Celebrating Cyber Monday with a Book Giveaway

Because I am (as always) out of the loop, I just realized that today is the so-called "Cyber Monday" -- the day when people theoretically do most of their online holiday shopping.

*lifts head from trays full of beads and blinks*

Um...I probably should have done something about that, since I just put a bunch of my jewelry up on an Etsy store site.

So I had a brilliant idea over my hot chocolate. Well, brilliant might be stretching it a bit. Let's just call it an idea, shall we? After all, it IS Monday morning. By afternoon, it might look rather silly...

Anyway, so here's my idea. Since most of the folks who asked to look at (and in theory, be able to buy) my jewelry started out as fans of my writing, why not give away a BOOK as part of a Cyber Monday special? Specifically, a signed book, written by me. This can include any of the five books from Llewellyn: Circle, Coven & Grove; Everyday Witch A to Z; The Goddess is in the Details, Everyday Witch A to Z Spellbook; and Witchcraft on a Shoestring.

Here's the deal: Go to my Etsy store http://www.etsy.com/shop/deborahblake TODAY. (Yes, it has to be today. That's the whole point. There is no way I'm running a special like this all season!) And buy any necklace. When you do, I will include a FREE, SIGNED copy of the book of your choice. (There is a place in the notes during the sale to leave me a message telling me which book, and how you want it personalized.) The book--and the necklace--can be for either you or for a gift. How's that for a Cyber Monday deal????

What? Why are you still here? Go! Go! (And tell all your friends. Pretty please.)

And thanks as always for supporting all my endeavors. I truly appreciate it.
Deborah, off to work at the day job

Last Day for Jewelry Sale

Just a reminder--due to popular request, I have put a few samples of the gemstone jewelry I make up on Etsy. If you're interested (either for yourself or as a gift), this weekend I am running an anti-Black Friday sale (snicker). Buy any necklace by the end of today, and I throw in a free pair of matching earrings, $20-$30 value.

Happy shopping!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/deborahblake

Black Friday Gift for my Friends and Fans!

I am on my way out the door to go open up The Artisans' Guild (the artists' cooperative shop I run) for the day. I am always grateful to be spending Black Friday is such a mellow and pleasant atmosphere, instead of at a crazy mall or (goddess forbid!) Walmarts.

As some of you know, I recently (after much nudging) put some of my handcrafted jewelry up on Etsy, for the folks who wanted to be able to get something made by me. And thanks so much for asking!

So here is my Black Friday gift to all who asked... In case you don't feel like braving the crowds, you can go shopping at my little Etsy shop. There's not much up there yes, but I hope to have a few more pieces up by the end of the day. Here's the deal: anyone who orders a necklace today, Saturday, or Sunday--I will throw in a free pair of matching earrings ($20-$30 value) as my gift to you for being so supportive of me.

Ta da!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/deborahblake

Feline Friday

Back by popular demand...
Feline Friday!

Here's a picture of the "family" on the sofa--Magic the Cat and mama Minerva exchanging baths while brother Mystic snoozes..

May you have a relaxing weekend too! (Starting now, for those of you lucky enough to have Veteran's Day off.) And for any of my pals here who are veterans or the family of veterans... THANKS! We appreciate your service and your sacrifice.

Too close for Comfort: Things that go BOOM!

I got an interesting call from my sister Sarah last night. (She, my brother in-law, and two darling 18 year old nieces live in Schenectady, although one niece is currently off at college.)

The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hey, how's it going?
Sarah: Well, my car is gone.
Me: Gone? What do you mean gone? Stolen? You sold it?
Sarah: No. It blew up.
Me: (a pause) Did you just say your car blew up?
Sarah: Yup.
Me: Your car blew up?
Sarah: Uh huh.
Me: Holy crap.

Apparently what happened was this--my BIL Rich dropped my niece Addy off at the local college she attends, and drove the car home. He parked it at the curb, since he intended to go out again soon to run some errands. He'd gotten most of the way up the driveway to the house when he heard a big boom. And when he turned around again, the car was ON FIRE. The fire department had to come put it out. This is what's left:

Pretty scary, isn't it! It looks more like something you'd see in Beirut than in suburban Schenectady. My sister tells me that the insurance guy said that sometimes the catalytic converter will overheat and blow. Who knew?

