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LA Witch: Birthday
Witches. Cats. Dragons.
What is it like growing up without dad?
Holly’s dad disappeared the night she was born when a huge earthquake rocked Southern California. Now, twelve years later, the earthquakes are coming back. What do they have to do with Holly? And with her dad?
New York Times Bestselling Author Todd McCaffrey brings you a new world of magic!"Todd McCaffrey’s writing is always bright and clear, with great, entertaining stories."—Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times Bestselling author of The Jedi Academy trilogy
What is it like growing up without dad?
Holly’s dad disappeared the night she was born when a huge earthquake rocked Southern California. Now, twelve years later, the earthquakes are coming back. What do they have to do with Holly? And with her dad?
New York Times Bestselling Author Todd McCaffrey brings you a new world of magic!"Todd McCaffrey’s writing is always bright and clear, with great, entertaining stories."—Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times Bestselling author of The Jedi Academy trilogy
- GenresWitches
296 pages, ebook
Published September 16, 2022
213 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Todd McCaffrey
119 books537 followersTodd J. McCaffrey (born as Todd Johnson) is an Irish American author of science fiction best known for continuing the Dragonriders of Pern series in collaboration with his mother Anne McCaffrey.
Todd Johnson was born 27 April 1956 in Montclair, New Jersey as the second son and middle child of Horace Wright Johnson (deceased 2009), who worked for DuPont, and Anne McCaffrey (deceased 2011), who had her second short story published that year. He has two siblings: Alec Anthony, born 1952, and Georgeanne ("Gigi", Georgeanne Kennedy), born 1959.
Except for a six-month DuPont transfer to Dusseldorf, Germany, the family lived most of a decade in Wilmington, Delaware, until a 1965 transfer to New York City when they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island. All three children were then in school and Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, primarily writing science fiction. About that time, Todd became the first of the children to read science fiction, the Space Cat series by Ruthven Todd. He attended his first science fiction convention in 1968, Lunacon in New York City.
Soon after the move, Todd was directed to lower his voice as an actor in the fourth-grade school play, with his mother in the auditorium. That was the inspiration for Decision at Doona (1969) which she dedicated "To Todd Johnson—of course!" The story is set on "an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast".
Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970 and emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children, soon joined by her mother. During Todd's school years the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before matriculation at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied engineering physics and discovered computers but remained only one year. Back in Dublin he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street). Later he earned a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Before Trinity College, Todd Johnson served in the United States Army 1978–82, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and determining to pursue civilian life. After Trinity he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning 1986.
He earned a pilot's license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile he sold his first writings and contributed "Training and Fighting Dragons" to the 1989 Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience. Next year he quit his job to write full-time and in 1992 he attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98 he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works
As a boy, Todd accompanied his mother to her meetings with writers, editors, publishers, and agents; and had attended conventions from age 12.
He was exposed to Pern before its beginning: soon after the move to Long Island when he was nine, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons; she was brainstorming about their "bad press all these years".
The result was a "technologically regressed survival planet" whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. "The dragons became the biologically renewable air force."
About thirty years later, Todd McCaffrey recalls,
"the editor at Del Rey asked me to write a "sort of scrapbook" about Mum partly to prevent Mum from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. That was Dragonholder [1999].
The editor had also pitched it to me that someone ought to continue Mum's legacy when she was no longer able. At the time I had misgivings and no stor
Todd Johnson was born 27 April 1956 in Montclair, New Jersey as the second son and middle child of Horace Wright Johnson (deceased 2009), who worked for DuPont, and Anne McCaffrey (deceased 2011), who had her second short story published that year. He has two siblings: Alec Anthony, born 1952, and Georgeanne ("Gigi", Georgeanne Kennedy), born 1959.
Except for a six-month DuPont transfer to Dusseldorf, Germany, the family lived most of a decade in Wilmington, Delaware, until a 1965 transfer to New York City when they moved to Sea Cliff, Long Island. All three children were then in school and Anne McCaffrey became a full-time author, primarily writing science fiction. About that time, Todd became the first of the children to read science fiction, the Space Cat series by Ruthven Todd. He attended his first science fiction convention in 1968, Lunacon in New York City.
Soon after the move, Todd was directed to lower his voice as an actor in the fourth-grade school play, with his mother in the auditorium. That was the inspiration for Decision at Doona (1969) which she dedicated "To Todd Johnson—of course!" The story is set on "an overcrowded planet where just talking too loud made you a social outcast".
Anne McCaffrey divorced in 1970 and emigrated to Ireland with her two younger children, soon joined by her mother. During Todd's school years the family moved several times in the vicinity of Dublin and struggled to make ends meet, supported largely by child care payments and meager royalties.
