The Great October Book Giveaway - Plant Lore

Congratulations to Fringe Nymph, Andrea Kiss, Sidur, and Tooshytospeak! Check out your inbox for the prize you won! 

If your name didn't get drawn, not to worry! There's plenty of fun left! The next giveaway will be arriving as the skies darken on this 6th October eve... 

_______________

​The sky turned indigo only a short while ago, and the warmth of the day has seeped away as the cool flesh of evening continues to press against it. I can see my breath in the air tonight, curling and dancing away from me as I watch the stars appearing. It is the first day of October, and everything feels more sharp and in focus. Gone are the hazy, late summer days with their perfect Instagram-filter afternoon light. The dawn seems to leap up, directly from the dusky dregs of night, and there is very little twilight now - just a short moment of deepening blue, and then all is dark. But that's the sort of thing we like about this month. We are weary of the brightness and the oppressive heat (in the northern hemisphere, at least). Some part of us calls out to feel the sharp kiss of a cool breeze on our cheeks, and we luxuriate in the longer hours of darkness.

The Wild, in flesh and in the not-so-physical realms, feels close enough to touch. We hear the owl and coyote hunting again, now that the constant buzz of the warmer months has faded. It is the season of last preparations, bringing in the final harvests, and shoring up the edges of our living spaces for the cold days ahead. We set our wards, gather our wood (or candlelight), and hang our charms at doors and windows. Gourds tumble out of farm stands and show up on porches. Strange creatures arrive at our doorsteps looking for candy offerings to dissuade them from wreaking havoc. We gladly partake of all of it, knowing that these customs and practices keep us and our spirit(s) fed, and maintain a spark in the darkest season.

Each October I kindle my own cozy fire in this place. I surround myself with books and blankets, oracular helpers, and talismans. And I set about making a welcome space for all kinds of spirits so I can share my harvest. It's been a very long year already, in some ways. But I've always been refreshed by autumn, this month in particular, and I think I may be finding my second wind. 

For those that are new here, it should be fairly easy to follow along. To those that come by each year to join in on the festivities, welcome back old friends. 

I have a quartet of delights to share tonight that I know will tickle your fancy. There is folklore and history, magic and mystery, and all of it revolves around the wondrous plant people that populate our world. 

For our first October giveaways:

An anthropologist and world traveler digs up the history and deeply meaningful stories of wild food in Feasting Wild, by Gina Rae La Cerva. A gorgeously written book about where connection and culture come together with food, medicine, and magic. 

The Materia Medica Oracle, from Josie at Tenderheart Studio, is in its third printing and routinely sells out whenever this visionary artist and witch creates a new run. Simple, yet powerfully beautiful illustrations reveal an assortment of plants with a message from each. The enclosed guide books (this deck contains all three volumes and their corresponding guides) detail the medicinal, emotional-spiritual, and magical personalities and qualities of each featured plant. It's a truly lovely deck to work with.

Fez Inkwright is the illustrator, botanist, and folklorist behind two bewitching tomes published by Liminal 11 - Botanical Curses and Poisons, The Shadow-Lives of Plants, and Folk Magic and Healing, An Unusual History of Everyday Plants. Each book looks at the stories, history, and uses of certain plants, and is peppered with poetry, folkore, and fascinating tales. They are both bound in exceptionally pretty covers with copper foiling. The endpapers are gasp-worthy and the illustrations throughout are entirely wonderful. Either book would be an excellent additon to your herbal or witchcraft bookshelf.

Please do pop through to the links if you'd like to get a better look at the books, cards, or their authors/creators!

You have five nights, until the evening of Tuesday, October 5th, to get your name in the witch's hat (the comment box below) and then I will draw four names at dawn on Wednesday, October 6th and dole out the prizes, and then post the next handful of goodies up for grabs.

You are welcome to let me know which item you would prefer to have if your name is drawn. I can't promise that you will get it but if I can match winners with prizes I try to do that.

Thank you for joining me again in this most magical month!

For those of you that are new here, this is how these giveaways work:

We are running a simple game again this year - your comment counts as your entry. However, if you feel moved to share this around (either a specific giveaway or if you just send folks my way) you can leave another comment letting me know you spread the cheer, and I'll toss your name in the hat a second time.

On the evening of the draw, the winners will be notified via email and their names placed at the top of this post and the next handful of goodies will go up for grabs. Please, please, leave an email for me in your comment (in a safe format such as "JenLovesBooks at gmail") if your name does not directly link to you/your website. I can't tell you how many names I've drawn only to find that I couldn't contact the winners. I simply draw again, but it is rather heartbreaking to see the first name get tossed.

There are occasionally some goblins that stop by in October, just for kicks. I am taking down the comment moderation security and we will hope that we skate under the spam radar again this year. Also, Blogger doesn't always play nice with every app, so there are times when you may have to come to the giveaway page directly (not via the FB app, for example) and leave a comment that way.

As always, if your privacy is of concern or if you simply cannot get your comment in on the current giveaway post for some reason, you can send an entry in using the "Make Contact" form in the sidebar.

All mail will go out within five business days of receiving the winner's address and will be sent via the most reasonable shipping rate. Please note that your parcel could take anywhere from 5 business days to reach you (in Canada) to five weeks (if you are in the EU).

