Weedy Wednesday: The Garden Before & After plus Free Book!

It has been a strange spring, weather-wise, and getting the garden in has been trickier than usual. (It has either been way colder than usual or way hotter than usual, and we haven't had our usual spring rains until just last week.)

But as of last weekend, everything is finally in the ground and about 70% mulched (I have to buy more straw later this week before I can finish the rest). I'm a lazy gardener, really. I tend to do a lot of work in the beginning so I don't have to do much later.

Here's what it looked like a few weeks ago:

Garlic was about the only thing growing, since it gets planted in the fall.

A tiny patch of spinach that overwintered.

Yes, that says 90 degrees F. In early May.

The peas are one of the first things to sprout.

Here's what it looks like now:

The garlic!

Spinach patch with new planting of spinach & lettuce and a tomato.

The peas, mulched with straw to keep the soil moist and keep weeds down.

Another finished bed.

Who can tell me what I planted in the bed above? I'll give you a hint: there are two varieties of one kind of vegetable on either side of something different in the middle. The first person who guesses right gets a free signed book! (Or his or her choice, even.)

BOOK GIVEAWAY and Feline Friday

Happy Friday! (And is it just me, or did it take a loooonnnnnggggg time to get here this week?)

After getting the news yesterday that my first book Circle, Coven & Grove was going out of print, and getting such a heart-warming and supportive response to my announcement, I decided to run a contest and give away one of my few copies (which are now going to become a collector's item!). There are only 3 left on Amazon, and a couple at Llewellyn, so they are going to get pretty hard to find.

You can see that I am still mastering this Rafflecopter thing...so you'll have to click on the "create your own option" buttons to see what they are. It's like being on a scavenger hunt :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The contest will run until Tuesday. Good luck...let's send this book out with a bang!

And just because it's Friday...

Mystic, Minerva and Magic in a BIG OL' PILE O' CATS

Last Workshop of the Year!

I can't believe it, but this month's class over at the Witchcraft and Writing Workshop loop
is the LAST ONE FOR THE YEAR! When Heather Long and I started this endeavor at the beginning of this year (mostly as an experiment, because people had been asking me to give classes on witchcraft for Wiccans and authors for ages), we weren't sure if there would be enough interest to keep it going.

To which I simply say...boy, were we wrong! The participants have been enthusiastic, fun, smart folks, and I have been having a great time giving the classes. But we are heading into my crazy time of year, when I need to focus on finishing the current novel, making jewelry to sell at the holiday season, and running The Artisans' Guild. So the upcoming class, which starts on the 29th, is the last one for the year. Based on how many people sign up for this one, we'll decide how many workshops we want to try to give next year.

Registration closes at 6 PM sharp, EST on Sunday 28th, so go to the link above and register NOW. *taps foot* No, really, I'll wait :-) I'd love to see the class fill up by the end of the day.

Oh, and did I mention that I'll be GIVING AWAY a signed copy of the Everyday Witch Book of Rituals to one lucky class participant? (Considering that the book costs more than the entire class, that's a pretty good deal!)

And don't forget, you still have a few days to enter my BIGGEST CONTEST EVER. You can come back every day and click on a couple of the options more than once. (And that one lucky person will win a free class registration. If you are waiting until the end of the contest to register, don't--we'll either refund your registration fee if you win, or give you a free class next year.) And pretty please, I'd love it if you would spread the word about the contest, the class, and the book. Thanks--you guys are the best!

Here is the info about the class:
For: Practicing Wiccans, witches and more. (If you are writing a witchy character, or one who associates with witches, there will probably be some helpful info here.)

Time: 3 Days
Dates: October 29-31
Cost $15
Optional Texts: Everyday Witch Book of Rituals

Day One –

Samhain, Halloween, and All Hallow’s Eve: Celebrating October 31st past & present

The Witch’s New Year: Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming in the new

Mourning the dead, ancestor altars, and the dumb supper

Q & A

Day Two—

Ritual basics: circle casting & purification, creating sacred space, elements of ritual

Staying safe and keeping focused: what to do and what not to do during ritual

Ritual etiquette for practicing with others

Q & A

Day Three—

A Samhain ritual

A Full Moon ritual

Giveaway of Deborah’s New Book!

Biggest Givaway Ever!

I've been promising to give away another copy of the new book, Everyday Witch Book of Rituals, and as you can see from the giveaway taking up half the blog above, I might have gotten a little carried away.

I'm not only giving away a signed copy of the book, but I'm also giving away a free registration for the next online class, a piece of my handcrafted gemstone jewelry (perfect for yourself or to give as a gift for the holidays), as well as a $25 Amazon gift card. Which, of course, you could use to buy yourself a copy of the book, if you don't already have one :-)

I'm experimenting with "Rafflecopter" which I've seen other people use, and which seems to make participating easy, on whichever level you choose. You can do one thing or many, and add up points as you do it. And some of the options can be done every day until the contest ends next Saturday the 27th.

The prizes will be given to randomly chosen winners. I hope you all take part and have fun! 

Here are links to the book on
Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

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

Twenty Thousand Views

I'm a bit flabbergast. Flabbergasted? Er...flabberstruck. Never mind--I'm just stunned and amazed.

My humble little blog about writing and witches and books and whatevertheheckisgoingonhereusuallytodowithcats has hit the 20,000 views mark.

20,000 times someone (maybe you) has come here to see what I had to say. Okay, a few of them may have been looking for someone else. Or something not to do with writing or witches or cats or reading or cooking or any of the other random things I talk about here. But still, I have to think that most of those 20,000 views were on purpose. And mostly not my mother. *waves to mom*

That's just...well...kinda heartwarming.

