Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss: A Southern Tale of Magic

By Connor Judson Garrett and Kevin N Garrett

Young Gareth Greyfin must find a way to save his father Samuel after he is bitten by a one-eyed snake. With little time before the venom will reach his father's heart, Gareth follows his father's instructions to bring him to a cabin in the swamps outside of Savannah, Georgia-the home of a witch with a fearsome reputation

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lucid House Publishing
• Release date: Apr 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9781950495245

Connor Judson Garrett

Born in New York City and a native of Atlanta, Georgia, Connor Judson Garrett's debut novel "Falling Up in The City of Angels" caused his mentor and international bestselling author Robert Hicks to dub him "the Millennials' F. Scott Fitzgerald." A recipient of the 2017 Edward Readicker-Henderson Travel Classics Award, Connor's writing has appeared in Private Clubs Magazine, The South Magazine, Hook & Barrel, Georgia Hollywood Review, The Blue Mountain Review, as well as in ads for major brands and companies such as SnackNation, Texas Pete, Green Mountain Gringo, CanIDeal, Golden Hippo Media, and ZipRecruiter. Connor, who has also published poetry books, and his father wrote Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss (Book 1 of The Spellbound Series) using WhatsApp during the early months of the pandemic while he was in Beirut, Lebanon, and Kevin was in Marietta, Georgia. He is currently working on the sequel Fragrance of a Shadow: True Love and Other Legends, and a subsequent finale for the trilogy that began with Spellbound Under The Spanish Moss: A Southern Tale of Magic. A graduate of Berry College, Connor co-founded Lucid House Publishing and currently resides in Beirut with his family.

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Copyright © Connor Judson Garrett and Kevin N. Garrett 2020 2nd Edition All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.

This title is also available as an audiobook via Lucid House Publishing, LLC

Cover and illustrations and interior design: John J. Pearson

Authors’ photos: Kevin N. Garrett/www.KevinGarrett.com

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owners and the publisher. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the publisher’s permission is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized print, electronic, or audio editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrightable materials. Brief quotations in reviews of the book are the exception. Your support of the authors’ rights is appreciated.

This book is a work of fiction. Any references in this novel to historical events, real people, or places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the authors’ wild imaginations, and any resemblance to actual events, places, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Garrett, Connor Judson, 1993-

Garrett, Kevin N., 1959-

Spellbound under the Spanish moss/a southern tale of magic

/Connor Judson Garrett/Kevin N. Garrett –1st U.S. ed./Book 1 of The Spellbound Series

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-950495-28-3

E-book ISBN: 978-1-950495-24-5

LCCN: 2020937337

1. Fantasy-YA 2. Magical realism-YA 3. Historical fiction

4. Adoption 5. Disability 6. Bullying 7. Family secrets 8. Fisherman

9. Savannah – Southern literature 10. Romance 11. Quest

YAF019000

YAF001000

Praise for

Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss:

"Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss tells us, ‘magic is channeling what you feel into something you can touch and see. First, you have to believe.’ I believe in Connor and Kevin Garrett and in the magic they have channeled into every glorious page of this pitch-perfect Low Country fever dream of a hero’s quest. This novel is a welcome reminder of the transcendent power of family and that the aspects of ourselves which make us different also make us powerful. Spellbound is a gift, destined to be treasured and shared."

—Jonathan Haupt, executive director of the Pat Conroy Literary Center and co-editor of Our Prince of Scribes: Writers Remember Pat Conroy

"When my sons were in school, they were often caught reading Harry Potter in the hallways between classes. I hope my grandchildren will be caught with Spellbound."

—Peter Onorati, film and television actor

"Myths and legends speak to us in ways that logic fails. And Spellbound is just exactly that—a myth, a legend, and a story that will speak to your heart. The Garretts weave a magical tale that portrays the power of forgiveness and self-love. Spellbound is a mystical experience and a powerful story."

—Patti Callahan Henry, author of 15 The New York Times and USA Today bestsellers, including Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C.S. Lewis, and winner of The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year for 2020

"A fable with epic charm and glittering personality, Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss is a whimsical allegory resplendent with plausible magic and universal truths. Prepare yourself to rip through this delightful joyride in one sitting. Wildly creative and shimmering with the allure of the hero’s journey, this gem of a story calls to your heart to dream… imagine… believe."

