Deanna Anderson

AM – This week our Featured Author is Deanna Anderson.  Deanna is the author of “Magick for the Kitchen Witch.” Her forthcoming book, “Magick for the Elemental Witch,” will be released sometime this year.  Thank you for joining us today!

DA – You’re welcome, and thanks for the honor of being a Featured Author.

AM – Please tell us a little more about yourself.

DA – Well, I grew up in Wisconsin and at 18 moved to New Mexico, its there that I met my husband and we started to raise a family (we have 2 daughters).  Seven years ago we moved to South Carolina just for something different.  Currently I work with the disabilities board of my county and hold the seat of Family Council with Gaia’s Wisdom Coven and School of Pagan Thought.

AM – What got you started on your spiritual path?

DA – As a child I always felt that the monotheistic religions I had been introduced to were never “quite right” for me.  In college, when I was 21, I learned that there were people who practiced Paganism.  I started learning first about Wicca but have since adapted many other beliefs/cultures into what I practice.  I started to seriously practice about 4 years ago and have been with a coven for almost a year.

AM – What are the Gaia’s Wisdom Coven and School of Pagan Thought?  Where can we find more information about them?

DA – It is a coven and school that was started by a local couple here in Sumter.  It has only been in operation since April 2009, but just a few days ago we were granted a business license and the state was enthusiastic about us continuing our quest to become an official “church” or religious organization.  We provide a support group for Pagans as well as classes so they can gain experience and knowledge.  It is a non-profit group and we have people from neighboring cities of Elgin, Columbia and Florence coming to our meetings and classes.  The website for the coven is www.gaiaswisdom.com.

AM – How did you become interested in writing?

DA – When I was eight years old.  I wanted to read something but I had already read all of my books.  So, I sat down and wrote a short story.  It was about a girl who finds monsters in the woods but they are nice and she makes friends with them.  From that point on I dreamed of being a full-time author, it just never occurred to me that it would be in the genre of Paganism.

AM – Tell us more about “Magick for the Kitchen Witch”?

DA – It is filled with wonderful information regarding folklore, superstitions, gods and goddesses, spells, rituals and divination that are all with the realm of kitchen witchery.  The path harbors a belief system that the kitchen is the heart of the home.  In older times, the fireplace was a central point of the living space and used for cooking and warmth.  The belief is that this is the center of the home, which has given way to kitchens as the central point since fireplaces are used more for ambiance than necessity.  Spells and rituals in this path are simple and deal with the home or family, home remedies, cooking magick, and a little bit of gardening.  In my books I like to bring in various cultural and religious beliefs to show the similarities and differences, including monotheistic references.

AM – What inspired you to write this book?

DA – When I started practicing a few years ago I started a Book of Shadows or Grimoire.  I realized that I preferred simple spells without a lot of ritual and I believed that the kitchen was the heart of the home…I just didn’t know what all that meant.  I read a passage in a book that talked about Kitchen Witchery and I realized that sounded like what I do in my practices and I set out to learn more about the path.  As I was collecting information I realized I could write a book on the topic, so I did.  Writing was a way to explore the path and my role in it…it was a spiritual journey.

AM – Was this your first book release?  Were you nervous about how it was going to be received by readers and the Pagan community?

DA – In 2006 I had a children’s fantasy book titled “Imagaca: the boy who had no imagination” that was released by Publish America.  I was not very happy with the publishers and rushed writing the book so I never promoted it as much as this Kitchen Witch book.  Someday I want to re-do it and eventually it will be an entire series as well.  I am always nervous with any writing I do that goes public.  I don’t like negative comments or criticisms and yet, being in the public eye, it is to be expected.  So far it has been received well and I have actually sold it to several Christian believers who like it for the tips on cooking and home remedies.  I have had several comments about things that people have done from the book that worked for them or they enjoyed.

AM – Tell us more about your upcoming book, “Magick for the Elemental Witch.”

DA – I wanted to further define the elements: earth, air, water, fire and spirit and I had yet to see a book that was about just the elements.  They are mentioned in a lot of books but I didn’t know of a book that focused on them.  This book is divided into 6 sections: The Four Classic Elements, Magick for the Earth Witch, Magick for the Sea Witch, Magick for the Air Witch, Magick for the Fire Witch, and Magick for the Spiritist Witch.  It is like getting 6 books in one.  Each section deals with the element it focuses on (the first section talks about all of the elements as a whole) and shows correspondences well beyond those of Wicca or traditional practices such as Chinese, Buddist, Celtic, Aztec, Greek, etc.  Like my first book, there is folklore attached to each element, superstitions, spells, rituals, divination, and gods and goddesses.  Each spell, ritual or divination method uses that element as a main component.

AM – What can we expect to see next from you?

DA – I am currently outlining a book titled “Magick for the Nature Witch” (a working title, it may change) and am thinking about doing a book titled “Magick for the Gypsy Witch.”  There will be at least 5 in this series, which is “The Copper Cauldron” series (series title is based on a message board I used to own and from the first cauldron I ever bought).  I also have the go-ahead from publishers to write children’s Pagan books; hopefully by Samhain (Oct 31) this year I will have the first in the series released.  Each book deals with a Sabbat as based on the Wiccan Wheel of the Year.  They will be geared towards children being able to use the books or for parents to use in homeschooling or just as a way to teach children Paganism.  Each book will (hopefully) come out near the Sabbat it is titled for.

AM – What do you think is the most important piece of advice that you would give an unpublished writer?

DA – Don’t give up.  Dr. Seuss’s “The Cat in the Hat” was rejected 17 times before being published.  Don’t give up, keep sending to different magazines and publishers and keep writing.  It took me from the age of 8 to the age of 37 to get a good foot in the publishing door, but it can happen.  Also, learn everything you can about the publishing and writing field.  It helps to know how a book goes from writer to publisher to printing and about copyright laws, book marketing, etc.

AM – Where can we go to learn more about you and purchase “Magick for the Kitchen Witch” and “Magick for the Elemental Witch”?

DA – All of my books are available through any online distributor.  “Magick for the Kitchen Witch” (and when “Magick for the Elemental Witch” comes out) is on the publisher’s site www.andborough.com and can be ordered from there in bulk orders.  For autographed copies both books are available at my site www.thecoppercauldron.com.  The “Imagica” book can be ordered online at any book distributor or from the publishers at www.publishamerica.com.

AM – Thank you for sharing some time with us today Deanna.  We wish you the best of luck with “Magick for the Kitchen Witch”, “Magick for the Elemental Witch” and all of your future writing endeavors.

DA – Thank you, I enjoyed being a part of Pagan Writers Community.