C. Margery Kempe's Blog: Lady Smut, page 197

Contest and A Dark Night Sundae

It seems appropriate as I write this that it's snowing.  In conferring with my vampire friends, I've discovered that those over 100 years old have food fixations and cravings.  The following dessert recipe is a favorite with the Vampires in Manhattan.

Ingredients

Quart of Chocolate Ice Cream

Package of Oreo Cookies

Bottle of Chocolate Syrup

Jar of Chocolate Sprinkles

Bag of Small Marshmallows

Jar of Cherries (optional)

Directions for one serving:

1.   Get a bowl and scoop in two healthy scoops of Chocolate Ice Cream

2.   Put three Oreo Cookies in a plastic bag, crush the cookies, and pour over the ice cream

3.  Pour four stripes of Chocolate Syrup

4.   Sprinkle Chocolate Sprinkles over it

5.   Sprinkle Small Marshmallows liberally over everything

6.  Add Cherries—this is optional.  The Vampires in Manhattan like to soak their cherries in blood.  Yes, I can see you understand why it's optional.  LOL

Now for the contest:  One lucky commenter who says "More ice cream, please" in the comment box will win a pdf ebook from my backlist.  (You're welcome to visit my website below to read about my ebooks, but be sure to enter the contest here.)  This contest is worldwide and ends on Oct. 31st at noon Eastern Time and is void where prohibited by law.  Good luck and happy eating.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

http://www.susanhannifordcrowley.com

P.S.  For two additional contests, visit http://theromancestudio.com/party/   and look for me there.

Filed under: contest, Halloween Bash, Halloween festival, Halloween meal and treats, paranormal, paranormal romance, Recipes, romance, Susan Hanniford Crowley, vampire books, vampires

Contest & Halloween History Fun by Cinsearae Santiago

Lovers of creepiness as we all are already, I'm sure most of us know the story about Jack and how the jack-o-lantern came to be. But for those who don't know, the legend stems from Irish storytellings. Jack was a horrible drunkenly miser, and to make things worse, he used to play cruel tricks on folks, even his family, and unfortunately….the devil himself. Jack had tricked him into climbing an apple tree, then drew a slew of crosses on the tree so the devil couldn't get back down. Then Jack made a bargain with him, saying he'd remove the crosses only if the devil would promise not to take him to hell when he died, and so, the devil agreed.

Well, after Jack had finally passed away, he ascended to heaven, but was told by St. Peter he was just too wicked to enter. So when he was sent to Hell, the devil kindly reminded him of the bargain Jack made with him! Unable to go to heaven or hell, Jack was doomed to roam the earth for eternity, the devil offering him an ember from the flames to light his way, which Jack kept in a hollowed-out, carved turnip.

And so, due to the practicality and availability of pumpkins here in the USA, these were used in place of turnips, and have become a staple of the Halloween season. (^_^)

Besides, can you just imagine a "Jack Turniphead" ????

TWO HALLOWEEN-THEMED MISDAVENTURES FROM "THE ABRAXAS SERIES"[image error]

To find out more about this dark paranormal romance series, just visit

http://bloodtouch.webscom/abraxas.htm and download FREE chapter sneak peeks!

"ABRAXAS: The Haywire Halloween" is the first stand-alone novella in the series, centering around the Abraxas' clan's very weird but loveable member, Jonathan.

BLURB: Abraxas clanster Jonathan stumbles upon a skeleton key he believes was part of someone's Halloween costume. What it really winds up being is a demon's not-so-subtle way of getting Jonathan to do his dirty work for him. Jonathan's wishes start to give his Clan more headache and hassle than the 'fun' he hoped they would, as fellow trick-or-treaters and party goers start becoming the things they're dressed up as —with horrifying results, and much, much worse…

"ABRAXAS: Urban Legends" is the Clan's second stand alone novella in the series. This time, Jonathan is dying th check out a Halloween carnival, much to the disdain of the rest of the family. But the trip becomes more than a barrage of gorging on Carney food, spinning rides, and disatrous belly aches, as homunculous-stuffed prizes, an evil magician, and zombie grounds-keepers make the evening turn out to be not quite as they expected. Jonathan will never hear the end of Kurt's zombie-hating rant after THIS doozy….

