Author Interview: Spells for Lost Things by Jenna Evans Welch

Hopefully you’ve been introduced to Jenna Evans Welch through her Love & series, where the first book has (an amazing!) movie out on Netflix. If not, allow us to introduce you to her with her upcoming contemporary with a hint of magic! Spells for Lost Things is the perfect book for fall and we are here chatting about it with Jenna! Check out our interview below and pick it up on September 27th!

Spells for Lost Things

by Jenna Evans Welch
on September 27, 2022
Pages: 368
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From the New York Times bestselling author of Love & Gelato comes a poignant and romantic novel about two teens trying to find their place in the world after being unceremoniously dragged to Salem, Massachusetts, for the summer.
Willow has never felt like she belonged anywhere and is convinced that the only way to find a true home is to travel the world. But her plans to act on her dream are put on hold when her aloof and often absent mother drags Willow to Salem, Massachusetts, to wrap up the affairs of an aunt Willow didn’t even know she had. An aunt who may or may not have been a witch.
There, she meets Mason, a loner who’s always felt out of place and has been in and out of foster homes his entire life. He’s been classified as one of the runaways, constantly searching for ways to make it back to his mom; even if she can’t take care of him, it’s his job to try and take care of her. Isn’t it?
Naturally pulled to one another, Willow and Mason set out across Salem to discover the secret past of Willow’s mother, her aunt, and the ambiguous history of her family. During all of this, the two can’t help but act on their natural connection. But with the amount of baggage between them—and Willow’s growing conviction her family might be cursed—can they manage to hold onto each other?

Talk to us about Willow and Mason. What lunch table would they sit at?

Fun question! I picture them both as the type of people who wouldn’t sit at only one table. Willow, when she isn’t daydreaming about her latest travel obsession, would spend time with the handful of people she’s truly connected with. Mason is used to being the new kid, so I think he’d find a table with kids who are also new or don’t “fit” in some way, but he’d be open to talking to anyone. 

If the MCs from your Love & series were dropped into the world of Spells for Lost Things, how would they react? 

I think they would all be intrigued by Salem. Lina and Ren would find lots of things to do (museums, tarot readings, wandering the streets), and Addie would connect with Willow’s eccentric aunts. Liv would likely want to head back home, but once she started to sink into the place she’d be intrigued by it. 

What was the research like for Spells for Lost Things? 

It couldn’t have been more fun! I especially loved learning to read tarot cards, and it has become a part of my daily routine (I usually read right before I start writing for the day). Tarot is essentially story telling, and I love the way it fires up my creativity. I also took a trip to Salem and spent several days wandering and learning more about what witches in Salem practice, and talking to people who believe in real magic. The only downside was that I stayed in a hotel that was haunted and barely slept for three nights–eek!