Happy Halloween

I was going to post an account of the Festival Of Romance today - but seeing as it's Halloween (Or All Hallow's Eve) I thought I'd just post some cute graphics instead. I don't write about vampires or wherewolves, although I have written the occasional ghost story, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the occasional spooky thrill. I love having the local youngsters come around to 'trick or treat' but they may get more than they bargained for since I dress up, myself, and have a couple of scary witch figures with glowing eyes, given me by a friend a few years ago. This year when I open the door, I'll be wearing a beautiful golden Cleopatra masquerade mask, given to me by my dear friend Sharon Donovan. (And I'm well stocked up with cakes and chocolate|!)



Have a very Happy and Safe Halloween,  enjoy your parties and your trick or treating, but please make sure not to frighten or upset anyone elderly or vulnerable, and make sure your furbabies don't get scared either - and if you'd like a creepy but romantic read, I wrote a 'freeread'  entitled 'A Bargain With Death', a while ago and it's up at the Wild Rose Press - you have to go through the checkout process, but you won't have to pay for it, I promise.
Get it here: A BARGAIN WITH DEATH




Let me know how you enjoy it - and what is your favourite ghost story of all time?

          

   

'STARQUEST'    'CHILDREN OF THE MIST'  (The sequel to Starquest)  Dancing With Fate     

                  Also available on Kindle

Contests and Spooky Fun for October

I'm taking part in two exciting contests this month at Night Owl Romance and The Romance Studio.

 I'm at The Romance Studio every day in October until the 31st, talking about my books and (I hope) chatting with readers and friends.  There are all sorts of prizes to be won by readers (and some rather neat promo packages for the winners among the authors taking part.)  Here are the details:

http://theromancestudio.com/party/

"One winner at random, who comments to any post during the event but not during the two release parties, will beselected to win a Kindle from TRS. All readers can enter to win some fantastic prizes  so generously donated to the event. Remember that these prizes will be listed on a giveaway page at the event and none of these prizes will be awarded until after the event is over.
The list is here: http://theromancestudio.com/extra_drawing4.php

The three authors with the most comments during the event -- between the start of October 6, 2010 EST and midnight EST, October 31, 2010 -- will receive very special promotion packages. They include one year of featured membership at TRS, a one year advertising package at TRS to run from January 2, 2011 and December 31, 2011. They will get a headliner ad each month of 2011. One newsletter ad each month in our Studio Notes newsletter. AND they are guaranteed reviews of 5 of their works, past or present, in the romance genre during 2011  -- the rating will be what the reviewer gives it because we're not a vanity review site. The works must meet the criteria for submission we have at TRS.

Here's the link to the party site:

http://theromancestudio.com/party/
(Click on my name on the right hand side to see my posts.)

Now, some rules on eligible comments.

Comments received before October 6, 2010 EST and after midnight EST October 31, 2010 do not count.

Comments during either of the release parties (10/21/10 1-8 PM EST and 10/29/10 4 PM - Midnight EST) to posts specifically for those events will not count. This rule is due to the fact that not everyone in the competition can participate in the release parties. Comments made by readers during those times to posts for this event (not to release party posts) will count.

So if you come along and comment, you'll not only be eligible to win one of the prizes yourself, but you'll help me to be in the running for a promo package prize too!LOL!  Most of all , let's have a lot of fun.  There are so many great others over there taking part.

http://www.nightowlparanormal.com/nor/Pages/Hunts.aspx

The second event is the month long 'Scavenger Hunt' over at
NIGHT OWL REVIEWS

Somewhere on this Blog (Not necessarily this page) is a special graphic. Find the graphic and you're on your way:  Here are some details:

The GRAND PRIZE is sponsored by Silver Publishing and is a $100 Gift Card of the winners choice plus any 5 eBooks from the Silver Publishing website. The grand prize is in addition to all the other prizes won by the grand prize winner. There will be one Grand prize winner and two follow-up winners

Visit each sponsors website and find the special hidden graphic. Graphics will be within 1 click of the sponsor’s homepage. You must find all of the required find graphics to be eligible for entry. Complete the entry form and post each sponsors unique web hunt word next to their name. Once you complete the form you will need to click “Submit” for your entry details to be submitted. You must find at least 30 of the hidden graphics to be entered including all of the required finds...45 to be entered for the grand prize.

