Beltain Fair Plots & Plans

So I have been working on a collection of events to flank The Magical Blend's Beltane Fair.
It will be at Chimeras Cafe and Games.

First (Friday April 26th 7-10pm), I am hosting an Author event where I have 2 authors (3 if you include myself) presenting and selling our creations. Next (Saturday April 26th 10am-6pm), I will have a vending table at the Fair and give a talk on the Introduction to Chakras (at 4pm). Then (Sunday April 27th 1-3pm), I will be hosting a public ritual for Beltain.

Life is full of ups and downs, life's leaps and limbos. My ups and downs have been huge in this planning. The biggest down is that the second volume of The Magical Blend Book of Spells & Rituals will not be ready. It still needs artwork inside. The biggest up is how amazing the students of Crescent Moon School have been in helping with the production and performance of the ritual.

Here are the talks I will be giving and when:

Friday, April 25th 9pm: The Apothecary
Welcome to a short talk about the history of what an apothecary was from the Middle Ages to what it is today, how it influenced and inspired a Pagan shop, and how it has permeated our contemporary media: roleplaying games, films, and literature.

Saturday, April 26th 4pm: Introduction to Chakras
Chakra balancing is an incredible experience for body, mind, and spirit. In this introduction, learn about each of the chakras in brief, along with some of their correspondences. Some techniques for connecting with and cleansing the chakras will also be discussed. Dates for the popular 8-week Chakra series will be announced at this time.

If you are curious about the book (Magical Blend BOS volume 2), then check out my facebook page where I am posting versions of the cover for people's opinions.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/T-Scarlet-Jory-wordsmith-teacher/486853848059740

Published & Launching

I now have a few books published. Some are for sale and others not. The list is on Amazon (.com) for the full three out there. But, I am also in anthologies. You can purchase my books through Amazon (.com or .ca or .uk or.... uhm... whatever) or through The Magical Blend (www.themagicalblend.com) or direct through me if you are local and want it signed.

Here is a list of what I have published:

• Zen of Tea (in a magazine)
• The Magical Blend: Book of Secrets, volume 1 (English)
• Le Melange Magique: Livre des Secrets, volume 1 (Francais)
• Trust & Guardianship: After the Fall, Escape from Kirkwall
• Goddess Sophia (essay in 101 Goddesses anthology pending print)

Here is what is in the works:

• The Magical Blend: Book of Secrets, volume 2 (English) ... due late April
• Le Melange Magique: Livre des Secrets, volume 2 (Francais)
• Trust & Guardianship: Of Snow & Silence, with Starkhaven Affairs ... due June
• Zen and Tea in Wicca

There are events coming up this year (Beltain Fair April 25-27) where you can meet with me and buy books directly or have them signed. A book launch will also happen that weekend. More details to come as they unfold.

Sophia Essay for Moon Books

Writing an essay for publication is a great honor. It is also a great challenge. You want to to be good. You want it well research. You want it to touch people and be remembered.  Yet, it is only an ESSAY. That means it has to be short. You are not writing a full feature article. You are not writing an educational manuscript or a novel. This is 1000 words... only.

I just finished 52K words for a fiction novel in November. 1000 words should be fast and easy.

So why am I still here at the beginning with piles of books and papers around me, all with highlighting and little sticky tabs?

Because the material warrants more than 1000 words and I only have 1000 words. I have written and rewritten the outline no less than 7 times. The number 7 must be lucky here, for I have 5 topics to cover plus the introduction and conclusion.

I.                   Sophia

a.       Historical Context

                                                              i.      Wisdom Literature

                                                            ii.      Gnostic Beliefs

b.      Contemporary Context

                                                              i.      Gnostic Sophian Spirituality

                                                            ii.      Feminist Sophian Spirituality

c.       Personal Context

                                                              i.      Pagan Sophian Spirituality

Sophia is a goddess of Wisdom.

The official essay, you will have to read through Moon Books.

Exciting New Developments

First exciting bit of news:
The French version of my book Magical Blend Book of Secrets Vol. 1 (Livre des Secrets) is now available!

Second exciting bit of news:
I will be attending the Montreal Yule Fair with copies of my books. I will also have other items for sale and do books signings with the French translator. AND! And I will be giving a presentation about The Zen of Tea as I had given it at Gaia Gathering last spring.

For more info about the Montreal Yule Fair: http://www.themagicalblend.com/yule-fair.html

Third exciting bit of news:
I am working on my second novel through NaNoWriMo this month. Wish me luck! If you are doing NaNoWriMo, add me as a buddy (scarletcougar).

Preparing for NANOWRIMO

November is almost here and I am already preparing for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you write a novel of 50K words in 30 days. WOOHOO! I won last year and hope to win again this year.

Every year, I host write-ins. I used to host them in the shop I owned. This year, I may host them at my home and/or in the learning center where I work.

Also this year, I plan to host a Young Writers Program for NaNoWriMo for kids grades 6-8. I have done some research, downloaded lesson plans and tips and tools for the kids, ordered fun supplies, and am eager to register them for the program! At the end of the program, I will publish their stories for them. Young writers deserve to see their hard work in print so they can show the word what they have accomplished. I want to help them realize their dreams of being young novelists!

Writing Log for August 21st

So, the first Magical Blend Book of Secrets Volume 1 is out!

Now I see all the things I missed in the first few rounds and want to "forever-edit" it. I will do a once over and resubmit to clean of the glaring annoyances. The translation got done way faster than expected. So, publishing the French version has now moved up the list of priorities. I just have to reformat, add in the pictures and send it to the publisher for final review.

I have reorganized the list below:

1. Magical Blend Book of Secrets Volume 1 (book in FRENCH yet to be translated)
2. Zen of Tea (book in the works 2/3 written... index is hell to do)
3. Edit and finish a novel that is co-written with a friend (Age of Scions is the working series title that is so not going to stay)
4. CMS Level 1 workbook #1 (in progress)
5. Synctretic Tradition (4K word chapter for anthology in progress)
6. 6 or 7 scathingly risquee fanfiction novels (in progress and not permitted to sell)
7. 2 fiction novels I have been waffling about because while I write fanfiction well, I am uncertain if I can write original fiction as well
8. Book about Chakras from my personal experience and perspective
9. Book about rites of passage for Pagans
10. Workbook for teens about how to write stories, fiction and non-fiction

Firelight Gathering

I will be at Whispering Pines over the weekend at Firelight Gathering Festival. It is a relaxation weekend where I will sit for the weekend on a blanket with my books and some other stuff to sell, enjoy the summer weather and good friends, read at my leisure, and write whatever pleases me!

I hope to see some of you there.

Also... NEWS!!! Magical Blend: Book of Secrets: Volume 1 is now translated into French and will be available sometime in September 2013!