Thursday, May 25, 2017

Summer Giveaway Series! The "Summer's Coming" Giveaway

Hardcover of The Book of Life (signed by Deborah Harkness) and a glass cabochon necklace is up for grabs!

The time has come! Summer giveaways have started! It's early, you say? Never, we say! Anyway, we are offering up a (now) rare first edition hardcover of The Book of Life! Oh, and some swag! You will have many ways to enter (do one, some, or all), including trivia involving one of our chapter episodes of Daemons Discuss, social media follows, and in support of All Souls Con, we are offering entries to register to live stream the event! If you've already registered to attend in person or to live stream (live streaming is FREE, thanks to Penguin Books), then you are set! Just enter the email you registered with! As always, Twitter users can enter daily.

Up for grabs:

The Book of Life (US first edition hardcover), signed by Deborah Harkness.
A glass cabochon necklace featuring the Tree of Life in the setting - see it --> here

This giveaway is open internationally; read the terms/conditions at the end of this post, and enter below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway Terms and Conditions:
•  Contest ends the night of the 8th of June 2017 at 11:59pm.  Clock is set for EST.  Check for time zone differences!
•  No purchase or membership is required for participation.
•  Please know that we will never use your information to spam you, nor will we sell it to another outlet.  We hate that, we know you do too. 😖
•  Twitter users will have the opportunity to enter daily. 
•  "Share" entries must have the accompanying URL provided for verification.
•  "Follow" Social media entries (with the exception of Facebook): if the entrant follows on social media, they must be a current follower at the time of the drawing.  Following to enter, then unfollowing will disqualify the entrant.  Following is an option and is not mandatory.   We want you to want to follow us and our partners.  If you don't, no worries and no hard feelings!  You are still welcomed to enter! Tweeting daily works for us!
•   Point system correlates to how many entries you are given.  Example: if you respond correctly to a trivia question (if the contest includes them) worth 3 points, you will be given 3 entries.  Yes, we check the answers! ;)
•  We reserve the right to disqualify entrants to who do not meet the specified criteria. 
•  Winner will be chosen by random drawing (using the Rafflecopter app) at contest end.  Provided all the entry requirements are met (trivia answer[s] are correct, or social media entry verifies), the winner will be contacted via email within 72 hours of contest end, and will have an additional 72 hours to respond afterwards. If there is no response, or the selected entrant fails to meet criteria, a new winner will be chosen and notified using the same method mentioned above.
•  This promotion is sponsored by Daemons Domain in support of All Souls Con. It is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with any of the social media venues (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, & Pinterest) we use to publicize it.  The aforementioned parties are hereby released of any liability. 
•  This contest is open internationally.  If a contest winner is chosen outside of the US, mail may be delayed depending on location of the recipient.  Please be patient, we'll make sure it arrives safely!

If you have any additional questions re: this giveaway, feel free to send us an email!  Email us at promosA4C@gmail.com - Subject: "Summer's Coming 2017 Giveaway"

Good Luck!
xo, ~The Daemons

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Thursday, May 18, 2017

Daemons Discuss - Podcast: Take 16! | Chapter Discussion about the All Souls Trilogy; Ch 11-15 of A Discovery of Witches

We map our journey in A Discovery of Witches; ch 11-15
Take 16 - The One With the Owl

Description: Originally this was to be called "The One With the Dates," but hey. We're Daemons. We change our minds sometimes. We talk about start of the whirlwind courtship that eventually — in about +/- 70 chapters — culminates into the Bishop-Clairmont scion. Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves, though! This is the beginning of a new era, so we will take our time to savor the moments (Matthew-style, even though he was annoying us with his teasing!) From snowflakes to Sept-Tours, this is the episode containing the stuff in between.

SPOILER ALERT! We (The Daemons) approach this podcast with an assumption that the listener has read The All Souls Trilogy, including A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life.  If you haven't, and you don't mind, we certainly don't mind!  😊  Let's do this.

Listen:


1. Show notes:

For newcomers to the series:
- We'll start with the basics: The books in discussion are A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of Life.  Together they make The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. 
- Our Daemon Guides to the All Souls Trilogy are available for download: ADOW, SON, TBOL
Deb's newsletter; subscribe on her website
- If you'd like a ready-reference from the author herself, be sure to download the All Souls Real-Time Reading companion (free e-book at online booksellers via Penguin and Headline books).
- Deborah Harkness usually conducts a real-time reading on her Facebook Page (starting in September), and shares her posts across social media.  Check out her website for all of her social media links, and of course all that she has to offer her readers!  Be sure to sign up for her newsletter while you are there!
- To see what's available on the web as far as the All Souls universe fandom, check our links page.

