Author's New Book Reveals the Mysteries Of Witches and Witchcraft
From the first mention of witches more than 3,000 years ago by the pagan peoples
of northern Europe, through the European and Salem witch hunts, to modern times
with phenomena such as The Blair Witch Project and the Harry Potter books,
witchcraft remains a mysterious part of our world's culture.
Local author Pauline Bartel explores the mystery of witches and explains the
origins of witchcraft and its place in society in her latest book, Spellcasters:
Witches and Witchcraft in History, Folklore and Popular Culture (Taylor
Publishing Company, 2000; ISBN: 0-87833-183-2; $24.95).
Spellcasters shines a light on:
- The origins of witchcraft from the worship of nature gods and witchcraft's transformation during the spread of Christianity;
- The differing views of witchcraft and sorcery in cultures around the world;
- Witchcraft imagery in folklore, including fairy tales;
- Theories behind the causes of the European and Salem witch hunts;
- Witches and witchcraft today, including the basics of witchcraft practice; and
- Witchcraft in popular culture, including the good and bad witches seen on television and in film and represented in books and music.
According to Bartel: "This book chose me to write it."
In the summer of 1997 while vacationing in Massachusetts, Bartel and a friend
made a spur-of-the-moment side trip to Salem. While there, they took the
trolley tour of the city, visited a number of the witch-related attractions, and
ended the day at the Salem Witch Trials Tercentenary Memorial.
"Standing before the Memorial in the fading light, I felt moved by a deep sense
of sadness, thinking of those who had lost their lives centuries before," Bartel
says.
She returned home, tucked her vacation memories away, and became immersed once
again in her busy professional life. On Halloween 1997, Bartel attended an
evening of psychic readings presented by a well-known area witch at a local
book store.
"When my turn came for a reading, the psychic divined from the Tarot cards that
I was a writer," Bartel says. "She then told me: 'The next book you write will
be on witchcraft.' At the time, I dismissed the prediction. I had just decided
to write a new book that I was very excited about, and the subject had nothing
to do with witchcraft. But as I embarked on my research, I encountered one
roadblock after the other, plus delays and dead ends in gathering information.
In frustration, I abandoned the project a few months later."
Bartel thought nothing more about the prediction until late in 1998 when out of
the blue her editor at Taylor Publishing Company telephoned and said: "We have
a terrific idea for a book that we think would be perfect for you. How would
you like to write a book about witches and witchcraft?"
Bartel is available for interviews. Contact her at (518) 237-1353, at
paulinebartel@compuserve.com, or through Taylor Publishing Co., (800) 677-2800,
ext. 8582.
Spellcasters: Witches and Witchcraft in History, Folklore, and Popular Culture
by Pauline Bartel (Taylor Publishing; Price: $24.95) can be ordered by through
the publisher's toll-free number, 800-275-8188 (8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Central);
through AMAZON.COM and BARNESANDNOBLE.COM; and through local bookstores. Review
copies for the media are available through Taylor Publishing Company.
Bartel is the author of six other titles, including Amazing Animal Actors, Reel
Elvis! The Ultimate Trivia Guide to the King's Movies, and The Complete GONE
WITH THE WIND Trivia Book. Bartel has participated in dozens of newspaper,
magazine and radio interviews, and she has appeared on numerous television
shows, including A Current Affair and Entertainment Tonight. Bartel is also
featured in the documentary "Starring Animals" produced by BBC Television.
Bartel teaches the secrets of writing and publishing in continuing education
courses offered at local community colleges. She is the owner of Bartel
Communications, a company that specializes in writing and editing, marketing and
public relations, training and professional development.
