Angie of “Angelique Mroczka”

Hoi Sum – Our Featured Blog this month is “Angelique Mroczka.”  I am talking to Angelique (Angie), the writer of this great blog.  Thank you for joining me today Angie!

Angie – Thanks Hoi Sum!  It is a little different to be on this side of the interview I might add.

Hoi Sum – Could you please tell us a little bit more about yourself Angie and when you started blogging?

Angie – Well, to start with I am 27 years old (28 on Feb. 25^th) and married to a really wonderful man.  We do not have any children, but our two small dogs keep us busy enough.  I work full time and own a web hosting and design firm on the side.  I am also a professional artist and do cover art for Changeling Press (as Kassandra Thrace).  In August of 2009 I founded the Pagan Writers Community (PWC).  It has been growing like crazy ever since, keeping me very very busy.

I have been blogging on and off since I started on my own Pagan path in 2004.  Since I am very easily distracted (oooh, shiney!!), I have never had a blog last very long.  In September of last year I made it my goal to blog a little something every day.  During National Novel Writing Month in November my novel took over and my blog lost its way again.  I have recently picked it back up again and transferred it from Blogger to my own site.  Using WordPress I was able to import all of my old posts, but it is taking a while to get them all categorized.  Pretty soon they will all be there.

Hoi Sum – What do you feel is the purpose of your blog? What would you like your readers to come away with after reading your blog posts?

Angie – In all honesty, the purpose of my blog is to discipline myself to write every day and document my spiritual path.  Beyond that, I share my writing, art and beliefs.  I actually have a reminder set up on my MS Outlook to pop up every day and remind me.  It is something that I take very seriously, but try to have fun doing at the same time.

If readers learn something new about me or themselves after reading one of my posts, then I feel that I have done my job.

Hoi Sum – How do you decide what to put on your blog and what topics to discuss?

Angie – Generally, life decides for me what I am going to talk about.  Things that are happening in my life and what I have brought away from my studies are the main source of inspiration for my posts.  As I broaden my horizons and seek publication of my fiction and non-fiction works, it is possible that this could change, hopefully for the better.

Hoi Sum – How do you market your blog, and what is the best marketing advice to give a new blogger?

Angie – I market my blog in a couple ways that are easy and cost effective.  The main way is to exchange banner links with other bloggers.  NetworkedBlogs on Facebook is a good resource because it allows you to connect with other blogs and adds your posts on your FB wall if you choose.  I am also set up with Feedburner, which syndicates my RSS feeds.

The best way that I personally have found to market my blog is to sponsor freebies on other blogs.  I had the most people ever on my site when I donated Angelique Art prints for Mrs. B’s 31 Days of Halloween.  You will also see more of my work available during Mrs. B’s Retro Food Month.  I can’t get enough of her site and love her creative ideas!

Hoi Sum – Do you have any special features on your blog?

Angie – Right now I am working through “The New Complete Book of Tarot” and posting about my own Tarot journey along the way.  I am also getting ready to post a writing challenge for the month of February.  You will also see the occasional quotation or piece of my artwork.

Hoi Sum – Do you have any other websites or blogs that you author?

Angie – The short answer to that question is yes.  I have too many sites to list (web designer – hello?) that are in all stages of construction, but I will hit on the big ones.  Enchantress-E Design is my design site focused mostly towards the Pagan and metaphysical community.  Mroczka Design is my site for local business customers.  Angelique Art is my professional artist site, which is in the middle of a huge renovation.  I am also the designer for both of the PWC websites, Pagan Writers Community and Pagan Writers Network.

Hoi Sum – What is your Pagan background and how do you incorporate your Paganism into your writing?

Angie – My Pagan path officially started when I met my first mentor in 2004.  Since then he went and married me.  I am a member of the Family Wiccan Traditions International (FWTI) and have been since 2006.  I serve on their Executive Board of Directors, facilitating communication between the members and staff (aka web design).  I am also training through their Degree Seeker program working on my third degree.  My family coven is called the Family of the Healing Waters.

To me Paganism is not a religion, but a lifestyle.  It is a way of looking at yourself as part of the Divine and seeing everything and everyone around you as holy.  Everything I write is part of me and that makes it part of my path.

Hoi Sum – I see some amazing artwork on your blog and the images say they are by you. How exciting to be an artist and a writer! How do you incorporate your artwork into your blog and is your artwork influenced by your Paganism as well?

Angie – Thank you!  Yes, that is my work and I am very proud of it!!  Sometimes I just run out of words or the Artist Muse will take over.  I like to post what I am working on to get the opinions of others or to just release them to the world.

I would have to say that my artwork, like my writing, is very influenced by my beliefs.  I just look at things so much differently now than I did before.  I really see them now.

Hoi Sum – Do you have any future plans or changes coming to the Angelique Mroczka blog/website?

Angie – No big plans to change the site, but I do plan to do a big revision on the short story I was working on last October, The Samhain Surprise.  The changes to that and other short stories should be hitting my site in March.

Hoi Sum – Thank you for joining me today Angie!  Your blog is truly amazing and l love all your artwork and writing! Good luck with your blog and keep up the good work!  Blessings, Hoi Sum