Halloween Trivia hosted by Mary Anne Edwards

Happy Wednesday! It is time for some Halloween trivia fun with author Mary Anne Edwards.Play along and guess the answers , leave in comments below for a chance to win International Winner may choose a mobi copy of their choice from The Charlie McClung Mysteries Series. USA winner may choose a swag package or their choice of mobi from The Charlie McClung Mysteries Series.


Welcome Mary Anne , so glad you are here with us today.

An Irish Halloween

Two thousand years ago, the Celtic people of Ireland celebrated the New Year on November 1st. Really? But the night before, October 31st, they celebrated Samhain which has since evolved into Halloween as we know it. They believed ghosts returned to cause trouble and damage crops and could be used to predict the future. There were all kinds of festivals and rituals to honor their ancestors and ward off evil spirits. Just for fun, let’s see if you can guess the ancient Halloween traditions.



1. What did the community do to ward off bad fortune and evil spirits?

A. Carry torches
B. Build a campfire outside each house
C. Build a community bonfire


2) What did the Celts use to light their path at night?

A. Carved out turnip
B. Carved out pumpkin
C. Carved out gourd


3) What did the Celts use to protect themselves from wandering spirits?

A. Necklace of garlic
B. Costumes and disguises
C. A crucifix


4) The Celts believed fairies and goblins collected souls on Halloween. What did the Celts do to get the fairies and goblins to release captive souls?

A. Throw dust from under their feet at the fairies and goblins
B. Throw potatoes at the fairies and goblins
C. Sing hymns



5) What did the Irish eat on Halloween?

A. Potato Pie
B. Colcannon
C. Bangers and Mash



About the author:

Although I was born in Mercedes, Texas, I have lived in Georgia most of my life which has been filled with a variety of experiences. Some were great and some, well let's just say I have learned many lessons the hard way.

I have been married for 35 years to the most practically perfect man. We enjoy traveling and watching mysteries on TV. We have recently adopted a Tuxedo cat named Gertrude. I am an active member of Sisters in Crime Atlanta Chapter, Mystery Writers of America, and I sit on the advisory board of Rockdale Cares, Inc., a non-profit advocacy group for the developmentally challenged.

I began writing in high school but not seriously until 1999. I write traditional mysteries and my biggest influences are Agatha Christie, Anne Perry, Caroline Graham, Elizabeth Peters, and my family. I have had short stories published in Evangel and The Associate Reformed Presbyterian magazines. I have published a collection of eclectic short stories titled, My Favorite Work of Art.

My first manuscript, Useless Beauty, is waiting for me to breathe life into it. It was put on hold because my second manuscript, Brilliant Disguise, was begging to be written. It is the first in the Detective Charlie McClung mysteries. Brilliant Disguise was released on January 21, 2014. The second book, A Good Girl, was released in September 23, 2014. Criminal Kind, the third book in the series was released on June 30, 2015. Sins of My Youth was released on May 27. 2016. I'm currently working on the fifth book in the series, Flirting With Time. There are at least five more to follow in the series.



Find out more about Mary Anne Edwards and her great books by checking out her website:

http://www.maryanneedwards.com/index.html

Halloween - Hosted by John Valeri

I am excited to have John Valeri as our Halloween host this week.His debut book was released on August 31st. Leave a comment and email below for a chance to win a copy of Tricks and Treats,

I am a fall freak.


As anybody who knows me can attest, I count down the days until pumpkin returns to Dunkin’ Donuts—and can usually snag my first cup before the end of August (and before the powers that be officially announce its resurrection). I also make entire meals from apple fritters, frequent haunted attractions, cloak myself in neon orange as often as I can get away with it, and read/watch scary things with a perverse sense of glee that some people seem to find disturbing.

So it’s only fitting that I make my debut as a fiction author in Tricks and Treats: A Collection of Spooky Stories by Connecticut Authors (Books and Boos Press)—a new seasonally-themed anthology featuring two of my contributions.

The first, “Just Cause”, is about a convict who goes missing—and the feisty prosecutor, Nevia Hastings, who put him away for murdering his wife, despite the conspicuous absence of a body. Hastings is a not-so-subtle ode to my childhood hero (and unlikely adulthood friend) Marcia Clark, who transcended “Trial of the Century” infamy to write brilliant crime novels. The story is part courtroom drama and part after-dark mayhem—and it’s got an ending that I hope defies expectation.

