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A Reluctant Enchantress
A Southern Enchantress follows a clairsentient enchantress who has long desisted embracing her magical heritage and meets an irresistible rogue, and as their relationship continues, she has an increase in supernatural encounters. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve lived in the Deep South for years and learned long ago to respect the deep-seated culture of the area, particularly in New Orleans, where folk magic is still practiced and contact with restless spirits, both positive and negative, is not uncommon. A heroine’s journey framed around such occurrences offered intoxicating possibilities for me as an author. Even so, a stigma remains for those who overtly embrace magic and communicate with spirits. Hence, the desire to paint Suzanne’s role as reluctant because facing personal and professional repercussions is a consequence. Suzanne’s character is multi-faceted: her reluctance is even more pronounced, partially because of her mother, Madelaine’s, tragic death.
Your characters are wonderfully emotive and relatable. Were you able to use anything from your own life to inform their character development?
My first husband and I divorced when our kids were between the ages of 8 and 16, so Suzanne’s struggle to ‘let go’ of the past and move forward in search of love, even with a man of questionable merit, is authentic and resonates with readers. And I’ve certainly dealt with a rogue or two—these men are deliciously inspiring!
In fantasy novels, it’s easy to get carried away by the magical powers of characters. How did you balance the use of supernatural powers?
Novels begin with an inciting incident, weave through chapters of complications, head toward a climax, and eventually reach a resolution. Magical elements are trappings or tropes designed to enhance the reader’s experience and meet their expectations. A character’s ability to create change—or craft an alternative outcome—should never override the plot, which needs to stand on its own, with or without adding magical or paranormal elements. While it’s tough to stay within the lanes, it’s essential.
Will this novel be the start of a series, or are you working on a different story?
About halfway through writing A Southern Enchantress, I decided it would be a stand-alone novel. While I fell in love with my characters and struggled to let them go, I needed another writing challenge. I’m working on a historical fantasy set in New Orleans’ Storyville in the early 1900s. (Storyville was an area dedicated to legalized prostitution that remained in place until 1917.) The MC, Zelime Vermillion, is a madam who runs the finest brothel on Basin Street and becomes entangled in all sorts of challenges. Thankfully, the spirit world is watching.
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When Suzanne—a clairsentient enchantress—meets Max—an irresistible rogue—at a Garden District soirée, destiny is at play. As their relationship sizzles, Suzanne experiences an uptick in supernatural encounters, each demanding that an evil deed from yesteryear be avenged.
As Suzanne navigates these hauntings, she must confront her past and acknowledge her heritage. Raised by a hoodoo conjurer, Suzanne had rejected her mother’s expectations to practice folk magic but eluding her role as a spellcaster no longer remains an option. Instead, Suzanne must embrace her legacy to survive. Set in New Orleans and along Mississippi’s sparkling Gulf Coast, Suzanne rediscovers the power of the tarot and learns that bonding with a beloved specter, trapped since the 1940s, will change everything.
Told in dual timelines and stretching the bounds of realism, A Southern Enchantress celebrates the generational love of women bound even beyond death.
A Southern Enchantress
Deborah Trahan’s A Southern Enchantress transports readers to the mystical streets of New Orleans, where magic, love, and fate collide. At the heart of the story is Suzanne, a clairsentient enchantress who has long resisted embracing her magical heritage. Raised by a powerful hoodoo conjurer, she turned her back on the craft, determined to live a normal life. However, when she crosses paths with Max, a charming yet morally questionable rogue at a Garden District soirée, her destiny takes an unexpected turn. As their relationship deepens, Suzanne begins to experience supernatural encounters, each demanding she avenge past evils. Confronting her family’s legacy and the shadows of history, she must quickly master the magic she once rejected if she hopes to survive.
On the surface, A Southern Enchantress is a tale of magic and enchantment, but beneath that lies a story rich in themes of family, self-acceptance, and love. Trahan weaves an enchanting narrative that explores revenge, pain, greed, and sorrow, all told through evocative and lyrical prose. Her vivid descriptions of New Orleans create a setting so immersive that the city itself feels like a character. Every scene is painted with such care that the imagery leaps off the page, bringing the haunting beauty of the French Quarter and its surroundings to life.
Suzanne, the novel’s protagonist, is a character that I absolutely loved. Trahan develops her as a deeply human character that is complex, flawed, and relatable. Her internal struggle with her powers and her past adds a layer of emotional depth that resonates throughout the book. Suzanne’s journey of self-discovery and growth is as much about accepting herself as it is about mastering her magic.