Because it was a question last year, please note that all items are new, unread, and un-used. They are shipped out in padded envelopes or boxes, wrapped well, so that they may arrive to you in the same shape as I received them. Sometimes there are minor bumps or imperfections on books when they arrive to me and I'm afraid I cannot do anything about that, but all items go out in good shape.

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.

The Magic and Mischief of the Darktide

Thank you again for such a wonderfully joyful month of celebrating the darkest weeks of the year! The last books of our giveaway are going out to:

BrigidsBlest - A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk

Margarita - Weaving Fate

mtngirl - By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn

Eveline - Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The ice crept in two nights ago, growing over every surface and crushing the last struggling plants in the garden between its frigid fingers. It left a blanket of sparkling crystals, and froze the water in the birdbath into a sculpture that was unappreciated by its intended patrons. On the days the sun finds us, it is still warm enough to melt the layer of frost. But that celestial body is wandering off, rising so far in the south now that we get only mere hours of its direct light. In the shadowy places of the yard the ice is already settling in to rule until spring. Snow will follow in waves. But frost is the true lord of winter.

Autumn is said to be the season of the witch, and it's easy to see why. The golden days and cozy nights are naturally dripping with enchantment. But when we look at the power of winter, the cultures who formulated practices to keep themselves safe and fed in uncertain times, who told tales around the fire to weather the long nights and teach their children to have a healthy dose of fear and wonder, we can't help but notice that there is a deep vein of magic that runs through the season of frost and snow. Our practices instinctively turn inward. Our homes become our circle of power, our kitchens the alchemical laboratory, and our hearth/fire/stove the place where we conjure health, familial ties, and celebration.

Of course, winter looks and feels different for everyone. If you aren't in the northern hemisphere at present, you might be dipping your toes in the first days of summer. And even if you are beginning to experience a chill (or have already been digging yourself out of your driveway for a month) you may choose not to observe any winter festivities, or feel especially celebratory this year. You don't need to be a fan of St. Nicholas or the Yule Lads to get your winter witchery on. In my deepest despair one winter, I still managed to cuddle up with cats and blankets and a stack of books, bake too much shortbread while talking to my dead grandmother, and learned to read the Lenormand - and while I didn't feel like taking part in any festivities, those things felt very magical to me. 

This last giveaway of our celebration of the darktide is meant to offer you some ideas on making your own magic (and perhaps some mischief) through the winter months. I have three outstanding books for you if you'd like to gather some inspiration for enchanting your life, protecting your home and energy, and taking charge of your fate.

The first book I have for you is very special. Six years ago I contacted the late Peter Paddon and arranged to buy some autographed books from him for my festivities that year. His work was to be featured in the last giveaway that October, but late in the month he passed away suddenly. It didn't feel right to continue with the giveaway only a week after he left us, so I gently packed the books away for another time. One of the books eventually went to live with a friend of his, and now it feels right to hand out the remaining tome. A Grimoire for Modern Cunningfolk is the account of Peter's Crooked Path of witchcraft, and also looks at some comparisons and lore from other magical systems. It contains excellent practices that the author used himself (some he created), including his take on ancestral work. Peter's 'voice' really shines through in this book, and you can see why he has been missed. The book has been lovingly kept in good condition (and never read - I have my own copies of his work) and contains a short blessing and autograph from Peter.

Our second book is a bewitching look at protection magic from the fabulous and feral Althaea Sebastiani. By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn: The Theory & Practice of Effective Home Warding has arrived in beautiful print form just in time for all your winter warding needs. It's chock full of guidance on why you would want to make use of this practice (and why you might ease up on it), and various ways of implementing it, including instruction for tools (and what to do if you have no tools available) and techniques. Concise and no-nonsense, this is the book you want to have to keep the wailing winter spirits at bay. (You can get your hygge on after your wards are up.)

Our last book of magical wisdom comes from a familiar friend. Aidan Wachter has entranced us with his talisman making and insightful articles for years, and is now two publications into his master work on sorcery (which we hope never ends). If you'd like to alter the winds of fate, or have a better-than-average chance at molding your own life, then Aidan's books are definitely for you. Weaving Fate: Hypersigils, Changing the Past & Telling True Lies is a companion to his first publication, Six Ways, but it's also a spectacular standalone workbook that takes you through approaches for implementing change for yourself, and having a hand in influencing the world around you. I cannot recommend Aidan's books enough, and I know you'll love having Weaving Fate to delve into during the dark months ahead.

Our final giveaway of the season is a bit of magic and mischief all rolled into one. Because Tales & Treats for the Darktide was meant to conclude on December 5th, I couldn't let the festivities fade without giving a nod to the creature who will be out roaming that night. December 6th is St. Nicholas' Day, and the 5th is the Eve of St. Nicholas when all good children place a shoe out to be filled with nuts, fruit, candy, or little toys. But...if you haven't been so good this year, a different sort of fellow might be paying you a visit...

In European folklore, Krampus is St. Nicholas' horned helper who takes the lead on dealing out gifts for the naughty children. And by 'gifts' I mean a switching with his bundle of sticks, or a one-way ride in his basket away from your family and warm bed. Fun, right? The night of Krampus, or Krampusnacht, has become a world-wide phenomenon (and a sub-par Christmas horror movie) in which people can embrace the darker aspects of winter and face their fears. Al Ridenour is an author, podcaster, artist, and journalist who traveled to Europe to research the legend of this winter monster. He has collected these stories and experiences in his book The Krampus and the Old Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil, which would be excellent to curl up with as the twinkle lights get tucked away and the January winds begin to howl at the window. 

