We chat with author Helen Phifer about The Vanishing Bookstore, which is a dual-timeline page-turner set in Salem, Massachusetts and filled with witches, perfect for fans of Weyward, The Lost Apothecary and Practical Magic.
Hi, Helen! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi Elise, I’m fifty six, have five grown up children, seven grandchildren and have been married for almost 36 years. I love a latte, reading is my favourite thing, I’m obsessed with Salem and I love hunting for vintage treasures when I’m not writing.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I read ever book in my infant school as soon as I learned to read and have always tried to write stories. I would make my own little books when I was about eight years old and it grew from there.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Naughty Amelia Jane by Enid Blyton
- The one that made you want to become an author: It by Stephen King, I love how much it scared me. I read it far too young and it stayed with me.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The House in the Cerrulean Sea by TJ Klune – love it and think every single person in the world needs to read it.
Your latest novel, The Vanishing Bookstore, is out February 17th! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Magical, beautiful, sisterhood, curses, witches.
What can readers expect?
To fall in love with the English women and their love for each other, lifetime after lifetime as they try to break the family curse. Magic, laughter, a talking Raven and an evil witch hunter.
Where did the inspiration for The Vanishing Bookstore come from?
I have been obsessed with Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman since I first watched the movie years ago, then read the book. I knew that one day I would love to write about my own witchy family but I also wanted it to be set in Salem because of the witch trials and it all just came together like a dream.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
I loved writing about Aunt Sephy and Aunt Lenny, they really were a lot of fun and made me wish I had two aunts like them.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I had never visited Salem despite wanting to for years. I wrote the book in my spare time as a project for me. Once it was finished I was worried that it might not do the victims of the witch trials justice and so I told Steve that we needed to go on a research trip to Salem. Once we’d been there and visited all the historic sites, done walking tours, visited the museums and met the amazing people who lived there I came back to the UK and rewrote the entire book to make it as authentic as possible.
What’s next for you?
I’ve just finished writing book eighteen in my Detective Morgan Brookes series and now I’m excited to get stuck into writing the follow up to The Vanishing Bookstore.
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up this year?
There are so many but top of my list are The Night Hag by Hester Musson, Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson and Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy.
