It also means we’re twice as busy brewing up potions in our cauldrons, and preparing treats—witch which is why I tricked you by posting my weekly wrap up a day late. My apologizes.

Stick around—I’ll give you a treat! I’ve got a lot of events coming up in the next few weeks that you don’t want to miss! Witch which is why my weekly wrap will be on hiatus for a few weeks since I have other fun blog stuff that will give you the chance to win gift cards, books, and have fun. 

Not Everyone in My House Loves Halloween

But before I get to that, I wanted to talk about my love of Halloween! There’s just something so fun about dressing up and acting like a kid again. Plus I believe Halloween, and trick or treating, is a great way to bring your neighborhood together. 

But there is someone who hates Halloween. Well, I guess he might enjoy this event a little since he gets to greet all kinds of ghosts and goblins but there is one thing he hates—dressing up in costumes or sweaters. 

You guessed it, my writing partner. Scruff. The proof is in the pudding—or the picture below.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but I think Scruff is only thinking of one. Revenge.

But, oh my goodness, isn’t he adorable? 

The pig costume on the right is the one the girls choose for him this year. From Scruff’s expression, this just may be the last straw for him.

Would You Like a Treat?

Here’s some awesome resources for you to check out from this week, and I’ll let you know what’s coming up in the next few weeks. 

Finding that Magical Job 

Spoiler alert! I’m going to give away The Muse’s lure to their post below.

No worries, it’s a good one. How you can make your own website super quick and easy. You don’t need a website, you say? Well you might want to read this post then, because if you’re even shopping for a new job, you might put yourself a step ahead of the crowd with an online resume.  

The Fun, One-Hour Activity That Will Help You Land Your Dream Job

Put Some Magic in Your Marketing and Design

Next we’ve got an article from HubSpot. It’s a bit along the same lines of website and design, but some wonderful examples of those, and marketing your product. 

14 of the Best Product Page Design Examples We’ve Ever Seen

Come Writers, Come Readers, Come All —Don’t Miss This Magically Awesome Resource!

Finally, I have the casserole of resources right here from The Virtual Savvy. You don’t have to be a VA, or even a writer for that matter, to benefit from this list of resources.

I’ve made sure to add it to my Pinterest to refer back to again and again. Don’t miss checking it out!

[VIRTUAL ASSISTANT RESOURCES] TOOLS YOU NEED TO RUN A VA BUSINESS.

Check Out What’s Coming Up in this Magical Month of Halloween 

First off- Next week I get to pretend to be a mobster. What fun! It’s all part of Chrys Fey’s “If I were a Mobster Blogfest” starting next Friday.

Check back here to start the blog hop and read my special story snippet written in my mobster persona.

Then the Halloween Festivities begin! I’m participating in two awesome blog hops, each featuring tons of prizes, and lots of paranormal and fantasy authors. So if that’s a genre you love, you don’t want to miss out.

Casi McLean’s ABA Haunted Halloween Hop will start off first on October 24th.

And then the Snarkology Halloween Hop begins on October 25th. 

Both run through Halloween, so you’ll have plenty of time to visit all the blogs and enter to win all kinds of prizes!

If you’re worried about forgetting the start of the hop, be sure to sign up to receive my blog via email so you never miss a thing! (Find the sign up at the top right hand corner of this page.)

On the 31st- you’ll also find out what my favorite horror movie is on Kate Hill’s Halloween Page.

Until next week, I hope to see you on Facebook. If you’re following my author page I try to start your week off right with some Monday Motivation Quotes. 

So tell me are you Team Halloween? Or Team Scruff?

Do you love—or hate—Halloween? 

The post I love Halloween, but Guess Who Hates It? appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Back in the Day…  

Ahh, my favorite expression utilized to elicit eye rolls from my twin teens, prompting me to delve deeper into stories of my youth…

But it’s true, trick or treating has changed over the years. Probably for the better, yet I still feel all warm & fuzzy when I reminisce and ponder how children survived to become parents today.

