Friday 31 August 2012

sssh...a sneak peak for you...


and today my book manuscript went off to the Cover Designer...

ssssh don't tell anyone but here is a sneak peek at the back cover wording:


Pull up a chair, have a cup of tea, sit back and take a glimpse into the world of Kitchen Witchcraft. This little book will give you an insight into what a Kitchen Witch is, what they do and how they do it. It gives an overview of the Sabbats, working with the Moon, the elements and candle magic. Packed full of ideas for crafting such as washes and smudges for your home and your body, witch bottles, incense, medicine bags, magic powders and offerings. Take a stroll through a Kitchen Witch's garden and discover what you will find there and finish up with some lovely meditations. Follow the heart of a Kitchen Witch...


Tansy
x




Thursday 30 August 2012

Manuscripts (again), self doubt & orange chocolates

Well the book is moving forward faster than I thought it would, yesterday I received the manuscript from the Copy Editor with all sorts of red squiggles and lines over it (via the computer not an actual paper manuscript LOL).

I read that manuscript what felt like gazillions of times and corrected spellings and grammar but the Copy Editor managed to find a few more corrections.

So I checked it over, made one or two more changes and sent it back - authorised for print - eeeeek!

I then spent some time in pools of self doubt, what on earth made me think I could write a book?  Well one that anyone would want to read anyway, what was I thinking?  It's not a huge book by any stretch of the imagination (actually it's not meant to be that's why it is part of the Pagan Portals series).  What if people were disappointed that it wasn't the size of War and Peace etc etc etc... you get the drift.   Half a bag of orange Aero chocolates and a cup of dandelion & burdock tea later I was feeling a bit calmer, let's call it 'pre-book nerves' besides this is only my first book, who knows what could happen next? ;-)

Today I have to come up with some inspiring, eye catching, 'please buy me' words of wisdom to go on the back cover...I may be some time...

Tansy
x

Just in case you have been living on another planet and I haven't bored you to death about the book yet - it is entitled 'Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft' and will be published by Moon Books it will be available from Amazon and also via myself and Moon Books.


Wednesday 29 August 2012

Charity bags, 80's hairstyles and restlessness...

It is definitely that time of year when I feel the need to clear out the clutter.

Last week four bags went to the charity shop from clearing out the conservatory/play room, today three bags have gone out to charity from clearing the clutter from our eldest's bedroom.  We are lucky where we live there are regular charity bag collections, an empty sack gets popped through your letter box and a few days later they come and collect the full bag.  Not only does it help us and our house with de-cluttering but hopefully it will make a bit of money for the charity and the items will be useful to someone else.

It is also a time when I am feeling a bit restless.   I have fallen off the healthy eating wagon in the past couple of months so am making an effort to get back into being healthy and my hair is driving me nuts.

For those that don't know - my hair is long, halfway down my back and has gotten to the length now where it catches on things, I can't sleep unless I tie it up as I keep laying on it and pulling my own hair and whenever I am trying to do anything in the house I have to tie it up out of the way.  But I don't know what to do with it.  Over the years I have pretty much had every hair style (and colour) going from crew cuts to perms including every variation in between such as short spikes and 80's Flock of Seagulls fringes...so I am at a bit of a loss at the moment.   Do I put up with it or do I cut it?   And if I cut it shorter will I then regret it?

I am sure it is the time of year that is messing with me, the restless in between time where summer is ending and autumn is beginning but it isn't really either one.

So for the moment I shall ponder on the indecision and carry on clearing out the clutter...

Tansy
x

PS - and for those of you that aren't totally bored all ready with the book news - my book is with the copy editor, should be back to me for final sign off mid September...


Monday 27 August 2012

Apologies to Mabon, planning and the season of the Witch!

The past few mornings have smelt of autumn, the Wheel is turning and the seasons are changing.

Our next Sabbat to celebrate is Mabon in September but I always feel a bit sorry for Mabon.  We celebrate Lughnassadh with great pomp and grandeur and then Mabon seems to be kind of over shadowed by the expectations of Samhain, as I suspect that is the favourite Sabbat for a lot of witches.

I love this time of the year, I love that we still get some warm, sunny days (actually not too many this year unfortunately) but the mornings are fresh and crisp with the promise of autumn in the air.

I know this is the time of year that our ancestors would have been gathering in the last harvest and storing away to keep them provided for over the cold winter months but to me there is a feel of expectation in the air.  A time to clear out, 'autumn clean' and start planning projects to carry over the winter months.

Autumn is my favourite time of the year...it is for me...the season of the Witch!