BOTH BOOKS AVAILABLE IN E-BOOK and PRINT at www.lulu.com/gratistavampires! Or, visit http://bloodtouch.webs.com/abraxas for direct buy links and to view

the trailers!

CONTEST QUESTION:

What was the name of Grandpa's pet bat in "The Munsters" television show, and what was the name of the family's pet dragon that lived under their staircase?

The winner will receive a signed print copy of both ABRAXAS novellas and a Skeleton Hand Hair Clip from my Etsy shop,  www.etsy.com/shop/MistressRae13 !  Contest ends on Oct. 31, 2011 at noon Eastern Time and is for residents of the US and Canada only.  Void where prohibited by law.

Filed under: Cinsearae Santiago, Gothic, Guest Blog, Halloween Bash, paranormal, paranormal romance [image error]

Halloween by Gerri Brousseau

Halloween is one of the world's oldest holidays.  Some folklorists have detected its origins back to the Roman feast of Pomona (the goddess of fruits and seeds) or the

festival of the dead called Parentalia.  It is more typically linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain.  The name of the festival historically kept by the Gaels in Ireland is derived from Old Irish and means roughly "summer's end."

The word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century, and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows Even (Evening), the night before All Hallows Day.

The American tradition of carving pumpkins is recorded in

1837 and was originally associated with harvest time in general, not becoming specifically associated with Halloween until the mid-to-late 19th century.

The practice of dressing in costumes and begging door-to-door for treats on holidays dates back to the Middle Ages, and includes Christmas wassailing.  Trick-or-Treating resembles the late medieval practice of souling when poor folk would go door-to-door on Hallomas (November 1st), receiving food in return for prayers for the dead on All Souls Day (November 2nd) originated in Ireland and Britain.

American Historian and author Ruth Edna Kelley (of Massachusetts) wrote the first book length history of the holiday in the U.S.  The Book of Hallowe'en (1919) and references souling in the chapter "Hallowe'en in America."  Halloween is not celebrated by all countries or regions of the world.

After doing this research on Halloween, it occurred to me that the holiday, much like the United States, is a melting pot reflecting practices from many other countries.

Halloween, being one of my favorite holidays, enables us, no, encourages us, to don another persona.  Gives us permission to be caught up as a character that lives in another world, be it a world of fantasy, such as a fairy, or from a time long past, such as a prince.  We delight in becoming a witch or wizard, cowboy or Indian, vampire, werewolf, a princess, a pauper or a pirate, as we go door-to-door in quest of the sweet chocolate booty.

I have two pugs, and each year we dress up in costumes and

walk around our neighborhood visiting the trick-or-treaters.  The candy I carry in my plastic pumpkin is

given to those who stop to say hello to the costumed dogs.  They have been a devil and angel, a cheerleader and foot ball player, spider man and wonder woman, and lastly, I dressed them in pig costumes and on the side of one dog's costume I wrote in black marker, "H1", and on the other dog I wrote, "N1", and they went out as the Swine Flu.  We have had a lot of fun, but unfortunately, this year, due to Milo having for the most part, lost of the use of his back legs, we will not be going out.  I think instead I will allow them to get into costumes and greet happy tricksters at the door.

What traditions do you practice on this fun holiday?  Do you give out candy?  Do you dress in costume?  What costume will you wear?  Do you have a costume party?  Venture into Nights of Passion, where paranormal creatures rule and share your wicked plans for All Hallows Eve …. if you dare.

Filed under: romance [image error]

Contest & Article: Terrifying My Four-Year-Old by Rebecca Royce

Every year, my husband really does up our house for Halloween.  It's really his 'thing.'  My white center-hall colonial becomes a beacon of haunting for the holiday and I think the neighborhood children really enjoy the effort. We have clearly become a must-stop for candy so that they can view our decorations.

But this is really his interest. To me, I'd be satisfied with having one sticker up on the window and a few Jack-O-Lanterns on the front porch. But, my kids love it so much that I have gotten into the spirit of overdoing the decorations on my house. Sort of.

This year, the hubby had found some more decorations and so we have up so new scary ones in the front year.  Included in this was a scary looking guy whose head spinned around while he cackled.  As my husband was decorating the front yard, my four year old named this creature "Baby Jones."  I have no idea what prompted this name.  It soon, however, stuck and the whole family referred to this decoration as Baby Jones.

