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And the work on the second Baba Yaga novel is coming along really well. If you have been watching the progress bar at the top of the blog (and I know you have) you can see that I am at about 77,000 words. I'm aiming about about 100,000 so that means--tough math coming up!--I am 77% done. But I'm now at the point in the writing where the book is trying to tear its way out of my brain, so I expect this last bit to go a lot faster than the first 2/3rd of the book did. For instance, even with an aching tooth, I wrote over 9,000 words last weekend alone. Of course, nothing else got done, but nevermind.
In other news, I got an unexpected package from Llewellyn the other day. I hadn't ordered any books, and my new release isn't coming out until next April, so I couldn't figure out what it was. Turns out, it was this:
These are my author copies (2 each) of the Llewellyn annuals and almanacs I contributed to for 2014. That includes the Witches' Calender, the Witches' Datebook, the Magical Almanac, the Witches' Companion, and the Sabbats Almanac (I wrote about Beltane this time around, one of my favorite holidays). I love these things, and I still get a big kick out of being a part of them.
I promised the second calendar to my pal Ellen, who has been saving my butt by helping out with the overwhelming weeding in the garden this year and so far has only been paid in lettuce and peas :-)
But that means I have a spare copy of the four annuals...one of which I am going to give away to one of my lovely blog readers, JUST BECAUSE I CAN.
If you already read these books, you probably have a favorite. If you don't, here's what my articles this year are:
Sabbats Almanac (Beltane)
Witches Datebook (A Witch's Mini Herbal Garden)
Magical Almanac (various mini practical bits in the middle almanac section)
Witches' Companion (5 Essential Stones for Witches)
SO...Do you have a favorite Llewellyn Annual or Almanac? Which one is it, and why? If you haven't read them and would like to, tell me which of this year's bunch you'd like to win. All you have to do is tell me in the comments (although I'd love it if you'd spread the word, of course). I'll have Magic the Cat announce the winner on Friday, along with the Feline Friday pictures.
Which one do you want?
And just think about it--other than the authors who wrote them (who like me will have gotten their copies this week), you could be the first person in the country to actually hold one of these. How cool is that????
I love the Witches Calendar. I've never seen the Magical Almanac before, but I love that cover!! So glad you're feeling better, sweetie! Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteKallan--I can't believe you've never seen the Magical Almanac before. You'd love it!
DeleteAnd sadly, feeling better is a bit of an overstatement. But hey, eventually...
I enjoy the sabbats almanac the best. I like to read about ways to incorporate my family someway into my magickal lifestyle . Usualy each holiday section has a family article. Awesome u wrote about beltane. I would love to take my kids to a beltane festival so they can run around the may pole. Preferably with clothes on. Though i know my daughter...the free spirit that she is...wouldnt care if clothing was optional
ReplyDeleteI've been to a number of Beltane celebrations and even danced around the maypole a time or too. They are lovely. When Llewellyn started putting out the Sabbats almanac a few years ago and invited me to be a part of it, I was thrilled.
DeleteOh, so hard to choose. Almost went with the Witches Companion, but I have collected the Magical Almanacs and have every single one since 1993 -- so I'm making that my choice! What a wonderful idea, Deborah!
ReplyDeleteWow--I have quite a few, but every one since 1993--that's amazing!
Deletei love the datebook because you can see up-comming events in "witchy world" and "muggle" at the same time :)
ReplyDeleteGood point, Nicole!
DeleteThe Witches' Companion and Magical Almanac are my faves, because I always find something new that makes me think and look at something from a different perspective.
ReplyDeleteI think that's part of what I like about them too, Timothy. All those different contributors makes for a lot of different points of view.
DeleteThe Spell a Day and the Almanac. I love reading about different and new ideas by people who walk a different path than my own. They've introduced me to new authors; made me think; and helped me to grow. My copies are filled with post it's, bookmarks and highlighted passages. They've become like a journal of my life with my own remarks written on the pages. I look forward to getting them each year, and placing the previous years copies on the shelf with the others.
