Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer!, page 6

Play the "Murder Caribbean-Style" Game Online and Win Prizes

This is a process-of-elimination game.  Check off the clues to find out which ones are still outstanding by the end of the game. [image error] [image error] solution_tally_one_sheet.jpgFile Size: 639 kbFile Type: jpgDownload File ​Click on the Download File above to save the Tally Sheet to your own computer.  Print the Tally Sheet so that you can mark off the clues as you see them appear.  There are a total of 28 possible clues and you need to discover which clue from each category might be in the solution envelope.  

Note: If you've already read the book, you don't have an advantage. The solution will be different because the clues will be drawn randomly from all the answers. 

I will post one clue per day on Twitter and Facebook.  Mark off the clue you see on the solution sheet.  The clues will be visible for a few days so check the hashtag #GameBook on Twitter or like my page on Facebook to watch my stream and see the clues.

​When you narrow down clues to the three (one in each category) that you believe are correct, send me an e-mail with your answer:

My e-mail address: diane.quicksilvernovels@gmail.com

At the end of the contest I will award fun prizes to the winners.  I will announce prizes and winners on this blog.

What do the clues look like?  Here are all 8 pictures of the WEAPONS clues: Clues will begin appearing on February 20, so watch for them on Twitter and Facebook.  

If you don't already follow me, now is the time to start:
Twitter handle: @DianeRapp
​and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quicksilvernovels  

Please comment below to let me know who is playing:

NEW RELEASE: HIGH SEAS MYSTERY GAME BOOK

You've heard about mystery parties but can't imagine getting everyone to play a part and learn lines.  Now you have a choice.  Play the games at home with 2 to 8 people or host a fundraiser or pot luck for up to 57 people.  All the game cards, playing boards, and tally sheets are included in the full-color book.  Copy and print the pages that correspond with your game and follow the rules to have a fun party. In the game based on MURDER CARIBBEAN-STYLE, players learn facts about the islands as they gather clues. Navigate the corridors, elevators, and stairs to enter rooms and find clues in the game based on MURDER ON A GHOST SHIP. The game based on MURDER FOR GLACIER BLUE includes enough ID/Cards for up to 57 players, perfect for a fundraiser or local pot luck party.  Choose the game that fits your party and enjoy the games over and over.  The solutions are different every time you play the game.  Get your copy of the 8-1/2 x 11 full-color book today. Buy the Book on Amazon

High Seas Mystery Game Book Cover:

COMING SOON!

​High Seas Mystery Game Book is in the final stages!  Proof is on the way and soon it will be available from online bookstores.  Here is the description:

Mystery dinner parties usually require guests to learn parts and risk getting embarrassed by their own bad acting.  The worst might happen to a host if a guest assigned an important part simply does not show up.

This book offers three different process-of-elimination games designed to be played by   2 – 4 players, 4 – 8 players, or a party of 41 to 57 players.  The solution is different each time any of the games is played.  Game pieces, game boards, and instructions are included for buyers to copy and print for use at their own party. 

Have more fun at your next fund-raiser, group pot-luck dinner, or simply play the games with friends and family at home.

Cover Reveal: High SeasMystery Game Book

​High Seas Mystery Game Book is in the final stages!  Proof is on the way and soon it will be available from online bookstores.  Here is the description:

Mystery dinner parties usually require guests to learn parts and risk getting embarrassed by their own bad acting.  The worst might happen to a host if a guest assigned an important part simply does not show up.

This book offers three different process-of-elimination games designed to be played by   2 – 4 players, 4 – 8 players, or a party of 41 to 57 players.  The solution is different each time any of the games is played.  Game pieces, game boards, and instructions are included for buyers to copy and print for use at their own party. 

Have more fun at your next fund-raiser, group pot-luck dinner, or simply play the games with friends and family at home.

Mystery Game Book Coming Soon

I'm preparing to launch a Mystery Game Book and decided to republish the following blog that explains how I got the idea for the book.  We had a successful party and it was loads of fun. Since I had already done a lot of work, I decided to add two more games to accommodate smaller groups of people and publish a book.  All the games are based on books in my High Seas Mystery series.  It has been challenging but fun.  

The first game is based on Murder Caribbean-Style.  It incorporates questions about the Caribbean Islands, and during the play each player must answer a multiple-choice question to receive a clue.   I hope people will enjoy learning  something about the islands as they play.  The game is designed for 4-8 players.

