20 Questions with Author, Cindy Mitchell

This month we meet author, Cindy Mitchell

20 Questions

1. What are you best known for?

I really don’t know to be honest. I suppose many people would know me for having long hair (I have no idea why this is such a big deal, but people often mention it to me!)  Having a lot of animals and making awesome sugar cookies. I have to presume that when I say ‘I’m a writer’, most people think it’s my hobby and not something I am trying to pursue as a career!

2. How did you get involved in your line of work?

 I have been writing since I was able to as a small child. My mom used to bind my books with birthday wrapping paper and string. In my ‘other’ life, I am a small farmer & I have been doing that since 2010.

3. What advice would you give someone just starting out in the same line of work?

 If you want to be a writer, you really just have to start writing. It really is that simple – there is no right or wrong way to do it.

4. What was your last project?

My last project I suppose would be my first published project, ‘Eve’. All my other work is in progress.

5. What’s next?

As my book is the first in a series, the next book will be a vampire novel and will center around a character we met in ‘Eve’ called ‘Olivia’, who is a near 1000 year old Vampire.

6. Name a person in the same line of work as you who you admire

Oh, I suppose I’d have to say the author of this blog now, wouldn’t I? *wink* Or a mutual friend Romany Rivers. Both have been indispensable in offering sage advice on this publishing lark and writing as  a whole.

7. What one thing would you do if you knew that you could not fail?

I’d love to learn a musical instrument actually. I’ve tried before and I’m terrible at it.

8. How do you want to be remembered?

I think just as a good person who was loved. You can’t ask much more than that, can you?

9. What do you love/enjoy most about your work?

 I love that I love it. Being able to do something you love for a living is a wonderful thing. In my case, I get to do two things I am passionate about. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life” - Confucius.

10. What was the strangest or funniest incident you've experienced?

My father used to be a truck driver & delivered almost daily to a place where Andrew’s father used to work, almost 20 years before we met.

11. What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time I watch movies & TV with my family, read, spend time with my fur-babies and learn how to be self sufficient. I’ve learned to make much of my own beauty/home/cleaning products & I’m currently building up the courage to make soap.

12. Who inspires you?

 I’m inspired by loads of people, too many to mention. My friends & family inspire me the most. Authors inspire me in that even as the world goes more digital, some people never give up and are successful even in a world that is turning against their medium.

13. Describe yourself in 3 words

Writer. Farmer. Life-student.

14. Favourite colour

Purple

15. If you could have dinner with any 3 people alive or dead who would they be?

Stephen King. My brother. Shakespeare.

16. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Leftovers, lots of cheese, mason jars and every kind of condiment you can imagine.

17. What is the last book you read?  

The last book I completed was ‘The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest’.

18. What is next to your bed at the moment?  

A lamp, the book I am reading, a box of tissues, a tin of lip-balm, hand lotion,  and an alarm clock

19. What would your one “can’t live without it” item be?

My laptop. Or cheese.

20. Favourite Season

Autumn, for sure. The colours, the ever-changing weather and the general atmosphere. Always makes for good writing days!

************

Author Bio:

C.M. Mitchell is a part time writer and part time small farmer. She was born in Ontario, Canada; lived in the UK for fifteen years before moving back home where she resides on a small farm in Quebec.

She has worked a range of jobs, but has always concentrated on writing and learning about genealogy, history, literature and most anything she can learn about living a self sufficient life. 

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/CMMitchellwriter?ref=hl

Blog link: http://cmmitchellwriter.blogspot.ca/

Book Recommendation - The Last Observer - Out Now!

The Last Observer: A magical battle for reality

Written by this months guest author Dr Gary Michael Vasey, The Last Observer is out now and is a must read book with believable characters and a good plot which takes the reader through a twisting tale of quantum physics and mystical magic.

Synopsis.

