About Denise
Equal parts bookworm, flower child, and eclectic witch, Denise D. Young writes fantasy and paranormal romance featuring witches, magic, faeries, and the occasional shifter.
Whatever the flavor of the magic, it’s always served with a brisk cup of tea–and the promise of romance varying from sweet to sensual.
She lives with her husband and their animals in the mountains of Virginia, where small towns and tall trees inspire her stories. She reads tarot cards, collects crystals, gazes at stars, and believes magic is the answer (no matter what the question was).
If you’ve ever hoped to find a book of spells in a dusty attic, if you suspect every misty forest contains a hidden portal to another realm, or if you don’t mind a little darkness before your happily-ever-after, her books might be just the thing you’ve been waiting for.
FAQs: Writing
What kind of books do you write?
I write romantic fantasy and paranormal romance. (Think witches who save the world, faeries who live on the darker side, fairy tales reimagined for a modern era.) If you’ve ever wanted to explore a haunted castle, live in a quaint old house full of books and crystals, or find a portal to the faerie realm, you can live vicariously through my characters.
If you want a taste of magic and romance, if you want a book to curl up with on a dark and stormy night, if you want an escape to a world of quiet magic and endless possibilities, you’re in the right place.
At the center, though, my books are about our search for belonging, healing, self-understanding, and love in a sometimes (okay, usually) crazy world.
How did you know you wanted to be a writer?
I grew up in rural Western Pennsylvania, and I spent a lot of time taking long walks in the woods. I’d write stories in my head as I walked—warrior princesses who saved the kingdom from evil, witches who granted wisdom and healing instead of curses…One day, I started writing my stories down. (The first time I remember writing was in early middle school, but I’ve found picture books about my childhood pets handwritten on notebook paper and stapled together from as early as first-grade, so who knows?)
In high school, I tried my hand at writing both fantasy and romance, and after graduate school, where I penned young-adult fantasy, I find my niche when I realized I could combine both fantasy and romance. I published my first full-length book, Tangled Roots, about a witch whose spell sends her forward in time to save a coven of small-town witches, in 2019.
Do you plot/outline your books?
Not at the moment. I know a lot of people want to know if a writer is a “plotter or a panster.” I consider myself an intuitive/discovery writer. I feel like a part of me knows what is going to happen, but it’s a deep, mysterious, intuitive part of me.
Dean Wesley Smith calls this “writing into the dark,” based on the E.L. Doctorow quote, “Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.”
Or, as Ursula K. Le Guin put it, ”The artist deals with what cannot be said in words. The artist whose medium is fiction does this in words. The novelist says in words what cannot be said in words.”
Are you self-published (indie) or traditionally published? Why did you choose this path?
I am walking the path of an indie author, also known as self-publishing. This means I’m an author-publisher. I have my own publishing company, Sage & Shadows Books LLC, through which I publish my books. My covers are designed by the talented Victoria Cooper of Victoria Cooper Art, and all of my books go through an editing and proofreading process before they are published.
A few reasons: I felt traditional publishing was a bit slower than I wanted (24 months is not an uncommon turnaround time in traditional publishing, from turning in an edited manuscript to publication date, and it’s usually at least a year). I also wanted to set my own schedule, commission my owns covers, and publish more quickly than a standard traditional publisher is able to. As the industry rapidly changes and adapts to a changing world, self-publishing also allows for more agility and adaptability.
I believe that writers should choose the path that best suits them and their career goals. I also know many authors who are hybrid, choosing the best publishing path (self-publishing/small press/larger New York publisher) for individual stories/projects/series. Mostly, I don’t believe a book is defined by how it’s published, but rather by its impact on readers.
Did you study writing in college?
I did. I double-majored in communication and creative writing in undergraduate, later earning a master’s of fine art in writing children’s literature (with the intent of writing YA fantasy before switching to writing for a new-adult and adult audience). It is not necessary to earn a degree in writing to pursue this path, and today there are more paths than ever, from books to workshops to professional organizations to YouTube videos, to learn the skills you need (both business and craft) to be a successful author.
Do you write full-time?
At present, yes. In the past, I’ve held a number of roles, including adjunct instructor at a university, assistant editor at a magazine, English as a Second Language instructor, and working at a public library. I’m very fortunate to currently be solely focused on writing, with a primary focus on fiction.
What inspires you?
Nature: Long walks in the woods. The howl of the wind. The pounding of the ocean surf against the shore. A full moon. The scent of lavender. Tending my garden. Gazing up at the stars.
Magic: Reading tarot cards. Exploring mythology, from ancient gods and goddesses to faerie lore. The symbolism of herbs, flowers, trees, and crystals.
Psychology: How do we heal and overcome trauma? What makes us different? What makes us the same? What makes two people right for one another? What is the birthplace of love? How can we grow? Where do we belong?
(and so much more…)
What does your daily writing routine look like?
Upon waking: Morning coffee, maybe some journaling/reading. I’m not a morning person, so I’m not super productive right away.
Work: Writing sprints are broken up by the business of writing, anything from sending emails to writing and scheduling blog posts to marketing/promotions. I try to make time daily for learning about the craft and business and frequently take workshops/courses as well. It’s not uncommon for me to squeeze in an extra writing session after my husband goes to bed. Midnight is often my most productive time.