My second entry, “Blood Relations”, revisits the quiet suburban town of Greensboro one year after the unsolved murder of seventeen-year-old Amanda Pritchard, who was stabbed to death in her bedroom on Halloween night. It was conceived as an homage to Scream, which sparked my love of horror movies, and hopefully captures the essence of that film by virtue of its zany characters, snappy dialogue, and intense scenes. And yes—there’s a killer on the loose (though the only mask he/she hides behind is deception).

The remainder of the anthology is rounded out by classic and contemporary authors from the Nutmeg state whose tales range from the humorous to the truly horrifying. (As an aside: Who’d have thought I’d be published alongside Mark Twain? Somewhere, he’s turning over in his grave.) The latter group includes Melissa Crandall, Dan Foley, Stacey Longo, G. Elmer Munson, Kristi Petersen Schoonover and Ryanne Strong, several of whom I am fortunate to call friends.

Obviously, my opinion on the project is a bit biased (so I won’t give it)—but I’ll leave you with these words from Michelle Garza of This Is Horror (UK): “This collection brings with it all the trappings of the season, from pumpkins and spooky decorations, to that chill coursing over your skin in the night, and the lingering sense that death has come to claim many things, possibly the reader as well.”

So … go grab yourself a cup of pumpkin coffee (or the adult beverage of your choice), sit back, and prepare to be claimed.

John Valeri was an independent contractor for Examiner.com from 2009 to 2016. His Hartford Books Examiner column consistently ranked in the top ten percent of all Hartford, National Books and National Arts & Entertainment Examiners. John currently contributes to The National Book Review, The News and Times, The Strand, Suspense Magazine, and CriminalElement.com. He regularly moderates author interviews and book discussions at bookstores, conferences, and libraries throughout Connecticut; he has also appeared on television and radio. John made his fiction debut in Tricks and Treats, a Halloween-themed anthology published by Books & Boos Press in September. Visit him online at www.johnbvaleri.com.

Blog Tour and Giveaway- Masking for Trouble by Diane Vallere

I am excited to be part of Diane Vallere's blog tour. Her book Masking for Trouble was released on October 4th and is another fun read for Halloween.

Series: A Costume Shop Mystery (Book 2)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley (October 4, 2016)
Language: English





Halloween brings more tricks than treats for costume shop owner Margo Tamblyn in the second in a new cozy series from the national bestselling author of the Material Witness Mysteries.

Halloween conjures up big business for Margo Tamblyn’s costume shop, Disguise DeLimit, but this year, the holiday comes knocking with serious trouble. Venture capitalist Paul Haverford plans to rezone historic downtown into a glitzy commercial area which would push out local business. Margo is set on saving her family’s store, especially after a nasty run-in with the chain-store tycoon, but after Haverford’s body is discovered during a spooky party at the derelict Alexandria Hotel, Margo finds herself dressed as the police’s prime suspect.

Anxious to clear her name, Margo begins hunting down anyone who might have wanted Haverford dead. Between all of his malicious maneuverings, the murdered mogul had buckets of people anxious to see him gone. Now, Margo will have to use every trick in the book to find a cloaked killer—before someone else winds up wearing a death shroud...

Trouble is brewing at the costume shop and Margo is getting more tricks than treats this year, In the second book of the series you are swept away to a fun adventure with Halloween right around the corner. Masking for Trouble will keep you on your toes with this fast-paced read and witty characters you won't want to stop reading until the very end. Add this one to your Halloween reading list , it is that good,

About the Author:

I’m a former fashion buyer turned mystery writer, trading fashion accessories for accessories to murder. I was bit by the mystery bug as a kid reading Trixie Belden, Connie Blair, and The Three Investigators. Now I’m writing three series: the Style & Error Mysteries, the Mad for Mod Mysteries, and the Material Witness Mysteries.

The Costume Shop mysteries debuted with A DISGUISE TO DIE FOR, which introduces Margo Tamblyn, costume shop owner, who helps solve a murder after one of her clients is found dead at his own costume party (dressed as Sherlock!). MASKING FOR TROUBLE, the second in the series, will be out in October 2016, just in time for Halloween.