The novel’s dual timeline, while ambitious, can be challenging. Although I typically enjoy stories that alternate between time periods, I felt that the structure made the story occasionally hard to follow. It takes some time to adjust to the shifts, and this can disrupt the flow of the story. Despite this, the richness of the narrative and the depth of the characters more than compensate for the timeline’s shortcomings.
In A Southern Enchantress, Trahan blends multigenerational tragedy with magical realism, creating a story that is both enchanting and moving. The vivid imagery, compelling characters, and emotional depth make it a captivating read. It’s a novel worth reading for its beautifully crafted world and unforgettable protagonist.
Pages: 391 | ASIN : B0CLWF2S4J
Choose to Empower Others
When You Called My Name follows a sixteen-year-old boy with autism, depression, and anxiety who is contemplating suicide till he meets a new girl in school who helps him change his perspective. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Three friends of mine inspired this story. They bravely shared stories of what life was like for them as autistic people with depression and anxiety. (One of them is a counselor, and he shared more things from a professional POV.) They also mentioned how men got less attention for the same mental issues compared to women because traditionally, men were not encouraged to show any weakness or emotion. (That unfortunately remains a fact to this day.) That got me thinking. That’s why I wrote When You Called My Name and decided to tackle mental issues from a male perspective. The main character, Logan, was loosely based on my friends, although he does have my insecurity and tendency to overthink. Can’t help it, I always put a little bit of myself into every character I create.
Despite my objective to examine mental illness through a male perspective, female characters—most notably, Andrea—play an important role in the novel, too. Andrea is a perfect example of what a strong, brave character should be like. She doesn’t put down anyone because she’s comfortable with being herself. She doesn’t have to hurt anyone to make herself feel better. Only the best people choose to empower others, and that’s exactly what she does—she empowers Logan and helps him discover the beauty in being himself.
A lot of time was spent crafting the character traits in this novel. What was the most important factor for you to get right in your characters?
Actually, I didn’t spend a lot of time crafting their character traits. Things just came easily to me. Logan Smith is an insecure main character who has a full character arc and becomes brave and emotionally mature at the end. Andrea Goldstein is a fairy godmother type of character who’s sunshiny and has a gift for making quirky, clever remarks. She ranks high on my list of favorite characters (which is an incredible feat, as I’ve written thirty-two books now and created hundreds of characters!) I don’t think I’ll ever give birth to another character as cool, interesting, and positive as she.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There’s the obvious anti-bullying message, of course, but what lies behind it matters more—compassion, bravery, and finding the strength to grow. The sub-themes in my story are mortality and existentialism. The plot twists in the latter part of the story also serve to remind readers that life is fragile, and we must cherish every minute of it.
What is one thing that you hope teens and young adults take away from When You Called My Name?
Have empathy. Have empathy for anyone of any gender, race, or age. We’ll never know what it’s like to be in the shoes of another person, but having empathy and the ability to imagine ourselves in their position is what makes us human. To you, winning an award may be a tremendous achievement; to someone else, getting through another day is an accomplishment in itself. You never know what other people are going through, so “Judge not,” as the Bible says.
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When You Called My Name
In When You Called My Name, Hermione Lee presents a poignant exploration of adolescence through the story of sixteen-year-old Logan Smith, who grapples with autism, depression, and anxiety. The narrative begins at a critical moment in Logan’s life, as he faces severe bullying at school that pushes him to the brink of despair. The arrival of a new student, Andrea Goldstein, marks a turning point. Andrea not only stands up to the bullies but also becomes a steadfast ally, helping Logan see his own worth and fostering feelings of self-love and acceptance.
This young adult novel carries a profound message beneath its straightforward narrative. Lee’s writing style strikes a balance, sophisticated enough to engage older readers yet accessible for younger ones, making the book suitable for a broad audience. The characters are crafted with realism and depth: Andrea embodies hope and resilience, while Logan reflects the struggles of anyone who has ever felt marginalized. Lee skillfully addresses themes of bullying, the potential for victims to become perpetrators, and the transformative power of self-acceptance. The plot weaves together issues of mental illness, toxic family dynamics, and the journey toward forgiveness and personal growth, making the narrative both comprehensive and compelling.
When You Called My Name is notable for its focus on male adolescence and the specific challenges of bullying within this context. It offers a fresh perspective on young adult literature. Hermione Lee’s thoughtful and impactful approach provides valuable insights for readers navigating similar challenges.
Pages: 244 | ASIN : B0CZ7GN54K
LITERARY TITAN 