October Frights Blog Hop: Day 6

Welcome to the last day of the October Frights Blog Hop. I hope you've had fun reading my posts this week. If you missed any, scroll down. There's some good stuff. Not that I'm biased or anything. LOL

Today, I thought I'd leave you with a confession...

I'm a wimp when it comes to scary stuff. Scary Movies? Nope. They are just too visual for me. But to be fair, books are even harder because I have a wicked imagination. So much so that I horrify myself enough in any given day to cause a heart attack. 

Let me explain. I have three girls (17, 15 & 12). Whenever one is late, and I can't reach them on their cell phone, I imagine the worst-case scenarios. I can't help it. My mind doesn't even consider that they stopped for gas or a McDonalds drink... or that their cell phone died. Nope. I imagine that some burly guy with an ax forced them into a dark alley. Seriously, my brain is always in overdrive.

So since my brain operates like Stephen King, I can't watch scary things or read about them. Especially nothing to do with young women (hello, I have three daughters) or kids in general. 

Oh, and don't even get me started on my nightmares. My brain even tortures me when I'm asleep. And I'm one of those crazy people who wake up--heart pounding, breath ragged--and it's like I hit pause on the dream. As soon as I go back to sleep, it starts right back up.

Okay, that might be a couple of confessions. Eep!

Do you like scary books/movies? Do you have nightmares or imagine worst-case scenarios?

***

Please visit the other blogs participating in the hop:

October Frights Blog Hop: Day 5

Welcome to Day 5 of the October Frights Blog Hop. Today, I'm sharing a spooky Halloween story I shared years ago, but it's still one of my favorites. Hope you enjoy it.

Never Answer Death's Call

Darkness was everywhere. Thud. Thud. Thud. My heartbeat, deafening as it quickened, was the only sound. As my eyes adjusted to the blackness, I realized I was in a narrow passageway. Roots and dirt surrounded me. 

Cramped and terrified, I squeezed my eyes shut. “Wake up, before it’s too late.” A voice I didn’t know echoed in my head. My eyes flew open. Still, there was nothing. 

Panic set in. Then, I heard it. A noise like nails on a chalkboard, and it was getting closer. An eerie voice began to chant my name. 

“Don’t answer the call.” The voice from before. I moved forward, pushing away roots and spider webs to clear my path. My hand reached out just in time to keep me from running into a wall. A dead end. 

Again, my name echoed in the small space. This time, it was my mother’s voice. 

Relief flooded through me. I turned and started to answer, but before I could utter a sound, someone grabbed me from behind and clamped a hand over my mouth. A voice, so close to my ear I could feel the breathing, whispered, “Death is tricky. Never answer. He’ll take you.”

( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ )

Many years ago, I had this dream and awoke to my mom shaking me. When I told her about it, she said her grandmother once told her that you should never answer a voice calling to you in the night because it was Death. 

When my children were young, I would shiver whenever they called out to me at night. After all, Death is tricky.

( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ )

Have you ever had a nightmare that stuck with you?

And don't forget to visit the other blogs in this hop...

October Frights Blog Hop Day 4

Welcome to Day 4 of the October Frights Blog Hop. 

Halloween is a time when we embrace dressing up and becoming something else. In my world as a paranormal author, I can't help but imagine what it would be like to be a paranormal creature. If I could be anything for a day, it would be a witch. A look I tried on a few Halloweens ago.

To have awesome power but still be able to masquerade through daily life as a human... that seems the perfect scenario to me.

But there's something very alluring about being a vampire too. Except I faint at the sight of blood. Oh well.

If you could be any paranormal creature for a day, what would you be?

***

And don't forget to check out the other participating blogs:

October Frights Blog Hop: Day 1

The Ghoulish Blog Hop Celebrating All Things That Go Bump In The Night

A wonderful event of dark and devilish things happens from October 10th-15th. Visit the blogs of your favorite paranormal and horror authors. There will be all kinds of fun with special spooky posts.

Keep checking back here this week. I will be sharing an excerpt from Bittersweet Vengeance, my witchy story included in the Book of Spells collection and an original Halloween story. Plus more. 

And there's an awesome giveaway that ends 10/15/17 at midnight. Some details:

Prize List:

1st Prize:

20$ Amazon Gift Card (offered by Katie M. John)

Two eBook Set of Killers and Demons Series by A. F. Stewart

Starblood graphic novel (signed paperback for UK, e-book if outside UK) by Carmilla Voiez

Charm City (US paperback or International ebook) by Ash Krafton

A Claire Riley ebook (winners choice) and a swag pack

Being Human ebook by Patricia Lynne

Pandora's Curse by James McDonald (US paperback or International ebook)

Book of Spells Anthology ebook by Tia Silverthorne Bach

Paperback of Love Remains by Zrinka Jelic

2nd Prize:

Horror Haiku and Other Poems ebook by A. F. Stewart

Creatures Gone Astray ebook short stories by Alice de Sampaio Kalkuhl

Kindle copy of The Cottage by Lavinia Urban

PDF ebook of  A Persistence of Geraniums by John Linwood Grant

A Melanie McFarlane ebook
When Blood Reigns by Barbara Custer (signed paperback for US, e-book if outside US)

One ebook copy of either Curiously Dark Tales or Solstice (winner's choice)

by Debbie Christiana

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Please visit the other blogs participating in the hop:

And We're Off... NaNo!

