Only 2 Days Left to Win a FREE CLASS!

In case any of you missed the announcement earlier on my blog, I'm giving away a free (future)class to one lucky person who registers BY MARCH 15 for the March "Witchcraft 102" class I'm giving on my new workshop loop.

http://witchywritingwithdeborahblake.blogspot.com/

I will pick a name from those who have registered by the deadline, and that person will get to take one of the classes offered later in the year FOR FREE. That includes both the witchcraft classes (which are good for those writing paranormals, as well as those who follow or are interested in that particular path), and the one or two writing classes that will be offered. (Which will probably be a bit longer, and a bit more expensive. Which makes FREE even better!)

So QUICK, go run and register! You only have until midnight on the 15th to be included in the contest. (Although, of course, you can still sign up to take the class anytime until we close registration on the 25th.) Hope to see you there!

A Witch's Dozen, Finished!

You may have seen in my last post that I got the cover to my upcoming 6th book from Llewellyn, Everyday Witch Book of Rituals. [Pause for happy dance. Ahem. Okay, I'm good now.]

Last night, I finished the revisions to its little companion, A Witch's Dozen. You see, a funny thing happened on the way to the 6th book... Some of you might have seen me mention this before. The Ritual book turned out to be too long, so I had to cut the last 12 rituals. But thankfully, my fabu editor Elysia Gallo and I were able to put our heads together and come up with a clever idea for a way to still use them.

A Witch's Dozen (those 12 rituals, plus one "fill in the blank" ritual that can be adapted however you need it) is coming out a little bit before the main Ritual book, as a mini-ebook. Elysia tells me it will be available in September (the Ritual book will be in the Llewellyn warehouse then too, but if you order it from Amazon or anywhere else, they won't have it until October). We're not sure what it is going to cost yet (the marketing folks make those decisions), but we know it will be inexpensive and accessible. I'll put up an update when I know more.

I had so much fun working on this little ebook, I can't tell you! Which just goes to prove that sometimes when things don't go the way you expect them to, they work out EVEN BETTER.

*Bounce bounce bounce*

I can't wait to share this with you. It is going to be so much fun....

New Cover! I've Got a New Cover!

There are a few really stellar days in an author's life: the days when you sell a book, finish the first draft, finish the edits (whew!), and of course, the day the book is released. But one of my--and many other authors'--favorite days is NEW COVER DAY!

That's the day when you finally get to share the cover of your upcoming book with all your fans and friends. Well, guess what today is??????

I just got the okay from my lovely editor, Elysia Gallo at Llewellyn, to share the cover of my upcoming book, Everyday Witch Book of Rituals, coming out in October. The cover isn't even up on Amazon yet, although the book IS available for preorder at a spiffy sales price. [Everyday Witch Book of Rituals]

So, with no further ado, HERE IT IS! Tell me, what do you think? Isn't it magickal?

Win a Free Witchcraft or Writing Class! WITCHCRAFT 102

As most of you know, I started a new endeavor this year, with the help of author pal Heather Long. (She has a new book out this week--go check it out! No, really. I'll wait. Brave are the Lonely )

You're back? Wow--that was fast!

Anyway, I've been giving classes on a new workshop loop, which can be found here:http://witchywritingwithdeborahblake.blogspot.com/

The classes are primarily about Witchcraft, and aimed at those interested in finding out more about the practice & spirituality of the Witch, whether for their own personal needs or because they are writers with witchy characters. So far we've given the first two: "Intro to Witchcraft Basics" and "Spells & Spellcasting" -- and I couldn't be more pleased with the way the classes have been going. Lots of fabulous students and amazing amounts of participation and enthusiasm. *glows*

The next class up is Witchcraft 102, and runs March 26-28. Like most of the classes on the loop, it costs $15. Registration is open, and the class is already starting to fill up. (Yay!) Heather will be teaching a really cool "Witch Archetypes" class in April, and then there will be other classes later in the year, including some that focus more on writing than witchcraft.

