Q&A: Liz Parker, Author of ‘Witches of Honeysuckle House’

We chat with author Liz Parker about Witches of Honeysuckle House, which is an enchanting novel that explores the fraught lines between family and the secrets they keep, perfect for fans of Ava Morgyn and Heather Webber.

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

Aside from being an author, I’m also an herbalist and a witch. I tend to draw from my own practices when building out the world and magic in my stories, whether that’s through herbal remedies and tea leaf readings (like in my first book, In the Shadow Garden) or candle magic and tarot (like in Witches of Honeysuckle House). I also have complex PTSD (C-PTSD) and use writing as a part of my healing process.

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

Stories were a huge part of my childhood—offering me a chance to escape into other worlds. If you saw me out in the world (or in my house), there was a good chance I had a book in hand. I was dragon-obsessed and constantly asked my school librarian for books about dragons. I read through the entire Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede more than once. I actually tried writing a novel about a dragon in the fifth grade; I did not succeed. It wasn’t until I was twenty-one that I tried writing another book. Funny enough, that one, too, had dragons in it! Maybe one day I’ll publish a dragon book, but for now I’m happy writing about witches.

Quick lightning round! Tell us:

• The first book you ever remember reading: Picture book – Are You My Mother by P.D. Eastman. Novel – The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.
• The one that made you want to become an author: Beloved by Toni Morrison
• The one that you can’t stop thinking about: The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

Your latest novel, Witches of Honeysuckle House, is out October 21^st! If you could only describe it in five words, what would they be?

Haunting, soulful, heart-filled, healing, atmospheric

What can readers expect?

I like to describe the book as being like Practical Magic but if the house was alive—complete with a family of witches. The Caldwells are cursed to lose someone they love every thirteen years. In the present timeline we have Florence and Evie who are lightly estranged and have to work together if they want to break the curse. But in order to break it, they need to discover how it began. For that, we go into the past and explore the relationship between Violet and Regina Caldwell. There’s a sentient house, a magical bookstore, tarot, candle magic, sisterhood, a conjured kitten, a mystery, and a couple of romantic subplots. Though it has fall vibes, the story deals with generational trauma and healing, so think of it as a book with heavy themes (child abuse among them) wrapped in a cozy aesthetic.

Where did the inspiration for Witches of Honeysuckle House come from?

As someone with C-PTSD from childhood trauma, the concept of “home” has always been a tricky one for me. And as a witch, I tend to think our homes are—at least on some level—alive. Both of these things came together in this story. If our homes are alive, what do they think about the things they’ve witnessed inside their walls? Would they want to step in if they could? How do those memories build up? I took that and combined it with the desire I’ve had to write a story about sisters, and Witches of Honeysuckle House was born.

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

Honeysuckle House and Clara were my absolute two favorite characters to write. Yes, the house is a character; it has several POV chapters. I view the house as a sort of foil to Clara—Evie’s seven-year-old daughter. While Honeysuckle House has witnessed every death that’s happened on its grounds since the curse claimed its first victims, Clara has been largely shielded from the curse and the trauma her mother grew up with. Both characters have an innocence to them that you don’t really get to put on the page with adult humans, which allowed me to explore the themes of the novel while delivering something you don’t see in a lot of books in the genre.

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

Yes, always. Every book has its challenges. It took me a while to get the genesis of the curse—which is the big mystery of the novel—just right. I wrote and rewrote and revised and talked to people who had read early drafts of the story. I actually left my agent in the middle of writing this novel. I got on the phone with a different agent who was interested in a revision, and we talked for an hour or so, and our back-and-forth helped me break open that piece of the story. Funny enough I didn’t end up signing with her, but you never know what will help you when writing a book!

What’s next for you?

I have two different projects in the works. One is in the vein of Witches of Honeysuckle House, though a touch lighter in tone. The other is horror. Neither has sold yet, so I can’t say much more than that, but fingers crossed!

Lastly, what books have you enjoyed reading this year? Are there any you’re looking forward to picking up?

I’m in the middle of A Sunny Place for Shady People, a collection of stories by horror author Mariana Enriquez (I can’t recommend her novel Our Share of Night enough), and it’s giving me nightmares. On the nonfiction side, Careless People, Sarah Wynn-Williams’ memoir about her time working at Facebook is a must-read (it also gave me nightmares). Amber McBride’s The Leaving Room, which is a novel in verse about a room between life and death, is phenomenal. I have J.R. Dawson’s The Lighthouse at the End of the World on my list, and I’m hoping to get to read it a little later this year!

Will you be picking up Witches of Honeysuckle House? Tell us in the comments below!