Tena StetlerAuthor of Paranormal Romance/Suspense & Cozy Mysteries With Magic Spark!

Aug 6th Witches of Vegas by Mark Rosendorf

Give a warm welcome to Maak Rosendorf, author of Witches of Vegas. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out what inspired his YA novel, Witches of Vegas from Mark,  a magician himself.

One night, around two in the morning, a thought ran through my head: Imagine if you were a witch, where could you actively practice your magic without being discovered? We know discovery would lead to fear, maybe mass panic and that would lead to persecution, or worse. The best thing a witch can do keep their wiccan powers hidden, But, if you can’t ever use your power, are you still a witch?

Suddenly, the answer popped into my head. What if a witch, or a family of witches, decided to become magicians? Their show would certainly be amazing. They could use their powers on stage and perform the types of miracles we are used to seeing whenever we attend a magic show. The question most people in the audience ask is, “how did they do that?” For all we know, could it be witchcraft? No one ever questions it because magic is a common thing. People know they’re being fooled and that’s okay, it’s part of the show.

I spent years as a magician during my college years. Today, as a high school guidance counselor for special needs students, I teach magic as part of our performing arts program. Based on this, I understand how much work goes into magic. To master these illusions, magicians need time, focus and lots of practice to make it look real and natural. When a magician makes a card disappear right in front of your face, that took years of mastering the skills of card manipulation. When a magician makes furniture float in the air, that was knowledge and ingenuity, not to mention some serious money (many of these high-end illusions, whether bought or built, are expensive). But, if I told you it was done with witchcraft, could you tell the difference?

When magicians perform these illusions on stage, to the audience they look like miracles happening right in front of their eyes. They have no idea how it happens, for all they know, the magician has amazing supernatural powers. What a great cover that would be for actual witches who want to hide in plain sight. This was the thought that ran through my head which led to The Witches of Vegas being born.

Witches performing on stage as magicians…it would be great for them as they wouldn’t need to spend thousands of dollars to make a car float in the air, not when they can just say a magic spell and turn a motorized vehicle, or even themselves, “lighter than air.” No heavy cables that are nearly invisible to the naked eye. No gimmicks and tricks that need to be built from scratch and hidden from the audience. They could just make it happen through sheer willpower. Without such expensive costs to their show, they could charge super cheap prices for tickets and still put on the most amazing magic show ever created.

In Las Vegas, they’d blend in well since magic is as popular there as gambling and buffets. It’s great for the witches because they get to practice their power while being cheered as opposed to feared and hunted. It’s great for the audience as they get an unbelievable magic show for amazingly cheap prices. So, who could this possibly hurt? Oh, right, all the Vegas magicians who couldn’t possibly compete with their show.

The Witches of Vegas revolves around two fifteen-year olds who have lived unusual lives. Isis Rivera was a girl without a family. At the age of nine, she discovered she was able to make objects move without touching them. She could create fire, wind and even make the ground shake. Her foster family, mistaking this for devil possession tried to torture it out of her, and then kill her. Isis was rescued by a family of witches, and their vampire mentor, who unofficially adopted her. Their charismatic leader, Sebastian, came up with an idea that would keep them safe and well fed. They brought their power to Las Vegas under the guise of magicians and quickly became the number one must-see show on the strip. For Isis, she finally has a family that she cares about and who cares about her.

Zack Galloway’s parents were killed in a car crash when he was six. He has been raised by his uncle, Herb Galloway since. Herb, one of the prominent magicians on the strip, trained Zack in the art of magic and made him a prominent part of his show. “The Amazing Herb Galloway show” had a huge following, selling out every night…until The Witches of Vegas came to town. The struggle to compete drained their funds over the years. Now, barely able to get an audience, Herb and Zack are one near-empty auditorium away from losing their theater and their home. Zack owes his uncle everything. He would do anything necessary to keep the man who raised him from joining the Las Vegas homeless.

