S5 Ep 9 - Season of the Witch: Whispers Most Foul

Summary

True Fiction Project - Season 5, Episode 9: "Season of the Witch: Whispers Most Foul"

Release Date: October 22, 2024

Host: Reenita Hora
Guest: Emma McDonald, Author of Whispers Most Foul

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Introduction to Witch Fantasy

In this episode of True Fiction Project, host Reenita Hora delves into the intriguing world of witch fantasy with Emma McDonald, the author of her debut novel, Whispers Most Foul. The conversation opens with Emma addressing the historical context of witchcraft, especially its negative connotations in Western, predominantly Christian societies.

Emma McDonald [01:00]: "Witchcraft historically has been used sort of pejoratively in the same way that paganism was used as a pejorative term."

Emma explains how witchcraft has often been a label for anything that deviates from established religious norms, serving as a tool to marginalize and control those who practice different rituals or hold alternative beliefs.

Defining Witchcraft and Witch Fantasy

Reenita Hora probes deeper into the essence of witchcraft, questioning its definition and societal implications. Emma articulates that witchcraft encompasses a wide range of practices and beliefs, often tied to specific traditions and personal spiritual practices.

Emma McDonald [05:14]: "I think it can mean a lot of things for a lot of different people."

Emma distinguishes between general fantasy and witch fantasy, highlighting that the latter often incorporates magic systems inspired by folkloric traditions, making the magic more relatable and grounded in real-world practices.

Emma McDonald's Personal Journey and Practice

Emma shares her transition from a corporate career to embracing her "witchiness," a journey influenced by her lifelong interest in herbs and gardening. She describes her personal practice of green witchcraft, which involves creating tonics, tinctures, and teas using various plants and herbs.

Emma McDonald [06:23]: "I've had people telling me that I'm just a little bit witchy for as long as I can remember."

Her setup includes an extensive collection of dried herbs, which she uses to concoct natural remedies like valerian root tonic to aid with insomnia. Emma emphasizes that her practices are supplemental to modern medicine, advocating for a harmonious blend of traditional and contemporary healing methods.

Historical and Cultural Perspectives on Witchcraft

The discussion shifts to the societal perceptions of witchcraft, particularly the targeting of women who did not conform to traditional roles. Emma underscores that historical accusations of witchcraft were less about the actual practices and more about enforcing societal norms and suppressing women's independence.

Emma McDonald [07:45]: "People start really existing in those spaces, I think that's where people start to grow uncomfortable."

Emma highlights the problematic dichotomy of "white magic" versus "black magic," arguing that such divisions constrain the diverse and multifaceted nature of witchcraft.

Whispers Most Foul - Emma McDonald's Novel

Reenita introduces Emma's novel, Whispers Most Foul, set in a magical university within a fantasy world. The protagonist, Rose, is unique in her inability to cast spells and her ability to see ghosts of missing students. The novel explores themes of isolation, discovery, and uncovering dark secrets within the academic institution.

Emma McDonald [10:15]: "The novel is set in a magical university in a fantasy world. It follows the journey of the main character, Rose, who is the only student... who can't cast a single spell."

The narrative delves into Rose's partnership with her academic rival, Sylvie, as they navigate mysteries surrounding enchanted students and dormant magics, ultimately revealing hidden truths about their world and themselves.

The Allure of Darkness

Both Emma and Reenita discuss the human fascination with darkness and the unknown. Emma suggests that this intrigue stems from an innate desire to explore mysteries, even as it simultaneously evokes fear.

Emma McDonald [11:07]: "I think it's that people love to flirt with the unknown, that mystery."

Reenita adds that this duality reflects our complex relationship with fear and curiosity, highlighting how engaging with dark themes can be both exhilarating and terrifying.

Excerpt Reading from Whispers Most Foul

As part of the episode, Emma reads an excerpt from her novel, immersing listeners in the atmospheric and tension-filled world she has created. The passage vividly portrays Rose's internal struggle and the supernatural elements that intertwine with her reality, setting the stage for the novel's unfolding drama.

Emma McDonald [14:35]: "Rose glared at the bathwater below her, glimmering in the glow of the candles lining the bath's edges... Her breath coiled in her lungs, throat so tight she could barely swallow."

This excerpt showcases Emma's ability to blend emotional depth with suspense, drawing readers into Rose's experiences and the enigmatic occurrences at Dunhollow Academy.

Connecting with Emma McDonald

Towards the end of the episode, Emma shares how listeners can connect with her and stay updated on her work. She maintains an active presence on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter) under the handle @emmacdonaldauthor, and runs her website at emmacdonaldauthor.com.

