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 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

Guess the Mystery hosted by Alyssa Maxwell

Happy Wednesday!! It's time to play Guess the Mystery and this week's host is Alyssa Maxwell. The winner may pick any one of my Gilded Newport Books: Murder at The Breakers, Murder at Marble House, Murder at Beechwood, or an ARC of Murder at Rough Point. Winner will be chosen on Saturday. Leave answer and email in the comments below. Good Luck!

Our conversation had turned to lighter topics—Grace’s winter in Italy, her spring in Paris, and the excursions, parties, and shopping she had enjoyed. Neily had been present throughout most of those months, which she termed a happy, carefree time. In spite of the Wilsons’ lack of open ostentation, they lived nonetheless luxuriously, and I schooled the incredulity from my features as Grace spoke of their extravagances as casually as I spoke of the weather.

Yet I paid careful attention to the details, and her chatter provided me with ample information to rule out a number of young ladies as having potentially birthed a child in recent weeks. The delay in reaching the house also provided me with an opportunity to broach the subject foremost on my mind, yet without revealing too much about the baby in my care. It’s not that I had cause to distrust Grace, but this sudden friendship of ours, if that was what it was to be called, had yet to be fully tested. I thought it best to err on the side of caution and not mention my newest visitor at Gull Manor.

“There have been rumors among members of the press,” I said to her, not liking to lie but seeing little alternative, “of an indelicate nature . . .”

With just those words, she understood my meaning. “Do tell? Who, may I ask . . .”

I happily fell back on the truth as I explained that I hadn’t yet discovered the identity of the woman in question, but that not only could an inheritance be at stake, but the child’s welfare as well, and for that reason I wished to ascertain his origins.


Writing as Alyssa Maxwell
The Gilded Newport Mysteries
A Lady and Lady's Maid Mysteries (debuting 1/2016)
http://www.alyssamaxwell.com

Halloween Trivia- Special Guest- Joanne Kocourek

It's time for Halloween trivia and today's host is my friend Joanne Kocurek!! One lucky reader will receive a $10.00 Amazon Gift Card!Leave answers and email and a winner will be chosen on Saturday.

HALLOWEEN GENERAL TRIVIA

1. Every year Linus van Pelt waits for the Great Pumpkin to arrive. Who waits with him?

2. What spice could you use to protect your home from spirits entering?

3. On Halloween it is traditional to "bob" for what kind of fruit?

4. How much of a pumpkin is actually water?

5. Which symbol is associated with witchcraft?

6. What is the proper term for a man who is a witch?

7. Which city in the USA held the first city wide Halloween celebration?

8. Christmas is ranked as the most commercial holiday. Where is Halloween on this list?

9. Which animal is it lucky to see on Halloween?

10. What is a pumpkin?

11. Which is the most popular chocolate bar on Halloween?

12. What is the correct term for a fear of Halloween?

13. Which of these famous individuals was born on October 31st? Michael Landon, Harry Houdini or Bela Lugosi?

14. What kind of bug is lucky to see on Halloween?

15. What happened to Jack of Jack-o-Lantern fame?

16. What was Jack's (of the Jack-O-Lantern) crime?

17. Which animal is associated with a witch?

18. There were no pumpkins in Europe when Jack O Lanterns were first carved. What did they use instead?

19. Name five members of the Addams Family household.

Halloween Trivia- Ann Simas

It's Halloween trivia time and today's host is Ann Simas! Four lucky readers will win :

Leave email and answers for a chance to win. Winner will be chosen on October 24th and will have three days to respond. Good Luck.

