Canadian magician CONNIE BOYD is also an inventor, producer & director with a background in dance, theatre and circus. She is now a best-selling author of an award-winning book The Power of Magical Women.
Her book has already won prestigious awards and kudos from literary groups and library organizations, and Connie has been invited as a special guest at this weekend’s Int’l Brotherhood of Magicians “Spirit of Magic” convention in St. Louis (see below).
Connie is known for physically demanding artistic magic such as the “solo” guitar suspension (the World Magic Awards 1999) and an up-side-down straight jacket escape over a bed of nails (Shanghai Magic Festival 2012). She has appeared on television shows such as Masters of Illusion, the Best Magic of Las Vegas and the World Magic Awards. Connie launched her magic career in Las Vegas in 1987, eventually starring & headlining in production shows such as the Folies Bergère at the Tropicana Hotel, Jubilee at Bally’s and opening for celebrity headliners such as the recently departed comedian and TV star Louie Anderson. Connie was named Best Cabaret Magician in 1999 at the World Magic Awards in Los Angeles and the “Prix du Public” at the Grand Prix du Magique in Monte Carlo in 1996.
She started researching and writing her book during Covid (one of the best uses of alone time, don’t ya think?) and since its recent publication, Connie’s been making guest appearances on podcasts and doing interviews…and here’s another one. Connie, tell us all about your experience as a first-time author…
Congratulations on your new book, Connie – what inspired you to research all the women magicians then write this collection of biographical stories on each? It all started as a pandemic project: I began documenting women in magic on a YouTube channel and through a monthly “Magical Women” column in VANISH International Magic Magazine. I recognized that there wasn’t a dedicated resource chronicling women in magic, so I made that my goal.I had no idea what I was starting, or how deep the interviews would go — how openly these magicians would share their stories and struggles with me. It’s been an honour to write about them. They inspire me, and I hope their stories will motivate readers too.
Keep in mind that The Power of Magical Women isn’t a comprehensive list — it’s drawn from the “Magical Women” articles I wrote for Vanish over a five-year period. There’s still more work to be done.
The book has already won awards….how excited were you to receive the news?
As a first-time author, it’s been overwhelming and thrilling to receive this kind of exposure beyond the magic community. My goal was to expand the footprint of magical women, and the representation that comes with mainstream literary awards proves that the 70+ magicians and their remarkable stories deserve the spotlight.
I had a fabulous editor, Marianne Ward, and book designer, Paul Romhany – that team, alongside Vanish Press, deserves just as much credit and recognition as I do.
Did you discover any surprises when researching these magical women’s lives and careers? Almost every magician I documented had a surprise or shocking revelation in her story. There are common threads of determination and grit, along with a drive to prove their worth. Dania Diaz (pictured below) fled Venezuela to Spain as a refugee. NASA engineer Jennifer April Choi is a Guinness World Record junkie. Anchal, from India, strives to stop bride-burning and the dowry system. Lisa Menna is using her magic for greater good — improving conditions for women and access to clean water in Africa. These stories are powerful.
There’s a reason behind every entry, and my goal is for readers to find a story — or stories — that resonate as they navigate their own lives.And why do you think we’ve either forgotten or maybe never even known the names of these talented illusionists? Men were writing the history books, and for years women in all art forms were omitted or given limited coverage.
Thanks to the internet, we now have access to information that wasn’t readily available in the past – including the stories of these remarkable women who forged ahead with successful careers despite society’s restraints. They are the true heroes, and it is upon their strong shoulders that we so proudly stand.
After years of performing around the world, did you ever encounter any challenges or biases against you, simply for being a female artist? I believe I was afforded both opportunities and challenges as a novelty in a man’s world. In general, it was a positive press hook – an entertainment director or venue’s publicity angle. I’d like to believe that I changed the perception of how a woman could be a magician, and that I earned the respect and admiration of international technical crews who weren’t initially comfortable with a woman directing an act or performance. Change happens slowly, but I’ve witnessed a shift in the public’s perception of women in magic – for the positive. To this day, women’s contributions to the arts are often discounted, yet the women who have survived in the business of shows have been exceptional and deserve to be recognized.
For readers who may be considering magic as a career, what suggestions or guidance can you offer? There are many good programs and communities that mentor young talent. The Society of Young Magicians is a great source, and both Tannen’s Magic Camp in NYC and the Magic Castle in Hollywood offer courses for young magicians. Thanks to the pandemic, many of these courses are now offered virtually, so anyone who qualifies for the programming, with internet access, anywhere in the world, can enjoy the lectures and instruction.
The internet is also a great resource. Ekaterina, who’s featured in my book and lives in Barrie, Ontario, is a wonderful resource for learning magic online – free, at all levels. You can find her on YouTube and Instagram.Thank you for sharing your insights into the world of women magicians and for this amazing book that’s available NOW!
Information about the book, where to get it and more about Connie, visit www.thepowerofmagicalwomen.com
All social links avail. on the website – watch Connie’s exciting promo video (below)