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Q&A: Lucy Jane Wood, Author of ‘Disenchanted’

Elise Dumpleton — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 03:00:00 +0000

We chat with author Lucy Jane Wood about Disenchanted, which follows a reluctant witch who must confront the magic she’s always denied after accidentally triggering a curse in this delightfully cozy fantasy from the author of Rewitched and Uncharmed.

Hi, Lucy! Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?

Hi! There’s nothing like this question to make you realise you’re in fact a very boring person… The most interesting thing about me is definitely that I’m a cosy fantasy writer, and a lover of all things witchy and magical. I live in London with my husband (we’re having our first baby in a matter of days!) along with our very drooly cat, Flo. I live for the -ber months, I am always over-caffeinated, and I am a big believer in the power of a little sweet treat.

When did you first discover your love for writing and stories?

Being a bookworm has been a fundamental part of my identity since I was old enough to listen to a story. I can’t remember life without reading or writing at the heart of it, it’s just always been what I do in one way or another. Going to the library was pretty much the main activity of my childhood, I would tear through anything I could get my hands on, and that turned into writing my own strange sequels and rewrites of my favourite books as a kid. Writing has been my job in one way or another since I left university, I was never really going to do anything else!

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

The first book you ever remember reading: The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
The one that made you want to become an author: The Story of Tracy Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson
The one that you can’t stop thinking about: Most recently, Fruit Fly by Josh Silver. So gripping, I was hooked!

Disenchanted is third novel in your Rewitched series and it’s out now! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Witchy Shrek, fairy tale chaos…

**For those who haven’t picked up Rewitched and** Uncharmed, what can readers expect?

All of my books are a heartfelt, nostalgic tribute to my lifelong love for the 90s witches that I grew up with, along with everything I love about autumn time. In all three of the books, I think readers can expect the cosiest of pumpkin-spiced witchy vibes, along with comforting reminders to prioritise their own magic, and a cat. There’s pretty much always a cat.

And for readers who have, what’s to come in Disenchanted?

Disenchanted takes place after the events of Uncharmed and Rewitched (although they are all standalone and can be read in any order!) This time we meet Sage Hemlock, a witch who turned her back on magic after it betrayed her as a teenager. She’s thrown herself into academics and working in her local small town museum, but one day a mysterious delivery activates a curse which suddenly brings magic back into her life. There’s a beanstalk in her back garden, her sister is travelling by pumpkin, and her best friend Casimir looks suspiciously like a handsome prince… Fairy tales have come to life, and Sage must confront the magic that she’s been running from to solve the mysteries and save her loved ones. It’s a little different from my first two stories (some say darker…), but Disenchanted has the same reminder at its heart to prioritise magic, joy and whimsy as much as you can.

Where did the inspiration for Disenchanted’s story come from?

After writing Uncharmed, which is all about a perfectionist, people-pleasing, sugary sweet witch, I was keen to write a character who was much less typically loveable. I was so taken by the idea of a cantankerous, grumpy, reluctant witch accidentally surrounding herself with ridiculously cliche magic – and being absolutely furious about the whole debacle. The early, nostalgic pitch to my editor was ‘witchy Shrek’, which is probably not that far off the final product!

Were there any moments or characters you really enjoyed writing or exploring?

All of the fairy tale scenes were so fun to write, it was basically a chance to grab all of my favourite princess stories and cherry-pick the most magical parts that remind me of being a kid. I particularly loved writing the moment when Casimir gains his Handsome Prince costume, he is a completely ridiculous character and I always have a real soft spot for a golden retriever love interest. The priority with Disenchanted was always to just sprinkle as much whimsy as possible throughout, and it was a joy to have the perfect excuse to do that.

Did you face any challenges whilst writing? How did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge every single time is without a doubt the ‘I can’t do this’ mindset. I have to battle it each day that I sit at my desk and try to get some words (any words!) down on a page. I convince myself that all previous books were a total fluke, and I’ll never be able to make it to The End again. I wish I had solid advice to overcome it quickly, but it’s pretty much just a case of mercilessly chipping away at the word count, forcing myself to keep going despite the imposter syndrome, and hoping that today will be a precious ‘flow state’ day! I guess the love of writing just wins out every time.

What’s next for you?

I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say just yet, but it’s probably not too much of a surprise to hear that I’m brewing up a little bit more magic behind the scenes. And also having a baby, so it’ll be an interesting juggling act!

