Friday, December 14, 2018

Big News Announcement and Holiday Greetings



I know I have been a little scarce lately, but things have been crazy this year. Crazier, I should say. And December is always something of a wild ride, between running The Artisans’ Guild (50 artists, retail in December, ‘nuff said), making jewelry, and all the regular holiday stuff. Plus upstate NY winter and sick cats. But I’m going to try and catch up on all the news, starting with the big announcement I’ve been sitting on for a few weeks.

NEW BOOK CONTRACT!

In Friday’s Publishers Marketplace, there will be this announcement:
Non-fiction: Religion/Spirituality

Deborah Blake's A MODERN WITCHCRAFT PRIMER: GODDESS EMPOWERMENT FOR THE KICK-ASS WOMAN, a comprehensive guidebook to witchcraft as a female-focused religion, including detailed instructions on how to practice self-care in today's society through goddess worship and magic, to Daniela Rapp at St Martin's Essentials, in a nice deal, by Elaine Spencer at The Knight Agency.

That’s right; I signed a contract for my first mainstream nonfiction book, with St. Martin’s Press. This is really exciting for a couple of reasons. It will allow me to reach an entirely new audience, and hopefully help a lot of women who are trying to find ways to feel more empowered in an increasingly overwhelming world. Don’t worry, though—this doesn’t mean there will never be another Llewellyn book. This is simply a fork in the road, not an entirely new path. Still, it is VERY cool, and of course, I’ll be celebrating with a giveaway! 

Celebration Giveaway!
 Check it out: A Fire tablet, a signed copy of The Little Book of Cat Magic, a broom pen, a regular pen, a stuffed dragon, a black cat bookmark, and an assortment of other bookmarks!

We’re also shopping a contemporary women’s fiction book, and I’m working on the next book in the Baba Yaga series, which I hope to self-publish in the new year, other contracts allowing.

For those of you who are still holiday shopping for Yule and/or Christmas, I’ve got a bunch of fun things up on my (mostly moribund for the last few years) Etsy shop. There’s some jewelry (Pagan and otherwise), some signed books and tarot decks (usually with other goodies), and due to numerous requests, I’ve also created some spell kits for Opening to Love, Protection and Strength, Healing and Peace, and Prosperity. The kits are available in either lovely carved wood boxes or pretty organza bags, with or without signed books. You can check it out here:
Keep in mind that we’re getting close to the holidays, and even with priority mail, I’ll need a few days to get things to you. So if there is something that strikes your fancy, order it soon.


 

 What the spell kits look like.

I’ll be doing an end-of-year wrap-up in a couple of weeks, but in the meanwhile, I wish you all a Blessed Yule, a Merry Christmas (a belated Happy Hanukkah) and all the joy in the world.

And now to the giveaway! As usual, all you have to do to enter is fill in the Rafflecopter form. No purchase necessary. Maybe you'll end up with an extra gift for yourself this holiday season.

 
 

108 comments:

  1. I think this Christmas I will celebrate, reason is I am now too excited as usual for yet ANY book that my favorite author will write and publish!! Keep them coming for this DEDICATED fan!

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  2. I will be celebrating with family , the first time in years we will all be in same city Looking forward to it (carnes)

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  3. It's been a rough year for me and my family, so I don't think we will be celebrating anything, we usually do Yule and Christmas...maybe next year?

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  4. I celebrate Yule and Christmas; quietly this year. My family is planning hanging out together in pajamas, enjoying each other's company.

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  5. It's just my son and me... We always enjoy the decorations at the local theme parks before the actual holidays and then just spend the holidays quietly at home. Normally, my son is working...

    Congrats on your new book contract!

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  6. I celebrate both Yule and Christmas. The holidays have always been about family and celebration and I always look forward to this time of year!

    Very excited about your new book!!

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  7. I'm so excited for your new book! Have a Blessed Yule and a Happy New Year!

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  8. Thank you for the chance at this giveaway! Huge congrats on your new fork in the road. I celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas and Yule. I will get to celebrate with family. Happy Holiday season to you!!

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    1. That's a lot of celebrating. I see a lot of cookies in your future...