—Claire Fullerton, author Mourning Dove, Little Tea and others

"Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss is an action-packed narrative that feels like the retelling of a lucid dream. The Garretts’ first co-authored novel in a new series is reminiscent of children’s fairy tales in its directness, emphasis on moral lessons and its concision. The characters each have complex natures, but Gareth stands apart.

While many protagonists of fiction meant for younger readers can seem too good to be authentic, Gareth’s vulnerability rings true. Readers will find that they know a Gareth in their lives. Raven is likewise compelling as she struggles with the deep-seated pain of abandonment manifesting as a need to help others and the possibility of becoming her own savior in the process.

Spellbound is rife with thoughtful truths about family, diversity and responsibility, which reveal themselves in the actions and rich inner lives of memorable characters. This is an auspicious beginning to a new Lowcountry adventure series."

—Holland Perryman, The Post and Courier

"Ingredients are what we all are searching for. The Garretts’ masterfully wield together profound, mystical and mythical challenges underneath the skies of dusty Georgia. As Spellbound reveals more of its complicated world, I relate more and more to my own."

—Speech of Arrested Development, 2-time Grammy award winning recording artist and activist

"Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss is a young adult novel that defies the genre. This novella written by Connor Judson Garrett and Kevin N. Garrett creates a previously unseen magic. This father-and son-team brings together a fusion of literature and music that stands on its own. The story combines a deceptively simple manner of writing in the legacy of Hemingway and the sharp character development of Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games. These connections to literary icons are loose. That’s because no one has built a landscape like this. What I admire most about this novel is that it sounds unlike anything else.

The characters are fine-tuned. Instead of muddying the water with an entourage of half-baked players, the authors instead kept true to their art. They hone in on each one staying with you once you finish the book.

And finish the book you shall. The length of this book, or rather its harmonious brevity, is proof positive again that less is more. You won’t get bogged down in filler chapters or hackneyed side adventures. Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss is a soulful escape that reads like a classic but feels like a blockbuster film."

—Clifford Brooks, publisher and editor-in-chief of Blue Mountain Review, author of The Draw of Broken Eyes & Whirling Metaphysics, Athena Departs, founder of The Southern Collective Experience

"Connor and Kevin Garrett have spun an exceptional ‘Tale of Southern Magic’ in Spellbound. The blackwater swamps of southern Georgia are the perfect setting for this mythological folktale of betrayal and dark magic. But heroic sacrifice and love balance out the story, whose landscape is dotted with witches, shapeshifters, poisonous fruit, dreamcatchers, and a flower that never dies."

—Susan Cushman, author of Cherry Bomb and Friends of the Library, and editor of Southern Writers on Writing

"What a truly entertaining and incredibly written novel! The authors do a masterful job of bringing to life a wildly inventive and creative new fantasy and fairy-tale narrative, exploring the concept of finding magic and adventure in our lives while also highlighting the depths of bravery and love one will go to in order to save those who mean the most to them. Gareth is a memorable protagonist, acting as the gateway of the audience as they are thrust into this magical world. Rediscovering the magic and wonder of childhood in order to rescue his dying father speaks to the inner child within us all. An entertaining, short-yet thrilling deep-dive into magic and fairytales with a Southern twist, authors Connor and Kevin Garret’s Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss is a must-read fantasy novel. The heartfelt emotion that goes into the protagonist’s journey blended with the incredible character development and fantasy themes make this a truly memorable adventure, and a book that fans of the genre will not be able to forget."

—Anthony Avina, Top North American Book Reviewer

"Georgia father and son authors Kevin and Connor Garrett bond literarily with Spellbound Under the Spanish Moss, but their individual careers in the writing field are impressive. Kevin is a travel writer and photographer who is widely published and exhibited. Connor is a freelance writer who has written travel, entertainment, and profile pieces, as well the novel Falling Up in the City of Angels, poetry books, and self-help books. Combining this energy of two accomplished writers has resulted in a Young Adult novel that has not only earned awards, but also provides a very fine fantasy that is short enough for a quiet evening’s read. Creating a mythological folktale set in the Blackwater Swamp of Georgia and suffusing that tale with both romance and the strange world of witches and paranormal aspects takes a keen sense of style: the