In writing these first two novels of my career, I have striven to be intellectually honest when it comes to true practices of witchcraft. As a former practitioner of the occult, myself, I have had several of the experiences that are portrayed in the lives of my characters. I’ve often been asked by people who have found this out about me, “What did you do?” and “Is it real?” The answers I’ve given have been, and will continue to be, “I did stuff that I wish I hadn’t, and got tangled up in darkness that I didn’t want.” And, “Yes! It’s real!”

There is a section of dialogue that I had written and wanted to incorporate into a discussion between Stephanie and Tara. Unfortunately the discussion never happened. Who knows, though? Maybe the conversation will take place now that we know that Tara is going to try to reconnect with Stephanie O’Leary. Anyway, I want to use the dialogue now in order to make something very clear about witchcraft, especially to those who are engaged in, dabbling in, or thinking about getting involved in any form of the practices:

Tara looked straight into Stephanie’s eyes, doing everything she could to emphasize her next point. “The demons are following rules that they made up. It’s their game. Do you really think they are being controlled and manipulated by ceremonies, by incantations, and by religious objects? It’s a game! A game with eternal consequences!

“Don’t you see? You are lured by the idea of power and of control. But it is a deception; a trap. If you believe that you can be in control, then in your mind you will never need God’s help. If you believe that you can control the spirits of the Otherealm, then in your mind you will never need God’s Word for knowledge of truth. Then, ultimately, by believing that God and his Word are unimportant, you will never see your need for a Savior.

“It’s really that simple. God loves you. The Enemy of your soul does not. God wants to bless you with everlasting joy, peace, and life, and the Enemy—your gods—want to keep you from it.”

That is the truth about witchcraft. The practitioner is trading the truth for a lie. He or she is given just enough by the Enemy to keep him coming back for more. Lots of promises are made by demons—fallen angels—but what benefit is there even if a practicing witch could gain the world, but sacrifices his soul? Hell is a real place, and God does not want any of us—that includes you, my dear reader—finding it as an eternal destination, especially after He provided an escape through Christ!