “witchiness”—whether it’s to become a witch, to fully use or curtail her own power, or to educate herself about her power? Against or for whom she will use her power? Will she embrace her power right away, or resist it?

These are, of course, just a start to creating fully realized witch characters, but they’re a way to turn the witch into an integral part of your story, rather than a flat stereotype. Give your readers more to think about when you write witches, so that kids who play pretend will argue over who gets to be the witch, rather than relegating her to an offscreen ghost.

Mary Pleiss: Though some might say all the hours Mary Pleiss spent haunting the library and disappearing into book worlds hinted at her future in writing for middle grade and young adult readers, she confesses that at the time she just thought it was a good way to escape her noisy family (she loves them, really, but six siblings can be a bit much at times). She is a curriculum development specialist, teacher, and recent graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts, with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

Follow Mary on Twitter: @MKPleiss

This blog post was brought to you as part of the March Dystropian Madness blog series. 

By Mary Pleiss

When I was a little girl, the witches I knew came from fairy tales. They were old, ugly, and mean–life ruiners who cast evil spells with no provocation. My young friends and I ran into the problem of the witch in our play. We didn’t want to meet a witch in a dark forest or a bright one, even if that forest was the pair of trees in our backyard. Certainly none of us wanted to be the witch. But we knew we had to have a witch. Witches made things happen, provided scary, shivery tension, and gave the good characters something to fight against and overcome.

We often solved this problem by keeping the witch offscreen; we called out plot points detailing the unseen, unheard witch’s actions: “Now the witch is casting her spell. If you get to the swing set, you’re safe!” or, “You stepped into the witch’s clover patch–you’re trapped!” We could imagine the witch without casting her because we’d read stories and seen movies (mostly Disney movies and of course The Wizard of Oz). We knew witches well enough to weave them into our play without having to face the fact that we all had it in ourselves to be witches.

In sixth grade, I read Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond, and I started thinking about witches in a different way. What made the people of Wethersfield believe Hannah Tupper and Kit Tyler were witches, when any reader could see they weren’t magical or evil–just a little bit different? Why did their neighbors feel the need to banish or imprison them? If Hannah and Kit weren’t really evil, what did that say about the fairy tale witches I’d always feared and hated?

The witches in our fiction today are very different from those in fairy tales, and it turns out that even the Wicked Witch of the West has more complexity than I realized when I was growing up. I knew her from the movie, but reading the books as an adult, and learning more about the history of the Oz books in particular and witches–and those who were accused of witchcraft–in western culture has witches in a new light. L. Frank Baum was heavily influenced by his mother-in-law, Matilda Gage, who was an historian and feminist who promoted influential theories about women who were called witches in history. Baum had those theories in mind when he populated Oz with witches who were more dimensional than what had come before; they had backstories and motivations, and while some of them were evil, just as many were good.

Since Baum, of course, a number of children’s and YA writers have included witches–and women accused of witchcraft–in their stories. Whether bad, good, or somewhere in between, those witches have developed into characters with more depth and complexity than even Baum could have imagined. As societal attitudes about the roles of girls and women have evolved, fictional characterizations of witches have changed, and we can’t  get away with taking the problematic witch offscreen or making her a one-dimensional villain. Now, when we write about witches, we work to make them as dimensional as all of our other characters, and our problem becomes the same as that we face with most other characters: how do we bring the witch to life?

Here are some suggestions and questions you can ask yourself if you’re including witchy characters in your fiction:

Consider doing some research into historical witches and witchcraft trials. You might find an angle or a detail no one’s ever written about before.

If your witches really do practice magic, is their power individual or communal, or some combination of both? Is magic learned or innate? Can you make witchcraft/magic a source of conflict, rather than a crutch that relieves it?

Does your character need to make choices about her “witchiness”—whether it’s to become a witch, to fully use or curtail her own power, or to educate herself about her power? Against or for whom she will use her power? Will she embrace her power right away, or resist it?

These are, of course, just a start to creating fully realized witch characters, but they’re a way to turn the witch into an integral part of your story, rather than a flat stereotype. Give your readers more to think about when you write witches, so that kids who play pretend will argue over who gets to be the witch, rather than relegating her to an offscreen ghost.

Mary Pleiss: Though some might say all the hours Mary Pleiss spent haunting the library and disappearing into book worlds hinted at her future in writing for middle grade and young adult readers, she confesses that at the time she just thought it was a good way to escape her noisy family (she loves them, really, but six siblings can be a bit much at times). She is a curriculum development specialist, teacher, and recent graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts, with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults.

Follow Mary on Twitter: @MKPleiss

This blog post was brought to you as part of the March Dystropian Madness blog series. 