In this episode:
* (00:27) - All Souls Con info:
Passes: $79, virtual passes: $0 (! --> thanks goes to Penguin Books for sponsoring the live stream)  All early bird prices end the 15th of June, 2017 — Virtual passes will remain absolutely free!  Regular passes will go up to $99. 
* (00:59) - We’re sorry, or you’re welcome (depending on who you are!) This is a longer episode (we normally like to keep regular episodes between 35-55 minutes – all bets are off with the special editions), but sometimes in post-production we get really attached to the audio, because we don’t want to cut things we think add overall value for the listener’s benefit (information and/or entertainment). Weigh in with your input on the short survey below! This is to feed our curiosity about listener preferences:


survey service

* (02:30) - Thank you, Discussers! Shouts out goes to Stephen, Lisa, & Karina!

a. Chapter 11
* (06:23) - Snowflakes!
"When Matthew came into the Selden End, without warning or sound, no icy patches announced his arrival. Instead there were touches of snowflakes all along my hair, shoulders, and back, as if he were checking quickly to make sure I was all in one piece.
My fingers gripped the table in front of me. For a few moments, I didn’t dare turn in case it was simply Miriam. When I saw it was indeed Matthew, my heart gave a single loud thump."
* (06:56) - I understand there has been some excitement (in Valerie’s heart!)
He dragged his eyes from the witch and strode to my side. When I frowned uncertainly at his fierce expression, he gave me a reassuring smile. “I understand there’s been some excitement.” He was so close that the coolness of his body felt as refreshing as a breeze on a summer day.
* (07:56) - Matthew Clairmont's patience. Matthew: “Can it wait?” Angela, Jean & Valerie: “NOOOOOOooooo!”
Can our conversation wait—just until the end of the day?” he asked. Matthew’s fingers strayed up to touch a bump on his sternum that was visible under the soft fibers of his sweater. I wondered what he was wearing, close to his heart. “We could go to yoga.”
* (09:01) - More creature myths busted . . .
“Because some things shouldn’t be discussed in mixed company,” he said with a touch of impatience. “Do witches tell creatures who aren’t witches that they’ve just returned from four days of casting spells and boiling bats?”
“Witches don’t boil bats!” I said indignantly.
“The point remains.”
* (09:35) - Valerie says Aly’s episode is the “next episode.” It was at the time of recording, but in publishing reality, it’s actually the previous episode. It can be found here: go.DaemonsDiscuss.com/SE02

* (09:46) - Amira has to drag these two inside. Others are starting to notice the Matthew/Diana connection.  We assume that Amira,  – being an empath – knew from the first class they attended together.
“Are you two coming in, or are you going to practice out here on the drive?” Amira called from the doorway.
* (10:15) - The Ampulla
A "replica" of Matthew Clairmont's Ampulla from Trilogie

* (10:19) - That damn owl! We discuss spirit animals, signs, Easter eggs, the placement of the owl, the owls being messengers, association with death, or was it just a way to show Matthew’s being protective or attentive.

* (12:57) - The ride home. The talk. The establishment of “friendship”
Is that what we are, then? Friends?” Matthew asked.
“I think so. Friends tell each other the truth, even when it’s difficult.” Disconcerted by the seriousness of the conversation, I toyed with the ties on my sweater.
* (13:29) - She asks him to dinner.
Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow?” I asked him, my voice low. “We could talk about what happened then.”
Matthew froze, confusion flitting over his face along with something I couldn’t name. His fingers flexed slightly around the pilgrim’s badge before he released it.
“I’d like that,” he said slowly.

b. Chapter 12
* (14:38) - Shopping for dinner. Jean and Angela thought the dinner may have been delicious. Valerie lives in the one of the seafood capitols of the world (also with a world-famous covered market — fish-mongers and all), yet doesn’t enjoy fish, or game really. Oh well. As long as Matthew enjoys it.

Oxford's covered market
* (17:07) - Diana’s getting ready for this dinner was charming. From contacting a zoologist, to picking out the wine and finding clothing to wear.

* (18:44) - Did Rebecca use a cloaking spell? Valerie thinks it could be possible, but Jean took it as how Diana interpreted the love on her mother’s face.
My mother’s face stared back at me from the mirror. I thought of how beautiful she’d looked when she sat down to dinner, and I wondered what  she’d done to make her pale eyebrows and lashes stand out the way they did and why her wide mouth looked so different when she smiled at me or my father.
* (19:58) - Jean thought this book, maybe written a few years later, Diana would've been watching a YouTube makeover tutorial. Kandee Johnson has a YouTube channel, perhaps Diana could’ve benefited! Val's personal favorite makeover channel: Pixiwoo.

* (20:55) - Like a prince in a fairy tale… more creature myths. Matthew is just being polite!
When I pulled the door open, Matthew stood outside looking like the prince in a fairy tale, tall and straight. In a break with his usual habits, he wore unadulterated black, which only made him look more striking—and more a vampire.
He waited patiently on the landing while I examined him.
“Where are my manners? Please come in, Matthew. Will that do as a formal invitation to enter my house?” I had seen that on TV or read it in a book.
His lips curved into a smile. “Forget most of what you think you know about vampires, Diana. This is just normal politeness. I’m not being held back by a mystical barrier standing between me and a fair maiden.” Matthew had to stoop slightly to make it through the doorframe. He cradled a bottle of wine and carried some white roses.
* (21:27) The comet. This chapter is Easter egg laden, and this is the first time Valerie Googled something for this book.