The Last Observer is a compelling tale of magic, alternative realities, murder and conflict. An ordinary man is abruptly dragged into the middle of a violent struggle between black and white magicians who both seek to use his extraordinary powers of imagination and observation. He soon learns that reality is not at all what it seems before being called upon to play a decisive role in determining whose reality will prevail.

Features a preface by Anthony Peake - author of Is There Life After Death? and many other books.

PUBLISHED BY: Roundfire Books

AVAILABLE: August 30^th, 2013

AUTHOR BIO:  Dr. Gary (G.) Michael Vasey writes extensively across a number of disparate areas in which he has a passionate interest. He is the author of over 200 articles and several books on the energy & Commodities industry, two books of poetry, and several books about magic and our ability to shape reality. He now lives in Prague in the Czech Republic, but is British by birth and hold US citizenship meaning he pays taxes twice.

LINKS

Author website: http://www.garymvasey.com

Author Blog: http://www.asterothsdomain.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-G-Michael-Vasey/e/B00B8NWTWA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4?qid=1378725797&sr=1-4

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Last-Observer/418556618230291?ref=hl

Twitter page: https://twitter.com/GMVasey

Publisher website: http://www.roundfire-books.com

Guest Author - Dr Gary Michael Vasey - Consciously Creating Reality

Happy New Year to all of my followers!

This month we kick off with something a little different. Today's blog post was written by author Dr Gary Michael Vasey and centres on the theme of crafting your own reality...

Enjoy!

Arietta

****************

Consciously Creating Reality

 by Dr Vasey

If you follow the odd headline around the theme of science, you may know that there is a growing view among certain physicists and others that we live in a hologram[1]. In fact, recent news stories that crossed over from the realm of science include the notion that we are living in a computer simulation just like the Matrix[2] (or better yet – The 13^th Floor) movies. For decades, quantum physics has put you at the center of that Universe as the conscious observer that dictates exactly what happens[3] in your reality. Increasingly, the idea that you create your own reality is gaining momentum in the scientific community.

If you think that this is stuff and nonsense then consider it from another scientific and philosophical angle. Meditation reshapes the brain and brain chemistry[4], convincing yourself that you are still young makes you younger[5], visualizing success works[6] and I could go on and on for pages on this theme. The proof is out there that we can create our own reality the way to do it is also known. It used to be called Magic and those who practiced it were burnt at the stake or worse.

Let’s quickly compare science and psychology against magic and occult to prove my point shall we? In science, the conscious observer dictates what happens. If the conscious observer engages in meditation and visualization, even acting out what it is they desire’, they re-program themselves in a way that makes it easier for them to create the reality they wish for. A magician or occultist goes within themselves through meditation to understand who they are (Know Thyself!) and engages in magic ritual which is nothing more than an elaborate acting out and reminding the subconscious mind of their desires. Is this not the same thing?

This is a central theme in my fantasy adventure novel – The Last Observer (Roundfire Books, 2013). The story involves Stanley who lives a boring and humdrum existence but who loves to read as it activates his amazing imaginative faculties. Stanley’s abilities come to the attention of two groups of magicians who are engaged in a bitter fight over reality. One group wants to change reality by controlling just who gets to create it murdering those who have this ability strongly developed and who will not use it to serve their ends. I blend my practical knowledge of magic with quantum physics throughout the book to build the story that ends with a couple of massive twists and turns that will astound you.

Of course, quantum physics has caused much consternation in the science camp as what has been discovered at the quantum level is so crazy, so weird that its difficult to believe and the implications are quite mind blowing. It has led some quantum physicists and other scientists to make some quite extraordinary statements;

“The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself”

 - Carl Sagan

“All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter” 

 - Max Planck

[I can't accept quantum mechanics because] "I like to think the moon is there even if I am not looking at it."

 - Albert Einstein

"Observations not only disturb what is to be measured, they produce it."

 - Pascual Jordan

However, here is the funny thing. None of this is any way, shape or form NEW. Nope. Magicians and mystics have known this for millennia. They came to these same conclusions via meditation and personal insight. Science and scientists must be shaken to the core to know (if they have looked at all) that what they think is new science and discover has in fact, been known since ancient Egyptian times and probably millennia before that.

