We chat with author Jaleigh Johnson about The Reimagining of Thornwood House, which follows a witch and her young ward who discover a magical, walking house and learn the true meaning of home in this cosy, enchanting novel.
Hi, Jaleigh! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
Hi there! I am a proud geek, gamer, gardener, and writer. I’ve written stories for kids and adults, stories that are light-hearted and stories that are dark. I’ve written stories in worlds of my own creation and I’ve dabbled in other worlds like the Marvel universe, Assassin’s Creed, and Dungeons and Dragons. I also like to cook and bake, and when I’m not doing any of those things I mentioned, you’ll find me out on my back porch with a book and a hot cup of coffee. That’s really all I need in life.
When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?
I think I knew I was going to be a storyteller when I was five years old and used to fall asleep listening to my older brother and his friends playing Dungeons and Dragons. For little Jaleigh, it was like watching the perfect game of make believe. I was captivated. I was ready to be an adventurer heading off to slay dragons. That started me down the path of loving fantasy novels, and it made me want to create fictional worlds of my own.
Quick lightning round! Tell us:
- The first book you ever remember reading: Lots of Sesame Street books! I adored THE MONSTER AT THE END OF THIS BOOK.
- The one that made you want to become an author: A WRINKLE IN TIME. Meg Murry owns my heart and always will.
- The one that you can’t stop thinking about: I’m in love with THE MURDERBOT DIARIES series. Nay, I’m obsessed. I can’t get enough.
Your latest novel, The Reimagining of Thornwood House, is out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?
Witches heal house with love.
What can readers expect?
I promise witches, mother-daughter bonds, mood gardens, magical home renovation, secrets in the woods, strawberries, a dash of romance, questions of fate, and reimagining your life for the better.
Where did the inspiration for The Reimagining of Thornwood House come from?
A lot of it actually goes back to the pandemic and what came after. Like a lot of people, I was struggling, trying to figure out what my life was going to be like after this big, terrible event happening in the world. My mother had also passed away right before the pandemic began, and then my father passed not long after it ended. I knew I wasn’t going to be the same person going forward after all that, and a lot of other people I knew were feeling the same way. Part of me wanted to just run off to the woods to become an old forest witch, have a big garden and a bunch of cats. I eventually abandoned that idea. It was a lovely fantasy, but I knew I needed my family and friends to lean on. I didn’t really want to be alone. But I kept that idea of a forest witch moving to a house in the woods in my head. At some point, she became a separate person from myself, and I started to ask questions about her and her life. Why did she run off to a house in the woods? What was she running from? What was she going to find in the woods that would help her heal and reimagine her life? That’s how Evie Sharpe, my main character, came to be, and how I got the first ideas for her story.
Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?
The bond between Evie and Ruby became the heart of the story very quickly, and I loved writing those two characters so much, but I also didn’t expect how deeply they would both bond to Thornwood house. The three of them together made the book enormously special for me.
Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?
I realized early on when I was developing the plot that I wanted Evie to be renovating a house. Now, for context, I’ve participated in my fair share of home renovation in my life, and I’m extremely over it. I’ve seen too much. I’m done. So, spending an entire book describing home repair and renovation was not something I was looking forward to. That’s part of the reason I love being a fantasy writer, because it gave me the opportunity to solve my dilemma in an interesting and magical way, giving Thornwood house the ability to reimagine itself magically according to its needs. What started out as a challenge then became one of the most enjoyable parts of the writing.
For those who haven’t picked up a cosy fantasy before, why should they pick one up and what do they have to look forward to?
I would say they should pick up a cozy fantasy if they want something atmospheric, a story with more personal, less world-shaking stakes, something that enjoys taking time for the smaller details of everyday life, and something that gives you a warm feeling after you’re finished reading.
What’s next for you?
Right now, I’m working on a second book set in the same world as THE REIMAGINING OF THORNWOOD HOUSE. It’s going to focus on different characters, so you can read the book on its own, but it’ll also bring back familiar faces for those who want to revisit them. I realized I have more to say about the village of Iskendra, its people, and its magic, so I’m very excited!
Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?
I devoured the latest Murderbot book, of course – see my obsession above! I also read Heather Fawcett’s AGNES AUBERT’S MYSTICAL CAT SHELTER, which was wonderful, and I was thrilled to see that she also has another Emily Wilde book in the works. So many things to read! I can’t wait!