So I wanted to say "thank you" to everyone who has been one (or more) of those 20,000. Thanks for reading. Thanks for commenting. Thanks for not pointing and laughing where I can see you...

It really means a lot.

So I'm thinking I should do something to celebrate. 20,000 things, really, but I don't have that much stuff to give away. So how about y'all tell me in the comments why you come here (Magic the Cat says it's all about her, but I don't think so). And I'll pick a random commenter on Sunday and he or she can have the book of mine of his/her choice. Even international folks. And if the winner doesn't want one of my books, he/she/it can pick one of the duplicates I have of friends' books.

So, what brings you here? And what brings you back? Inquiring minds want to know. LOTS of them, apparently.

Yay.

Booksigning tomorrow! And editing workshop Nov 1st!

Hi All!

Just a quick reminder that if you live in the Oneonta area, I'd love to have you join me at the Borders bookstore at the Southside Mall on Rt. 23, from 2-4 on Sunday the 31st. I'll be doing a booksigning, and starting the fun at 2 with a scavenger hunt (there will be two winners--one gets a signed book, and the other a basket of assorted goodies including a signed cover flat!). I hope to see you there...mostly so I'm not standing around talking to myself and looking silly :-)

Also a reminder that if you haven't signed up for my "Editing As You Go: How and why to edit as you write the first draft" mini-workshop at SavvyAuthors.com you only have until the end of the day tomorrow (the 31st) to do so, since the class runs from Nov 1st-6th. If you're doing NANOWRIMO this year, this is the perfect class for you! Also, if you're not...

http://www.savvyauthors.com/vb/workshoplist.php

Be sure to spread the word, and tell all your friends. Seriously. There might be chocolate in it for you. Or my undying gratitude. Or both.

And the Winners Are...

Thanks to everyone who commented on my "Release Day" blog and helped me celebrate the big day. You all rock!

The winners of the contest were:

Amy Lynn -- signed copy of the new Spellbook

Beth Bartlett -- signed copy of the cover flat

Teresa Reasor -- signed copy of Circle, Coven & Grove

Contact me at mysticmagicminerva at yahoo and give me your snailmail addys, and I will get your prizes out to you right away. I really appreciate you helping to spread the word!

Deborah

Guest blog at Fang-tastic Books & last chance to win!

Check out my guest blog over at Fang-tastic Books, talking about my thing for witches :-)

Comment for a chance to win a free book! (Even if you don't want a copy of the book, please leave a comment so I don't look like an unpopular, friendless wonder, eh? Pretty please?)

http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/

And there is still one more day to comment on the last post here and win a free copy on the new Spellbook. DO IT NOW, PEOPLE!

I'll be picking a winner on Wednesday.

CONTEST! Win a signed copy of the new book!

Hey all--the official release date of the new book, EVERYDAY WITCHCRAFT A TO Z SPELLBOOK is July 1st. But I've already gotten my copies from Llewellyn, so it should be showing up everywhere else soon. My books are all carried by Borders, Barnes & Noble, and many Indy and New Age books store, so you never know where you'll run across one.

I just wanted to remind everyone that the first person who finds a copy of the book "in the wild" and sends me a picture, will get a free, signed copy! Of course, I'd love to see or hear about ALL the sightings :-)

Keep coming back here, too, because I have a few more contests in mind...

Who doesn't love a free book???

Candace Havens book giveaway!

One thing that most writers have in common is that they are also AVID readers. That is certainly true for me. I read anywhere from two to four books a week, usually, and have lots of favorite authors I follow, reading anything and everything they have published.

This month my writer pal Candace Havens (www.candacehavens.com)has a new book out, called TAKE ME IF YOU DARE. Here's the thing: all of Candy's previous books have been paranormal romance, and I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED them. But the new one is a Harlequin Blaze...a romance romance, if you know what I mean. And I don't usually read straight romance, so I wasn't sure what I'd think.

Ha! I think it is great, that's what I think! Hot, hot, hot, and full of great characters, action, and um... hot, hot, hot. Think BURN NOTICE with more heat. Smirk. This is not your mother's romance. (Although I have to wonder where she learned all that stuff about Bangkok massage parlors...)

And it occurred to me that there were other folks out there who THOUGHT they didn't like romance, just like me. So I'm having a contest to give away a copy of TAKE ME IF YOU DARE to one lucky winner. (Besides, it gives me a chance to spread the word on this funny, smart, very cool lady.)

Here is all you have to do: go say hi to Candy at any of the places she hangs out online. Then come tell me you did it.

http://twitter.com/CandaceHavens
http://www.facebook.com/candace.havens
http://www.myspace.com/candyhavens

Or check out her free writing loop at Write_WorkshopChat@yahoogroups.com

That's it--just say hi. If you don't already follow her, you might want to consider it...she's WAY cool. But you don't have to. Then come back here and tell me where you *waved* at her. At the end of the day on Tuesday the 9th, I'll pick one lucky winner [USA or Canada only, please] and contact him or her to arrange mailing of the book.

Here is a message from Candy, and a little bit about the book to pique your interest:

Hi Gang, I want to thank Deborah for letting me hang out with you today. I hope you'll all celebrate the release of Take Me If You Dare with us. I have lots of fun contests going on, and I know Deborah does too. So let's have some fun!

Take Me If You Dareby Candace Havens

For Mariska Stonegate, the gorgeous guy she's now met is everything she's looking for in a man—hot, hot and…oh, right. Hot. And just because every pore of his body screams danger and sex doesn't mean she's getting herself into too much trouble….

But Mr. Thomas isn't who he says he is. In fact, his real name is Jackson—no last names, please—and he's a burned CIA agent on the run. And he'll do just about anything to stay alive…including seducing Mariska one hot, steamy night at a time!

Let's all show Candy a little love for her new book!