The biggest part of magic is imagination. You simply have to be able to imagine and to see/feel/hear things that you imagine. One exercise I practice all of the time is visualizing a fire. I try to see it, feel the heat, smell the smoke, and hear the twigs crackling. I find that sometimes, it is tough to visualize something so I imagine that I can. Yes, I imagine that I imagine something..... Weird eh? Nevertheless, you know what it works. Why? Well, because magic is mostly the ability to imagine as I said before. Mediation helps get you into a state where imagination is easier. It is a sleepy sort of state in which the body sleeps but the mind is awake. In this state, your imaginations may take on a life of their own. Suddenly, you are not imagining but experiencing. Careful though, don't jump when you realize this as it will destroy the state of mind that allows this mindful wandering.

We are all magicians creating our reality every instant unless of course, you are what are referred to as a sleeper and you are allowing everyone else to create your reality for you.

---

[1] http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2013/12/our-holographic-universe-it-could-prove-to-be-the-greatest-theory-of-the-21st-century.html

[2] http://discovermagazine.com/2013/dec/09-do-we-live-in-the-matrix#.UsVBz_RDuSo

[3] http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/35328/why-does-observation-collapse-the-wave-function

[4] http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/use-your-mind-change-your-brain/201305/is-your-brain-meditation

[5] http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/04/130409091219.htm

[6] http://www.sportpsychologytoday.com/sport-psychology-for-coaches/the-power-of-visualization/

Author Bio - Dr. G. Michael Vasey

Gary has written nine books on a remarkably wide number of topics ranging from energy and commodities to (real) magic.  He also blogs extensively both in his professional career as an industry analyst in the commodities space, and for fun as a hobby.

His first book was an account of his studies with an occult school or, as he prefers to put it, an account of being a real magician (Inner Journeys: Explorations of the Soul) published by Thoth in 2005. This led him to the idea that a book in his professional field might also be useful as well as profitable and so Trends in Energy Trading, Transaction and Risk Management, A Primer, appeared in 2006. Since this was sponsored by his clients and self-published via Amazon’s publishing house, it turned out to be a very profitable venture and spun off a second edition in 2010 and another book about ETRM software in 2008.

In 2006, he was asked by Wiley Finance to collaborate with a colleague on a book about energy hedge funds. He has also submitted chapters to a variety of other books on the topics of energy risk management and hedge funds.

In 2012, he published material about the hexagram as an esoteric symbol, along with a colleague, through specialist publishing house – Datura Press and began work on his first novel – The Last Observer – published in 2013 by Roundfire Books.  In between, he self-published two short volumes of poetry titled Weird Tales and Poems for the Little Room. A third book of poetry combined with blog posts from Asteroth’s Domain will shortly appear as Astral Messages.

He continues to blog avidly at garymvasey.com and asterothsdomain.com and is currently at work writing the prequel to The Last Observer and a book about the role of the Fool in esoteric work.

Complete List of Works

Astral Messages (Createspace) -  to be released

The Last Observer: A Magical Battle for Reality (Roundfire Books), 2013

The Mystical Hexagram: The Seven Inner Stars of Power (Datura Press), 2012 (with SC Vincent)

Poems for the Little Room (G&G Group sro), 2012

Trends in Energy Trading, Transaction and Risk Management Software 2009-2010 (Createspace), 2010 (with Patrick Reames)

Selecting and Implementing Energy Trading, Transaction and Risk Management Software: A primer (Createspace), 2008 (with Patrick Reames)

Weird Tales: Otherworld Poetry (Booksurge Publishing), 2006

Energy and Environmental Hedge Funds: The New Investment Paradigm (Wiley Finance), 2006 (with Peter C. Fusaro)

Trends in Energy Trading, Transaction and Risk Management Software, A Primer (Booksurge Publishing), 2006 (with Andrew Bruce)

Inner Journeys: Explorations of the Soul (Thoth), 2005

LINKS

Author website: http://www.garymvasey.com

Author Blog: http://www.asterothsdomain.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-G-Michael-Vasey/e/B00B8NWTWA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4?qid=1378725797&sr=1-4

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Last-Observer/418556618230291?ref=hl

Twitter page: https://twitter.com/GMVasey

Publisher website: http://www.roundfire-books.com

20 Questions with Author, Rayna Noire

This month we meet author, Rayna Noire...

