Hedgewitchin' in the Kitchen

by Sarina Dorie

  Emmet crossed his arms and sulked. Abigail wasn’t sure where her parents were. They’d never come back from searching for food. Nor did she want to confess such a thing to a boy named Lucifer.

  “Ye went to the stream during the day. It cannae be that dangerous,” Abigail said.

  The boy waved a hand before him, and a green emblem made of light flashed in front of him. It looked like a mortar and pestle. “The Fae and many of the creatures here ignore me because I’m the witch’s boy. I have a hedge witch’s mark of protection. You have no wards or spells to keep you safe.”

  Emmet tugged on Abigail’s apron. “I’m thirsty. I cannae wait until dark.”

  “I ken it.” She couldn’t either.

  That meant they would be going toward the dark-bright place. They needed to be careful.

  END OF EXCERPT

  For the rest of the novel, go to Sarina Dorie’s website for information about the next book in the series:

  https://sarinadorie.com/writing/novels/wombys-school-for-wayward-witches

  If you enjoyed this cozy witch mystery in the Womby’s School for Wayward Witches Series please leave a review on the online retailer where you purchased this collection. You might also enjoy free short stories published by the author on her website: http://sarinadorie.com/writing/short-stories.

  Readers can hear updates about current writing projects and news about upcoming novels and free short stories as they become available by signing up for Sarina Dorie’s newsletter at:

  http://eepurl.com/4IUhP

  Other novels written by the author can be found at:

  http://sarinadorie.com/writing/novels

  You can find Sarina Dorie on Facebook at:

  https://www.facebook.com/sarina.dorie1/

  You can find Sarina Dorie on Twitter at:

  @Sarina Dorie

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I want to thank my fans for their enthusiasm reading my novels. My street team/ARC team has done a great job telling me when you find typos, pointing out formatting errors, leaving reviews, and purchasing books from Amazon so that you can help my ranking. Downloading books from Amazon also helps you become a verified reviewer and Amazon is more likely to show your review—and not delete it later. I also have many people on my team who review on Goodreads and Book Bub, post on social media, and tell their friends. I am thrilled to have so many fans!

  For those who have filled out my Google form, it has helped me become more organized so that I don’t have to search my emails to find all the wonderful things you have done to support the creation of my novels; I have them all stored in the same place. I wanted to send a shout-out to the people listed below who have filled out my Google form. I know there are more people out there who are fans who have contacted me in the past, but the people listed below are the readers who used the form. I also know there were times some of my readers have told me other books they’ve reviewed, but it wasn’t necessarily on the form, so I wanted to say one giant THANK YOU for everything I didn’t list below. For those who filled out the form after I included it in the back of this book, I also wanted to say thank you, even if you are not named.

  After hearing some people’s comments and thinking it over, I decided to only use first names and last initials to keep identities confidential in the list below.

  A BIG SHOUT OUT TO:

  Mom, thank you for being my number-one fan of all time. You encouraged me when I was six while I was writing and illustrating my own picture books, kept encouraging me in middle school, and read my stories and novels in high school. I have kept writing because of your nurturing, enthusiasm, and your brutal honesty, which has helped me improve my writing. I probably wanted to be a writer because of the respect you showed for literature. You read me bedtime stories, our house was always full of books, and you let me watch Romancing the Stone over and over as a kid.

  Night Writers, I am so fortunate I have a writing critique group that tolerates my many submissions, gives me honest feedback, and listens to me complain about my publishing frustrations.

  Daryll Lynn E., I am so thankful you are willing to not just critique my manuscript, but that you want to read the books in their entirety when I only submit sections to our critique group. You are a valuable critique partner and friend, not only because of your enthusiasm when I do something well, but your honesty in telling me what I did wrong, and your willingness to brainstorm with me to help me improve the manuscripts while they are in the rough-draft stage. I am flattered that you told me you needed a book to read during the weekend to relax, and you selected one of my published books—a book you had already critiqued months before. You choose me over Harry Potter, which I have to say is close to earth-shattering since I know you. I don’t know how I will ever be able to show you my thanks. Truly, I don’t think inviting you over for sugar-free, chocolate-avocado-and-coconut pudding is enough.