However, the fact that my four year old had named it Baby Jones, did not mean that he was okay with the decoration. In fact, his giving the decoration a name seems to have made him terrified of it.  At first, it was simply that he didn't like the noise it made when its head spun around.  Then he couldn't stand to look at it at all. By the end of the week, he wouldn't walk through the front door of the house because he might have to pass by Baby Jones.  So, I made my husband take it down, which then made my hubby a real hero to my four year old. No harm.  No foul.  Except, that my four year old has been not so secretly plotting to have Baby Jones run over by a car.

Why did this happen? Well, he's four and four year olds are scared sometimes.  It might, however, be slightly more than this. I think the fact that he named the decoration made it too real for him.

This is, essentially, what I do for a living.  I give names and realities to pretend beings. In fact, I go a step further.  I make them romance heroes.  And I love it. Because I love to take what scares me and make it fun.

[image error]What scares you?  Comment to win a copy of your choice of one of my ebooks!  Be sure and visit her website below.  The contest ends at noon Eastern Time on Oct.31, 2011 and is worldwide.  Void where prohibited by law.

Bio:

As a teenager, Rebecca Royce would hide in her room to read her favorite romance novels when she was supposed to be doing her homework. She hopes, these days, that her parents think it was well worth it.

Rebecca is the mother of three adorable boys and is fortunate to be married to her best friend. They live in northern New Jersey and try not to freeze too badly during the winter months.

She's in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and tries to use all of these elements in her writing. She's been told she's a little bloodthirsty so she hopes that when you read her work you'll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. Rebecca loves to write series because she loves to see characters develop over time and it always makes her happy to see her favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In Rebecca Royce's world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

Rebecca Royce

http://www.rebeccaroyce.com/books.html

Filed under: paranormal, paranormal romance, Rebecca Royce, romance, romance novels [image error]

Nicaraguan Folk Legends – Boohoohaa!

Back within my blog archives, you'll see I've visited the beautiful country of Nicaragua a time or two (actually it's been much more than that but I've only written about it a couple times). That's because my better half is from Nicaragua and quite frankly, the country, its people and culture have always fascinated me. In the spirit of Halloween, I've decided to share a few spooky folk legends that have been passed down through my husband's family. There are many different versions and add-ons to these stories but I'm sharing these versions in particular. May they inspire ideas for your writing and lead to a spooky Halloween indeed!

La Carretanagua

Originating in the town of Leon, Nicaragua, many believe this to be a two-wheeled cart driven by death himself. Most never see this cart but almost all in a town can hear its click-click on the cobblestones as it passes through town collecting souls in suffering and those who do bad things. Those who dared to pull their curtains aside or peek out through cracks in their walls, suffered fevers for days and risked waking up with bloody marks on their back from death's whip. Would you take a peak?

El Cadejo Negro– The Devil's Dog

Legend has it that a black dog with red eyes follows the lone walkers as they walk the streets at midnight. For those who are unlucky, this evil spirit is said to attack them and leave them dead. The second part of the legend speaks of a white dog or good spirit who protects those who are good of heart. If you dare leave the house at midnight, you better hope the latter comes to your rescue.

La Mocuana

The legend talks about a beautiful woman who had a son and she fell in love with a rich young man from another town. The man loved the woman but not her son and proposed that she give him away. The woman said she would not leave her son but the man threatened to kill both her and her son if she did not marry him. Sad, she escaped with her son to a cave called "La Mocuana" near the town of Trinidad, Nicaragua. She walked and walked until she got lost and died with her soul in suffering. These days, it is said that she leaves her cave after midnight every night, dressed in a white silk dress. If any child is awake or crying, she comes and takes them, thinking they are her son. Lesson to kids, go to sleep on time!

Thanks for joining me. I hope you enjoyed these legends. These are many more to share but we just may have to wait for next Halloween. Enjoy your trick-or-treating!