The Material Witness mysteries feature Polyester Monroe, who inherits the fabric shop where she was born. Books include SUEDE TO REST and CRUSHED VELVET . The third, SILK STALKINGS, was just released.

The Style & Error Series features former fashion buyer turned amateur sleuth Samantha Kidd. Books in that series include DESIGNER DIRTY LAUNDRY ; BUYER, BEWARE ; THE BRIM REAPER ; and SOME LIKE IT HAUTE . (A short story, “Just Kidding ,” tells the story of how Samantha first met shoe designer Nick Taylor). Book 5, GRAND THEFT RETRO, will be out in 2016.



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Halloween Quiz by Maggie Pill

It is time for some Halloween trivia. Today's Host is Maggie Pill. author of the Sleuth Sister. Winner will receive their choice  of Sleuth Sisters book, 1,2,3, or 4? We can do e-book, print, or audio. Leave answers and email below.

Halloween Quiz

When Shelley asked for authors to do Halloween-type posts for October, I thought, “Why haven’t the Sleuth Sisters ever done anything with Halloween?” In four books, (working on #5) they haven’t, but I can imagine it.

Barb would go around town putting apostrophes in all the signs to make the word “correct”: Hallowe’en.

Faye would make enough yummy treats to rot the baby teeth of every Trick-or-Treater in Allport.

Retta would create costumes for the three of them. She’d be Wonder Woman, Barb would be Storm, and Faye would be Jayna, the Wonder Twin who can turn into any animal.

It makes sense: I mean, there’s a long tradition of threes at Halloween time, especially witches, like Macbeth, Hocus Pocus, The Witches of Eastwick, and dozens of songs on YouTube. But my sleuths aren’t supernatural in any way. They’re simply sisters who solve crimes using their individual strengths and strong family relationship. Though they don’t see life the same way at all, when danger threatens, they come together, sometimes in funny ways, sometimes in ways that warm your heart just a little. My readers often identify with that: while we don’t choose our sisters and often don’t agree with them, we step up when things get tough. It’s Sister Power!

Since the Sleuth Sisters haven’t focused on Halloween (yet), I came up with a little quiz based on horror/supernatural stories that you might enjoy. Find the answers in the grid horizontally, vertically, diagonally, backward and forward. (Hey, I never said I’d make it easy!)

Ghost seen by Hamlet in Act I
Scared schoolmaster in “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”
King of England who believed some witches chased his ship in a sieve
”The good little witch” of comic books
Ghost’s rank in THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR
Poe’s beloved who returns from death
Inspiration for Dracula
Gaelic screamer
Doctor for a werewolf?
Voodoo practitioner who can reanimate corpses, making zombies



A I E G I L E C R O K O B W F H C F L C E A J A M E S N T E P B K R D H E T T O W Y E H A A E D G R S I J S V O H N N P L M D N A I A Q B T X B D U Y V


Answers will be posted on my website http://maggiepill.maggiepillmysteries.com/ on October 13th.

And while you’re there, if you’re interested in the Sleuth Sisters Mysteries, sign up for my newsletter and get a free copy of your choice of Book 1, 2, 3, or 4 in either e-book or audio format. (The studio is working on Book 4 for audio, so that one might take a while.)



About the author:


Maggie Pill is the author of the Sleuth Sisters Mysteries, which make people say things like, “That’s just like me and my sisters!” Maggie is also Peg Herring, who writes the critically acclaimed Simon and Elizabeth historical mysteries, the award-winning Dead Detective Mysteries, and the intriguing Loser Mysteries. Maggie is funnier and cooler than Peg--and much younger, too

Spotlight- A Charming Voodoo by Tonya Kappes- Giveaway and Scavenger Hunt

I am thrilled to be part of Tonya Kappes Scavenger Hunt tour. Would you like a chance to win free audio book from the Magical Cures Mystery Series audio series picked by Tonya Kappes? All you have to do is tell us what your favorite thing about Halloween is and Your favorite Tonya Kappes book. Leave answers and email below.

