Review Fix Exclusive: Inside ‘Hazel and Holly’

Review Fix chats with Hazel and Holly author Sara C. Snider, who discusses the novel and her goals for it.

About the Author:

Sara C. Snider was born and raised in northern California before making the move to Sweden at age 25. She is a published author of two fantasy novels—The Thirteenth Tower and A Shadowed Spirit—and a dark fantasy novella, The Forgotten Web, which won the novella category in the 2015 Lyra Contest. She has a bachelor’s degree in Archives and Information Science and is a proud member of the Stockholm Writers Group.

More information available at www.SaraCSnider.com and you can visit Sara C. Snider on FacebookTwitterInstagramBookBub and GoodReads.

About the Book:

In Hazel and Holly young witch sisters Hazel and Holly live in the Grove, a community nestled in an enchanted forest where witches and warlocks practice elemental magic, and where necromancy is not allowed. So when their long-lost father uses necromancy to trap their dead mother’s soul, older sister Hazel is determined to find her father and undo his treachery. But despite Hazel’s plans of becoming a one-woman army, she can’t do everything alone. It’s not until wild sister Holly convinces her to leave the house for once and go to a party that Hazel finds a pair of unlikely allies in two bickering warlock brothers.

Review Fix: What inspired this book?

Sara C. Snider: At its core, this book was inspired by the tree names Hazel, Holly, Hemlock and Hawthorn, who are the main characters. It was originally a flash fiction story that I then expanded upon and serialized on my blog into the novel it is.

Review Fix: How is it different from your previous work?

Snider: It’s more quirky and humorous than my other stories. All of my stories have dark elements, but I’d say this one is the most lighthearted. This was the story I just let myself have fun with when I wrote it, which is something I’ve never done before. It’s also the longest book I’ve written so far.

Review Fix: What makes this book special?

Snider: I think the characters and their relationships with each other is what makes this book special. Hazel, Holly, Hemlock and Hawthorn all have different personalities which makes for some interesting interactions between them with lots of fun banter.

Review Fix: What creators do you think have influenced you the most?

Snider: Neil Gaiman is a big influence as reading his work made me want to become a writer in the first place. L.M. Montgomery with her wonderfully quirky and loveable characters.

Review Fix: How do you want it to be remembered?

Snider: I’d like Hazel and Holly to be remembered as a fun story filled with interesting sibling dynamics and sisterly love.

Review Fix: Who will enjoy it the most?

Snider: I think anyone who’s looking for a fun and quirky fantasy adventure.

Review Fix: What’s next?

Snider: Next is the third book in my Tree and Tower series. After that I’ve got an idea for a story involving a creepy archivist and an undead little girl that I’m really looking forward to exploring more. I might possibly work in a sequel for Hazel and Holly somewhere along the way as well.

Review Fix: Bottom line, why must someone read it?

Snider: Anyone who needs a humorous story in their life about sister witches with a YA, fairy tale vibe should definitely give it a go.

Review Fix: Anything else you’d like to add?

Snider: Anyone who’d like to keep in touch to see what I’m up to can visit me at www.saracsnider.com where they can sign up for my mailing list or check out my blog. 

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About Patrick Hickey Jr. 14230 Articles
Patrick Hickey Jr. is a full-time Assistant Professor of Communication & Performing Arts and Director of the Journalism program at Kingsborough Community College and is the chairman of the City University of New York Journalism Council. He is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of ReviewFix.com. He's also a former News Editor at NBC Local Integrated Media and National Video Games Writer at Examiner.com where his work was mentioned in National Ad campaigns by Disney, Nintendo and EA Sports. Hickey was also the Editor-In-Chief of two College Newspapers before he received his BA in Journalism from Brooklyn College. Hickey's work has been published in The New York Daily News, The New York Times, Complex, The Hockey Writers, Yahoo!, Broadway World, Examiner, NYSportScene Magazine, ProHockeyNews.com, GothamBaseball.com, The Syracuse Post-Standard, Scout.com and the official sites of the Brooklyn Aces and New York Islanders. His first book, The Minds Behind the Games: Interviews With Cult And Classic Video Game Developers was released in April 2018 and is chock full of interviews with legendary developers. His second book in the series, The Minds Behind Adventures Games, was released in December 2019. His third book, The Minds Behind Sports Games, was released in September 2020. His fourth book, The Minds Behind Shooter Games, was released in March 2021. The Minds Behind Sega Genesis Games and The Minds Behind PlayStation Games were released in 2022 and The Minds Behind PlayStation 2 was published in January 2023. Hickey is also a contracted comic book writer, currently penning his original series, "Condrey," as well as "The Job," "Brooklyn Bleeds" "Dem Gulls" and "KROOM" for Legacy Comix, where he serves as founder, owner and Editor-in-Chief. Hickey Jr. is also a voice actor, having starred in the 2018 indie hit and 2019 Switch, PS4 and Xbox One release, The Padre (also serving as English language Story Editor), from Shotgun With Glitters. The sequel, The Padre: One Shell Straight to Hell was released in February 2021- Hickey also served as a Story Editor and Lead Voiceover performer. He has also done narration and trailers for several other titles including The Kaiju Offensive, Relentless Rex and Roniu’s Tale. Hickey is also the lead voiceover performer on Mega Cat Studios’ upcoming title WrestleQuest, responsible for nearly 90 characters in the game, as well as Skybound's Renfield: Bring Your Own Blood, where he voices both Dracula and Renfield, as well as several other characters. He also stars in Ziggurat Interactive’s World Championship Boxing Manager 2, where he performs the VO of nearly every male character in the game. He also worked on the Atari VCS’s BPM Boy.

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