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

Jewelry, Jewelry, Jewelry

When I used to do the Farmer's Market with my pal Ellie (a potter who started The Artisans' Guild with me), we would do what we called "the jewelry chant" under our breath as people looked at my things.

"Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry" *lalalalalala*

Okay, maybe you had to be there.

But you don't have to be here to see some of the pretty new things I've made. You can check them out on Etsy My Etsy Shop or at my (rarely used) Pinterest account Deborah on Pinterest. I also posted a few on Facebook, if you happen to follow me there.

There is one particularly stunning traditional witch's necklace made of amber and jet, just in time for Samhain/Halloween...

Anyway, if you like jewelry, feel free to take a peek (not too soon to think of present-buying, after all). Remember that all my jewelry is one-of-a-kind, so when it's gone, it's gone.

If you do go look, come back here and tell me which ones are your favorites!

Guest post at Llewellyn blog

Oopsie.

I forgot to mention earlier that I have a guest post up on the Llewellyn blog, talking about the changing season.

If you're in the mood, how about going over there and leaving a comment, so those lovely people don't think nobody read it.... (sniffle)

Llewellyn blog post

Thanks! Did I mention how much you folks rock?

A Very Important Poll! (About contests)

No, this has nothing to do with politics. (I like you people, I wouldn't do that to you.)

I'm going to be doing another giveaway/contest here, and I was wondering what y'all would like to have as prizes. I think I will do more than one, so check out the poll above, and pretty PLEASE vote and tell me what you'd like best!

And pass the word to anyone you think might want to take part.

Thank you!

Feline Friday

Yes, it's Friday again! And I'm rushing to get out the door for a long day spend at the store, culminating in a party to celebrate our 13th anniversary at The Artisans' Guild! (If you're in the Oneonta area, come join us at 148 Main St from 5-7...I'll be there signing copies of my new book. Also, we're having a Brewery Ommegang beer tasting!)

In the meanwhile, I got an email from my mother saying: I've been reading your blog...where were the cute cat pictures last week? Since it was her birthday this week, here you go, mom.

Kate George Guest Post: Crazy Little Thing Called Dead

One of the best parts of being an author is that (if you're lucky) you end up with a lot of author friends. I first "met" Kate George when we were both part of a great online group started by Lani Diane Rich (another fabulous author)--The Betties. Raise your hand if you're a Betty! [My nickname was Witchy Betty, for obvious reasons.]

Later on, Kate and I got to be roommates at the New England Chapter RWA Conference in Salem, where I discovered that not only was she a terrific writer, but an all-around cool chick. Since then, I've gotten to read some of her work in progress, and of course, her first two published books. The third in the series is out now, and I asked her if she'd like to come share a little bit about it with all the cool people who hang around here :-) Isn't that a great cover? (And I love the title...)

Crazy Little Thing Called Dead: The Song and Dance

When Deb asked me if I wanted to guest blog I asked: “What would you like, a blog post, an interview, song and dance?” 

Deb wrote back “I’d like the song and dance…” [Deb's note: really, she should know better]

Luckily the song and dance is what I’m best at.

The publisher of my first two paperbacks, Moonlighting in Vermont and California Schemin’, didn’t do much editing. I wrote the book the best I knew how and if she liked them she published them. She had a copy editor go through them, but there were no major revisions.

I decided to do things a little differently this time. I’m going Indie – releasing both the paperback and the e-book myself. That being the case I hired an editor to do a read through for content, plot line, character, stuff that’s really important for a good book.

And because I hired a good editor, who is tough and wants me to improve my game, I found myself in revision hell for the first time in my life. I’d never had to seriously alter a book after it was finished before. At one point in the process I seriously doubted I’d be able to make it work. But I carried on, slogging through, cutting scenes left and right. Crossing my fingers that I wasn’t totally destroying the story. I probably re-wrote half the book.

I took two days off from the day job when it was clear I wasn’t going to finish in time if I didn’t.

And I did it. I revised that sucker to within an inch of its life. I think it’s a stronger story. I know the characters’ motivations are stronger, clearer and they have a reason for everything they do, and it’s not just because it makes the story work.

