And Then Things Got Worse

 

So you know how there's a pandemic on, and we're all having a tough time? Yeah, I thought you'd probably heard about that. Like, it has been on the news and everything.

 

I've mostly been pretty fortunate through the last few months. I mean, obviously I am stressed, like everyone else, and my shop is closed and we don't know if it will survive, and I have had a tough time concentrating or writing or accomplishing anything. But no one I know has died, all my friends and family are okay so far, and I am doing okay financially between unemployment and a big burst in purchases on my Etsy shop (NO idea why). Plus my fabulous Patreon peeps, all of whom have stuck with me during a time when I thought people might be leaving in droves.

 

So I really haven't had anything to complain about, comparatively speaking. 

 

And then the last couple of weeks happened.

 

The first inkling of trouble was during a major rain storm the Friday before last. I've had an intermittent leak in the roof for a few years that only shows up when the storms are really bad, and drips into my dining room. My repair guy has tried everything and has never been able to fix it. That Friday, the House Guest and I discovered a second leak--at 10 PM--directly over her bed upstairs. Further investigation showed that it had probably happened before, when no one was in the room to see it. My repair guy checked it out today and say that not only is the entire ceiling in that room probably going to have to be ripped out and redone (it's masonite, so that will be a messy and difficult task), but I also will need a new roof.

 

The old roof is less than 9 years old. (They should last for a minimum of 20-25.) For now, I've moved the House Guest into the other upstairs room, and now I will have to search for someone to put on a roof--in a hurry. Without charging me a bazillion dollars. Wish me luck with that.

 

There also appear to be a new infestation of rats. Yes, RATS. Probably because someone down the street recently got chickens. Rats don't just show up out of nowhere. But they can cause a lot of damage, and also EW, RATS. So now I get to kill some rats. Are we having fun yet?

 

Plus poor Koshka is gouging off his fur in spots on his face, so he probably has developed some kind of allergy, poor baby. I have to take him to the vet tomorrow, which should be interesting because A) we're in the middle of a heatwave and B) last I knew, the vet wasn't allowing anyone to come in with their animals, and I'm not quite sure how the heck you're supposed to tell them what's wrong if you can't be there.

 

If I haven't thanked you recently for your support, well, consider yourselves thanked.

 

Also, can this be enough for now, please?

Happy Beltane

It's May 1st (what the heck happened to March and April?!). A new month, and a new start, hopefully with better times on the way.

It's also May Day and Beltane, for those who celebrate. Normally, this would mean getting together with Blue Moon Circle for a ritual and feast, but of course, this year we can't gather together. It makes me sad, but I have lots of wonderful memories of Beltanes past, and hope for future holidays when things are back to (sort of) normal.

In the meanwhile, I hope that you have a blessed day, and if you don't celebrate, that the blossoming of May Day lifts your spirits. Thank you for spending another month with me.


This was from Beltane a couple of years ago. I might have a tiny solitary Beltane bonfire later...if it ever stops raining.

Lock Down Cheer Up Signed Book Giveaway

Here in New York State, as in much of the rest of the country, almost all of us are being asked to stay at home and away from other people as much as possible.

Friday afternoon I shut down my store, The Artisans' Guild, and I'm now hunkering down at home with Alicia my cat sitter, who had come up to take care of the cats while I was away on two trips--both now cancelled. She's here for the duration, and while it is a little strange to have someone in the house besides the cats, it is nice to have the company.

We have plenty of supplies, and I have lots of writing to do, but it is still...challenging, to say the least. Everyone I know is feeling kind of blue, so I thought I'd do a book giveaway, just for the heck of it. A shut down cheer up, as it were.

I'm going to give away the winner's choice of a signed copy of my new humorous paranormal romance, KING ME! or a signed ARC of my upcoming St. Martin's Press nonfiction release MODERN WITCHCRAFT, which will be out in July. As usual, all you have to do is fill in the Rafflecopter form below. If you'd like to spread the word, that would be great.

Hang in there, everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Spring Equinox

Happy Spring Equinox, all. I know things feel a bit grim right now, but hopefully spring will bring us all light and hope and potential for positive growth.

In the meanwhile, hang in there!