Emma McDonald [12:01]: "I tend to post updates and little, you know, snippets of the story."

Reenita ensures that all relevant links and social media handles are provided in the show notes, encouraging listeners to follow Emma's journey as both an author and a practitioner of witchcraft.

Conclusion

True Fiction Project Season 5, Episode 9 offers a captivating exploration of witchcraft through Emma McDonald's insights and creative storytelling. By intertwining historical perspectives with personal experiences and fictional narratives, the episode underscores the profound connection between real-life practices and their fictional representations. Emma's novel, Whispers Most Foul, serves as a testament to how deeply personal and cultural elements can inspire compelling fiction, making this episode a must-listen for enthusiasts of magical realism and dark fantasy.

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Key Quotes:

• Emma McDonald [01:00]: "Witchcraft historically has been used sort of pejoratively in the same way that paganism was used as a pejorative term."

• Emma McDonald [05:14]: "I think it can mean a lot of things for a lot of different people."

• Emma McDonald [06:23]: "I've had people telling me that I'm just a little bit witchy for as long as I can remember."

• Emma McDonald [07:45]: "People start really existing in those spaces, I think that's where people start to grow uncomfortable."

• Emma McDonald [10:15]: "The novel is set in a magical university in a fantasy world. It follows the journey of the main character, Rose, who is the only student... who can't cast a single spell."

• Emma McDonald [11:07]: "I think it's that people love to flirt with the unknown, that mystery."

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Connect with Emma McDonald:

• Instagram & TikTok: @emmacdonaldauthor
• Website: emmacdonaldauthor.com

For more inspiring stories and to understand how fiction is born from everyday experiences, visit TrueFictionProject.com.

Transcript

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[Emma McDonald]

Witchcraft historically has been used sort of pejoratively in the same way that paganism was used as a pejorative term. I think it really is. When we're looking at Western, largely Christian societies, it is anything that doesn't fit that standard of Christianity. And so it has been used to weaponize anything that is a little bit different, any rituals that are different, any practices that are different, and that encompasses all over the world because there are a lot of different forms of witchcraft or what people would consider witchcraft.

[Rinita Hora]

Welcome to the True Fiction Project, a podcast series that explores the origins of fiction. Every week we begin with an interview nonfiction, followed by a creative piece, fiction inspired by something from the interview. The idea is to demonstrate, of course, that fiction is born out of our life experiences. Now here's your host, storyteller, authority, public speaker, health and wellness expert Rinita Hora.

[Renita Hora]

Welcome to the True Fiction Project. I am your host, Renita Hora, and here we are in the season of the Witch. I have to say this is one of my favorite seasons of the year, not only because I like things witchy, but also because perhaps my birthday falls in this season. Does that make me a witch or give me witch fantasies? I don't know. That's one I'm going to have to think about. Anyway, I want to introduce a storyteller of witch fantasy. This is Emma McDonald. Hi Emma. Welcome to the True Fiction Project.

[Emma McDonald]

Hi.

Thank you so much for having me.

I'm so glad to be here and.

[Renita Hora]

It is great to have you here and have to ask you right off the bat, what is witch fantasy? What do we mean by that?

[Emma McDonald]

So for what I generally mean by that is I think fantasy as a genre has a lot of magic involved in it. And I think when we talk about involving witches, fantasy, it is a little different because I think it plays on the magic systems that have kind of decorated the folk tales of our world a little bit more. So you might delve into types of magic that might be a little bit more familiar, so to speak, to people in our world or based in certain traditions, things like that. Whereas I think fantasy as a larger genre, while it does include a lot of magic, doesn't always necessarily carry that component.

[Renita Hora]

Mm. So what got you into this? What were you doing before?

[Emma McDonald]

I have worked a lot in corporate settings, actually. So very far removed from what I do here. But I don't know if you can see behind me. I have a little bit of a witchy setup myself. That is something that I've always had a very keen interest in. So it was kind of a natural leap into writing about that in fiction.

[Renita Hora]

I see. Now we have to delve into to this a little bit. You know, the background of witchiness, from what I understand, and having known about witches in different cultures, I'm from South Asia, I'm from India, and certainly here with the Salem witch trials and so forth, these were witches, like ordinary women, let's say, who were sort of blamed for psychological mishap and evil and so became witches, because that's the way society labeled them. It's not that they were actually sort of conjuring spells and stuff. They were just seen to be sort of weird and not main members of society. Am I wrong?