These last four gifts will be up for grabs until the minutes fade away on Krampusnacht (December 5th). On the morning of St. Nicholas' day, after I collect my chocolate and oranges from my shoe (because I'm always a good girl, even when I'm not), I'll draw the names from the hat and send out these books to four lucky folks.

We are wrapping up with the same game as always - your comment counts as your entry. Please be sure I can get in touch with you if your name is drawn. You can let me know which book you'd prefer in your comment and I'll do my best to match wishes with names whenever possible. If you'd like a second entry, simply share this giveaway on social media and swing back to let me know you've done so, and I'll add your name to the hat again.

Thank you so, so much to everyone who has dropped by this last month to play along with me! This has been a trying year (at best) and I knew it would be a quieter celebration, but I've been truly uplifted by your messages and comments, and I'm really happy you wanted to join me again this year!

PS - This should go without saying, but because someone inquired about it I do want to emphasize that all the items that I give away are brand new. All books are unread and are sent out in the exact form they were bought/received in. All card decks are unopened and untouched, and again, are sent out in the state they are received in. Shipping can be rough on items but I don't ever send out anything damaged and I always wrap the item and use padded envelopes to keep things in good order. Any small imperfections in the item were there when they arrived to me or were purchased in person by me. Thank you!

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (excluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affiliated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.

Wisdom of the Darktide

Thank you to everyone who entered! (I've also been receiving all the email entries via the contact button as well - not to worry!) The folks who will be getting some holiday mail are:

Ask Baba Yaga - Book #1 - Maria O. 

Ask Baba Yaga - Book #2 - MrsDuncanMahogany

Literary Witches Book - dustbunny8

Literary Witches Oracle - eli mari

What Would Frida Do - Cartermaryd

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we stride deeper into the darkest weeks of the year, it is prudent to be aware of the beings that reside in the shadows. Our own goblins lurk there, of course, though it is in our best interest to get to know them. But there are also those shades and spirits that slink alongside us, their interest in us piqued (for good or for mischief). There are numerous tales of things that live in the dark, or hunt in the bitterest months, and so it is shrewd to take precautions and arm ourselves with safeguards, including a healthy dose of cleverness and discernment. That is, after all, how most fairy tale protagonists get out of their predicaments.

As of today my province has tightened up some of the Covid precautions after our case numbers rose dramatically in the past weeks. We are not wholly quarantined again (for now) but we are not to gather anymore, and we must be masked in all buildings. There is a drawing-in that happens naturally this time of year, and so I've decided to weave these new restrictions into my own cold-weather enchantments. I see being masked as a form of invisibility work. A way to move about swiftly and purposefully, without being noticed or recognized (for the most part). Though I enjoy gathering with others, there is a stream of protection magic to tap into when you are forced to keep those who don't live in your home, away. I see the magic of the darktide as a solid ally to these difficult times. And it's always good to have someone, or something, in your corner.

This next giveaway features sage advice and guidance from literary and artistic women, as well as a good amount of advisement from a witch who rolls through the forest in a chicken-legged hut.

Taisia Kitaiskaia is a Russian-American writer who became widely lauded as the present-day voice of the oracle Baba Yaga in her column for The Hairpin. Two collections of those helpful and mysterious responses are now available in paperback, beautifully illustrated by Brenna Thummler: Ask Baba Yaga: Otherworldly Advice for Everyday Troubles and Ask Baba Yaga: Poetic Remedies for Troubled Times.

"Voices are ; noise, humanly noise — but what knows best in you is not of human shape or sound but of a stranger, Wilder beast. )Now it turns in your stomach, now it rends yr chest. Tell the voices to shut up & listen for the growl."

Kitaiskaia also dove into the world of historical and contemporary authors and resurfaced with the wonderful insights contained in Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers, and The Literary Witches Oracle, which is a deck containing the women mentioned in her book as well as cards inked with symbols and sigils created by illustrator Katy Horan.

The book reimagines 30 female authors as true witches: not hook-nosed creatures riding on brooms, but figures of radical creativity, originality, and empowerment. Each witch is celebrated with a surreal vignette by Taisia Kitaiskaia and a full-color portrait by artist Katy Horan. Brief biographies and recommended reading lists round out each entry, and a foreword by author, podcast host, and practicing witch Pam Grossman contextualizes the figure of the witch and her connection to language.

Next, I have a gorgeous tome by Arianna Davis, a brilliant Afro-Latinx author, and an adjunct professor at New York University. What Would Frida Do? A Guide to Living Boldly

What Would Frida Do? explores the feminist icon’s signature style, outspoken politics, and boldness in love and art, even in the face of pain and heartbreak. The book celebrates her larger than life persona as a woman who loved passionately and lived ambitiously, refusing to remain in her husband’s shadow. Each chapter shares intimate stories from her life, revealing how she overcame obstacles by embracing her own ideals.

In this charming read, author Arianna Davis conjures Frida’s brave spirit, encouraging women to persevere, to create fearlessly, and to stand by their own truths.

Think of these books and cards as having your own badass fairy godmother to chat with. I know you'll enjoy reading them in the dark nights to come.