Because you see, Halloween wasn’t the same…compared to today, back in the day, what we used to do might be considered…

HARD-CORE HALLOWEEN-IN’  

• Plastic masks- scratchy, cracking, couldn’t see, barely breathe and you’re sweating like a m—
• Mummy costumes, ghosts and home-made ho-bo’s using your mom’s babushka she used to cover her rollers with when she went to the store. Just tie that kerchief to a stick! None of these store bought costumes prompting most women to look like a wh—
• Who heard of flame retardant costumes back then? Heck most jack-o-lanterns had a real candle barely providing enough light to find the door at the creepy old house down the street that you dared your friends to knock on. Back then parents didn’t limit the houses you were allowed to go to, not worrying about the mo—
• Monster movies of the ‘people kind’ were just coming out. No more Godzilla, Swamp Thing or The Blob. Instead Jason, Freddie, Michael Meyers filled the nightmares of our youth, terrorizing us. All contributing to why parents today are afraid to let their kids trick or treat at night because of Fr—
• Freakishly dark streets with barely a flashlight to lead the way. The only glow sticks were the unfortunate fire flies/lightening bugs the sadistic kids would cr—
• Cram as much candy as you could into your pillowcase. No plastic pumpkins for us, we were in it for the long haul. Even without the healthy eating guidelines candy really was a treat when half the houses gave out homemade popcorn bags, raisins and apples that could potentially conceal a r—
• Running to the house first that supplied the full size candy bars. You knew who they were and you weren’t missing that house no matter how f—
• Freezing with your threadbare plastic costume on a cold October night. Ain’t no way you’re covering up that ghost-sheet-costume while your Dad chases down the kids  ‘corning’ your house as they flee for the b—
• Bobbing for apples. Who wouldn’t want to horrify child welfare by binding kid’s hands and having them dunk or drown in a cesspool of water for a water-logged apple. Who needs a flu shot? Parents must’ve been in—

….In love with the spirit of Halloween…or on a sugar-high from eating too much of their kids candy. No taking your candy for an X-Ray, instead your candy withstood the Mom Inspection. Tasting your chocolate…you know, just to make sure it’s safe to eat.

Tell me one of your old school Halloween memories in the comments for a chance to win a $5.00 Amazon gift card.

(Don’t forget to leave your email so I can give it to Chucky, err- contact you if you win)

  She’s a witch hunting a spell. He’s hunting witches and falling for her.

Carman has worn out more towns and last names than impractical shoes protecting the secret of her magic blood. But when a friend goes missing, and another is infected with a deadly spell, Carman must choose. Expose her magic blood by curing the spell—or stop the infection from spreading by killing the source…the grandmother.

Magic bounty hunter Dylan has scoured libraries of banned magic paraphernalia seeking a method to distinguish genuine witches from impersonators. He suspects unorthodox librarian Carman might hold this information tighter than the hair he’s dying to unleash from her bun. With a past as hidden as his sleeve of tattoos, Dylan discovers he’s been used to gain Carman’s trust and their passion risks     more than mixing mortals and magic.

Get Your Magic Today:

Amazon:

The Wild Rose Press:

Barnes and Noble:

Kobo:

IBooks:

Follow the hop RIGHT HERE for more fun, great books & awesome prizes

Enter for a chance to win:
(1) $100 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card or
(1) $50 Amazon or B&N Gift Card

The post Old School Trick or Treating 🎃 appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

Mysteries of the Macabre

It’s six stories, by six authors with six…okay…I’m just kidding… there are only two sixes.  

But it is that time of year when thoughts drift to pumpkin everything, colorful leaves, and Halloween with all the fun and scariness the season brings. This Anthology provides a story that should suit everyone’s tastes. It’s practically a casserole of frightfully fun Halloween treats!

And I do love a casserole…check this out…if you dare. You know you dare…it’s no trick—you’re not going to pass this treat up, are you?

(P.S. Once you scroll down you’ll get a second treat- a look at Alicia’s gorgeous cover for her story, Scarred.)

A Halloween Anthology – Six Stories by Six Authors

MYSTERIES OF THE MACABRE

Authors

Alicia Dean, Leah St. James, Alexa Day, Renci Dunham, Rohn Federbush, and Elvy Howard share Halloween mayhem in 6 short stories:

A masked stranger ~ Teen angst ~ Ghostly appearances

Hot Halloween sex ~ A tropical nightmare ~ Visions from the past

Alicia Dean’s story is Scarred:

Wow! Take a look at that gorgeous cover! Fabulous!

Gothic romance

Blurb:
Sometimes, the most painful scars are the ones beneath the skin. 
When Natalie Jayne moved away from her home town ten years earlier, she left behind painful memories, along with Simon, the man she loved. Now, she’s back on Halloween night to attend a memorial marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of her childhood friend, Jessica. Rumors that Simon was responsible for Jessica’s death unnerve her. Even more disturbing is her unsettling attraction to a masked stranger she meets at the event. Her gift may be the key to unlocking the truth, but will it also lead to heartbreak?