Cancelling a Con

For months now, I have been looking forward to going to Paganicon in Minnesota. (Like, 6 or 8 months...a long time.) Llewellyn, the publishers of my nonfiction books and decks, are located nearby, so I was going to get to go to the Mother Ship at last, meet my editor Elysia's famous cats, and hang out with a bunch of my Pagan peeps.

 

Plus, of course, I was going to do my "Cat Magic" presentation, a ritual, and Llewellyn was going to have a "Meet the Everyday Witch" night in their party suite. I bought swag, people. Lots of adorable swag.

 

But then Coronavirus happened, and I had to make a tough decision. They're still holding the con, but I won't be there. I'm heartbroken, but it was going to mean traveling on four planes, through four airports, and being at a large (ish) convention. I've agonized over the decision for over a week, but I didn't feel that I could risk my health (almost 60 with asthma and other health issues) or that of the medically fragile folks in my close circle, of which there are a number.

 

So today I cancelled the plane, the hotel room, and my attendance. It felt like the socially responsible decision. There is no way to know if things would have been just fine, but with any luck, I will be able to attend at some future time. I'm still hoping that my book signing with Anne Bishop at Flights of Fantasy in Albany is still on for the 28th. That at least is a car ride away, and a relatively small venue.

 

Stay safe out there, people. I love my readers. 

Modern Witchcraft ARC Giveaway

As most of you know, I have an exciting new book coming out in July from St. Martin’s Press. Modern Witchcraft: Goddess Empowerment for the Kick-Ass Woman is my first mainstream nonfiction book and I’m hoping that it will help an entirely new audience to discover my books. While also giving my wonderful tried and true readers another book to add to their list of favorites, of course.

I hope you’re all as excited as I am!

Naturally, I am going to celebrate with a giveaway, and because St. Martin’s Press was nice enough to send me a few Advanced Reader Copies (these are usually sent to reviewers well ahead of the book’s release, and therefore haven’t been through the final proofreader process yet—you can expect to find a few typos, and the back cover won’t look the same), I’m going to give away a signed ARC along with a few goodies.

That’s one of my fun witch’s broom pens, and a very cool hematite pyramid to help with grounding and healing.

As usual, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form at the bottom of the page.

I also wanted to give you some additional news, while we’re at it. I have something big coming next month, and the folks who are signed up for my newsletter (and open it, of course!) will hear about it first. Plus there will also be a SECOND ARC giveaway, for newsletter readers only. The next newsletter will be coming out sometime in March, so make sure you are signed up so you don’t miss out! You can sign up by following the link in the Rafflecopter form, or by filling out the one at the top left of this blog.

All sorts of fabulous things are coming up, including a couple of events I’m going to be at in March. Check out http://www.paganicon.org/ for information on Paganicon and let me know if you’re going to be there! (Hint: I might be bringing a couple of ARCs to that too…)

And thanks as always for your support!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Big Huge Wonderful News

First of all, some smaller but still great news--I found out last week that Freya, the mama cat I fostered (and Diana's mother) was finally adopted from the shelter. She went to a house with no other cats, which is what she really wanted, and I am sure she is going to make her new person really happy. She was a great mama and a really sweet cat, but after being a stray, she was too defensive with other cats in her territory to be able to stay here, even if I hadn't thought six cats was even crazier than five... So this was absolutely fabulous news, and it made me almost as happy as my other news. Almost.

As many of you know, I lost my contract with Berkley for the fiction books (Baba Yaga and Rider series) about three years ago. Since then I have been diligently writing and sending out partials of various novels (contemporary romance, humorous romance, women's fiction) to various publishers, with no luck. Lots of great rejections telling me they loved my writing, but it is a very tight market, yada yada yada. (I have lots of other author friends in the same position, so I in no way take this personally. Publishing is tough right now.)

I was, in fact, beginning to worry that my fiction career was over, although thankfully the nonfiction is still going strong. (Did I mention that I love you people?) I dabbled a little bit in self-publishing, but I just don't write fast enough to be a success at that.

Last October, my agent Elaine sent out a partial manuscript for a book that was something completely new and different for me. She had suggested that my voice would be a good fit for cozy mysteries. To be honest, I kind of thought she was crazy. But if you have a good agent, you try and do what they say.

Last week, we got word from Berkley's mystery imprint that they wanted the first three books in the "Rundown Rescue" series. So ladies and gentlemen--I'm BACK!

Who is celebrating with me?