* (22:00) - Château d'Yquem - Jean says it’s everything that’s your particular favorite in a glass.

© AFP | Vineyards surround Château d'Yquem in Bordeaux, southwestern France
* (22:49) - Matthew’s aquiline nose. Valerie and Jean have expressed that they love the look on people. Those of you blessed with this regal nose, please . . . skip the surgery!
aq·ui·line
ˈakwəˌlīn,ˈakwəˌlin/
adjective
adjective: aquiline

    like an eagle.
        (of a person's nose) hooked or curved like an eagle's beak.
        synonyms:    hooked, curved, bent, angular, Roman; beaklike, beaky
        "an aquiline nose"
* (22:32) - The power of smell.  Smell is a huge factor in this book. This chapter is basically smell and taste.

* (24:27) - Matthew is 1500 years old!
“I believe that my body is nearly thirty-seven years of age. I was born around the time Clovis converted to Christianity. My parents remembered that, or I’d have no idea. We didn’t keep track of birthdays back then. It’s tidier to pick the date of five hundred and be done with it.” He looked up at me, briefly, and returned his attention to the candles. “I was reborn a vampire in 537, and with the exception of Attila—who was before my time—you’ve touched on most of the high and low points in the millennium between then and the year I put the keystone into my house in Woodstock. Because you’re a historian, I feel obligated to tell you that Machiavelli was not nearly as impressive as you all seem to think he was. He was just a Florentine politician—and not a terribly good one at that.” A note of weariness had crept into his voice.
* (25:15 ) - The list of events while Diana was trying to guess Matthew’s age:
“I’m a historian. If somebody tells me he remembers when chocolate was introduced into France or a comet passing overhead in 1811, it’s difficult not to be curious about the other events he might have lived through. You were alive in 1536—I’ve been to the house you had built. Did you know Machiavelli? Live through the Black Death? Attend the University of Paris when Abelard was teaching there?”
He remained silent. The hair on the back of my neck started to prickle.
“Your pilgrim’s badge tells me you were once in the Holy Land. Did you go on crusade? See Halley’s comet pass over Normandy in 1066?”
Still nothing.
“Watch Charlemagne’s coronation? Survive the fall of Carthage? Help keep Attila from reaching Rome?”
Matthew held up his right index finger. “Which fall of Carthage?”

“You tell me!”
* (25:45) - See our Tumblr link-->  Huang's World

Eddie Huang in Burgundy
* (26:15) - Diana smells of the forest in spring. She’s associated with the maiden early. Jean brings up the fact that clove pinks and that were used in wedding bouquets as a symbol of fertility.

* (27:57) - Matthew’s interest in Ashmole 782.  It started when he got an Advanced Reader’s Copy of Origin, by Charles Darwin.

* (28:45) - That kiss . . . in the slow French manner. Valerie thought it was the European version of “kiss kiss” not the mouth grab, Angela and Jean were swayed by the full on mouth grab. You are the reader, you decide!
Matthew studied me. When I showed no sign of hysteria or an inclination to make a run for it, he leaned toward me and kissed me slowly once, twice in the French manner. His face skimmed over mine, and he drank in my scent of willow sap and honeysuckle. When he straightened, Matthew’s eyes looked smokier than usual.
* (29:58) - Sarah blows up Diana’s answering machine immediately after the dinner. Angela and Jean: “Go away, Sarah!”
Moments later, leaning against the closed door, I spied the blinking number one on my answering machine. Mercifully, the machine’s volume was turned down.
Aunt Sarah wanted to ask the same question I’d asked myself.
I just didn’t want to answer.
c. Chapter 13
* (30:13) - We meet Marcus Whitmore!  He reminds Jean of an old movie called Real Genius (according to Jean, Val Kilmner’s character is essentially Marcus in this scene.)


* (31:15) - The Vampire murders again:
“Let’s hope we can do a better job keeping it than we have done at hiding this.” Matthew slid the file toward me.
Three sets of vampire eyes watched me attentively as I opened it. VAMPIRE ON THE LOOSE IN LONDON, the headline screamed. My stomach flopped over, and I moved the newspaper clipping aside. Underneath was the report of another mysterious death involving a bloodless corpse. Below that was a magazine story accompanied by a picture that made its contents clear despite my inability to read Russian. The victim’s throat had been ripped open from jaw to carotid artery.
There were dozens more murders, and reports in every language imaginable. Some of the deaths involved beheadings. Some involved corpses drained of blood, without a speck of blood evidence found at the scene. Others suggested an animal attack, due to the ferocity of the injuries to the neck and torso.
* (31:32) - Angela fears for Diana’s safety because she didn’t know Marcus. Jean and Valerie felt Marcus presented himself as rather harmless (and casual).
“We can taste it, too. Adrenaline makes blood even more delicious,” Marcus said. “Spicy, silky, and then it turns sweet. Really good stuff.”
A low rumble started in Matthew’s throat. His lips curled away from his teeth, and Marcus stepped backward. Miriam placed her hand firmly on the blond vampire’s forearm.
* (32:00) - An American Werewolf in London! The SCENE (not embedded, cause it's pretty gruesome!)

