Cooking Up Magick follows a halfling chef’s culinary explorations through Erdea, a world shaped by ancient magick, layered history, and the practical challenges of travel. Where did the idea behind this story come from?

The first germ of an idea for this story came while I was playing D&D with friends. I wanted to explore a game where people learned to use magick from scratch. In D&D, you start at level one already knowing how your abilities work, but I wanted to know what it would feel like to suddenly develop magick with no warning, no idea it was even possible. I imagined colorful sparks like static electricity, hair floating as power charged through the body. I thought it would be fun to play a halfling who suddenly develops this ability. Unfortunately, COVID interrupted my plans, and we all scattered. The idea wouldn’t stop cooking in my brain, so I started writing.

Shortly before the pandemic, my husband passed away. He loved to cook and had once wanted to be a chef himself, but unfortunately never got that opportunity. So my halfling, Paisley Dell, became a chef because of him. So much of him lives in these characters, in little quirks and interests. He was my cinnamon-roll softie, and Gunur Yurg carries that part of him. The whole book is my ode to him. Writing him into these characters was my catharsis.

How much thought went into designing the roads, terrain, transportation systems, and settlements?

A lot. So much thought. Many times throughout my rewrites, I discovered myself doing the equivalent of algebra. I owe an apology to my teacher for thinking word problems were a waste of time. Trying to figure out how fast the various parties were going, how many miles they had to go, how many days it would take each to get where they were going. And then, of course, how that changed whether they were all walking, being carried, or had horses, and what days they actually started their journeys in relation to each other.

The settlements didn’t require the mental gymnastics that traveling did! I did a lot of research on castles, villages, farming, warfare, and so on from about the 1200-1500’s so that I could convey the proper fantasy flavor. Because it’s fantasy, and my book is populated with different races, I tried to keep the technology developed somewhat consistently, yet with cultural variations.

Do you enjoy the problem-solving side of adventure stories as much as the action itself?

Absolutely. Action helps keep the pace fast and fun. But delving into the problems and “what do we do now” questions gives us glimpses into our characters’ minds, how they think, why they think that way, how they solve problems. I am a very character-driven writer, so I enjoy that part immensely.

Can you give us a glimpse inside Book 2 of the Dell Chronicles? Where will it take readers?

Paisley and her friends travel to Zeldara and meet with Lera Telanir, the king of the Dark Elves. Paisley learns more about her magick, and we get a spotlight more on Leel and Idari. Those two characters didn’t get a lot of page time in book one, and will get more in book two. The group also gets to meet a dragon or two.

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