ReplyDeleteI've found a bunch of new authors by reading the almanacs. That's part of why I write for them, in fact, in the hope that people will like the small bit they read and run out to buy one of my books :-)
DeleteExactly! Only, I think I found you through an Amazon recommends! :-)
DeleteI love them all but I guess the ones I get most are the Sabbat Almanac and the Magical Almanac. They always have great articles.
ReplyDeleteThey do! The Llewellyn annual editors (especially the fabulous Ed Day) do a great job with these.
DeleteI have been itching to get my hands on the Witches' Datebook. I love the Almanacs and I try my hardest to get them, but I haven't had a chance to get the datebook yet.
ReplyDeleteI do hope that you feel better soon.
Thanks, Stephanie! (And in case you don't happen to win this one, you can order them on Amazon or directly from Llewellyn.com)
DeleteI hope you are feeling better soon! I like the Witches' Datebook because I love recording life events/experiences/lessons/moments of gratitude. The datebook gives me space for a couple lines each day, and helps me keep track of the moon signs at the same time! I also purchase the Sabbats Almanac each year, as it's always filled with useful information and great ideas for celebration! :)
ReplyDeleteWow--great ideas for using the Datebook!
DeleteI love the Witches Datebook! I've been using them for several years and I love all the little tidbits of information they give. It's so awesome how they list both pagan and non pagan holidays as well as things like moon signs, and colors of the day. The short articles are really informative, plus, every recipe I've made from the ones in the datebook have all turned out lovely!
ReplyDeleteThe Datebook really does cover a lot of territory :-) And it is pretty, too.
DeleteMy favorite of everything has to be the Spell-a-Day Almanac. But out of the ones above I'd say either the calendar or the datebook. I'm terrible about keeping datebooks but this is one I'd actually enjoy looking at every day.
ReplyDeleteI like to have mine someplace where I can easily read the little snippets. Like, um, you know...the little writer's room.
DeleteIve always been extraordinarily partial to the Witches Almanac! I enjoy the articles both from a writers perspective and from an informative perspective.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note I have 3 wisdom teeth which have to be pulled. Incidentally they arrived late to the party and now at 32 I have to endure sedation to get them out. I'm sure you will see me in my very own dentist Youtube video shortly!
In the meantime many blessings and speedy healing to you!
Ouch! Good luck with your wisdom teeth. I didn't have mine out until I was in my 30's, but I was lucky and I only had the two top ones and they weren't impacted. Still a rough thing to have. Hope yours goes smoothly!
DeleteOoh it is REALLY hard to choose, But I ALWAYS enjoy the Witches Companions! (Looks over at the bookshelf and lovingly eyes her trusty copies from yesteryear.) They're always nice to dip into and there's generally a nice spread of articles on a variation of subjects to enjoy. Why would I like to win the 2014 Almanac? Well first of all, IT'S PURPLE! Yay for all the purple things! And seeing as I'm a bit of a crystal and mineral I really, really want to read your article on essential stones for witches. Plus, I need this because I don't think I can wait until April for your book to come out, that is too far away Deb!! GAHH! Hope you're feeling improved btw. (I've experienced the joys of root canals as well..oh blimey they're NOT fun at all)Fingers crossed!!
ReplyDeleteWhoops, should say 'crystal and mineral lover' Typo due to excitement, although I realise that we are all made of stars..
DeleteTee hee. This made me laugh out loud.
DeleteI'd love the Witches Datebook. I look at them every year and haven't been able to justify the cost of having a separate datebook just for my pagan stuff.
ReplyDeleteOh come on, you can justify that :-)
DeleteI love both the Sabbats Almanac and the Witch's Datebook. If I had to choose, though, it would have to be the datebook. Very useful in helping keep me organized as well as informed. I would really love to win. Thanks for doing this.
ReplyDeleteI love to win too--almost as much as I love to give things away :-)
DeleteUgh, root canal!!! *runs*
ReplyDeleteI hope it'll all heal well. If there's one thing that freaks me out it's dentists...
Um, anyway...
