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Well, it has been a hell of a year, hasn't it?
Raise your hand if you're glad it's almost over...
I won't kid you--this was a tough one for me. I lost Magic the Cat and her brother Mystic in early January, then my friend (and stepdaughter's mom) Jo in February, my friend Bethany in October, and one of my favorite artists, Gail, last month. And a friend lost his 10 year old son. Plus I had some unexpected health issues, and frustrations with my writing career, and you know, stuff.
But don't get me wrong. There were a lot of good things too. Time spent with family and friends, including a fun trip to Coastal Magic in February and to Stuart, Florida in September to hang out with my friend Terry (and do research for a book). And I got three new kitties!
On the writing front, I've had a blast working on the upcoming Everyday Witch Oracle Card deck with illustrator Elisabeth Alba, and of course, just signed a contract with St. Martin's Press for a goddess empowerment book for women that I will be starting work on in the new year. I'm hoping to write and self-publish another Baba Yaga book in 2019, too.
I am blessed with great friends, and readers who support me here, and on Facebook and Twitter, and over on my PATREON. I can't even begin to express my gratitude to you all. Authors are nothing without their readers. (Speaking of which, if you've read one of my books this year and liked it, I would be REALLY GRATEFUL if you could zip over to Amazon, Goodreads, or B&N and leave a brief review. Especially for the Little Book of Cat Magic, which only ended up with nine sad little reviews, probably because of the mess that occurred when it came out in October, and for Dangerously Driven, my most recent Riders novella. Pretty please? Thanks in advance!)
As a thank you, I'm going to do one more big blow-out giveaway to end 2018 on a positive note! There are going to be not one, not two, but FIVE prizes, so more people will have a chance to win. Check out this pile of goodies.
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| All the prizes! |
But wait, you might say, two of those covers look different! Good eye. Thanks to my assistant Sierra, we've finally got Circle, Coven & Grove out in PRINT (I got my rights back from Llewellyn when it went out of print, but we hadn't gotten around to putting out a print version with the new cover by Mickie Mueller until now), and changed the cover of REINVENTING RUBY to something we thought better reflected it's romance themes. Don't they look great?
What do you think?
Tell me what the best part of 2018 was for you--and I hope to see you in 2019. Thanks again!
(To enter, simply fill in the Rafflecopter form. No purchase necessary.)
a Rafflecopter giveaway
2018 brought my first solo trip away to Glastonbury by myself, I turned 30 which wasn't as scary as it seemed, and I finally sought help for my mental health - though early days on that still!
ReplyDeleteHuzzah for all those things! 30 is nothing...I'm a couple of years away from 60!
DeleteI would love to win :)
ReplyDeleteBest thing about 2018 is that it's almost over
ReplyDeleteI hear you on that!
DeleteAhhh, another super fun giveaway! Good luck everyone and here's to a super 2019!
ReplyDeletethank you. nothing spectacular happened
ReplyDeleteI got a promotion at work.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! That's great!
DeleteThank you 😊
DeleteJust getting to spend a lot of time with my 5 grandchildren.. Thank you for an awesome giveaway!! Tina Myers
ReplyDeleteYay for grandchildren!
DeleteThe best parts of 2018 were the quiet moments when I stopped trying to stay on top of all outside obligations and took time to work on my writing.
ReplyDeleteGood for you. I'm going to try and do more of that in 2019.
DeleteRetired!! Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteRetired--woot! Congrats.
DeleteThe best of 2018 is my familiar/cat Hooba making through (so far) his health scare/condition of Chronic Kidney Disorder. He is doing better than the vet expected. Cherishing every moment. Peace and love, and continued success and health to you and yours in the new year.
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Hooba. My cat Samhain made it six years with chronic renal failure. I hope Hooba gets many more good years.
DeleteThank you for this. The vet has been so discouraging. I have even thought of going to a new vet, since this one took over the old vet's practice. Brightest blessings.
DeleteIf you're not happy with the vet, by all means get a second opinion. When Samhain was diagnosed, she had gone from 7 1/2lbs to 5 1/2. The vet I'd been with for years (who I liked for most things) wanted to just switch her food and wait to see if that helped. My gut told me that wouldn't be enough fast enough and I took her to another vet in the practice, who took a much more aggressive approach (subq fluids at home). I truly believe that saved her life, and bought us those additional six years. There is a really good website for the condition. https://www.felinecrf.com/
Deletewent on a trip
ReplyDeleteawesome, lots of things going on , family just got home from long trip.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was awesome for someone. that's great!
DeleteThe best thing about 2018 was all the time I got spend with my husband and son. We had so many great laughs.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds lovely.
DeleteThe best thing about 2018 is that it's almost over. The year was full of pain, aggravation and not fun at all. Hopefully the coming year will be a happier and healthier one for me and my family.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you!
DeleteMy review of any book that Deborah Blake puts out:Little Book of Cat Magic; The book is fun and along with magic, the practical cat tips are very interesting and I even learned a few things.
