One Month To Veiled Menace Giveaway Celebration

I can't believe it--Veiled Menace is coming out in less than one month! The book releases on April 18th, which is suddenly closer than I thought it was. Look out for various giveaways and other promos, including an exclusive excerpt, on a few different blogs, as well as here. In the meanwhile, let's start with this fun giveaway!

Veiled Menace notebook, postcard, magnet, a $10 Amazon gift card, a witch broom, and chocolate!

I put the gift card in there so the winner could buy a copy of the book if he or she wants to, although of course you could use it for anything you want. Since VEILED MAGIC (the first book in the series) and VEILED MENACE are each only $4.99, you could actually get them both! (If you haven't bought the first one yet.)

Entering is simple--just fill out the Rafflecopter form below. You can still click on things like "Follow the blog" for credit if you've already done it. And there is a special "fill in the blank" extra credit option where you can choose to do something nice for me, whether it is spreading the word so others will learn about the books, posting a review, or buying a book. (You don't need to do any of these options to be entered.)

The book is only out in eBook form, but if you don't have an eReader, you can always read it for free on your computer using the Kindle app. And I'll be giving away a Kindle Fire HD Tablet in my last giveaway here, as well as one on Fresh Fiction, so who knows, maybe you'll have one soon!

One last note: Berkley, my publisher, still hasn't decided whether or not to give me a contract for additional Rider or Baba Yaga books. If the pre-orders for this book are really good, it might help to give them a push in the right direction. Just sayin'.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Snowpocalypse 2017

So, about that storm...

It turns out that my area was one of the hardest hit by the storm now being referred to as either Stella or Snowpocalypse 2017. As of today we were still under a state of emergency, and all schools and most businesses were closed (including mine). Things are expected to go back to quasi-normal tomorrow, although we'll be digging out for some time. We were lucky in one thing, though, which was that the snow that fell was fairly light, so we didn't lose power. Whew.

I ended up getting about 33 inches of snow, or just under three feet--almost all of which fell in the first day. We've also got blowing winds, though, so the snow is piling up and then moving around. And it is expected to stay cold for at least the next week, so unlike many March snows, this one isn't going to disappear any time soon. Ironically, calendar spring is next Tuesday. [Insert hysterical laughter here.]

Here are some pictures from today:

Thank goodness for my plow guy. If I'd had to shovel this, I'd be here until it melted.

 I coped with this storm this morning the only way I could...with Magic the cat on my lap, a new Katie Fforde book from across the pond, hot chocolate in a mug made by my friend Chris, and BACON.

These bird feeders used to be a lot further from the ground. Look at the snow piled on top!

When the wind kicked up...

Believe it or not, that's my garden back there somewhere. That white expanse, in theory, is my driveway behind the house.

This was AFTER the first pass by the plow yesterday.

Not getting that car out any time soon...

Look how high the snow is!

I think I saw two cars yesterday and two today. At least today the mail delivery was back on.

Has anyone seen my yardstick?

A bright spot in all the white.

The good news is that the worst of it is over (as is my impromptu snow day sale) and I lived to tell the tale. Is it spring yet?

Snow Day Sale

Holy crap, it's snowing, people.

This is the first official blizzard in NY State since something like 1993, and apparently it is making up for lost time. They'd predicted 14-18" for my area (Delaware/Otsego Country) and I'd hoped they were wrong. Which they were, but in the opposite direction of what I'd had in mind. We're already at 16" at my house and it is still coming down like crazy, and not expected to stop until sometime tomorrow afternoon or evening. They have upped the expected snowfall total to "up to 30 inches." Can I just say, "NO, THANK YOU"?

This was at 10:30 this morning (it's about 1PM right now).

Outside the back door

There's driveway under there somewhere

Garden? What garden?

Yes, that says 12" -- at 10:30 in the morning.

Believe it or not, there is a driveway between those 2 rows of trees...

So, I'm not going anywhere today. I'll be working on Veiled Menace (Veiled Magic #3) and revisions for the 365 Day book for Llewellyn, plus obsessively watching April the giraffe, who is going to give birth any minute now. [Anyone else watching her? Here's a fun fact--the animal park she lives in is about 45 minutes from me. I plan to go visit her and her baby this summer.] Plus, maybe napping with cats.