* (33:44) - Matthew’s plea for Diana to come to dinner with him.
At the bottom of my staircase, I faced Matthew, still holding his hand. “Thanks for taking me to yoga—again.”
“You’re welcome.” He tucked my impossible piece of hair back behind my ear, fingers lingering on my cheek. “Come to dinner tomorrow,” he said softly. “My turn to cook. Can I pick you up here at half past seven?”
My heart leaped. Say no, I told myself sternly in spite of its sudden jump.
“I’d love to,” came out instead.
d. Chapter 14
* (34:00) Dinner at Matthew’s place – Angela: “Masterpiece.”  We’ve come to the conclusion (as an aside) that the two dinners could be combined for the television production.

* (35:27) All Souls College:

"All Souls College was a masterpiece of late Gothic architecture, resembling the love child of a wedding cake and a cathedral"
* (36:33) - The meal + wines
  • Oysters, champagne, —1961 Dom Perignon — a salad with greens, nuts, berries and a vinaigrette made with champagne vinegar, finished off with Diana's "Birthday wine".
  • Stew made with veal and apples (recipe from Normandy), served with Château Margaux --> this is the wine that got Diana in a bit of trouble, because it supposedly tasted like Matthew, and she asked the question "what would I taste like?" EEK!
  • The evening was closed out with some old malmsy from 1795. 
* (37:16) - Matthew’s background:
“Let’s get this over with,” he said, holding up his hands and beginning to tick off colleges. “I’ve been a member—once—of Merton, Magdalen, and University colleges. I’ve been a member of New College and Oriel twice each. And this is the first time All Souls has paid any attention to me.”
* (37:54) - “What would I taste like….?”
Matthew shot to his feet, his face white and furious. His napkin fell, unnoticed, to the floor. A vein in his forehead pulsed once before subsiding.
I had said something wrong.
He was at my side in the time it took me to blink, pulling me up from my chair. His fingers dug into my elbows.
“There’s one legend about vampires we haven’t discussed, isn’t there?” His eyes were strange, his face frightening. I tried to squirm out of his reach, but his fingers dug deeper. “The one about a vampire who finds himself so bewitched by a woman that he cannot help himself.”
* (38:29) - They decide to go back to the Bodleian and try to retrieve Ashmole 782.
“I’ve made a decision, Matthew. On Monday I’ll be recalling Ashmole 782.”
The vampire sat down abruptly.

e. Chapter 15
* (38:45) - “Pew-pew!” 🔫🔫 refer to: go.DaemonsDiscuss.com/15 😂! Hint: “you’re the one”

* (38:57) - Matthew was at New College! They have breakfast, he drops Diana off at her rooms, then they meet once again at the Bodleian with the intent of recalling Ashmole782