Bubble. . . bubble. . . Whispering Falls is abuzz with the new housing development and new shops popping up all over the magical village. Cures and trouble. . . A Magical Cure’s owner, June Heal’s intuition is on high alert and she just can’t shake that something bad is about to happen. Magic stirs . . . It must be the upcoming All Hallow’s Eve celebration that has love in the air. Or maybe it’s because there are several more citizens in Whispering Falls. And trouble doubles . . . June’s intuition is far from wrong after she stumbles upon new town resident Patch Burr who is lying dead in the middle of his pumpkin patch.


About the author:

For years, USA Today bestselling author Tonya Kappes has been publishing numerous mystery and romance titles with unprecedented success. She is famous not only for her hilarious plot lines and quirky characters, but her tremendous marketing efforts that have earned her thousands of followers and a devoted street team of fans.



Click here to join the fun on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/events/928367800600362/

Let's go on a scavenger hunt, click the link below for the clue:

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Halloween Recipe from Callie's Kitchen

Halloween is a few weeks away and Jenny Kales stopped by to share with us this yummy recipe from Callie's Kitchen. A perfect treat for a cold Autumn night with a hot cup of cider. One lucky reader will win an Amazon e-book of ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK. All you have to do is tell us your favorite thing about Fall.Leave comments and email below.







A Halloween Recipe from Callie’s Kitchen: Pumpkin Spice Loaf Cake

October means Halloween, and for many of us it also means “pumpkin spice” everything! I’m happy to share a heart-warming recipe for a good old-fashioned baked treat that will fill your house with the autumnal scents of pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon and pumpkin-pie spice. Hungry yet?

In fact, pumpkin spice loaf cake is exactly the type of thing that my amateur sleuth, Callie Costas, would serve in “Callie’s Kitchen,” her on-the-go meals business. Being Greek American, Callie loves to use cinnamon in so many of her dishes – the smell alone draws people into her shop. Well, when she’s not the prime suspect of a crime, that is. For more on that, please check out my culinary cozy mystery, “On the Chopping Block: A Callie’s Kitchen Mystery.” And yes, it has recipes! Book 2 in the series, called “Spiced and Iced” is set at Christmastime and will be on Amazon for pre-order later this month.

Now – back to the pumpkin cake! It is crazy good and so versatile. You can serve it for breakfast, brunch, snacks, with a cup of tea in the afternoon – you name it! Plus, it’s easy to make and you get two loaves out of the recipe. Freeze one for later or give it to a friend. They will love your for it!

I hope you enjoy the recipe!

Callie’s Pumpkin Spice Loaf Cake


Topping:
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
5 tablespoons dark brown or light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, slightly softened
Cake: 2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 15 oz can of solid pack pumpkin
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2-1/4 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs, lightly beaten


Make the topping first:

Blend together flour, sugar, butter and cinnamon in a small bowl with your fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Set aside.


For the cake:

Place rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Spray Pam with flour on two 9 x 5 inch loaf pans. Sift together flour, salt, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, whisk pumpkin, sugar, eggs and oil. Add flour mixture to large bowl and stir gently until well combined.

Divide batter between loaf pans. Sprinkle half of topping over each. Bake until a wooden skewer inserted in the center of the bread comes out clean 50-60 minutes.

Cool loaves in pan on wire rack for 45 minutes, then turn out of pan and let cool completely on rack, about one hour. Wrap well in plastic wrap and foil to keep refrigerated for about a week. Can also be frozen up to one month. Readers can connect with me in many ways. I look forward to “meeting” you!


About the author:

It all started when a family member gave me “The Bobbsey Twins” series and Nancy Drew. The first mystery story I ever wrote, age 9, was “The Case of the Missing Brownies.” Spoiler alert: turns out, the dog was the culprit.I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in English and spent several years as a copywriter and corporate communications marketing writer for many top Chicago companies. When I had my first child, I started freelancing for a wide variety of clients. In particular, I’ve written for many parenting publications including TODAY Show Moms and Chicago Parent magazine. When I discovered that my oldest child has a life-threatening food allergy, I started The Nut-Free Mom blog, an award-winning resource for parents in my situation.