Full details at: http://www.nightowlparanormal.com/nor/Pages/Hunts.aspx

Mondays Words: Colcannon Night

I hope you all had a peaceful and fun Halloween with plenty of treats and no tricks!

Michael Quinion had a fascinating piece in his 'Worldwide Words' article this week, about Ireland and the traditional Halloween dish of colcannon.

"In Ireland, years ago, it was usual to mark the day by serving up
the traditional dish of calcannon or colcannon. This was made from
potatoes and cabbage, and perhaps other vegetables such as leeks,
spinach or hedgerow greens, with a little butter, cream or bacon
fat added, and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Because of the association of the dish with Halloween, the day has
in a few places been called Colcannon Night instead. It was known
as that in Ireland two centuries ago and emigrants took the name to
Newfoundland and Labrador. The folklore department at the Memorial
University of Newfoundland tells me that it has now died out there
and so may not be current anywhere any more.

The first part of the name must surely be related to "cole", an old
term for any type of brassica, the genus that includes cabbage and
cauliflower. Some dictionaries suggest that the second part derives
from a method of pounding the cabbage - with cannon balls. You may
believe that if you like, but it is now more commonly said it comes
from the Irish Gaelic "cál ceannfhionn" (later "cál ceannann"),
meaning white-headed cabbage."

Isn't that interesting? I have to admit I hadn't heard of 'colcannon' before. although it does sound a little like the Welsh 'cawl' only that uses leeks and lamb, rather than cabbage. so next year I may wish you Happy 'colcannon' rather than 'Happy Halloween'!

*World Wide Words is copyright (c) Michael Quinion 2009. All rights reserved. The Words Web site is at http://www.worldwidewords.org

HALLOWEEN!

Well it's a lovely afternoon here in the UK, and the kids will have fun 'trick or treating' this evening.

We don't celebrate Halloween as much over here as in the US, but the kids love any excuse to dress up, of course, and more and more people are starting to have Halloween Parties. Of course not everyone enjoys Halloween. There are notices on some of the doors in the village saying 'No Trick Or Treats'. Well of course that' s their right, but I don't see the harm in the children letting off a little steam and having fun, as long as they keep it fun and respect people's privacy.

Let's chase away all the bad spirits and enjoy some fun before the miserable wet winter sets in!

Birthday Bash and Mexican Fiesta

My sweet friend Sharon Donovan is holding a Birthday/Halloween bash for me today, over at her Blog. I'm giving away a download of my story in the 'Song Of The Muses', 'Dancing With Fate.

There's also a party going on at the Author Roast and Toast with special guest Ashley Ludwig. You have the chance to win a copy of her book 'All Or Nothing'. And as if that's not enough Sharon Donovan's hyunky butler Oliver is flitting between both blogs. He's rather dishy!

Oh - and although she keeps threatening to auction him off Sharon is really rather fond of him although she'd never let him know that, but he's her creation and she doesn't allow him to wander off, however big the bribe! *grin*

TRICK OR TREATS - AT THE HAUNTED BLOG

Do you like ghosties and vampires, witches and pumkins, ghouls and ghosties? You do - then be sure to visit this Blog on 31st October - All Hallow's Eve, Halloween!

I don't want to scare you but I've heard strange things may be afoot. Guard your Blog. None is safe!

Of course, I've also heard there's some trick and treating going on - with the emphasis on treats, prizes to be won for the stout of heart.

To find out more visit here tomorrow if you dare! (And if you're up at 3.30 am I'll be in The Wild Rose Press Chat Room at www.thewildrosepress.com I'll also be there at 9.am so I hope you'll come and join me.

You have been warned. Cackle, cackle!