Samuel DenHartog's Blog: The Road to 1,440 - Posts Tagged "witches"

Dear Fairy Tale Loves,

I am thrilled to announce the release of my latest book, "The Journey of Hansel and Gretel." This captivating tale takes you deep into the heart of an ancient forest, where every twist and turn brings new challenges and enchanting surprises. Inspired by the timeless Brothers Grimm story, this retelling adds layers of adventure and magic that will captivate readers of all ages.

Hansel and Gretel's journey begins with a struggle for survival, abandoned in the forest by their desperate parents. From the sinister allure of the gingerbread house to encounters with cunning foes and mystical creatures, their resilience and courage are tested at every step. This story is about the profound bond between siblings who, through their unwavering hope, working together and thinking ahead, can overcome even the greatest of obstacles.

In writing "The Journey of Hansel and Gretel," I wanted to create a narrative that balances the familiarity of the classic tale with fresh, thrilling adventures. I invite you to join Hansel and Gretel as they navigate through enchanting landscapes, confront malevolent forces, and uncover hidden treasures. Their journey is a testament to bravery, ingenuity, and the unbreakable bond of family. I hope this book brings as much joy and excitement to you as it did to me in creating it.

Thank you for your support, and happy reading!

Enjoying the adventure,
Samuel DenHartog

In my new book, "Fables from Czech," readers are transported to a world where magic and wisdom are woven into every page, offering a rich collection of stories retold for today's audience. You'll meet a brave youth who, after tasting a magical snake, gains the power to understand animals and finds himself facing the impossible demands of a king. With the help of tiny allies like ants and a mysterious golden fish, he outwits each challenge, proving that wit and kindness can be more powerful than any royal decree.

Another tale follows the touching reunion of a king and his true love, Dobrunka, who endures terrible trials after being betrayed by her jealous sister. With the aid of a mysterious hermit and enchanted objects like a singing golden spinning wheel, the truth comes to light, revealing that love and truth can triumph over deceit. Dobrunka’s resilience and gentle spirit shine as she spins her way back to happiness, turning her humble skills into a symbol of hope and renewal.

Every tale in this collection is brought to life with vivid details and engaging dialogue, preserving the spirit of the originals while adding new twists for modern readers. It’s a book that invites you to step into the enchanting world of Czech folklore, where cleverness, courage, and compassion shape the paths of fate. I hope it sparks your imagination as much as it did mine while bringing these stories to life.

Creating Awakening the Coven has been an incredible journey, filled with twists and surprises—much like the story itself. Set in the vibrant city of East Haven, the book introduces four teenage girls who are each navigating the ups and downs of high school when something extraordinary shakes up their world. Laurel, Susie, Andrea, and Blanca don’t know each other yet, but they’ve all uncovered strange new abilities tied to the elements—fire, water, air, and earth. Their powers are confusing, exhilarating, and at times, a little messy.

On a seemingly ordinary Saturday, their paths cross for the first time in the library, where they all find themselves searching for the same mysterious book. What begins as an awkward encounter among strangers grows into something far greater than any of them expected. As they dive into the book’s secrets, they start to unravel the mystery of their powers and discover the spark of a magical bond that connects them all. From quiet experiments gone wrong to the thrill of their first successes, the girls begin to see that their powers are only the beginning.

This isn’t a story about instant heroes—it’s about four ordinary girls figuring out extraordinary things, one hilarious mistake at a time. Between school drama, cryptic passages in The Elemental Grimoire, and realizing their powers are stronger when they’re together, Laurel, Susie, Andrea, and Blanca have their hands full. Add in the backdrop of East Haven’s autumn festivals, library meetups, and late-night magic experiments gone awry, and you’ve got a story packed with all the energy, excitement, and unpredictability of teenage life—with a magical twist.

If you’re ready for a story that’s a little bit magical, a little bit mischievous, and a whole lot of fun, dive into "Awakening the Coven." It’s got everything—library mysteries, fire sparks, water ripples, wind gusts, and maybe even a few overgrown sunflowers. And most importantly, it’s the beginning of an adventure where nothing is as ordinary as it seems. The girls are waiting for you in East Haven—are you ready to join them?