That New College scarf we were talking about ... made to look old.  Knitted by Maro Hogan. Photo © Maro Hogan
* (40:06) - No luck with Ashmole 782. Not only was it lost, but it had been missing since 1859.
Mr. Johnson consulted a book on his desk, running his finger over lines scrawled by generations of reading-room supervisors. “Ah, yes. Ashmole  782. That’s been missing since 1859. We don’t have a microfilm.” Matthew’s chair scraped away from his desk.
“But I saw it a few weeks ago.”
“That’s not possible, Dr. Bishop. No one has seen this manuscript for one hundred and fifty years.” Mr. Johnson blinked behind his thick-rimmed glasses.
* (40:59) - Diana burned a hole in Matthew’s rug, and Diana needed some “handling.” For the record, Angela’s inner voice broke at this point: “I loved that!”
“No, I don’t imagine you do,” he said, “but it is interesting just the same. Now let’s turn to another topic.” His mouth drifted toward my ear, and I tried—unsuccessfully—to pull it away. “What is this nonsense about my not being interested in anything but an old manuscript?”
* (42:24) - It was decided that Diana needed to hide out for a while at Woodstock at the Old Lodge
You’ll stay at Woodstock until Peter Knox leaves Oxford.”
My face must have betrayed my dismay.
“It won’t be so bad,” he said gently. “You’ll have all the yoga you want.”
With Matthew in bodyguard mode, I didn’t have much choice. And if he was right—which I suspected he was—someone had already gotten past Fred and into my rooms.
* (43:32) - That envelope . . .
The mail contained nothing but bills and a large brown envelope with my name typed on it. There was no stamp, indicating it came from someone within the university. I slid my finger under the flap and pulled out the contents.
A piece of ordinary paper was clipped to something smooth and shiny. Typed on the paper was a single line of text.
“Remember?”
Hands shaking, I pulled off the slip. The paper fluttered to the floor, revealing a familiar glossy photograph. I’d only seen it reproduced in black and white, though, in the newspapers. This was in color, and as bright and vivid as the day it had been taken, in 1983.
* (44:11) - Matthew rushes in at vampire’s pace…the porter knew about vampires? Maybe?
Matthew moved so quickly that Fred had to know he was a vampire. He crouched in front of me. My teeth chattered with shock.
* (45:40) - “I’ve got you, girl”
“No matter what she said, I will not let Knox or any other witch harm you. I’ve got you now.” Matthew’s voice was fierce, and he bowed his head and rested his cheek on my hair while I cried. “Oh, Diana. Why didn’t you tell me?”
* (46:00) - The Chain … no, not the Fleetwood Mac song, — although the lyrics are very apropos to Diana and Matthew’s relationship — but Diana’s chain. Check out the Fleetwood Mac lyrics (just because the writer of today’s show notes adores that song -- also? Check out this new remix from Guardians of the Galaxy 2! Love it! Ok, damn. My bad. Distracted writer of show notes!), oh … and the pertinent quote from the book because this is what we actually were talking about:
Somewhere in the center of my soul, a rusty chain began to unwind. It freed itself, link by link, from where it had rested unobserved, waiting for him. My hands, which had been balled up and pressed against his chest, unfurled with it. The chain continued to drop, to an unfathomable depth where there was nothing but darkness and Matthew. At last it snapped to its full length, anchoring me to a vampire. Despite the manuscript, despite the fact that my hands contained enough voltage to run a microwave, and despite the photograph, as long as I was connected to him, I was safe.
* (46:27) - When did that chain appear….?  It was so rusty, so it had been there for a while.  Was this a time loop thing? We try not to think too hard about it here in order to keep our relative sanity. Here is the passage that relates to the chain in Shadow of Night -- if it's a time loop thing, just think about it for a second, and let it go! It's the only way! 😂
Deep within me the chain that I had somehow forged out of love and longing for someone I had yet to meet flexed between us and became fluid. It was thick and unbreakable, filled with a life-giving sap that flowed continuously from witch to vampire and back to witch.
-----
* (48:10) - The end of this five. The next five will take us on a journey to France! Yay! 🙌🙌🙌 To meet Ysabeau!👏👏👏 Aaaaaand ... MUPPET ARMS!

Kermit flailing! via Cheezburger on GIPHY
* (48:30) - Knock-knock … housekeeping! FYI, we put these emails in this category, because they’ve been sitting in our inbox for a while, and it’s time to address them and clean off our figurative desks. Thanks go to Stephen and Lisa for sending us their thoughts via email.  Subjects: Jack’s Daemonic tendencies, UK vs. US English, and Diana’s territorial display in the Bodleian.

* (53:37) - Promo break, scroll down, or click here to get a hold of us and/or become a Discusser.

* (55:11) - Jean’s last thought: She wants to hear about other’s first time reading the Trilogy.

* (56:17) - Valerie, strangely (with this read), finds herself with things in common with Diana . . .

* (58:38) - All Souls Con is creeping up!  Be there or be square! 23rd of September 2017 in New Orleans! We’ve started shopping for plane tickets for All Souls Con! Still side-eyeing United Airlines, but for the right price we may forgive…

* (1:00:28) - Jo Malone’s cologne Wood Sage and Sea Salt. It smells great! This particular fragrance supposedly (according to Deb) smells like Gallowglass. TREAT YO SELF! We offered a travel sized version to the winner of our Spring 2017 giveaway. Winner, please describe the scent to Angela!

Previous Episode
Special Edition, The One With the Yogini
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Credits/Copyright Information 
* Intro music: "Ghost Dance" (edited down to second chorus) by Kevin Macleod, licensed for use by Creative Commons.
* News intro: by AwesomeMusicVideos21; provided for fair-use/royalty-free.
*  Outro music: Rimsky-Korsakov - "Scheherazade Symphonic Suite for Orchestra Op.35 - IV. Allegro molto," Public       

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* Our episode titles are a loving tribute to the show "Friends" just 'cause we love Friends and - let's face it - it's easier! Here's how one of the show creators explains their reasoning:
Jeff Greenstein: "When Marta & David & Jeff & I did 'Dream On', we used to spend a lot of time thinking about titles, because they were on-screen at the top of each episode. On "Friends", we decided that was a waste of time. We figured, why not name each episode after the thing that people will ostensibly be talking about around the water-cooler the next day?"
This was a Daemon Production

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Thursday, May 11, 2017

Missed it? Here it is...

ICYMI aka "In Case You Missed It"
Hello fellow fans!  Here are some recent updates -- if you missed it. We realize that many are NOT on Twitter (wha?!!), or only visit occasionally, merely skimming their feed for important tidbits. Trust me, you miss out a lot that way! As it is, I rely on our Maven Daemon (who is a social media goddess) for news on the series ... luckily we have her. In turn, luckily you have us! FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), no more! Let's start with some tweets:

On the books:
To which we posed the question, and she replied...
On the TV series:
And because news is fast moving here lately, an update (16 May 2016!)
Deb has also posted an update on her site: Looking for Some Boldness and Magic! There it is, everything you need to know about the progress of both the books and the TV show! Talk amongst yourselves . . .