Lastly, what books are you looking forward to picking up? Any you’ve read so far this year that you’ve enjoyed?

My most anticipated reads for the rest of the year are probably Victoria Aveyard’s Tempest and BK Borison’s Grim Tidings. Bring on the fantasy characters, warm blankets, rainy evenings and cosy sofa time!

Will you be picking up Disenchanted? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Lucy Jane Wood, Author of ‘Disenchanted’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

The Best Witchy Rom-Coms For Spooky Season

The Nerd Daily — Sat, 28 Sep 2024 12:00:00 +0000

Guest post by Rewitched author Lucy Jane Wood
Lucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader and coziness-seeker from the Wirral, UK. These days, you’ll find her living in London, giant coffee in hand, and being headbutted at any given time by her cat.

Consider this is your orange flag to start sprinting for the closest knitted blanket. Then fire up the coffee machine, grab the most thickly frosted cinnamon bun, and gather all forms of pumpkin-shaped novelty item that you can find. The weather (at least here in London) is finally miserable enough for us to declare Spooky Season 2024 officially open, and I can feel myself returning to my ultimate form. At this time of year there is no leaf too crunchy, no knitwear too maroon and most importantly, no Halloween-themed story too magical for me.

If you’re a firm believer in the enduring power of the pop culture witch that inspired my debut novel Rewitched, then this might just be the list for you. Here’s a rundown of the very best of witchy rom-coms across books, movies and television that are all guaranteed to make your ‘ber months a little more spellbinding… As if some of these haven’t been doing exactly that since about 1995, but still.

Rewitched by Lucy Jane Wood

Now, how did that get in here…? Rewitched is the ‘90s-inspired, cosy and comforting story of Belle Blackthorn, a burnt out witch who’s just about to turn 30. She’s working at her beloved Lunar Books, protecting all of its charm of her awful toxic boss, and there’s also the small task of keeping her magical powers hidden from the non-wicche world.

But the day before her milestone birthday, Belle receives an unexpected summons from her estranged coven. It’s time for her EquiWitch Trial, where they’ll decide once and for all whether Belle is worthy of keeping her magic, or whether her neglected powers will be stripped from her for good.

At its heart, Rewitched is about rediscovering the power of your potential as you get older, and remembering that your own magic is worthy of attention and nourishment when life says otherwise. I hope you enjoy it!

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

A firm favourite of mine if you’re looking for a cosy story that sparks real, heartwarming magic. Mika is a witch who mostly keeps as much of a low profile as her powers will allow. But she does dabble in ‘pretending’ to be a witch on social media. The fact that her magic looks oh so real is such a funny coincidence…

One day, she receives a letter begging her to travel to Nowhere House, currently home to three baby witches who are learning to get to grips with their magic. Here, she meets a wonderful gang of side characters including an absent archaeologist, an effervescent actor and two long-suffering caretakers, along with the grumpy but handsome librarian named Jamie. It’s the found family trope that I adore, and a comforting story about stumbling across love when you least expect it.

Practical Magic

Of all the witchy movies, Practical Magic is surely one of the strongest contenders to take the very top spot. Whether it’s Nicole Kidman’s simply sensational hair, the house that I would willingly trade all of my loved ones for, or just the prospect of midnight margaritas, this classic is a film that ticks all of the ‘perfect witchy rom-com’ boxes.

The aesthetic is incomparable, and the storyline of supportive sisterhood that unfolds between Gilly and Sally is poignant. They just don’t make ‘em like this anymore.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

And while we’re on the subject, the prequel book has a very special place in my heart too. The Rules of Magic is the story of the wonderful, mysterious aunts who we know from Practical Magic, but this is their life as teenagers alongside their brother Vincent.

At the dawn of the ‘60s, troublesome Franny, beautiful Jet and heartbreaker Vincent visit their Aunt Isabelle in Massachusetts, where their family are blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong. Their mother warns them of all the usual rules; no walking in the moonlight and no wearing black. No books about magic, and never fall in love. But there are some kinds of magic and fate that you just can’t escape. Hoffman’s writing is utterly exquisite, hazy and lyrical. This book feels as enchanting as magic itself.

Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi

A debut author who should definitely be on your witchy radar this year is Nadia El-Fassi, who’s first novel Best Hex Ever is coming your way soon. While still perfectly cosy and featuring an excellent, cheese-obsessed cat, this one has a healthy helping of (pumpkin) spice to go alongside your latte.