[Emma McDonald]

No, I think you're absolutely correct in that I think witchcraft historically has been used sort of pejoratively in the same way that paganism was used as a pejorative term. I think it really is. When we're looking at Western, largely Christian societies, it is anything that doesn't fit that standard of Christianity. And so it has been used to weaponize anything that is a little different, any rituals that are different, any practices that are different, and that encompasses all over the world, because there are a lot of different forms of witchcraft or what people would consider witchcraft now. And I think that's something that people are starting to kind of revisit in recent years, and it's gaining a lot more momentum now as something that's a little bit outside of tradition.

[Renita Hora]

So that leads me straight into that question of what Is witchcraft in that case?

[Emma McDonald]

I think it can mean a lot of things for a lot of different people. I know some people have it as sort of a daily practice that they might do. It might be tied to specific religious beliefs for some people. And it really. I don't think there's any one set answer of what witchcraft can be. I think it is so varied in so many different places to so many different people. I think the witchcraft that I write about a lot of my book or that I kind of dabble in myself is more geared towards what would be called green witchcraft, which deals with a lot of plants and herbs and anything of that nature.

So making tonics and tinctures and teas.

And that kind of thing, and that is something that, again, has historically been done by humans for centuries, millennia. But when you get into the fringe of society, the women, because often it was women who faced the brunt of accusations of witchcraft, making tonics and tinctures and kind of that sort of thing took on a life of its own, I think, when we talk about it now.

[Renita Hora]

So tonics and tinctures. I'd love to know more about your witchcraft. What is it and why it's necessary to have that witchy setup?

[Emma McDonald]

For me, I think it's my witchiness has just always kind of been a part of who I am. It's something that I've definitely embraced a little bit more in recent years. But I've had people telling me that I'm just a little bit witchy for as long as I can remember. And so for me, that often presents itself as gardening. And I collect herbs. And so if you can see in the witchy setup that I have behind me, I don't know if you can actually see my herb collection there, but there is an extensive dried herb collection included. And so those are things that I work with. And I make little tinctures and tonics for people. So, for example, I'll make a valerian root tonic for people who have trouble sleeping or staying asleep. And that can really help with insomnia. And it's not the type of thing where I would say, take this and.

Don'T go to the doctor.

And, you know, you could only have to use what I make because I think it's something that could be used supplementally alongside modern medicine. Right.

[Renita Hora]

Yeah. So, I mean, this is very interesting because so much of what you are describing sounds to me like the work of a medicine woman, a pharmacologist. Right. Or you mentioned supplemental medicine. If I go to a natural grocery Store and look at the line of supplements I can find, perhaps things like valerian root tonic or tincture. So if you are preparing those at home by hand for folks like me, why is it that witchcraft. And if that's what witchcraft is.

[Emma McDonald]

So there are a lot of forms of witchcraft that I think are more tied into belief systems for people. So I've known a lot of witches who also are in the pagan community. So they will worship older gods or gods outside of Christianity or outside of larger recognized religions. And I think that's more where historically the accusations of witchcraft were more burdensome. But really at its height, you mentioned the Salem witch trials or any of the witch trials that happened through England and Scotland as well. At its height, it was just targeted at women who were a little different. So we have the word hedge witch as well, which is generally just a woman who would live past the hedges, so beyond the village kind of thing. So she's a little bit of a social outcast. And that, at that time, would have been enough to make that woman a target. So it isn't, I think, so much about the practice itself that people had an issue with. I think it was the eschewing of traditional values or what they believed people should be doing. And people, again, largely women, who didn't fall into that model. It didn't really matter what they were doing. It was just that they weren't doing the things that they were supposed to be.

[Renita Hora]

The things they were supposed to be. I remember an old friend from elementary school who I got back in touch with after years, said to me that she had become a witch. There must have been a look on my face because she looks at me and she says, no, no, no, but I'm a white witch.

[Emma McDonald]

Yeah. I will say I don't necessarily define witchcraft or witchiness in that way, but I think that term actually comes from.

I want to say that's a Wiccan tradition.

Wiccans tend to be viewed as, like, with white magic or good magic, which I think, again, sets up a dichotomy that has problems of its own.

Right.

Where if you're dividing these things into.

Well, white magic is good magic and.

Safe magic and black magic is bad magic and unsafe, like, that can become very problematic very quickly. And I think it also is very limiting in what witchcraft can include. And, you know, it again, which is kind of funny, because witchcraft is, at its core, I think the idea of breaking out of those boxes of tradition, it's almost like trying to fit that back into traditional values or something. That's more easily digestible for most people.

