The new "witchy box" & new merchandise coming soon!

There's something about writing a book that changes you, or unlocks something inside you - not in the same way that it existed before, but in a way that means that new, unlocked thing is now seated in the "new you".

Writing The Spell of Summer appears to have unlocked my sleeping witch, lol. (She's been sleeping for about ten years...)

Last week, I showed you a picture of my old witchy box. This week, you get to see my new one :) It's grown! It's now a witchy suitcase:

With this little tidy-up (and awakening of the witch) came an idea for merchandise for my books :D I'm close to announcing it - just a few more days until I have all the bits I need to send orders off - but I am so completely thrilled that I now feel like I have proper, unique merchandise that is not the standard print-on-demand T-shirts, and I hope you all love what I'm going to show you as much as I do. I promise, the big reveal is coming! (Blame the postman for the delay :p)

That is all from me, for now. The Spell of Summer is receiving fantastic reviews that have so far exceeded all that I hoped for. Look out for the blog tour (which will include giveaways), beginning 16th June - I'll also be at a couple of other stops before then... and PRE-ORDER YOURSELF A COPY! Yes, those are shouty caps - it's an order people! :p Pre-order links at the top of this page: http://www.diannahardy.com/the-spell-of-summer.html

Have a great weekend!

Dianna xxx

Blog tours, bespoke jewellery and my witchy box.

First of all, the major news is that pre-orders for The Spell of Summer are up :D

Post by Dianna Hardy.

Secondly, I totally blame Dzyne'd It for the fact that I've been looking at charms and pendants for three days solid. Making jewellery could totally become a mini-obsession with me if I didn't already have my hands full with writing and parenting and, well, everything else!

Sam from Dzyne'd It is making me four one-of-a-kind necklaces for The Spell of Summer Blog Tour - the dates are below, so look out for those giveaways!

And I've got to admit that putting charms, pendants and things together is a definite skill. I tried to put a "little thing" together today (no, I'm not telling), and it took me a whole fucking hour! I'm hoping with a bit of practice it'll take me fifteen minutes, because I've been pondering on an idea that now won't let go. You see, I have this witchy box, years old, full of herbs and roots and resins and all sorts, and shit-loads of bottles, pouches and packaging from when I used to own an online magic shop (yeah - I did that) ... so ... I had an idea for merchandise! And it's inspired by Dzyne'd It, but will be different as it's not jewellery per se...

But ONE FRIGGIN' HOUR!

When I get better at it, I'll take a picture.

This is what my day consisted of. That, and, I have also found the perfect eBook cover for the second book in the Once Times Thrice series, providing The Spell of Summer does well enough :) In fact, I may go and start on a proof of the cover now, just because I'm in an arty mood :D

Oh, what was that? You wanted a picture of my witchy box? Okay then! Please note that since clearing out my loft and finding two more boxes of stuff, my witchy box will become by witchy suitcase tomorrow...

Paranormal Britain

It's a lovely, warm day today, although I still reckon it'll snow end of Mar / beg of Apr, as it has done for the past couple of years.

But today made me think of spring, and spring in the UK is truly beautiful with the grass looking greener and the smell of everything as flowers begin to bloom...

It makes me feel like getting out and exploring the country, and one of my favourite past times (which, sadly, I have less time and money for nowadays) is to go out hiking, specifically near and around stone circles. For those of you unfamiliar with stone circles, Stonehenge is the most famous of all, but there are lots of little, lesser known ones dotted around the UK, and their energy is amazing.

I don't make a secret of the fact (nor do really go shouting about it) that I'm 100% witch at heart, and there's nothing more grounding and refreshing to really connect with the land, especially when you spend most of your hours at a laptop, belting out blog posts and stories.

Needless to say, that a lot of my inspiration for current and upcoming books have been based on my love of magick, Paganism, and teachings of both witchcraft and shamanism (from various traditions).

In my latest book, The Sands Of Time, I mention how apple trees are a doorway into the land of Faerie. In The Witching Pen, I explore magick in a more urban way, by placing some of my characters in a new age shop in the middle of London, and concluding the events of the story in a 'hotspot' at Hyde Park.

One of the things that makes the UK truly unique, is that all you have to do is drive / train journey for no more than 20 minutes to get from urban to countryside. You're greeted with a complete change of scenery, but neither less magical than the other.

One of the closest magical places for me (about an hour's drive away from where I am), is Pewley Downs in Surrey (nr Guildford). The north and south downs of Surrey as a whole are quite something: they're ancient, but the land also seems to carry itself as if it's brand new and still flourishing in the present. Very strong energy -- very strong indeed.

And this is the part of the blog post where readers begin to think I'm a little weird, but hey, I am. I actually have danced naked around a fire in the snow before. No -- you'll never get to hear about it, but feel free to read my stories, and wonder if there's any fact to the fiction ;)

What are your nearest and favourite magical places in the world?

Dianna x