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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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