Pagan Writers Community

“Read until you know good writing by the way it makes you feel. Read the genre you’re trying to write in until you know all the clichés, and can use them, or not, by choice and not accident. Then, and only then, go back and see what it was you were trying to write.”

“My first book was inspired by a vision. The vision told me that it was time for me to begin writing, and that I should write about the two topics I was most interested in at the time: Magickal spirituality and the Gothic subculture. These two spheres are completely distinct and separate entities, but they do go hand-in-hand for some people. One is subculture (music-based) and one is magick (spirituality-based), but the two lifestyles do have the possibility complementing one another. So, that is what I explore. My second book, Shadow Magick Compendium, explores only “dark” magickal-spiritual aspects, however, doing away with any sort of subcultural focus.”

“I like mysteries because they are fun, but for me, it’s more about the issues within the story, the lives of the characters, and how they deal with their problems to become better people. My stories are mixed-genre, but publishers don’t generally like to hear that. Hence the “paranormal mystery” classification of Taking 1960. The great thing about a mystery, however, is that it can be anything. Life is full of mysteries. So there is a lot of room for flexibility, and that’s the best thing about it…”

On the sign outside the village, it says, ‘Pine Creek—Where Everyone Smiles and Nobody Frowns.’ Mark and I thought it would be a perfect place to have children. Main Street takes you through the middle of the town, past Suki’s Ice Cream Parlor, where an old man often sits for long hours. Alice Crier and her husband, Bill, own the laundromat. There’s a little bookstore, a novelty shop and a general store on the same street.

The creek near the house sparkled under the noonday sun, just before clouds enveloped the golden orb and the water turned dark again. Kat had been admiring the creek from the hill on their front lawn as she gathered her things for a small picnic. Since having her dream the night before, she wanted to spend as little time inside as possible, as though Julie Maslin might inadvertently appear to beg for her ring back.

This week, our Featured Author talks to PWC about her latest book, Son of Air and Darkness; she tells readers about her research, her characters and where we can get a copy!

By the third day only my geasa kept the throats of my companions safe from my teeth, for the thirst was terrible upon me. That night after Marcellinus and Lucius were asleep Cait came to me and offered herself, for she said she could sense my weakness and the pain brought on by my need. I refused her, of course, as I felt I must. She did not argue, but reached into her girdle for something. Before I could stop her she had slashed her right wrist and held it toward my parched mouth. The red fountain of life ran down her arm, and I could refuse no more.

Interview by Rosa Sophia

J.W. Coffey is the author of The Savior, A Wager of Blood, The Brothers Campbell, and Illusions and Reality, a collection of short stories. You will probably remember her from PWC’s interview of a few months back, when we talked to her about her writing. This week, Ms. Coffey is our Featured Author.

“See, there’s this company in California, ok?” Dave got a smile on his face, the brown eyes sparkling. “They take the ashes and make stuff out of ‘em.”
Josh was horrified. “Excuse me?”
“Yeah. Like, they mix the ashes with concrete and make these sorta fake coral reefs. Then, they take the things out to the middle of the ocean and put it with the other reefs and it’s supposed to, you know, build up the natural structure until the coral can make new and give the fishes a place to live. It’s all real environmental, dig?”

“My latest book, A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk is a practical manual of instruction for those who may have some experience with Wicca or general Paganism, but have developed an interest in Traditional Crafting. It acts as a bridge between the typical beginner’s books on Wicca and the more philosophical or academic books you tend to find about non-Wiccan Witchcraft.”