Since I almost always have my nose in a mystery novel (culinary cozy mysteries especially), I decided to take the plunge and write my own cozy mystery. My first novel features a Greek-American heroine (I married into a Greek-American family) who lives in a picturesque waterfront town inspired by the Geneva Lakes in Wisconsin (always a favorite place to visit). I’m also working on ideas for other novels — including series follow-ups to my first novel. I’m an enthusiastic member of the stellar mystery writer’s group, Sisters in Crime, and their incredibly helpful sub-group, The Guppies. I’m also a member of Mystery Writers of America and recently spent the day in Chicago attending Mystery Writers of America University, a series of courses taught by top mystery authors.

I love to write about food. Food is a big part of my novel and my amateur sleuth has a food-related job. One of my proudest foodie/writer moments was when my essay and cookies were semi-finalists in the Chicago Tribune’s annual Christmas Cookie and Essay Contest. I wrote about how a 1950s Greek church cookbook helped me find a way to recreate my favorite childhood Christmas cookies in nut-free fashion so that they were safe for my daughter to eat.

My version of the Greek butter cookie, kourabiethes. When I’m not working at the computer, I’m an avid reader, cook and baker. I’m addicted to Masterpiece Mystery series (DCI Banks, Inspector Lewis), BBC America mystery series like Broadchurch and my favorite Netflix go-to, Midsomer Murders. I enjoy retro/vintage everything – fashion, music, movies, ads, home décor, and cookbooks.

I live in the near Western suburbs of Chicago with my wonderful husband, two daughters and one cute but demanding Yorkshire terrier.

My website: www.jennykales.wordpress.com
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Book Spotlight- Halloween Scare by Maggie Sefton

We are just over a month until Halloween and today's spotlight will take you to Colorado with Kelly Flynn and the gang. Maggie Sefton's book Halloween Scare was released on October 28th 2014. Getting into the Halloween fun with this great read.

File Size: 1322 KB
Print Length: 28 pages
Publisher: Margaret Conlan Aunon w/a Maggie Sefton (October 28, 2014)
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC





Halloween Scare
A Kelly Flynn eShort

Hello, Readers—This is a "short" short story which I'm calling an eShort featuring the cast of characters in my popular Kelly Flynn Knitting Mysteries. The characters have started sending me these scenes from what I call "Kelly World," so I decided to capture them on paper and offer them to readers. HALLOWEEN SCARE takes place right before and during that fun and candy-filled Autumn family event. I hope you enjoy this eShort.



About the Author:

First, a little biographical information as introduction: Born in Richmond, VA, I grew up in Northern Virginia in Arlington, close to Washington, D.C. I attended university and received a Bachelor's degree in English Literature & Journalism, married, and started my family there. All four of my daughters are grown and established in careers of their own and are literally scattered around the globe. I now reside in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with two very demanding dogs.

I suppose if I were being completely honest, I'd have to admit that I always knew I was a born to be a writer. I spent my childhood with my nose in a book and loved writing. But as I grew older, my life got much busier. Like so many of us, I never could find the time to write the stories and characters that kept appearing in my mind. So, I talked myself out of it. After all, raising a family and attending Business School in Accounting was difficult to juggle, particularly when I decided to become a CPA.

Still, the characters and their stories kept coming—trying to get my attention when I'd take my early evening workout run or while driving or planting flowers. I'd shove them away, pleading no time to listen. If they complained loudly enough (some characters are feistier than others), I'd jot down short scenes on notepads and toss them in a folder. Then, I'd insist they return to the Queue—that place in my imagination where my characters waited, some more patiently than others. They'd sulk and complain, of course. Sometimes the surlier ones would elbow their way up the Queue. Survival of the fittest, I figured.

Finally, I decided I had to start writing these stories. The Queue was getting pretty darn crowded—and noisy. Since I'd come from a long line of Virginians and absolutely adored history, I started writing historical novels. This allowed me to indulge a secret passion: library research. Yes, I'm one of those strange people who loves disappearing into the stacks with books piled around me. Since I had no shortage of historical characters waiting their turn in the Queue, I indulged myself, creating a Musketeer swashbuckler, a sweeping Medieval saga set in 12th Century England, a turn-of-the-century American family saga complete with Robber Barons, struggling Irish, and corrupt politicians, a post-Civil War western historical, as well as historicals set in Colonial Virginia and early Frontier America.

