If you are a fan of cozy fantasy, magical academy settings, and midlife heroines who find their true strength when everything goes off the rails, you are likely already binge-reading the Silver Sisters series.
One of the best parts of diving into a rich, supernatural world is getting to see how the characters handle the absolute chaos of everyday magical life. Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with the new headmistress of the Magic School in Eckhart—Carafina Silver—to talk about family, unexpected responsibilities, and what it really takes to run a magical property after forty.
Read on for the full exclusive transcript!
Jenn: Hello, Headmistress Silver. Do you mind if I call you Cara?
Cara: (shifts nervously) Hello. Um, no. That’s fine.
Jenn: Excellent. So you’re now the headmistress of the Magic School started by your sisters, Alys, Maeve, and Siobhan Silver. How exactly did that happen?
Cara: Well, it was kind of a last-minute thing. I didn’t even know Alys had left me in charge until Clay told me.
Jenn: Clay?
Cara: (Nodding) Clay Abernathy. He works at the school, on the maintenance staff.
Jenn: And is he magical too?
Cara: Clay is a bear shifter. He’s very… um… he’s been nice. Helpful, I mean.
Jenn: I see. (Wink wink, nudge nudge.) It is important that you have people to rely on, especially when you’re adapting to a new role. Who else is on your team that you know you can count on?
Cara: I have Marie. She’s the head chef as well as a part-time instructor of hearthcraft. And then the Magical Midwife, of course. Though come to think of it, I haven’t seen her around lately….
Jenn: So tell me about some of the changes you plan to institute in your new position.
Cara: The magic school is an aging property. There are always maintenance issues. We’ve had to update the boiler. And of course, magic can be unpredictable.
Jenn: (Nods) I heard through the grapevine that a student had an accident last week. Can you tell me about that?
Cara: (Clears throat) Yes. Well, a student did fall on the staircase between the dormitory and the second floor. Her species has very poor night vision and she missed a step. She sprained her wrist but is otherwise uninjured. I’m having Clay install safety railings and we’re looking into a better nighttime light source that will accommodate all of our students and staff.
Jenn: It sounds as though you have things well in hand. (Leaning forward) Cara, I hope you know you can be honest with me. Are you up to the task of running the magic school by yourself?
Cara: (Lifts chin) Alys left me in charge. She believes in me and I refuse to let her down.
Jenn: I for one, think she picked the best person for the job. Thank you for your time, Cara. My readers and I are wishing you the best of luck.
Cara: (Smiles softly) I appreciate it.
Why Readers Love the Magic School in Eckhart
If you love the whimsical, family-centered magic of Alice Hoffman’s Practical Magic mixed with the quirky community charm of cozy fantasy, Carafina’s journey in the Silver Sisters universe is the perfect addition to your reading list.
Here are the key tropes you can expect to find inside the latest adventure, Witch Way Forward:
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The Accidental Leader / Midlife Fresh Start: There is nothing better than watching a mature woman step out of the shadows of her family and realize she is entirely capable of running the show on her own terms.
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The Black Cat/ Golden Retriever & Protective Shifter Dynamic: The sweet, nervous energy between Cara and Clay (our resident bear shifter) promises a slow-burn romance that cozy paranormal readers will absolutely adore.
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A Heartwarming Found Family Nest: From hearthcraft chefs to missing magical midwives, the staff and students at Eckhart form a tight-knit, protective community you’ll wish you could visit in real life.
Ready to step onto the campus? Dive into the world of the Silver Sisters and find out if Cara can keep the magic school standing in Witch Way Forward, available now in ebook, paperback, and audiobook!
