Of Potions and Honey
by Cara N. Delaney
Released: Nov 25, 2025
Genre: Fantasy
Why this book and why now?
I’ve been playing around with the core idea for this book for a few years. The tail end of 2024 and the start of 2025 were a pretty stressful time for me, and when it came time to choose a manuscript to work on for my 2025 release, a cosy, low-stakes story seemed like the perfect option. With everything going on in the world, I’m sure many people would agree.
What is a significant way your book has changed since either the first draft or the way you thought it would turn out when you first had the inspiration?
In the first draft, Mira was a writer. When she inherited the house, she was supposed to move to Emberglen, become the local eccentric author, and fall in love with the curmudgeonly town apothecary. No matter how I tweaked this, it never really worked the way I wanted to. I don’t recall what made me switch up the professions the way I did, but it turned out to be the right choice.
How does it feel to finally share this book with readers?
I’m honestly a little nervous. It was unusually difficult for me to get the story to work, and it was one of those situations where I was completely incapable of judging its quality by the end. I got encouraging feedback from a beta reader, and I do trust my skills as a writer, but uploading it and starting the process of distributing ARCs was still somewhat of a nerve-wracking experience this time around.
What’s one fun fact about your book that most people wouldn’t know?
Poppy, Kayden’s dog, was heavily inspired by a real-life dog owned by a friend. She has the same chaotic energy, and Poppy is pretty much what I thought would happen if this particular dog meddled with a magical critter one too many times.
What 3 things would your main character want with them if they got stranded away from civilization, and why?
The first thing would be a notebook, both because Mira is a writer and because she loves making lists. I imagine being stranded somewhere would be a “make a list” situation for her. The second thing would be a pair of sturdy boots. The third thing would be a blanket, because nothing helps you calm down like wrapping yourself in a nice, soft, slightly worn blanket by a fire.
One of your main characters is planning a romantic night. Tell us about it.
Yoni isn’t much of a romantic, but her way of trying would be a moonlight picnic in the very back of her garden. She has some flowers planted that bloom at night, and she likes looking at the stars, so she would show Mira all her favourite constellations while they have a delicious midnight meal.
Were there any scenes or characters that surprised you as you wrote?
Kayden’s role wasn’t supposed to be as big as it turned out, but I liked the dynamic between him, Mira and Yoni, so I expanded it.
Did any of your characters surprise you by developing in unexpected ways?
Both Mira and Yoni changed somewhat significantly between the first draft and the last. Mira was initially more of a recluse, and Yoni was a lot more abrasive. It didn’t fit the tone I was going for, so I made some changes, and I like them both a lot more now. I hope readers will, too.
What song does your character put on to start your book launch party?
Mira would probably play Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger. Mostly because she would think it’s funny to make an entrance to it at a book launch party, but also hey! You did rise to the challenge of writing and publishing a book, so really, it’s the perfect song, right?
If your book had a signature dessert, what would it be?
Honey cake, for what I hope are obvious reasons^^
If your book had an official mascot, what (or who) would it be?
Definitely Poppy the dog and Marigold the cat. I did commission art for them, so in a way, that’s what they already are.
Do you outline your books in detail, or do you prefer to discover the story as you write?
I’m a planner through and through. I’m not the type of author who can just hammer out a first draft in a month and then fix it up later. I need the cleanest first draft possible, and I can’t get that without an outline. So I usually have a synopsis and a scene by scene outline, in addition to notes about the world and the characters.
Were there any books, movies, or personal experiences that influenced this story?
One of the big influences is the game Stardew Valley. It’s been one of my favourite games pretty much since it released, and I hope my love for it shines through in the book.
What are you currently reading?
I am very, very slowly working my way through the original Dune trilogy by Frank Herbert, mostly out of professional curiosity. There’s a lot in those books that goes counter to conventional writing wisdom, but Herbert makes it work. I have also heard that the story gets absolutely bonkers towards the end, and I want to know if that’s really the case.
If you could have dinner with any author, living or dead, who would it be?
J.R.R. Tolkien. The man’s writing and worldbuilding process is utterly fascinating to me, I’d love to have a chat about it.
