May 15, 2008

Today is May 15th. Can you believe the month is already half-over? I think it all began when Easter fell in March this year. It’s like we lost an entire holiday month! Summer is right around the corner, which means triple-digit temperatures where I live. So far, May has been a fairly mild month, but that appears in danger of ending any moment now. For those of you living in more extended “spring” areas, I will soon be envying you!

DRAWING REMINDER:

My “Loyalty’s Web: New Adventure” drawing, to celebrate my new contract with Leatherwood Press, is also still open for entries. If you haven’t already entered, don’t delay! All you have to do is send me an email to jdipastena@yahoo.com, with “Loyalty’s Web: New Adventure” in the subject line, and “I can’t wait to see the new cover!” in the body of the email. (With your name and mailing address, so the prize can find you if you win it!)

And speaking of prizes, click here to take a look at what could be waiting for you: Mrs. Cavanaugh's World Famous Chocolate.

If you win, I’ll even give you your choice: dark, milk or mixed.

Deadline for this drawing: May 30th.

BLOG UPDATES:

For you medieval researchers and/or medieval writers out there, I have updated my medieval research with joyce blog with a post entitled: More on Castles. My post focuses on the book, The Castle Story by Sheila Sancha, a research book recommended to me by British medieval fiction author, Elizabeth Chadwick. (Elizabeth left a comment on my post, so check that out to while you're there.)



MISC:

I still have a few “old cover” copies of Loyalty’s Web available for 30% off the cover price. They are available for $13.25 (a $5.70 savings) plus $2.00 shipping. Email me at jdipastena@yahoo.com to reserve a copy, since this offer is only good for as long as my supplies last, and I will email you back with details on payment options. International orders wilhave to pay the full cost of shipping, minus $2.00/USD.

April 28, 2008

You haven’t forgotten about my most recent website drawing have you? Well, I guess it’s not actually a “website” drawing, since I’m giving you all the information you need to enter it here without ever having to visit my website this time round.

To celebrate the upcoming re-publication of my medieval novel, Loyalty’s Web, by Leatherwood Press, I’m offering a 1 pound box of Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Home Fashioned Chocolates (I’ll even let you choose…dark, milk chocolate, or mix!) to someone who emails the line, “Can’t wait to see the new cover!” to me at jdipastena@yahoo.com. Be sure to type “Loyalty’s Web: New Adventure” in the subject line. The deadline for entering is May 30th. I know that seems like a long time away, but enter early before you forget!

Speaking of new covers, my editor at Leatherwood Press wants me to hold off on offering copies of Loyalty’s Web as drawing prizes until the new cover version becomes available. What to do, now, with the few copies I have left of Loyalty’s Web that look like this?

My “leftovers” have to go, preferably before the new cover version comes out, so while supplies last, I’m offering anyone interested the opportunity to reserve and purchase a copy with the “old” cover at a 30% discount. That beats even the current 10% discount on Amazon! (And you never know…it could be a collector’s item some day!)

If you’d like to purchase a copy of Loyalty’s Web for $13.25 (a $5.70 savings off the cover price!), plus only $2.00 shipping (total: $15.25), email me at jdipastena@yahoo.com to reserve a copy, since this offer is only good for as long as my supplies last. I will email you back with details on payment options. International orders will have to pay the full cost of shipping, minus $2.00/USA.

In other news:

I have updated my medieval research with joyce blog with a book review of the medieval novel, Walk With Peril. Although the book is currently out of print, used copies are available very inexpensively through Amazon. Personally, I think the book is a treasure for hardcore medievalholics. Check out my review to see if you think it might be up your alley too, or not.

I have also (finally) updated my Medieval Vignettes blog with a new flashback scene based on Loyalty’s Web, entitled, “Picking Herbs”. Hope you enjoy it!

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JDP NEWS is also available in a Subscriber version. Subscribers receive extra privileges, such as extra chances to enter my website drawings and special Subscriber-only drawings. To join, send an email request to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Upon confirmation, be sure to follow all the instructions to successfully become a Subscriber member!

April 21, 2008

And the winner of my latest Loyalty’s Web-site contest is…AnneMarie DeRemer of New Jersey!!!

Congratulations, AnneMarie! You will be receiving a signed copy of Loyalty’s Web, along with a miniature medieval pillow/sachet from the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Keep an eye on your mailbox. The pair will be on their way to you soon!



