The Sheltie Gazette: What is a witch?
Oct 31, 2025 3:31 pm
... let me tell you a story. A Halloween story.
It's about the first Halloween we were back in America. You see, when my older kids were little, we lived in Uganda for a while. Some of my children were born there and some were born here, but we were away long enough that their young brains shifted. We'd been back for several months, and they were excited for every new holiday, which of course was going to be just like what they'd seen on TV.
My friends, it turns out that they hated Halloween.
I always think about it when I'm driving around this time of year, because I had to design circuitous routes, zig-zagging through unusual streets to avoid the most-decorated houses. I'd hear gasps or little sobs from the back seat and think well, I'll guess I'll have to take 17th Ave next time. We could manage non-scary costumes, and non-scary activities on the 31st, and funny-fun music, but it was so dang hard to avoid those gory yard decorations.
Nowadays, I'm not even sure I could do it, because over-the-top Halloween decorations have become so trendy. There isn't a single route left decorated with only some lopsided pumpkins and a cheerful teal witch. Of course, my teen-young-adult kids don't care at all any more, and my current elementary-schoolers aren't sensitive to those things...but they didn't live in Uganda.
In Uganda, at least when we were there, they didn't have Halloween celebrations. But do you know what they did have?
Witchcraft.
Not the crystals-and-Tarot sort of modern witches we have here. No, my neighbors and colleagues would warn me, don't let the children walk on this beach unless they're close to you. Don't go into this neighborhood after dark. No one was worried about pickpocketers—they were talking about children being stolen for their bodies to be used in the practice of black magic. Everyone knew someone who had a child disappear. These are teachers, lawyers, doctors... and they'd tell us, eh, I know you Americans don't believe, but this is the truth. I see it.
And I did believe them. I followed their advice, because I think pretty strongly that the people who belong to a culture and a place know best about their home. (And for the record, overall I think Uganda is incredibly safe—more so than many places in America, especially lately.) And furthermore, deep down inside I do intrinsically believe that our energy and actions creates a change in the world. I absolutely believe this kind of cruelty creates something terrible beyond itself...
...and I also believe that kindness, empathy, and loyalty create something bigger than themselves, too.
I wrote a witchy story, and there's a lot of witchy stories out there right now. "Dark" romance and fantasy are popular right now, and I think some people feel the negativity in the world and have a need to go to an even more horrific place in fiction to balance it out. Other people need to ignore all the darkness and read stories where the biggest conflict is who wins first prize for their buttercream frosting.
That's not what I write. I write from that place that balances both sides... I always write happy endings (although not always tidy endings), but I can't ever forget that we have darkness in the world. There are people who are cruel, and their cruelty changes lives forever.
But I have to hold onto the belief that our kindness has an impact, too. Even when we can't change the situation in the moment. Even if we can't persuade someone to change their minds. By holding on to what is right and good, we have the power to tip the balance in the world too. And it's hard — what is right and good? When is the right time to argue and when to wait? What if I make a mistake and harm someone?
That's why I write fiction, because human beings learn and grow through story. I write stories where evil witches are real, but a mother's love has power too. I write about people who make bad decisions but try to make them better—and ones who don't. Most of all, I write about how people can come together in love and friendship, and try to make things better....and in the world that I write, that matters.
Because that is the world I want to live in. Your act of kindness matters. Your honesty matters. And your joy matters, too.
Here's a cup of tea and a rainy autumn day
for a little sweetness in your day
Kindness anthology
I drive past the house where we used to live on the way to drop the boys at school, and the new owners are some of those people who are really into their Halloween decoration. This year, it's all skeletons.... a giant skeleton dog chasing skeleton people up the power lines, more skeletons riding motorcycles. My kids, at the age when we lived in that house, would have hated it. Of course it's their house now and they can decorate however they way...but still, it gives me strange layers of feelings every time I drive by.
I've been planning to tell you this story for Halloween this whole month (every time I drive by the house!) but it also happens to segue into my next topic.
I have been delighted to participate in an anthology themed around acts of kindness. Some author colleagues were depressed about the state of the news and felt like this was a way to help us all focus on the positive in the world, and I completely agree. This should be a sweet, relaxing, and uplifting anthology, and I hope it gives you an emotional boost as we go into the dark season of the year.
It releases on November 1st.... and I wanted to be sure to share it with you ASAP, because they have decided to raise the price after the first week. I know that some of you are price-sensitive so I wanted to be sure to let you know — it's $2.99 now (which is potentially worth the price just for my story) and going up to $4.99 in a week or so. So... I will tell you more about the whole volume in the next newsletter, but I didn't want anyone to miss the chance to order at the lower price!
My story...
My story in this one goes back to Saba! What happens after the Dark Man chases her into the Peaceful Valley? She's pregnant and very lonely, but always ready to dive in to something new.
You've read a sample of this story in Magical Libraries, and now you get the rest! (This is a medium-length short story; about 30 pages.) In this case, the library isn't magical, like the Fae-managed library in The Squire & His Magical Library. But it's kind of magical, insofar that it's created by a deep passion for books, and a determination to save them from war and destruction. But really, the "magical" in this story is Saba herself.
If you're into stories about libraries, this one is set almost entirely inside a library and the entire plot revolves around reading and research—and, of course, acts of kindness when the world is dark.
Happy Halloween....however you celebrate
I invite you to curl up with a book that reminds you of the goodness in the world, because we all deserve some kindness. And may all your witches be either good witches, or easily defeated!