The bond of friendship and magic takes center stage as the girls of East Haven return in their second journey, a tale of growing powers and even greater dangers. A few months have passed since they discovered their shared legacy as a coven, and now they must delve deeper into their abilities to face a chilling new threat. As they balance the challenges of teenage life with their blossoming magic, an ancient curse awakens in the form of a relentless witch hunter, set on destroying them at any cost.

Unlike their first journey, which was about discovering who they were, this story dives into what it means to grow into their powers and face challenges together. Spells misfire, tempers run high, and doubts creep in as they realize just how much they have to learn—not only about magic but about trusting one another. At the same time, the hunter’s presence grows ever more menacing, forcing them to confront their fears and their limitations in ways they’ve never imagined.

But this isn’t just a story about magical battles or ancient curses; it’s about the strength of friendship and the courage to grow. As they unravel the hunter’s curse, they’ll also discover more about themselves and the legacy they’re tied to. With every choice, the girls are reminded that their bond is their greatest strength—but also the key to their greatest challenges.

For readers who loved the blend of magic, danger, and emotional growth in the first book, this book takes the stakes even higher. As the hunter closes in, the girls must rise to the occasion, pushing their powers and their friendship to their limits. It’s a story of resilience, discovery, and the unbreakable ties that make them a coven.

For those who have followed the adventures of Laurel, Susie, Andrea, and Blanca, the latest installment in their journey takes readers to new heights of suspense and discovery. "Shadows in the Coven" explores the lives of these four young witches as they navigate the trials of adolescence alongside the growing dangers that threaten their magical world. The stakes are higher than ever, and the girls must not only master new spells but also confront the emotional challenges of working together under pressure.

This book delves deeper into the balance between their ordinary teenage lives and the extraordinary weight of their responsibilities. As the girls face exams, social tensions, and the usual chaos of the holiday season, they also investigate a mysterious force targeting magical artifacts in East Haven. The blend of real-life struggles and supernatural intrigue makes for a compelling, relatable story that readers of all ages will connect with.

What sets this book apart is the focus on the characters’ growth as individuals and as a coven. Each girl’s strengths and vulnerabilities are explored, whether it’s Laurel’s fiery determination, Susie’s quiet resilience, Andrea’s sharp intellect, or Blanca’s steady wisdom. Their journey is not without its bumps—arguments, insecurities, and doubts test their bond—but their shared purpose reminds us of the power of friendship and trust in the face of adversity.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or just discovering the magical world of East Haven, this story will captivate you with its intricate spellwork, heartfelt moments, and gripping plot twists. As the girls uncover the truth behind the mysterious figures haunting their town, they learn more about their abilities and the prophecy that ties them together. It’s a spellbinding tale of courage, connection, and the enduring fight against the darkness.

There's something about Appalachian mountains that sinks into your bones. Maybe it's the hills that keep secrets or the air that carries stories like pollen. In Trolls of Coal Mountain, that atmosphere isn't just a setting. It is a living presence. The mountain watches, remembers, and reacts, and the people who live along its ridges are never as alone as they think.

At the heart of the story is Sarah, a young woman torn between two lives: the quiet civility of town and the deep, humming wildness of the mountain where she spends her summers. What begins as a summer of reconnection becomes a season of reckoning, as strange illusions begin to creep through the trees and old beings stir beneath the moss. When her great-great-grandmother, a fairy long bound to the house, warns her of trolls, creatures immune to fairy magic, Sarah and Jamie must turn to an ancient book filled with spells meant for human voices alone.

The novel blends romance and folklore with a tone that is both eerie and intimate. Sarah and Jamie’s relationship grows not in grand declarations, but in the shared labor of survival: learning charms, studying lore, choosing each other when the world begins to tilt. Their bond becomes a small act of rebellion against the larger, darker forces rising around them. In this way, the story becomes as much about what is worth saving as it is about what is worth fearing.

This is not a fairy tale with tidy morals or clear divisions between good and evil. It is a story that roots itself in place, in bloodlines, and in the kind of courage that does not look like heroism until much later. If you have ever loved a story where the land itself feels alive and the past reaches through lace curtains and broken stone, this one is worth the climb.

The journey from East Haven to Cornwall isn’t just a shift in setting. It’s a crossing into something older, something wilder. The cliffs and moors of Cornwall, especially near Tintagel, don’t just hold history, they pulse with it. The land feels like it’s waiting for someone to listen. For the girls at the heart of this story, stepping into that landscape means stepping into something much bigger than themselves.

These four witches have long shared a bond, but this time, the magic they face is more personal. It doesn’t ask them to fight. It asks them to choose. Each of them arrives in Cornwall carrying something different, uncertainty, curiosity, hope, or doubt, and the land responds to all of it. I wanted their magic to feel alive, tied to more than just spells and elements. It’s shaped by what they believe, what they fear, and how far they’re willing to go to protect one another or themselves.

Cornwall gave the story its breath, but Tintagel gave it its bones. I’ve always loved places where myth and landscape blur, and writing in that space allowed the story to shift between what’s real and what’s remembered. The girls aren’t just tested by what they find, they’re tested by what they want. And sometimes, those are the same thing.

What started as a story about magic quickly became a story about decisions, the quiet kind that change everything. These girls may come from East Haven, but the heart of their strength is forged among sea-worn stone and whispered legends. The rest of the story waits for you in "The Sorcerer’s Key."

After all the buildup, the story finally continues. In this latest installment, our four witches leave behind the familiar streets of East Haven and step into a fractured past where magic still lingers in stone and silence. The riverbank, once a place of quiet reflection, becomes the entry point into something far older. They find themselves in Alexandria during the last days of its great Library, where a secret coven entrusts them with a task only they can complete.

Each girl is pulled into a different thread of time and place. Laurel walks among the firekeepers of ancient Ireland. Susie finds herself in a village ruled by fear during the witch trials of England. Blanca witnesses the fall of a kingdom in Spain as earth magic slips beneath the soil. Andrea follows the wind into the depths of the Black Forest, where superstition and truth twist together. These chapters test who these girls are becoming and ask who they are willing to be.

The heart of this story lives in the way the past speaks to the present. Each setting reveals something elemental about the girls, both in terms of their magic and their character. The history they walk through is not static. It asks for something in return. It demands courage, honesty, and sometimes loss. As they recover the ancient texts, what they truly gather is a deeper sense of what legacy means and how much power lives in what we choose to carry forward.

Back in East Haven, life seems unchanged. But under the stillness, something new stirs. The girls have brought more than magic back with them. They carry memory, responsibility, and a bond shaped by everything they had to survive alone. In the quiet moments after the final page, that feeling lingers. The sense that what was lost has only been waiting to return. And now it has.

When I first began gathering these stories, I was struck by how many of them felt like they had been with me all along. Hansel and Gretel, with its gingerbread house deep in the woods, or Snow White, with the poisoned apple and the seven dwarfs, are tales so woven into our culture that they almost live in memory before we even hear them. Bringing them together again reminded me how powerful the imagery is, and how these German tales have shaped the idea of fairy tales around the world.

At the same time, there is so much more to discover beyond the famous names. The Twelve Dancing Princesses with its underground palace, The Six Swans with its quiet devotion, and The Goose Girl with its tale of betrayal and justice, all carry a richness that deserves to be remembered. Reading them alongside the better-known stories gives a sense of the wide tapestry of imagination that the Brothers Grimm collected. Each tale feels both rustic and magical, grounded in forests, cottages, and villages yet glowing with enchantment.

What I especially love is the variety of moods. Some stories sparkle with humor, like The Golden Goose with its parade of people stuck together, or Hans in Luck, where a boy keeps trading away his fortune and insists he is happier each time. Others are darker, like The Juniper Tree or The Robber Bridegroom, with their grim turns and haunting images. That mixture of light and shadow makes the whole collection feel alive, like walking through a forest where every path holds something different.

This book is a gathering of fourty-five tales, chosen to give both the comfort of the classics and the surprise of hidden gems. Some will feel like meeting an old friend, while others may come as a first encounter with a story just as worthy of being cherished. Together, they show why German folklore has captured hearts for centuries and why these tales remain as enchanting today as when they were first told. "Fables from Germany" is an invitation to wander into those woods again and see what you find.