If you've got a snow day too, what are you planning to do? Read, maybe?

Because the snowstorm is making me a little stir-crazy, I'm going to do something a bit different. I'm having an impromptu Snow Day Sale! Just because I can. Here's the deal:

You can chose one or more of these options, and email me at magicmysticminerva at yahoo to tell me you want to take advantage of the sale. Free shipping is only for USA folks, I'm afraid, but I'll figure out some kind of a deal for those who are out of the country on a per person basis. (Payment will be through Paypal. It's easy.)

Tarot Option 1: (Limited to THREE SETS ONLY)
A copy of the Everyday Witch tarot deck set limited edition signed by both me and illustrator Elisabeth Alba, along with one of her special tins to put the cards in. The double-signed edition would normally be $35 and the tin would be $15, but for today I will have these three sets for $40 plus $5 shipping (shipping would normally be about $7). These are going to go fast, so grab them if you want them.

Or you could get a set signed just by me (which normally sells for $30) for $25 plus $5 shipping. (Be sure to specify which option you want.) This would be Tarot Option 2.

Part Two of the sale is for paperbacks signed by me. This includes Wickedly Dangerous, Wickedly Powerful, Wickedly Wonderful, and Dangerously Charming. These books are normally $7.99 and you can choose either one book with free shipping, or buy one get one half price (no free shipping).

If you want one of the Llewellyn books, I'll take 25% off of a signed copy, since they all vary in price.

All books will come with a few goodies, like bookmarks, magnets, postcards, and whatever else I feel like tossing in at the time :-)

No, the cat is not included.

The sale will continue as long as the snow does, which is expected to be late afternoon or evening on Wednesday the 15th, so if you want to take advantage of my storm-crazed brain, do it now! And be sure to spread the word...

Stay warm and safe, everyone who is in the path of this one.

Anniversaries Sweet and Sad

Happy March 1st, everyone! Only 20 days until Spring!

Today is special for two other reasons for me, The first, happy one, is that it is my Agent-versary! I can't believe I've been with the fabulous Elaine Spencer (and the wonderful Knight Agency) for SEVEN YEARS. Oh, my, how the time does fly. There is a lot to celebrate in those seven years, too. Elaine and I have both worked hard at forging a strong partnership, and at this point in our relationship, I can honestly say I can't think of any other agent I would rather be with. She cheers me on, celebrates with me when we have a win, commiserates with me when things don't go well, and is also a stellar First Reader and editor for my books (not all agents also edit, and she's great at it) so we can put out the best book possible for my beloved readers.

Those seven years have seen us sign a number of contracts together, including the three books in the Baba Yaga series, the first two in the Broken Rider series, three books in the Veiled Magic series, plus four novellas and my last four (I think) books for Llewellyn. The Llewellyn books would probably have come out even if I hadn't had an agent--the others, though, not likely. She is worth her price in pearls! (Don't worry, I didn't send her pearls, I sent her chocolate. I'm not crazy.)

The fabulous Elaine!

I can't believe that we don't have a picture of the two of us together (we've hung out in person at three separate RWA National conventions) but apparently, I don't. I'll have to remedy that this July when we meet up at the next one.

Thanks for everything you do, Elaine! Here's to another seven years of putting out great books together.

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My other anniversary is a great deal sadder. Today it is a year since we lost my sweet Minerva, mother to Magic the Cat (Queen of the Universe) and Mystic the Magnificent. They haven't either of them been the same since she died, although they're doing okay. Mystic, in particular, has found solace in becoming snuggle buddies with pal Angus (who is just blissed out that he can now get on the bed, since Minerva used to hiss at him and chase him off, because it was her safe spot.)

Minerva and Mystic snuggled up together. They matched, except he is so much larger!

Magic, Minerva, and Mystic--the family in earlier days

Minerva in her last month

I brought them all home from the shelter together because in the end, I couldn't bear to separate this mama cat from two of her kittens. Best decision I ever made. She was a great mother, and although she was very timid with others, was incredibly sweet and loving with me and her babies. (It took her two years to sit on my lap--the folks at the shelter thought she might have been abused.) I miss her every day, but I am so grateful for that long-ago impulse that made me say yes. Seriously--look at that face! Who could have said no? I miss you, Mina. Thanks for being my cat.