Contemporary Magical Realism Author
It’s time to meet author, Ligia de Wit and find out about her writing journey and her book Seven Hundred Beachfront.
Helen: Welcome, Ligia. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m really intersted to hear about your book, Seven Hundred Beachfront.
Ligia: Seven Hundred Beachfront is a contemporary magical realism story set on the beach. Because we all need some beach in our lives, don’t we? It follows a young woman who’s used to being alone and doing everything by herself. She believes she doesn’t need anyone, so she pushes people away. But life has a funny way of placing the right people in your path, even if they come in unexpected forms: a five-year-old kid, a grumpy neighbor, and a sentient house who is even grumpier. So, three grumpy souls and one beam of sunshine. At its core, the story is about abandonment. About forgiving those who don’t deserve it. About letting go of pain—the kind that lingers right behind you, even when you pretend not to see it. It’s also about love. Not just romantic love (though that’s there), but brotherly love and self-love. About giving yourself permission to face that darkness and decide enough is enough. To tell yourself you are worthy of love. And yes, there’s grumpiness. And laughter. And moments of levity that stretch like a tarp over heavier things. Because sometimes, that’s just how life works.
Helen: You had me at Sentinent house. I love inanimate objects having an opinion. What were your thoughts behind you cover?
Ligia: Setting can be a strong part of a story. In Seven Hundred Beachfront, it is the story. Most of it takes place inside a dilapidated house, so the house is integral to everything. Did I mention the house is sentient? It even has a name. I always knew I wanted the yellow house right at the front. It’s stormy because it reflects the pain and hardship. There are seagulls to echo the sound of the beach. And of course, a touch of green lightning—something that’s part of the story and hints at the magical realism woven throughout.
Helen: There is always more than meets the idea behind book cover designs. I love the attention to detail you had when designing this cover. What made you writte this particular book?
Ligia: This might be my most personal book, one that reflects part of the hurt I carried growing up. Bev, the FMC, embodies that in many ways. But it also offers hope. That no matter how dark your life might feel, no matter that some things may never be fixed, you can still make magic happen in your own life. I wrote this when I was just starting to write again after a 20+ year hiatus, at a time when I didn’t think I was good enough. And because of that, I wrote this story non-stop.
Helen: I’m glad you found your way backing to writing. For me it is a passion, I just love writing. Do you listen to music when you write, if so, what do you listen to and why?
Ligia: Music has always been part of my life, so yes—I listen to it when I write. But it’s a complement, a minor character, not the main one. It has to blend with my mood as I work. I usually go for a chill playlist, something that stays in the background and lets the story take center stage. Right now, as I’m working on a very important part of my WIP, I’ve been listening to Ludovico Einaudi.
Helen: I love Einaudi! I listen to a lot of classical music when I write. How do you get the ideas for a new book?
Ligia: Great question! I pull them from the air, mold them with sand, and infuse them with a little pixie dust—and voilà , a book. Okay, kidding… but not really. It can feel that way. I get inspired by movies or books that move me deeply, and my brain immediately starts chanting what if… That’s usually where it begins but it’s only a small piece of it. I dream stories while I’m awake. They come to me (hence the “pulling them from the air”), and I shape them until I have no choice but to pour them onto the keyboard. The real spark happens then. I usually don’t have much at the start, but as I write, the scenes unfold, the characters come alive with vivid clarity: their struggles, their passions…And I get so excited I can’t stop typing. It’s beautiful.
Helen: I think ‘what if’ are two of the most important words for writers. If we didn’t ask these questions our stories would never happen. What are you working on now?
Ligia: Redemption of Faete is book four—and the final installment—in my BradaĂs Pledge series. It’s a contemporary-to–second-world adventure filled with danger, immortal pirates (definitely not your typical ones), fae mentors shaped more in the Tolkien vein, and a human who begins the series naĂŻve and a bit immature (lovely so—I’m in my 50s and still immature in some areas, so I wanted to represent that!). What I love most about this series is how both main characters grow—the immortal pirate and the young seer—and how the stakes rise with each book.
This final installment is intense. It’s the end, after all. There’s found family, love lost (and found again; this is a HEA series), dragons meddling, and powerful gods trying to destroy their reality. It’s absolute chaos. Wonderful chaos.I’m currently in the middle of a major revision after receiving developmental edits, and it’s been so exciting to create new scenes and find even more ways for my heroes to complicate their lives.
Helen: Oh that sounds wonderful, chaos and dragons, what more can you ask for? Tell us a little about the protagonist in your story.
Ligia: This is a dual-POV series. I first wrote it from Ryanne’s perspective. Unlike many heroines, she starts with no real power—just some silly visions. At the beginning of book one, she’s a bit absorbed in her own world and hasn’t quite realized what it means to have a fae mentor and a brave pixie as her guardian. I wrote her because she—and the pixie—came to me one Sunday morning at 6 a.m. and demanded I write her story. I swear it’s true. I relented at 7 a.m. and wrote her first chapter, where she told me everything. I fell in love with her silliness (I’m pretty goofy too) and her personality. Then came Titus—a bloodthirsty pirate who can’t find peace because he’s controlled by his creator. Oh man, do I love Titus. It’s been an absolute pleasure to be in his head and watch his growth, especially in this last book. Why did I write him? In my first draft, he went out for coffee while Ryanne was trying to avoid the pixie—and drink far too much coffee (he’s addicted). I saw him there—worried, determined—and I knew I needed to understand him better. His story flowed from my fingers so easily.
Helen: What is the best thing that has happened to you since you began writing?
Ligia: Readers. Hands down. When I first started writing, I did it simply because I couldn’t stop (I have several drafts from that time that will never see the light of day as proof!). I loved creating stories, building worlds, and bringing characters to life. But then those characters made their way out into the world. Readers found them—and fell in love with them and their stories. And honestly, that’s more than enough reason to keep going.
Helen: I’m glad enthusiatic readers found your books. Thank you so much for joining me today. It’s been great learning more about your books. Most authors are also great readers. Just to close us out do you have any book recommendations for us?
Ligia: Reading is part of the writing life. Honestly, like most people, it’s been part of mine since I was seven years old. I can’t imagine a life without reading (please tell me heaven has a library… I need that). For epic fantasy, I’d recommend Khyven the Unkillable by Todd Fahnestock. It’s book one in a five-book series, and I recently finished the final installment—which is actually influencing the writing of my own last book. For a debut author—also epic fantasy, with wolves (not fantasy romance, very important!)—A Bird Among Wolves by Tracy Leonard Nakatani. Amazing. And for fantasy romance: Soulfire Blue by Jesse Sprague. It’s currently on Kickstarter as a gorgeous special edition, with art illustrated by the author herself.
Helen: Oh these sound really interesting. More for the TBR pile! Thank you for sharing.
About the Author – Ligia de Wit
Ligia de Wit writes fantasy romance adventures with heart, humor, and just the right dose of magic. A lifelong romantic with a soft spot for fairy tales and found family tropes, Ligia writes characters who are strong in more than just a physical sense. Her characters face fears, fight for themselves, and find love in the most unexpected places.
When she’s not writing (or rewriting) her imaginary worlds, she works for a global distribution company and dreams up stories during lunch breaks. You’ll often find her with her nose in a book, exploring a new city, hiking through forests, or acting like a total goof at theme parks. She’s a proud kid at heart—and owns it.
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If you enjoy epic fantasy then check out my award winning Sentinal series, which is now complete. If you like fantasy books with a touch of romance then you will love my SoulMist series, start with SoulBreather. Prefer Dystopian Science Fantasy? Then try Harmony. Start the adventure and stay for the journey.
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