Thursday, May 15, 2014

A Little Light (Blog) Housekeeping

First, thanks to everyone who took the blog poll. If you haven't done it yet, there are still a few days left. I'm mostly just trying to get an idea of what I should be writing about the most (although I'm still going to talk all over the place, probably). So even if the poll doesn't seem to apply to you, feel free to give me your two cents in the comments.

Second, if you remember, when The Witch's Broom first came out at the end of March, I put up a link on both the blog and my website so people could buy a signed version directly from me if they wanted to, and said that I would take it down after I'd sent out 100 copies. We're not there yet, but we're getting close, so if you wanted to order a signed copy from me, you should probably do it now. Just sayin'. Addendum: Reminder, this is for USA folks only. Anyone outside the USA can contact me for special arrangements to get a signed book, but be aware that postage outside the country has gone up dramatically. I think Canada is about $6-7 and overseas is anywhere from $10-$18.

Also, not a blog thing exactly, but I posted some pictures on Facebook of some of the jewelry I took to last Saturday's book signing, and people got kind of excited. (That is to say, I sold three of them to people who said "I WANT THAT." Lol. That wasn't the plan, but it was fun.) I got a bunch of requests to put up pictures of the jewelry on a regular basis, so from now on I am going to do a "Necklace of the Week" on Facebook...probably on Mondays, but maybe Wednesdays. Just so you know. Do you want me to post it here too, or all you all following me on FB?

And now a couple of quick questions:
  1. One of the folks here asked for an occasional post on "magical recipes"--food that also has magical properties. Is that something other folks would be interested in?
  2. How many of you own/buy tarot decks?
  3. How many of you are interested in the writing "how the writing biz works" posts? (As opposed to the "this is what I am working on" type.)
Okay, that's it. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...and thanks in advance for taking the time to answer!

xxx Deborah

18 comments:

  1. Hi Deborah,
    I've been reading you wonderful book about broom lore, but I suddenly came across something that is disturbing to me. "Never carry a broom across running water." Why??? The reason I ask is because I live on a sailboat for 6 months each year and traverse the coast of Maine and the Canadian Maritimes. The water runs fast in the ocean. I was going to make myself a small besom for the boat, but then I read this broom lore in your book and now I don't know if I should? In answer to your survey: I have 3 tarot decks and read regularly for myself and others, I would be very interested in any info about how the writing biz works as I am recently retired and plan to spend more time writing. I have been published on Amazon Kindle. Magical recipes sounds like a lot of fun!!!

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    1. No worries, babe! All those little snippets are simply old lore--many of which contradict each other :-) They're there more for amusement than anything else. You can definitely have a small besom on your boat. In fact, I'd tie it in to water themes, by maybe adding a few tiny shells to the handle, or decorating it with water-colored ribbons. And congrats on self-publishing! What do you write?

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  2. 1. One of the folks here asked for an occasional post on "magical recipes"--food that also has magical properties. Is that something other folks would be interested in?
    YES! I'm always working on trying to find appropriate food correspondences, and the materials available vary widely.

    2. How many of you own/buy tarot decks?
    I own a tarot deck and several oracle decks.

    3. How many of you are interested in the writing "how the writing biz works" posts? (As opposed to the "this is what I am working on" type.)
    As an aspiring writer, who doesn't have the ability to concentrate on this FT, this would be excellent. Its very difficult to try to understand how things work and what approach to take when you are on the outside.

    Thank you, so much, for asking questions and being interested in what your readers are looking for!

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  3. Deborah, I missed the link to the possibility of a signed copy, could you repost it, please?
    my partner is vegetarian now, so I am slightly stuck with cooking (easy) recipes which are also delicious.
    I own at least 10 tarot decks - I think they all work with different vibrations. I work mostly with Witches deck by Ellen Dugan.

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    1. Ekaterina, it is up at the top left of the blog, and says "The Witch's Broom signed" with a buy now button.

