Red Tash's Blog, page 259
October 31, 2011
Coffin Hop Costume Parade!
hollyhocksandtulips:
Martians,...
Coffin Hop Costume Parade!
Martians, 1960
This pretty much owns.
INDEED, it does. What else owns? All Hallow's Read. I'm giving ya scary books as part of the Coffin Hop. HERE's HOW.
Final day of the Coffin Hop, Day Eight!
It sure has been a lot...
Final day of the Coffin Hop, Day Eight!
It sure has been a lot of fun. People say stuff like that all the time on the internet, but I sincerely mean it. I know this Hop was a first-time experiment not just for me, but for the founders Axel and Julie. I would say it's been a raging success. RAGING BULL of a success, here, if my funny bone is any judge (which, it is, shut up).
Anywho, I had trouble picking just one "cute vintage costume" photo to post today, so I'm going to be posting several. Call it a Coffin Hop Costume Parade. (None of these photos are me and mine, I just found them on tumblr. I love tumblr.)
However, I must add that one of my two trick or treat costumes growing up was an awful clown costume much like the ones these kids are wearing. How much do you envy that mouse, huh? (Ironically, my other costume was a pathetic mouse. ^This mouse would probably have eaten mine for lunch.)
My final Coffin Hop prize giveaway is part of Neil Gaiman's All Hallows Read stroke of brilliance. Instead of candy, I will send you a lovely, possibly freaky, most definitely somewhat yellowed old book to read. In order to get it, you need to join my email list at RedTashBooks@gmail.com, by emailing me with the subject "email list and All Hallows Read." Send me your snail mail mailing address, including your name.
I will gather up the requests on November 1, in between bouts of Nanowrimoing, and I will choose random/weird book treats for you from the second-hand book store. Then, you watch your mailbox, folks.
Because I am a broke author on the verge of being the next breakthrough best-selling author and not technically there yet, I can only afford to send these books to US readers. But I do have much love for you Canadians, Brits, and other assorted "ferriners," as we call y'all 'round here….
So, I'll tell you what—if you are outside the United States of These Here Americas, and you want something in the mail from Auntie Red, send me an email with your address, anyway. I can't promise to ship a book, but I'll think of something reading-related.
October 30, 2011
Mmmmrm. Tea & toast. Delicious. What? How do you start...
Mmmmrm. Tea & toast. Delicious. What? How do you start *your* Sunday?
CoffinHop Day Seven is here!
With all the excitement from the past week, clicking from blog-to-blog, making sure your costume was ready for any parties you attended, or for the Big Night of All Fright Nights tomorrow, have you forgotten anything?
Like, uh…what are you taking for lunch tomorrow? Did you pick up the kidfood and the dog cereal? The baby is out of beer and Dad needs diapers, too.
Tell you what. Today's prize on zee CoffinHop is…a grocery list! Yes, in the tradition of the work excuses, the toasts, the break-up tweets, and the wacky cartoon strips, I will write you a grocery list so all your back-to-work, back-to-school needs will be covered for the week. Just take it down to your local Piggly Wiggly tonight and see if they'll complete your order. I dare you.
To get one of these darling lists, just do any of the following:
Circle me on Google Plus
Become my fan on Goodreads
Like my page on FB
Follow me on twitter
Sign up for my email list (just email me at RedTashBooks@gmail.com and ask)
Deliver fresh-cut roses to my door
Don't gotta do them all, just any one of the above, and let me know!
I'll take care of that pesky grocery-list chore for you and alert you when it's ready.
Piggly Wiggly won't know what hit 'em, gang.
Click on Uncle Frank's picture up there to get to the next CoffinHop thang.
October 29, 2011
Welcome, Coffin Hoppers!
So far this week I have given out all...
Welcome, Coffin Hoppers!
So far this week I have given out all kinds of treats. More to come!
Today's treat is a custom horrorscope, just for you. In order to win this lovely prize, just download any one of my books/stories (there is a freebie & a $.99er), and let me know either here, twitter, FB, or Goodreads that you did.
While you're busy doing that, I'll be working out the final details of my costume.