[Renita Hora]

So you're going to read to us from your debut novel. It's a novel? Yes. Whispers Most Foul.

[Emma McDonald]

Yes.

[Renita Hora]

Can you set it up for us? What led you into writing this book and what is it about? What's the true life inspiration behind it.

[Emma McDonald]

Besides me being a bit of a witch myself? The novel is set in a magical university in a fantasy world. So it follows the journey of the main character, Rose, who is the only student at her elite magical university, Dunhollow Academy, who can't cast a single spell. And when she starts her third term, she quickly realizes that she alone can see the ghosts of some students who had gone missing in the previous term. And when one of the ghosts turns out to be her greatest academic rival, Sylvie, the two have to reluctantly pair up to figure out what's going on. Are the students enchanted? Are they dead? Is there some strange magic behind this? And as they delve deeper into their university's history, they uncover some dark secrets.

And some secrets of their own as well.

[Renita Hora]

All right, dark. We are all fascinated by the dark. Why are we all fascinated by the dark?

[Emma McDonald]

I think it's that people love to flirt with the unknown, that mystery. There's something just innately human about wanting to reach for those mysterious places. Yeah.

[Renita Hora]

I think it's fascinating how we, as you say, want to flirt with the unknown, yet we fear the unknown. And there is this fine line. It's almost like it's the ultimate gamble, the ultimate risk.

[Emma McDonald]

Absolutely.

Yeah. And I think that line maybe, because I think everybody flirts with that kind of darkness in their own way. I think it's the people who embrace more of the unknown, and that's where they kind of get the label of being on the fringes of society. Because when you start really existing in those spaces, I think that's where people start to grow uncomfortable.

[Renita Hora]

Very interesting. Okay, before we segue into your reading, let our viewers, listeners, readers. Know where we can find your work online offline.

[Emma McDonald]

Yeah.

So I am on Instagram, TikTok and X. So on TikTok and Instagram, my username is emmacdonaldauthor. And I also have a website which is emmacdonaldauthor.com so try to keep everything uniform so it's easier to find. But I do tend to post updates and little, you know, snippets of the story. And I Instagram little visual elements and stuff. So if anybody's interested in that, they can absolutely follow me there.

[Renita Hora]

Thank you so much, Emma. We are going to include links to all of your websites, social media handles and whatnot in the show notes. And then I know you've got something a little extra special for our paid subscribers. So if you haven't hit that paid subscription button already, please do so because Emma is going to give us a little bit more. Emma, thank you so much for joining us today on the True Fiction Project.

[Emma McDonald]

Thank you so much for having me.

It's been a pleasure to be here.

[Renita Hora]

That is Emma McDonald, the author of Whispers Most Foul. And I'm your host, Prinita Ghora and Happy Season of the Witch.

[Sponsor]

This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. Whether you have big goals for the new year or are crash landing into 2025, there's one thing you can do right now to prepare yourself. Invest in your mental health with therapy. The truth is, nobody knows what the year ahead holds, but a Talkspace therapist can help you get ready for what's next by building mental resilience so you can face life's twists and turns. Just go to talkspace.com to be matched with a licensed online therapist. You can start messaging with your therapist right away and schedule live virtual sessions over video, audio or chat. Your Talkspace therapist can help you develop coping skills for handling whatever life throws at you. Talkspace accepts most insurance with an average copay of $15, and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Get $80 off your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail].

[Renita Hora]

And now to the premise of the True Fiction Project, which of course is to create fiction out of nonfiction.

[Emma McDonald]

Rose glared at the bathwater below her, glimmering in the glow of the candles lining the bath's edges. Warm and inviting steam curled off its surface in smoky tendrils, filling the air with the soothing scent of lavender. Hot baths had always had a way of soothing scars upon the heart. Raw and aching, or sewn up and.

Sore beneath the weight of time, they.

All melted away in the water's scalding embrace. But now she could think of nothing less appealing. A shiver crawled down her spine. As horrific as the first week of classes had been, nothing pulled so sharply at the dread coiled in her stomach. As this. Her eyes flickered to the dark cloth.

Hanging over her mirror like a shroud.

A useless precaution at this point, but a habit she found hard to break. She'd covered the lancet windows above the tub, too, repositioning her many hanging plants in front of them's protective wall with overgrowth. Still, it wasn't enough. She knew now that none of it would protect her. Adeline was always there, no longer confined to mere reflections and growing ever stronger, angrier yet. What choice did Rose have? She could hardly keep from bathing indefinitely. The wind howled lightly against the windows, nearly covering the screams from the forest beyond. Pulling loose the tie of her robe, Rose sucked in a sharp breath and gingerly tipped her toes into the water. The heat crept across her skin like a warm embrace as she sank into it, but she found no comfort in it. She sloshed her water up and down her arms, scrubbing her washcloth over her rosemary soap and then across her pink, freckled skin. She just needed to get in and out, then make it down to the pub for the first week.