Ok, so here are some things that are going on with us:

1. We will be at All Souls Con 2017! We cannot wait to see you there. Can't be there in person? No fear, live streaming is FREE!

All Souls Con info:
Passes: $79, virtual passes: $0 (! --> thanks goes to Penguin Books for sponsoring the live stream)  All early bird prices end the 15th of June, 2017 — Virtual passes will remain absolutely free!  Regular passes will go up to $99. 

2. We've had some great Daemons Discuss! episodes! Check them out here:

3. We have a WINNER! Congratulations, Rute! She won our "Just Because It's Spring" giveaway! Standby, fans. More giveaways are coming!

4. We had a great guest post! Check it out: Guest Post! Deborah Harkness’ 2017 Dale Somers Memorial Lecture at Georgia State University


5. We've just re-released our The Book of Life boards in our other Pinterest account. We are in the process of migrating them over to our Daemons Domain account, but we figured before we finish that up, you may as well get a peek at them here: *NOTE/UPDATE, July 5th 2017 - the following links no longer work for maintenance; we are moving them over to our other account now!

Sol in Cancer
Sol in Leo
Sol in Virgo
Sol in Libra
Sol in Scorpio
Sol in Sagittarius
Sol in Capricorn
Sol in Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus
Sol in Gemini

That's what we have for you this week! We'll be back next week with Take 16 of Daemons Discuss!, taking on chapters 11-15. See you there!

Until next time!

xo, ~The Daemons

Post by V. Grendell
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Thursday, May 4, 2017

Daemons Discuss - Podcast: Special Edition! | A Conversation with Aly Davis - Fan of the All Souls Trilogy and Our Favorite Yogini!

King Pigeon Pose

Special Edition - The One With the Yogini

Description: If you've followed us for a while, you'll remember our Daemons Domain guest blogger, Aly Davis. She's an All Souls Trilogy fan and a fearless yogini that we ran across while perusing Instagram. The rest was pretty much fate! That was and remains our most popular post (minus giveaways), because she was able to expertly dissect the connection of yoga and the All Souls Trilogy. She took us on a journey into Diana and Matthew's world, and told us how creatures would theoretically benefit immensely from yoga classes. At the end of it, the reader totally understands why they spent five pages listening to a Rocket Man cover (in their heads), and comprehended the mood of the room at Matthew's house in Woodstock. She's been featured as a Real-Time Read Along subject on Deborah Harkness' site, and her Instagram posts are inspirational. She's one of our favorite people in this fandom, and we are thrilled to be able to talk to her as our first guest on this podcast! We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we've enjoyed producing it. ~ A long episode, but worth every second! We are always conscious of time, because we don't want to waste yours! We figure as long as the content is valuable, an episode winds up as long as it needs to be.

SPOILER ALERT! We (The Daemons) approach this podcast with an assumption that the listener has read The All Souls Trilogy, including A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night, and The Book of Life.  If you haven't, and you don't mind, we certainly don't mind!  😊  Let's do this.

Listen:



1. Show notes:

For newcomers to the series:
- We'll start with the basics: The books in discussion are A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of Life.  Together they make The All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness. 
- Our Daemon Guides to the All Souls Trilogy are available for download: ADOW, SON, TBOL

Deb's newsletter - The Blast; subscribe on her website
- If you'd like a ready-reference from the author herself, be sure to download the All Souls Real-Time Reading companion (free e-book at online booksellers via Penguin and Headline books).
- Deborah Harkness usually conducts a real-time reading on her Facebook Page (starting in September), and shares her posts across social media. Check out her website for all of her social media links, and of course all that she has to offer her readers! Be sure to sign up for her newsletter while you are there!
- To see what's available on the web as far as the All Souls universe fandom, check our links page.

In this episode:
* (01:07) – Aly is on Instagram, you can find her here: https://www.instagram.com/alylynnyogaandthings/

* (01:40) – It all began with this picture:

This picture is how we found Aly on Instagram!
* (01:50) – Aly’s guest post: Yoga and The All Souls Trilogy

* (02:03) – Aly on Deb’s site: On This Day, 25 September, in A Discovery of Witches #RealTimeReadingADOW (Chapter 8)

* (05:48) – Yoga Mat/Yoga blocks:


* (06:16) – Plow pose:


* (06:30) – Ear pressure pose:

Ear pressure pose (from Aly's Instagram post)
Aly tenaciously popping up into her handstands!
* (07:50) – Aly’s relentless/tenacious when she does handstands! See photo above (Instagram gets touchy with it's embedded coding, so we grabbed a screen shot, and you can view the video here).

* (09:15) – Aly says that you don’t need to be flexible to do yoga. When she began, she could barely touch her toes!

