Which Witch?

Growing up I loved watching the TV show Bewitched. To this day I wish I could be like Samantha. Oh to be able to wiggle my nose and have all of the house cleaning done. The world of witchcraft is varied and infinitely interesting. Sol Saks' vision of witches is just one. Cozy authors give us differing views of witches and witchcraft as well. Our protagonists generally have to work at their craft. Wiggling noses to accomplish housekeeping is as much a dream for them as it is for me!

One of my absolute favorite mystery series is a paranormal cozy featuring a witch. Juliet Blackwell has created Lily Ivory, the protagonist, and witch, in the Witchcraft Series. Lily owns a vintage clothing store in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. Lily is a witch who has never been comfortable with her powers. Throughout the series she learns and grows...and solves murders. As a side note-I love the TV show Grimm and was so excited about the Halloween episode which aired yesterday about La Llorona. It was through the Witchcraft series that I first learned of this legend. Lily has to face La Llorona in Secondhand Spirits, the first novel in the Witchcraft series.

Lily Ivory isn't the only cozy witch who has been uncomfortable with her powers. Ophelia Jenson is a psychic in Summerset Iowa whose grandmother, Abby, is a witch in the Ophelia and Abby Mystery Series by Shirley Damsgaad. While Abby is happy and content with her gifts, her granddaughter would be perfectly content without hers...at least as the series begins.

The Bewitching Mysteries by Madelyn Alt show another view of witchcraft, this time in Stony Mill, Indiana. In the first book in the series, The Trouble with Magic, we meet Maggie O'Neill as she discovers a great new job. While Maggie's new boss is a witch, Maggie doesn't really believe in witches...or the fact that she herself is one.

Heather Blake creates a new and different version of witchcraft in her series: The Wishcraft series. Darcy Merriweather and her sister, Harper, discover that they are wishcrafters-witches who are able to grant wishes. They arrive in the Enchanted Village, near Salem, Massachusetts to help their aunt and learn their craft.

Katie Lightfoot also moves to help her aunt... and uncle in their bakeshop in Savannah. What she doesn't realize is that her aunt is a witch...and she is too. Bailey Cates combines the paranormal and culinary genres is this great new series-the Magical Bakery Series. he also includes recipes.

Ella Mae LaFaye also bakes...and is also a witch in Havenwood, Georgia. The Charmed Pie Shoppe mysteries by Ellery Adams serve up a delightful combination of magic and food...pies to be exact. Recipes are included as well!

Whether our witches are just learning about their powers or are honing their skills, whether they're working with clothing, food, antiques, or books, they'll gladly welcome you to their world. I hope you'll visit them soon.