Filed under: Toni Kelly, Writer's Life [image error] [image error]

Contest & Taking A Long-Toothed View of Vampire Fiction by Inanna Arthen

I can still recall the very first vampire movie I ever saw. I was twelve years old, and the movie was a heavily edited version of Hammer Films' The Brides of Dracula. I know it was heavily edited because it was broadcast on TV during the afternoon in a one-hour time slot. That's the only reason it got past my mother's acutely protective censorship. I don't recall many details about the film (I've seen it many times since then, of course). I just remember how it made me feel.

I have no explanation for my lifelong obsession with vampires. It simply appeared, full-blown, in 1968, a year which seems to have molded my developing psyche with the speed and permanence of a lightning bolt glassifying sand. Shortly after my thrilling exposure to gorgeous David Peel's fangs and sensuous tongue-bite, I discovered the daytime serial Dark Shadows, whose introduction of vampire Barnabas Collins made the show a sensational hit. For me, a daily dose of vampires was like a free supply of dope to an addict. I would never recover.

So I've been in the vampire game for a long, long time. I was something of a teenage social outcast, so I pursued my private passions with great energy. I launched into a self-directed study of all things vampiric. I found and read Montague Summers' folklore compendium, The Vampire in Europe. I persuaded a dubious librarian to let me check Dracula out of the adult section. I read it in a single sitting, and still regard it as the greatest thriller ever written. I collected anthologies and pored through library references (anyone else old enough to recall The Reader's Guide to Periodical Literature?). I learned a lot about traditional vampire folklore, "real vampire criminals," vampire fiction (almost all of which I read, because back then, I could actually keep up with it) and vampire movies.

But I became a highly critical thinker on the topic. The more I learned about vampire folklore, the more I related it to other areas of study, such as urban legends, paranormal phenomena, social movements, and psychology. I found that I disagreed with a lot of the common clichés and pat summaries of "where vampire myths come from." The more vampire fiction I read, the less I liked it. None of it went deep enough, in my opinion. None of it really got vampires right.

This fanatical quest has been going on full-blast and full-time for more than forty years now, so I pretty much qualify as a raving vampire curmudgeon at this point. I write vampire fiction to suit my own tastes, and I've sternly recused myself from discussing vampires in public because I will probably jump down someone's throat within five minutes. But my company, By Light Unseen Media, publishes all types of vampire fiction by diverse authors because I appreciate that other readers have different tastes than mine.

The vampire trope is vast and complex and serves many purposes in our culture. The current wave of popular vampire mania is just the most recent in a series of them since the early 19th century. One of the earliest swelled in the 1820s after the publication of John Polidori's short story, "The Vampyre" and its subsequent stage adaptations. The "vampire trap," a trap door in the stage floor that enabled an actor to "vanish" was invented for these plays.

In the 1840s, the serialized "penny dreadful" Varney the Vampire was the Twilight of its day, mesmerizing audiences who inhaled its weekly installments for some two and half years. Think guilt-ridden, angsty vampires are new? Varney spends the book deploring his evil impulses and finally commits suicide by throwing himself into an erupting volcano. (Sunlight didn't harm vampires in folklore or fiction until F.W. Murnau's 1922 silent film Nosferatu invented the idea. Varney didn't have a lot of options, because no matter what killed him, moonlight brought him back.)

Vampires faded in popularity during the later 19th century. Dracula was published in 1897 to mixed reviews and poor sales. It was the stage production in the 1920s that launched a new wave of vampire enthusiasm. Think sexy vampires are new? Dracula, the stage play, left women swooning in the aisles and made Bela Lugosi a matinee idol. The show's revival in the 1970s did the same for Frank Langella.

Classic horror films of the 1930s kept vampire fandom alive until they ran out of steam and dribbled away into parody and comic relief. The 1950s, like the late 19th century, was an era in which science, industry, rationalism and religious conservatism colored popular trends. But vampire mania was reborn in 1958 with the Hammer Films Dracula series and then, in 1966, Dark Shadows. Barnabas Collins was never intended to be a romantic hero. He was originally written as a stone-evil villain and slated to be staked at the end of actor Jonathan Frid's standard 12-week contract. But millions of fans were ready for a romantic vampire. The fans, not the show's producers, made Barnabas Collins the sexiest man undead.