Also part of my day: kitty cat snuggles, walks and playtime with my lab mix Leo, daily tarot readings for myself or others, reading, gardening, occasional yoga, and trying my hand at making my own herbal recipes from healing salves to soap to bath bombs to tea blends.
Who are some of your favorite authors?
The Classics: Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, Maya Angelou, Ralph Waldo Emerson
Fantasy/Paranormal Authors: Alice Hoffman, Yasmine Galenorn, Ellen Dugan, & so many more…
Poetry: Mary Oliver, Nikita Gill, Jane Kenyon, Joy Harjo
Writing Craft: James Scott Bell, Dean Wesley Smith, Ursula K. Le Guin, Stephen King
Other: Alice Walker, Tess Whitehurst, Elizabeth Peters, Brene Brown
Do you listen to music while you write, or do you prefer silence?
Both. Sometimes I enjoy the backdrop of silence, other times I have specific playlists based on mood or the particular series/book I’m working on. Other times, I find instrumental music on YouTube works well for creating the right ambiance on a given day.
What is your Enneagram/Myers-Briggs/Four Tendencies type?
Enneagram: 4w5 (The Bohemian)
MBTI: INFJ (The Mystic)
Four Tendencies: The Questioner
Do you like astrology? What’s your Zodiac sign?
Yes.
Unrepentant Sagittarius.
You’ve mentioned fibromyalgia on your blog. What is it, and how does it affect your writing?
According to the Mayo Clinic, “Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.”
Basically, it’s a chronic and lifelong pain condition. Some days I feel like I have the flu—tired, achy, rundown. Other days I’m super sore, like I lost a boxing match. Symptoms vary from day to day, are often unpredictable, and can ebb and flow, with the patient experiencing periods that are largely marked by few or mild symptoms and periods of severe/debilitating symptoms.
I was diagnosed in 2018 and manage it (there’s no cure) through a combination of lifestyle changes (eating well, light exercises, naps) and other remedies (chiropractic adjustments, massage therapy, heating pads, epsom-salt baths, to name a few).
Fibromyalgia has forced me to pace myself. If I overdo it, pushing myself too hard, I can end up in severe pain and unable to work at all. I’ve learned to take breaks and the occasional day off if I need it. I listen to my body and try to take care of myself to overcome the dreaded fibro flare. It’s taught me about acceptance and about listening to my body. And soooo much about patience.
I write in sprints throughout the day and am open to adjusting my schedule based on my symptoms. But I am determined to meet my writing goals despite living with chronic pain—not just for myself, but because I hope to inspire others on their journeys.
FAQS: Witchcraft
How did you become a witch?
I think I always was a witch, to be honest. As a child, I created my own mythology about Mother Earth and the cycle of the seasons. I discovered The Secret Circle series by L.J. Smith in junior high, which is fiction, of course, but I found the idea of witchcraft expressed in that series so empowering. In college, I started reading books about Paganism and witchcraft and officially began walking a Pagan path.
Growing up in a rural area, surrounded by nature, on land where my family had an apple orchard, a large garden, blackberry patches and access to gorgeous wild places, I felt deeply connected to the earth and the cycles of the seasons. My path as a witch is very much connected to a childhood rooted in nature.
What kind of witch are you?
I consider myself to be an eclectic witch. I draw from a number of spiritual paths, and I don’t believe there’s one right way to be a witch, practice magic, read tarot, charge your crystals, or use the phrase “Blessed Be.”
Magic and witchcraft are inherently creative and individual, rooted in our own experiences. I read books, articles, and blogs and watch videos for inspiration and insights, I spend time in nature seeking wisdom…and I never stop learning. Whether your environment is urban, suburban, or rural, you can connect to magic and spirit and forge your own path.
What is witchcraft?
There are as many definitions of witchcraft out there as there are witches—actually, more, because from Hollywood to history, lots of people have tried to define witchcraft.
A short definition: Witchcraft is a nature-based, spiritual path, rooted in honoring our connection to nature and celebrating the cycles of the seasons and moon. We honor the seasonal journey from spring to summer, fall to winter, as well as the moon’s journey from new to full. Many of us worship the goddess in some form, and many honor both a goddess and god, but witchcraft doesn’t have a specific view of the divine or a standardized concept of a deity. Witchcraft is inherently an inward journey. We find lessons in nature and the world around us and view our magic as a tool for personal growth and spiritual exploration.
In addition to revering nature, many witches practice divination (runes, tarot, lucid dreaming, astrology, etc.), embrace magical symbolism in many areas of their life (colors, herbs, spirit animals, dream interpretation, etc.). In short, there are as many ways to be a witch and walk a witchy path as there are ways to simply be, well, anything.
How can I learn about witchcraft?
Read books and blogs that are thoughtful and thought-provoking. Watch YouTube videos that are rooted in a desire to teach and promote growth. Witchcraft is very much rooted in our personal experience, so don’t be afraid to pick up a deck of tarot cards, whisper an incantation under the full moon, or charge your crystal jewelry with your intentions.
Though I’m not Wiccan, I do follow the Wiccan Rede and use it frequently in my practice:
An it harm none, do what ye will.
Do witches need a coven?
No. Many witches walk solitary paths, and there are many ways to find connection with other witches without forming a coven. The Internet has made it easier to learn from and inspire one another. I have plenty of witchy, magical friends, and a lot of friends who read tarot, work with crystals and herbs, and more but aren’t specifically witches, though I’m not technically in a coven at the moment. With or without a coven, a witch is still a witch.