It was during those years that our family moved to Colorado, and I was able to network with vibrant writers' groups at last. I began my apprenticeship in the craft—networking with the other writers, attending conferences and seminars, and joining critique groups, studying, writing, critiquing, and submitting. The focused effort paid off, and my Western historical, ABILENE GAMBLE, was published by Berkley in August 1995.

My life took a sideways turn at that point (as did the historical market), and I used that opportunity to take a new look at my fiction. I discovered something interesting. No matter what time period my historicals were set in or the length of the novel, two things were always present. First, there was a mystery at the heart of the story, sometimes more than one. And secondly, I killed a lot of people. Heck, I managed to kill off more people in one historical romance than in most amateur sleuth murder mysteries.

I figured that was probably a clue, so I began to study the mysteries that I'd grown up loving as well as the new mystery writers who had come onto what was clearly a lively and changing mystery scene. New characters appeared immediately and elbowed their way to the front of the Queue. I didn't need any further encouragement and jumped feet first into writing mysteries. Since I was starting a new career in real estate at the time, it was no surprise that the first amateur sleuth who walked on stage was a real estate agent. Again, time was in short supply, but I finished that novel in 2002 and sent it off to my agent. It sold and is now available as an ebook.

The story of how I came to write the Kelly Flynn Mystery Series is completely different. Meanwhile, I'm having a great time writing about Kelly and her friends. Kelly has a knack for poking her nose where it doesn't belong, so I figure she'll keep me busy following her around while she unravels clues as well as her latest knitting project.



Find out more about Maggie and all of her books by visiting her website:

http://www.maggiesefton.com/

Blog Tour- Happy Homicide 4:Fall into Crime

This blog tour is coming just in time to start your Halloween reading. Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime. Released on August 24th.Leave your email and a comment below for a chance to win an e-copy of this book.

by Joanna Campbell Slan, Linda Gordon Hengerer, Carole W. Price, Lesley A. Diehl, Nancy Jill Thames, Teresa Trent, Maggie Toussaint, Anna Celeste Burke, Randy Rawls, Nancy J. Cohen, Terry Ambrose, and Deborah Sharp


Joanna Campbell Slan / Vendetta: A Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery – The House of Refuge on Gilbert’s Bar is known for its 150-year history as a way station for shipwrecked sailors. But when Cara Mia visits, the museum becomes the scene of a crime.

Linda Gordon Hengerer / Dying for School Tea: A Beach Tea Shop Novella – Chelsea Powell and her sisters are providing treats for Citrus Beach High School’s freshman orientation. Can they solve the murder of the beloved softball coach before someone else dies?

Carole W. Price / The Glass Birdhouse – Glass artist Bella hopes to find clues about her student’s death in the woman’s unfinished glass birdhouse.

Lesley A. Diehl / Bobbing for Murder – A visit from Darcie’s family is always chaotic, and this time the relatives bamboozle Darcie into having a Halloween party. It’s a decision that definitely comes back to haunt her.

Nancy Jill Thames / Raven House – When a reporter is murdered after a fundraiser at the historic Raven House, the police call on Jillian and her Yorkie Teddy to help them investigate.

Teresa Trent / Falling for Murder – Helpful hints columnist Betsy Livingston is an expert at household organization but her skills are put to the test when she’s called upon to conduct an efficiency review for a haunted house.

Maggie Toussaint / Dead Men Tell Tales – In this third installment of the Lindsey & Ike romantic mystery novella series, things don’t add up after a suspicious hunting accident. The more Sheriff Ike Harper and newspaper editor Lindsey McKay dig, the more questions they find.

Anna Celeste Burke / All Hallow’s Eve Heist – Date night for Georgie Shaw and handsome detective Jack Wheeler goes terribly wrong. A botched heist at Marvelous Marley World has everyone scrambling as trigger-happy bad guys head for the Halloween celebration in Arcadia Park.

Randy Rawls / Accident, Suicide, or Murder – Retired policeman Jonathan Boykin’s primary interest is improving his golf, but a grieving father’s request to investigate his son’s suspicious death is an entirely different ballgame.