And I shall be celebrating Mabon with all the pomp and grandeur that I did at Lughnassadh with a ritual at Knowlton with the The Dorset Grove and our very own Kitchen Witch Coven ritual at the Queen Elizabeth Country Park.


Tansy
x

Tuesday 21 August 2012

Fossils, sea glass, ice cream and rock pooling

Just got back from a few days spent with lovely family on our Jurassic coastline, visiting Charmouth and Lyme Regis.

We spent Saturday pottering about on Charmouth beach collecting sea glass whilst the children jumped the waves (fully clothed LOL).  It is a beautiful beach with lots of big rocks, stones, pebbles and loads of sea glass.  If you are lucky you can also sometimes spot tiny fossils too.  The sad thing is that so many people come along with hammers and randomly smash the large rocks into pieces searching for fossils seemingly without thought or care for the environment and without any knowledge of what to look for.  There is also a really good fossil centre right on the beach too.

We spent Sunday at a donkey sanctuary which was lovely, donkeys are such beautiful and wise creatures although some of them had us laughing at their antics as well.  If you would like to take a look at their website details are www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk

Yesterday was spent in Lyme Regis, a lovely seaside town where we spent some time walking along the Cobb, eating the biggest ice cream ever and then rock pooling finished off with chips on the seafront.

It is a beautiful part of the country and one where I spent a lot of time visiting as a child so it holds wonderful memories for me.

Charmouth beach is one of my favourites, I just have to remember to look up occasionally and admire the view as I seem to spend all my time looking for sea glass and pretty pebbles LOL

Tansy
x

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Finally submitted, waiting and thinking caps...

I have finally parted with my book manuscript (at last I hear you cry), it came to the point where I couldn't read it or check it any more than I had so now it has been released into the capable hands of the copy editor.

And now I have to wait...it's not something that I am particularly good at but I will try my best LOL

This is only the beginning of the process now though, it has to be checked by the copy editor and then finally signed off, the book cover design has to be made, the back cover has to be written, and advertising and promotion ideas need to be put in place.

Better get my thinking cap on...

Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft
which will be published in the next few months by Moon Books

The book is a dip into the world of being a Kitchen Witch, what we do and why, together with a collection of crafts to make including witches bottles, medicine bags, magic powders, poppets and offerings along with a collection of candle magic spells and meditations.

This book is for those new to witchcraft and those more experienced, it gives a glimpse into Kitchen Witchery and includes lots of ideas for crafting - so it is suitable for pagans, witches and druids alike.



Tansy
x

Monday 13 August 2012

Always look on the bright side of life...

I am not one for sport and never have been and I must admit to not having any inclination to watch any of the Olympics.

However the day after the opening ceremony a couple of weeks back I saw all the hype and watched the ceremony on catch up...and was suitably impressed.

Hats off to her Majesty the Queen for showing the world she has a sense of humour with her James Bond entrance and a wonderful choice to have Rowan Atkinson showing the world that a part of being British is laughing.

My confession is that I still didn't actually watch any of the events themselves, although I have read some of the news and heard snippets about it all.

Last night we tuned into the closing ceremony and were not disappointed.

What a fabulous idea to showcase British music at its best with such superstar talents as Annie Lennox, Kate Bush, David Bowie, George Michael, Madness, Queen and the Who.  You notice I skirted around Mr Gallagher and Jessie (although she has a fabulous voice I wish she wouldn't warble, we know it's clever but it is annoying!) they aren't to my personal taste ;-)

I do believe if dear Freddie had still be on this earth that the choice for the band to close the ceremony would have been a 'no brainer' but with him gone I think The Who were bang on the mark.

But the highlight for me had to be Eric Idle, not only did his entrance honour our mad British humour, the Pythons being a big part of our comedy history but his song "Always look on the bright side of life" to me, encapsulates the spirit of the Great British people.   It seems to me to be the way that we as a country look at life, it doesn't matter what is thrown at us we always try to make the best of it.  We got through two World Wars with that kind of attitude and numerous other major challenges.  As a people when the going gets tough we band together and look to the light at the end of the tunnel, we always have and I hope we always will.

So well done to the organisers of the ceremonies, absolutely fantastic work, well done to team GB, well done to all the people behind the scenes and all the thousands of volunteers and all the participating sports men and women and their trainers - Great Britain we did good :-)

Tansy - proud to be bonkers, proud to be British
x

In case you wondered why Brian May had a badger and a fox on his jacket, this is the reason save-me.org.uk


Friday 10 August 2012

manuscript ...still, exciting endorsement and radio interview *gulp*

No I haven't submitted the manuscript yet LOL

But I will...very soon...my wonderful hubby is reading through it for me, highlighter pen in hand, just to get another fresh set of eyes on it.  Then I promise I will submit it.

However the next step of the process was to obtain if possible, an endorsement or two for the book.  Eeek! Being a first time author this looked like it was going to be tricky, who on earth did I know that I felt I could approach to write an endorsement?

Then I had a spark of inspiration, of course, why didn't I think of it from the start?  The wonderful Tylluan Penry.

I first saw Tylluan at Witchfest a couple of years ago speaking on the main stage.  I was struck by her from the start, she encapsulates for me what it is to be a witch.  She spoke to everyone that day from the heart with wise and well chosen words and made us laugh too.

So feeling a little bit embarrassed about asking I sent Tylluan an email.   I was very pleasantly surprised to receive a wonderfully positive reply within a few minutes - yay!! *dances around the living room*.  Several email exchanges later I had sent the manuscript which Tylluan had read and sent me back the most amazing endorsement *blushes* I was extremely honoured.

Along with the endorsement I also received an invitation from Tylluan to be interviewed for her radio show when the book is launched - eeeeeep!  Whilst I am completely freaked out about the idea, I also think it is good to push outside the boundaries of your comfort zone occasionally so I thanked Tylluan very much and agreed *gulp* watch out for more details closer to the time.

I have blogged about Tylluan over on the Kitchen Witch blog before click here to see the blog feature on Tylluan  and I have also blogged a review on her last book Magic on the Breath here  in fact she has a new book coming out this weekend - Staying on the Old Track.  You can purchase all her books via Amazon or from thewolfenhowlepress website

Tansy
x

Wednesday 8 August 2012

Re-reads, highlighter pens and apologies to the rain forests

I was dropping off to sleep last night when all of a sudden I had an idea about some text to add to the book manuscript - I jumped up and wrote a note for myself to remember in the morning - get me, being all author type ;-)

I have printed off the manuscript, I thought it might help to actually see it in paper format to spot any mistakes or parts that don't flow.

I am surprised how much I care about how this book turns out, I really want it to work and to be right.  I am usually a kind of gun ho, yep it's done, let's get moving with it kind of girl, but with this I have become very cautious all of a sudden, perhaps even hesitant to let it go in case it's not quite ready.

Once I do let the manuscript out of my sticky claws it will then be edited by someone who actually knows what they are doing and it will then come back to me for the final 'yea' so I guess there is still time for me to brood and read and re-read before it goes to print.

Sheesh...you know it's only a small book, Goddess knows how I would be if it were a novel.

So I am now armed with a pile of paper (apologies to the rain forests) and a vivid highlighter pen and I shall go find somewhere quiet and comfy to sit and read it over (again)...

Tansy
x

Tuesday 7 August 2012

Procrastination, manuscripts and too many exclamation marks

I guess I must be cut out to be a proper writer as I seem to have the art of procrastination down to a tee ;-)

Despite how exciting getting the book contract is and despite knowing that I need to finalise my manuscript, I have been tempted away from the computer with such distractions as Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes and reading the new Deborah Harkness book.

However this afternoon I knuckled down and started going over the manuscript for Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft.

It is in Word format at the moment and stands at 53 pages which consists of 20,865 words.  All of which I need to check and double check to make sure it sounds and reads exactly as I want it to.

That is before it even goes off to be edited, primped and poked at by the publishers.

So I have read through it, and re-read through it.  I caught a couple of typos, changed some grammar here and there and have come to the conclusion that I have a very serious case of the exclamation mark.

To quote Terry Pratchett:

“Multiple exclamation marks,’ he went on, shaking his head, ‘are a sure sign of a diseased mind.” 
 (Terry Pratchett in “Eric”)

“Five exclamation marks, the sure sign of an insane mind.” (Terry Pratchett in “Reaper Man”)

“And all those exclamation marks, you notice? Five? A sure sign of someone who wears his underpants on his head."
(Terry Pratchett in “Maskerade”)

So the exclamation marks have been tossed aside although I might still wear my underpants on my head in the winter for the warmth ;-)

And I am very nearly ready to submit the manuscript, I might just have one last look...

Tansy
x



Monday 6 August 2012

I have a book contract - eeeep!

It is official...I have signed a book contract - eeeeeep!!!

My book:  
Pagan Portals - Kitchen Witchcraft
is being published by the wonderful Moon Books

Early stages at the moment and a very new experience for me.

Last year a friend of mine suggested the idea of writing a book, something I had never even considered before, so I started to jot some ideas down.  Gradually over the following months I added to it.  Then it got put on a back burner when the Kitchen Witch School of Natural Witchcraft launched as I was busy writing lessons and dealing with the set up for that.

Then over the past few weeks I kept seeing signs and hints that getting the book 'out there' might be a good idea, so last week with a mixture of excitement, total fear and a bit of protection against rejection I submitted my manuscript.

I got a reply the same day to say "we are interested in your idea please submit a full proposal" - well that sent me spinning.  

Once I had regained my composure I submitted the full proposal and waited.  It is at this stage that the manuscript is read by various in house reviewers, editors and  publishers as well, they then make comments and recommendations.

I was totally surprised to receive the offer of a contract 48 hours later!  The reviewers and the publisher had liked my manuscript :-)  Well spin me round twice and call me Susan...totally flabberghasted.

For a short while then I had to act like a grown up and deal with contract stuff.

But now it's all signed and sealed.   My next stage is to get the manuscript all up together in exactly the way I want it, dot all the i's and cross all the t's then it goes off for editing, proofing and designing.

So if you don't see or hear from me this week I am being a grown up author witch ;-)

Tansy
x






Thursday 2 August 2012

The Long Earth

If you know anything about me you will realise that my favourite author is Terry Pratchett *bows* "All hail Lord Pratchett" ;-)

I absolutely love his Discworld books and the Carpet People ones, I also loved Good Omens, Nation and his Johnny and the Bomb series too, but I have to say when I saw the pre-publish blurb about The Long Earth co-written with Stephen Baxter I wasn't sure, it didn't really sound like my kind of thing.  However I then saw a TV chat with Terry and Rob (his assistant) where they discussed the book, how it came about and what it was about and I was tempted so I purchased it.   It may have been solely based on Rob telling the audience that the working title for the book initially was "Quantum B*llocks" which made me laugh.

And I have to say Mr Pratchett & Mr Baxter did not disappoint.

Nothing like the Discworld series but it had captivating main characters, a totally believable plot, OK based in fantasy but part of what I love about Terry's writing is that although it has the fantasy twist it is so believable.

The book story description from Wikipedia is:

The 'Long Earth' is a (possibly infinite) series of parallel worlds that are similar to Earth, which can be reached by using an inexpensive device called a "Stepper". The "close" worlds are almost identical to 'our' Earth, others differ in greater and greater details, but all share one similarity: on none are there, or have there ever been, human beings. The book explores the theme of how humanity might develop when freed from resource constraints: one example Pratchett has cited is that wars result from lack of land - what would happen if no shortage of land (or gold or oil or food) existed?

The book deals primarily with the journeys of Joshua Valienté (a natural 'Stepper') and Lobsang, who claims to be a Tibetan motorcycle repairman reincarnated into a computer. The two chart a course to learn as much as possible about the parallel worlds, travelling millions of steps away from the original Earth. They encounter evidence of other humanoid species (referred to as trolls and elves); of human settlers who learnt their gifts early, and of an extinct race of bipedal dinosaur descendants. They also encounter warning signs of a great danger deep within the Meggers causing catastrophe. The book also deals with the effects of the explosion of available space on the people of Datum Earth and the new colonies and political movements that are spreading in the wake of Step Day.

Brilliantly written, and I am pleased to say I understood it all, even though it was based around quantum physics!

I am now of course waiting with baited breath for his new novel Dodger to be released in September!

Tansy
x

Wednesday 1 August 2012

Here be dragons...

I was writing recently about dragon magic and how powerful and wonderful it is and how having a dragon totem is fantastic, I also wrote about connecting regularly with your dragon totem and then realised  (and also had it pointed out to me LOL) that  I was neglecting my own dragon totems.

So today shall be a day of dragon work.

I am blessed with two dragon totems, one large fire dragon - well I had to have a fire dragon really didn't I with my craft name...he only appears when I am really struggling or when I have been ignoring all the warning signs.  A huge shadow appears on the ground and he looms up behind me, scaly front legs crossed and the claws on his back foot tapping and I know I am in trouble.

My other dragon totem is much smaller and blue in colour, he came to me at a ritual in Stonehenge a while back.  He is a baby dragon, just learning all about being a Guardian.

And for those of you still with me that haven't decided that I am a complete fruit loop seeing dragons all around me...

Dragons come in many shapes, sizes and colours, they are hugely powerful and can provide protection, support and wisdom.  They are ancient creatures with vast amounts of knowledge to draw upon, not to mention the power they have when aiding you in magical workings.

Dragon totems can provide support, advice and strength.   Calling upon dragons to be Guardians in ritual can lend all the powers of the elements.  Using dragon power in your magical workings adds huge power to it.

By the end of the day I may be slightly scorched around the edges but I will be happy and connected to my dragon power.

Tansy
x