Dina is a cafe-owning kitchen witch who’s holding onto a big secret. No big deal, but she was cursed by an ex, ensuring that Dina would hurt anyone who she dared to fall in love with. Meanwhile, Scott is about to begin his new job as a curator at the British Museum. His best friend’s wedding is on the horizon, but little does he know that he’s about to be completely spellbound by the Maid of Honour. Three guesses who that is… Best Hex Ever is simultaneously lovely and extremely steamy, like some kind of extra delicious hot chocolate.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

I know the brief said ‘witchy’, but a vampire or two thrown into the mix never hurts (unless their fangs are out). An honorary shoutout for Buffy The Vampire Slayer here, purely for the inclusion of one of the greatest TV witches of all time, Willow Rosenberg.

Her arc over the years from cute, clever best friend to complex and compelling witch is a large part of why I continue to rewatch this classic show over and over. At one stage, Willow’s magic goes full ‘dark forces’ for understandable reasons, and many of her spells are morally questionable, which adds even more depth to her wonderful character. Throw in some truly inexplicable but nostalgic ‘90s fashion, and it makes the Must Watch list.

The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

The premise of this TikTok fave really spoke to my soul. Back in the day, Vivienne was faced with a particularly painful breakup, so of course she handled it the only way that a young witch knows how. It involves vodka, a bubble bath, and a very messy curse.

Fast forward nine years later, and Rhys is finding that every move he makes seems to always end in one big mess. That includes when he returns to the quaint town of Graves Glen to recharge the magical ley lines. The curse that has befallen Rhys begins to affect the town, resulting in murderous Halloween toys, a particularly outraged ghost and a very chatty cat. Vivienne and Rhys are going to have to put their bitter feelings aside to work together and break the curse… Cue spooky fun and romance.

Sabrina The Teenage Witch

I am of course referring to the original rather than the Netflix remake. In my humble opinion, the ‘90s were the unrivalled season of the witch in her coolest and most relatable form, and the top of that list for me will always be Sabrina Spellman. Actually, she might be third behind Hilda and Zelda. I grew up obsessed with this show and the nostalgic love for it has never really left, it was a huge inspiration for Rewitched.

Sabrina, in all of her chaos and constant mistakes, embodies why I love that age of pop culture witch. The magic is there not to solve all of her problems, but help her to understand herself further, to learn life lessons, and grow as a person. She is hilarious, and best of all, her powers are FUN. Surely that’s the whole point of having magic at your finger tips, anyway?

The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst

For a sprinkle of innocent, warm and beautiful cottagecore, it has to be The Spellshop, a cosy fantasy that follows wallflower Kiela’s unexpected dabbling in illegal spell-selling.

Up until now, she’s been librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, and she and her assistant Caz (a sentient spider plant, because of course) have been holed up among the empire’s precious spell books, protecting the magic for the elite. But there’s a revolution afoot, and suddenly the library is up in flames. Magic usage is banned for anyone who isn’t a sorcerer, but Kiela has crates full of spell books… If you’re looking for a highly magical and witchy story combined with Studio Ghibli vibes, this is the book for you.

The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall

Like all good fictional witches, the Revelare witches are horribly cursed. Providing they continue to put their magic to use, they’ll be doomed to four heartbreaks through a lifetime. Sadie is already at her third, so she’s doing everything she can possibly do to protect herself from facing tragedy all over again. It’s not looking good, though. Her grandmother is sick, and Sadie’s not sure she can handle losing her.

Her third heartbreak was Jake, her first love, who has returned to town after a decade away just as Sadie’s life is starting to unravel. Sadie must face that age old question that always rolls around just in time for spooky season… Love or magic? Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at once, the autumnal vibes are strong, and it’s peppered with some delicious food-related spell work.

Charmed

And last but not least, when it comes to witchy rom-coms there are three sisters who can never be forgotten. In fact, that probably applies to Hocus Pocus too, now that I really think about it.

Another nostalgic classic, Charmed follows the lives of the three Halliwell sisters who, after their mother dies, discover that they are descendants of a line of good witches. That’s the fortunate news, but the unfortunate side is that they’re destined to fight five seasons worth of the forces of evil. The show is everything that ‘90s witches stood for—girl power, slightly cheesy one liners, occasionally hilarious special effects, and killer outfits. What more could a witch want?

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