Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Lucy Jane Wood to HJ!
Hi Lucy and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, UNCHARMED!
Please summarize the book for the readers here:
In Uncharmed, Annie Wildwood is a witch who loves nothing more than making others happy. She’s a total perfectionist and a people-pleaser, and everything in her life looks… well, perfect. So when her coven tasks her with mentoring Maeve, a troubled teenage witch, Annie sees it as the prime chance to shine once again.
But Maeve and Annie butt heads from the moment they move into their lodgings, and suddenly Annie’s glittering pink life is thrown into chaos—especially when the cabin’s gruff and grumpy owner unexpectedly returns home. Getting attached to these two was not part of Annie’s plan, and when it starts to look like outside forces are taking an interest in Maeve’s impressive magic, Annie realises she might have to risk everything to protect the true magic she’s finally found.
Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:
“Annie held an intimate understanding of the importance of a sweet treat; the way it could alter the worst of moods, brighten the darkest of days, bring a little bit of hope to a heavy heart.”
Please share a few Fun facts about this book…
The working title was Hexpectation, but eventually I fell in love with Uncharmed because it reflects the story in such a soft, magical way—and it matches in a very satisfying way with my debut title, Rewitched! The starting point of inspiration was actually Elle Woods from Legally Blonde. I was grabbed by the idea of writing a character like her as a witch, and how that story might transfer neatly into a cosy fantasy setting. Once I’d created a perfect pink witch, it quickly became clear that this would be a story about swapping perfectionism for authentic magic.
What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?
There’s an instant attraction there for both of them on first meeting, but Annie and Hal are both very aware that on paper, they absolutely do not fit together. Annie is a bit of a Barbie witch who mixes with sparkling high society, and Hal spends all of his time outside and filthy with various magical beasts. It’s not until later that they come to understand one another properly. Annie is amazed by Hal’s selflessness and offers of genuine support, and Hal is immediately intrigued by everything about her. She’s determined, funny, talented and kind—but also full of quirky habits. He’s never met anybody else quite like Annie.
Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?
It’s difficult to reveal too much about it without giving the ending away! But this is a cosy fantasy, obviously designed to be comforting and full of heart, so I’m sure you can guess how things wrap up in a shiny pink bow. I was honestly in floods of tears while I finished writing the final scene of Uncharmed—full on ugly crying. There was something about seeing Annie through to the other side of her story that felt genuinely healing, and I was just so pleased that she’d found her happy ending! I don’t think I’ll ever finish writing a book without being a complete emotional wreck.
Readers should read this book….
If they’re looking for a comforting, nostalgic story with the vibes of Gilmore Girls and early 00s girlhood movies. Uncharmed will keep you company under a blanket, with a giant cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun, and hopefully remind you that swapping people-pleasing for your own true magic makes life even richer.
What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?
There’s not a whole lot that I’m allowed to say at the moment, sorry! But I am having a very magical time, and drinking a concerning amount of caffeine at my desk…
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: Berkley can offer one giveaway print copy of UNCHARMED by Lucy Jane Wood.
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What would be the first thing you’d do if ‘perfectionism’ didn’t exist? Is there something that you have been avoiding starting, because of the fear that it won’t be perfect? What would that thing be that you’d immediately jump into and dare to let yourself try?
Book Info:
“perfect” witch must learn to embrace imperfection and live for herself in this spellbinding cozy fantasy sprinkled with love, laughter, and magic, from the author of Rewitched.
Andromeda “Annie” Wildwood is the perfect witch. She is sugar, spice, and everything nice, each element of her life finely curated and polished to irresistibility by her nightly hex-laced potion routine. She loves to please and nothing makes her happier than when everyone else around her is completely happy.
When Annie’s coven tasks her with guiding an orphan teenage witch through the process of getting her blossoming magical powers under control, Annie is excited for the chance to please and to prove herself. But the ramshackle cabin they’ll be housed in isn’t quite the staycation of Annie’s dreams—and she and Maeve, the headstrong teen, couldn’t be more different.
Just when they’re starting to understand each other, the owner of the cabin unexpectedly returns—and this quietly gruff and handsome warlock is not pleased to find that the coven volunteered his house to a high-maintenance witch and her angsty teen companion.
As this seemingly unlikely trio develop a loyalty and fondness for one another, Annie slowly learns that her people-pleasing may have led her down an impossible, lonely path. If everything about her is so right—why does it all feel so wrong?
Read less.
Meet the Author:
Lucy Jane Wood is an online content creator, avid reader and cosiness-seeker from the Wirral. These days, you’ll find her living in London, giant coffee in hand, and being headbutted at any given time by her cat.
erahime
Q: What would be the first thing you’d do if ‘perfectionism’ didn’t exist?
A: Learn to accept imperfections and redefine how perfection is to me.
Q: Is there something that you have been avoiding starting, because of the fear that it won’t be perfect?
A: Not that I can think of.
Q: What would that thing be that you’d immediately jump into and dare to let yourself try?
A: Maybe trying some food recipes I hadn’t tried before.
Nicole P
Calligraphy! If I didn’t have to worry about perfectionism I’d go shopping for a glass pen and ink immediately haha!
Debby
I believe that some things that are not perfect to some people are to others. I love doing crafts but I am not that good at it. There are some I would try.
Crystal
I’d be glad if perfectionism didn’t exist then I could do things my way no problem
I’d avoid anything horror & dare myself or try publishing a book or maybe going on a Singles cruise to someplace and maybe meet that special someone
Janine Rowe
I would probably do some long overdue work on my house.
bn100
not sure
Daniel M
fix the rust on my car, it’ll never be perfect again
Amy R
What would be the first thing you’d do if ‘perfectionism’ didn’t exist? cake decorating
Is there something that you have been avoiding starting, because of the fear that it won’t be perfect? redecorating my house
Diana Hardt
I’m not sure.
Mary C
Fear of being perfect has never stopped me from trying or learning something – all one can do is one’s best.
Dianne Casey
Perfectionism prevents me from doing a lot of things. If I didn’t let it prevents me from doing something, I would try to write a book.
Nancy Jones
Quilting and crocheting
Mary Preston
I’m not afraid to be ‘imperfect’. So nothing new comes to mind.
Bonnie
I would like to try painting nature scenes in the Bob Ross style.
psu1493
Writing a book and quilt-making
Shannon Capelle
Try a garden
cherierj
I have long wanted to make homemade bread from scratch. I tried making some when I was much younger and it did not turn out well. The bread turned out dry and hard. Since I like things to be perfect the first time I try, that failure has held me back. I would like to make time to try again but life keeps getting in the way. Hopefully someday.
Patricia Barraclough
It would be writing. I did start a book in high school, but my family found it and spent one dinner time reading parts of it, criticizing all of it, and telling me how stupid I was to think I could write. That was the end of my trying. Support for anything I ever did was never forthcoming.
Glenda M
I’m not sure. I haven’t let fear of failure stop me from much for years – it’s more a lack of resources and time that holds me back.
Sharlene Wegner
I would like to get a personal trainer, but I am too embarrassed by the shape I am currently in.
Summer
I guess just try more new things, not be afraid I’d be terrible at them.