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Looking for a cozy, witchy holiday romance with world-building that feels like slipping into a warm sweater? Today I’m sitting down with debut author and longtime video-game writer Morgan Lockhart, whose background explains exactly why her book feels so immersive and magical.
In this episode, we chat about her 20-year career in game writing, the pivot back to her “first love” of books, and how A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart blends cozy romance, magic-light vibes, and real-world emotional stakes. If you love Hallmark holiday romances but wish they had a touch of witchy charm, this is the perfect entry point into the cozy-paranormal space. We also dig into her craft, world-building, burnout, motherhood, and the comforting wave of cozy stories readers are reaching for right now.
📚 BOOKS MENTIONED
A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart — Cozy Witchy Romance | Holiday | Magic-Light | Audio ✅
Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman — Contemporary Fiction | Christmas | Feel-Good | Audio ✅
Good Spirits by B.K. Borison — Small Town Romance | Cozy | Holiday | Audio ✅
The Peculiar Gift of July by Ashley Ream — Upmarket Contemporary | Emotional | Literary Lean | Audio ✅
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Found Family | Magic | Audio ✅
The Witch’s Guide to Magical Inkeeping by Sangu Mandanna’s newest — Cozy Fantasy | Warm Magic | Found Family | Audio ✅
🕒 TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] – Meet Morgan Lockhart
[00:20] – How she shifted from 20 years in video-game writing to novels
[01:00] – What video-game writing actually looks like
[02:00] – Narrative vs. action-driven game writing
[03:00] – How game-writing worldbuilding shaped her debut novel
[04:00] – Writing cozy as a response to the last five years
[05:00] – Burnout, motherhood, and pivoting to books
[07:00] – Elevator pitch for A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart
[08:00] – Rivalry, curses, and the romance tension we love
[10:00] – Why cozy-light magic works for contemporary romance readers
[11:00] – What Morgan reads across genres
[12:00] – Her must-read cozy & holiday recommendations
[13:00] – Where to find Morgan online
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