Read about my agent journey at Guide to Lit Agents Blog!

Ever wonder what it takes to get an agent? Read about my journey at Chuck Sambuchino's "Guide to Literary Agents" blog today.

http://tinyurl.com/3xuqsno

What I'm Reading: 3 great books and a magazine

I just finished one great book and a terrific magazine, and am in the midst of two other fabulous books (one fiction, the other nonfiction). They're all so good, I wanted to share!

Just finished: Jim C. Hines' Red Hood's Revenge. The 3rd installment in his fairy tale series, the first 2 were also incredible. If you like fantasy, fairy tales retold in completely new ways, and just plan terrific writing, you will want to read these books. http://tinyurl.com/34hfdlt

Also read from cover to cover, the new issue (#21) of Witches & Pagans Magazine. Yes, my new column is in there, and that's nice, but there are also a ton of other interesting articles and two great interviews with Ellen Dugan and Starhawk. If you are a Pagan, you MUST read this issue.
http://tinyurl.com/39lydnx

Currently reading (started last night and already on page 122, which will give you some idea of how fast and fun this book is): Mindy Klasky's To Wish or Not to Wish. This book is the third and final installment of her genie series, but it can easily be read on its own (although the first 2 books were equally wonderful and I highly recommend them). If you like genies, live theater, fun heroines, realistic characters, and humor with your romance, you can't do any better than to read this book--or anything that Mindy has written, for that matter! She is easily one of my favorite authors, and I love her writing! Run out and get this book today!
http://tinyurl.com/3yudekl

The final book is a nonfiction book I'm reading as research for the current work in progress. But I'm finding the information fascinating enough that I am happy to be doing it. The book is Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch by Lora O'Brien, and it is exactly what it sounds like. I'm getting lots of great (and presumably authentic!) info, and the book is well-written and put together in a way that makes it easy to use.
http://tinyurl.com/345guwc

I highly recommend all of these books, and hope one of them catches your fancy. What you reading now, and what do you think of it? Is it something you would recommend to others?

Feline Friday

Here's today's feline Friday pic -- that's Magic the Cat, curled up with her mother, Minerva (the gray one is Minerva).

Happy Friday!

Look What Came Today! (Oooh, Shiny...)

I came home today to find an unexpected Fed Ex package on my doorstep. Opened it up to find the first copies of the new book, due out in September. Ooooh, shiny!

There's nothing like that new book smell. Or the sight of a book cover with your name on it. Yay! (And big thanks to Becky Zins, my production editor, for sticking these in the mail for me, so I didn't have to wait for the official shipment.)

Isn't it perty? Dontcha want to run right out and buy one? You know you do...

http://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738721361

Llewellyn Annuals are out!

The new Llewellyn 2011 Annuals are out. And I'm in them! If you are of the Pagan-ish persuasion (or just curious), check out my articles in the Witches' Companion [My Top 3 Rules for Pagan Living & Becoming an Everyday Witch in 6 Easy Steps], the Magical Almanac [Spiritual Housecleaning: Integrating the Magickal and the Mundane], and the Sabbats Almanac [I wrote about my favorite holiday, Samhain!]. Cool.

Save the Date! September 11th in Saratoga

Hi All!

If you live anywhere near Saratoga, NY...

I hope you will join me and six other spiritual/Pagan/paranormal Nonfiction authors at the Magical Buffet of Authors event at the Saratoga Barnes and Noble on Saturday, September 11th from 2-6.

Here is the link to the B&N site with specifics http://store-locator.barnesandnoble.com/event/3044002

This event is the brainchild of fabu blogger, Rebecca Elson of The Magical Buffet (if you have never checked out her blog, by golly, you should! http://www.themagicalbuffet.com/ )

The other authors include Ellen Evert Hopman, Gordie Little, Lama Willa Miller, David Pitkin, Maria Kay Simms, and my pal Gail Wood (who some of you might remember from The Spiritual Arts Fair here in Oneonta).

I hope to see some of you there!

New Column in Witches & Pagans Magazine!

I got my copy of the newest issue of Witches & Pagans Magazine, and there, on page 83, was the first installment of my new column, Magick on a Shoestring! Whoo hoo!

Big thanks to the wonderful publisher/editor of the magazine, Anne Newkirk Niven, for giving me this chance to bring my work to a wider audience. I'm sooooo excited!

If you enjoy reading all things Pagan, please consider getting a subscription to the magazine, which is wonderful. And check out the current issue, which features the amazing Ellen Dugan (the Garden Witch) and an interview with Pagan elder Starhawk (author of the classic book, The Spiral Dance, which is a must-read for every Witch).

I have a column! Whoo hoo!

http://tinyurl.com/2uvjcxs

Renaissance Faire Trip--Report Part Deux (Family)

Family is a wonderful thing (mostly). You have the family you are born to, and the family you choose. Here are a few pics of my extended Blue Moon Circle family, enjoying our time together, camping out and having fun. Love you guys!

Sophie and I catch up on some reading. (In case you can't make it out, I was rereading one of my favorite books, DOGS AND GODDESSES, by Jennifer Crusie, Anne Stuart, and Lani Diane Rich--perfect summer fun reading!)

Nate caught his first fish.

Sharing laughter.

Cooking together over the fire. It doesn't get much better than this.

Tomorrow--Fabulous First Friday in Downtown Oneonta, and then a trip to Saratoga to spend a few days with my other family, the one's who've been stuck with me since I was born!

Interview at Sassy Sorceress

Hey--check out this interview with me on the Sassy Sorceress blog

http://thesassysorceress.com/uncategorized/spellbinding-author-deborah-blake/

As always, it never hurts to show the love by leaving a comment :-)

Ren Faire Report, Part One

I took a rare break this last weekend and went away for three days with some friends--specifically, pals Chris and hubby Charlie, Robin and hubby George and my goddess-children (the ever adorable) Sophia and Nate, and Ellen and Bobbie.

We took three days and went camping, hung out at the Fair Haven State Park beach, and spent the Saturday (most of us, anyway) at the Sterling Renaissance Faire.

No internet. No computer. No TV. No writing. (Gasp!) Just hanging out with friends and having a great time. Pretty close to heaven, if you ask me.

One of the highlights of the weekend was our visit to the Ren Faire. We've been before as a group, and it is always a blast. The Sterling Ren Faire (http://www.sterlingfestival.com/ ) runs each weekend for a couple of months during the summer, and is full of pagentry, wonderful items for sale, and fun shows. The weekend we went happened to be the Highland Fling theme, which was even more fun. I even made a couple of friends, as you can see!

Of course, now I have to get back to work, and reality...but it was nice to take a break from it all. Next blog, I'll share a few pics from around the campfire.