Now for some good news for me! I have just been offered a contract by Leatherwood Press to take over publishing rights for Loyalty’s Web. That means a new cover, new promotion, and future availability in brick and mortar bookstores, in addition to the internet.

A contract offer is a biggie, and how better to celebrate than with chocolate? I’d like to share some with you! So I’m offering a 1 lb box of Mrs Cavanaugh’s Home Fashioned Chocolates to some lucky person who sends me an email to jdipastena@yahoo.com. Please type “Loyalty’s Web: New Adventure” in the subject line, and in the body of the email type: “Can’t wait to see the new cover!” Deadline for entering is May 30th.

More prizes to follow as future milestones are reached along the way to new publication, so keep an eye on this blogsite. You never know what will be coming next!

JDP NEWS update, April 14, 20

Are you having a good spring? We hit 92 degrees in my part of Arizona today, so it’s quickly starting to feel like summer here. (Although when we hit 110 degrees, I know I’ll be looking longingly back on this 92 degree day.)

Tomorrow night (April 15), I will be doing a presentation on my medieval novel, Loyalty's Web, for the 50th Anniversary of the Kearny Public Library. I’m pretty nervous about it, as it’s my first “presentation” on pretty much anything, so wish me luck!

I have a few updates and reminders to share with all of you.



I have posted a new Clio’s Corner on my website. If you’d like to read about exercise advice for people in the Middle Ages, check it out!




Loyalty’s Web will once more be Book of the Day on AuthorIsland this Wednesday, April 16. If you’re like me, you’ll be needing a reward the day after “tax day”, and how better to reward yourself than with an entertaining romp through Middle Ages? Check out AuthorIsland on Wednesday to see how you can win a free, signed copy of Loyalty’s Web.






April 20th is the last day to enter my website drawing to win a copy of Loyalty’s Web plus this beautiful miniature “medieval” pillow from the Arizona Renaissance Festival. Check out the News & Contests page on my website for details on how to enter.



Finally, I have some exciting news coming up about Loyalty’s Web in the near future. So stay tuned. Celebratory prizes may be involved!

JDP NEWS update, April 1, 2004

I’m back from my trek to Salt Lake City, Utah, where I had to switch my wardrobe from Arizona short sleeves to Salt Lake City long sleeves and sweaters while I was there. Brrrr! As if that weren’t bad enough, it actually had the nerve to SNOW one day. My deepest sympathies to those of you still suffering from frigid weather, but there’s a reason I live in Arizona, after all, and it doesn’t include seeing snow outside my window at the end of March.


Nevertheless, I had a wonderful time soaking up knowledge to improve my writing skills at the Storymakers Writers Conference and attending the very elegant Whitney Awards Gala, even though my novel, Loyalty’s Web, did not win an award. However, Loyalty’s Web was nominated in the largest category (over 80 entries in the Women’s Fiction/Romance Category), so I remain very pleased to have landed among the top five finalists.


In other news:

Amazon is now offering Loyalty's Web at a 10% discount. If you do not already own a copy, this would be a great time to hop over to Amazon.com and snap a copy up!

Website drawing reminder: If you haven’t already entered the new drawing on my website, check out my News & Contests page there.


On the way home from Salt Lake City, I stopped at the Arizona Renaissance Festival and did a book signing for Loyalty’s Web at Lady Ann Chamberlin’s bookshop. It was a wonderful experience, meeting both readers and aspiring writers, and I’ve been invited to return next year. I’ve attended the Arizona Renaissance Festival “for fun” for all twenty years of its existence, but this is the first time I’ve dressed up in costume. Thought you might all get a kick out of seeing my Lady Joyce of Pastena attire. If you’d like to read an account of my experience at the festival, you can go to ANWA Founders & Friends and read my blog.

ANWA Founder & Friends is a blog maintained by members of the American Night Writers Association (ANWA), a writing group for LDS women and women who uphold similar standards in their writing. I blog there every other Monday. The topics are wide ranging, from writing, to family, to spiritual, to personal experience. If you’re interested in such subjects, you might like to check out ANWA Founder & Friends to see where our ramblings take us.