* (10:53) – Aly found the All Souls Trilogy through a friend. She borrowed A Discovery of Witches from the library and she was hooked. The Book of Life was the first book she's ever pre-ordered.

* (11:43) – Ego – What she said in her piece about ego:
Letting go of the ego, on the other hand, is a much harder task. For everyone, the ego is what keeps us comparing ourselves to others and what bogs us down when we don't feel like we have/are/can do enough.  This is an especially potent piece of the puzzle in this particular class full of vampires, witches, and daemons who have been taught their whole lives that no other creature is as "good" as them and who have generations of ancestry to live up to. We're talking genius daemons who are rivaling Steve Jobs and Sir Isaac Newton, vampires who have thousands of years of built up ego (not difficult when you're naturally gorgeous and more cultured than most everyone else you come in contact with), and witches with grimoires going back hundreds of years, chock full of spells from witches whose reputations they must live up to. Ego plays a huge role in the entire series of books but for this amazing five pages we catch a break; a break we didn't even know we would need as badly as we do.
She goes on to explain further about it in this episode.“A yogi understands that ego is unavoidable”

* (14:22) – Amira starts her class this way:
“Close your eyes,” Amira suggested again gently. “It can be hard to let go of our worries, our preoccupations, our egos. That’s why we’re here tonight.”
* (16:52) – We concluded that yoga was a common ground that Matthew Clairmont found with Diana Bishop, why not get to know her better that way. Matthew seemed to be tuned into what Diana needed.  He even smells it!

* (18:26) – Aly had no idea what Matthew’s pose might’ve been. It turns out she guessed correctly! She nailed it. The Fallen Angel: 

"Some performed death-defying arm balances and handstands, but I wasn't among them. Clairmont was, however."

Fallen Angel Pose - Deb does say on her site that this *is* Matthew's impossible pose.
* (20:46) – Physical practice vs. mental practice. Yogic meditation came first, however Asana practice resulted from it. People who participated in meditation wanted to be able to strengthen the body for longer meditation sessions, and the physical practice was the natural solution to remedy it. Breathing is the main focus while moving.

* (24:14) – Ayurvedic medical practioner - Ayurvedic medicine (also called Ayurveda) is one of the world’s oldest medical systems. It originated in India more than 3,000 years ago and remains one of the country’s traditional health care systems. Its concepts about health and disease promote the use of herbal compounds, special diets, and other unique health practices. India’s government and other institutes throughout the world support clinical and laboratory research on Ayurvedic medicine, within the context of the Eastern belief system. But Ayurvedic medicine isn’t widely studied as part of conventional (Western) medicine. What is Ayurveda?

* (25:26) – Here’s where we try to convince Aly to do a podcast.  Her mom’s tried to get her into YouTube! Apparently we aren’t the first to tell her to teach this publicly. Who knows? All Souls Trilogy yoga instruction may come eventually to your small screen or earbuds near you! It's how we (at Daemons Domain/Daemons Discuss!) wind up doing most of the things we do. A thought or an idea becomes an action in due time!

* (29:17) – Huge shouts out to Discussers Jennifer W, Jennifer K. and Susie for their questions!

* (31:28) – Aly mostly practices at home with Yogaglo.com – she says there are 6 or 7 teachers, different levels, and different types of yoga. It’s 18 dollars a month, and she swears by it. She also says that she wouldn’t be surprised if the instructors are daemons. Maybe one or two of them are vampires or witches.

Savasana
Diana's Savasana variation
* (31:18) – Savasana is probably not for Diana, because it’s a vulnerable position and she doesn’t feel comfortable. Aly says it’s hard to find peace in that position for some people, because you are supposed to lay there and let it all go. The other pose that Amira suggested probably worked better because it's more of a protected position allowing Diana to relax.
The Recovery Position (not yoga! see below!)
* (37:45) – The recovery position is mainly something used while someone is in shock, and the US Air Force co-oped it for self-aid and buddy care. It’s used after triage is conducted, and/or if someone is not in a good mental state. In a war zone it's not practical most times, but when one is able, it is a suggested method to 'get your mind right'. This was brought up because Angela mentioned her mother always instructed her as a child to get into a fetal position when she wasn't feeling well, and Valerie recalled the recovery position being used for this in Self-Aid and Buddy Care (or SABC) in the USAF. We made the connection to Diana's Savasana variation through these memories.

* (38:50) – Everybody can benefit from yoga. Trilogy-wise she says the first group of creatures that would need it would be “our blood rage friends.” Witches, especially ones coming into their powers would benefit as well. Daemons could use the grounding. The lotus pose is what she recommended for daemons:

Lotus pose
* (43:10) – Anxiety releasing positions or poses: Aly says there are two different days everyone has; the days with pent-up negative stress or energy: she does core work, deep back bends.  Her favorite poses for this – camel, wheel, cobra rolls, splits, wild thing, boat pose, plank holds, side planks, bicycles, leg lowers. The other type of days; on days she’s too exhausted, yet still stressed: hip openers, forward folds. She says most of us hold stress in our hips and lower back (male or female).  Fire log, double pigeons, thread the needle, butterfly and side bends, or supported back bends are poses she uses for these days.

