Welcome to the Coven: Meet Your New Favorite Witch (And Her Slightly Chaotic Creator)
Pour yourself a cup of coffee (or tea, or that suspicious bubbling potion in the back of your fridge—no judgment here). Let's chat.
Hi, I'm Daria Michel, and I Accidentally Became a Writer
Well, that's not entirely true. I've been writing stories in my head since elementary school, when I discovered my aunt's old Nancy Drew books hiding in my grandmother's basement.
I devoured those books. Every. Single. One.
There was something magical about following Nancy as she solved mysteries, outsmarted criminals, and managed to keep her hair perfectly styled while doing it. (Seriously, what was her secret? Mine looks like a bird's nest after five minutes outside.)
Those books taught me that mysteries didn't have to be dark and gritty to be compelling. They could be fun. Adventurous. Full of heart and humor and characters you actually liked spending time with.
Fast forward a few decades, and I'm still that girl who can't resist a good cozy mystery. Except now I also love paranormal elements, found family, and stories where the messy, imperfect heroine saves the day while wearing yesterday's coffee on her shirt.
So when I sat down to write the kind of book I wanted to read, it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
Magic, Motherhood, and Mom Jeans
Magic and Mom Jeans wasn't just plucked from thin air (though wouldn't that be a great magical ability?). It grew out of my own journey to motherhood. A journey that, like Selene's, involved some unexpected twists.
Unlike Selene, I didn't accidentally turn anyone into a baby. (At least, not that I'm aware of. Though there was that incident with the birthday cake... but I digress.)
What I did experience was that beautiful, terrifying, completely overwhelming moment of realizing: Oh. I'm responsible for an entire human being now. And I have no idea what I'm doing.
That feeling—that mix of fierce love, complete panic, and the nagging suspicion that someone made a terrible mistake trusting you with this is what became the emotional heart of Selene's story.
I wanted to write about a woman who doesn't have it all figured out. Who makes mistakes. Who sometimes feeds her kid cereal for dinner because she's too exhausted to cook. Who loves fiercely but also occasionally locks herself in the bathroom for five minutes of peace.
Oh, and she solves murders and accidentally blows up potions. Because if we're going to embrace chaos, we might as well go all in.
What You'll Find Here (Besides My Rambling)
I'm so glad you've found your way to this little corner of the internet. Whether you stumbled here by accident, followed a trail of magical breadcrumbs, or were lured by the promise of murder and mayhem, welcome!
This blog is where I'll share:
- Behind-the-scenes peeks at Springvale and its quirky residents
- Character spotlights (because Selene's not the only hot mess in town)
- Book recommendations (because supporting fellow authors is what makes this community magical)
- Writing adventures and misadventures (mostly misadventures, let's be honest)
- Random musings about cozy mysteries, paranormal fiction
My Reading Journey: A Love Letter to Cozy Everything
If you peek at my currently-reading list, you'll find it's roughly 99% cozy mysteries, cozy romance, and cozy fantasy. Almost everything I read has paranormal elements—witches, vampires, shifters, fae, ghosts, dragons, you name it.
Give me a small town full of supernatural beings, a murder that needs solving, a dash of romance, and a protagonist who's doing their best (and occasionally their worst), and I'm a happy reader.
If you love those kinds of stories too, we're going to get along just fine.
And if you have recommendations? Please, please share them in the comments. My TBR pile is already taller than me, but I can always make room for one more book. (That's a lie. My TBR pile is sentient at this point and plotting my demise. But I'll add your recommendation anyway.)
Let's Stay in Touch (AKA Join the Coven)
Before you go exploring the rest of the blog, I have a gift for you.
When you join my newsletter, you'll get a free novella called Ashes and Answers featuring characters from the Magic and Mom Jeans series. It's a fun bonus story that gives you a taste of Springvale's particular brand of chaos.
Plus, you'll be the first to know about new releases, get exclusive excerpts, and receive updates that don't make it to social media. (Because let's be real—social media algorithms are more unpredictable than Selene's potion experiments.)
Click here to join the coven and grab your free novella!
Thank You for Being Here
Starting this journey as a debut author is equal parts thrilling and terrifying. (Kind of like Selene starting her journey as a witch and mom, now that I think about it.)
But having readers like you here from the beginning? That makes all the difference.
So thank you. For reading this rambling post. For giving an unknown author a chance. For being part of this magical adventure from day one.
I can't wait to introduce you to Selene, Gage, Xana, and the rest of Springvale's wonderfully weird residents.
Welcome to the coven. The coffee's always hot, the mysteries are always deadly, and the learning curve for witchcraft is... well, let's just say Selene's still working on it.
Grab a seat. This is going to be fun.
With magic and gratitude,
Daria
P.S. — What was your first cozy mystery? Or your first paranormal read? Drop it in the comments—I'd love to know what started your journey into these genres!
P.P.S. — Seriously, don't forget to grab your free novella. My cats will judge you if you don't. (Actually, they'll judge you either way. But at least you'll have a free book.)