Combining cozy mystery, whimsical magic, and playful takes on traditional fantasy tropes, modern speculative fiction offers rich ground for stories of supernatural investigation and wizardry. Author C.M. Waggoner made her literary debut in 2019 with the fantasy novel Unnatural Magic, establishing a narrative style marked by humor, intrigue, and distinct character relationships.
Waggoner expanded her body of work with the January 2021 release of The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry, set in the same fantasy realm, followed by her shift toward cozy supernatural crime in the September 2024 novel The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society. Her fiction weaves together elements of classic detective stories, historical fantasy aesthetics, and clever subversions of speculative tropes.
Career & Background
C.M. Waggoner grew up in rural upstate New York, where she spent much of her youth reading fantasy novels in a swamp. She pursued creative writing at SUNY Purchase to formalize her interest in storytelling. Following her university studies, Waggoner lived in China for eight years, during which time she became nearly fluent in Mandarin Chinese, before relocating to Albany, New York, where she lives with her husband.
Her professional writing career launched with her debut novel Unnatural Magic in 2019, which received critical praise for its whimsical character dynamics and fresh approach to traditional fantasy tropes. She published her second novel, The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry, in January 2021. Inspired by marathoning episodes of the television mystery Murder, She Wrote, Waggoner crafted her third novel, The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society, released in September 2024.
Writing Style & Themes
Waggoner's writing is characterized by its humorous subversion of fantasy conventions, witty dialogue, and character-driven plotting. Her narratives frequently blend high-fantasy environments or quiet small-town library settings with investigative mystery elements. Across her work, she explores themes of love, sacrifice, social expectation, and personal loyalty with a balance of lightness and sincerity.
A defining feature of her fiction is the integration of cozy mystery tropes into speculative settings. In The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society, Waggoner applies classic amateur-sleuth tropes to a supernatural murder investigation, while her earlier novels pair Victorian-influenced fantasy atmospheres with heist and bodyguard narratives. Her characterization centers on unconventional, resourceful protagonists working together across social and cultural divides.
Major Works
- The Ruthless Lady's Guide to Wizardry — Published in January 2021, this fantasy novel set in the same world as Unnatural Magic follows a roguish young witch who joins a protective detail of women wizards, leading into a plot involving conspiracy, romance, and magical mystery.
- The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society — Published in September 2024, this cozy supernatural mystery inspired by Murder, She Wrote blends small-town library atmosphere with amateur sleuthing and demonic intrigue.
- Unnatural Magic — Waggoner's 2019 debut fantasy novel features two interwoven storylines exploring magic systems, unconventional romantic dynamics, and social expectations.
- The Somewhat Wicked Witch of Brigandale — A fantasy novel continuing Waggoner's tradition of character-focused, inventive speculative storytelling.
