Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers

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.

“The magic of Appalachia is the magic of the home and hearth, of the dirt and plants, of the mountain and river. Within these pages, you will find magic that is as authentic, timeless, and warm as a cup of tea steeped with intention or a quilt that holds a prayer in every stitch. Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers is a beautiful tribute that weaves the history, traditions, lore, and folkways of Appalachia with Leah’s own lived experience and deep love for the region.”—Celeste Larsen, author of Heal the Witch Wound“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“A beautiful ode to the magic found in the Appalachian region. Whether you’re new to folk magic or looking to deepen your connection to it, Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers is a must-read. Leah’s prose is immersive, weaving personal stories with ancestral wisdom and cultural nuance—her words don’t just explain magic, they make you feel it. The book is practical, down-to-earth, and refreshingly unassuming with recipes, charms, and more to inspire your magic.”—Ivy Corvus, author of Chaos Magic“Leah Middleton’s Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers is a unique sort of book in the written world of witchcraft. It’s deeply narrative, loaded with family stories and personal reflections on just what it means to be Appalachian (pronounced APPL-ATCH-AN, thank you very much). Middleton also takes on the deeply layered and not-always-pleasant history of the region with care and love, as well. Throughout the book, her goal is less about locking down any one folk magical system and more about planting the seeds of her cultural background in the reader and letting them get a feel for what Appalachian enchantment is all about as they bloom. Tender, spiritual, occasionally provocative, and always magical, Magic from the Hilltops and Hollers is a book that those invested in the world of living folklore will love and turn to over and over again.”—Cory Thomas Hutcheson, author of New World Witchery: A Trove of North American Folk Magic“Having grown up in the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee, I could feel the presence and influence of those areas throughout this resonant and powerful book—but you don’t need to be from there to understand it. Leah takes us on a journey of folk magic practices while offering autobiographical peeks into her experience and showing us the subtle pieces of magic that are so deeply woven into the fabric of the community. Engaging, warm, and nurturing, Leah’s writing and mastery of Appalachian folk magic is as inviting as it is profound. I love the adaptation of her Mamaw Nora’s recipes and knowledge into rituals and spells, aka ‘Mamaw’s Book of Spells’—it brings a fresh and relatable approach to the work. This book will be a tool and guidebook that I work with for years to come. For any person looking for a fully comprehensive, yet personal, approach to folk magic, look no further.”—Anthony Perrotta, astrologer, stylist, poet, and designer; IG: @ap_astrology“Middleton’s book is vibrant. Her voice paints the beauty and richness of not only Appalachian folk practice but the region itself through her experiences. She pays homage to the nature, the people, and the spirits of the Appalachians in a way that creates a mesmerizing manual for all those interested in the folk magic, medicine, plants, and people of the Appalachians.”—Frankie Castanea, a.k.a. Chaotic Witch Aunt