  Charles, thank you for your encouragement and support. Other writers complain about significant others who don’t understand their need for writing time. I lucked out and found you. If it weren’t for you, our home would never have tissue, toilet paper, or any other paper products, just like Joan Wilder’s house in Romancing the Stone.

  To my ARC Team/Street Team:

  Thank you for posting reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Librarything, Bookbub, and other places where you share your passion for reading. Stephanie M., Karen W., Valerie L., Shannon T., Dawn H., Wilma C., Janet S., Sheree K., Deborah B., Lynn E., Sherri L., Vicki G., Becky B., Tonya G., Steve P., Elaine S., Sandy V., Donna S., Jennifer W., Tonia W., Jennifer L., Georganne L., Katherine M., Susan E., Jeri M., Evelyn G., Linda M., Diane K., Cathy S., Veronica M., Cheryl B., Stan H., Dawn H., Heather B., Mary N., Devin C., Michelle R., Janet S., Katherine M., Annalisa A., Tonya G., Dawn H., Deb L., Tonia W., Bev S., Billie W., Barbara H., Amy M., Cathy S., Veronica M., Jodi S., your honest reviews of the books are helpful in spreading the word. Reviewing books helps me reach readers who might not otherwise know what the books are about, who might wonder if the books are a good fit for their interests, and in general, helps me make the books more visible.

  I appreciate that you are willing to share my books, covers, blurbs, and sale days on social media. I am fortunate to have more people than just myself posting on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and other places that I often don’t think about. Jodi S., Stephanie M., Lynn E., Sherri L., Evelyn G., Jennifer W., Cheryl B., Deb L., Amy M., Bev S., Jeri M., you help me find readers I wouldn’t necessarily know might be interested in my books. Thank you for that!

  Thank you for finding my typos and saving me from public shaming and future humiliation due to the sins of my bad grammar. Linda C, Wayne N., Stephanie M., Amy M., Jeanie M., Lynn E., Elaine S., Sandy V., Stan H., Linda C., I appreciate you pointing out mistakes so that I can provide cleaner copies before I publish the books.

  Thank you for suggesting my books to your book groups. Jeannie M., Karen W., Vicki G., Evelyn G., Steve P., Joeline W., Tonya G., Amy M., I appreciate your enthusiasm for my work enough that you are willing to share that excitement with others.

  Michael R., thank your helping me create a better pie chart. I guess it is really a pie table, but I like calling it a pie chart!

  Thank you for reading, supporting, and being a fan: Barbara H., Linda C., Shoshanah, Joeline W., Wayne N., Jeannie M., Stephanie M., Karen W., Valerie L., Shannon T., Dawn H., Wilma C., Janet S., Sheree K., Deborah B., Lynn E., Sherri L., Vicki G., Becky B., Tonya G., Steve P., Elaine S., Sandy V., Donna S., Jennifer W., Tonia W., Jennifer L., Georganne L., Katherine M., Susan E., Jeri M., Evelyn G., Linda M., Diane K., Cathy S., Veronica M., Cheryl B., Stan H., Dawn H., Mary N., Devin C., Michelle R., Janet S., Katherine M., Annalisa A., Tonya G., Dawn H., Deb L., Heather B., Tonia W., Bev S., Billie W., Barbara H., Amy M., Cathy S., Veronica M., Jodi S.

  To everyone, thank you’re your encouragement and enthusiasm. I appreciate your willingness to download and purchase boo
ks. I am glad you are enjoying them as much as I enjoy writing them!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Sarina Dorie has sold over 150 short stories to markets like Analog, Daily Science Fiction, Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, Orson Scott Card’s IGMS, Cosmos, and Abyss and Apex. Her stories and published novels have won humor and Romance Writer of America awards. She has sold three novels to publishers. Her steampunk romance series, The Memory Thief and her collections, Fairies, Robots and Unicorns—Oh My! and Ghosts, Werewolves and Zombies—Oh My! are available on Amazon, along with a dozen other novels she has written.

  A few of her favorite things include: gluten-free brownies (not necessarily glutton-free), Star Trek, steampunk aesthetics, fairies, Severus Snape, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Mr. Darcy.

  By day, Sarina is a public-school art teacher, artist, belly dance performer and instructor, copy editor, fashion designer, event organizer and probably a few other things. By night, she writes. As you might imagine, this leaves little time for sleep.