The World Of Wizardry Opens To ‘Coven of 30’ At The C.H. Booth Library

By Larissa Lytwyn

On June 17, dozens of students climbed the steps of the C.H. Booth Library, each clutching identical manila envelopes.

They gathered in the library’s main conference room, manila envelopes placed on the long tables in front of them.

The Coven of 30 had assembled.

At the head of the room stood Newtown resident Ann Ziluck, author of the 300-plus page tome, The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The book was complete, save its last chapter.

It was the coven’s job to help Ms Ziluck determine its ending.

Origins

 Last summer, Ms Ziluck was discussing the Harry Potter series with her son, Michael.

“I asked him, ‘What would you do if [the magic of Harry Potter] happened to you?’” Ms Ziluck recalled.

The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry was born.

While trolls, unicorns, and other mystical creatures abound, the fantasy’s primary setting is Newtown.

Portions also take place in Germany’s Black Forest and Switzerland, areas Ms Ziluck has traveled frequently through family and college connections.

Ms Ziluck spent late 2003 and early 2004 writing the novel.

Recently she began submitting its first three chapters to various New York area publishing houses. Like any writer-in-progress, she continues to polish and edit the piece, actively eliciting input from friends, family, colleagues and — most of all — children.

An Opportunity

 This past spring, Ms Ziluck visited district schools, including Fraser Woods and Waldorf, to give students the opportunity to enter a contest in which winners would help create The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s final chapter.

Entrants submitted a questionnaire that included a list of their favorite books, grade level and answers to open-ended questions such as “In 30 words or less, tell something about yourself that shows how creative you can be.”

Parental permission was also required.

Out of 800 applicants, 30 students ages 8 to 13 were chosen to become part of the coven; Ms Ziluck is quick to note the word’s Webster dictionary definition.

Coven has two meanings: a collection of individuals with similar interests or activities or a band of usually 13 witches.

Naturally, Ms Ziluck adopted the definition’s first application.

Ms Ziluck contacted each of the select 30 to invite them into the coven.

Shortly thereafter, a manuscript of The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry arrived at each member’s doorstep — in a manila envelope.

The coven had approximately one month to read the story before convening at the library for the four-hour summer workshop.

The Coven Meets

The coven consisted of Riley Cameron, Austin Cirella, Elise Benedict, John Sapienza, Celine Currier, Katie McMorran, Chris Babyak, Kat Sekela, Blake Dailey, Julie Davis, Kyra Smith, Brandon Marshall, Eliana Kohrman-Glaser, Alex Lansing, Emily Kimball, Kasturi Mitra, Christine D’Alessandro, Taegen Estores, Alan Diaz, Jillian Thompson, Kai Aschick, Katie Knox, Steve Gumbrecht, Sidney Kochman, Marissa Saravis, Andrew Nichols, Gabrielle Milano, Lauryn Navarro, Rob Franzino, and Brandon Bowen.

Ms Ziluck’s parents, Jack, who inspired the character “Grandpa Jack,” in the book, and Joan Hearn, were also in attendance, as well as Ms Ziluck’s sister, Susan Allen, and brother, Jack Hearn, Jr.

In addition, Ms Ziluck struck up a friendship with Chris’s mother, Michelle Babyak, who volunteered to videotape the meeting.

The coven members and family-and-friend “staff” all wore red “Coven of 30” T-shirts.

“My family has been incredibly supportive,” said Ms Ziluck. “My father, who doesn’t dispense praise easily, really loved the book. It felt great!”

During the course of the workshop, the group discussed parts of the book they liked best and played games featured in the story, including Cosmic Wimpout.

Described on its website, cosmicwimpout.com, as “the ultimate blend of possibilities and mystique,” the game challenges two or more players to be the first to acquire 500 points through rolling various styles of dice.

Towards the end of the workshop, the coven helped Ms Ziluck develop various endings for the novel, describing the potential fates of its primary characters.

“I have been really impressed by the way these kids think,” said Mr Hearn. “They are all very intelligent and articulate!”

At the very end of the meeting, another character in the book, Tom the Wandmaker, paid a special real-life visit to the coven.

Tom the Wandmaker is Tom Mondak, Ms Ziluck’s boyfriend of four years.

“I’m a cabinetmaker and professional carpenter,” Mr Mondak said. “Anne asked me to make the wands for all the coven members — and I was happy to do it!”

In addition to their wands, each coven member received Cosmic Wimpout dice.

Just Like Harry Potter?

Several coven members were eager to share their reflections after the workshop ended.

“I was really excited to have been chosen out of so many kids!” exclaimed coven member Brandon.

“I was at my friends house when I found out [about being a coven member],” said Austin. “My friend’s mother said that there was an emergency and I had to get home! So I ran home and my mother said, ‘There’s some lady on the phone.’ And it was Ms Ziluck!”

Marissa said that she felt “lucky” to have been chosen.

“I really enjoyed working with the other kids — everyone had great ideas!” she said.

One thing the coven members wanted to make clear is that The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is nothing like Harry Potter.

“It’s a totally different story, completely different things happen,” said Andrew. “There is really no comparison to Harry Potter.”

Ms Allen, a teacher, said that she’d been inspired by the children’s energy and passion.

“It’s a wonderful process, and great to see,” she said.

As for similarities to Harry Potter, Ms Allen said that while it was surely an “inspiration,” The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is truly a tale all its own.

“There are many kinds of books, like Harry Potter, that can fit into the fantasy genre,” she said. “But they are all different stories. The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is definitely unique!”

Ms Ziluck described the meeting as a “great success.”

“I wish I had another ten hours I could have spent with the students,” she said with a laugh. “And I certainly have some good ideas to develop for the ending!”