Pam Grossman is a writer, curator, and host of The Witch Wave podcast.

News

Octobering

It’s busy season for us witches, and I’ve been traveling like mad on the West Coast leg of my book tour. But wanted to pop in quickly to share some exciting updates.

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I was very honored to be profiled by the New York Times. And I love the accompanying photos as well. Truly grateful.

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And pinching myself over this incredibly kind and quite lengthy review of Waking the Witch in the Times Literary Supplement. Thrilled to pieces.

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And very excited to announce that season 3 of The Witch Wave launches on Oct 30th. I’ve got some truly tremendous guests lined up, and I can’t wait for you to hear the new episodes!

Here’s hoping our paths cross soon, and sending you Samhain blessings in the meantime.

Pam Grossman
A Trip to Oz

The Wizard of Oz film just turned 80, and I was thrilled to write about the positive influence of Glinda the Good Witch for The Atlantic in honor of the occasion.

I also had a ball channeling both Oz witches for photographer Shannon Taggart:

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In other news, I’ve just added a bunch of new fall events, with more coming soon. Have a look, and do join me on the road if you are able. I’d love to see you!

Pam Grossman
Book Roundup and Upcoming Events

WAKING THE WITCH has been out for a little over 6 weeks now, and I’m thrilled with how well it’s been received. Thank you for your posts, reviews, tweets, and messages, they truly mean the world to me.

Since the book’s release, it’s been a whirlwind of events and press, with more on the horizon. I’ve popped as much of the coverage as I could in the appropriate spots on this site already, but here are a few highlights:

Some things I got to write:

Here’s What Being a Witch Really Means, The New York Times

Yes, Witches Are Real. I Know Because I Am One, TIME.com

Work Witch, Powell’s

Some radio/podcast appearances:

All of It on WNYC “Waking the Witch”

Hippie Witch “Waking the Witch with author Pam Grossman

Occulture “Pam Grossman in The Witch Wave”

Some lovely articles:

Vulture “Meet Pam Grossman, the Terry Gross of Witches”

BUST “Pam Grossman on Waking the Witch”

Bustle “'Waking The Witch' Author Pam Grossman On Why Witches Are Having Such A Huge Cultural Moment”

Newsweek “Summer Books 2019: 17 Best Buys and Beach Reads This Year” 6/1/19

Powell’s “The Best Books of 2019 So Far” 6/21/19

More here.

Over the past couple weeks I’ve been trying to catch my breath a bit and get my summer chill on (which I am admittedly not very good at) before things start getting swirling and whirling again in the fall. I’ll be traveling a bunch, and adding more events soon, so watch this space.

And if you’re interested in attending the Occult Humanities Conference at NYU that I’m co-organizing, make sure to grab your tickets now, as they will sell out.

Looking forward to our paths crossing someday, somehow, soon. Until then, I hope you’re having fun and keeping cool in all respects.

Pam Grossman
Events in Philly, NYC, and beyond
 

Hard to believe that my book is coming out in just a few weeks on June 4th!

Thrilled to announce several events I’ll be doing in support of it.

First up is a special night with my friend, the occult poet Janaka Stucky, happening in Philly this Saturday, May 18th:

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Tickets and details are available here.

I will be touring throughout the country for the rest of the year doing various witch book shenanigans, but in JUNE I will have 5 different events happening in NYC, and I would love to have you at one or several:

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DETAILS:

Tues, JUNE 4, McNally Jackson Books (Williamsburg location), 7pm, FREE: 
Official book release event in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (please note there are several locations of this bookstore, so make sure this is the one you turn up to!) I’ll be moderating a discussion with 3 of my favorite witchly writers, Dorothea Lasky, Kristen J. Sollee, & Mya Spalter. More details here.

Thurs, JUNE 13, Catland Books, 7pm, FREE:
I’ll be in conversation with Spolia Tarot creators Jessa Crispin & Jen May (each an amazing writer/artist in their own right) at Bushwick, Brooklyn's occult shop. Link coming soon, but it will be a juicy conversation about magic, feminism, and tarot.

Thurs, JUNE 20, The Wing (Flatiron location) 6:30pm, FREE (Members Only): 
If you are a member of The Wing, or you know someone who is that can bring you, I'll be interviewed about witchery & feminism by the brilliant Dianca London Potts. 

Fri, JUNE 21, The Strand Bookstore, 7pm, $15: 
This is a BIGGIE. I’ll be at the one-and-only Strand in Manhattan giving a presentation on witches and how my book came about. This will be a magnificent Summer Solstice event & when you buy your tix, you’ll also have the option of adding a reading with a magical divination expert as well. Magic will be in the air! More info and tickets available here.

Thurs, JUNE 27, Barbes, 7:30pm, FREE (donation to musicians encouraged):
I’m very honored that the musicians of The Bushwick Book Club will be performing songs that they’ve written based on my book. I'll do a short reading, but this will mainly be a music show, and I'll be hearing the songs for the first time myself that night. Barbes is a legendary bar and music venue in Park Slope, Brooklyn, so this should be a really special one!