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  9. Congratulations on your mainstream nonfiction. I look forward to reading it!

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  10. Congratulations on your new contract! Christmas is our family celebration?

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  11. Our Yule celebration will be this saturday for our gathering. For my family, we will be on a cruise with my inlaws over Christmas. I do have some stockings, santa hats and light up necklaces for them for in the cabin room. Samhain is still the family favorite though!

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    1. We're celebrating Yule this Saturday too, with the yearly Yule dinner party for those circle members and friends who can make it. Enjoy the cruise!

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    1. The fabulous Elaine Spencer gets most of the credit. It was her idea for me to pitch something witchy to the mainstream publishers.

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  13. Celebrating guietly. Enjoying the time with my dearest Hooba cat. He's having a bit of a hard time with kd. 14yo. Live and joy to you and yours.

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    1. I'm so sorry. I hope you and Hooba have a lovely holiday together. Hugs.

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  14. My daughter is coming home from her first semester at college and we're making a yule log cake! I have already made some mushroom cookies to go with.

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    1. Fun! One of our circle members made a Yule log cake one year and it was delish.

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  15. Celebrating with family and then my BFF and I along with our kids get together for a day of fun, cookie swapping and more while they are on break.

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  16. I'm really excited about your new book ( both of them - cause I love the Baba Yaga series) . My daughter and I celebrate Yule - but also Penguin day & Catmas day - kind of all together so have a blessed Yule & a Happy Penguin day & also a Merry Catmas day to you & all your cats & really to everyone

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  17. I celebrate Christmas, but next year hope to celebrate Christmas & observe Solstice as knee replacement surgeries will have been recovered from.

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  18. Congratulations! I can't wait to read your next book.

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  19. We have our annual "getting the cat out of the tree" celebration every year starting from when we put up the tree until we take it down - it's about a month long festival! ;)

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    1. Ha! I'm not even attempting one this year with the Wild Bunch in the house.

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  20. Happy holidays to you and the kitties, Deborah! Awesome news!

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  21. Congratulations! What an excellent topic(s). Already on my tbr pile. Have a wonderful holiday, I hope it's fun and relaxing. I just stay home with my kitties. Family dynamics have changed so my fun is going shopping with my mom, grabbing a coffee and just laughing at our in store shenanigans that inevitably happen. My favorite holiday is Halloween . My year round decorating for each holiday is just me altering my permanent Halloween decor. My zombie gnomes get bunny ears or Santa hat's, stuff like that. This is my first year without my kitty. I have the rest of the crew but he was my main man so it's definitely not as magical this Xmas .

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    1. I spend Christmas at home with my kitties too, mostly recovering from the last big push at the shop.

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  22. We celebrate our own family version of Christmas. We don't subscribe to any religions, so we get to pick and choose what we celebrate. It's all about love. To be honest, our family celebrations start in September and end on January 1st. We are constantly celebrating something. <3 I hope your season is full of Merry and warm tidings! P.S. I didn't know you had an Etsy! *runs off to Etsy*

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  23. We alternate between my family and my husband's family. This year it's with my family in Pittsburgh! Lots of food, family, and we attend midnight mass (tradition in my side of the family).

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    1. I've never been to a midnight mass, but I've heard they can be quite enchanting.

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  25. I am celebrating Yule with my animals and close friends. We will most likely stay up all night to see the sunrise. Good food, good, music and good company.

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    1. I hope to do that some year--stay up all night to see the sunrise. It is a cool old tradition.

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  26. What a wonderful Christmas present for you! Congratulations!

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    1. Thank you! It was exactly what I wanted from Santa :-)

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  27. Congratulations on your contract. I look forward to reading your nonfiction book. I am celebrating Christmas with my family. I have become lax on celebrating the other winter holidays. I hope you have a lovely holiday season.

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    1. Have a nice Christmas. Being with family is lovely.

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  28. so excited to see this!! cannot wait for your book! Congrats!! What a great way to celebrate the hoolidays.. We are trying to capture some holiday spirit this year and my spiritual journey has me wanting to do so much I dont know where to start. Blessings on your wonderful news and love to you always!!

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    1. Try the Yule ritual in my Everyday Witch Rituals book!