      I was a vegetarian for about 8 years, and still eat a mostly-veggie diet. I can definitely help.

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  4. sorry, just saw that there is a button for signed copies:) just bought one!

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    1. I'm sorry, Ekaterina, but this was for USA and Canada only. The $3 shipping charge won't even begin to cover the costs of sending it to the UK. If you still want one, we can set something up for you individually. I issued you a refund for your payment. Let me know if you still wanted a signed one, but be aware that the shipping will probably cost close to what the book is worth!

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    2. Hi Deborah, I will meditate on the two of pentacles for now:)

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  5. The answers to your questions are yes, yes and yes! Magical recipes are wonderful. I love tarot decks an own several. I'm an aspiring writer so any writing related information is appreciated.

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  6. Technically, with the Facebook question, that make four questions :P

    I'm probably the only person here who doesn't follow you on Facebook, though the reason is that I don't have one (it's funny to say that to people my age, they look at me like I grew a second head!)

    Recipes are fun, especially cultural-based ones. I always love to try and make something new, tomorrow I'm going to attempt a recipe for cabbage rolls that I got from a Jewish friend of mine.

    I don't own tarot cards, as I do very much have my doubts about their abilities. From what I've read, they weren't originally designed for divination, but rather as playing cards, only gaining their use for divination about a century later. Still, there are many decks I would love to get for their gorgeous artwork. The Steampunk deck in particular.

    I am very much interested in your Writing Biz posts! I published a book for Amazon Kindle (super long link: http://www.amazon.com/Dusted-Jennifer-Clark-ebook/dp/B008E75YL6/ref=la_B008OJPZ5O_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1400229312&sr=1-1 ) and always love to hear about other people's publishing experiences.

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    1. Caught that, did you? LOL.

      And lots of people don't have Facebook, including my CP. No worries. I never assume that people are going to find me in any one place. Which is why I am Everywhere.

      I've been doing tarot readings professionally for years, and I can tell you that the results are downright spooky sometimes. Of course, I was always a psychic, long before I started using the cards. My belief, for what it is worth, is that they can help to channel any abilities someone already has. No abilities, they're just pretty pieces of paper. But some of them (I was just looking at the Steampunk one the other day) are REALLY pretty.

      Congrats on the book!

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    2. I have a Facebook account but since I don't like spending more than fifteen minutes a day on it, I'm hoping some of the jewelry might show up over here, too.

      Mary Anne in Kentucky

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    3. Ahh I see, a tarot deck is to a psychic as a hammer is to a carpenter.

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    4. Exactly--people use various kinds of tools to help tape into what some view as personal abilities, and others view as universal information (I think it is a combination of both). You can use tarot cards, or rune stones, or a scrying mirror...some things work better for some folks. But yes, a tool to help bring out that inner wisdom or knowledge. Also, they're pretty :-)

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  7. I love recipes and tarot decks! Also, I'm really interested in all elements of the publishing process.I'm working on my first novel now (sheesh, books are a lot of work!), and I love hearing other writers' accounts, both of the business side and of the more personal writing process.

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  8. I read cookbooks for pleasure, so recipes, yes!
    I own no tarot decks, because I'm too lazy to actually figure out the meanings; I want some website to do that for me. (Interestingly, when I was growing up all the people I knew who read cards used a regular playing deck.)
    Writing always interests me, whether the process or the business.

    Mary Anne in Kentucky

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  9. Hi Deborah
    in answer to the 3 questions
    1. would LOVE to see magickal recipes
    2. I have at least 3 dozen tarot decks, not counting "oracle" decks... there's a name for this sort of thing, but I'll be gentle with your readers
    3. the how-to about putting yourself out as a writer... yes, this is also interesting to me... I feel that my biggest hurdle here is just making regular time... I'm a binge-writer, I guess
    Thank you for your questions, your books, and just being there. Blessed Be!
    Doreen Shababy

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