I like the magical almanac best and have already ordered the one for 2014 - I just love all the ideas and information, so helpful and inspiring. :)
I haven't heard of the witches' companion yet, so I say should I win, I'd love to win that one. :)
Yeah, and I was back there this morning. I have spent WAY too much time in the company of dentist these last couple of weeks...
DeleteI'm so sorry you had a root canal. They're not fun at all. Will you have to have a crown also? I hate dentistry.... it seems like it's the most super-necessary medical treatment, yet you can't get insurance worth having so it is always super-expensive too. :(
ReplyDeleteI would love the Witch's Almanac -- they are always so useful and interesting to read!
And also, I noticed the counter has moved to..... 80%! Congratulations! A root canal can't keep a great writer down! :)
DeleteThis actually started out with a crown fitting (the dentist thought I might be able to get away with just a crown and no root canal...clearly he was wrong). Had to go back to the dentist at 8 AM (!) this morning to get another temporary crown put one, since the first one disintegrated during the root canal. Then final crown fitting on the 2nd, and hopefully I'm done.
DeleteWitches Datebook (A Witch's Mini Herbal Garden)
ReplyDeleteBecause barefoot in one of my many gardens is always time well spent. And I love learning about the benefits of herbs.
Magical Almanac (various mini practical bits in the middle almanac section)
Always learning and storing away knowledge and tidbits are best for this old card catalog memory I have.
I have a large herb garden and added another smaller one near the back door this year. Most of my herbs have culinary uses, plus some medicinal and magical gifts. I'd eventually like to add a few that are purely magical.
DeleteMy favorite one is Witches Datebook (A Witch's Mini Herbal Garden). It is so great to be able to work with plants and astrology all together. :) And the articles are amazing. :)
ReplyDeleteThey are, aren't they?
DeleteI love the Witches Datebook. I usually buy myself a copy each year and use it to schedule rituals and magical workings for the year. It's a wonderful little book.
ReplyDeleteThe Sabbats Almanac I have never read before so that would be a new one for me and my second choice.
Celeste (piperlynne2000@yahoo.com)
You'll love the Sabbats Almanac! There are even recipes :-)
DeleteI would LOVE the Magical Almanac -- it's the only one of the group that i've never had a copy of!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're due!
DeleteI love the Witches' Calendar, but I think if I won I'd like the Sabbats Almanac because I haven't read one of those before!
ReplyDeleteThe Sabbats Almanac is fairly new, compared to the others. I think it came out in 2009 for the first time. I love it.
DeleteThe Witches Companion is actually my favorite. I buy it every year, if I can. I love reading all the different essays and getting a lot of different ideas on subjects relevant to the pagan community. Even if I don't agree with what the author is saying, I like getting that different viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely! So much fun to see all those different approaches. Even the ones I have no interest in trying.
DeleteI love the Magical Almanac, but I'd also like to check out the Sabbats Almanac. The Magical Almanac always has all the info I need and really great articles :)
ReplyDeleteI love the Witches Companion! It's like having a giant witchy magazine with articles from all my fave authors.
ReplyDeleteI like them all, but I really enjoy the Sabbats almanac, because it gives me ideas on how to put something extra in my rituals.
ReplyDeleteI'd love 'em all but certainly the Witches Calendar or the Magical Almanac. Thanks for this opportunity. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI hope to see you at P-Con next year!
ReplyDeleteheya Ody! At the moment, I have no plans to go out to Pcon, alas, but hey, you never know.
DeleteMy favorites are the Witches' Datebook and the Witches' Companion. I have taken a lot of the information I've found in these and copied it into my BoS. With my funds so tight right now winning the Datebook would be an awesome early Solstice present. And I still say the cover art for the 2013 edition looks like you and Magic the Cat!
ReplyDeleteKit
Kit, Magic thinks so too! I'll keep my fingers crossed that the Datebook shows up for you one way or the other :-)
ReplyDeleteSabbats Almanac is my every-year fav, with the datebook and Magical Almanac finding their way into my home some years. Hard to go wrong with Llewellyn.
ReplyDelete