Episode 94: Interview with author Deborah Blake

The Hearth and Hedge: A Podcast About Life, Books and Witchcraft

In this episode, Amberle welcomes author Deborah Blake to the podcast. They engage in casual conversation about pets, animal behavior, and the joy of living with animals. Deborah shares insights into her writing process and discusses her recently released books. She also talks about the challenges of revisions and the importance of feedback. The conversation concludes with a discussion on upcoming events and conferences for authors. They discuss upcoming books 'Witchcraft on a Shoestring', 'Circle, Coven, and Grove', and an upcoming deck,
"The Everyday Witches Familiars Oracle Deck," which features 40 different animals and mythical creatures. She explains the process of grouping the animals and creating the deck, including the challenges of deciding which animals to include. Deborah also talks about the surprise release date change and upcoming books she has in the works. She emphasizes the importance of supporting authors and artists and discusses the issue of piracy. Deborah shares her perspective on incorporating witchcraft into daily life and the joy of everyday witchcraft.

You can find Deborah on Instagram and Threads @deborahblakeauthor

You can find Amberle on Instagram and Facebook @thehearthandhedge, her website, www.thehearthandhedge.com, or you can email her at [e-mail]. She also has a Patreon at www.patreon.com/thehearthandhedge. If you like what you hear, consider leaving a review wherever you find you podcasts.

Special thanks to ksbrmusic on fiverr.com for the wonderful intro music, and Michael of L12 Graffix ([e-mail]) for the beautiful logo and graphic arts needs.

Production team: Amberle Light

Chapters

00:00Introduction and Warm Welcome 00:42Casual Conversation and Small Talk 03:03Living with Animals and the Joy They Bring 04:08Reading and Writing 05:20Recent Books and Writing Process 06:18Challenges in Writing and Editing 07:39Being a Professional Author 08:07The Importance of Revisions and Feedback 09:26Newly Released Books 10:24Book Releases and Reprints 12:19The Eclectic Witches Book of Shadows Companion 13:42Author's Excitement and Book Openings 14:47Upcoming Events and Conferences 21:32Missing In-Person Interactions 24:02Paganicon and Other Conferences 25:28Sacred Space Conference in Baltimore 26:32Traveling and Family 27:27Cruises and River Cruises 29:31Bird Watching and Bears 34:02Witchcraft on a Shoestring 36:20Circle, Coven, and Grove 42:16The Year of Magical Practice 46:25Upcoming Tarot Deck 46:40Introduction to the Everyday Witches Familiars Oracle 47:23Grouping Animals and Mythical Creatures 48:24The Process of Creating the Oracle Deck 48:56Surprise Release Date Change 49:50Upcoming Books: Llewellyn's Little Book of Spellcraft 50:48Supporting Other Authors and the Issue of Piracy 53:40The Challenge of Keeping Up with Reading 54:42The Importance of Supporting Authors and Artists 56:43The Impact of Piracy on Tarot Decks 58:46The Challenges of Being an Author 01:00:05The Reality of Making Money as an Author 01:02:02The Everyday Witch Way of Life 01:04:12Adapting Rituals and Practices 01:05:16Incorporating Witchcraft into Daily Life 01:06:18The Joy of Everyday Witchcraft 01:07:44Enjoying Podcast Interviews 01:08:17Closing Remarks