I'm so excited about how well this is going, I've decided to GIVE AWAY A CLASS TO ONE LUCKY WINNER. Anyone who registers for this month's class by MARCH 15th will be entered to win a free place in any other class I give this year. That includes the 1 or 2 that will be longer, and therefore more expensive. (And if you've already registered, don't worry--you'll be entered automatically.) 

"But what if I can't/don't want to take the March class, Deborah?"
No problem. Post about the class and this contest in any two places online: Facebook, Twitter, your own blog, whatever, then come back here and leave a link to show me you've done it. You'll be entered too. Easy peasy. Good luck to all who enter!

Here's what we'll be covering in the March 102 class:

Class Outline

Day One: Finding the Path

Which Wicca? A discussion of some different traditions and types of Wicca/Witchcraft

 Making a personal connection with Deity—A discussion of Goddess and God

Choosing the path that’s right for you—Some things to try

Day Two: Walking the Path

Focus, Intent & Belief—the three pillars of practice

Ground & Center—when to do it, how to do it

Visualization—why it’s important, how to do it

Creating a daily practice—Some things to try

Day Three: Expanding the Path

Creating a daily practice

Practicing with others—ritual etiquette

Expanding your awareness through ritual, meditation, and more—Some things to try

Crazy Cat Lady

I know that I'm always saying I have five cats (like a sensible person would even admit to such a thing), but posting pictures of one or two. That's in part because they are rarely all in the same room together--which makes it seem like I really only have one or two...which is mostly a good thing. Also, there's the fact that Mystic tries to kill Samhain if he sees her.

But this morning, we had a rare moment of detente, in celebration of the sunlight and a warmer day (last 2 days--20's, today 60...upstate NY, OY), and I actually got the first picture EVER of all five together. Here ya go, proof that I am, in fact, a crazy cat lady.

That's giant Mystic and his smaller look-alike mom Minerva in front, skittish Angus in the middle, Magic the Cat hogging an entire patch of sun, and little Samhain trying to be unobtrusive in the background...

Also, you should know that this moment lasted about three minutes... then everyone returned to their separate corners, as usual.

Done!

Two of my favorite words in the English language are "chocolate" and "wine."

But I'm also really fond of THE END.

There is nothing like the feeling you get, as an author, when you type those two words at the end of the first draft of a novel. After months of hard work (and much pounding of head on desk, and sometimes some cursing, and almost always at least one point at which you swear you're giving it all up and becoming a spot welder) you have finally crossed the finish line.

DONE.

Of course, if you're an author, you know you're not really done. There are still edits and revisions, and critique partners to read it and send you suggestions for more edits and revisions, and in my case an agent to sent it to. Who will also give me suggestions for edits and revisions.

So, not done.

But still...

I just finished the first draft of Seeds of Change, my sixth novel, (which makes it my twelfth finished book, if you count my nonfiction--and you'd better believe I do). That's something to celebrate. I was aiming at 90,000 words (as you will know if you have been watching the word count meter) and ended up with 90,553. Of course, after all those edits and revisions...who knows.

Still, for right now, it's DONE.

*does happy dance*

My Saturday at the Library with Sophie and Nat (And Robin)

 I have a great family that I am related to by blood (waves at parents and sisters). I also have my "adopted" family: pal Robin and hubby George, and my goddess-children, Sophia and Nat.

To say that we are close would be an understatement. I officiated at Robin and George's wedding, and was present at the birth of both children. When the kids were younger, I would go to their house after work a couple times a week to see them and hang out talking writing, spirituality, and everything else under the sun with Robin.

A couple of years ago, they moved about 45 minutes away, to be closer to George's then job. It was a great move for them, but we don't get to see each other nearly as often as we used to. I miss them. Which is why it was such a great treat to spend an hour and a half hanging out together yesterday, after Robin and the kids came into town for a workshop.

We knew the kids would be tired and wired after a long morning, so we decided to meet at the library, where Robin and I could talk while the kids read and played. Also, Robin used to work there, so she could see her old pals. And, well, there were BOOKS.

As you can see from the pictures, we had a great time. Library + wonderful kids + Robin + Aunt Debbie = a Great Day. I hope we can do it again soon.