"When I'm not writing..." with Linda Robertson + giveaway!

This week, we have a returning visitor: Linda Robertson, author of the Persephone Alcmedi series. The sixth book in the series, SHATTERED CIRCLE, has just come out and Linda is on a blog tour to celebrate its release. She's joining us today to share just what it is that she does when she's not writing her next novel. Welcome, Linda!

Between writing, working part-time, managing three boys 10-16 in the house, a dog, and all the usual chores and the demands of friends and family…whew…there’s not much left. Thank heaven there’s the almighty java bean.

I also play in a band. I play lead and rhythm guitar, and even do a little singing, in a band called HAGATHA’S BLUFF. This almost-all-girl band has three female members over 40, so we are often affectionately called “The Hags.” We play some originals and some cover tunes, mostly heavy metal. We don’t gig often, so this fits into my squeaking tight schedule.

I’ve mentioned this rock-n-roll side of me frequently in interviews and guest blogs. The music has been a big part of my identity for a long, long time. But I’m going to tell you about something I do that I haven’t spoken of previously. Not that it’s a secret. It’s just…newer.

I make wands.

Yep, you read that right. I’ve been Pagan for about 22 years now. If you know little about the religion of Paganism, let me say this: I’m not the kind of Pagan that says off-the-wall stuff to make people uncomfortable, and I’m not the kind that spouts mystical claims to be descended of Merlin. I’m not a Christian-hater, either. (Most of my family is Christian.) I’m not here to cry on a soapbox, I’m just trying to qualify why I make wands and for whom I make them. In other words: yes I’m Pagan, but I’m not a weirdo.

So…I make wands. I used various kinds of wood though I do like oak very much. The branches I use are considered “reclaimed” because I find them on the woodland floor and do not actively cut any from a live tree. An interesting side note: I started the character outlines for what would become the Persephone Alcmedi series while in the airport at New Orleans enjoying a shrimp po’boy. In my suitcase were a dozen branches I reclaimed from the ground in New Orleans, from under the living oaks in Audubon park.

I study the branch, looking for the personality of each one. I test the feel of the wand with gestures common to the usage of a wand, considering the weight. Then I decide where the best grip is, and trim it accordingly. Depending on the wood, I strip off all or part of the bark, whichever seems to give it the most character. Then I sand it lightly and seal it with a coat or two of clear wood sealant. Then the stem is ready for adornments. I keep a small stock of various stones, both crystal points and some gemstones hewn to have points. I also keep a variety of stones with small holes for jewelry making. I determine a point that fits the tip of the wand, and from there decide if it gets copper wire or leather binding, or both. A few wands get a ring or two of the jewelry stones. Most receive feather plumes—I have all colors. The final step is the charm. It’s just one last bit of shine that, I feel, defines the wand.

Once the wand is constructed according to the combinations and the creative Muse, I go back and study these additions to see how they work together. The energies of the stones will be enhanced by the characteristics of the colors of the feathers as well as the totem on the charm. When those aspects are evaluated, I know what that wand’s purpose is, and it then has a name/title. Each wand gets a short poem written about it that tells about the different components that make it so unique.

The one I am quite proud of has a slit along the bark, which I left. It looks like an eye, closed. It is called the Sleeping Eye Wand.

I’ve gifted my Wiccan and Pagan friends with wands over the years, but still I find I am drawn to make them. So, with a surplus of unused but lovely wands in my stock, a good friend of mine (and wife of the author S.A. Swann) Michelle has an Etsy store {Freya’s Garden of Earthly Delights} where my wands are available. If you do an Etsy search with my name, the wands should load for viewing—but check out the store too! She has some fantastic homemade soaps, candles, etc. that are available in a myriad of styles and gorgeous scents.

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Thank you for such an interesting post, Linda! We hope you have fun on the rest of your tour.

For more information about Linda and her books, check out her website or follow her on Facebook or Twitter. You can also visit the other stops on her tour by clicking on the button below:

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Here's the scoop on SHATTERED CIRCLE:

JUST YOUR AVERAGE MEGA-WITCH.…

It’s tough being a modern woman, but Persephone Alcmedi has it worse than most. Being the prophesied Lustrata has kicked her career as a witch into high gear, and juggling a wærewolf boyfriend who is about to become king of his kind and a seductive vampire who bears her magical Mark isn’t easy either.

Still, Seph’s beloved foster daughter, Beverley, is causing more trouble than these two men put together. The young girl’s been playing with a magical artifact that’s far more dangerous than she realizes. Now Seph must summon help from a mystical being so potent that even vampires fear him . . . and the cost of his aid may be more than she’s willing to pay. Seph, Johnny, and Menessos face threats from all sides—and a few from within. Will the forces of destiny cement their tenuous supernatural union, or shatter it forever?

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

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There is a tour-wide giveaway of ten (10) print copies of SHATTERED CIRCLE!

To enter the giveaway, obey the Rafflecopter!

Open internationally

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Do you guys have suggestions for who you’d like to see featured on the blog? If so, you can make your suggestions on this page. No guarantees that your favorite authors will be able to participate but we’ll try!

Authors, would you like to visit and share with us? Please email me at jennblogs (at) gmail (dot) com and we’ll set it up!

Posted by jenn at 05:55

 giveaway, Linda Robertson, Simon Schuster, When I'm not writing  9 People left their mark

Born and raised in the Toronto area, Jenn moved to St. John's, Newfoundland, eight years ago for school. She's still in school (thankfully on another degree!), now trapped in her dissertation. When she's not dissertating, which happens more often than it should, Jenn spends her time reading, watching movies, playing volleyball, travelling, and enjoying the local music scene. Her latest addictions: yoga and Almond Crunch cereal.