Nancy J. Cohen / Haunted Hair Nights – As a new stepmother, hairstylist Marla Vail hopes to win brownie points by helping her daughter with a school haunted house project. Marla has her work cut out for her when she stumbles over a corpse on the spooky estate grounds.

Terry Ambrose / Spirit in the Rock – An invitation to a museum’s grand opening turns into a showdown with the spirit world for amateur sleuth Wilson McKenna.

Deborah Sharp / Haunting in Himmarshee – When a ghost comes to call, Mace must sort out the haunted from the homicidal in Himmarshee, Florida.


Guest Post:


Haunted House by Nancy J. Cohen

“Haunted Hair Nights” is my Bad Hair Day mystery novella in Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime. This story finds hairstylist Marla Vail escorting her stepdaughter to a wooded estate for a school fundraiser project. It’s a haunted house for Halloween, and Marla has volunteered to help create the decorations. The ghosts wish to add another spirit to the historic property, however, and they succeed when the school teacher who owns the house turns up dead on the grounds.

I’ve never explored a real haunted house, although I have stayed at a legendary hotel where guests write notes in a ledger about their paranormal experiences. It was creepy to stay overnight at this place that used to be a hospital for a copper mining camp. My closest encounter with a private residence came in my youth when I was a Nancy Drew fan. Purporting myself to be an amateur sleuth, I approached an abandoned house along with a friend. Entry was easy, so we must not have been the first ones to breach the place. I don’t remember much about the interior. I do recall how my heart pounded and my pulse raced as we explored room-to-room. I was more scared that someone would discover our presence than I was afraid of ghosts. We were trespassing on private property, after all. Plus, hazards abounded so we had to watch our steps or risk injury.

I remember creeping up the stairs to an attic. Scattered across the entire floor were letters and other opened envelopes. I collected a batch and read them, fascinated by the lives of the people they represented. Who had lived here, and what had happened to them? But then I felt guilty, intruding on someone’s privacy that way. It wasn’t right. And that’s when I decided to leave.

I listened for any unusual sounds as I made my way down the creaky staircase to the main floor. I was more nervous about encountering other humans than ethereal beings, although I would have jumped out of my skin had someone … or something … popped out at me. Back on the ground floor, I noted the entrance to the basement. No way would I go down there. That was too terrifying, even for me. I might admire Nancy Drew, but I wasn’t that brave, or that stupid either.

I breathed a sigh of relief when we escaped unharmed and undetected. Later, I learned that the house had burned down. A sense of horror swept over me. What if we had been in that attic when the fire started? We could have been trapped. Had anyone else been there during the conflagration? Had the fire been an accident, or had it been deliberately set? With all those papers in the attic, it wouldn’t have taken much to set things aflame. I hoped a homeless person hadn’t been inside when the place went up in smoke. So went my memories of this experience. I’d put this entire incident from my mind until now.

Have you ever done anything both wicked and exciting at the same time? Leave a comment below, and I’ll pick a winner for an ebook copy of Permed to Death, book 1 in the Bad Hair Day Mysteries.


Comes with a bonus file of recipes and craft tips!
All for just 99 cents!
Order here from Amazon
Special Limited Time Offer!
Buy Happy Homicides 4: Fall Into Crime
and get Happy Homicides 3: Summertime Crime absolutely free!


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Find out about the authors on their webpages below.
http://joannacampbellslan.com/
http://lindagordonhengerer.com/
Carol W. Price
Lesley A. Diehl
Nancy Jill Thames
Teresa Trent
Maggie Toussaint
Anna Celeste Burke
Randy Rawls
Nancy J. Cohen
Terry Ambrose
and Deborah Sharp

Have a great day and Happy Early Fall!

Book Spotlight- Death of a Pumpkin Carver by Lee Hollis

Happy Wednesday! Book Spotlight is just going to get you in the Halloween mood for sure. Death of a Pumpkin Carver (Hayley Powell Mystery) by Lee Hollis is releasing on August 30th.

Series: Hayley Powell Mystery (Book 8)
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Kensington (August 30, 2016)
Language: English




For Hayley Powell, food and cocktails columnist for the Island Times, Halloween is all about costume parties and holiday treats—until a killer crashes the party...