1.Jack O’Lanterns get their name from:
a.Jack Spratt, who ate no fat
b.Jack Reacher, a former Major in the U.S. military
c.Farmer Jack, a stingy man who tricked the devil
d.Jack O’Sullivan, who lead a band of leprecauns

2.A precursor to modern-day trick-or-treating was:
a.souling
b.rob-and-run
c.merry mischief
d.hoodwinked

3.Halloween has been known by what other name?
a.Tricksters’ Night
b.Autumn Witches Day
c.Lamswool
d.Moonlight Madness

4.If you wear your clothes on Halloween night and walk backward, at midnight you will see:
a.ghouls
b.ghosts
c.witches
d.Hogwarts

5.Candy Corn was originally called:
a.Triangles
b.Chicken Feed
c.Sugar Teeth
d.Mallow Corn

6.The last full moon on Halloween occurred in 2001. The one before that occurred in:
a.1995
b.1983
c.1966
d.1955

7.If you aren’t certain you’ve met a werewolf on Halloween, which of these identifiers could you use to make sure?
a.a widow’s peak
b.hairy palms
c.no shoes
d.painted fingernails

Halloween Trivia - Liz Lipperman

It's time for Halloween trivia hosted by Liz Lipperman One lucky person will receive a digital or print copy of MISSION TO KILL (digital only for out of US.)Winner will be chosen on October 17th and will have three days to respond.

1. Halloween Candy sales average?
A. 2 billion/year
B. 10 million/year
C. 25 million/year
D. 1 billion/year

2. What is the most popular Halloween candy every year? A. Candy corn
B. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups
C. M & Ms
D. Tootsie Rolls

3. The ancient Celts used which vegetable to carve their jack-o-lanterns? A, Eggplant
B. Turnip
C. Cantaloupe
D . Grapefruit

4. The tradition of dressing up in costumes was started to?
A. Scare away evil spirits
B. Honor the dead
C. To be unrecognizable to evil spirits
D. Just for fun

5. According to the phobia list, which is the fear of Halloween
A. Hallophobia
B. Triskaphobia
C. Samhainophobia
D. Spiritphobia


6. Which one of these did Liz do as a teenager every Halloween?
A. Take the neighborhood children trick or treating
B. Soap car windows and throw corn kernels on porches
C. Offer apple cider to the parents of the Halloweeners
D. Put a bag of dog poo outside a door and then ring the doorbell

www.lizlipperman.com
National bestselling author of the THE CLUELESS COOK MYSTERIES Berkley Prime Crime
SMOTHERED, COVERED, and DEAD (Jordan McAllister mystery) coming May 11th
JAILHOUSE GLOCK (A Dead Sister Talking Mystery) Midnight Ink May, 2014
MISSION TO KILL (Garcia Girls Mystery) coming September 14th

Halloween Trivia- Kylie Logan/ Casey Daniels

I'm so excited to kick off October's Halloween Trivia with Kylie Logan.

One Lucky winner will receive from Casey Daniels, a copy of her book Don of the Dead (book #1 of the Pepper Martin mystery series) and From Kylie Logan, a copy of her book The Legend of Sleepy Harlow (#3 of the League of Literary Ladies series). Leave answers and email in the comments for a chance to win.

Halloween is my favorite day of the year, and I can’t think of a better way of celebrating than by sharing some Halloween traditions with you. It won’t be easy, though. Try this quiz and find out what you really know about Halloween!




1.There are two things you can put under your pillow on Halloween night that assure you’ll dream about your true love. They are:

A)Parsley and sage
B)Rosemary and thyme
C)Rosemary and a sixpence
D)A pumpkin and a picture of your honey



2.Did you ever bob for apples? In England there’s a tradition that says the first girl who grabs the apple with her teeth will:

A)Get the wettest
B)Need a trip to the dentist
C)Be the first to marry
D)Get to eat the apple


3.One way to keep evil spirits away on Halloween is to

A)Ring a bell
B)Sing a chorus of the “Ghostbusters” theme song
C)Tell them to “Shoo”
D)Bake cookies . . . ghosts hate cookies


4.A Dumb Supper is a traditional Halloween meal. During the meal, no one

A)Eats
B)Speaks
C)Drinks wine
D)Orders pizza


5. If you see a spider on Halloween, don’t squish it! On this special day, spiders harbor


A)A whole lot of ill will
B)The soul of one of your ancestors
C)A special poison
D)Millions of baby spiders



Winner will be chosen on October 10th and will have three days to respond. Good Luck.