Either way, they are all a little shaken up (especially Addy) and it's not great that they have to replace a dependable (but old enough not to have a lot of value) car while putting two kids through college. But I'm just VERY GRATEFUL that they're all okay. Cars can be replaced--my family cannot.

Holy crap. This was definitely too close for comfort.

A Rave Review for Nancy Holzner's BLOODSTONE

Recently, I had the pleasure of spending the day with author pal Nancy Holzner, when we went to a writers' workshop together. Nancy lives in Ithaca, which is a couple of hours from me, and we try to get together a couple of times a year to talk writing and catch up with eachother's lives.

Nancy and I originally "met" online, after I reviewed a copy of her first book, DEADTOWN and loved it. I recently got to read the third book in the series, and I have to tell you, they just get better all the time.

“They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Mostly humans stay far from its borders—but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…”

If this blurb sounds intriguing to you, I can guarantee that the book itself more than lives up to it. BLOODSTONE, the third in author Nancy Holzner’s Deadtown series, is a fun and fabulous paranormal romp from the very first page. And the action never stops long enough for you to catch your breath. (As if you’d want to.)

Victory (Vicky) Vaughn is one of the most unusual and likable characters I’ve ever come across in an urban fantasy. Although I will confess, I have a major soft spot for her aunt Mab, and her werewolf-lawyer boyfriend. I even like Tina, her former apprentice (the ONLY zombie character I have ever found likable.) Even more, I love the world that Holzner has created; one that looks a lot like ours, until you peer beneath the surface to find various paranormal creatures (including Vicky’s vampire roommate, Juliet—yes THAT Juliet).

In this installment of the series, a killer who uses a curved blade—nicknamed the South End Reaper—is not only causing death and mayhem, he is creating even greater strain in an already difficult relationship between Boston’s human and inhuman residents. And it is up to Vicky, her friends, and her aunt Mab to find out who is doing the killing and put a stop to him, her, or…it.

If you haven’t read any of the books in this series, I suggest starting at the beginning with DEADTOWN, although any of the books can easily be read on its own. Holzner does a masterful job of building on the previous books while still making each volume a stand-alone novel; not an easy task to do, believe me!

Holzner gets better with every book; I loved this one, and I am waiting with baited breath to see what happens next…

http://www.amazon.com/Bloodstone-Deadtown-Novel-Nancy-Holzner/dp/044102100X

A Romance, a Fantasy, and a YA...Oh My

I promised myself I wasn't going to buy any more books until I'd emptied off more of my To Be Read shelf. It's not my fault that three of my favorite authors have new releases. Is it?

I mean, who could resist THIS? I'm not usually a fan of the Harlequin Blaze romance series...but when Candace Havens writes one...it goes on my automatic order shelf. I mean, seriously...YUM.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/Model-Marine?keyword=Model+Marine&store=book

And then there is Tanya Huff. She writes fantasy, paranormal romance, and all sorts of groovy things. Her new book, THE WILD WAYS, looks truly intriguing... Check this out:
"The Gales are an amazing family, the aunts will strike fear into your heart, and the characters Allie meets are both charming and terrifying." -#1 New York Times bestselling author Charlaine Harris
Alysha Gale's cousin Charlotte is a Wild Power, who allies herself with a family of Selkies in a fight against offshore oil drilling. The oil company has hired another of the Gale family's Wild Powers, the fearsome Auntie Catherine, to steal the Selkies' sealskins. To defeat her, Charlotte will have to learn what born to be Wild really means in the Gale family...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wild-ways-tanya-huff/1100480626?ean=9780756406868&itm=1&usri=the%2bwild%2bways

And then there is my favorite YA fantasy author, Tamora Pierce. I have read every book she has ever written, and loved each one more than the last. Her books are full of strong female protagonists, interesting characters, and amazing world building. MASTIFF is the third in the Beka Cooper series. If you haven't read her books, run don't walk to the nearest bookstore...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/mastiff--beka-cooper-series--3-?keyword=mastiff+%28beka+cooper+series+%233%29&store=book

What book did you buy recently that you would recommend to others? And which one of these would you get first?

A video gift for Whovians!

Something silly to cheer you up...
A November 1st gift for all you Whovians out there (you know who you are).