The problem is with all that revision I might have missed something. Some odd plotline may not have gotten resolved. Some name change that might have got missed. I have a copy editor; I’m not worried about that. But what if, in all the cuts and moves and do overs I left something that should have been cut, or cut something that should have been left. It’s a little intimidating.

There’s one other thing. I did something in this book that could make readers hate me. That scares me a lot. It had to happen, in order for Bree to get mad enough to take revenge it had to happen. But some readers are not going to like it. I may lose readers over it. That’s kind of scary for me.

I know Donald Maass says to take your characters and put them in the worst possible scenarios. Make them survive horrific things. I did that, and now I’m scared. Readers might decide I’m not reliable. But the story is strong. The motivations are strong; the writing is clear and to the point.

This is where the song and dance comes in. If I tap dance loud enough, sing well enough maybe I can distract my readers just enough that they forget I committed a heinous act and put my characters through hell.

From Deb: So, what do you think? Is it okay for an author to do terrible things to her characters? 

If you want more info about Kate, you can check her out here:

www.kategeorge.com

Here's her author page on Amazon Kate George Author Page 

And here's where you can find the new book! Crazy Little Thing Called Dead

A Full Moon Ritual

As you know, I have a new book out, Everyday Witch Book of Rituals. I thought for this Friday (since the full moon is coming up on Sunday), I'd give you a taste of the book. So here is the September full moon ritual from the new one! I hope you enjoy it.

SEPTEMBER: The Beat Goes On

Pagans have been using drums since the beginning of time for connection with the gods and with each other. Almost every culture in every country has some kind of drum or percussion instrument, from rattles to hollow logs, to ornate carved drums with heads made from the skins of sacred animals.

The beat of the drum mimics the beat of the human heart, as well as the living pulse of the world around us. It can connect us with spirit, draw us deep within to help us find the path to our inner journeying, and take a scattered group of strangers and turn them into a cohesive and connected whole. It can sooth and create trance states or inflame our bodies in a frenzy of passion. There is much power in drumming, whether done on your own or in a group.

The purpose of this drumming ritual is simple: to connect us with our ancestors—the Pagan folk who went before us—and to connect us with our own inner wisdom and the power and pulse of the universe around us. If you chose to do this ritual with others, it will connect you with them as well.

If you don’t have a drum, you can use a drumming recording and clap your hands or stomp your feet instead. But I believe you will find this traditional Pagan activity so addictive, you will almost certainly want to get a drum of your own.

Tools needed:

·        A drum (any kind—you can even make your own from materials you find around the house, although the sound from home-made drums is rarely as deep and rich as that from a real drum) or a drum CD if you don’t have a drum

·        Sage smudge stick

Before starting:

This is as simple a ritual as there is. You don’t need to cast a circle, unless you want to. Simply sit outside under the full moon, or inside in a darkened, comfortable space if you can’t be outside, and open your heart and spirit to the beat of the drum.

  

 Cleanse yourself before starting by wafting the sage over your body. You can sage your drum as well if you wish.

 Hold the drum loosely in your hands and close your eyes. Feel the moon overhead, and sense the presence of the goddess. Reach back through history and think of all those other folks whose hands beat upon a drum—hands of different colors, and sizes and shapes, but all with the same intent as you have on this night.

Start beating the drum slowly (you can leave your eyes closed or open them) or start the music and begin clapping. As you drum, feel the echo of your drumbeats in the rhythm of the world around you. Feel your heart beating in time with the drum and matching the pulse of the natural world beneath you. If you are drumming with others, reach out your inner senses to feel them too. As you beat the drum faster, you can sense the beating of the goddess’s heart, filling and surrounding you. Go as fast or slow as feels right to you, feeling the beat of your drum carrying your spirit out into the universe to connect with everything.

When you are ready, slow down your drumming gradually until you are only beating once or twice a minute, then stop and take a deep breath. Come back to the mundane world, but take a moment to internalize that feeling of connection, so you can carry it inside yourself from this point onward.

Magic’s Mischief, Meddling, and Merriment—

To go a step beyond, try attending a local drumming group. These can be found in many areas and even those which are not specifically Pagan can help you connect with that primal energy.