The second game is based on Murder on a Ghost Ship.  The play moves individual players around a ship gameboard to find clues.  It can be played by 2-4 players.  I'll give you more details as I determine a launch date for the book.  

Would anyone care to try one of the smaller games and give me feedback?  I'm looking for a few volunteers.

Here is how it all started:

When I was asked to “write” a script for a mystery-dinner party to raise funds for a local charity, I almost turned them down.  Then I reconsidered.  Why not design a game loosely based on the old board game “Clue” and use characters and setting from one of my mystery novels?

The idea appealed to me, so I started organizing clues.  Using public domain clip art and photos I gathered during the research for my book, I designed a “meet and greet” game for the party.  I’m using the characters, paintings, and rooms from my novel “Murder for Glacier Blue” to create the game cards.  

The three categories are:  Suspects, Paintings, Place.  A valuable painting was stolen by someone on the ship, guests must discover which of six pricey originals is missing, who stole the painting, and where the painting is hidden on board the ship.  Passengers are discussing the art theft at dinner in the main dining room.
Guests will receive lanyard ID tags (rubberized strings stapled to two-sided cards) at the door.  I created fold-over Clue/I.D. cards like the ones shown above (cut into 4 cards).  From advance ticket sales, we will know each guest.  The guests’ names will printed on one side of the card and their special clue printed on the other.  To win the game, participants must mingle with all the other guests and trade peaks at each other's clues.  They mark a sheet with all the clues printed in three categories.  By the end of dinner, they must turn in a time-stamped accusation form. The prize winners will be the earliest correct guesses.  (I plan to donate several print copies of my book.) This game should be loads of fun, require guests to mingle and talk with each other, and raise money for the charity.  Next time someone asks you to help organize a fund-raiser party, why not use your own book to create a “meet and greet” game?  This dinner party is scheduled for February 2016, so I'll let y'all know what happens.

History of Halloween Quiz

​1.  Jack o' Lanterns are thought to have originated in which country?  A.  United States  B. Spain  C. Ireland D.  Egypt 

Correct answer is C. Ireland.  To keep away spirits and ghosts, it was common in Ireland to place candies in hollowed-out turnips. 

2. What is the meaning of the word "hallow" in relation to this holiday? 
A.  Witch   B.  Saint  C.  Candy  D.  Winter
 
Correct answer is B. Saint.  The Catholic holiday of All Saints Day falls on the last day of October with celebrations for harvest and coming of winter. 

3.  A popular Halloween candy in the USA, what was the first penny candy to be individually wrapped for sale?  A.  Hershey Kisses  B.  Tootsie Rolls  C.  Peppermint sticks  D. Bit-O-Honey
 
Correct answer is B. Tootsie Rolls  The candy was first produced in 1896 and was the first penny candy to be individually wrapped. 

4.  The ancient Celts believed that evil spirits were roving the countryside on Halloween night.  What did they do to protect themselves?  A.  Burned candy and fruit in a bonfire  B.  Bobbed for apples  C. Wore masks and costumes  D.  Went door to door giving out treats
 
Correct answer is C. Wore masks and costumes  The ancient Celts wore costumes with masks so evil spirits would not recognize them as humans. 

5.  All of these celebrities were born on Halloween except one; which one does not belong on the list?  A.  Michael Landon  B. River Phoenix  C. John Candy  D. Dan Rather
 
Correct answer is B. River Phoenix  All of the men were born on October 31 except for River Phoenix, who died of an alleged drug overdose on Halloween in 1993.

6.  There is an old belief that it is good luck to see which of the following on Halloween?  A. Spider  B. Pumpkin  C. Black Cat  D. Bat 

Correct answer is A. Spider  It was once believed that seeing a spider on Halloween indicated that the spirit of a loved one was guarding you from evil spirits.

7.  The "Monster Mash", often played around the Halloween holiday, was a 1962 novelty song by which of the following groups?  A.  David "Doctor" Livingstone and the Tomb-Raiders  B. "Sir" Jack O'Lantern and the Pumpkin Smashers  C. "Lord" Paul Bearer and the Grave-Diggers  D.  Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers 

Correct answer is  D. Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers  Pickett recorded this holiday favorite in 1962, imitating movie icon Boris Karloff during the song.  Other artists have recorded their own versions of the song, including the Beach Boys, The misfits, and the Smashing Pumkins.

