The Witches of Anderson House: A Spell for Disaster (DK) is a sweet and magical chapter book from author and illustrator Jennie Poh, the 2021 Giverny Book Award winner and 2023 Mom's Choice Award Gold recipient. Written with Dave Lowe, the first book in the series centers on a group of witches who live together in a retirement home. The story isn’t all spells and whimsy, though. It also shares messages of perseverance and the power of female support.
The concept of a retirement home for witches is so fresh! What can you share about the origins of the idea?
The idea started a few years ago on a walk where I passed this house that was quite ordinary looking, largish, the kind that had probably been renovated into flats. I walked past it nearly every day whilst taking my children to school and was always intrigued. One particular day I found myself looking in again, and I thought: wouldn’t it make a lovely retirement home? As the wind started to pick up and the skies darkened, I thought: wouldn't it be funny peering in and seeing witches sitting in their retirement home in their dressing gowns and slippers, knitting, tending their gardens or having tea and then hopping onto their broomsticks and whooshing right past me? Ordinary women living together, living very ordinary lives, but deep down the magic is still very much alive in them.
The first in the series carries a light message about never giving up (or “putting down the wand,” so to speak). Was that your intention?
Yes, I wanted to write a story showing that sometimes we may find things in life difficult, but we must find the courage to persevere. It was also important to show how women uplift one another, cheerleading for each other. Book one sees Myrtle Stormwhisper coming out of retirement and witching again. Myrtle is a bit out of practice and needs a little help from her friends. And, of course, when you have a group of powerful women living together, great things can happen.
What can you share about collaborating with Dave Lowe?
Having another creative like Dave jump on board to be part of this project has been a joy. He has such a great sense of humor, which really shines through in his work, and collaborating with him has been so much fun. It doesn’t feel like work at all!
Did you base Myrtle Stormwhisper on anyone in particular?
Myrtle was the very first character I started to develop for the series, and I had so much fun illustrating her. In the original illustrations, her character started out as a small and sturdy, stout witch, a bit toad-like in appearance. I wanted her to be funny, clumsy, lovable, and a little bit grumpy at times—a character we’d want to spend time with. Early on I visualized that she would have two companions, James the gassy toad and her cat, Panglossian. I also wanted to develop the idea of her having had quite an extraordinary career before she retired. For example, in her prime, Myrtle was the most skilled witch on her broomstick, the Flaming Nora, which was coated with a lightning bolt. She soared the night skies, found the rarest herbs in mosquito-infested jungles, and was a member of Her Majesty’s Elite Secret Service during the great war. She won silver in the Witch Olympics for her double somersault and triple loop in a thunderstorm without so much of a flicker of fear. Her broom skills were unmatched, and she could easily whizz around the entire globe and be back in time for tea.
How did you and Dave go about making each of the witches distinctive?
I initially thought of seven witches, but it ended up being nine. I thought it was important to celebrate diversity in the household. I started with very loose concept pieces of the witches in their retirement home living alongside one another, with their restless comrades about them, at times being a little grumpy or irritable with one another. I wanted to show them as women from different backgrounds and countries living ordinary lives together but having exciting magical pasts, each with her own special skill set. I wanted to portray the witches as lovable grannies, like someone you may know, instead of being scary and warty. I drew inspiration from people I know and love. Some of the witches are based on wonderful, strong women I grew up with, each with their quirks.
Mei Dragonrider, a witch from Borneo, and Dot Birdwhistle, a British witch, for example, are inspired by my grandmothers, and Aurelia Anderson is based on my daughter and her love of books. We also have Bea Broomfield, who is a messaging witch, with her flock of birds—a toucan, a pigeon, and a quetzal who send messages for her.
Can you talk about the unique interplay between words and illustrations, and how this will appeal to budding readers?
The text is magical, heartwarming and funny, and the illustrations reflect this, too. I really wanted to have fun with the layout of each spread, and I think the illustrations and text interact with each other in an exciting way that hopefully readers will really enjoy.
Witches continue to be a source of inspiration and wonder for readers of all ages. What do you feel is the enduring appeal?
Witches are powerful, complex beings who possess power and knowledge. They can often represent good and evil. They pull readers into their world of spells, magic, and the mystical. With The Witches of Anderson House, I wanted to create a world that was quite ordinary, showing a retired group of women as everyday people in a world the reader could identify with, and then weave magical elements into the story. I think most of us as children dreamed of being a witch or wizard and making spells! I think these characters and stories also create a world into which we can escape.
What are your plans for the book launch?
Book launches are one of my favorite things about this job. It’s about creating a real buzz and connecting with readers. Because of the time of year and the type of story we have, it's going to tie in nicely for Halloween! In the past I’ve really enjoyed visiting bookshops and signing books, plus adding a personal touch in the shop windows, so I’ll be concentrating on doing this for the witches.
Any sneak peaks into what comes next for Myrtle Stormwhisper and the fellow residents of Anderson House?
I’ve just started working on book two. I can tell you that the second story will feature Mei Dragonrider, dragons, lots of mischief, cake, and teapots!
