The Moon Witch

A delightful story (well, some pages are delightful; some, not so much) about the jealousy between two witches concerning the right to be the Moon Witch--a most appreciated and coveted position. The Moon Witch flies against the Moon at darkness and flies the moon for twenty-four hours on All Hallows' Eve. Every year, a worldwide convention is held at a castle in the Ural Mountains from two days before the summer solstice and two days after. And every year, a flying competition is held to determine the Moon Witch. Every year, the witch Jacquelynn wins. Jacquelynn can let it go, but her rival Carmen can't accept the reality that she will never be the Moon Witch. Jacquelynn knows that jealousy is a toxic emotion, and if not confronted, it becomes increasingly irrational and dangerous. However, this year, a novice witch from Detroit, named Tara flies a very close second to Jacquelynn. Carmen befriends Tara for a final confrontation with Jacquelynn that you have to read to believe. The Moon Witch has the usual suspects: spirits, trolls, hobgoblins, ghouls, a cameo by Dracula, a brief appearance by a werewolf, a sinister wizard, a phantom army, and magic and black magic. Magic--the word inspires curiosity, the unknown, and fear of what we do not understand. Magic and the occult attempt to manipulate your mind and senses--beware! Stories are inspired by a person, even an artifact or nature. The inspiration for the Moon Witch was a simple Halloween decoration. All Hallows' Eve is my wife's favorite holiday. She decorates inside and out--jack-o'-lanterns, witches, skeletons, graveyard, cats, rats, bats. She dresses as a witch. She makes witch's stew for the neighbors. Trick-or-treaters are given a six-ounce can of soda and a candy treat. One of her inside decorations, hanging on the wall in the living room, is a twenty-inch flat orange moon with a black silhouetted flying witch. After viewing the decoration numerous evenings, I started to think, Not all witches can be flying the moon. So I thought, Who is she? Obviously, the days before All Hallows' Eve is the best time to read and enjoy The Moon Witch. However, to curl up on a couch with your blankie, The Moon Witch, and a cup of coffee or hot chocolate while it is snowing is very acceptable.