Rayna Noire

20 Questions

1. What are you best known for?

Hard to say. It depends on whom you talk to. My daughter would say it was for getting lost. I would like to be known for writing fiction featuring realistic Pagan Characters.

2. How did you get involved in your line of work?

I was writing straight romances about “traditional” people.  A Wiccan friend commented that she couldn't find any books featuring positive Pagan characters and I should write some.

3. What advice would you give someone just starting out in the same line of work?

Get connected with other Pagan authors, communities like the Pagan Writers Community, and search for opportunities to meet with other like-minded folks.

4. What was your last project?

Last project was Initiation, 

5. What’s next?

I am currently editing book two, Revelation. I am writing book three, Declaration. I have already plotted out the fourth book, Affirmation.  On December 6th, I was signing at The Book Rack,  in Kingsport, TN. USA

6. Name a person in the same line of work as you who you admire

Maggie Shayne. 

7. What one thing would you do if you knew that you could not fail?

I do have many ideas for books. I mean hundreds.

8. How do you want to be remembered?

I want people to think of me as an original thinker and willing to venture out into new territories.

9. What do you love/enjoy most about your work?

After editing, I enjoy reading what I wrote. It’s especially good if I can make myself cry. 

10. What was the strangest or funniest incident you’ve experienced?

I witnessed my grandfather die three years before it actually happened. That’s why I am convinced time is not linear.

I did also die this year, or so I was told by the paramedics, and was brought back to life.

11. What do you do in your spare time?

Spare time, what’s that? I garden, walk in the woods, and do research for new novels.

12. Who inspires you?

I do have a friend named Grace, who is probably the most loving and accepting person I’ve ever met. The odd thing is she doesn't know how wonderful she is.

13. Describe yourself in 3 words

Nurturing, Persistent, and Outlandish

14. Favourite colour

Purple

15. If you could have dinner with any 3 people alive or dead who would they be?

Maggie Shayne, Abraham Lincoln, Maya Angelou

16. What would I find in your refrigerator right now?

Diet Coke, drink mixers, and condiments! I need to go shopping

17. What is the last book you read?  

Haunted Salem

18. What is next to your bed at the moment?  

The dog and a Kindle.

19. What would your one “can’t live without it” item be?

Incense. It helps dilute the doggy odor.

20. Favourite Season

Summer because I can swim outside.

***

Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren't that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.

Find her on-line...

www.facebook.com/AuthorRaynaNoire

www.twitter.com/raynanoire

www.raynanoire.weebly.com

***

Rayna has also just begun her first official book tour 

'Tis the Season...

'Tis the Season...

Where has this year gone???

I feel like Samhain has only just happened, but yet somehow November is already over... and so the wheel begins to turn towards Yule. 

Yule is one of those festivals that has such close ties with other winter festivals it can sometimes feel like everyone is celebrating together. This can feel great, especially if you are the "only Pagan in the village". In the last week, more non Pagans than ever, have asked me about my religious choices and in particular my religious holidays and what we get up to.

This has led me to think about how I celebrate this season and how I share it with my children. Sometimes when there is so much emphasis on the corporate face of the season it can be hard to find the spiritual centre to this saccharine sweet seasonal candy-cane.

I can sum up my personal beliefs about Yule in this poem...

