Accent
on Books is pleased to celebrate H. Byron Ballard's book "Staubs and Ditchwater: a Friendly and Useful Introduction to
Hillfolks’ Hoodoo" with a launch party on Friday, June 15th at 6PM. The
book is Ballard's first and is published by Silver Rings Press. Ballard will
speak about the process for creating "Staubs and Ditchwater", read a little from
the book and copies will be available for purchase. Light refreshments will be
served. For more information, contact the bookstore at 252-6255 or info@accentonbooks.com. Accent on
Books is located at 654 Merrimon Ave, in north Asheville.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Announcement of Publication--Ta-da!
Silver
Rings Press,
an imprint of indie publisher rENEGADE pLANETS pUBLISHING, Candler, NC,
is pleased to announce the publication of “Staubs and Ditchwater: a Friendly and
Useful Introduction to Hillfolks’ Hoodoo” by H. Byron Ballard. Ballard, a popular blogger and essayist, is a
western North Carolina native whose work has appeared regionally and
nationally.
The
book—part memoir and part instructional primer—is an entertaining introduction
to southern Appalachian folk
magic.
Ballard
leads local and regional workshops on these traditional practices and
techniques. After much thought and
conversations with a wide range of people, she decided to share some of this
information from, in her words, the fading traditional cultures of the southern
Highlands. She found that there is a hunger in both the dominant culture and in
her spiritual community for authentic
information on this subject. She did some research, talked to some
home-folks and created a series of workshops based on what she’s learned and
practiced over the years. This little
book—drawn from the workshop series-- gives the student a good over-view of
techniques, history and a glimpse into the culture from which they all
flow.
Available
June 15, 2012,
this book may be ordered through the author at www.myvillagewitch.com,
byronotthepoet@gmail.com.
Ballard
is a witty and engaging speaker, so
if you’d like to book a reading with her, she’d love to discuss that, too, at
byronotthepoet@gmail.com.
828.216.8961
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Green Folders Full of Information: Press Packets Are Us
Hi, all! A quick note to give you the update on the little stinker of a book. We checked out the proof earlier this week and had a few things to tweak. I am hopeful it will be uploaded to the printer in good time--perhaps before the weekend.
Last week I spent many days enjoying myself at the Pagan Unity Festival in middle Tennessee. I talked about the little book and handed out my hand-made handouts--colorful tracings of my hand with the book info in the palm.
It's one of my little jokes.
Before I left for the festival, I created some fat press packets to deliver to a couple of local bookstores. They contain a press release, some bio information, a photo, reviews/blurbs of the book and ordering information, a Moon Pie--all tucked into a pretty green folder.
They are great fun to make. I'll create a half-dozen more and send them to stores out of the area.
I'm starting to arrange library talks--one so far. I hope they'll host me at the Enka-Candler branch since that's where I grew up. And at the West Asheville branch--where I spent most every Saturday morning.
We designed the shipping label for the books that are being mailed out and I'll start prepping those tomorrow. I pre-sold several more copies at the festival and need to make a few more of these super-cool bookmarks.
In other words--so far, so good.
Last week I spent many days enjoying myself at the Pagan Unity Festival in middle Tennessee. I talked about the little book and handed out my hand-made handouts--colorful tracings of my hand with the book info in the palm.
It's one of my little jokes.
Before I left for the festival, I created some fat press packets to deliver to a couple of local bookstores. They contain a press release, some bio information, a photo, reviews/blurbs of the book and ordering information, a Moon Pie--all tucked into a pretty green folder.
They are great fun to make. I'll create a half-dozen more and send them to stores out of the area.
I'm starting to arrange library talks--one so far. I hope they'll host me at the Enka-Candler branch since that's where I grew up. And at the West Asheville branch--where I spent most every Saturday morning.
We designed the shipping label for the books that are being mailed out and I'll start prepping those tomorrow. I pre-sold several more copies at the festival and need to make a few more of these super-cool bookmarks.
In other words--so far, so good.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Got It Covered...sort of
It seemed so simple. Easy. Gentle.
This lovely cover was designed ages ago by my formatter and friend, Dio. I even have it on a 7-day candle that I use for my Village Witch displays.
But it was a little stinker, as we say around here.
When the "back matter" had been added and the allowance made for the spine, there was a problem with the trim line and the text being too close to it.
Mercy.
So it took some time to solve that little dilemma. And I worked on my patience for a bit.
la la la drum, drum, drum (imagine me with my elbows on the table, gazing out the window, drumming my fingertips...)
I have so much to learn about patience and trust and this little book has been an awfully good teacher. I hope you learn as much from reading it as I have from going through the process of publishing it.
Lawsy. Keeps my gratitude spout wide open though. Nice to remember there are good people and great kindness in my little corner of the big world.
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