Excerpt:

Natalie wasn’t sure what had possessed her to make a spectacle of herself. She just couldn’t bear to hear these people crucify Simon. Especially since he wasn’t here to defend himself.

Kristopher clenched his fists as if he were using all his willpower not to throttle her. “What the hell do you think you’re doing, Natalie?” He spoke low enough that the people in the ballroom couldn’t hear him. His blue eyes were tortured, his handsome face drawn in pain and grief. “You were her friend. You should want justice.”

“Justice is one thing. You people are out for blood. You’ve known Simon your whole life. He would never have hurt Jessica—or anyone—on purpose.”

“You’ve been gone for ten years. People change.”

She captured his gaze, searched for some sign of compassion. “Do you really, deep in your heart, believe he killed her in cold blood?”

“I know he did.”

“Why would he do that?”

His mouth twisted with bitterness. “Jealousy. Rage.”

“Jealousy over what?”

“Me. Jessica and I. She told him that night that she was leaving him. For me. We were in love and were going to be together.

Sick dread coiled in her stomach. “No, that’s not true.”

“Oh, but it is. He was controlling, obsessive.” Tears filled his eyes, and he shook his head. “I should never have let her tell him on her own.”

A niggle of doubt wormed its way into her heart. Simon had been a good man, but he was also capable of strong emotion…strong passion. If the woman he loved betrayed him with another—with his best friend—what might he have done in a moment of mindless rage?

“He’s right.”

Natalie whirled at the deep voice to find the phantom from the balcony behind her.

“What do you mean, he’s right? What do you know of Jessica and Simon?”

His lips tightened, but he remained silent.

“I’ll tell you what he knows.” Kristopher’s words were like the growl of a wounded animal. “He knows everything about that night. He’s the one who killed her.”

Grab your copy today!

BIO

Award-winning, multi-published author Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 11, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who happened to share the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia here:

Website:

Blog:

Facebook: 

Twitter:

Pinterest:

Goodreads:

The post Check out this Halloween Anthology today with my guest Alicia Dean appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.

PRIZES….now that I’ve got your attention…. Welcome to my stop of the  Snarkology Halloween Blog Hop! Enter the Rafflecopter for a BIG prize and visit the blogs to win more prizes!

PRIZES….60 Blogs= tons of prizes!!!

And wait, there’s more...(prizes)

If you sign up for my newsletter (prizes)—tell me in the comments that you did—you’ll be entered in my drawing of a $5.00 amazon gift card or Post a pic of you in a Halloween costume  (prizes)  for an entry in my drawing…or Better Yet— Do both for 2 chances to win!

I will announce winner here and on my Facebook page on November 1st (you got time, get in your costume, take that pic and get it on here)

First…my version of ‘zombie’. There’s no flesh eating. I’m more of the candy-eating kind of zombie. I don’t follow the shows or movies about them, so I certainly don’t know the proper zombie etiquette for a costume or behaviors…so I make up my own.

I’ve been many things for Halloween…a cat, a belly-dancer, batgirl, a devil…but almost all the costumes available in the stores-—oh no, shut-it now cause I’m so not sewing—seemed to have the same theme.

 While if you’re a zombie…

• It’s the only time a bad hair day is a good thing cause it’s the look you’re going for
• If your clothes rip or buttons pop from your candy over indulgence- it just looks like part of the costume
• Forgo the napkin or bib during your candy gorging- zombies are messy
• Less trick or treaters to eat your candy—you know you bought what you like, It’s okay to admit it here, you’re among friends— some kids are afraid of the zombie handing it out                            (even when I told them we were nice zombies…still tears and terror…)
• An excuse to glare at everyone you don’t like or threaten to kill them…just playing the part
• The ability to draw all over your face with lipstick and eyeliner and people won’t think you slept with it on
• Introverts rejoice!!! A valid reason not to talk to anyone (insert glare here)… grunt or growl if you must to discourage further attempts at conversation
• No need for stilettos and/or fishnet, heck you could go barefoot with sweatpants if you want—Oh, you had me at sweatpants

What was your favorite Halloween costume or what do you plan to be this year? Not dressing up? Come on! If you read paranormal, you know this is the best time of the year!

Pick up my paranormal novella, That Magic Moment, to help you get into the spirit- sorry no zombies, just witches.

 P.S. you can use the gift card to buy your own candy if you want…cause I’m not sharing my stuff…just sayin’

Wait! Don’t go yet…I did tell you about the prizes, didn’t I?

Enter To Win:

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The post Belly dancers can’t eat candy…be a zombie appeared first on Author Maureen L. Bonatch.