I have one copy of each of these enlightening items to give away. I'll draw five names on November 25th at 9pm Pacific, and then you can wander into the woods outfitted with sharp insight from wild and wise women. 

Your comment counts as your entry. Please leave an email address or a linked comment so I can contact you if your name is drawn. If you'd like to share this giveaway on social media, that would be lovely - just pop back and let me know you did and I'll enter your name a second time. If you have a preference as far as which item you'd like to have next to you on a cold winter's night, let me know in your comment. I try as much as possible to match folks with their wishes.

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.

Tales and Treats for the Darktide Giveaway - Haunting BIPOC Fiction

Thank you to everyone who came around to join in the fun and tossed their name in the hat here and via the contact button - the names drawn were:

Mexican Gothic - Rebecca P.

Hoodoo - petoskystone

Empire of Wild - Emily

Lovecraft Country - Duffi

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The wind is moaning outside my window, greedily tearing leaves from their high perch and tumbling them into amorphous, lurching things that skitter down the road until they are caught up in alleyways or up against fences. I can hear the neighbour's windchimes. They are no longer the melodious soundtrack to a languid summer day. Now they screech in a high-pitched banshee's wail, crashing together in the bitter November gusts. If there was an ambiance to the darktide - this would be it. Biting, howling winds. Moody, dusky days. The full moons, mad colour, and revelry of October, now fading into weeks of damp cold, gloomy afternoons, and endless nights. Could there be a more perfect time to light the fires? And once the bonfire has raged, the offerings tossed onto the flames, and the frenzied dancing concluded, is it not the moment to curl up with a blanket and a book and ignore the wolf prowling outside the door? I think it is.

If you've been around this neck of the woods during previous autumns, you will have surely stumbled across The Great October Book Giveaway. Originally meant as a way to thank readers of the blog and the lovely folks who have followed and/or befriended me on social media by passing out a few magical tomes during my favourite month of the year, it grew into a meandering game of trick-or-treat through tarot and cartomancy, art, herbalism, talismans, and more. Whenever something caught my attention in a big way, I picked up a second copy for you. Sometimes authors, publishers, and artists were incredibly generous and offered to share their creations with you too. It's become something I really look forward to each year and I love seeing so many familiar faces come back around to take part.

This year has been unlike anything most of us have experienced. I'm tired in ways I can barely articulate, and I know that many of you feel the same way. I had anticipated, when I bumped this giveaway back a month to give myself some breathing room, that there would be a collective sigh of relief and a new hope dawning as we began our celebration of the darktide. Instead, as I write this, ballots are still being counted in the US election and democracy is being challenged by the people who should be upholding it. But no matter the outcome, we will prevail. That's the thing about witches and wildlings - we are resilient and clever, and even if it seems we've been thwarted, well...you might want to salt your windows and sleep with the lights on. Because we always rise up, one way or another.

"A witch ought never to be frightened in the darkest forest, Granny Weatherwax had once told her, because she should be sure in her soul that the most terrifying thing in the forest was her." - Terry Pratchett, Wintersmith

Onward, then, into the darkest weeks of the year. We will wear the fallen leaves and marauding mists as our cloak, and the scent of woodsmoke and the sweet rot of dying gardens as our perfume. What better time to begin this bacchanal than Bonfire Night! Two quarreling and discontent parties, each clamoring for more power and recognition, and one failed attempt at blowing up parliament. Sounds about right...

The first collection of books I have for you is a selection of haunting stories to give your goosebumps a workout. All but one of these novels is written by a BIPOC author, and all feature rich stories of suspense with BIPOC characters at the forefront of the action. This year was a time when many of us took a hard look at how we have participated in a world that placed People of Colour at a tremendous disadvantage as opposed to their white counterparts. We give top billing to white performers, artists, and authors. We offer financing and grants to white farmers. We patronize white-owned businesses. We read and watch white stories. All while Black and Indigenous peoples get ignored (or murdered). There are now multitudes of tips on how to support BIPOC businesses and individuals across various industries. There are fundraisers and ways to volunteer or support community organizations. There's really no reason to not have a more multi-cultural bookshelf, closet, medicine-cabinet, or donation receipts to hand to your tax accountant.

Only one of these books is a 2020 release, but all have captured my attention and made me shiver this autumn. I know you will enjoy them too. Here's what I have for you:

Mexican Gothic, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia - If having a cup of (possibly poisoned) tea in a creepy manor, while exchanging tales with Charlotte Bronte and Shirley Jackson sounds fun to you, this is your book.

Hoodoo, by Ronald L. Smith - This Young Adult book gave me some serious jitters at times, so don't let the fact that a twelve year old boy is the narrator make you think that this is a light read. Hoodoo Hatcher is from a folk magic practicing family and he has a mysterious stranger stalking him that he is going to have to deal with, one way or another. Chock full of magic, divination, dream walking, spirits, and symbolism, this book is a treasure, and the perfect read for a stormy night.

Empire of Wild, by Cherie Dimaline - A tale of a Métis woman who discovers her long lost husband is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Wild, yes. Supernatural. Poetic and base and beautiful. You'll want a good drink with this one.

Lovecraft Country, by Matt Ruff - A close and terrifying look at Jim Crow America from the point of view of its Black citizens who aren't just navigating a world rife with white supremacists, but one dotted with other monsters as well.