Todd finished secondary education in Ireland and returned to the United States in 1974 for a summer job before matriculation at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. He studied engineering physics and discovered computers but remained only one year. Back in Dublin he earned a Mechanical Engineering degree at the College of Technology (Bolton Street). Later he earned a Politics degree at Trinity College, Dublin.
Before Trinity College, Todd Johnson served in the United States Army 1978–82, stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, and determining to pursue civilian life. After Trinity he returned to the US hoping to work in the aerospace industry but found employment in computer programming beginning 1986.
He earned a pilot's license in 1988 and spent a lot of time flying, including solo trips across North America in 1989 and 1990. Meanwhile he sold his first writings and contributed "Training and Fighting Dragons" to the 1989 Dragonlover's Guide to Pern, using his military and flight experience. Next year he quit his job to write full-time and in 1992 he attended the Clarion Workshop for new science fiction and fantasy writers.
Writing under the name Todd Johnson until 1997/98 he specialized in military science fiction, contributing one story each to several collective works
As a boy, Todd accompanied his mother to her meetings with writers, editors, publishers, and agents; and had attended conventions from age 12.
He was exposed to Pern before its beginning: soon after the move to Long Island when he was nine, his mother asked him what he thought of dragons; she was brainstorming about their "bad press all these years".
The result was a "technologically regressed survival planet" whose people were united against a threat from space, in contrast to America divided by the Vietnam War. "The dragons became the biologically renewable air force."
About thirty years later, Todd McCaffrey recalls,
"the editor at Del Rey asked me to write a "sort of scrapbook" about Mum partly to prevent Mum from writing her autobiography instead of more Pern books. That was Dragonholder [1999].
The editor had also pitched it to me that someone ought to continue Mum's legacy when she was no longer able. At the time I had misgivings and no stor
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2024
Definitely not What I Had Expected...
So I will admit I read this because of the adorable cover! I do that once in awhile. And I did enjoy the beginning of this story. But I do feel that somewhere along the many pages it got off track? It just kept repeating the same phrases over and over, especially the "The dragons must not fly" one. Even way near the end, on page 260, it is still saying that! And that does make the story kind of dull. Because its like in all of those pages not much actual progress has been made. So my mind was starting to wonder to other things and I was most definitely losing interest in this story.
Holly is so cute in that cover image but I am unsure what to think of her or her new friends in this story. I guess I will say she seems too trusting, trusting that straight book. Didn't she ever see the Harry Potter movies or read the books? Didn't that teach her you should not trust a strange book? But its a tale of magic, dragons, witches, spell books and earthquakes.
And the ending... So weird! I have no idea what to make of it. Such a huge twist. It leaves me going "Huh???" I am just reeling. Oh I understand it - but its just not what I had expected at all.
The characters and the plot really did not keep my interest. They seemed more interested in having pizza parties and little get togethers with sandwiches than having anything actually exciting or scary happening. I sort of rushed to the end by reading fast but I really didn't enjoy it at all. I just wanted to get to the end. The story has no depth. There was no suspense. I never felt they were in any danger. Its mostly a lot of talk.
The cover as I said is absolutely beautiful. But the story fizzles.
Might want to skip this one.
So I will admit I read this because of the adorable cover! I do that once in awhile. And I did enjoy the beginning of this story. But I do feel that somewhere along the many pages it got off track? It just kept repeating the same phrases over and over, especially the "The dragons must not fly" one. Even way near the end, on page 260, it is still saying that! And that does make the story kind of dull. Because its like in all of those pages not much actual progress has been made. So my mind was starting to wonder to other things and I was most definitely losing interest in this story.
Holly is so cute in that cover image but I am unsure what to think of her or her new friends in this story. I guess I will say she seems too trusting, trusting that straight book. Didn't she ever see the Harry Potter movies or read the books? Didn't that teach her you should not trust a strange book? But its a tale of magic, dragons, witches, spell books and earthquakes.
And the ending... So weird! I have no idea what to make of it. Such a huge twist. It leaves me going "Huh???" I am just reeling. Oh I understand it - but its just not what I had expected at all.
The characters and the plot really did not keep my interest. They seemed more interested in having pizza parties and little get togethers with sandwiches than having anything actually exciting or scary happening. I sort of rushed to the end by reading fast but I really didn't enjoy it at all. I just wanted to get to the end. The story has no depth. There was no suspense. I never felt they were in any danger. Its mostly a lot of talk.
The cover as I said is absolutely beautiful. But the story fizzles.
