I love that so many bloggers are encouraging people to read about witchcraft and magic! Sure, I love it for selfish reasons, but also for altruistic reasons--namely, that witchy books deserve to shine, since so many of them are really, really good--enchanting, even.

The Domestic Pagan, that lovely creature who brought you the Pagan Reading Challenge, is now hosting a readathon, complete with prizes. I've already let her know I'd like to throw my witch's hat into the ring and pony up with some prizes, so I'll keep you posted on that. For now, head on over to her blog and sign up. Think of it: autumnal leaves spinning wildly through the air, the scent of woodsmoke on the breeze, and you curled up by the fire, reading about spells and broomsticks and things that make magic in the night.

Magical Chocolate Cake Recipe (Warning: Serious Aphrodisiac)

Quick Reminder First: Tonight at Midnight the Dark of the Moon Giveaway ends! Get your Witchieness with a side of necromancers for free, but do it now or miss out. After tonight the price will skyrocket to an astronomical 99 cents once again.

Okay, onto other news: I got an email this morning from All Romance E-Books. They're putting out a call for submissions. Editors there are looking for recipes for a new book they're planning called Passionate Cooks: Free Recipes from Today's Hottest Romance Authors. Since Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft already contains a number of recipes (some for desserts, some for spells) I thought I'd submit mine. Follow the link above for guidelines if you feel like sending them yours.

And then I thought, hey, I really should start sharing some of Audrey's recipes and spells on my blog. Why not? Y'all deserve a little culinary magic, right?

Magical Chocolate Cake

 Warning: May induce feelings of intense lust and even love, especially when baked by a witch and served fresh.

 Ingredients:

·      4 ounces super awesome (i.e. expensive) bittersweet chocolate

·      1 stick unsalted butter

·      3/4 cup sugar

·      3 eggs

·      1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

·      Fresh berries (optional)

·      Whipped cream and/or caramel (optional)

Directions:

1.   Preheat oven to 375°F and butter an 8-inch round baking pan. Line bottom with a round of wax paper and butter paper.

2.   Chop chocolate into small pieces. In a double boiler, melt chocolate with butter until smooth.

3.   Whisk sugar into chocolate mixture. Add eggs and whisk well.

4.   Sift ½ cup cocoa powder over chocolate mixture until combined—don’t stir more than needed.

5.   Pour batter into pan and bake 25 minutes, or until thin crust forms on top.

6.   Let cool 5 minutes, then invert onto serving plate. Top with fresh berries, drizzled caramel or whipped cream if desired (you know you do).

It's that time of the month again! No, not that time, Dark of the Moon time, when AUDREY'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT is no longer 99 cents, but drops instead to FREE. Yes, you heard me, FREE! Can't get much more magical than that.

WHEN: August 16th, 17th and 18th (ends at midnight on the 18th)
WHERE: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/177500

Hope you're all out celebrating the new moon with a little star gazing and witchy reading. Here's to an enchanting last few weeks of summer and an even better fall!

I'm VERY excited about this upcoming event. I know it's not until October, but still! Never too early to get revved up for Halloween, right?

Here's how the hosts, Rainy Day Ramblings and Babbling About Books, describe it:
Something Wicked Comes....bringing Zombies, Werewolves, Vampires, Ghosts, Witches and more Oh My!  What is this wicked thing?  Why a month long blogging event celebrating all books paranormal/supernatural or Halloween related.  Every day during the month of October there will be several stops.  Each blogger will be featuring a favorite paranormal book and offering it for a giveaway.  Think of it as a month long Blog Trick or Treating Event...

They'll be hosting a review, giveaway and guest post by moi October 27th, so be sure to check it out!

I stumbled on these reading challenges more than halfway through the process (they all started in January and end in December) but I'm so excited about them I just have to share! There's The Domestic Pagan's 2012 Pagan Reading Challenge and then there's Pagan Culture's Witchy Books Reading Challenge. They're all great opportunities to band together with other witch enthusiasts and read a lot of witchy books. Whether you like your witchcraft to stay purely in the imaginary realms or you actually practice the craft, it's cool to read books on the subject and compare notes with others; we can all find new writers that way. It's exciting to realize that so many other people are fascinated by witches, paganism and magic, especially with fall and Halloween looming on the horizon!

Melissa's Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge

Hello, witch lovers! I just wanted to highlight this super exciting witch-friendly event hosted by Melissa at the Eclectic Bookshelf (see her button in the sidebar). She's challenging folks to read as many books featuring witches and/or witchcraft as they can. She's actually been running it all year, but it doesn't end until the end of December, so we've still got time.

Here are her rules (in her words):

Challenge Rules:

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.  I will be posting a place to link up a sign-up post (below), reviews and a wrap-up post. (Note: You do not have to review the books to participate, but only those who link up reviews will be entered for the prize)
2. Grab the reading challenge button (code & button below) and post this reading challenge on your blog to track your progress. Please include a link back to this sign-up post so others can join the reading challenge too. You do not have to be a book blogger to participate- you could track your progress and post reviews on  Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, etc.
3. Any full length book that includes a witch as a main character or major witchcraft elements counts.  They may be fiction or non-fiction.  However, they should not be reference books which are not read cover to cover-I will leave this to your discretion.  
4. Books can be any format (bound, eBook, audio).
5. Re-reads and crossovers from other reading challenges are allowed.
6. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
7. When you sign up in the linky put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.
8. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
9. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
10. Have some Witchy Good Fun !!!

I did tons of research while writing AUDREY'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT, so here's a list of witch books I've read (and loved) so far:

1) The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
2) A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
3) Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
4) Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
5) Practical Magic (one of my very favorites! A classic) by Alice Hoffman
6) Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen (LOVE her too)
7) The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
8) The Peach Keeper by Sarah Addison Allen
9) Bras and Broomsticks by Sarah Mlynowski
10) Frogs and French Kisses by Sarah Mlynowski
11) Jinx by Meg Cabot
12) Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell
13) The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair
14) The Witch of Portobello by Paolo Cohello
15) The Witches of Eastwick by John Updike
16) The Magnolia League by Katie Crouch
17) Once a Witch by Carolyn McCullough

I'm reading The White Glove Wars (sequel to The Magnolia League) by Katie Crouch right now. I think she's awesome! Northern California girls venturing into the deep, swampy, spooky south totally does it for me. Plus I got to meet her once when we were on a panel together, and she's very smart and cool.

Join Melissa's Witch challenge and I'll happily send you a free e-copy of AUDREY'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT!

Tonight's the Full Moon, and that means it's only a couple weeks until DARK OF THE MOON, when I'll be giving away more free copies of AUDREY'S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT.  That's coming up August 16th and ends at Midnight August 18th. Just follow this link during that period to get a little free witchieness with a side of necromancers for any e-reader or computer:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/177500

If you're still into paperbacks, head over to the Facebook page for AUDREY. With just a simple "like" you'll be automatically entered to win a free signed print copy when the moon goes dark.