magic

I’m up to my eyeballs in Fey folk at the moment, as I write my new book. I do love all things magical, and Fairies are right at the top of that list. I’ve travelled the world and seen some very strange things … Here are 5 great places to search for Fairies.

Lake Bled, Slovenia: Bled’s tiny island, the only island in Slovenia, is steeped in magic. One legend says the lake was originally a meadow until the fairies called up the forces of nature and flooded the whole region, leaving only the hill where they danced jutting out of the water. Drifting across the lake towards it, it’s easy to believe that the island is still home to all sorts of mythical creatures.
St Andra, Austria: This tiny town in eastern Carinthia is a favourite of mine. The woods that surround it are filled all sorts of magic, from Witch burning circles, to stone circles and fairy houses—mostly found if you step off the walking tracks. Locals told me that the “Mother Goddess” is still revered, and you’ll find evidence of this all over the fields and forests.
Monhegan Island, USA: This small, rustic island 10-miles from the coast of Maine has always been a haven for artists… and fairies. Scatted throughout the forest and underdeveloped hiking trails are fairy houses. This is an absolute jewel of a place, and a must-visit for any fairy-loving family.
Japan: Japan’s forests and mountains are filled with all sorts of nature spirits. I love their mythical creatures, especially the tanuki, which isn’t a fairy, but certainly magical. Elementals and fey folk are hidden in every rock, every tree in Japan… but you can also see some incredible fairy creatures on the streets of Tokyo. “Fairy Kei” fashion has been popular for years. The Japanese have an amazing street fashion culture, the Fairy Kei style being just one of the many “tribes” found in Harajuku.
Cornwall, UK: No Fairy World Tour would be complete without a trip to Cornwall. There are countless places to search for little people here—the whole county is steeped in magic. My favorite is St Nectan’s Glen near Tintagel. You won’t see fairy houses, but you might just see orbs of light, so have your camera ready!

Want to read more about St Nectan’s Glen and Cornwall? Read my novel Trouble Brewing, which is set in many fabulous places, Cornwall included.

Binding someone to you in love doesn’t need to be too much toil and trouble. No need to hover over a cauldron and sacrifice small amphibians. The uninitiated should never cast a love spell and expect a positive response—spell energy returns to sender three-fold, and it’s not always pleasant.

Instead, to win someone’s heart, crack open a bottle of the Italian herbal liqueur, Strega … literally translated as WITCH.

The liqueur itself packs a punch at 40%, with 70 different herbs including Ceylon cinnamon, Florentine iris, Italian Apennine juniper, Samnite mint, and saffron, which gives the drink a happy yellow hue. It’s a great winter tipple, and also fabulous to pour over desserts.

Strega is the stuff of legends. Distilled in Benevento, Italy, a town famous as the meeting place for all the witches of the world. It was at one of these witchy meetings that Strega came into being, devised as a drink that would tie lovers together forever.

The secret to any love spell is this—both parties must be willing participants. Early on in our relationship, I bought my guy a bottle of Strega. Then, as I poured him a glass, I told him tales of Benevento, the witches, and the power of the titillating tipple.

“Drink this and we’ll be bound in love for lifetimes.”

“How many?”

“I don’t know. A few. Want it or not?”

He did. He tossed it back with a wink. And every year since, on our anniversary, we share another shot. The poor bugger has no chance of escape now.

So all you would-be witches … don’t meddle in magic. Instead, call upon the spirits for some help with your love life, and make that spirit Strega.

Want more sporty spells? Check out my book Trouble Brewing.