Might want to skip this one.
June 10, 2024
This was a really fun and refreshing YA book.
Holly's dad disappeared in an earthquake the night she was born 12 years ago.
Now, starting a new school along with her life long best friend are both having trouble making new friends and fitting in.
On top of that, Holly is starting to have weird dreams after finding a book in the school library.
Holly learns she, her best friend, and two other girls in the school are all witches, and unless they learn to work together, their world may not survive as they know it.
Magic, kittens, and dragons. That's really all you need for a good story.
Holly's dad disappeared in an earthquake the night she was born 12 years ago.
Now, starting a new school along with her life long best friend are both having trouble making new friends and fitting in.
On top of that, Holly is starting to have weird dreams after finding a book in the school library.
Holly learns she, her best friend, and two other girls in the school are all witches, and unless they learn to work together, their world may not survive as they know it.
Magic, kittens, and dragons. That's really all you need for a good story.
June 7, 2023
A book for teenagers, but still fun!!
This really was written for 12 year Olds. I'm 72 and I still enjoyed it!! I think you will too!
If you are looking for Emile Zola this isn't it. But if you're looking for a fun read to pass a few hours that comes out right, you've come to the correct book! Enjoy!
This really was written for 12 year Olds. I'm 72 and I still enjoyed it!! I think you will too!
If you are looking for Emile Zola this isn't it. But if you're looking for a fun read to pass a few hours that comes out right, you've come to the correct book! Enjoy!
January 5, 2024
Fun, A few tears of happiness
Perfect for a young adult (10 and up) however, I am 58 and enjoyed the entire book!
It was a wonderful adventure, filled with magic, friends, and dragons!
Perfect for a young adult (10 and up) however, I am 58 and enjoyed the entire book!
It was a wonderful adventure, filled with magic, friends, and dragons!
March 22, 2024
LA witch - Dragons & Earthquakes
I highly recommend this book. It is an exciting book of young witches coming to terms with Dragons and Earthquakes. It will be and entertaining book for all ages.
I highly recommend this book. It is an exciting book of young witches coming to terms with Dragons and Earthquakes. It will be and entertaining book for all ages.
October 4, 2024
Wonderful
Glorious characters and a wonderful tale.The plot moves with intriguing twists.All those fairy tale take on new meaning.I do enjoy Dragon stories.Adding witches is the icing on the cake.
Glorious characters and a wonderful tale.The plot moves with intriguing twists.All those fairy tale take on new meaning.I do enjoy Dragon stories.Adding witches is the icing on the cake.
July 11, 2025
A great adventure.
This is most unexpected story. It puts a new spin on fairy tales, magic, witches and dragons! I could not put it down. It is a story for everyone regardless of their age. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
This is most unexpected story. It puts a new spin on fairy tales, magic, witches and dragons! I could not put it down. It is a story for everyone regardless of their age. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
October 25, 2025
I enjoyed this book very much. this is the first non-Pern related book I’ve read by the author. I’ll definitely read more by him. I’m ordering the next book in this series.
It is a book for teens and young adults so it may not be as action packed as other fantasy series but it was still good
It is a book for teens and young adults so it may not be as action packed as other fantasy series but it was still good
October 5, 2022
LA Witch: Birthday fun
Lived Todd's new book . could not put it down. It reminds me of Ann's Dragon Riders of Pern. Please write more. Than you
Lived Todd's new book . could not put it down. It reminds me of Ann's Dragon Riders of Pern. Please write more. Than you
April 26, 2023
Great book. It was a quick read, even with my attention span. Can't wait to read the other book.
October 9, 2023
So so
Story line did not flow chars to shallow The story doesn't really explain the reason for the story itself Sorry I paid for this one
Story line did not flow chars to shallow The story doesn't really explain the reason for the story itself Sorry I paid for this one
January 13, 2024
Nice play on YA introduction to being magical. Now to read the others and see if that keeps going.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2025
I loved this book. It is Jouvinal. However it has a great story line and a wonderful group of kids. The ending is wonderful I am going to read the next book.
November 4, 2025
L. A. Witch: Birthday (book 1)
I enjoyed this story .
The characters are fun.
The story line is good.
The results are great.
Thank you T. J. McCaffrey.
I enjoyed this story .
The characters are fun.
The story line is good.
The results are great.
Thank you T. J. McCaffrey.
December 11, 2025
Not well organized
Too many different things that happened without background information. One child with extreme security made no sense. Didn't like the ageing cost for every spell
Too many different things that happened without background information. One child with extreme security made no sense. Didn't like the ageing cost for every spell
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews