A Witch Awakens: A Fire Circle Mystery by Ellis Elliott
About A Witch Awakens
A Witch Awakens: A Fire Circle Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting - In the Tennessee mountains
Publisher: Hawkshaw Press
(May 19, 2025)
Number of Pages: 238
Digital ASIN : B0F5LDHNY1
A Witch Awakens is about an accidental detective CeCe (Tennessee) Brown, who returns home to Tennessee after deciding the Big Apple just didn't suit her. While working as the local ballet teacher she helps her friend Bess to put on the annual Fall Ball. Unfortunately, during a thunderstorm the night of the ball, one of the town's most notable women is found dead. CeCe was very close to the victim, and begins to have little dizzy spells where she starts to get pictures of things around her town, and feelings compelling her to visit certain locations. Under the guidance of her grandmother and her Aunt Granny, CeCe begins to realize she shares a family proclivity for a bit of second sight. It's a story where CeCe solves a mystery, but also begins to accept who she is, and where she's from, and what makes her little town, and herself, special. She solves the mystery of herself.
About Ellis Elliot
ELLIS ELLIOTT is a facilitator of the online writing group Bewilderness Writing. She also teaches writing and ballet in an after-school arts education program. Ellis holds an MFA from Queens University. She is a contributing writer for the Southern Review of Books, and serves as an editor/workshop instructor for The Dewdrop contemplative journal.
She is the author of the 2023 poetry chapbook, Break in the Field (Old Scratch Press), which KIRKUS calls “A deeply felt collection of candid verse.” Her work can also be found in numerous publications, including Signal Mountain Review, Plainsongs Poetry Magazine/Award Poem, Euphony Journal, and the Women of Appalachia Project Anthology. Ellis has a blended family consisting of six grown sons. She resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, with her husband, Tim, and a feisty dog named Mabel. Author Links- Website: https://bewildernesswriting.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bewildernesswriting
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliselliott2020
- LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/ellis-gatewood-elliott-30ab4059
INTERVIEW
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
Like most all of my life goals, this one had stops and starts, with moments of working toward the goal, and then hanging back while parenting and paying the bills took the front seat. It was great when my college friend recently reminded me of my writing in college, and how this had always been my dream. When I finally had the time and the means at age 55, I decided to go to grad school in creative writing to immerse myself in what I love. I’d say the serious writing began about age 40.
2. How long does it take you to write a book?
I have one poetry collection, and this is my first fiction novel, and they are very different creatures writing-wise. For this book it took about 4 months of concentrated “butt-in-the-chair” work, but overall was over 3 years in the making.
3. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
I’m a morning person and have the luxury of a flexible schedule, so I get my best work done from 9-12:00 in the morning. But then, the story and characters follow you relentlessly, so I often am back at it later in the day.
4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I like to listen to Gregorian chants on low volume. There is something soothing and comforting to it, sort of like elevator music for writers.
5. How do books get published?
My experience started when I was invited into a poetry collective called “Old Scratch” run by my now-publisher with the intention to help over-40 writers get published. The group did a lottery and my name came up first, so I was traditionally published. This book was published by the hybrid-publishing arm of my poetry book publisher. Hybrid publishing means the author and publisher share the costs and the author has more control.
6. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
This book was inspired by my own family history with a heaping scoop of imagination. My mother’s family is from the mountains of East Tennessee, and I spent my childhood summers there. I also love doing research. My previous poetry book, Break in the Field, was inspired by my special-needs son.
7. When did you write your first book and how old were you?
I was 57!
8. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
I love building miniatures, from dollhouses to furniture. I also love to run my online writing groups called “Bewilderness Writing”, and I still teach dance. I love to take walks, do anything water-related, go to yoga class, and read.
9. What does your family think of your writing?
I have a blended family of 6 adult sons and they are all interested and supportive. The one who has to live with me, my husband, is my biggest cheerleader, despite having to often press the “uh-huh” button with my endless chatter about whatever my latest writing project is.
10. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
I was surprised by how consumed I became in the writing of the novel. It was really hard for me to come out of “the zone”.
11. How many books have you written? Which is your favorite?
Two. One poetry, and one cozy mystery. It’s really hard to choose because they are so different and reflect such different parts of me.
12. Do you have any suggestions to help me become a better writer? If so, what are they?
Read everything you can get your hands on of writers whose work you admire, and feel free to imitate as you find your voice. Do not be afraid to have a terrible first draft because you can always polish it up later. Getting it out on the page is the most important step. And finally, it is never too late. Some of us are truly late-bloomers.
13. Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
Not so much with my poetry book, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I might for this one, and that it will be positive!
14. Do you like to create books for adults?
Yes, because there is a lot more leeway in your subject matter, but I love whimsy and wonder and am working on stories for my grandchildren.
15. What do you think makes a good story?
I think you have to have characters readers can latch onto, mixed with risk-taking, conflict, and transformation. I love a good sense of humor.
16. As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
I wanted to be Dolly Parton’s assistant. I also wanted to be a dentist and hairdresser. My Dad told me I could do both of those at the same time.
17. What Would you like my readers to know?
I would like them to know that the “witches” in this story are based on what’s known as Appalachian “Granny Women”, sometimes called “Granny Witches”. A hundred years ago, in the mountains of East Tennessee, “Granny Women” held pivotal roles in isolated communities, as midwives, herbalists, and preparing the dead for burial. They lived with intention, used their intuition and common sense, and were committed to their communities. I think there are many modern-day “Granny Women” around today that change the world one person, or community, at a time.
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Thank you so much for the interview and spotlight!
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