Vampires faded from fashion again during the 1970s, until Anne Rice presented us with vampires who were both evil and sympathetic, and made us identify with them by writing in the first person point of view. The Anne Rice flavored wave was subsequently marked by lots of vampire fiction with first person narrative and sociopathic antiheroes. By the 90s, readers had tired of Anne Rice and vampires in general, and during this slow spell we started to see more "good guy vampires" who avoided preying on humans and interacted with society.

Then we got past the millennium, when paranormal romance and YA really started to take off. Since then, the sky has been the limit.

It always amazes and discourages me that so few people seem to realize how varied and old the vampire genre and all its tropes are. I often see new writers boast about how different or unique their take on vampires is, just because their version isn't a love-struck teenager or a caped man with a pompadour and Hungarian accent. In every case, without fail, the supposedly "new and different" idea has been done many times before. The "angsty teen vampires" that everyone either loves or hates right now aren't some tired old cliché; they're the newest trend in vampire fiction. They will, inevitably, be supplanted by some other angle.

Of all cultural archetypes, vampires are the most personal. They evoke deep responses from almost everyone. No other trope is so adaptable, so varied, and so complex. I expect that in another year or so, we'll see a "dry spell" in which vampires fade from popularity and something else–witches and wizards, I'd guess, something akin to Harry Potter–will enjoy the ascendency for a while. But the vampire will be back in force before long. Historically, these "dry spells" have seen the publication of the most original and creative takes on the theme, like Richard Matheson's I Am Legend in the 50s or Suzy McKee Charnas' character Weyland in the 70s. I'm eager to see what unexpected twist on the vampire tale might lie ahead.

———————————————————————————————

Inanna Arthen (http://inannaarthen.com) is the author of Mortal Touch and The Longer the Fall, first and second in The Vampires of New England Series. Book 3, All the Shadows of the Rainbow, is scheduled for release in 2012. Inanna owns and operates By Light Unseen Media (http://bylightunseenmedia.com), a small press dedicated to fiction and non-fiction on the theme of vampires.  Both those books and other can be purchased through those links.

Now for the Worldwide Contest:  Inanna will be giving away signed paperback editions of both books, Mortal Touch and The Longer the Fall,  to one lucky commenter.  To enter this contest, say "I need the Vampires in New England series" and provide your email address.  Good luck.  Contest is void where prohibited by law.  The contest ends on October 26th at midnight Eastern time.

Filed under: Inanna Arthen, romance, vampire books, vampire movies, vampire television, vampires [image error] [image error] [image error]

Story & Contest: Denver Daydream By Sable Grey

(A new story by Sable Grey)

"We're going to be late," Phillip mumbled with irritation, glaring at the car in front of him.  Traffic had come to a complete halt.

"Maybe there's an accident," Helen craned her neck in an attempt to see what was causing the jam but to no avail.  Glancing at her three children in the back of the mini-van, she smiled.  Her eldest, Trent, looked bored out of his mind but handsome none the less in his Sunday's best.  The white wires of a pair of earplugs met beneath his chin and connected to his phone.   Beside him Neilson stared out the window, lost in his own world.  Katie, only five, was equally oblivious as she watched a Disney movie on the screen above them.

Facing forward, Helen looked at Phillip as she smoothed down her flower print skirt.  "It shouldn't taken them long to get it cleared out."  But he continued to drum his fingers on the steering wheel impatiently.  He was right.  They were going to be late.  Leaning to the side, she tried to see around the cars ahead.

"You aren't going to be able to see anything from here."

Again, he was right.  She would just have to get a closer look.  Opening the car door, the black leather sole of her boots hit the asphalt and as she stood, she ran her hands down the smooth leather that stretched skin tight around her legs.  When she reached up to tie back her straight blonde hair, the fabric of her tank top rose high on her stomach and the Denver wind hit her bare skin.

Ignoring the stares of those in the cars around her, she strode in slow motion between the two lanes.  She squinted as the Denver sun reflected off of cars windows…

"Helen?"

"Huh?"  Helen blinked and looked at Phillip.  "What did you say?"

"You aren't going to be able to see anything from here," he repeated.  She nodded, straightening in her seat as he rolled down his window.

Grasping her sunglasses from her collar where she always hung them, she slipped the wire framed lenses onto her nose and continued to make her way through the traffic.  It was more than an accident, she realized as she neared.  It was a blood bath.

