‘Practical Magic’ Author Alice Hoffman: ‘You’re The Hero of Your Own Story’ (Exclusive)
The author opens up about the magic of sisterhood, seeing her characters on screen and the sequel’s message
Key Takeaways
AI-generated summary reviewed by our editorial team.- Hoffman explains why the bond between Sally and Gillian remains the heart of the story.
- The author shares what she loves about 'Practical Magic 2' and its new generation of witches.
- Hoffman reveals whether she thinks Sally and Gillian could live on beyond the sequel.
Alice Hoffman is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 30 works of fiction, including the four-book Practical Magic series that explores the world of the Owens sisters, Sally and Gillian. After first meeting the pair in Hoffman’s 1995 novel Practical Magic, audiences got to see the whimsical, fairy tale-esque novel translated on the silver screen in 1998. Over the years, the sisters’ story has transfixed generations, and this fall, the witches reunite in Practical Magic 2, an enchanting, emotional ride that follows Sally, Gilly, aunts Franny and Jet and Sally’s daughters, Kylie and Antonia, in their heart-racing pursuit to break the family curse. Based on Hoffman’s 2021 fourth and final book in the series, The Book of Magic, the story blends all the themes that fans of the original cherish: the power of sisterhood and family bonds, the struggle to fully own one’s roots and identity, spellbinding romance and, of course, midnight margaritas.
Alice Hoffman on writing ‘Practical Magic’
Ahead of writing the original novel, Hoffman only had the title Practical Magic in mind, but when it came time to write The Book of Magic, she was laser-focused on a specific goal. “I didn’t know with Practical Magic what I wanted to do,” she tells Woman’s World. “With The Book of Magic, I wanted to have some kind of resolution about the curse. Everyone feels like their family has some sort of curse or some sort of history or some kind of trauma, and I felt like the Owens needed to solve how to live in this world and how to go beyond that trauma, which in their case is that love is a curse.”
Recently, we caught up with the author ahead of the Practical Magic 2 release to talk about how fans manifested more stories about the sisters, why it’s a must to tell and celebrate women’s stories, what Hoffman loves about the sequel, and more!
Woman’s World: What inspired you to continue building the universe of the Owens women?
Alice Hoffman: I didn’t really think I was going to write any sequels or prequels until my readers started writing to me and saying they wanted more, and they thought there were more books. I wish I had started out knowing that I was going to write four of them, but I didn’t know. It was an organic, natural thing, which was more fun for me, really.
WW: You’ve said that twriting ‘Practical Magic’ was organic—almost like the universe brought Sally and Gillian to you. Can you tell us about that?
AH: I had a notebook with a list of titles, and one of the titles was Practical Magic. And I thought, “this could be a good book. I like this title.” I was staying on Cape Cod at a little rundown house, and there was a shack that was on the marsh. So, I went in there one day and started the book, and they came to me. That had never happened before, and it’s never happened since. I didn’t plot out the story. I didn’t write down what was going to happen. It just happened. I just felt really lucky. Then, at the end of the summer, the book was done, and that was that was it.
WW: ‘Practical Magic 2’ explores the next chapter of Sally and Gillian’s journey. How did you feel seeing the continuation of their story on the big screen?
AH: It’s always been about the core, basic story, which is the love of Sally and Gillian, even when they’re furious at each other, even when they feel like they hate each other. It’s all about their relationship and how they’re there for each other, and the importance of women’s relationships in general. Whether it’s nieces and aunts, daughters and mothers, you know how meaningful and important they are. When I was starting out as a reader and a moviegoer, you just didn’t see that at all. So, it is very emotional. The importance of women’s groups and women’s friendships and families just hasn’t been dealt with at all, and it’s what gets us through. It’s our coven—whether it’s witches or not witches—[our bonds are] really important in our lives, and [that] was ignored for a very long time.
Alice Hoffman on why women’s stories matter more than ever
From Sally and Gillian to countless characters before them, Hoffman has made a career of putting women’s inner lives front and center. Here’s what she says about the importance of sharing these stories.
WW: How do you feel women’s stories have evolved over the last few decades?
AH: It’s evolved so much. I grew up reading fairy tales. I read this article that said 80% of the heroes [in fairy tales] are girls, and I think that’s what drew me to fairy tales—you’re the hero of your own story. I think what you read when you’re young affects you so much. And I think in Practical Magic and Practical Magic 2, Sally, Gillian, Franny and Jet are the heroes of the story. They figure out how to rescue themselves, and that’s really important for girls to see.
WW: The series has become an anthem for sisterhood. What has it felt like to watch Sally, Gillian and their daughters grow over the years?
AH: Again, I feel lucky. A lot of this feels to me like luck, that these incredible actors [Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, Maisie Williams] are the ones who are Sally and Gillian and Kylie and Antonia. I feel like they have really grown, and the love for them has really grown, and the shorthand, the way they talk to each other, how funny they are with each other, how pissed they can be with each other and still love each other. It’s a great message that we can live our lives like that.
WW: Fans can’t help but notice how connected Sandra and Nicole are with one another after all these years. What’s it like watching that play out?
AH: It’s funny because when I write a book, I don’t visualize, I don’t see a character. But now, I can only see them, because they are so much Sally and Gillian. They have really made these characters their own, and that’s who I see when I think of them.
WW: What was it like seeing them reunite and connect with the new cast for this film?
AH: The new cast was great, and I feel like they loved the characters. They loved the [original] movie. They were so ready to jump in and make it their own, and they really did that. And it’s so nice to have this other generation growing up, and I thought they were terrific.
WW: What do you think people are going to love about meeting Kylie and Antonia in the new film?
AH: They feel like sisters too when you watch them. They really feel connected. It feels like they’ve known each other from the beginning, and they’re very funny. They’re ready to be in this world. People are going to just love them.
WW: Your books weave magic into domestic life: cooking, gardening, herbal remedies. What is one small ritual that brings comfort to you in your home?
AH: I’m not that good in the kitchen. [But] I always want to have flowers in the kitchen. That is a really important thing to me, and I am very attached to my kitchen—it’s painted a turquoise blue. And I love when the stove becomes the heart of the kitchen.
WW: What do you feel women can learn from the Owens family in terms of how they lean on one another during their hardest moments?
AH: One of the biggest things is the lessons that Sally learns, and it’s interesting to know that you can learn those lessons even when you’re not the youngest character; you’re still learning. The whole idea of you don’t have to be normal, you don’t have to be like everybody else, you can be yourself and find happiness. That’s really the biggest message for her—and a big message for all of us.
WW: The question on all fans’ minds: Will Sally and Gillian live on after this sequel?
AH: I don’t know. We’ll see what happens.
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