Interview With Witchcraft Author Rebecca Beyer

 

1. What motivated you to write your book, to force you from taking an idea or experience and turning it into this book?  I had been working on this manuscript for many years before Quarto approached me about writing a book for them. I think some of it was luck in that my social media presence and blog are good ways to get sneak peeks at my writing and they found me through those mediums.  

2. What is it about and who is it for? My book is about the folk magical and medicinal traditions of Appalachia and is for all people who are interested in or already love Appalachia.  

3. What takeaways might the reader will be left with after reading it? Hopefully that Appalachia is far more diverse of a place with a rich history. I hope people feel inspired by the legends and beings of our home. I also hope that it instills a feeling of awe, mystery and even some laughs. 

4. How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design? I actually had very little to do with both! Quarto is known for its incredible art and design, their books are really collectibles. The title I came up with in conjunction with my wonderful editor through a brainstorm.  

5. What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers? Write what you know and love and someone will want to publish it! Also just because you don't have a publisher already doesn't mean you shouldn't be writing all the time and exploring your craft.  

6. What trends in the book world do you see -- and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? I see a huge love of real, paper books despite the rise of Kindle and other digital offerings because there is just something to be said, I believe, about the feel and texture of a book in the hands. I hope that remains true and I am largely just very curious to see where we go from here.  

7. What challenges did you overcome to write this book? I have been building a house and living off grid in a bus, commuting to my tattoo shop where I have electricity and wifi to write my book! it has truly been a journey.  

8. How would you describe your writing style? Honestly, very scientific. I come from a ethnobotany and soil science background in academia and I prefer to write about my historical topics in a manner that they could be used for citations in other works. I try to avoid making it so dry, but toeing the line of ensuring that it is still totally factual is of utmost importance to me!  

9. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours? If you are interested in folklore, magic, history and herbalism you might just fall in love with a part of our country that you may have had preconceived notions about. Also visually, my book is stunning!  

REBECCA BEYER is an Appalachian ethnobotanist living in the mountains of Western North Carolina, where she manages a homestead and teaches traditional witchcraft, foraging, and Appalachian folk medicine. She has a BS in plant and soil science from the University of Vermont and a master’s in Appalachian studies and sustainability, concentrating in Appalachian ethnobotany, from Appalachian State University. She is also a member of the Association of Foragers. She spends her days trying to learn what her ancestors did and finding ways to share traditional skills while tackling cultural appropriation and the complexities of living in the modern world. for more information, please see: http://www.bloodandspicebush.com/

 

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About Brian Feinblum

Brian Feinblum should be followed on Twitter @theprexpert. This is copyrighted by BookMarketingBuzzBlog ©2023. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in Westchester with his wife, two kids, and Ferris, a black lab rescue dog. His writings are often featured in The Writer and IBPA’s The Independent.  This award-winning blog has generated over 3.3 million pageviews. With 4,400+ posts over the past dozen years, it was named one of the best book marketing blogs by BookBaby  http://blog.bookbaby.com/2013/09/the-best-book-marketing-blogs  and recognized by Feedspot in 2021 and 2018 as one of the top book marketing blogs. It was also named by www.WinningWriters.com as a "best resource.” For the past three decades, including 21 years as the head of marketing for the nation’s largest book publicity firm, and two jobs at two independent presses, Brian has worked with many first-time, self-published, authors of all genres, right along with best-selling authors and celebrities such as: Dr. Ruth, Mark Victor Hansen, Joseph Finder, Katherine Spurway, Neil Rackham, Harvey Mackay, Ken Blanchard, Stephen Covey, Warren Adler, Cindy Adams, Todd Duncan, Susan RoAne, John C. Maxwell, Jeff Foxworthy, Seth Godin, and Henry Winkler. He recently hosted a panel on book publicity for Book Expo America, and has spoken at ASJA, Independent Book Publishers Association Sarah Lawrence College, Nonfiction Writers Association, Cape Cod Writers Association, Willamette (Portland) Writers Association, APEX, and Connecticut Authors and Publishers Association. His letters-to-the-editor have been published in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Post, NY Daily News, Newsday, The Journal News (Westchester) and The Washington Post. He has been featured in The Sun Sentinel and Miami Herald. For more information, please consult: www.linkedin.com/in/brianfeinblum.