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  29. I can't wait for you new book! Congrats! I celebrate Yule and Christmas just without the Christ part as I'm not Christian.

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  30. I will be celebrating Christmas with my family and having friends over for Christmas dinner.

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    1. That sounds lovely. I look forward to the Yule dinner party with my friends all year long.

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  31. Personally, I celebrate Yule. Christmas with family.

    Congrats on the book! Looking forward to it!

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  32. Oh this book is so needed. I am happy for you!

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  33. Congrats! We celebrate Christmas. Thanks for the chance.

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  34. Congrats on getting the contract out in the mundane world of publishing. I am sure it is the first of many.

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  35. I'm so happy you got a new book contract and I can't wait to read it! Happy Holidays to you and yours :)

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  36. Congratulations on the new contract! Through your books, you've been my teacher and inspiration for years now, and I wish you nothing but the best in everything you pursue. :D Have a wonderful Yule! (little side note: that dragon is SO CUTE lol)

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  37. Congratulations on the new book contract!!! Can't wait to get a copy!!

    This Christmas is a quiet one. My wife just had major knee replacement surgery and my corgi recently had CCL surgery. So it's a quiet Christmas for us this year. I do something during Yule and on Solstice.

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    1. A recovery Christmas...sounds like that calls for a lot of cookies (both human and dog).

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  38. Oh! Can't wait to read your new book! A MODERN WITCHCRAFT PRIMER sounds like an awesone read:)

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  39. I celebrate Yule, Christmas, and whatever other opportunity I can.

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  40. Congratulations! Looking forward to the new book! This christmas is up in the air, as I have my own sick kitty, and I am not feeling very festive (but we'll see).

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  41. My husband and I celebrate Yule and Christmas. The holidays mean family and friends so seeing our loved ones is important to us.

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  42. Merry Yule, my friend. I'm excited for your new book!

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  43. i dont celebrate anything but i love the xmas spirit!

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  44. Bright blessings to you and yours. May the coming year bring you much fun, friendship, family, laughter, light, joy, love, wealth, good health, and love.

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  45. Congratulations!! I know it will be a bit until it will be out but I can't wait!

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  46. Sending you Yule tidings! May your season be magickal awesomeness! Hugs

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  47. This is the first I have heard of Patreon. What is it? Is like Kickstarter for authors? (jozywails@gmail.com)

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    1. It's a way to support the creators (authors, musicians, etc.) you love. You make a monthly pledge at whatever level you are comfortable with (most start at $1) and there are different rewards depending on the level you choose. It is nice, because you get a little something back.

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  48. For Christmas, we all have a big Lasagna dinner together as a family. Then we go toMidnight Mass.It has only been the last few years, that my husband's sister comes and visits. She is a cloistered nun and lives at a convent. (jozywails@gmail.com)

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    1. I love lasagna! I've never been to a midnight mass, but I've heard they're lovely.

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  49. What a wonderful giveaway. Spending Christmas with my college aged daughter who i havent seen since last Xmas, my senior in high school daughter and my ex-husband and his family. Luckily we have a great relationship and still spend holidays together. Wishing you and yours and very Happy Holidays!

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    1. How nice! I don't get to see my adult daughter until February, alas, since she lives across the country.

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  50. Congrats on the new book contract!! My family will celebrate at my brother's house this year. Missing my Mom still ( she passed March 17) but it will be good to be with Dad stil.

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  51. Congrats on your new book contract, so exciting! I will be cooking prime rib with all the fixings and my 2 older kids are going to be home for Christmas. Hope you have a blessed holiday and new year!

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  52. I am celebrating Christmas with family and friends.

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  53. I am celebrating with my friends this year and my hubby. Kids are far away and we will be video chatting with them also!!

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    1. What a great idea! I'm going to do that with some friends.

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  54. My brother and I share Thanksgiving and Christmas and this year Christmas was suppose to be at my house, but he just got a new addition to the family. His first grandson was born 2weeks ago, so to help keep travel down with the baby, we decided to switch the houses this year. So Christmas with the family at his house and the tradition is to do family gifts on the eve and then "santa" gifts the next morning for the little ones. And then have homemade breakfasts with everyone

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