ReplyDeleteHer books never fail me, regardless of the topic or story.
Aw, thanks! I hope you put that up someplace like Amazon and/or Goodreads. xxx
Delete2018 was... interesting. Let's just leave it at that. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, lets!
DeleteBest thing about 2018 is I found my own power.
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing! Yay you!
DeleteNo one is as generous as you, Deborah! Thanks for another chance to win. Saying goodbye to 2018 is fine with me, lol.
ReplyDeleteAw, it's no big deal. I just love my readers and want to make sure they know it.
DeleteI have both of those books on my to-buy list. After seeing the new covers, I think I'll be doing my best to make sure I get those ones. They're fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! *smooches*
DeleteThe best thing? Finally a year with no disasters, and a family reunion in the middle ♡
ReplyDeleteA year with no disasters...I'm hoping for one of those in 2019. yay for the family reunion!
DeleteIn 2018 I made some improvements in my home.
ReplyDeleteI've been doing that too. Lots of work and money, but worth it.
DeleteJust want to tell you that I love your books and one of the best things about 2018 was discovering the magic within myself! Also - helping my mother relocate closer to me so that I could spend more time with her. Thanks for a chance to win and happy new year!
ReplyDeleteYay! I'm so glad you like the books. And so nice your mom gets to live closer. My mother is all the way across the country and I really miss her.
DeleteThe best thing about 2018 was I got to meet you for my birthday!
ReplyDeleteKit
It was great to meet you too, Kit.
DeleteCongratulations on your granddaughter, Bobbi!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing was seeing my oldest start college and start to thrive on her own.
ReplyDeleteYay for the oldest!
DeleteFingers crossed. I love all of your books!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteMy trip to New Zealand!
ReplyDeleteNew Zealand! I've heard it is amazing.
DeleteI've worked really hard at achieving good mental health after suffering through years of depression, anxiety, and PTSD. I was active in a lot of group therapy and learned coping skills that are helping me achieve my goal of sanity.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for doing the hard work, Dianne. Mental health can be tough to attain, but it sounds like you are doing all the right things! Continued luck on your journey.
DeleteI became more of my true self in 2018. I started this spiritual journey. Or at least found a name for it!
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful!
DeleteIt was a good year for me and my loved ones. I mean, we are all healthy enough and have a warm home, that's a win in my book. I am looking forward to more patreon magic and books from my favourite witch in 2019!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad it was a good year for you--I have enjoyed our chats.
DeleteI have had so many things to be grateful for this year, plus I got to spend more time with my family which was wonderful Looking forward to wonderful New Year and hope yours is filled with Love, Light, health and happiness
ReplyDeleteThank--the same to you.
DeleteIt was a great year, hit all my goals, smashed miscinceptions, and I am looking forward to 2019! Kris Lopez !!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's fabulous. Hopefully I'll have a year like that next year.
DeleteI love the new covers!
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing about 2018 is that my kids and I seem to have finally been accepted into my common law spouse's family. We all got together at his grandparents house on Christmas day for a big meal. (The sad part is that his grandparents have both passed on now and the house is to be sold ).
That's a lovely thing. I'm so pleased for you.
DeleteSorry for your loss of your kitties. I lost 2 this year also. I'm glad this year is almost over and would like to not be sick like the past 3 months. Enjoy the new babies.
ReplyDeleteHugs for your lost kitties. It is definitely hard. Hope your health improves!
DeleteI retired from an extremely stressful job. Whew
ReplyDeleteLordy, 2018 was a terrible year for me so hard to find something good to say about it. I guess that I finally got a new laptop so can be online again.
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough one for a lot of people. Congrats on the new laptop.
DeleteBest part of 2018 is the end. Seriously. It's been a year of ups and downs and more stress than I can believe, but I'm excited to see what next year brings!
ReplyDeleteIt has definitely been that kind of year! Hopefully 2019 will bring good things to us all.
Delete2018 was the end of a very long and sad tunnel. I found Me again and I feel so much better, happier than I have been in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad!
DeleteThe best thing that happened is that my husband lived through two suicide attempts. He has bipolar and we couldn't get help until his last attempt.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad he didn't succeed and that you were able to get him help. I lost the love of my life to suicide many years ago, and a friend lost his ten year old son last year. I hope that anyone who reads this and is considering it will get help too.
DeleteI'm so thankful that 2018 brought new family members into our life and watching my grandbabies grow.
ReplyDeleteYay for new family members and for grandbabies!
DeleteThe best thing about 2018 is that my health improved and my daughter's health stayed good
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad.
Delete2018 brought the challenge of a career change to an AMAZING new position as the executive director of a nonprofit.
ReplyDeleteCongrats!
DeleteBest thing about 2018 was discovering my Furry Horde has a lot of fans and being drowned in purrs from them
ReplyDeleteYour Furry Horde has fans? How nice.
Delete