2008 goddess calendar survey results!

Yes, the survey results are in! I will be producing a 2008 Goddess Calendar — thanks to all who took a moment to share their opinions!

The feedback was split almost exactly 50/50 between the 8.5 x 11″ regular edition and the 17 x 11″ deluxe edition of the calendar. Fortunately, since there were so much interest, I’ll be able to offer both versions for purchase.

A few other people suggested a Goddess Datebook. Though I did produce a black and white one a few years ago, I think most people prefer full color datebooks. Unfortunately, production costs would be too high to make a full color datebook financially feasible at this stage. If I can figure out a way to print a datebook more cheaply without sacrificing quality, this is definitely something that will be revisited in the future — maybe next year.

The calendars will go on sale a week from now. If you’d like to be notified when they’re available, please send an e-mail to e-comment at artandwords dot com.

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book deadline update

I haven’t been posting as much as I usually do these days. That’s because I’m smack dab in the middle of the New Book about queens and it feels like just about every one of my brain cells is currently occupied.

Here’s the latest stats:

manuscript deadline: January 2008

word count: about 27,000 words down, probably another 25,000 to go.

queen count: 22 bios written, another 28 to go. On the plus side, I’ve tackled the more complex stories first, such as Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette and Jane Grey — my version of riding a bike up a steep hill, so I can coast down the other side.

So I’m about where I envisioned I’d be in my handy-dandy schedule that I created for this book. The most intense process for this book has been all the research. I haven’t read this much in years! I’d say I’m averaging about 1000 pages a week, maybe more. Right now, I’m reading about Josephine, Napoleon’s empress.

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On the goddess calendar front, thanks to all for your responses! I now have enough information to make an informed decision. I’ll be making an announcement regarding the calendar probably later this week.
(If you haven’t taken the survey yet, I’d still love to hear from you — knowledge is power and all that.)

Technorati Tags: queens, books by kris waldherr, book deadlines

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survey: should I publish a goddess calendar?

Right now, I’m mulling over whether I should publish a goddess calendar for 2008 — and am inviting you to help me decide! I’ve posted a short three question survey here.

The calendar would feature 12 goddesses, with short descriptions of their divine attributes. It would be printed on full color coated stock and have spiral binding. Here’s what the calendar would look like:

For me to go forth and create this calendar, I’d need a minimum of 100 definite sales to make a print run feasible.

I hope you will take a moment to take the survey.

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goddess art of the day: Brigit

The fire of inspiration is a gift all writers and poets yearn to experience. Celtic people of long ago entreated the goddess Brigit for this divine spark. Wise Brigit was thought to take the form of a triple goddess, with each aspect of her divinity bearing a special function. As Brigit, goddess of poetry, poets asked her to take possession of their imaginations to bring forth words capable of moving people to tears and laughter. Brigit, the goddess of smithing, taught humans the important craft of forging iron, allowing them to create tools to aid their work; perhaps as a reflection of this, some believe her name translates as “the fiery arrow.” Finally, Brigit, the goddess of healing, shared her knowledge of herbs to heal the ill.

Brigit’s sacred holiday, the feast of Imbolg, is observed the first of February. It is a celebration that welcomes the return of light after the dark winter. It also marks the start of lambing season, and the new life that arrives with the start of spring.

Though I’ve painted and drawn Brigit for other publications, this drawing was created for Goddess Alive, a book I recently illustrated for Llewellyn Publications. I used pencil, white gouache on tinted paper. The book features 13 Celtic goddesses, each associated with the turn of the seasons and the phases of the moon. Order from amazon.com.

Technorati Tags: Brigit, goddess art, Kris Waldherr

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Art and Words Extra

The next issue of Art and Words Extra, my e-mail newsletter, is going to be sent out in the next day or so. This issue includes inside information about my new book and a love goddesses freebie to download (available only for subscribers).

If you’re not a subscriber, click here to sign up. As a thank you, you’ll receive twelve Goddess Inspiration Oracle cards and an excerpt from the book.

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