I will draw four names on November 12th, one for each book. You are welcome to let me know what book you'd like to receive if your name is drawn. I cannot promise you'll get your wish but I always do my best to match up folks with the items they prefer, if possible. 

Thank you so much for joining me again for the festivities. I think these darker, drearier days of November are going to be perfect for passing out gifts. I can't wait to get started!

For those of you that are new here, this is how these giveaways work:

We are running a simple game again this year - your comment counts as your entry. However, if you feel moved to share this around (either a specific giveaway or if you just send folks my way) you can leave another comment letting me know you spread the cheer, and I'll toss your name in the hat a second time.

On the evening of the draw, the winners will be notified via email and their names placed at the top of this post and the next handful of goodies will go up for grabs. Please, please, leave an email for me in your comment (in a safe format) if your name does not directly link to you/your website. I can't tell you how many names I've drawn only to find that I couldn't contact the winners. I simply draw again, but it is rather heartbreaking to see the first name get tossed.

There are occasionally some goblins that stop by in October, just for kicks. I am taking down the comment moderation security and we will hope that we skate under the spam radar again this year. Also, Blogger doesn't always play nice with every app, so there are times when you may have to come to the giveaway page directly (not via the FB app, for example) and leave a comment that way.

As always, if your privacy is of concern or if you simply cannot get your comment in on the current giveaway post for some reason, you can send an entry in using the "Make Contact" form in the sidebar.

All mail will go out within five business days of receiving the winner's address and will be sent via the most reasonable shipping rate. Please note that your parcel could take anywhere from 5 business days to reach you (in Canada) to five weeks (if you are in the EU or even the USA at this point - the USPS is a hot mess right now).

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.

The Great October Book Giveaway - Your Own Magic

The lucky folks taking home books this round are:

Backwoods Witchcraft - Elaine

Witch Body - Kelly M.

Good Juju - The Were-Owl

Stay tuned for the next round of October fun, which will pop up at some point tomorrow!




I'm not sure why, but there often seems to come a point each October where everything around me seems to vibrating in a frenetic symphony of breathtaking beauty, busyness, and strangeness. It feels as if at any moment all the whirling pieces are going to tumble to the floor in exhaustion. I'm surrounded by people who are battling their first cold virus of the dark season, my computer and wifi have been outright testy, the contact gadget on the blogging platform I use here has packed it in and doesn't seem to be interested in being re-installed, and I'm only managing to sleep in two or three hour increments. I'm picking up phantom scents, messages are sailing in from the beyond, and my readings and rituals have been exceptionally clear and effective. The lights in my home have been flickering and though I'm calling an electrician friend to take a look, I half suspect that the culprit is simply the spirited energy whirling around at this time of year.

Despite the weird-and-weary-ness, this month is the best taste of the season. October is the deep breath of fiery exquisiteness after the bright greens of summer faded to oceans of parched beige grasses and dull, dusty hills. September teased us with a fresh tide, but it is the colourful flags that October flies, barking and popping in the blustery winds, that make autumn extra special. The full moon last week was howl-worthy. The stars, on the nights that aren't cloaked in mist or clouds of woodsmoke hovering over my little town, are extra bright in the crisp air. The sounds of geese are fading, most of them having flown to warmer climes, and now we hear the questioning call of owls and the yipping echoes of the coyotes.

October is wild magic.

This next giveaway is about cultivating your own practice, and conjuring your own meaningful relationship with magic. It's about where you came from, what you've learned along the way, and the varied paths you explore as you experience the world. I have three books that look at personal magical practice from very different viewpoints, and I think there is something here for everyone.

First up is the wonderful Backwoods Witchcraft: Conjure & Folk Magic From Appalachia, by Jake Richards. Jake takes us on a tour of his roots, and the stories and ancestors that helped him form his practice. This is southern conjure territory, so if you shy away from dirt, bones, psalms, or fortune telling, then you might want to choose another book from the stack. (Though I think you'd be missing out on some good tales and fine charms, if you did.)

From the publisher:

In Backwoods Witchcraft, Jake Richards offers up a folksy stew of family stories, lore, omens, rituals, and conjure crafts that he learned from his great-grandmother, his grandmother, and his grandfather, a Baptist minister who Jake remembers could “rid someone of a fever with an egg or stop up the blood in a wound.” The witchcraft practiced in Appalachia is very much a folk magic of place, a tradition that honors the seen and unseen beings that inhabit the land as well as the soil, roots, and plant life. 

The materials and tools used in Appalachia witchcraft are readily available from the land. This “grounded approach” will be of keen interest to witches and conjure folk regardless of where they live. Readers will be guided in how to build relationships with the spirits and other beings that dwell around them and how to use the materials and tools that are readily available on the land where one lives.

Next up is Good Juju: Mojos, Rites & Practices for the Magical Soul, by Najah Lightfoot. Najah has an impressive and varied background of magical experience and she shares myriad ways you can create meaningful rituals and practices for yourself.

From the publisher:

Learn to better express your spirituality and build up your magical practice with this book's powerful spells, rituals, and tools. Designed to help you navigate whatever ups and downs life throws your way, Good Juju is your perfect choice for learning to embrace nature, the old ways, and the magick all around you. 

Using simple practices that don't interfere with any religions, Good Juju helps you lay a foundation for daily ritual work. You'll also learn how to craft mojos, create and work with altars, tune in to your intuition, and much more. Author Najah Lightfoot guides you in keeping your mind, body, and spirit strong as you discover your magical work and align with your higher power.

