An Interview with Trae Vincent
Trae Vincent spins cozy mysteries and fantastical adventures with a dash of magic and a wink of mischief. The pen name honors her grandfather, Vincent, who first sparked her love of storytelling; “Trae” is a lifelong nickname that keeps the heart of her writing close to home.
Trae’s tales invite readers into worlds where the impossible feels right at home and every twist hides a bit of wonder. Though her beloved cat Mo—muse and inspiration for a certain fictional feline—has long since padded across the rainbow bridge, Trae now shares life (and plenty of writing breaks) with three dogs: Connor, a dignified Labradoodle; O’Maille, a gentle giant of an Irish Wolfhound; and Mo Cuishle, a Wolfhound-Mastiff pup still growing into his paws.
When not conjuring mysteries or daydreaming new realms, Trae can usually be found laughing at dog shenanigans, sipping something warm, and reminding readers that magic isn’t just for books—it’s tucked into everyday life, if you know where to look.
What inspired you to start writing this book?
Strangely enough, I got fired. The first chapter of Witch Way Home is almost exactly how it happened in real life… just without the magic. I was furious, so I did the only thing I could: I sat down and started writing. At first, it was pure venting, but then life pulled me away—finding a new job, editing and designing my mom’s books.
When I finally came back to it, something had shifted. What started as anger began to transform, like a curse turning into a spell. Piece by piece, I fleshed it out, and the story grew into something far more magical than the moment that sparked it.
Tell us the story of your book’s current title. Was it easy to find, or did it take forever?
Honestly, it was easy. The title, Witch Way Home, showed up first—like a spell whispered in my ear—long before the story itself took shape. I grew up in Texas, and the town of Larkspur Lake (though it had a different name in the very first draft) is rooted in the landscape I knew back then. Writing it felt like going home.
After being fired for something I didn’t even do, all I wanted was comfort. And that’s what cozies give us, isn’t it? A sense of home, safety, and belonging—even when there are mysteries to solve and a little magic stirring the pot. For me, the “witch” part practically wrote itself.
Describe your dream book cover.
I don’t know that I have one single “dream” cover—it isn’t about a specific image for me so much as a feeling. The right cover should whisper an invitation, something that makes a reader want to step through the page and wander into the world I’ve created.
Since I write cozy paranormal mysteries, I love the idea of covers that hint at both comfort and magic: a glowing moon over a quiet lakeside town, a black cat watching from a porch, a swirl of light that promises spells and secrets. I want the art to spark curiosity and say, “Yes, there’s mystery here, but you’ll feel at home while you’re solving it.”
Books are their own kind of magic, and my dream covers would always carry a spark of that—warm, a little whimsical, and just mysterious enough to make you want to turn the page.
If your book had a soundtrack, what are some songs that would be on it?
Oh, this is a wild mix—don’t judge me! My MC and I are both inspired by pretty much everything. Picture Disturbed’s “Sound of Silence” rubbing elbows with Don McLean’s “Vincent” and “American Pie”, while Queen’s “It’s a Kind of Magic” and “Defying Gravity” float by. Add a little Beatles, Billy Joel, Barry Manilow (yes, really), Stevie Wonder, and Jimmy Eat World, and you’ve got the chaotic, magical vibe of the book. Basically… anything that moves the heart, tickles the brain, or makes you feel a little like you’re in a story—those songs belong on this playlist.
What books are you reading (for research or comfort) as you continue the writing process?
Right now, my Kindle Unlimited is full of cozy, magical, and thrilling reads: Jenna St. James’ Witch in the Woods and Enchanted Waters Mystery series, C.N. Crawford, M.M. Crumley’s The Immortal Doc Holliday, Kristen Painter’s The Accidental Queen, and J.D. Robb’s Golden in Death. I’m also waiting anxiously for Amanda M. Lee’s Crone Sweet Crone and Lily Harper Hart’s Graveyard Shift.
Beyond that, my reading list jumps across genres, including Michael Anderle’s science fiction, Piper Rayne, Lucy Score, and Pippa Grant’s romance, and Shannon Mayers and K.F. Breene’s midlife fantasy. There are so many books and authors that refill my creative well, inspiring me in unexpected ways while I write my own stories. Sometimes it feels like these stories are quietly tipping a little sparkle into my hands, daring me to weave some magic of my own.
What other professions have you worked in? What’s something about you that your readers wouldn’t know?
Before becoming a full-time writer, I’ve worn a few different hats. I’ve been a substitute teacher and enrichment instructor for K–8 students, taught HTML to middle schoolers, managed parish administration, worked in hospitality supervision, and freelanced as a graphic designer and editor. Each role taught me something new about storytelling, organization, and connecting with people—which all comes in handy when crafting a book.
As for something readers wouldn’t know—I have a peculiar habit of eating Altoids in multiples of three, with nine being the ideal “serving size.” I don’t eat them all at once, but it’s just how I take them out of the tin. And on a completely different note, when I was three, I told Harry Chapin he was ugly after waiting in line for ages at one of his concerts. Let’s just say I’ve always been honest, even if it’s a little awkward!
Who/what made you want to write? Was there a particular person, or particular writers/works/art forms that influenced you?
My love of storytelling started at home. My grandfather was a masterful teller of tales, and every visit meant bedtime stories that made the ordinary feel magical. My mom and I had our own ritual too—what we called “bank stories,” because they began while we were stuck in line at the bank. She’d say something, I’d add a twist, and then she’d continue. It was playful, interactive storytelling, and it lit a spark in me that never went out.
By the time I was nine, I was hooked. I devoured every book I could get my hands on and realized I could make up stories of my own. Andre Norton, Piers Anthony, Robert Heinlein, Mercedes Lackey, Katherine Kurtz, and of course Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman shaped my love of fantasy and science fiction, while Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, and Agatha Christie taught me the thrill of mystery and clever plotting.
As an adult, discovering cozies felt like coming home—they combine all the fun, imagination, and intrigue I loved as a child into stories that are cozy, clever, and just a little magical.
Where is your favorite place to write?
I don’t really have a single favorite place to write—my creativity tends to follow me wherever I happen to be. I’ve scribbled ideas between phone calls at work, typed scenes on the couch while watching Warehouse 13 at 2 a.m., brainstormed at the kitchen table, and polished chapters in my upstairs office at home. I’ve even written under a hairdryer while waiting for my hair to finish lightening.
But the strangest place? Definitely on the notes app on my phone… in the bathroom. Somehow, the story still comes, no matter where I am. I guess inspiration doesn’t exactly wait for the perfect setting—it just finds you.
What advice would you give your past self at the start of your writing journey?
Don’t give up, and don’t listen to that little voice of imposter syndrome. You are a writer. Anyone who writes is a writer, and you are a good one. You have the power to make people laugh, cry, and feel with your words. Keep at it. And don’t begrudge the detours life takes you on. They are worth it. Some of your best ideas will come from the people you meet and the places you go, so embrace the journey. It’s all part of the story you are meant to tell. And remember, a little magic always finds its way onto the page if you leave room for it.
What’s one thing you hope sticks with readers after they finish your book?
I hope they carry a little magic with them—and a sense that even bad surprises can lead to something wonderful. Life, like a good story, is full of unexpected twists, and sometimes the moments that seem messy or impossible end up opening doors you never knew existed. I want readers to finish my book remembering that magic can show up in the strangest places, and that even the hardest turns can lead to the most surprising joys.
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