In the World of Hoodoo, Payback is a Bitch

I'm not sure which situation is the best indicator of having "arrived" in the world of books - book reviews or piracy -  but I do know which one I don't appreciate, and that is the pirate.


My books have been pirated so many times, that I once calcuated on one site alone that if I had one dollar for each download of the Voodoo Hoodoo Spellbook I would be a millionaire, and that was 5 years ago. Oh how different life could be without the pirate; but alas, they don't care about authors and starving artists.


There are two kinds of pirates. One is the small-minded book thief who feels that if it is on the internet, it should be free. Period. Never mind the months or years it may have taken for the author to write the book, WITHOUT PAY. And, contrary to what some of these folks believe, even after publishing we don't see a payday until any advances are paid back and then hope we sell enough books to get somewhat of a paycheck.


Then, there is the calculated, evil book thief who sets themselves up for a payday on our hard work. They upload the books to torrent sites or other pay-to-download sites where an individual can purchase the download, illegally, for much less than if purchased legitimately. And where does the money go? To the torrent site and the scum bag who uploaded it there.

One might wonder the thought process of pirates who steal the work of witches, warlocks and hoodoos. Clearly they do not believe and stealing our work is not only stealing from our livelihood, it is a mockery of our work and for many of us, a mockery of our belief systems. Ok, that's cool, you don't have to believe. Just call me Honey Badger, because I really don't care if you believe or not.

But I do care that pirates are getting paid from my hard work. And in the world of hoodoo, payback is a bitch.


So, I decided to have a little fun at the expense of the first pirate I discovered completely accidentally, when going to upload a promotional video for the book on You Tube. I mean, the book hadn't even been out 2 weeks and this guys got a promo video for it with a download link.

Xiaolu Guo, it's time to play, New Orleans style!

You have so thoughtfully left me a tail of taglocks to use, so thank you for that, I truly appreciate it. For those of you who may not know, a taglock is a term used in image magick for a personal effect that links to the person to whom it belongs. Taglocks can be physical things like hair or fingernails, signatures or photographs, or simply names. In your case Xiaolu, I have your name (whether or not it is your real name doesn't matter - you have "signed" your name digitally to your YouTube account and in the world of magick, that counts), you have linked to your blog where you are offering countless authors' books for illegal download, so I can use your website header image as another taglock, AND you have provided a link to that wretched torrent site who is also on my Voudou hit list. Download Genius has been enabling pirates for years and its time they get in the hoodoo payback game too.

It's the Voodoo Doll Spellbook in action y'all! Are we having fun yet?


Stay tuned as I take a break to go create my pirate voodoo doll using image magick concepts to link Xiaolu Guo's soul to a conjure doll...I'll be back with photos and the details and my plan for revenge on behalf of all book authors who are victims of pirates across the globe.


Laissez les bone temps rouler!

First Official Book Review!

 

Reviews - both good and not so good - are an expected part of the territory for any author. It's always nice to start a new book off with a positive review from a completely objective source, though! Here's the first official review from Midwest Book Review I just received from my publisher:
 

Wisconsin Bookwatch: June 2014
James A. Cox, Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575
 

The Metaphysical Studies Shelf
 

The Voodoo Doll Spellbook
Denise Alvarado
Red Wheel/Weiser/Conari
665 Third Street, San Francisco, CA 94107

9781578635542 $21.95

 
www.redwheelweiser.com

The Voodoo Doll Spellbook: A Compendium of Recent and Contemporary Spells and Rituals is a serious-minded guide based on New Orleans voodoo and hoodoo traditions, as well as incorporating spellwork from ancient Egypt, Chaldea, Greece, Africa, Europe, and author Denise Alvarado's own grimoires. Individual incantations range from spells for self-improvement, protection, good luck, and love charms, to aggressive spells that will make a couple quarrel, bind or curse an enemy, or sway a person's opinion to one's personal direction. Methodical descriptions of rituals, reproductions of chants, and guides for crafting effective hex dolls make The Voodoo Doll Spellbook readily accessible to readers of all backgrounds - but like any other form of power, Voodoo is a dangerous force, and should be utilized only with the greatest respect, caution, and need. Highly recommended especially for metaphysical collections with a focus on magic.

St. Francis of Assisi’s Protection Doll for Pets and Blessing for Animals

Welcome to the new blog for the new edition of the Voodoo Doll Spellbook!

As I was sitting here contemplating what spell to share with you from the book, I decided upon the St. Francis of Assisi protection doll for pets. Just a few days ago when gardening, my son uncovered a statue of St. Francis that had been buried in the front yard; unusual, since it is typically St. Joseph that is buried when the owner of a home wishes to sell or rent. In any event, that is what prompted me to share this spell with you. That, and because my most popular doll sold for years now has been my Black Cat Charm Doll.

St. Francis of Assissi Protection Doll for Pets

The relationship between humans and their pets is like no other because communication is at its most basic. The unconditional love and undying loyalty are virtues few people can achieve; yet, they are second nature to many animals.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, people will take their pets to church with them for a special blessing. At Franciscan churches, a friar with brown robe and white cord often welcomes each animal with a special prayer. There may be occasions when you want to bless your animal companions or provide them with extra protection. When this is the case, make the following animal poppet and perform the St. Francis of Assisi blessing to keep them safe and blessed.

Make a poppet in the likeness of your pet. For example, if you have a dog, make a dog poppet, if you have a cat, make a cat poppet, if you have a bird, make a bird poppet, and so on. Stuff the poppet with a blend of the following herbs: mugwort, sage, cedar, Dragon’s Blood, and lavender. Add some of your pet’s hair, feathers, nails, scales, etc. and a piece of paper bearing their name to the doll and stitch it closed. Place the poppet on your altar and say the following prayer in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures. 

Franciscan Blessing for All Animals

Blessed are you, Lord God,
maker of all living creatures.
On the fifth and sixth days of creation,
you called forth fish in the sea,
birds in the air and animals on the land.
You inspired St. Francis to call all animals
his brothers and sisters.
We ask you to bless this animal.
By the power of your love,
enable it to live according to your plan.
May we always praise you
for all your beauty in creation.
Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.

Franciscan Blessing for a Sick Animal

Heavenly Father,
you created all things for your glory
and made us stewards of this creature.
If it is your will, restore it to health and strength.
Blessed are you, Lord God,
and holy is your name for ever and ever. Amen.

As the prayer is offered, the poppet is gently sprinkled with holy water. When you are done, keep the doll in a safe place in your home.

Find more spells in the Voodoo Doll Spellbook.