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

I loved Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood.  Loved. It.  Now the second book in The Cahill Witch Chronicles has a cover, and I only have until June to wait before I can read Star Cursed.  This is one of my most anticipated 2013 titles!

Cover Shot! is a regular feature here at the Café. I love discovering new covers, and when I find them, I like to share. More than anything else, I am consumed with the mystery that each new discovery represents. There is an allure to a beautiful cover. Will the story contained under the pages live up to promise of the gorgeous cover art?

There are a ton of intriguing February 2013 releases! Soulbound by Tessa Adams is the first book in a new urban fantasy series, and it looks really good!  I love the intense expression and the pop of red from Xandra’s dress.  I am looking forward to giving this a read next year.

In stores February 2013

Candace Havens is the author of Take It Like A Vamp, a new release under Entangled Publishing’s Covet line.  Candace stopped by the virtual offices for a chat, and she brought along a present! One of you can win a digital copy of Take It Like A Vamp!  Find out how after the interview.

[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Candace Havens] I’m awesome and freaky busy. That’s how my assistant describes me.

[Manga Maniac Café] Can you tell us a little about Take it Like a Vamp?

[Candace Havens] Nick and Casey are neighbors in a hi-rise condo development that he owns. They’re best friends, who are secretly in love/hots with each other. That friendship develops into something more. There are supernatural councils, nasty witches and a lot of other fun stuff involved that make things tough on the couple. It’s light, fun and I hope it makes you laugh out loud.

[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for the story?

[Candace Havens] My publisher mentioned she needed a vampire book. I told her I don’t write vampires. She said she’d love a friends to lovers story and pow! The whole story was in my head and I started telling her about it. I wrote it in four days.

[Manga Maniac Café] What three words best describe Casey?

[Candace Havens]  Loyal, friendly and curvy.

[Manga Maniac Café] What are three things Nick would never have in his bedroom?

[Candace Havens] Evil witches, bad wine and anyone who wasn’t Casey.

[Manga Maniac Café] If Nick had a theme song, what would it be?

[Candace Havens] In Love With A Girl, by Gavin Degraw

[Manga Maniac Café] What are your greatest creative influences?

[Candace Havens] Hmmm. That’s tough. I think books in general and other authors. From Nancy Drew when I was a kid, to Jodi Thomas, one of my early mentors. I’ve been really lucky that way.

[Manga Maniac Café] What three things do you need in order to write?

[Candace Havens] Big bottle of water. Tunes. And my dogs, Harley and Gizmo. I know that’s four, but the dogs are kind of a pair even though one is a Great Dane and the other is a Japanese Chin/Maltese.

[Manga Maniac Café] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Candace Havens] Gosh, I’ve been really lucky with my picks. I guess the last one is Seducing Cinderella by Gina Maxwell. Love her hero in that one.

[Manga Maniac Café] If you had to pick one book that turned you on to reading, which would it be?

[Candace Havens] Nancy Drew.

[Manga Maniac Café] What do you like to do when you aren’t writing?

[Candace Havens]  I covet sleep, but it never happens. I’m always writing. I do write about TV and Film, so that’s fun. Some day, I’d like to take a vacation to Paris where I don’t have to worry about anything except where I want to eat, shop or go next.

[Manga Maniac Café]  How can readers connect with you?

[Candace Havens] I am everywhere. (smile) My website is www.candacehavens.com I’m @candacehavens on Twitte

Our special guest today is Laura Powell, the author of Burn Mark.  This new Bloomsbury release features one of my favorite romance tropes – forbidden love!  Let’s see what Laura has to say about her new book.

[Manga Maniac Café] Describe yourself in 140 characters or less.

[Laura Powell] I’m half-Welsh, half-American, and live in a London attic. I can read fortunes in tea leaves and Tarot cards, and like to bake cakes and binge-sleep in between books.

[Manga Maniac Café] How did you come up with the concept and the characters for Burn Mark?

[Laura Powell] It struck me that a witches’ coven is quite like the Mafia: they’re both secret criminal organizations, hunted by the law, a source of fear and loathing to many, but seen as quite cool and glamorous by some.

Since modern-day witches would make great gangsters, I thought there would need to be a specialist police force to protect people from black magic – the Inquisition. Once I’d got these two opposing forces, I decided that my heroine, Glory, should come from a famous crime coven, while my hero, Lucas, should belong to an equally famous family of inquisitors. When their worlds collide, sparks fly!

[Manga Maniac Café] What three words best describe Glory?

[Laura Powell] Stroppy, ambitious, brave

[Manga Maniac Café]  What are three things Lucas would never have in his pocket?