Drinks for Fen's sake.

He hardly expected her to show up, she was sure, but for the first time, she almost wanted to. He'd been watching her all week as if she were made of cracked glass, ready to shatter at the slightest touch.

And perhaps he was right.

But there was a desperate, broken part of her that wanted to pretend, just for one night, to watch his eyes spark with delight for the sight of her, not concern, as they so often did these days. She swallowed hard, washing away the last of the soap. The weight of it all ripped her apart, but she would keep it from reaching him if she could. Setting her washcloth aside, Rose was reaching for her towel. When the water at the edge of the tub splashed, she froze. A few rebellious curls stuck to the back of her neck in damp tangles as a cold sweat crept across her skin. Gripping the edge of the tub, she clenched her jaw. Seconds ticked by with agonizing leisure before the water sloshed again. This time the candles beside Rose flickered almost in mourning. The soft hair on her forearms stood upright as a chill swept over her despite the steam still curling up from the bathwater. All at once the water seemed tepid and stale. What little joy it had held snuffed out in an instant. Rose reached for her towel once more, suddenly desperate for the safety of her bed. But the candles flared again as she did, singeing her skin before they all went out at once. Rose's heart pounded against her ribs in the darkness, fast in featherlight, like a bird trying to break free from the cage of her chest. Her breath coiled in her lungs, throat so tight she could barely swallow. Water lapsed softly against the porcelain tub. Then, with a start, the first of the candles leapt back to life, but the light brought no relief. Grey, bloated fingers curled around the sides of the tub. Crack nails caked with grime screeched against porcelain, dug deep and dragging, dragging, dragging. Ever so slowly. Rose trembled, tears picking highs as the water passed, departed, but she couldn't look.

Away, couldn't move, couldn't even breathe.

Soaked tangles of ragged blonde hair crested.

Slowly through the suds.

Then pallid flesh, mugged by dark spidery veins, carved up a spirit's brow. Then finally, her eyes, bloodshot and sunken, they fixed furiously on Rose as Adeline's cracked lips pulled free of the water. Blood pooled at the corner of the girl's mouth, spilling down her throat. For a moment they just stared at each other, Rose rooted to the spot, and Aveline simply waiting, watching. And then she lunged. Slick fingers clamped around Rose's throat and squeezed hard. With a cry, she wrenched away from Aveline's grip, scrambling back. Water cascaded over the edges of the.

Tub as Rose slept free of it, soaking the rub beneath and snuffing out.

The one lit candle. She stumbled in the darkness, reaching desperately for her towel, then the counter, then finally the door. The glow of her dormitory greeted her as she flung herself toward her bed. She sagged onto it, towel wrapped tight against her bare skin and trembling in the cool air. For several moments, all she could do was watch the doorway, but it remained empty. No bloodied eyes peered at her out of the darkness. No wretched figure crossed the threshold. Then, all at once, the candles flickered back to life, filling the washroom with a soft, inviting glow. She was gone. Numbly, Rose lifted her knees to her chin, released the breath sheet burning in her lungs, and simply left. Great, aching sobs tore through her, hot tears pooling onto the satin wet duvet as she rolled onto her side. She couldn't bear this any longer, this terror, this torment. If she stayed here another moment, she would simply unravel, shatter into a million pieces or fade away with so much sorrow. All of a sudden, she craved the.

Comfort of other bodies, even if the.

Safety they offered was only an illusion. For the first time in memory, she didn't want to be alone. And so, dressing quickly and freeing her tangled curls from the repto, she fled from the confines of her room. It wasn't until the cool night air pressed against her skin that she noticed.

The heat beneath her collar.

Swallowing hard, she reached under her blouse and traced five angry bruises blooming along her throat.

[Renita Hora]

Here at the True Fiction Project, we are always looking for great stories that make for compelling fiction. So if you have a great story or know somebody who does, or if you are a writer who would like to contribute, then please do get in touch with [e-mail] contact.

[Rinita Hora]

Thank you for listening to the True Fiction Project with Renita Hora. Be sure to subscribe to the newsletter to receive more inspiring stories showing how fiction is born from our everyday experiences. For more information, visit www.TrueFictionProject.com.

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