Winner of the JDP NEWS After-the-Holidays Drawing

Congratulations to Lisa Risdon of Ohio for winning the JDP NEWS After-the-Holidays Drawing! Lisa is the winner of the following:

This "relaxation" basket

these "relaxation" accessories

and an autographed copy of my medieval novel, Loyalty's Web.

Congratulations, Lisa! Thanks to all of you who entered! (And yes, the answer to the question was, "The crossbow".)

Now, for those of you who have already read a copy of Loyalty's Web (or for anyone who might simply be curious), I'd like to announce the debut of my new blog, Medieval Vignettes. As I explain on the blogsite:

"Medieval Vignettes is not a short story site. It is more of a "flashback" site. The scenes that appear here are based on characters from the medieval novels of Joyce DiPastena. And they are just that...scenes, or perhaps sometimes even bits of a scene. They may or may not all have a "beginning, middle and end". But they will each shed some light on the characters, their thoughts, their relationships to each other or to the environment around them...social, political, etc...outside the confines of my novels. These are mostly scenes "from the past" that are referenced in my novels, and may or may not be of any special significance to my novels' actual story lines. I've created this site "just for fun"... my own, and hopefully for my readers."

Please visit soon and let me know what you think!

A Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday to you all!

December 1, 2007

Congratulations to the winners of my first Loyalty's Web website drawing! With the help of Author Island, the drawing had three categories: Holiday Drawing (simple email); Location Category (question from my website's "About" page); and Poison Category (question from my website's "Excerpt" page). I had a wonderful response to each category. Thanks to each of you who took the time to enter.

I know you're all anxious to learn who the winners are, so without further ado, the three entrants who will be receiving an autographed copy of Loyalty's Web, along with a dragon Christmas ornament are :

Holiday Drawing: Becky Cruz of Alabama

Location (Poitou) Drawing: Kristie Ann Morrison of Ohio

Poison (Cowbane) Drawing: Anne Law of Alaska

Once again, congratulations to all three of you! Your books and ornaments will be mailed out on Monday, December 3, and I do hope you enjoy them!

Now, for December, I am having a very special drawing, especially to express my appreciation for all those who have subscribed to my JDP Newsletter. This drawing is available ONLY to subscribers of JDP NEWS.

To enter my "After the Holidays" drawing, you must subscribe to JDP NEWS (email version...see subscription box to the left), where the details and prizes are listed.

If you prefer to wait, I'll be offering another "general" drawing in January.

Thanks for visiting and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

November 23, 2007

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Best wishes to those of you who are brave enough to battle the crowds on Black Friday, as well as to crowd-avoiders (like me), who prefer to wait for Cyber Monday for the "official" start of the holiday shopping season.

I'd just like to let you know about a few updates on my writing front, and alert you to a new, upcoming contest!

On Wednesday, November 21, I posted a new blog on Medieval Research with Joyce, entitled "Castles and More". I begin my post with an excerpt from my medieval novel, Loyalty's Web--different from the excerpt on my current website--so if you'd like to read another snippet from my novel to get a taste for my story and style, stop by my research blog soon! (And don't forget to vote in my reading poll on the right side of the screen while you're there.)


The countdown is currently in progress to win a signed copy of Loyalty's Web and a dragon Christmas ornament for my website/Author's Island Holiday Drawing. Winners will be announced on my website on December 1st, so be sure to check to see if your name appears on my contest page!

Finally, I will be starting a new "After the Holidays" drawing December 1. This will be a drawing ONLY FOR SUBSCRIBERS OF JDP NEWS, so the details for entering will only appear in my December newsletter. This gift will help you find...

...after the hustle and bustle of the holidays. Trust me, ladies, you won't want to miss it!

Update, November 7, 2007

For those who are interested, I have updated my medieval research with joyce blog with a new post on Castles. Also, I have added a new poll, so whether you're interested in research or not, please scroll down the right side of the page and let me know How often will you read a book?

News for November 2007

Wishing a wonderful Thanksgiving Season to all! Wherever you live around the world, with or without an official national holiday, it's always a good time to pause and count the blessings we enjoy each day of our lives.

Among my blessings of family and friends, food to eat each day, a house that protects me from the elements, the unconditional love of two precocious cats, the gift of music in my life, the joy of good books, and always for a wise God who loves me too much to give me everything I want, but generously bestows upon me everything I need, I am also grateful for the kind interest and response I have received to my first publishing venture...Loyalty's Web. This site is designed as a kind of "central station" where subscribers can come to see what's new on my writing front. Click on the links below that interest you, feel free to bypass those that don't. And please don't hesitate to offer suggestions for things you would like to see on this site, either through the "comment" feature here, or by emailing me directly at jdipastena@yahoo.com. If you would like to know how I came to write Loyalty’s Web, you can check out my blog on The Birth of Loyalty's Web. How did the hero of Loyalty’s Web come by his surname? To find out, read Norman Origins of the House of de Bury (Note: Although the character of Guyon de Clères is a fictional character, the events I describe at the Battle of Hastings...including the unhorsing of Duke Williams three times during the battle...is historically accurate.)

COMING UP: Watch for a new Amazon blog in December: Christmas in Poitou!

If you are interested in medieval research, check out my blog on Medieval Research with Joyce on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Here I share research tips and sources and explain how I used them to write my medieval novels. You can even read a short excerpt from Loyalty's Web in my post, Dressing Your Characters, and see how I applied my research to create the short scene. New research blogs will be posted on November 7th & 21st this month!



If you're curious to know more about me, you can read my author interview with Western novelist, Marsha Ward.

Lastly, don’t forget to check my website contest page on December 1st for the winners of my November drawings for 3 autographed copies of Loyalty’s Web, with three accompanying dragon Christmas ornaments. Maybe you’ll see your name there! If not, keep an eye out for a new drawing in December!


(Grrrr!)

See you next month!