I'm entirely enchanted by this next book, Witchbody, by Sabrina Scott. The graphic tome is actually Scott's masters thesis, and is not only beautiful to behold but is a wild treat for your brain to wrap its tendrils around. I ponder something new each time I flip through this book. I wish I'd bought one of her original risograph printings when I first discovered Witchbody a few years ago, but I'm immensely glad that the good folks at Weiser picked up Sabrina's work and printed it for all of us to enjoy.

From Sabrina:

A RAMBLING & POETIC AUTOETHNOGRAPHY OF WESTERN OCCULT MAGIC AS A PATHWAY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING ADVOCACY 

The first graphic novel of its kind, Witchbody is a meandering synthesis of autoethnography, magic theory, and philosophical speculation. It is full of wonder at what it can mean to learn and teach and change and grow in this world which belongs to all of us: you, me, plants, trees, coffee cups and garbage bins. What can it mean to be a witch today, in the city?

I have one copy of each of these books up for grabs. Your comment here is your entry. If you'd like a second entry you can share this post, or any of the authors featured, to your favourite social media platform and then pop back here and leave another comment. Please include your email (in a safe format) or a way to contact you via social media so I can get in touch if your name is drawn. I apologize for not having the contact form up and running for this giveaway. If privacy is a concern you can send me a private message via the Rue and Hyssop page on FB and I'll add your name to the draw. You have until Friday, October 25th to jump in. I'll draw the names from the hat that night after 9pm Pacific.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been playing along, leaving kind comments, and sharing my yearly October celebration of books, witchery, and wonder. It makes me grin so brightly that you come back around each year and seem to enjoy this merrymaking as much as I do. We aren't finished yet!

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

The Great October Book Giveaway - Botanical Magic

The following folks will be taking home beautiful botanical goodies:

 Dionne B. - The Herbcrafter’s Tarot

 Crystal L. - Blotto Botany

 Emily P. - The Illustrated Herbiary

 Inari F. - Hedgewitch's Botanical Oracle

 Congratulations!

 For those who didn’t luck out this round, not to worry, there are more treats to be had! Soar by on your broom tomorrow eve and toss your name in the hat for the next giveaway!




 As I write this, there is a howling wind shaking the trees beyond my window. I'm always a little blue when the leaves are stripped from the trees too quickly by greedy gusts. I like to revel in the fiery autumn colours as long as possible. But tomorrow there will be piles of gold and scarlet to swish my feet through, and that is the sort of thing that offers up a good amount of joy. It's difficult to believe that this delicious month is half over already, but the fun is not nearly finished yet. There is still an armful of books and treats to be had around these parts.

I do want to make an important shift in the entry process for the remaining giveaways. I've pulled several names as winners this month that had no way for me to contact them when I followed their linked comment. It's terribly sad to toss a name away that could have received a lovely parcel. Starting now, you must supply either your email address in the comments (in a safe form such as "Jen AT gmail") or a way to contact you via a non-private social media account (for example: twitter.com/rueandhyssop). You may also enter the current giveaway by sending me a note via the "make contact" button up at the top of the page - this automatically provides me with a way to contact you if you win. (EDIT Oct 18/19: The contact form has crashed as of this post. Please leave your entry as a comment, or if we are connected on social media and you want to privately enter this giveaway, then feel free to DM me. I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and I'm working behind the scenes to fix this ASAP but the Blogger platform is being problematic.) Thank you for taking this extra step to ensure I can reach you if you win!

Now...on to the next giveaway!

This is the first year in some time that I haven't bought myself a large number of herbal books. I've been working with individual plants in my gardens and wilds, attempting to learn more about the plant friends I already know and love, one on one. I've brought a few new herbs into my toolbox this year too, but I've taken a short pause from stuffing my brain with information and wanting to work with all the plants I can get my hands on. I've craved some quieter, more personal study this year. (There are some gorgeous herbal books coming out next year so you know this won't last long.) My only purchases were two books and two botanical themed card decks, and the reason I bought them was because I saw them all over Instagram this year. The reviews were excellent and the artistry and design of each item were unique and beautiful. I've been thrilled with them, and I know you will be too. Let's take closer look...

First up is The Illustrated Herbiary: Guidance and Rituals from 36 Bewitching Botanicals, by Maia Toll, stunningly illustrated by Kate O'Hara. The book is a set that includes cards for each plant mentioned, which can be employed as an oracle if you so choose. The Herbiary is a visual delight and is primarily a journey of connecting with the herbs Maia has chosen to feature. If you are looking for a field guide or a medicinal or practical herbal to help you learn to identify and grow/harvest plants, this is not that book. At the risk of sounding a little flippant, this book and card set feels like ordering dessert before dinner. It's swoon-worthy and luscious, though it isn't going to keep you alive all on its own. I do think it would make a fetching gift for anyone who already has mad crush on the natural world, and I'm pleased to have my own copy.

Drink to your health, your ancestors, and your friends. Make zines, write daily, make plants and stay true to your own tastes and well-being.” - An excerpt from Blotto Botany

Photo by Gingertooth and Twine

Next up is an alluring tome that was hand illustrated, written, and assembled by Spencre McGowan of Gingertooth and Twine. Originally a self-published zine, Blotto Botany: A Lesson in Healing Cordials and Plant Magic, is Spencre's herbal log and list of yummy experiments that was serendipitously found and re-published as a book by Harper Collins. I found Spencre on Instagram after hearing folks talk about how charming and wonderful her book was, so naturally I had to pick up a copy (and one for you too). I've only just begun to try some of the recipes within but I've got a long winter ahead (if the birds and the caterpillars are telling the truth) and I can't wait to play with more!