A quick survey of the overturned van and the strewn bodies, due to her training, she assessed that the shooter had taken out the driver first from a window on the third floor of the building across the street.  The van flipped and as each of the men crawled out unscathed, the shooter took them out one at a time in broad daylight.

Flashing her badge at the nearest officer, she strode past him to the hunk obviously in charge.  "Have you secured the building?"  Time slowed down as he looked up, revealing a brilliant blue gaze that locked with hers instantly.  Tall, lean, and very sexy.

He fell into step beside her as they headed across the street.  "Mike Lawrence.  We have the exits guarded and a team ready to go in."  His gaze washed over her.  "No back up?"

"Helen Bryson and I am the back up," she said as she pushed open the doors and pulled the gun from the back waistband of her pants.  "Let's move."  Up the stairwell to the third floor.  But the shooter was gone.  Not gone, Helen amended silently, but hiding.  Room by room they searched and finally located the man on the roof.

As he shot at them, Helen ran to the left, circling around, and lunged at the shooter but he jumped out of the way.  She hit the ground, rolled, landed on her feet and raced forward.  As he lifted his gun to fire again, she leapt into the air, sailing forward until the heel of her boot connected with his jaw and he tumbled backwards.  As she landed in a crouch, Mike pinned the man to the ground and hand cuffed him.  Others rushed forward to haul him up and take him into custody.

"Not bad," Mike said.

"Not bad, yourself."  She followed him back down the stairwell behind the others but noticed that his step was slower than the rest.  They'd fallen behind considerably when he turned and faced her.  Their eyes met and in the next moment they came together in one another's arms.

His mouth caught hers and his tongue collided with hers in hot passion…

"Thank God.  Finally, we're moving," Phillip growled with irritation causing Helen to blink and look over at him.  Their car finally eased forward.  As they passed, Helen could see the cause of the traffic jam.  An old woman had driven her car onto the sidewalk and took out a no parking sign.

~The End~

Now for the Scavenger Hunt Contest for the ebook Tempest Moon.

Go to Sable's website to find the answers and post them in the comment box here.  The winner will be randomly chosen from those who get the 3 right answers.

1.        How many titles does Sable Grey currently have listed on her website?

2.       What is Sable's favorite movie?

3.       What is the hero's name of Tempest Moon?

The prize:  A free copy of Tempest Moon, recently released at Cobblestone Press. Contest ends at noon on Oct. 31, 2011 Eastern Time.  Void where prohibited by law.

http://sablegrey.net/home/

Filed under: paranormal, paranormal romance, romance, romance novels, Sable Grey [image error] [image error]

Halloween Bash Paranormal-Scope Game/Contest

We're beginning the Halloween Bash with a fill in the blank paranormal game.  The commenter who fills in the blanks with the most amusing answers in my opinion will win one pdf ebook of my backlist.   The game ends at midnight on Oct. 25th Eastern Time.  Contest void where prohibited by law.  Good luck and go wild.—Susan Hanniford Crowley

Remember, while I'm not qualified in any way to read neither stars nor planet, I am intimately linked with the paranormal in the world.  Are you?  We shall see.

The week ahead for:

Aries

Aslan the lion roars his approval.  __________times are in store.

Taurus

A mermaid has stirred up a _____________.  It's a great time to vacation in the mountains.

Gemini

A vampire can be an important friend to have especially because he ____________.

Cancer

The shapeshifters know the best shape is _________________________.

Leo

Pixies are spreading fairy dust, which has a very strong ____________effect.

Virgo

The Leprechaun has hidden some _______________in your home.

Libra

Dancing in the Fairy Circle will cause you to ___________________.

Scorpio

Werewolves know all about having fun.  It's time for you to _____________________.

Sagittarius

The Creature from the Black Lagoon is a ______________animal.  Join the fun.

Capricorn

There's a spell on you and now you're __________________.

Aquarius

The frog on your doorstep is really a _______________________________.

Pieces

Goblins know how to get down.  Dance, _________________, dance.

–Susan

Susan Hanniford Crowley

Filed under: contest, Halloween Bash, Susan Hanniford Crowley, Weekly Paranormal-Scope [image error] [image error]

Cosy

by C. Margery Kempe

The chilly weather has come to Galway. I had to turn on the heat last night while I worked away at my kitchen table. I don't mind. I prefer autumn and spring to summer and winter, a little chill just means it's better weather for cosying up. I'm finding that a very appealing image just now: a fire place, a comfy sofa, hot chocolate and nowhere else to have to be. Sounds awfully nice.

