Which bewitching author joins us on Chicks today to tell us about her new Witch Way Librarian series? One of our very favorite guests: Angela M. Sanders, known for her Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mystery series and Kite Shop cozies (as Clover Tate). Fly us away, Angie!
Which Witch?
Who’s your favorite witch?
While writing Bait and Witch, I surveyed the world of fictional witches—research, you know—and it turns out there are a lot of them out there. Grimm’s Fairy Tales supply the classic crone-style witch, who lives in the woods and may eat children. From there the field widens to include witches in novels (for example, Harry Potter or the Owens witches in Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic trilogy), television witches (“Chilling Adventures of Sabrina,” anyone?), and witches in movies (“Rosemary’s Baby,” “Hocus Pocus”).
My witchy formation happened in front of the TV set, where I came to love “Bewitched.” Samantha is a fair-minded, pretty witch, and I spent hours copying her, flinging my fingers in vain, hoping to hear the harp noise that accompanied casting spells. But my favorite witch on the show is Samantha’s mother, Endora.
What’s not to like about Endora? Her wardrobe is packed with filmy caftans in outrageous colors, and she wears enough blue eyeshadow to keep Max Factor in the black. She’s fiercely protective of her daughter, and she has a snappy comeback for every situation, especially if it involves her son-in-law (who I admit never seemed good enough for Samantha). Meek, bumbling Aunt Clara is a pretty terrific witch, too.
I also adore Glenda the Good Witch from the movie version of The Wizard of Oz. I admit, a big part of my fascination is with her gown and her fabulous crown. (I dream of the day crowns and magic wands are in fashion. Think—you could use the wand to push germy elevator buttons or to part the crowd on the subway with a few well-placed pokes.)
Another favorite witch is Gillian, played by Kim Novak in the 1958 movie “Bell, Book, and Candle.” Gillian knows a lot about art, slinks around barefoot, and hangs out at the groovy Zodiac Club. Plus, she casts spells through her Siamese cat, Pyewacket. (If you like classic films, you should also check out Veronica Lake in the 1942 comedy “I Married a Witch.”)
Clearly, I tend toward comedic witches and away from the darker ones, and it shows in Bait and Witch’s heroine Josie Way. As Josie learns to manage her new-found magic—with sometimes scary, sometimes funny results—she learns that being a witch truly means being more of who she really is. Maybe someday Josie will be someone’s favorite witch.
About the Author:
Angela M. Sanders writes the Witch Way Librarian cozies (Kensington) and the Joanna Hayworth vintage clothing mysteries (Widow’s Kiss Books). As Clover Tate, she wrote the Kite Shop cozies (Berkley Prime Crime). When not at her laptop, Angela rummages in thrift shops, lounges with a vintage crime novel and a fat tabby cat, and pontificates about how to make the perfect martini. She also has a witch’s freckle in her left eye. www.angelamsanders.com. Instagram: @angela.m.sanders Facebook: @AngelaMSanders
About the Book:
“Zippy and fun, with just enough ambiance to satisfy readers seeking spooks and humor.” ~ Kirkus Reviews
Josie Way loved working among the Library of Congress’s leather-scented stacks—until she uncovered corruption and made herself a target. As Wilfred, Oregon’s new librarian, Josie can stay undercover until the case goes to court. But life in this little town isn’t as subdued as she expected. The library, housed in a Victorian mansion, is slated to be bulldozed. Still digesting the news that her safe haven is about to become scrap lumber, Josie discovers a body in the woods.
Almost as shocking, Josie learns that she’s descended from a long line of witches—and her powers have suddenly sprung to life. With help from a spoiled alley cat who just may be her familiar, Josie’s thumbing through a catalog of suspects, hoping she can conjure a way to save her library—and her life.
Readers, let Angie know in the comments: Who’s your favorite witch?
Chicks on the Case 
I don’t think I have a favorite witch. I don’t tend to read many books about them. I enjoy your books though, so I might have to give Josie a shot. Congrats on the new series!
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Thank you! No favorite witches at all? Not even Glenda the good witch?
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It has been so long since I’ve seen The Wizard of Oz I don’t remember Glenda’s role!
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Oh, Samantha, for sure! I so loved “Bewitched”! Though I have to say I was even more enchanted (get it?) by the side characters (pretty much ALL of whom, I learned years later, were played by gay/lesbian actors–gotta love it!).
Congrats on the new series, Angela! Yippee!! [Harp music playing in the background…]
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Has anyone written a “behind the scenes” book about Betwitched? I’d read it in a second! And thank you for the congratulations.
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Angela, this series sounds like SOOO much fun! I can’t wait to read it.
Hmm… favorite witch. You know, I’m going old school Veronica Lake in “I Married a Witch.”
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I recently rewatched “I Married a Witch,” and it was perfect, with the election theme and all. Plus, Veronica Lake is so beautiful!
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Congrats on the new series!
I must admit to having a soft spot for Sabrina – the sitcom with Melissa Joan Hart. No desire to watch the new one, and since I don’t have Netflix, it isn’t an issue.
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The new Sabrina has become a little too dark for me! I tend to like my witches with some humor woven around them.
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I love TV Sabrina 1.0 also, Mark! (plus Salem the Cat)
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Congrats on your series, Angela! I think Samantha has got to be my favorite witch. Like you, I enjoy the comedic witches.
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Samantha is a perennial favorite! And thank you so much for the congratulations.
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Congrats on the new series, Angie — it sounds wonderful! My favorite witch was little Tabitha on Bewitched. It was so cute how she had to use her finger to twitch her nose! As a kid, I was secretly wishing I could conjure up a pony! If I were Samantha I would have “twitched” Darren into a nicer guy.
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Thank you! I like Tabitha, too. I agree with Endora and you–Samantha could have done much better than Darren.
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Such a Durwood.
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Congrats, Angie–my book has already arrived, and it looks gorgeous! Of course I love both Samantha and Sabrina (slight pref for TV Sabrina 1.0, because I, too, love humorous witches like yours). My favorite literary witch? Jennifer in Jennifer, Hecate, Macbeth, William McKinley and Me, Elizabeth (E.L. Konigsburg), of course!
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I’m adding that to my “must read” witch list immediately! And thank you so much for having me here today.
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It’s a classic, Angie! And thank you for hanging out with us–please come back soon.
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Oh my goodness, fan of all of these witches too! And now Josie. 🙂
Also loved the following books: (1) The Witch of Blackbird Pond and (2), Something Else that has haunted me for years, which is a book that I read when I was little. Can’t remember the title. All I can remember is that she had a crescent moon that identified her as a witch…
I just finished reading your book, Angie, and I absolutely loved it. Very magical and compelling. Thanks so much for visiting us today! xo
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Oh, “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” is so good! I’m so glad you liked “Bait and Witch” and thank you for having me!
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Little Witch?
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By far my favorite witches are Galinda and Elphaba from “Wicked.” They answer that age-old question, “Are people born wicked, or do they have wickedness thrust upon them?” And, of course, they sing!
Good luck with the new series, Angela!
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Hey, there’s nothing like a witch who can sing and dance! And thank you for the good wishes!
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Angie! So happy you’re here and that another one of your fabulous books is out in the world.
I looooooooved Bewitched and spent hours in front of the bathroom mirror trying to wiggle my nose and conjure some magic. The closest I got was flattening my nose until a weird line ran across it (which I guess is a certain kind of magic?) I do love Endora, though. I coveted those caftans!
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A sister caftan lover! There’s something about swanning around in a caftan that can’t be beat. They’d be lovely flapping behind a person on a broom, too….
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