The first of two enchanting card decks I have for you is the Hedgewitch's Botanical Oracle by Siolo Thompson. (Siolo is also the artist and creator behind the Linestrider Tarot which I've previously shared with you.) The Botanical Oracle seems both sharp and fluid at once. Thompson's art offers the realism you want when learning about plants, with a somewhat liminal feel that benefits divination systems. Though the beautifully hefty Field Guide that accompanies the deck gives you a very nice overview of the medicinal and folkloric uses of each plant/card, it also encourages you to sense the magic inherent in the plants yourself. I've found this deck very accommodating. It works beautifully alongside other decks and I've felt immediately comfortable working with it and interpreting its messages. I'm already very attached to this deck and wouldn't part with it.

This year I've tried to curb my tarot/oracle purchases. Instead, I spent time pulling out older decks that I wanted to give some love to and make better use of. I have only three new decks this year (thus far). A magical, personal-run deck that was gifted to me by a beloved friend, the above oracle, and this next tarot set. 

I don't know that I've fallen for a tarot deck this hard in a long while. 

The Herbcrafter's Tarot is a labour of love from Latisha Guthrie and Joanna Powell Colbert. These are stunningly drawn cards with powerful messages. The companion book is stellar (the sturdy box with internal ribbon-as-lift is one you'll want to keep) and gives you information about the card through the lens of the plant depicted. It also offers medicinal and magical histories of the plants, as well as giving you practical and ritual crafting ideas to work with the plant and energy of that card.

You'll experience tarot in a new way with the intricate system Latisha and Joanna have laid out. Please do yourself a favour and click through the links to see the gorgeous cards - my photo doesn't do them enough justice!

I have one copy of each of these lovely books and decks to give away. I'll draw the four names on Sunday, October 20th at 9pm Pacific. Please ensure your email address or contact information is included in your comment. Feel free to share this post or any of the author/artist's work online and return here for a second entry. You may let me know which deck or book you'd prefer and though I can't promise to make it happen I'll do my best to match winners with their choices.

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

The Great October Book Giveaway - Making Magic

The three people taking home a copy of Making Magic are:

Ellie
Lisa
Aurora

Thank you so much to everyone who stopped by to toss your name in the hat! Swing by again tomorrow for the next handful of delights!

Who has not been in touch with the extraordinary and extremely rare at least once? Who has not come through some kind of fire of the soul, or hoarded a certain treasure, or listened to a living wood?

Fairytales and folk charms, familial stories, ancestral practices, and the thump-thump of your heart beating in your chest as you feel the threads of magic twist around you, whirling up from some timeless place within you. You know it when you feel it. It's a recognition of something that seems like it has always been a part of you. It is the realization that when you were small you saw a grandparent perform a rite or incantation of some kind (though they would surely not have called it that). It is the remembrance of old songs or stories that were meant to keep you from harm's way, or heal you, or bring something back to you.

"Now it is time to remember our magic," Briana Saussy says, and the next book in our month of giveaways is one that will surely help you do that. Briana has been weaving magic for years, working in-person and online with folks all over the world. Her candle and petition work is renowned, her courses are unmatched, and she's a damn fine astrologer to boot. This past August she released an absolute gem of a book, "Making Magic: Weaving Together the Everyday and the Extraordinary," and I'm thrilled to be able to share some copies with you, thanks to the generous folks at Sounds True.

One of the things that I love about Bri is that she peels back the heavy curtain that others try to drape over magical practice, and shows how accessible and practical magic can be for everyone.

Magic, like all wild things, does not accept or settle into assumed roles, nor does it follow impatient demands. It goes its own way, making its home in all places where the everyday and extraordinary are woven together.

You can read an excerpt of this bewitching book here.

I have three copies of Making Magic to give away. Leave a comment (with contact info if you please) and I'll put your name in the hat! Share this post, or any of Briana's wonderful work, and circle back with a comment, and I'll put your name in the hat again. If you'd prefer to enter the draw privately, just use the "make contact" button up top. I will be drawing the three names on Tuesday, October 15th at 9pm Pacific.

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop

The Great October Book Giveaway - Magic in Overlooked Places

The lucky book winners, this round, are:

Johanna L - The Wiccan Wheel Mysteries

Bella S. - pair of poetry books

kgkathands - The Lost Kitchen cookbook

I’ll be in contact with you shortly!

There seem to be some gremilins causing mischief...I’m having some difficulty with my laptop tonight, so the next giveaway will be posted tomorrow (Friday, October 11th). Thank you for your patience!





One of the things I love about magic, is that if you have your finger on the pulse of it - if you recognize that it bubbles up in unexpected places and threads itself through areas commonly overlooked - then you can find enchantment anywhere.

