Understanding the Wheel of the Year
A Story Witch’s Guide to the Seasons of Magic Even before I knew its name, I felt the Wheel of the Year. I knew it was there in the shifting of the shadows, the cooling of the winds, and the scent of blossoms returning after winter. I feel this now, especially in North Carolina, where […]
December and the Turning of the Wheel
December Magic ✨ and Closing the Year with Intention For me, December always feels a little bit like a portal. I have one foot in the year that’s ending and one in the upcoming new year. As the nights grow longer and darker, I feel possibility in the air. I light candles, burn a fire […]
The Witches of Chesapeake Bay
Witches of Chesapeake Bay When I write about witches, whether real or imagined, I always feel a little bit like I’m reaching backward through time. With House of Spells and Secrets, I felt the tide of Chesapeake Bay tugging at the shore. I heard the air there hum with old stories. If you listen closely, […]
Samhain and Mabon: Embracing the Magic of the Turning Wheel
Hello, witchy friends! It’s the time of year when summer has turned to fall. In the witchy world, that means the wheel of the year is turning again, and with it come two of my absolute autumn events: Mabon and Samhain. Every autumn, I feel a delicious shift in the air with cooler mornings, the […]
The Cover of House of Spells and Secrets
It’s here, it’s here, it’s here! I can’t keep a secret for long…especially when it sparkles with the kind of magic that makes my heart race. Thank the stars, then, that the cover for my upcoming novel, House of Spells and Secrets, is finally here—and oh my stars, it’s everything I dreamed it would be! Picture this: […]
✨ How My Pen Names Work Together: The Magic of Ivy Cassidy & Melissa Bourbon
One Writer, Many Names…And a Lot of Magic In case you hadn’t heard, I’m one woman writing under multiple pen names, each with its own purpose, voice, and reader experience. And if you’re curious how it all connects, welcome! This is the place where the threads of Melissa Bourbon and Ivy Cassidy […]
🕯️ Creating a Grimoire: The Magical Heart of My Ivy Cassidy World
🕯️ Creating a Grimoire: The Magical Heart of My Ivy Cassidy World What Is a Grimoire? Have you heard the term ‘grimoire’ and wondered, what is that? I bet you’re not alone! Let me explain it. A lot of people think a grimoire is a book of spells, but I think it’s so much […]
✨ The Real Irish Healer Who Inspired The House of Spells and Secrets
✨ The Real Irish Healer Who Inspired House of Spells and Secrets The Moment Inspiration Struck House of Spells and Secrets was born the moment I stumbled upon the story of Biddy Early, a 19th-century healer from Ireland with a life that practically glows with myth and mystery. Born Bridget Ellen Connors, Biddy lived […]
🧙🏼What Kind of Witch Are You?