[Laura Powell] Any kind of discount voucher, a lock-picking set, lint

[Manga Maniac Café] What is the last book that you read that knocked your socks off?

[Laura Powell] The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood. She’s probably my favourite contemporary novelist. Now that I’ve finished that, I’m on to her post-apocalyptic thriller, The Year of the Flood.

[Manga Maniac Café] Thank you!

You can learn more about Laura by visiting her website.

Check out the trailer!

You can purchase Burn Mark from your favorite bookseller or by clicking the widget below.

Here’s a chance to win free books!   I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jinky is Reading are hosting the Leap into Books Giveaway Hop.  The giveaway is February 29 – March 5.   There will be a ton of chances for you to win some new reading material.  Just hop on over to I am a Reader, Not a Writer to see the other giveaways!  Click here to see the list of participating blogs.

I am giving away an ARC of one of my favorite books of 2012: Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood!  This book is awesome!   You know you want to win!

Entering is easy! Just fill out the widget.  Earn extra entries for following on Twitter, Goodreads, or subscribing to receive an email with blog updates.  Easy, Huh?!

You can follow me here for extra entries:

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Jessica Spotswood is the author of Born Wicked, which hits bookstores tomorrow.  Jessica dropped by the virtual offices to share her playlist while she was working on Born Wicked.

Born Wicked Playlist:

Great question! Here are five bands/singers whose albums I listened on repeat while writing BORN WICKED, with samples of lyrics that inspired me!

1. A Fine Frenzy:

“Almost Lover” Goodbye my almost lover / Goodbye my hopeless dream / I’m trying not to think about you / Can’t you just let me be?

1. Adele:

“Turning Tables” Next time I’ll be braver / I’ll be my own savior

1. Florence and the Machine:

“Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)” You made a deal, and now it seems you have to offer up/ But will it ever be enough? (Raise it up, raise it up) / It’s not enough (Raise it up, raise it up)
Here I am, a rabbit hearted girl / Frozen in the headlights / It seems I’ve made the final sacrifice

I must become a lion hearted girl / Ready for a fight / Before I make the final sacrifice

“Drumming Song” There’s a drumming noise inside my head / That starts when you’re around / I swear that you could hear it / it makes such an almighty sound / Louder than sirens/ Louder than bells / Sweeter than heaven / and hotter than hell

4. Mumford & Sons:

“Sigh No More” Love; it will not betray you / Dismay or enslave you / it will set you free / Be more like the man you were made to be

“White Blank Page” But tell me now, where was my fault / in loving you with my whole heart

“Roll Away Your Stone” It seems that all my bridges have been burned / But you say, “That’s exactly how this grace thing works.”

Stars hide your fires / For these here are my desires / And I won’t give them up to you this time around / And so I’ll be found / With my stake stuck in the ground / Marking the territory of this newly impassioned soul

5. Snow Patrol:

“You Could Be Happy” You could be happy and I won’t know / But you weren’t happy the day I watched you go / And all the things that I wished I had not said / Are played in loops til it’s madness in my head

You could be happy, I hope you are / You made me happier than I’ve been by far

“Make This Go On Forever” Please don’t let this turn into something it’s not / I can only give you everything I’ve got / I can’t be as sorry as you think I should / But I still love you more than anyone else could

“Open Your Eyes” Get up, get out, get away from these liars / ‘Cause they don’t get your soul or your fire / Take my hand, knot your fingers through mine / And we’ll walk from this dark room for the last time

Thanks, Jessica!

You can learn more about Jessica by visiting her website and by following her on Twitter

Born Wicked is available in print and digital format. You can order a copy by clicking the widget below

We just finished celebrating Halloween. Your children dressed in wonderful costumes, you walked from house to house getting candy, your schools had parties and ton of candy was given away. This holiday was celebrated all over the country and probably in other countries as well. Last post I shared with you where Halloween came from and the folklore behind it but today I will take a larger step. I will look at how public libraries celebrated this holiday.



A few days ago I did a massive survey on a list called pub lib and asked a very simple question How does your library celebrate Halloween. I got a massive response to this question and have decided to give a list of 10 most unique stories that came from this list. This post will not have any book reviews and lets say I will catalog this under Cool Stuff. Please enjoy my list of 10.



1)  The year we had the ground breaking for our building the same day as the Halloween parade so that as soon as that parade was over we had our parade from the old building to the new site. Thus the community band that played for our parade and ground breaking ceremony did it dressed in Halloween costumes. The last two years of the Optimists Halloween parade we entered a book truck drill team. The first year we each dressed as a story book character and put pictures on our book trucks to fit our character. The second year we all wore black with bright colored boas and decorated the carts for Halloween.