It's November 1 and time to write 50,000 words in a month.

So, of course, my kids are home from school today. Oh, and I leave tomorrow for New York City for a fun girls' weekend (planned earlier this year when I wasn't even thinking about NaNo). But I have five hours of flight time and three hours of layover sans kids, so I hope to get off to a strong start.

Wishing all my NaNoWriMo friends, and anyone with a long to do list this month, well.

Keeping it short today. But just for some cuteness, I thought I'd share my girls in their Halloween costumes: a gypsy, a hot dog, and Frankenstein's bride.

 

 

As for why a hot dog would have a mustache, I can honestly say I have no clue and knew better than to ask.

Death's Call: A Spooky Halloween Story

Today, I wanted to share my spooky Halloween story that first appeared earlier this month on Gin's Book Notes. If you haven't checked out her blog, please do. And follow her on Facebook. She's a friend to authors and readers alike.

Never Answer Death's Call

Darkness was everywhere. Thud. Thud. Thud. My heartbeat, deafening as it quickened, was the only sound. As my eyes adjusted to the blackness, I realized I was in a narrow passageway. Roots and dirt surrounded me.

Cramped and terrified, I squeezed my eyes shut. “Wake up, before it’s too late.” A voice I didn’t know echoed in my head. My eyes flew open. Still, there was nothing.

Panic set in. Then, I heard it. A noise like nails on a chalkboard, and it was getting closer. An eerie voice began to chant my name.

“Don’t answer the call.” The voice from before. I moved forward, pushing away roots and spider webs to clear my path. My hand reached out just in time to keep me from running into a wall. A dead end.

Again, my name wafted toward me. This time, it was my mother’s voice.

Relief flooded through me. I turned and started to answer her. Before I could utter a sound, someone grabbed me from behind and clamped a hand over my mouth. A voice, so close to my ear I could feel the breathing, whispered, “Death is tricky. Never answer. He’ll take you.”

( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ ) ( ^_^ )

Many years ago, I had this dream and awoke to my mom shaking me. When I told her about it, she said her grandmother once told her that you should never answer a voice calling to you in the night because it was Death.

When my children were young, I would shiver whenever they called out to me at night. After all, Death is tricky.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I love Halloween! My middle daughter has many dangerous food allergies, so Halloween can be tricky. Years ago, someone told me about the Switch Witch. Every year, my girls pick their favorite 10-15 pieces of candy and the rest gets left out for the Switch Witch. She then comes and takes the candy and leaves a little prize in its place.

What's your favorite part of Halloween?

Oh, and there's one day left to win a signed copy of Chasing Memories on Gin's blog. Find the giveaway here.

Sharing Cuties: ROW80 Update

OMG... November 1 is tomorrow. Actually, it's in one and a half hours. My brain is so overwhelmed and preoccupied with all things NaNo.

So, I thought I'd post cute Halloween pictures of my kids and dog today.

My oldest as Catwoman
 

My middle as a ladybug

My baby as Katy Perry

And finally, my unhappy dog who did not want to participate in Halloween at all...

As far as my ROW80 update, my NaNo insanity starts tomorrow. My goal is to write 50,000 words in November. Wishing all my fellow ROW80 NaNo participants muse-filled days!

Pumpkin Goo and Editing: Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Last night, my neighborhood had a Halloween parade and get-together. After, it was pumpkin carving time. Dad did most of the carving, but the girls cleaned out the pumpkins. Grimaces and shrieks followed, with icky pumpkin goo clinging to their fingers.

With trepidation, each girl plunged a hand into a pumpkin. The more innards they pulled out, the less they cared about any grossness. They were having fun.

The finished products:

You know you love writing when everything relates back to it. All I kept thinking as I saw them pull out stringy, orange goo... editing. The joy on their faces when all the editing gross stuff was done... priceless. In the end, the finished work was all the mattered.

I enjoy editing, but it's a lengthy, arduous process. Still, without it, a good book isn't possible. Mom and I spent over a year editing Depression Cookies, pulling out handfuls of goo. In the end, we proudly hold up our book and smile.

One more picture. My girls as Athena (goddess of wisdom and war), a vampire princess, and a dark angel:

What's your favorite part of Halloween?