Herbalism and Storytelling
“Sierra felt the heat of his gaze on her hands, her soft skin stained yellow with pollen and marred by small scratches. Her dexterous fingers positioned each sticky orange bloom and velvety green leaf on the drying trays. The dirt beneath her trimmed, unpolished nails gave her a sense of accomplishment, and she imagined how they’d feel in his rough and calloused hands. She willed herself not to glance up to his face. After setting the trays and turning on the dehydrator, Sierra raised her hands to her nose to inhale the sweet, earthy fragrance. Quick she dropped them to her sides when she realized he was still watching.”
My heroin is interning for an herbalist. Her journey through self-discovery, betrayal, magic exploration, intrigue, and romance is set against a backdrop of verdant green gardens and buzzing bee hives in the Texas Hill Country. She smells cloying and earthy scents, creates healing potions that sooth the soul, and sets stinging creatures upon a thoughtless would-be lover. Weaving elements of nature, creativity, and magic into the background of fantasy romance is so much fun!
The histories of herbalism, healing, and witchcraft are indelibly intertwined. The trades of healers and cunning women have at one time or another been associated with devil worship and dark magic. Villanized by religion, undermined by medicine, exploited by pharmaceuticals, and romanticized by artists and poets, herbalism endures as an ancient healing practice. Regardless of its history, herbalism is a colorful and creative pastime that draws in gardeners, naturalists, hobbyists, and healers.
Crafting a story that departs from existing narratives that can be dark, allows me to integrate the beauty and natural wonder of the garden’s microcosm with a rich history of lore, both dark and light.
When I began writing about Sierra, I knew that she would be immersed in magic and that she would be working in gardens. As the story has evolved, I have enjoyed putting her to work and integrating her emerging skills as gardener and knowledge as biochemist with her evolution as a mage.