What Is Magical Realism?

Have you ever read a story that feels completely real, except for one small, impossible thing?

Maybe an antique seems to know exactly who needs it. A woman dreams of a place she’s never visited, only to discover it actually exists. A handmade object carries a little more meaning, comfort, or magic than it reasonably should.

That’s the kind of magical realism I love.

Magical realism blends the ordinary world with just a touch of the extraordinary. The characters still worry about families, friendships, careers, starting over, and finding where they belong. The towns feel like places you could visit. The people feel like someone you might know.

And then, woven quietly through it all, there’s a little magic.

The magic usually isn’t about spells, wizards, or epic battles. It simply exists alongside everyday life. Sometimes the characters question it. Sometimes they accept it. And sometimes they discover that the world may be a bit more mysterious than they thought.

This is my favorite kind of magic!

~ Lula