The Mystic Order of East Alabama Fiction Writers is a group composed of six women bonded together by a love for writing, unbreakable friendship and a sisterhood that one can only read about in books.
Some of the books the Order has written together are “Be the Flame, Not the Moth,” “The Ploy of Cooking” and “Mastering the Art of Wench Cooking.”
The women in the group each have an archetype that identifies them. Gail Langley is the Queen Mystic, Katie Lamar Jackson the Fortune Teller, Margee Bright Ragland the Mystic Illuminator, Joanne Camp the Defender, Mary Dansak the Star Gazer and Marian Carcache the Dog Whisperer.
In 2004, they founded their mystic order. Their first meetings were held in the back of the now-abandoned Bruno’s grocery store
Queen Mystic, Gail Langley, is a third-generation Auburn graduate. Langley’s grandfather was the school’s first librarian and her father was an Auburn football player.
Langley is married to her husband Bob, who is also an Auburn alumnus. Prior to being named Queen Mystic, Langley was a school teacher.
“Here we are, 3.5 published books later and one season of a podcast under our belts,” Langley said. “We plan to continue with season two of the podcast at some un-COVID point in time.”
Katie Lamar Jackson, the group’s newest Mystic, joined the Order on Dec. 7, 2016.
Prior to joining the Mystics, Jackson worked a career in newspaper reporting. Then, more than 30 years ago, she made the decision to return to Auburn.
She said she worked for the University’s College of Agriculture as a writer and editor. Then, eventually, she became the director for the Office of Communications and Marketing.
In 2012, Jackson retired and began pursuing freelance writing full time.
Jackson said she has always been a fan of the Mystic Order. She never even dreamed of being invited to join the group as they keep their number limited to six members, she said.
“For me, the Mystic Order is all about inspiration and support,” Jackson said. “Writing is a solitary act, but to write successfully I need to interact with a greater community — readers, writers, editors, mentors, family, friends and even strangers.”
Jackson keeps coming back to the Mystic Order for many reasons. She said the main was “because I adore these women as humans and as writers, but also because I always, always feel like they make me a better writer.”
Margee Bright Ragland, illustrator for all Mystic Order books, is a retired Georgia State University professor of art. Ragland is married to Wayne Ragland. They have four children and three grandchildren.
Margee and Wayne have a love for travel and exploring the world. An original Mystic, Ragland said her name of Mystic Illuminator comes from “the Medieval monks who illustrated the sacred texts.”
Joanne Camp, the Mystic Defender, serves as the public defender for the City of Opelika. Camp also owned an attorney practice but closed it about four years ago.
Camp has been married to her husband for over 40 years, and together they have three sons and two grandchildren. Camp is also an Auburn alumna with a degree in foreign languages.
“One does not ‘join’ the Mystic Order,” Camp said. “Like the divine right of kings of old, you are chosen to be a member of the Mystic Order of East Alabama Fiction Writers.”
The group sticks strictly to six members because “six is the smallest perfect number; and the number that represents Venus,” Camp said.
“[The Mystic Order] is a group of ladies who encourage and hone each other’s writing skills and who explore all matters of artistic endeavors,” Camp said.
Mary Dansak, former education specialist with the state Department of Education, is now a teacher for online classes and holds the title of Star Gazer for the Mystic Order.
Dansak said she has a love for all things nature, animals, reading and writing. Dansak has been married to her husband, Joe, for over 30 years, and they have three daughters.
“To me, the Mystic Order is about a group of writing friends who are also my Mystic Sisters,” Dansak said. “The Order is not just about writing, but about having a sisterhood of best friends that lift each other up and push each other to be the best they can be.”
Dansak said she helps keep the group structured with her role as the notetaker.
“It’s no coincidence that once I joined, the Order was put in order,” Dansak said.
For Dansak, the desire to keep coming back to the Mystic Order time and time again goes deeper than the writing.
“We’ve been together for a long time,” Dansak said. “It’d be like cutting off a limb to leave now. Plus, they know all my secrets.”
The final member of the group is Marian Carcache, the Dog Whisperer. An Auburn alumna, Carcache has been living in the area for nearly 50 years.
She was a professor in the University’s English department for many decades before she retired three years ago.
However, Carcache now teaches graduate level literature and fiction writing courses online at Southern New Hampshire University.
“First and foremost, the Mystics are peerless as friends,” Carcache said. “Each Mystic is intelligent, interesting, generous and funny. And we’re supportive of each other.”
Carcache said the Mystics always finish what they started, and it is the friendships that keep her coming back to this Order.
The Mystics continue to meet on the first Wednesday of every month at each person’s house to discuss their lives and their future endeavors.
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