Finally, in other blogging news, for those of you who follow my medieval research with joyce blog, I will regrettably be cutting back my blogs to once a month for the foreseeable future. The reason? I am beginning work on the final revisions of my spinoff to Loyalty’s Web, tentatively titled Illuminations of the Heart. Needless to say, this will be consuming a great deal of my free time, hence my need to cut back on other projects a bit. However, once I have completed my revisions, I hope to resume a twice monthly blog on my medieval research site, with both continuing posts on my research for Loyalty’s Web, as well as new posts on researching Illuminations of the Heart.

Well, that’s it for now! I wish a blessed spring for you all, and a swift thaw for those of you still struggling in the cold! May April bring you many warm and happy days.

JDP NEWS update, March 17, 2008

DRAWING UPDATES:

Congratulations to Melissa Keith of Rhode Island for winning my medieval research with joyce Research Book Drawing. Her prize is a hardback copy of Medieval Wordbook by Madeleine Pelner Cosman. Have fun researching, Melissa! I hope you enjoy your prize.

I posted a new website drawing today. Prizes? To find out, go to my website, look at my News & Contest page, and follow the instructions there.

BLOG UPDATES: I updated my medieval research with joyce blog on Thursday, March 6th, with a post titled, “What’s for Dinner?” In this post, I share information from one of my favorite books on medieval meals, Fabulous Feasts by Madeleine Pelner Cosman. (Interestingly, the same author who wrote Medieval Wordbook!) If you’re interested in this subject, check it out.

BOOK SIGNINGS: I’ve been invited to sign copies of my medieval novel, Loyalty’s Web, during the last weekend of the Arizona Renaissance Festival. The signing will take place from 2:00-3:00 PM at Lady Ann Chamberlin’s Bookshop (booth 309A). For location directions, go to Royal Faires. (And while you're there, browse the entire site. It's fun!)

Finally, I’m off to Utah next week to attend the Storymakers Writers Conference, where Loyalty’s Web is a finalist for a Whitney Award. Winners will be announced at an awards gala on Saturday night, March 22nd, so wish me luck! I’ll see you all when I get back.

And the winner is...

The winner of my first website drawing for 2008 is... Gigi Hicks of Georgia!!!






Gigi has won a free, autographed copy of my medieval novel, Loyalty's Web...










..along with a 150 ml tube of Seacret Select Hand Cream. Seacret Select comes enriched with "Dead Sea minerals that nurture the skin and enhance its healthy look."



Congratulations, Gigi! I hope you'll enjoy your prizes! They'll be on the way to you soon.

I'm off to the ANWA Writers Conference and Book Signing in Gilbert, Arizona for the weekend. When I get back, I'll begin work on a new website drawing. Subscription JDP NEWS members will be the first to know when I get it posted!

February 22, 2008

NEW DRAWING:

I just got back from the Arizona Renaissance Festival, where I picked up some trifles, knick-knacks, and a few more expensive items for future drawings. Some will be available to everyone on my website, others on some of my blogs, but I’m going to start with a drawing available only to subscribers of JDP NEWS. This prize falls into the medieval knick-knack category, but if interested, subscribe to JDP NEWS today! Deadline for entering the drawing is March 31.


OTHER DRAWING UPDATES:




There are a few more days left before my website drawing for a free copy of Loyalty’s Web and a 150 ml tube of Seacret Select Hand Cream draws to a close on February 28. If you haven’t yet entered, hop on over to the News & Contests page of my website and get your entry to me ASAP!








For those interested in writing medieval fiction, my drawing for a free copy of Medieval Wordbook is also still open on my medieval research with joyce blogsite. Go to my post on Research Book Drawing for details on how to enter.




BLOG UPDATES

My blogsite, medieval research with joyce, has been updated twice this month, with two posts on the research book, Medieval English Gardens, by Teresa McLean. If you are interested in writing medieval fiction, or merely interested in medieval gardens, check out my two most recent posts.


BOOK SIGNING REMINDER


And finally, for those of you who live in the sunny state of Arizona, don’t forget that I will be signing copies of my Whitney Award finaling book, Loyalty’s Web, on Saturday, March 1st, from 4:45-5:30 PM at the Eagle’s Aeirie School in Gilbert, Arizona (17019 South Greenfield Rd, Gilbert, AZ 85295). The book signing will follow the 2008 American Night Writers Association (ANWA) Writers Conference. This Conference is open to anyone interested in writing. Details about the conference, book signing and location can be found at http://anwa-lds.com/register-08.html. I’d love to see any of you there!