* (47:22) – Aly’s yoga pants: She’s won a couple of them.  Among the brands she mentions: Fractal 9, & Luna Jai athletic. After she won her first official yoga pants, she’s been hooked.  Many of them have crazy patterns, but she’s over it, and doesn’t care if people stare. 😂

* (49:58) – Packing using a rolling technique – we couldn’t find the specific post on Facebook, but this is the same system (aka the "Skivvy Roll"). Yoga pants are easy to pack, and doesn’t require the socks!

* (51:01) – Aly is an ambassador for these two companies: Confused Girl, and Alter Ego – she has coupon codes if you are interested – hit up her Instagram, and you can get the coupon codes and 15% off!

* (52:56) –  Good yoga leggings are pretty pricey. You’d have to be serious about yoga, or a proponent of wearing leggings as pants! Also, you get what you pay for most times. Shop around. Aly found some of her favorites (by lululemon) at a thrift store.

* (54:37) – United Airlines! In this episode we were just discussing leggings and this particular incident, but this was recorded just prior to the OTHER STORY coming out. We are side-eyeing you, United! *Daemon side-eye!* 😒

* (55:50) – News! Deb has shared some insight on her upcoming books via Twitter:
* (56:53) – Aly was asked to conduct a workshop at All Souls Con later this year, but she has the best excuse not to! She’s expecting her first child, with a due date within days of the event. So she won’t be there in person, but she will be live streaming. Here's how to attend either virtually or physically: All Souls Con passes: $79, virtual passes: $0 (! --> thanks goes to Penguin Books for sponsoring the live stream)  All early bird prices end the 15th of June, 2017 -- Virtual passes will remain absolutely free!  Regular passes will go up to $99. 
* (1:01:05) – Promo break.  See how to support & get a hold of us below!  Scroll down, or click here.

Dear producers of A Discovery of Witches TV, Aly is not only good with yoga, but also great with horses!
* (1:02:49) – Aly can’t let go of the fact that the yoga scene is being cut (this makes her sad! - Deb's post on it), but she throws out an offer to the producers!

Don't make Graham mad!
* (1:04:01) – Where was Easter in this trilogy?! This makes Jean's Graham upset (this was recorded the week before Easter.) Lazarus got all of the resurrection love in this series.

* (1:05:50) – Opus Dei

* (1:07:29) – Angela enjoyed her trip to DC. She teases that Daemons Domain may get a post out of it.  One of her tweets on our behalf while she was there:
* (1:08:22) – Fandom politics. We’re over it. We are placing a call to everyone out there to put ego aside, and just do this fandom thing. There are enough real-world politics for us all to worry about. Let’s just have fun! It’s why we are strong proponents of All Souls Con.

All things official about these books will come from DeborahHarkness.com, or her various social media accounts. All other non-speculative information gathered on fan sites (including ours), re: her work, will either come from her site, her social media, or will be a second-hand account based on something she's said in person. Also ... please, please, PLEASE, someone help Valerie off of her soapbox. She's in danger of face-planting or breaking something! 😏

~ Photos for these show notes from Aly's Instagram/Social Media are © Aly Davis

Previous Episode
Take 15, The One With Hamish in the Middle
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Credits/Copyright Information 
* Intro music: "Ghost Dance" (edited down to second chorus) by Kevin Macleod, licensed for use by Creative Commons.
* News intro: by AwesomeMusicVideos21; provided for fair-use/royalty-free.
* Daemons Discuss! promotional break music: "Anachronist" by Kevin Macleod, licensed for use by Creative Commons.
* Outro music: Rimsky-Korsakov - "Scheherazade Symphonic Suite for Orchestra Op.35 - IV. Allegro molto," Public       
domain/copyright-free.
* Cover art (+ all variations associated w/ it): © Daemons Domain 

* The term "unofficial" is explained in our disclaimer located in Terms of Use - item 14.
* The Daemons Discuss podcast is hosted and produced by the owners (Angela, Jean and Valerie) of Daemons Domain and can also be found by entering the url http://www.DaemonsDiscuss.com in your browser, (listed on the various podcast syndicates like Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, etc.) which will redirect you back to the parent site, Daemons Domain.
* This podcast is intended for personal download/consumption.  Please see our Terms of Use; item 3.

* Our episode titles are a loving tribute to the show "Friends" just 'cause we love Friends and - let's face it - it's easier! Here's how one of the show creators explains their reasoning:
Jeff Greenstein: "When Marta & David & Jeff & I did 'Dream On', we used to spend a lot of time thinking about titles, because they were on-screen at the top of each episode. On "Friends", we decided that was a waste of time. We figured, why not name each episode after the thing that people will ostensibly be talking about around the water-cooler the next day?"
This was a Daemon Production

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