Once upon a time, in a small village nestled in the hills, there lived a mysterious woman known as the crocheting witch. She was a solitary figure, often seen sitting on her porch with her crocheting needles in hand, weaving intricate patterns into the yarn. The villagers were both fascinated and fearful of her, believing her to possess magical powers. No one quite knew how the crocheting witch came to be, as she appeared in the village seemingly overnight. Some whispered that she had arrived on a midnight breeze, carried by the winds of destiny. Others claimed she had always been there, hidden away from prying eyes.
The Foxfire Kitsune Martial artist build that you suggest explicitly has Martial Artist dedication and a stance listed in its required feats. It mentions Stumbling Stance in particular as one to consider. If that's nto what you meant, then you should perhaps go back and look at it again.
Electric arc is more useful in close quarters than the wand in terms of damage so you could hypothetically replace the wand with it to open up your other implement choices. The wandcaster also has the option of firing off multiple different types of energy useful against skeletons and can eventually blow up multiple people a round.
Others claimed she had always been there, hidden away from prying eyes. Regardless, her presence brought both curiosity and unease to the villagers. Every day, the crocheting witch would sit on her porch, surrounded by piles of colorful yarn.
First rate competition curse effigy
By Sarah Raughley
You know, it’s always cool to read letters from fans of the Effigies series who really appreciate the fact that the titular Effigies are from a racially diverse background—Maia being of mixed Jamaican—American descent, Chae Rin being Korean Canadian, Lake being Nigerian-British and Belle being French. For me it was very important to have the Effigies be as global as the story. This is a world, after all, where any girl in the world could potentially become an Effigy. It wouldn’t make sense, then, for the characters to be an all-white band. When I’m able to do events with kids in the community, for example A Room of Your Own in Toronto where I talked with girls of color at the public library, it’s just phenomenal to see with your own beady little authorly eyes just how important writing diversity is.
And it’s weird because I’ve been told so many times by certain people that there must be a point to the diversity in your book, which I think for them means that your characters’ non-whiteness must be the crux of the story, the world building and/or the characters’ own personal arc. My personal approach to racial diversity is a little different. Of course, our backgrounds inflect who we are in many ways and gives us experiences that others may not have had. However, for my characters, rather than thinking of them as Korean first, or black first, or white first, I think of them as characters first. That means understanding that despite what differences we may have depending on what our ethnicity or nationality is, what makes us human is fundamentally the same. We are all driven by feelings, fears and desires that shape who we are as people. The fact, for example, that I’m Nigerian Canadian doesn’t mean that I somehow respond radically different than someone else when I am in pain or confused or scared for my life, nor does it mean that I’ll react exactly like another Nigerian or Nigerian Canadian would. Certainly, there are cultural behaviors that are learned when you grow up in certain cultural environments, but ultimately, the simple fact of one’s racial makeup cannot be the determining factor of how we act and who we are. Though some would want you to think otherwise, we as human beings have far more in common with each other than with any other species; certainly, regardless of our skin tone or nationality, we have far more similarities than differences.
For me, writing diversity means understanding that cultures and ethnicities are not a monolith. I am not like every other Nigerian or every other Nigerian Canadian or every other diasporic Nigerian living on this planet. I have my own personality, my own presence, my own voice (fun fact, I’ve been told over the phone that I sound like a white girl, which is a lot to unpack) based on how and where I grew up, based on my experiences, and everything else that goes into making someone an individual. If human beings can’t be pigeonholed into certain molds of personality, voice, and behavior based on their ethnic makeup, then neither can (and neither should) characters.
So while diversity is important, one crucial aspect of diversity in books is not approaching it with stereotypical, preconceived notions for how certain characters of a certain race are supposed to act, sound etc. In Fate of Flames and Siege of Shadows, the ethnicities and nationalities of the characters are part of who they are; but as a reader, what you’ll see before their ethnicity is what I always intended for you to see:
Sarah Raughley grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to SF/F TV to Japanese role playing games. On top of being a YA writer, Sarah has a PhD in English, which makes her doctor, so it turns out she didn’t have to go to medical school after all.
