Five By Five: Debut novel honors a grandmother’s love of nature

By Max Bowen

In her debut book, writer Adrianna Schuh blends some magic and romance in “Magic is in the Air.” The story follows Olivia Ayala, a fiercely independent Latina witch with cerebral palsy. In her small-town bakery in Addersfield, Rhode Island, Olivia crafts magical confections while raising her son and navigating life's challenges. Enter Draven James, a charming and mysterious man who stirs both the town's magic and Olivia's heart. As Olivia falls for Draven, she uncovers secrets threatening their haven and her dreams.

In this interview, Adrianna talks about what inspired her to write this book and how she created Olivia and the real-life story behind it.


I read that this is your first published novel. What inspired you to write this and how did “Magic Is In the Air” come to be your story?

I love witches. My grandma was a practicing witch and I grew up visiting Wiccan camps with her. She instilled in me a love of nature and the moon. And she taught me to believe in magic. The story is a bit of a love letter to her.

I’d like to know more about your main character, Olivia Ayala. What went into creating her?

Honestly, she's a mix of myself, my grandma, and my mom. I gave her my disability because I wanted to see more disability representation in romance. I was raised by a single mom, so Olivia has that strength and resilience. And she believes wholeheartedly in herself and the power of family. That's my grandma. I looked at all the powerhouse Mexican women in my life and channeled them into Olivia.

What do you hope readers learn or experience with Olivia’s story?

A sense of belonging. I hope they see this strong and beautiful witch and catch a glimpse of themselves. I hope she inspires readers to trust their guts and believe in themselves.

I’m a lifelong New Englander, and was intrigued that Rhode Island is the setting. Why, and how does this shape the story?

I was born and raised in the Midwest. But New England has always fascinated me. The history, the landscape, it just has this magical quality. And witches are a part of that. So it just felt so natural. To have the story set during fall in New England just made sense.

What is the magic that Olivia does? Do her abilities play a big role in the story?

She has the ability to cast spells with her words. She speaks a spell, and poof, magic. There's really a spell for almost everything. It just has to be vocalized. And it is the same for the other witches in the book. Her and her friends abilities play a very big role. It's really the centerpoint of the whole story. It was incredibly fun to write.

Gwendolyn Nix's new book explores Hell, magic, and a complex cast

On July 29, Gwendolyn Nix's new book, “I Have Asked To Be Where No Storms Come,” will hit physical and online shelves. But before that, kick back and enjoy this conversation on the story, characters, and a lot more. Here's a quick look at the plot:

The fact of Domino Bluepoint's afterlife is simple: he's a half-breed witch from a people without a name, living out a cursed Butch Cassidy existence… and no one wants to be stuck in Hell with witch blood. When he discovers bounty hunters are on his trail, and his brother, who wields insurmountable power, has struck an ill-made bargain with an ancient being of lighting and thunder, Domino is determined to fight his way out of the underworld no matter what the cost.

Yet, he soon learns an even darker power resides behind his cursed lineage, one buried deep in the earth and who will use his brother for its own gains. Desperate to escape their own destines, the two must decide if they will save the world… or let it burn.

Gwendolyn and I talk about Domino's character and where he stands—hero, or villain? We look at other characters and the roles they play in the story, which takes place in a detailed version of Hell. Believe me, we spend awhile delving into this. We also look at release day and Gwendolyn's plans for it.