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By: Lauren, on 9/22/2011
Blog: OUPblog (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  witchcraft, Education, World, witches, salem witch trials, This Day in History, salem, hung, hysteria, *Featured, higher education, this day in world history, hanged, salem massachusetts, 1692, magic—astrology, panics, Add a tag

This Day in World History - In the fatal climax of months of turmoil, six women and two men were hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, after having been found guilty of witchcraft. The eight were the last victims of a witchcraft hysteria that gripped Salem and other towns in Massachusetts in 1692. The tumult began in February 1692, when several young girls began to behave strangely and complained of physical torments. Soon, the girls were accusing women in the village of being witches. Witchcraft was a capital offense at the time, and colonial leaders set up a court to investigate. In all, about 140 people—86% of whom were women—were accused of witchcraft in Salem.

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By: Kristi Helvig, on 9/9/2011
Blog: Kristi Helvig YA Author (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  lacey, victoria schwab, book recommendations, witches, friday, debut novels, Add a tag

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab.

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (August 2, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423137876

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. 
 
If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. 
 
And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget. 


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Seriously, go buy this book. It's so rich and timeless. Beautiful storytelling, with a setting as vivid as the characters. I could say a zillion wonderful things about it, but really, after reading that description, how could you not already want to read it?

1 Comments on Friday Book Recommendation: The Near Witch, last added: 9/9/2011

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Marisa Hopkins said, on 9/9/2011 10:37:00 AM

*adds to Goodreads* That sounds like the perfect book!

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By: David Elzey, on 8/12/2011
Blog: The Excelsior File (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  picture book, storybook, jane yolen, witches, 60s, macmillan, arnold roth, Add a tag

When 12 year-old Genevieve’s mother goes missing, she begins to search her house for clues to her disappearance. Nothing is unusual until a map drawn by Genevieve and her best friend takes on the feel and appearance of real rock. Genevieve is drawn to it. She swipes her hand across it and the turret ceiling in her bedroom suddenly slides back revealing a dark space. Intrigued she crawls up and see’s...

“... a bracelet. Made of multi-coloured stones – mauve, orange, blue-green, sea-green, midnight blue, rose pink – each stone engraved within it a design in a complimentary shade...”

Could this bracelet, her magical map and, what appears to be, her mother’s glove perched and pointing on top of the squire of the gate, all be clues to her disappearance? Find out in, Time Witch by Jacqueline Corcoran.

This book is exciting and mysterious as Genevieve finds herself on the adventure of her life after she slips into another world. Between her encounters with two youngsters engaged to be married, (a snooty princess and her dashing prince) witches, trolls, flying horses and a world based on “time,” this book will have your middle-graders staying up late reading under the covers with a flashlight. I LOVED it!

Check Time Witch on; Amazon and Solstice

About the Author:

Jacqueline Corcoran was born to Irish and Welsh parents in England. Influenced by the Celtic tradition of storytelling, witches, trolls, and winged horses inhabit her middle-grade fantasy. She has lived in the U.S. for most of her life – in California, Michigan, Texas, and now in Alexandria, Virginia.

She holds a Ph.D. in social work and has been a member of the faculty at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond since 2000. Before that, she was on faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work for four ye

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By: Joan Enders, on 3/13/2011
Blog: What to Read, What to Read... (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:  witches, fantasy. supernatural, Add a tag

Tiffany the witch: when I read about her I really want to be one! She has all the great attributes of someone who really loves and serves the people around her. She is tolerant and forgiving of little blue warriors nudging into her affairs, privacy and banquets. She is loyal to old friends even when they are not loyal to her. She faces her enemies head-on. I like this 16 year old girl/witch! In the fourth and last novel about Tiffany and her wee blue men and kenda, she attacks dark acts of violence at home and faces the ultimate darkness that is searching to destroy her. Luckily the Wee Free Men lighten the heaviness of the dangers for the readers. They know that they have to watch out for their “wee big hag o’ the hills.” As Tiffany prepares for the ultimate showdown with the darkness closing in on her, she discovers secrets about Roland’s bride to be and her mother. She administers to his father, the Baron. In a strange turn of events involving fire and a hare she saves the day for herself, Roland, and her hills. I wish there were a fifth novel!

Terry was just awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from AASL and he has received numerous honors in the UK.

Terry Pratchett has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's Disease. He spoke to the Alzheimer's Research Trust Conference in the UK earlier this year, where he donated $1 million to aid Alzheimer's research.

ENDERS' Rating: *****

Terry's website

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