Interview with Ron George,

Author of Elizabeth Franklin: A Witch’s Tale

 

Pagan Pages: What got you started as a writer?

Ron George: I was really into poetry and classical literature when I was in high school. Shakespeare’s Macbeth really inspired me to start writing. But looking back I would say the movie Mean Girls. Fanfics were really big back then so I joined one of the online groups and developed a fairly decent following with my stories. At the time I don’t think Tina Fey knew that Mean Girls, almost overnight, developed a cult following. Well, the original version was actually written by Rosalind Wiseman.

Anyway, for whatever reason she declined Paramount’s offer to write a sequel, and that left fans literally begging for a Mean Girls 2. Now, I don’t consider myself a comedy or teen fiction writer and I certainly didn’t back then, but I thought, why not? Why not write a fanfic version of Mean Girls 2? It wasn’t hard to be honest because it didn’t require any character development. They were already set in stone. So to make a long story short, it was a huge success. My followers absolutely loved it and I think it was at that moment that I realized I wanted to be a writer.

PP: What inspired you to write the Elizabeth Franklin books?

RG: Originally there wasn’t going to be a series. In fact, the rough draft of the first book wasn’t about Elizabeth Franklin per say. But as I developed her character she had such a strong personality that I knew she had a story to tell. Then I randomly came across a picture of model Shelly D’Inferno online. It was a witch-themed photoshoot and it fit my character perfectly. I had to have it so I contacted her and bought the rights to it. I completely changed the script, and so, Elizabeth Franklin, A Witch’s Tale was born.

PP: Are you a practicing witch or magician, and if so, what has your path been like? What skills or traditions do you work with?

RG: Yes, I am a Pagan witch. I would say I’ve struggled on my path only with regard to trying to find harmony with myself. Well, I’m an empath for certain and I don’t know if clairvoyant is the right word but I can usually feel what is meant to happen or isn’t. I guess that really could be just having good perception.

PP: What’s your favorite thing about writing magical fiction?

RG: That there’s no boundaries or set of rules to follow. However, I will say that with my Elizabeth Franklin series I do try to stay within the realm of actual witchcraft. Of course, it is fiction, so yes there are some exaggerated powers, etc.

PP: What are your astrological “Big Three” — your Sun, Moon, and Rising signs?

RG: Sun… Sagittarius – 9th house; Moon… Aries – 1st house; and Ascendant… Pisces.

PP: What should we expect from the sequel to Elizabeth Franklin — Sisters of Three — and the third book, Spirits of the Realm?

RG: There’s a lot more character development in Sisters of Three, especially Elizabeth Franklin. The first book basically sets the stage for the series so in Sisters you’re going to see a lot more witchcraft and a much deeper story. Spirits of the Realm will be released this Halloween. [Editor’s note: this book is out now and you can find it on Amazon!]

There’s a lot of questions left hanging from the first two books that will be answered in this one. Greek Mythology has always been entwined in this series and continues perhaps even more so in Spirits. I’d also like to mention that the fourth book, The Witches Watch, should come out early next year. It’s already been written. I’d like to thank everyone that has read my books, and hopefully those that haven’t will. And thank you for having me!

Blessed be.

 

You can read our review of Elizabeth Franklin: A Witch’s Tale here.

 

About the Author:

Ron George

In his own words:

What I enjoy the most about writing is that there are so many ways to tell a story. I’ve never shied away from creating a novel based on a storyline that’s been written about before, because there are many points of perspective. That’s the beauty of writing. It’s all about being creative and telling the story through your own eyes. I’m a fantasy fiction writer. I don’t like to be confined, and I think the fantasy genre allows the space for your imagination to flow without being hindered by rules of reality. I’m old fashioned. My method of writing is a pen and a notebook. Unfortunately this makes transferring to digital a nightmare for my editor!

I lived in Maryland all my life, but moved to Florida a few years ago. So, I traded a writing desk in a small stuffy bedroom for an outdoor patio table by the pool. That’s where you’ll find me most of the time, cranking out that next novel!

 

Elizabeth Franklin: A Witch’s Tale on Amazon

 

**

About the Author:

Sarah McMenomy is a visionary artist, author, and witch. Pulling inspiration from trance states, dreams, auras, psychedelia, and the natural world, she weaves together themes of nature and the occult in her artwork and writing. She has created art and written for books, magazines, games, and more, as well as producing digital fine art prints and acrylic paintings. 
She is the creator of The Entanglement Tarot, a hex-shaped occult Tarot deck designed for spell-craft. 
She is co-runner of Pagan Pages, for which she also writes articles and book reviews, and she also publishes art on her Portfolio site and other work on her Tumblr.