Normally this yearly giveaway is entirely populated with non-fiction books on magic and herbalism, with the occasional sway into witch-art of some form, and a few of the newest tarot or oracle decks I've found. I almost never include fiction or other genres, not because I don't read them or they aren't excellent sorts of books, but the bulk of my writing here at Rue and Hyssop is about my journey through the year in gardens, woods, and witchcraft, and so I generally stick to those themes. This year, however, there were a few authors/books from outside the usual non-fiction fare I offer that made a big impression on me, and I wanted to share them with you. They conjured the feeling that magic was afoot. That the authors were people who noticed the threads weaving the world together, who had touched the live wire of magic in one way or another (even if that's not what they would call it). Each of these books/authors gave me a thrill in some way and I know you'll adore them too.

It was early in the year when I heard about The Lost Kitchen and read the tale of a woman who had her heart broken and her dream crushed, who then found a way to rebuild. I was immediately enraptured by Erin French's journey. I set to searching out her restaurant and how someone might make a reservation (I'd long wanted to visit Maine, where she is located). It turns out that The Lost Kitchen hadn't just enchanted me. They were constantly booked up and still fielding calls for reservations, so they decided to hold a lottery for table seating. Last year twenty thousand postcards arrived on Erin's doorstep - each one a hopeful entry for a chance to eat one of her beautiful meals. (I'll be sending a postcard of my own next year!)

There is something extraordinary about a person who has seemingly lost out on the future they were building, only to discover that they could re-form or re-imagine it and it would unfold in even bigger ways than they could have anticipated. Erin began her 'secret dinners' in her apartment, expanded to a small retail location, was locked out of her dream only to move it into an Airstream trailer, and now cooks with friends for thousands of people each year in an historic mill in Freedom, Maine. Reading her gorgeous cookbook (with her amazing story included) is not just perusing a stack of tantalizing recipes, it's like curling up for tea with a friend that inspires you.

This summer was hard on me. I was knocked down in May and spent much of the following three months trying to keep my spirit light in the midst of heartbreak, funerals, and whatever hellish planetary bullshittery was swirling overhead. My salvation in the scorching months was a lawn chair in the shade in the late afternoon, a cold beverage, and a stack of books. I had a variety of poetry with me at all times, plus folk and fairy tales of every sort. They were what transported me to a quieter place where my mind and heart could find respite.

I was nearing the end of a pile of library books when I found myself thinking, "I need some fun, witchy fiction books to read." And just like magic an email popped into my inbox from Jennifer Hesse introducing herself and her books. I've already grabbed a few of her Wiccan Wheel Mysteries series for myself and I picked up one for you, too. Plus, Jennifer has been kind enough to send along a book for you as well! The series follows Keli Milanni, lawyer and practicing witch, while she navigates her way through assorted mysteries, messes, romances, and her own journey with magic. They were perfect summer reads and I know the two autumn-themed books I've got for you, Autumn Alibi and Samhain Secrets will be excellent for curling up under a blanket with in these cooler nights ahead.

Breakage - Mary Oliver

I go down to the edge of the sea.

How everything shines in the morning light!

The cusp of the whelk,

the broken cupboard of the clam,

the opened, blue mussels,

moon snails, pale pink and barnacle scarred—

and nothing at all whole or shut, but tattered, split,

dropped by the gulls onto the gray rocks and all the moisture gone.

It's like a schoolhouse

of little words,

thousands of words.

First you figure out what each one means by itself,

the jingle, the periwinkle, the scallop

       full of moonlight.

Then you begin, slowly, to read the whole story.

I couldn't pass up the opportunity to show some love to the poetry that kept my heart beating this summer. We sadly lost the beloved Mary Oliver in January, but her words live on in her thirty-plus published works. It was the opening lines of "Wild Geese" that completely shifted things for me fifteen years ago, and she still has the ability to make me gasp and sigh "yes!" to her observations of nature and the world. I'm passing along her collection of poems, "Why I Wake Early."

Along with Oliver's book you'll receive a book I brought home from Sleepy Hollow - a collection of captivating poetry from assorted authors, entitled "Poems Bewitched and Haunted."

From the publisher:

From Homer to Horace, Pope to Poe, Randall Jarrell to James Merrill, Poems Bewitched and Haunted draws on three thousand years of poetic forays into the supernatural. Ovid conjures the witch Medea, Virgil channels Aeneas’s wife from the afterlife, Baudelaire lays bare the wiles of the incubus, and Emily Dickinson records two souls conversing in a crypt, in poems that call out to be read aloud, whether around the campfire or the Ouija board. From ballads and odes, to spells and chants, to dialogues and incantations, here is a veritable witches’ brew of poems from the spirit world.

You can see both poetry books on the left side of the first photo in this post.

These three prizes: one amazing cookbook, a pair of fab fiction tomes, and bundle of two dreamy poetry books, contain their own variety of magic and I believe they will find homes with folks who know a thing or two about enchantment. They will be up for grabs until Thursday, October 10th, when I'll draw the names of the winners. Your comment is your entry, and if you should like another chance to win then simply share this post around however you wish and then swing back and let me know. I'll make sure your name goes into the hat again. Alternately, if you are having issues with leaving a comment, or if you'd prefer to enter privately, then you can send your entry via the "make contact" button at the top of the page. (Please note that if your name is drawn, I will be posting it at the top of the giveaway.) Feel free to let me know which prize you'd prefer. I try to match winners and books up, whenever possible.

Legal Bits:

* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America,  who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law.  Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.

*  Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada).  The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =

*  This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.

*  This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.

* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.

I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself.  I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone.  This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop.