Review & Author Guest Post with Kirsten Weiss: Legacy of the Witch

As societies grow increasingly fragmented, hopelessness, nihilism, division and despair are on the rise. But there is another way—a way of mystery and magic, of wholeness and transformation. Do you dare take the first step? Our path is not for the faint-hearted, but for seekers of ancient truths.

Welcome to the May 9th stop on the blog tour for Legacy of the Witch by Kirsten Weiss with Goddess Fish Promotions. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for more guest posts, reviews, and a giveaway! More on that at the end of this post.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means there is no additional cost to you if you shop using my links, but I will earn a small percentage in commission. A program-specific disclaimer is at the bottom of this post.

Author Guest Post

Getting the Characters in My Head to Behave… Or Not.

One of the most important parts of writing, especially writing a mystery, is character development. Why not plot? Because I want to write a book that people want to re-read. And that means fun characters. But getting inside the heads of my characters can be like cracking a case wide open.

I’m not one to stick strictly to a plot or fly by the seat of my pants. Nope, I like to strike a balance between structure and spontaneity. Think of it as laying down clues for myself to follow, with plenty of room for unexpected twists and turns.

But before I even put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), I take a deep dive into the minds of my characters. I poke and prod at their motivations, their fears, their darkest secrets. Because in the world of mystery, it’s not just about what happens—it’s about why.

Sure, readers might be drawn in by a gripping plot or a tantalizing whodunit, but it’s the characters that keep them hooked. I’ve had fans tell me they’ve revisited my books time and again, not just for the mystery, but to spend more time with their favorite amateur sleuths.

So when a character starts behaving in unexpected ways, it’s like a clue that I’ve hit the mark or missed it entirely. It’s a good thing when this happens. Maybe they’re revealing a hidden facet of their personality, or maybe I need to rethink who they really are. Either way, it’s all part of the mystery-writing process—a puzzle waiting to be solved.

About the Book

Legacy of the Witch
The Mystery School Book One
by Kirsten Weiss

Published 30 April 2024
Misterio Press

Genre: Paranormal Women’s Fiction, Mystery
Page Count: 295
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!

Seeker: As societies grow increasingly fragmented, hopelessness, nihilism, and division are on the rise. But there is another way—a way of mystery and magic, of wholeness and transformation. Do you dare take the first step? Our path is not for the faint-hearted, but for seekers of ancient truths…

All April wants is to start over after her husband’s sudden death. She’s conjuring a new path—finally getting her degree and planning her new business in bucolic Pennsylvania Dutch country. Joining an online mystery school seems like harmless fun.

But when a murdered man leaves her a cryptic message, she catches glimpses of another reality she’s unwilling to acknowledge. A reality where bygone enchantments cast cryptic shadows, and the present brims with unanswered questions.

As April works to unearth the mystery, every step brings her closer to a truth she’s been evading. And to a conspiracy of hexes that may end in her demise.

Legacy of the Witch is a spellbinding, interactive tale of a woman’s midlife quest to understand the complexities of her own heart. A paranormal women’s fiction murder mystery for anyone who’s wondered if there might be more to their own life than meets the eye…

Book 1 in the new Mystery School Series featuring the UnTarot, a deck of cards for meaning making. Start reading now!

UnTarot deck app included!

Amazon US | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

Excerpt

Seeker:

Just start.

Yes, reading more about the subject is great. Talking to people with experience, doing your research, taking the class—good, good, good.

But these things can also be excuses to procrastinate. And the best way to learn is to just do it. (We’re not talking about throwing a bunch of money at something you know nothing about. We at the Mystery School understand the power of frugality, which is one reason why these emails are free).

So just start. Stumble. Screw up. It’s okay.

But just start.

Action item:

You know what you’ve been thinking of doing. Baby steps are encouraged, but just start.

My Review

My Rating: 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Consider “liking” my review on Goodreads!

I was granted complimentary access to Legacy of the Witch by Kirsten Weiss as part of my participation in a blog tour for this title with Goddess Fish Promotions. Thank you to all involved in affording me this opportunity! My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

I’ve read other titles by Weiss through these blog tours before, usually cozy mysteries, and I’ve always had a good time. Legacy of the Witch was no different! This book did not disappoint. A cozy mystery it is not, but Weiss’ strengths as a writer still shine through and translated well to this paranormal/women’s fiction genre as well.

If you like magic that just might be real, or if you’re fascinated with tarot and adjacent practices, then this is the book (and series!) for you. Grad student April becomes a student of an entirely different sort, magic, and her whole world is turned upside down.

But wait, this isn’t just a fun read! Legacy of the Witch comes with downloadable material and tutorials so that you too can learn all about the UnTarot the book’s characters use at the Mystery School, and you too can get wrapped up in maybe-possibly-real mysticism. Fun, right? I thought so, and I think you will too.

About the Author

I believe in free-will, and that we all can make a difference. I believe that beauty blossoms in the conscious life, particularly with friends, family, and strangers. I believe that genre fiction has become generic, and it doesn’t have to be.

My current focus is my new Mystery School series, starting with Legacy of the Witch. Traditionally, women’s fiction refers to fiction where a woman—usually in her midlife—is going through some sort of dramatic change. A lot of us do go through big transitions in midlife. We get divorced or remarried. The kids leave the nest. Our bodies change. The midlife crisis is real—though it manifests in different ways—as we look back on where we’ve been, where we’re going, and the time we have left.

Now in my mid-fifties, I’ve spent more time thinking about the big “meaning of life” issues. It seemed like approaching those issues through witch fiction, and through a fictional mystery school, would be a fun and a useful way for me to work out some of these ideas in my own head—about change and letting go, faith and fear, and love and longing.

After growing up on a diet of Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, and Agatha Christie, I’ve published over 60 mysteries—from cozies to supernatural suspense, as well as an experimental fiction book on Tarot. Spending over 20 years working overseas in international development, I learned that perception is not reality, and things are often not what they seem—for better or worse.

There isn’t a winter holiday or a type of chocolate I don’t love, and some of my best friends are fictional.

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Giveaway Alert!

Kirsten Weiss will award a $10 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.