Lots more cities happening, so check out the info on this site under EVENTS (and you can sign up for my NEWSLETTER to hear about other news and appearances, too).

I'm grateful to each of you, and I'm looking forward to waking some witches with you in June and beyond!

 
Pam Grossman
FINAL COVER REVEAL!
 

Here she is!

 

And here’s the whole jacket:

I’m so grateful to Neko Case and Ami McKay (both artistic heroes of mine!) for their incredibly kind words, as well as all of the other early readers and blurb-ers. And I’m bowing down once again to the immensely talented Anna Dorfman of Door Sixteen for her stunning design. (BONUS: when you scroll past the image, the magic circle shimmers!)

WAKING THE WITCH is available for pre-order pretty much everywhere online now, and will be out June 4th. I’ve got loads of magic-packed events we’re putting together for you soon to celebrate the launch, so watch this space!

 
Pam Grossman
Autumn Round-up

It’s hard to believe fall is drawing to a close already. It’s been such a busy season, but also very fruitful. Halloween time is usually a whirlwind for me, and this year was no exception. Highlights include doing events at The Assemblage and The Alchemist’s Kitchen, guest teaching Kristen Sollee’s “Witches and Feminism” class at The New School, and some media appearances where I discussed the archetype of the witch.

“The Witches Are Here” evening with magicienne Belinda Sinclair at The Assemblage in NYC. Photo by @victoriaalbinafnp

“The Witches Are Here” evening with magicienne Belinda Sinclair at The Assemblage in NYC. Photo by @victoriaalbinafnp

I was on NPR’s 1A talking about pop culture witches, which you can listen to here. There’s also a very in-depth interview with me on The Evolver podcast in which I cover all manner of witchly things as well as some of my personal story.

Was delighted by how Daily Mail reported on Frances F. Denny’s gorgeous “Major Arcana: Witches in America” photo exhibition, and was glad to contribute to the article (as well as to interview her on The Witch Wave). And was happy to get a lovely mention in this Guardian article about the rise of the witch as well.

Otherwise, I’ve been existing in a creative flurry. The Witch Wave podcast has been such a joy to work on, and each guest has continued to bring such knowledge and inspiration to our conversations. I’m also circling toward the completion of my book, Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power. We’re getting into final edits, and starting to scheme up exciting ways to release it into the wild. I hope you’ll consider reading it - comes out on June 4th, and available for pre-order now. It’s full of all sorts of fun and factoids and fire.

Hope you’re all well. I’m sending you lots of magic and many wishes for a warm-hearted winter.

Pam Grossman
Big news!

Thrilled to announce that my book, Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power will be winging its way into the world from Gallery Books / Simon & Schuster on June 4, 2019. In it I explore the archetype of the witch throughout history and in pop-culture, with a dash of my personal story woven throughout as well. If you’re a fan of witches, feminism, magic, and/or art, this is the book for you.

Also grateful my words have been given such a smashing cover, courtesy of designer extraordinaire Anna Dorfman. Can’t wait to share this with you all. (Pre-orders are a big help if you feel so inclined - available at all the usual places.)

I’ve got two exciting events coming up here in NYC, too:

First up is “What is a Witch Without Her Coven” at The Alchemist’s Kitchen on October 23rd. Some of my favorite humans (Mallory Lance from Ravenous, Kristen Sollee, Dianca London Potts, and Staci Ivori) and I will be speaking about witchcraft, sisterhood, and our coven. Tickets available here.

Second is “The Witches Are Here” at The Assemblage on October 30th. It will be a really special evening of discussion and magic performance with me and magicienne Belinda Sinclair. Tickets are here.

Happy Halloween & Blessed Samhain to each of you!

Pam Grossman
Pre-falling for you

Hi, there.

It’s been way too long since I’ve given an update over here (more frequent missives are over on Phantasmaphile, Instagram, Twitter, & via my e-newsletter). Lots going on! This year has been going mighty fast. It's nearly fall, when there will be all sorts of spooky shenanigans coming your way. 

In the meantime, I've been busy working on my book, which is exciting and exhausting in equal measure (more on that soon, you betcha!). I'm also gearing up for Season 2 of The Witch Wave which will be back in time for you-know-which-holiday. <);-)  Watch this space.

Until then, a few other tricks and treats:

1. I AM NOT A WITCH film screening tomorrow!

Tomorrow, Sunday, September 16th at 7:30pm, I'll be hosting a screening of the extraordinary film, I AM NOT A WITCH, at Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers. It's a magical realist story about a girl who is sent to live in a Zambian witch camp (and it has 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes should such things matter to you.) After the film, I'll have a brief discussion with Occult America author, Mitch Horowitz, about the very real witch camps and witch hunts still happening throughout the world today. Tix available here. Please join us! We'll also be vending and signing books before and after.

2. Save the date for Frances F. Denny's MAJOR ARCANA: WITCHES IN AMERICA at ClampArt!

I'm very honored to have my portrait included in Frances F. Denny's photography exhibition, MAJOR ARCANA: WITCHES IN AMERICA, opening at ClampArt on October 4th, and up through November 24th. Read about it in The New Yorker here, and please join us for the opening on the the evening of the 4th.