8. What was the point of the old Scottish Halloween tradition involving a young woman peeling an apple in one long strip and then throwing it over her shoulder? 
A.  Protect from plague  B. Protect against miscarriage C. Peel formed shape of the first letter of future spouse name  D. Would show the number of children she’d have
 
Correct answer is C. Peel formed shape of the first letter of future spouse name
During a time when a good marriage was most important to women, this practice was a type of divination.  It was also thought that if a woman sat in a dark room on Halloween night, she could look into a mirror and see the face of her future husband.

9.  If you are afraid of Halloween, it might be said that you suffer from which of the following?  A. Samhainophobia B. Chemophobia C. Pumpkinophobia D.  Aquaphobia 

Correct answer is A. Samhainophobia  The phobia derives its name from the Irish festival of Samhain, the Celtic New Year.

10.  There are pumpkins that are blue instead of orange.  A.  True  B.  False 
The correct answer is A. True   You can make some really neat pumpkins from blue, green, or white pumpkins to create a rainbow effect on your front porch.

 
Thanks for participating in this Halloween Quiz.  I found the quiz online at http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/world/seasonal/halloween.html and only got 5 out of 10 right.  Try taking some of the other quizes.  (I got 10 out of 10 right on the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown quiz, but Peanuts was always my favorite!)
 

How Do These Three Fictional Characters = My Writing Style?

Can you guess the reason I show my three fictional characters to describe my writing?  

1. Lady and the Tramp show that I LOVE animals, especially Dogs.  All of my books feature one or more animals within the storyline.  In my mysteries creatures might be seen by the characters or might play key parts in the plot.  In the science/fantasy the animals become real characters that readers learn to love.  I also enjoy writing stories about dragons (could you guess that from my titles?).

2.  Sleeping Beauty demonstrates that my characters "speak" to me while I sleep.  Part of my writing process is to think about characters before I fall asleep.  They often tell me their story while I'm sleeping, correcting my misconceptions or sending me in a whole new direction.  I try to keep my ideas but they usually prevail.

3.  The twin sisters indicate that I'm a split personality writer.  If you've read any of my previous blogs, you know that I don't write in just one genre. Why stick to one when the world is so diverse? I love mysteries, fantasy, historical, and science fiction, so my stories tend to blur the boundaries of each.  The Alaphas is a blend of mystery and science-fiction. My newest novel Golden Legacy combines a historical romantic adventure with a modern-day treasure hunt and mystery.  

Halloween Spooktacular Event

This week I'm part of a Halloween Spooktacular Facebook event.  Join us at https://www.facebook.com/events/1807306899516140/
I will be the host on 10/26/2016 from 2 - 3 pm EST.  

SciFi/Fantasy/Paranormal Giveaway

Win Up To 19 Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance Novels!

(2) Grand Prize Kindle "Gift Baskets" of ALL eBooks!
​
(19) Winners of Individual eBooks
(randomly selected titles) CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll

The Mud Dance by Neil Grimmett

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Flawed individuals who make the music

THE MUD DANCE is a story about friendship, sorrow, and life. Kenny and Larry became fast friends in grammar school, escaping bullies together and discovering their mutual interest in music. They formed a rock band. Kenny was a talented drummer and Larry the extraordinary keyboard player, linked together in music and life from that point forward. They got “ensnared by vanities and false pride” as they danced their own “mud dance” of life. Switching from the present to the past and back again, Kenny narrates their tumultuous story through soaring highs and terrible lows. Readers become “bedroom moths”, caught by the “starlight in his music”, as Kenny delivers the captivating tale like an explosive drum solo.

The author’s vivid descriptions of drugs, sex, and rock-n-roll during the sixties seem real and gritty. He masterfully unfolds harsh truths about Larry’s full history until readers understand the demons that plagued him.

By the end of the story, we hope that Kenny can drag himself out of the past and learn to enjoy life again. Perhaps the beat of his music will prove harmonious in the end. One of my favorite lines from the novel was this: “Our eternal rhythm box: no more than one strand on the snare drum of the universe vibrating its strings of harmony or discord with each beat as we move in and out of time.” The character studies of Kenny and Larry give readers a glimpse into rock bands and the flawed individuals who make the music.




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