Exclusive Interview – Lisa Manuzak Wiley, Creator of The Witches of Pepperwood Bay

      Rachel Bellwoar speaks with Lisa Manuzak Wiley about her graphic novel, The Witches of Pepperwood Bay...

      Typically, witches are found in forests and gingerbread houses rather than lighthouses, yet that is where Juniper and her sisters, Lily and Clover, reside in Lisa Manuzak Wiley's graphic novel, The Witches of Pepperwood Bay. Initially published as a webcomic with letters by Haley Rose-Lynn, here's what Wiley revealed about volume one:

      Witches of Pepperwood Bay began as a webcomic. How has the transition to print been, especially since the webcomic included gifs?

      When I started the webcomic, my goal was to format it in a way that would allow for an easy conversion to a book if the opportunity arose, so transforming the pages wasn’t too challenging. I would upload one page at a time, and the animated GIFs were just simple 3-4 frame loops within a panel, so it was just a matter of selecting my favorite or the most fitting frame for the print version. If I had the chance (and the time!), I would love to reverse-engineer the book and create gifs for the entire thing!

      Webcomics are more ongoing, but in print you need to decide when volume one concludes. Was that an easy decision?

      It was somewhat challenging! Since we aimed to divide the story into two volumes, we needed to pinpoint a spot where the narrative concluded just enough while still leaving the mystery open. We had to do some maneuvering to ensure the page lengths were similar in each volume, but I believe we managed well!

      In the backmatter, you mention the beach setting was inspired by your childhood in Hawaii. Witches are often linked with Gothic or spooky settings. Did you enjoy the opportunity to challenge those stereotypes?

      Absolutely! I’ve always loved spooky and magical elements, though not so much the horror aspect. Incorporating a tropical setting helps reduce some of the scariness and provides substantial creative freedom for envisioning beach-themed magic. It’s exciting to picture what kind of witchly happenings might unfold under the bright sun and palm trees.

      Does Hawaii have any magical traditions or a history regarding witches that inspired you?

      There’s definitely a RICH history of Hawaiian folklore! While I grew up surrounded by many superstitions and legends (like night marchers and menehune, or being cautious about driving over the Pali Highway with pork in the car), I didn’t want to directly take from those stories, though some mystical aspects may be *inspired* by my experiences in the islands.

      Each of the three witch sisters has their own unique style. Did any of their character designs change significantly from their initial concept?

      I had a clear understanding of each witch’s personality from the start, so their designs didn’t really evolve! Juniper is steadfast and somewhat traditional, which is reflected in her structured, practical clothing and hairstyle, characterized by straight lines. Lily, who is open-minded yet shy, has a wardrobe that retains traditional witch elements but is layered with some personal touches (like her short, wispy hair and unique stitching). Clover’s outgoing and energetic nature is showcased in her more eclectic outfits (like her crop top, bouncy skirt, and lace-up ballet shoes) along with her wild, wavy hair.

      I also appreciate the unique choices for familiars, such as a crab for Clover and a mini skeleton for Juniper. How did you choose those?

      I wanted to create fun familiars that suited both the witches and the beach setting! One of my favorite films is Muppet Treasure Island, where Long John Silver has a talking lobster instead of the usual parrot, which I find delightful for flipping tradition on its head. I can definitely see Clover picking a crab as her familiar since she loves the ocean and spends ample time there. Juniper has Sage the cat, a more conventional familiar that aligns with her adherence to “the rules.” Meanwhile, Lily has Ozzie the skeleton, who is not *actually* a skeleton, which ties into Lily's interest in spirit and occult magic—read the book to learn more about Ozzie!

      In volume 1, the sisters are enlisted to find Ms. Fiddleneck's missing teapot. Have you always enjoyed mysteries?

      I do love mysteries! I don’t read a lot of mystery novels, but I’m fascinated by urban legends and unexplainable phenomena, pondering the possibilities of our world, and discovering the truth behind unusual occurrences.

      We haven’t really seen the sisters interact with humans so far. Is it safe to assume that the wider world doesn’t recognize witches?

      In Pepperwood Bay, magic and mythical creatures are quite normal, so even the humans there don’t seem surprised by it. The portal allows them to travel to other places where magic is common, but there are likely other areas where people doubt the existence of magic or witches, which could create an interesting storyline!

      Is there a sister you feel particularly