3. Ultraculture podcast!

I had a ball being a guest on Jason Louv's Ultraculture podcast over the summer. Have a listen to our talk about witches, gender, and social empowerment here.

4. Ravenous Zine

I have an essay called "Ring Around the Rebel" in the latest Ravenous Zine. It's about what I've learned from being part of a coven, written for the issue's theme of Sisterhood.

5. Sabat Magazine’s Le Tarot de L'étoile Cachée!

I was honored to write the guidebook for Sabat Magazine's major arcana tarot deck, Le Tarot de L'étoile Cachée. The art was done by the incredible Elisa Seitzinger, and the cards are printed in metallic silver ink on black. It’s stunning, and it's available here now.

More news coming very soon, promise promise!

Pam Grossman
Winter Magix

I hope your winter has been going well, and that you're starting to feel the light of the longer days, despite the cold. 

I've been keeping myself rather busy between writing my book (more details on that soon!) and podcasting. I'm especially proud of the most recent episodes of The Witch Wave, which feature tattoo artist Tamara Santibañez and painter Katy Horan, respectively. 

And here's a little secret: on the next episode, I talk to a huge heroine of mine: Anna Biller, the writer/director/designer/everything-er of the film The Love Witch. It was a dream come true to have her on the show, so I hope you'll listen when it drops on Wednesday.

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I've also gotten some truly lovely press recently:

  • Very grateful to the Observer for their thorough and very kind profile on me and my witchly work.
  • And I had a ball over at VICE as a guest on Sarah Lyons' tarot show, which you can now watch on Broadly's page here.
  • And was honored that The Witch Wave was called "my favorite" podcast in NYLON by Gabriela Herstik.

I also had my piece Other Mother reprinted online for Sabat Magazine. Read it if you're in need of a new spin on mother goddesses (especially from a non-mother like myself).

Lastly, excited to announce that I'll be appearing with Kristen Sollee at Alamo Drafthouse Yonkers on the evening of Mon, Feb 19th (Presidents' Day!) for a screening and discussion about Mario Bava's beautifully bizarre film, Black Sunday. This is part of Kristen's Witches, Sluts, Feminists film fest, so be sure to check out her other programming as well. 

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Here's hoping our paths cross soon in this new year. I have a feeling it's going to be a good one.

XO

Pam Grossman
Solstice Blessings

Happy Solstice!

I hope this missive finds you all aglow, and having a very happy Whatever You Call It. 

I love Winter Solstice. It offers a bit of a breather in the midst of holiday mayhem to be still and focus on all that sparkles in the dark. It's also a good reminder that no matter how gloomy or opaque things may seem, the sun always returns. 

On that note, I'm so pleased to let you know that the new episode of The Witch Wave is up now. In it, I discuss various Solstice rituals, and then speak with Lindsay Mack, tarot expert and founder of Wild Soul Healing. 

Lindsay holding the sun.

Lindsay holding the sun.

In this episode, Lindsay discusses ways to use tarot to move through trauma, listening to spirit guides, and the importance of getting one's hands dirty when doing divine work. 

It's meant to be a bright spot in the midst of the darkest season (though if you'd like to stay in the shadows a bit longer, do check out our prior episode with witchly dominatrix, Dia Dynasty).

In other news, Sabat Magazine republished my essay on the maiden archetype, Bittersweetie, on their new Medium feed. So if you missed it in their sold out print edition of Issue 1, now you can give it a read.

I'm also busy working on a few highly juicy projects which I'll be announcing in the new year. 

It's been a tough string of months in many respects, but I must say I'm feeling genuinely hopeful about 2018. Here's wishing you a year ahead full of wonder, wisdom, and wild witchery.

And do have a splendid Solstice in the meantime. I'm grateful for your continued support, and I'm sending you lots of blessings in turn.

The Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu emerging from her cave

The Shinto sun goddess Amaterasu emerging from her cave

Pam Grossman
New news

Hello, you, and welcome to my gleaming, newly designed site.

PRO: It looks nicer than the old one and is much easier for me to update.

CON: My old news feed proved a mite too tricksy for me to migrate over, so rather than individually replicating each post one-by-one, I'm just going to just call it, and have a fresh clean start over here. Time for some new news I say!

The biggest thing you should know is that I have a sparkly new podcast called The Witch Wave which launched in October. 

Photo by Shannon Taggart

Photo by Shannon Taggart

The first four episodes are up, with bewitching guests Bri Luna, Kristen Sollee, Shannon Taggart, and Dia Dynasty. 

This show is a complete joy to make, and I'm grateful to those of you who have been listening and spreading the word. Thrilled that it hit #2 in the Spirituality column on iTunes - THANK YOU!

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If you dig the podcast, please take a moment to give it a shiny rating – it makes a huge difference in the algorithm and helps more people find the show.

In other news, I was just the subject of this lovely profile on Sanctuary. It features the photography of Sylvie Rosokoff, whose work is on this site as well. Have a look!

Pam Grossman