One of my favorite places in There's a New Witch in Town is the Enchanted Bookstore & Café. I think if it were real, I'd probably spend more time there than at home.
When I started creating Holiday Hills, I knew it needed a gathering place. Every small town has one. It's where people stop in "just for coffee" and somehow end up staying an hour because they ran into three friends, heard the latest gossip, and left with a muffin they didn't plan to buy.
That's the Enchanted.
I didn't want it to be a fancy, modern bookstore with sleek furniture and perfect shelves. I wanted it to feel lived in. I pictured old leather chairs that practically begged you to sit down with a good book, mismatched bookshelves packed so full you never knew what treasure you might discover, and the smell of fresh coffee drifting through the store from the moment you walked in.
Honestly, it's the kind of place I wish existed around the corner from me.
Then there's Bessie.
Every town needs a Bessie. She's the person who remembers your favorite drink before you order it, worries if you haven't eaten enough, and somehow makes everyone who walks through the door feel like family. I think we've all known someone like that, and if you haven't, I hope you find one someday.
Of course, no bookstore in one of my books would be complete without animals. Mr. Charming, the parrot with plenty to say, and Cooper, Abby's loyal Burmese cat, make the Enchanted feel even more alive. They aren't just pets. They're part of the family, just like the regular customers.
And then there's Christmas.
If you've read any of my books, you already know I love decorating for the holidays. I wanted the Enchanted to look magical at Christmas, with vintage ornaments, evergreen garlands, twinkling lights, and cozy little touches that make you want to grab a cup of hot cocoa and stay all afternoon. I wanted readers to smell the pine, hear Christmas music playing softly in the background, and forget about the outside world for a little while.
When I write, I try to create places readers don't want to leave. Sure, there's a mystery to solve, but I also want you to feel like you've spent time with friends in a place that feels comfortable and familiar.
For me, the Enchanted isn't just a bookstore.
It's home.
If it were real, you'd probably find me curled up in one of those worn leather chairs with a coffee in one hand, a cinnamon muffin in the other, and a stack of books beside me...which, now that I think about it, sounds like a pretty perfect day.
