Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers

Folk Witchery, Superstitions, and Healing Practices from Appalachia

$18.95

Imprint: Weiser Books
Availability: Currently not available / Coming soon on 09/02/2025
“Leah has given us a gift here with this book: a humble, honest look at the ways in which this region was born and her own place in it. Leah shows us a path to begin or continue practicing Appalachian folk magic while adding to the curious conversation of what makes Appalachia. It is not just a lonely log cabin in the woods, but a rich tapestry of both mirth and woe woven together to build the practice we hold so dear. I feel excited for you to be holding this in your hands if you have ever been curious about Appalachia and what makes it special. While there will never be a simple answer, this book stands as a valuable addition to the growing library of works on the lived experiences of Appalachians and how folk magic continues to be a valuable part of its cultural identity. I hope, after you read this, that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as we do. Long live Appalachia!”    
 —Rebecca Beyer, author of Wild Witchcraft
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Book Details

Pages

240 Pages

Size

6 x 8

Format

Trade Paperback

Pub. Date

09/02/2025

ISBN

978-1-57863-880-2

Publisher

Red Wheel Weiser

Authors

Leah Middleton, also known as The Redheaded Witch in online spaces, is an author and a practitioner of Appalachian folk magic and traditional witchcraft. She shares her practice with those interested in blending magic with the mundane while exploring their ancestral roots, folk practices, and craft. After growing up in western North Carolina, she relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2022, where she continues to write and owns an online company called Folkcraft Goods.

“This book stands as a valuable addition to the growing library of works on the lived experiences of Appalachians and how folk magic continues to be a valuable part of its cultural identity. I hope, after you read this, that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as we do. Long live Appalachia!” —Rebecca Beyer, author of Wild Witchcraft
 
In an ode to her Appalachian roots and ancestors, known and unknown, of blood and kin, Leah Middleton, The Redheaded Witch, tells the stories of the grandfathers who had dirt under their fingernails from farming, the grandmothers who bled while sewing their garments, the relatives who decided to take a leap of faith and pave a new path, the ones who passed away too young, and the fellow practitioners and healers who showed her the way. It is a work of veneration to keep their spirits alive. If you share similar roots or find yourself creating new ones, this magical book is a hand to welcome you home.

  • Explore the superstitions of the mountains, the healing charms of doctors, and the folk beliefs of witchery.
  • Wander down shadowy paths lined with rhododendrons, uncovering the hidden corners where charms are whispered and prayers are spoken.
  • Uncover the superstitions captured in this region that have inspired magical workings for protection and healing.
  • Learn to walk the witch’s path as a rite conducted with reverence and solemnity.


Appalachia is place where the lines between the mundane and the magical are blurred, and Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers offers readers exquisite insight into the enduring lore and magic of the region.

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“Leah has given us a gift here with this book: a humble, honest look at the ways in which this region was born and her own place in it. Leah shows us a path to begin or continue practicing Appalachian folk magic while adding to the curious conversation of what makes Appalachia. It is not just a lonely log cabin in the woods, but a rich tapestry of both mirth and woe woven together to build the practice we hold so dear. I feel excited for you to be holding this in your hands if you have ever been curious about Appalachia and what makes it special. While there will never be a simple answer, this book stands as a valuable addition to the growing library of works on the lived experiences of Appalachians and how folk magic continues to be a valuable part of its cultural identity. I hope, after you read this, that you feel as in love with this land and its citizens, both human and more than human, as we do. Long live Appalachia!”    
 —Rebecca Beyer, author of Wild Witchcraft