Hello hello, friends! Happy Friday! I hope you’re all doing well and staying safe! Grab a cup of tea, or another warm beverage of your choice, and get cozy. We’ve got a guest here today at tea time lit, and it’s a post that I’ve wanted to do for a really long time!
As you may know, I’m a huge Animal Crossing fan. Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved playing Animal Crossing — in fact, I named my childhood dog after KK Slider himself. So you can only imagine my excitement when Allison Saft was down to visit tea time lit again for A Far Wilder Magic’s release, and to decorate her island as the world of A Far Wilder Magic for a post!
When Margaret Welty spots the legendary hala, the last living mythical creature, she knows the Halfmoon Hunt will soon follow. Whoever is able to kill the hala will earn fame and riches, and unlock an ancient magical secret. If Margaret wins the hunt, it may finally bring her mother home. While Margaret is the best sharpshooter in town, only teams of two can register, and she needs an alchemist.
Weston Winters isn’t an alchemist–yet. Fired from every apprenticeship he’s landed, his last chance hinges on Master Welty taking him in. But when Wes arrives at Welty Manor, he finds only Margaret and her bloodhound Trouble. Margaret begrudgingly allows him to stay, but on one condition: he must join the hunt with her.
Although they make an unlikely team, Wes is in awe of the girl who has endured alone on the outskirts of a town that doesn’t want her, in this creaking house of ghosts and sorrow. And even though Wes disrupts every aspect of her life, Margaret is drawn to him. He, too, knows what it’s like to be an outsider. As the hunt looms closer and tensions rise, Margaret and Wes uncover dark magic that could be the key to winning the hunt – if they survive that long.
Links for A Far Wilder Magic: Goodreads | TheStorygraph | Bookshop | IndieBound
Hi Allison! Thank you so much for joining our tea party today! We’re so excited you’re here. For those that may not know you, can you share a little bit about yourself and A Far Wilder Magic?
Hi, Cossette! I’m so excited to be here; thank you so much for having me! I’m Allison Saft, and I write what I describe as eerie romantic fantasies: books with a dash of atmospheric horror and a lot of yearning. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and when I’m not writing, I play video games, take long walks by the ocean, and practice aerial silks.
A Far Wilder Magic is a cozy fantasy romance about two outcasts who team up to win a hunt for the last living mythical beast. If you like Fullmetal Alchemist, The Scorpio Races, and romance tropes (sunshine/grump! forced proximity! UST during wound bandaging scenes!), I think you’ll enjoy it.
Can you describe your worldbuilding process? How was crafting the world of A Far Wilder Magic, and what was it like to then transform Wickdon, and the world of A Far Wilder Magic to Animal Crossing: New Horizons?
My book ideas come to me in the form of a setting, a romance dynamic, and the situation that forces the protagonists to spend time together. In the case of A Far Wilder Magic, I also knew I wanted to put a spin on alchemy. So, I started with Margaret, Wes, and Welty Manor, and everything emanated from them. The story–and its thematic core–really clicked into place when I took the leap to code Margaret as Jewish, like me. With this new context, the Halfmoon Hunt became the event of the year, a source of nationalistic pride. The hostility of the competitors gained new depths. Apart from that, I did a lot of research on the early 20th century and alchemy in between drafts. I always have way too much fun in the research phases, and alchemy is particularly (delightfully) weird. You can spend hours reading about it and barely scratch the surface.
As for transforming my Animal Crossing island into Wickdon, I started by choosing a few locations to recreate: the Blind Fox pub, Welty Manor (including the alchemy lab), the train station, and Halanan’s farm. Otherwise, I wanted to make quaint residential areas to capture the overall vibe… and of course, I had to hide one of the hala’s victims somewhere. 🙂
I had a ton of fun with it! Most of the time, it was a very meditative process. There were a few sanity-testing moments, too, of course. Since I’m not the most frequent player, I was a bit limited in funds and items, and I admittedly went about the whole thing in the most haphazard way possible… But I think terraforming is no different from any other creative pursuit: it’s iterative and takes some practice. I had a clear vision of what I wanted it to look and feel like, but the execution didn’t totally match up at first. After some trial and error, it started coming together!
All in all, it was a perfect excuse to take a break from stressing about the book’s release, and I really enjoyed exercising my creativity in a new format. And after seeing your version, I’m going to keep refining mine! It was so inspiring <3
If you had to compare the characters of A Far Wilder Magic to Animal Crossing personality types — or villagers, who would they be?
Oh, I love this!
Wes would absolutely be a smug villager. Maybe Eugene specifically… He’s outgoing, charming, and a little vain, but most of the ego he projects is a mask for his insecurity and his very soft heart.
I’d say Margaret is a sisterly type–and if I had to compare her to one villager, she’d be Pashmina! She’s a very direct, no-nonsense person with a stubborn streak. But she’s fiercely loyal and protective of the few people she lets into her orbit.
Evelyn would be a snooty villager, probably Vivian. She’s a brilliant scholar but because she’s dedicated herself completely to her work, she’s become cold and critical. And like most snooty villagers, she’s got a pretty nice house (although it’s seen better days)!
Jaime would probably be a cranky villager. He’s super judgmental to say the very least and clings to tradition. I’d compare him to Roscoe, since he does ride a black horse in the hunt!
Annette would be a normal villager, I think! I’ll compare her to Fauna, who is one of my favorites… She’s a kind person, but she doesn’t have a lot of confidence in herself to stand up for what she believes in or go after what she wants most in life.
Finally, what’s the main thing you hope readers will take away from A Far Wilder Magic?
I dedicated this book to those whose dreams feel impossible and to those who feel dreaming is impossible. My greatest wish is that readers will close the book and feel hopeful. No matter what you’re struggling with, happiness and healing are not foreclosed to you. You’re not broken, and you are so much more than what you’ve suffered.
Here are some photos of my visit to Allison’s island!
Allison Saft is the author of eerie and critically acclaimed romantic fantasies, Down Comes the Night and A Far Wilder Magic. After receiving her MA in English Literature from Tulane University, she moved from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast, where she spends her time hiking the redwoods and practicing aerial silks.
Headshot Credit: Lisa DeNeffe Photography
I accidentally preordered an extra copy of A Far Wilder Magic and didn’t realize. Rather than cancel my preorder, I’d love to give it away instead! Check out my Instagram for more information.
Thank you all for joining our Animal Crossing trip to Wickdon! Do you play Animal Crossing? Have you picked up A Far Wilder Magic yet? Let me know in the comments below!
loved this post so much!!! <3