This Halloween, Hayley can’t imagine a worse trick than her ex-husband Danny returning to Bar Harbor. Her kids may be happy to see their dad, but Hayley’s determined not to be taken in by his charms, and suspects he’s in financial trouble—again.

Still, the haunted holiday is about to get a whole lot scarier after Danny’s moonshine-making uncle is found lying dead next to a tombstone in a cemetery—and Danny quickly becomes the prime suspect. To prove her ex is innocent, Hayley will have to dig deep into her own bag of tricks to unmask the real culprit . . . before anyone else—including her—ends up in the graveyard...

Includes seven delectable recipes from Hayley’s kitchen!

Praise for Death of a Cupcake Queen


About the Author

Holly Simason

Holly Simason is an award winning food and cocktails columnist who worked for the Mount Desert Islander newspaper in Bar Harbor, Maine for ten years.

While working at the paper, she won her first award for her column in 2010. It was at that point her brother Rick Copp saw an opportunity. He writes mysteries and she writes recipes. Combine the two for a new book series. They would write under a pen name comprised of their middle names “Lee” and “Hollis”. And the successful Hayley Powell Food & Cocktails Mystery series was born.

Holly now resides on the Crystal Coast in North Carolina where she continues to write the popular series with her brother. She is also busy creating and testing new recipes for a future Hayley Powell cookbook.

Holly continues to visit her home town of Bar Harbor every summer where the series is set to reconnect with friends and keep her Maine roots intact.

Any similarities between her and Hayley Powell are strictly coincidental.


Rick Copp

Rick Copp is a veteran TV and Film scriptwriter whose many credits include The Golden Girls, Wings, Teen Titans, The Brady Bunch Movie, Scooby Doo, Barbershop among many others. Currently he writes, produces and stars in the hit web series Where the Bears Are.

In 2003, he wrote his first comedic murder mystery The Actor’s Guide to Murder, which was followed by two sequels. He also penned a 2007 stand alone novel Fingerprints & Facelifts and a 2010 graphic novel Celebrity Zombie Killers. Once he read his sister’s food and cocktails column, he became an instant fan of her recipes and it was his editor at Kensington Publishing who first suggested a cozy mystery series with recipes featuring an intrepid food columnist with a nose for crime solving.

Rick bounces back and forth between LA where he continues to work on TV and film projects and Palm Springs, California where he writes the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series.

Find out more about Lee Hollis and their books at

http://www.leehollismysteries.com/ 

Book Spotlight and Giveaway- Costume Catastrophe by Kathi Daley

Happy Friday! I am excited to be promoting this book today. Costume Catastrophe by Kathi Daley is released today and it is just in time for the Halloween season. Which I love. And Guess what, one lucky read will win,either an e-book copy of paperback copy. Leave a comment and email below. Do you like Halloween? What is your favorite thing about it? By the way, don't you all just love the cover.

Series: Zoe Donovan Mystery
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (August 3, 2016)
Language: English



It's Halloween in Ashton Falls and that means Haunted Hamlet and the annual haunted house. Zoe is determined not to have her plans for this annual event ruined this year especially since it is also the weekend of the big game and a lot of old friends are in town. Things look as if they are on track for a spooktacular good time, until Zoe receives a message from an anonymous source predicting a death. At first Zoe and the gang think the note is a prank until one of the friends Zoe went to high school with actually turns up dead. Once Zoe realizes the note might not be a prank, she sets out on a race against time before someone else dies.

Author of the Zoe Donovan cozy Mystery Series, Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mystery series, Whales and Tails Cozy Mystery Series, Sand and Sea Hawaiian Mysteries, and Seacliff High Teen Cozy Mystery Series.

Come for the murder, stay for the romance.

Kathi lives in the beautiful alpine community of Lake Tahoe with her husband Ken and dog Echo. When she's not writing she enjoys hanging out on the beach with her children and grandchildren. During the summer she enjoys hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, wakeboarding, and sunset cruises on the lake. During the winter she enjoys cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and curling up by a fire with a good book.

Kathi uses her mountain home as inspiration for her books, all which include appearances by the wildlife she shares her life with.

Visit Kathi Daley:

Blog - http://kathidaleyblog.com