There's a great passage from Kenneth Graham's The Wind in the Willows that captures this feeling well:

"When the girl returned, some hours later, she carried a tray, with a cup of fragrant tea steaming on it; and a plate piled up with very hot buttered toast, cut thick, very brown on both sides, with the butter running through the holes in great golden drops, like honey from the honeycomb. The smell of that buttered toast simply talked to Toad, and with no uncertain voice; talked of warm kitchens, of breakfasts on bright frosty mornings, of cosy parlour firesides on winter evenings, when one's ramble was over and slippered feet were propped on the fender, of the purring of contented cats, and the twitter of sleepy canaries."

I got out my red wool hooded cape today, changing from my lighter black and white magpie wrap. A sure sign of the changing seasons. I love my red riding hood! Of course it means I have to keep a weather eye out for big bad wolves, but I think I may already have one and he looks friendly enough. And apparently he's very fond of cosying up, so things look good.

I'm off in London again this weekend; one of my favourite cities in the world. It's the setting for a good number of my stories: Chastity Flame lives on Tavistock Square in Bloomsbury (where I'll be seeing Alan Moore perform Friday night with a Scottish singer MacGillivray) and Love Me Like a Reptile takes place at a pub down near the Embankment. Hmmm: wonder how long before I start setting stories in Scotland? I'm off to Dundee in three weeks — looking forward to it! Here's a little song for cosying up to someone sweet.

[image error]

Filed under: C. Margery Kempe, contemporary romance, erotic romance, Flirting, inspiration, Kit Marlowe, Mystery, romance [image error]

Thriller by Gerri Brousseau

They say that hearing a song brings you back to a time and place in your memory.  Thus, lovers have what they refer to as "their song."  There are songs that remind you of a certain person, not necessarily a lover, or a certain place, and there are many songs associated with holidays.  Thriller, by the late, great King of Pop, Michael Jackson, has got to be one of the songs that is most identified with the holiday of Halloween.

Thriller, a 14-minute music video for the song of the same name, was released, not in October, but rather on December 2, 1983, and was voted the most influential video of all time.  It actually made it into the Guinness Book of Records!  Whether you are a fan of Jackson or not, you must admit Thriller was amazing.

This wildly imaginative video contains all sorts of paranormal creatures.  Michael, who plays the teenage boyfriend on a date with his lovely teen girlfriend, turns into both a werecat and a zombie in this short video.  In the video, the young couple walks home after seeing a horror flick, and as they pass a grave yard, the undead rise out of their graves as the macabre voice of Vincent Price performs his spoken song.

The Zombies break into an elaborate song and brilliantly

choreographed dance, followed by the main chorus of Thriller.  If you have ever seen this amazing video, I know you will never forget the haunting laugh of Vincent Price at the end of the video.

Creepy?  Yes.  Effective? You know it.  Fabulous? Definitely.  Although there are many other songs associated with the Halloween season, such as "Frankenstein" by Edgar Winter, and "The Monster Mash" by Bobbie"Boris" Picket and the Crypt-Kickers (the name alone … I mean come on), Thriller has to be the greatest contribution to music associated with horror.

On October 30, 2010, my son and his lovely bride married.  Yes, on "hell" night.  And they had a Halloween themed wedding.  Our table designations were pinned on tiny

pumpkins, we had a costume booth where guests could don costumes and be

photographed for the couple (everyone enjoyed this), and lastly, we had a trick or treat table, filled with all sorts of sweet treats.  The loving couple drank their champagne toast out of blood splattered glasses boasting "toe tags", but rather than "John Doe" or "Jane Doe"  they said "Bride" and "Groom."  Their cake topper was even in theme as they used Tim Burton's skeletal bride and groom.  It was a lovely event with the celebration of one of our favorite holidays.  But … we did not do the chicken dance or the electric slide at this wedding … we danced to Thriller, by Michael Jackson.

What songs have special meaning in your life?  Remind you of a special person, place or thing?  Remind you of Halloween?

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