Welcome to February!

For all of you who follow my blog, medieval research with joyce, I am moving my posting dates to the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, because of a scheduling conflict with Wednesdays. My newest post is now up, on the subject of "Medieval Gardens". This will be a two-part post, so be sure to return on February 21st to learn "the rest of the story" about my research book, Medieval English Gardens, by Teresa McLean.

Also, don't forget that my drawing for an autographed copy of Loyalty's Web and a 150 ml tube of Seacret Select Hand Cream (enriched with select ingredients from the Dead Sea) is still running on my website, www.joyce-dipastena.com. (See News & Contests page.) If you haven't entered yet, now's the time to do so. Deadline: February 28, with winner to be announced on Leap Day, February 29.

Another reminder: I will be doing a book signing for Loyalty's Web following the American Night Writers Association (ANWA) writing conference on March 1st, 2008, from 4:45-5:30 PM. For more information on the writing conference (everyone interested in writing is invited to attend), check out the AWNA website, which includes topics, speakers, and a location map.

The book signing, of course, is free. Location: Eagle’s Aerie School in Gilbert, AZ; 17019 South Greenfield Road, Gilbert, Arizona (NE corner of Greenfield Rd/Santan village Parkway and Pecos Road.) Tha'ts 4:45-5:30 PM. If any of you are in the area that day, I'd love to see you there!

Book of the Day, Book Signings and more

January is flying by! In two days it will be February, and my medieval novel, Loyalty’s Web, will once again be “Book of the Day” on Author Island. If you still don't have a copy, check my book's spotlight on February 1st, for another excellent opportunity to win a free, autographed copy!

In additional news, I have several book signings coming up. First, I will be signing copies of Loyalty’s Web at the Ray Primary School in Kearny, AZ on February 14, 2008 from 4-6 PM. Location: 651 Senator Chastain Dr, Kearny, Arizona.

I will also be signing copies of Loyalty’s Web following the American Night Writers Association (ANWA) writing conference on March 1st, 2008, from 4:45-5:30 PM. Location: Eagle’s Aerie School in Gilbert, AZ; 17019 South Greenfield Road, Gilbert, Arizona (NE corner of Greenfield Rd/Santan village Parkway and Pecos Road.)

I will be in Sandy, Utah on March 22, to attend the Whitney Awards Gala. I’m in the process of setting up a book signing before and/or after the gala with the other finalists and winners. Details to follow.

Finally, for any hard-core history buffs or would-be writers out there, I am currently running a drawing on my Medieval Research blogsite for a research book: Medieval Wordbook, by Madeleine Pelner Cosman. If interested, go to my post at medieval research with joyce for more details about the book and how to enter.

In the News: Loyalty's Web

I’d like to announce that Loyalty’s Web is a finalist for a 2007 Whitney Award in the Romance/Woman’s Fiction Category. My book is competing with national bestseller, Eclipse, by Stephanie Meyer, so I consider myself in good company. ☺ Winners will be announced March 22, 2008. Click on the banner below for more information.




I will also be holding my first book signing for Loyalty’s Web on February 14, from 4:00-6:00 PM at the Kearny Public School Library, in Kearny, Arizona. I’d love to see any Arizonans (or anyone else!) there!

Happy New Year! 2008

Happy New Year to you all!

Can you believe it's already 2008? I'm sure we're all still recovering from the holidays (at least, I know I am!), so I'll keep this short with just a couple of update announcements:


For those who are interested in a bit of historical trivia, I have updated the Clio's Corner feature on my website, with some information about the 12 Days of Christmas. (And you thought Christmas was over!)


My medieval research blog (medieval research with joyce) will be updated this Saturday--a delay from last Wednesday, for which I hope my readers will forgive me. The topic this week will be "poison", and it's a pretty good bet that cowbane will be making an appearance somewhere in my post.

And last, but never least, I'm holding a NEW DRAWING on my webpage. If you're interested in entering, go to my News & Contests page for the details. And please don't forget to include your mailing address with your entries!

+ ?

That's it for now. Short and sweet.

I wish you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!

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!