Thursday 14 July 2011

I struck the board and cried, we must have a giveaway

OK, don't say I never do anything for you (joke), because, I have a giveaway! And it's not only the gift of not boring you with what I think about the whole News International scandal (I think it was all orchestrated by a furious Vince Cable. Partner says if Vince Cable had that much cunning we might have noticed it in other contexts, I say he's cutting his teeth on this and next he's going to bring down David Cameron and make the World Cup be in England or something. Anyway I'm not boring you with this). Nor is it the gift of not telling you about how my overlocker hates me (but if anyone living in East Anglia wants to call round and kick it for me then you're very welcome and I'll give you a cup of tea and a biscuit. For those of you in Chatteris, do feel free to bring the shared donkey, we'll tether him to the fence. Vivianne you are very bad).
Image from The Spellcasting Picture Book
You can read here where I did an interview with Diana from Magickal Realism, who makes beautiful and unusual perfumes, and also wrote the Spellcasting Picture Book, of which I bought the first edition.
I don't know how often Mercury goes retrograde but this happens to me most Mondays
Now, I am going to say this carefully and at the risk of alienating everyone, but: with regards to paganism, hedgewitchery and everything, I have read a great many books, and I have to say to you that in this respect the devil does not have all the best tunes. No. Indeed I sometimes think that a prerequisite for being interested in modern paganism is the complete inability to write good poetry. I have read some things and thought, we have a centuries-long tradition of fine devotional verse and here is this author wibbling on about lovely lovely trees or whatever in a line which does not scan and ends with a rhyme worthy of McGonagall, how is this honouring the Goddess because I imagine she is cringing and opening a bottle of Merlot (on the astral plane) just like I am. Anyway I only say this to you because Diana's spell book is NOT LIKE THAT, it is very different, I think it is excellent and punchy and with spells which feel like they have power. If you like spell books, have a passing interest in modern paganism, or the power of words, or just want to have a look, then I have one PDF copy of the new, expanded, revised edition to give away! If you leave me a comment at the end of this post saying you want to be in the giveaway I will enter you in the draw, as it were, and get the computer to pick a number at the end of next week (24th July?) after which I will email the book to the winner (so could you make sure you leave a link to your blog or your email or give me some way to contact you). If you can't wait, though, here's how you can get hold of the book – it's available on Kindle and Nook (I don't know what Nook is but I presume if you've got one/ it, then you do ;-) ).
Grounding. More difficult than it looks
Also on this subject, my mother is thinking of getting a Kindle, which will be a technological leap on the level of the moon landings. If anyone has any thoughts as to whether my mother is likely to like having a Kindle or not, could you share them, as if she spends money on it and then decides the money might better have been spent on a handbag we will never hear the end of it. And, do check back tomorrow as I have an interview with Niccy from Scrapunzel Pixie, and she is a woman who I suspect can thread her overlocker without having to get Pat from the shop to do it, so I shall be looking and learning ;-). À demain.

10 comments:

Tink said...

ooh ooh *raises hand and jumps up and down in seat* can I put my name in the hat please?

not for myself, because I'm not Wiccan or pagan or anything, but for one of my best friends, who totally is. and she's been having a really rough time of it of late (various woes, the most recent of which being the premature death of a beloved pet), and while I've rustled up presents for both her youngest children to cheer them up, I haven't come up with anything for her. This would be awesome.

Gracey is not my name.... said...

Although I think it might be interesting reading, I'm not putting my hat in the ring for the book, because I am swamped with Martin books and I don't want to take the chance away from someone who wants it more...but to let you know that a Nook is like a Kindle, but it is Barnes and Noble's version of an ebook...The Hubs has one....

Mumma Troll said...

This little witchy wants to come and play for your giveaway prize. It sounds like a great book. :)

Vivianne said...

Pop my name in your pointy hat, please :-)

Sara said...

Ooo me too me too! Another Pagan wants to be in the giveaway too please!!
PS I love my Kindle! Recommended :)

Anonymous said...

I'm fine for the book, thank you, but I'd LOVE to hear more about your Vince Cable thinking.....sounds like you might be on to something, he is very shifty looking. More please!

Diana Rajchel said...

Obviously, I don't need a copy. But let me know if you'd like some images from the book to post. I have a few on my author's website.

Anonymous said...

I'm anonymous too, a different one to the one above - would I have to break cover to be eligible for the book? I have pagan affinities but belong to no religion. I have never done a spell but I would like to. I am most susceptible to affirmations and I like to work with tarot cards and runes (a big secret so I am outing myself here). I only believe in magic for good but magic I certainly believe in. I am secretive sometimes because the astrological house that concerns dealing with people in my chart, is in Scorpio. My furtive side is a source of annoyance to me. But other astrological things make me a bit too open and foot in mouth. So, on things where I give my opinion (and it seems I always have one) I get a bit timid (I have a little bit of Virgo)and hide. Now, I've given you too much information. All the things you didn't need to know, and never asked! I would love to win your book as I went to the link and loved what I saw. And no one needs grounding as much as me. (well they might but I do need it). It would help get me doing instead of wittering. Then maybe I would have something to put on a blog of my own instead of filling up your comments. The spell I would most use is one to make me a doer instead of a airy fairy castles in the air sort of person.


I am torn about getting a Kindle myself. I love what it does and would enjoy using it but a big source of pleasure for me is second hand books. I love to give books a nice forever home but also because I can afford it more and you get interesting stuff. Would that disappear if everyone had a kindle? It seems pretty expensive to me too considering the lack of an actual material 'book' but the convenience of it seems brilliant. If your mum does get one, I would love for you to tell us all about it.

Susie said...

Just adding another comment from Deborah on Creating The Hive so she can be included in the draw:

"I'm still stuck in another generation...no kindle for me..I love real books..the senses of touch, smell, sight ...they can't be replaced with a machine for me. If your book is something I can save on my computer to read at my leisure please enter my name into your contest...I do bend a bit by reading things that way but tend to be "picky" about what I save. My daughter shares in the books I have on my shelves....and some of the spiritual materials have proven to be pure fantasy with no basis of truth...such a waste of good paper!"

Susie said...

And now closing comments as am about to draw! Thank you everyone for entering x