Neither Isis nor Zack are evil, they’re just on opposite sides of this story. The evil, named Valeria, is already in Las Vegas, it is a long-time enemy of the witches’ mentor with an eye on settling a 400-year long grudge against humanity. If Isis and Zack can’t look past their differences and bring their families together, it could be too late. In fact, it may already be too late, Valeria’s been planning her revenge for a long time.

The Witches of Vegas is available on amazon at – (add later)  or check out my website, www.markrosendorf.com

 

SPEED ROUND FOR A LITTLE ADDED FUN:

 Speed Round

 Favorite movie: Independence Day. Unless I’m looking for a comedy, then Dodgeball.
Favorite book: If I chose a book other than my own, am I bring disloyal to my characters? I wouldn’t want to offend them. If I do, they may not speak to me when I write the next sequel.
Last book read: “The Accidental Time Machine” by Joe Haldeman. I found it accidentally…but it’s a great story.
Favorite color: Blue. Just about everything I have is blue, including my eyes.
Stilettos or flipflops: On me or on someone else? Either way, flipflops.
Coffee or tea: Hot chocolate.
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: Paperback – I’m old fashioned in that I like to hold a book in my hand. Plus, as an author, I can’t sign someone’s ebook. I once tried and almost got knocked out.
Pencil or pen: Keyboard.

Favorite song:  “Save me San Francisco” by Train. Especially live when the audience becomes the chorus.

Meanwhile, the wax from the candles melts onto the cake.

Streak or not: Steak, most definitely steak. STEAAAAAAK!!!!!

Favorite dessert: Pretty much anything freshly baked. Cookies, cake, soft pretzels…if it’s right out of the oven, it’s my favorite.

Favorite meal: STEAAAAAAK!!!!!

Favorite thing to do to relax: Read (as an author I’m obligated to give this answer)

Champagne or gin: Fun fact about me – I’m allergic to carbonation. It’s rare but not unheard of. So, nothing with fizz for me. Sorry, champagne, I can’t drink you.

Paranormal or Historical: Paranormal, I have interest and respect for both, but given a choice, I’ll take Beetlejuice over George Washington.

Wonder Woman or Top Model: I’ll say my wife, mainly because she’s looking over my shoulder while I’m typing this.

Favorite TV show: I’d rather not answer because every time I declare a TV show my favorite, it gets cancelled the next season. Apparently, that’s my wiccan power. (same thing happens with restaurants, cereals and just about any product I deem my favorite, they all disappear.)

Hot or cold: Cold. Easier in public to put on a jacket then strip down to my briefs.

POV: “If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bulls#it. To most people, it all sounds the same.”

I’d die if I don’t have: Um…a heartbeat?

Review or Not Review: That is the question. I’ll say yes.

Tell us a little about Witches of Vegas.

Where can Witches and their vampire mentor practice their powers without being discovered or persecuted?

By using their magic, the Witches of Vegas become the number one act performing on the Las Vegas Strip—a great achievement for them, but not so much for the magicians—who can’t possibly keep pace.

Isis Rivera is the adopted fifteen-year old daughter of The Witches of Vegas. Zack Galloway is the teenage nephew and assistant to the last magician left in the city. Although they should be rivals, when Valeria, a four-hundred-year-old witch with a long-seeded grudge against humanity arrives in Sin-City, both teens act to bring their families together to stop the evil hag in her tracks.

But can the combined witches’ powers and the ingenuity of the magicians be enough to stop Valeria from taking over the city and possibly the world?

Buy Links: Amazon

A sneak peek between the pages of Witches of Vegas.

 

About the Author:

Mark Rosendorf ‘s writing is based on the personalities and experiences he has come across throughout his life, coupled with his own wild “if only I could do that” imagination. He is the author of the young adult series, The Witches of Vegas. He is also credited with The Rasner Effect series, a suspense/thriller trilogy published between 2009 and 2012.

 

It was wonderful having you with us today.  Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Witches of Vegas.

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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged magician, Mark Rosendorf, Witches of Vegas, YA Novel by Tena Stetler with 4 comments.