Yule

This is a time of renewal for all

A time to reflect and hear the Goddesses call

The Sun God is born this Solstice night

And so we welcome the growing light

The dark of the year we have lived though

And we look to the future, and light renewed

The Goddess has rested in darkest slumber

And now emerges with this new-born wonder

Now the sun’s rays will awaken the Earth

It is a magickal time, this time of re-birth

The God did die, to be re-born again

We celebrate his birth, with the lighting of a flame

It’s Solstice night so let us all rejoice

Warm our bodies and raise energy, with the power of our voice 

~ Arietta Bryant, Ramblings & Rhymes ~

I like to keep our decorations on the natural side of things, although who doesn't like a bit of sparkle?
My daughter enjoys helping me to make garlands of popcorn and cranberries to festoon our tree (these are put out on our hedgerow for the birds to eat when the decorations come down) and both children make decorations for the tree each year.

Our Yule celebrations at home are always informal, filled with joy and lots of singing (most seasonal carols can easily be adapted to have a more Pagan theme and are easy to join in with since most folks know the tune already). We all light candles to represent the Sun's re-birth and our wishes for the new year. The candles are placed into our Yule Log (As we don't have a real open fire our Yule Log is a large oak log with holes drilled into it to hold taper candles) and are left to burn for the evening.

We each get a gift at Yule and have a special family meal which the children usually choose and we save the rest of the gift giving for the 25th of December when we can share the fun and joy of giving with our non-Pagan friends and family.

 So yes, my children still write to Santa. We did for a while call him "Father Yule" but it was too hard for my youngest to say so we stick with calling him Santa and know that deep down we all know who he is, so it really doesn't matter what we call him.

We do the whole myth, with gifts magically appearing in stockings over night and the children leave out food and drink for Santa & his reindeer, which is perhaps less strange for a Pagan family who are used to putting out offerings for household spirits, fairies and Gods.

Both of my children are firm believers at the moment but as my children get older and start to question the origin of their gifts I plan to share this poem with them which I think sums up the magick & myth of Santa perfectly...

The Child Wonders...

Papa, she said, her eyes full of tears,

will you talk to me and quiet my fears?

Those bad boys at school are spreading a lie

'bout the impossibility of reindeer that fly.

There's no Santa Claus, they say with a grin

there's not one now and there has never been.

How can one man take all of those toys

to thousands of girls and thousands of boys?

But I told them Papa, that they were not right,

that I would come home and find out tonight.

Mama said wait until you had come home.

Please tell me now that I was not wrong.

Her Papa looked down at her questioning face

and sipped at his drink, while his frantic mind raced.

He had put this off for as long as he could,

he had better think fast and it better be good.

Whispering a prayer, he began with a smile...

"Remember at circle how we learned to pray,

asking the Goddess to take care of us each day?

And you know how we say a blessing before every meal?

To this same Goddess whom we know to be real.

Though we never see her, we know she is there

watching her children with such loving care.

The Goddess started Yule a long time ago

when she gave us herself to love and to know.

A spirit of giving came with that gift,

and with her generosity the whole Earth did lift

Man had to name this spirit of giving

just as he names all things that are living."

"The name Santa Claus came to somebody's mind

probably the best name of any to find.

There is, you can see, and I think quite clear

Truly a Santa who visits each year.

A spirit like the Goddess, whom we never see,

She enters the hearts of your Mama and me.

Each year at Yule for one special night

WE become HIM and make everything right.

But the REAL spirit of Yule is in you and in me

and I hope that you are old enough now to see

that as we believe and continue to give,

our friend Santa Claus will continue to live."

~Author Unknown~

How do you celebrate the season of goodwill to all? Why not share your favourite holiday traditions in the comments below or post them on my facebook page 

I will end here by wishing you all a very happy and joyful season ... Blessed Be!

If you have enjoyed reading my blog and liked my poetry then please consider entering my Good Reads Giveaway where you could win a signed copy of my Poetry Anthology... 

Just click on the link below before December 13th 2013

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Ramblings & Rhymes

by Arietta Bryant

Giveaway ends December 13, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

This blog is part of the Pagan Writers Press Winter Solstice Blog Hop

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