Siege of Shadows is available for purchase.
She would transform these strands into beautiful creations, from delicate doilies to cozy blankets, each piece more intricate than the last. The villagers would watch in awe as she effortlessly worked her magic, fingers dancing with the yarn as if guided by an unseen force. Children would gather around her, drawn by her enchanting presence and the stories she would weave into her crafts. With each stitch, she would share tales of distant lands, mystical creatures, and ancient traditions. The children would listen wide-eyed, captivated by her words, as if under a spell. Not everyone in the village, however, was enthralled by the crocheting witch's charm. Some believed her to be a bringer of misfortune, blaming her for every ill that befell the village. They whispered that the patterns she wove into her creations held a dark magic, cursing those who possessed them. Fearful of her influence, they kept their distance, casting wary glances towards her house. Despite the fear and suspicion, the crocheting witch remained undeterred. She continued to create her intricate tapestries, finding solace and joy in the rhythmic motion of her needles. She believed in the power of her craft to heal, to inspire, and to unite. Slowly, over time, the villagers began to see the crocheting witch in a new light. They marveled at the vibrant colors and intricate designs she brought into their lives. The blankets she gifted to newborns kept them warm and safe, while the delicate shawls she crafted brought comfort to the ailing. The village began to realize that the crocheting witch was not a source of darkness, but a purveyor of love and kindness. And so, the crocheting witch became an integral part of the village, her porch a gathering place for both young and old. She taught the villagers the art of crocheting, passing down her knowledge and passion for the craft. They began to appreciate the meditative rhythm of the needles, finding solace and purpose in the creation of something beautiful. The crocheting witch's influence spread far beyond the village, as people from neighboring towns heard tales of her magical creations. They traveled from far and wide to meet the mysterious woman who could bring yarn to life. And, in turn, the crocheting witch welcomed them with open arms, embracing their shared love for the craft. In the end, the crocheting witch's magic was not found in dark spells or curses, but in the power of creation and connection. Through her artful craft, she had woven a tapestry of unity, turning strangers into friends and fear into understanding. Her legacy would forever be remembered in the hearts and stitches of those touched by her gentle enchantment..
Reviews for "The Secrets of the Crocheting Witch: Conjuring Magic with Yarn"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "The Crocheting Witch" as I love both crochet and witchcraft, but this book was a major disappointment. The characters were flat and one-dimensional, and the plot was predictable and boring. The crochet instructions were unclear, making it difficult for me to follow along and try the patterns myself. Overall, I felt like this book didn't live up to its potential and left me feeling unsatisfied.
2. Alex - 1 star - I found "The Crocheting Witch" to be poorly written and lacking in substance. The dialogue was stilted and unconvincing, making it hard to feel any connection to the characters. Additionally, the pacing of the story was incredibly slow, with very little happening until the final few chapters. The premise of a crocheting witch had so much potential, but unfortunately, this book failed to deliver on that promise. I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
3. Jessica - 2 stars - As someone who enjoys both crochet and witchcraft, I was excited to read "The Crocheting Witch." However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. The characters were underdeveloped, and their actions often seemed illogical and inconsistent. The language used was also overly flowery and unnecessarily complicated, making it difficult to fully understand what was happening. The inclusion of crochet patterns throughout the book was a nice touch, but overall, I felt like the story lacked depth and failed to engage me as a reader.
4. Tyler - 2 stars - "The Crocheting Witch" fell flat for me. The writing style was dull and uninspiring, making it hard to stay engaged with the story. The plot itself was predictable and lacked any real surprises or twists. While the crochet patterns were a nice addition, they didn't make up for the lackluster storytelling. Overall, I found this book to be forgettable and would not recommend it to others.
5. Emily - 1 star - "The Crocheting Witch" was a complete letdown. The characters were uninteresting and lacked any depth, resulting in a lack of connection with the reader. The writing style was clunky and awkward, making it difficult to get through the book. The crochet instructions were confusing and poorly explained, making it impossible for me to try any of the patterns. Overall, this book was a waste of time and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.