While the catwoman's away…
Ah, Dr. Who am I kidding? You already know I'm going as River Song. I do have to finish the baby's TARDIS dress for tonight, though.
Lee Meriwether as Catwoman in the Batman film 1966
October 28, 2011
Thanks for all the birthday wishes, CoffinHoppers!
Here's...
Thanks for all the birthday wishes, CoffinHoppers!
Here's today's prize!
Take your pic.
I use the first one for my desktop background, the second as my twitter bg. They're both high res and large enough to make a nice desktop bg. They are much bigger files than they will display on this interface.
On to the next Coffin Hop stop!
Happy Birthday to me! See you tomorrow for more Coffin...
Happy Birthday to me! See you tomorrow for more Coffin Hopping!
The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum (c.1821) | John Martin
Been awhile since I posted any classic art. Found some vintage stuff last night, as well, while getting my posts together for the Coffin Hop next week. This particular painting's been in the queue for ages. Glad it gets to see the light of day today. Poor Pompeiians.
Pompeii
by: Guy Wetmore Carryl (1873-1904)
POMPEII, 1900.
The giant slept, and pigmies at his feet,
Like children moulding monuments of snow,
Piled stone on stone, mapped market-place and street,
And saw their temples column-girdled grow:
And, slowly as the gradual glaciers grope
Their way resistless, so Pompeii crept,
Year by long year, across the shelving slope
Toward the sea:—and still the giant slept.
Belted with gardens, where the shivered glass
Of falling fountains broke the pools' repose,
As they had been asleep upon the grass,
A myriad villas stretched themselves and rose:
And down her streets, grown long and longer still,
Grooving the new-laid stones, the chariots swept,
And of a sudden burst upon the hill
Vast amphitheatres. Still the giant slept.
With liquid comment of the wooing doves,
With wanton flowers, sun-conjured from the loam,
Grew the white city of illicit loves,
Hostess of all the infamy of Rome!
A marble harlot, scornful, pale, and proud,
Her Circean court on ruin's brink she kept,
Lulled by the adoration of the crowd
To lethal stupor. Still the giant slept.
Incense-encircled, pacing day by day
Through temple-courts reëchoant with song,
Sin-stunned and impercipient, on her way
She dragged her languid loveliness along.
With lips whereon a dear damnation hung,
With dark, dream-clouded eyes that never wept,
Flawlessly fair, the faulty fair among,
She kissed and cursed:—and still the giant slept.
Here, for a mute reminder of her shame,
Her ruins gape out baldly from their tomb;
A city naked, shorn of all but name,
Blinking and blind from all her years of gloom:
A beldam who was beauty, crying alms
With leprous lips that mouths their prayers in vain;
Her deaf destroyer to her outstretched palms
Respondeth not. The giant sleeps again!
Climbing up out of the grave today for Coffin Hop Day Five....
Climbing up out of the grave today for Coffin Hop Day Five. Today's extra special because IT'S MY BIRTHDAY! Yep, really.
Today, instead of me giving prizes to you, you give prizes to me! Whaddya bring me?
;)
Okay, fer reals. Today's contest is…
Everyone who leaves me a happy birthday message gets a free desktop wallpaper of This Brilliant Darkness. Leave it here, on FB, Twitter, Goodreads—just make sure it's somewhere I'll find it, and I'll send you a beautiful high res image for your computer. You'll love it.
Also, if you'd like to join my email list (non-spammy, just going to send a monthly update, probably, but they *do* get bonuses now and then), hit me at RedTashBooks@gmail.com with the subject line "email list," and I'll add ya.
Now wish me a great birthday, and I'll see you soon!
To visit other CoffinHoppers, go here.
October 27, 2011
life:
Ever wonder where Halloween traditions came from?
The...
life:
Ever wonder where Halloween traditions came from?
The name "Halloween" comes from "All Hallow's Evening," marking the night before All Saint's Day (or Hallowmas or All Hallow) , the Christian holiday celebrated in Western traditions on Nov. 1. The term first came to be used in the 16th century.
Now, what about Jack-O-Lanterns? Or, trick or treating? Don't worry, we've covered it all: Click on.
