The Magic of Mná

By Vanessa Schaefer

This is the story of the witches that live hidden in the thickets of lush Irish greenery. They exist, hidden from humans, protecting nature. Sile is the youngest witch of her coven. Magic is not her strength and is often ridiculed for her lack of skill. When Banshees attack her coven, Sile finds herself the last remaining witch with powers.

The task of saving the coven lands on her. She must travel through space and time with her trusty cat, Shae, to collect ingredients for a potion. This potion and only this potion will return her sisters to their former, mighty, magical glory.

Each ingredient must be collected from inspirational, admirable, and often overlooked women throughout Irish history. Sile visits Queen Maebh, Red Aoife, Granuaile the Pirate Queen, famine hero Mary-Ann McCracken, Anna Parnell, Constance Markevicz, and Rosie Hackett to gather the ingredients.

On her journey, she learns a lot about strength, power, and determination, what it means to be a woman, and finds her confidence as a young witch.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 24, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035843220

Vanessa Schaefer

Vanessa Schaefer is an Irish-German writer. She has a keen interest in female-focused stories fused with a touch of mysticism. While her focus has been on screenwriting, her short story ‘Seizing Bliss’ can be found in the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ book Get Out of Your Comfort Zone.

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Vanessa Schaefer is an Irish-German writer. She has a keen interest in female-focused stories fused with a touch of mysticism. While her focus has been on screenwriting, her short story ‘Seizing Bliss’ can be found in the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ book Get Out of Your Comfort Zone.

Copyright © Vanessa Schaefer 2024

The right of Vanessa Schaefer to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035843213 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035843220 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Dedicated to all the amazing, resilient and forgotten women throughout history.

To the women who inspired this, may you stand in your power.

1

In and amongst the lush greenery, the fine ivy, and the mossy stones of the wild Irish landscape, witches dwell. Not witches as we have come to know them, green-skinned, wart-covered, long-eared, cackling hags. These are real covens of mystical, magical women. They live amongst humans, hidden between the moss and the trees. They are powerful and beautiful, magical and prideful. They live in harmony with humans. Because humans cannot see them. They take care of the land. Their job is to watch over Ireland, protecting the folk and ensuring that Ireland is never left without magic.

While various covens exist, this is the story of the ancient Seansceal Coven of witches.

The grand witch is an old, wise witch called Shauna. She has reigned over this coven with strength and determination for many centuries. But times are changing. Human development is making it more difficult to hide. Their numbers are dwindling. They have to protect their powers at all costs.

While many witches have come and gone in the Seansceal Coven, the youngest witch, Sile, had a journey quite unlike all the others. Sile, to put it nicely, is a dreamer. Always a few steps behind. Mostly because she’s the type to stop and pick up flowers. Magic doesn’t come naturally to her.