Halloween Special: Guest Blogger Patricia Mendez

Patricia Mendez is here with us today with a great post about last minute Halloween party entertaining for our Halloween Special at As the Pages Turn.  While her suggestions might be too late for this year, print them out, bookmark’em, memorize them, because next year you’ll be able to give a Halloween bash to die for.  Patricia is the author of Easy Entertaining for Beginners by Maple Heights Press.

Last Minute Halloween Party Entertaining

It is two weeks before Halloween and you have had a brilliant stroke of genius. This is the year you will throw a Halloween bash for your family and friends! Yikes, did I say it is two weeks before Halloween? You need some ideas for entertaining and you need them quickly. While two weeks is definitely cutting it close, you can still pull off a fun and enjoyable bash for your guests in a flash.

1. When feeding a crowd, choose an easy menu and fill in with some terrific purchased food. Here are a few easy entertaining ideas. Prepare all the small munchies and a tasty fall salad with pears, nuts and blue cheese yourself. Some examples of small munchies are dips with veggies, pita chips or tortilla chips. Also, any easy bite-size appetizers such as hot wings or potstickers and mini-cupcakes decorated for Halloween or purchased popcorn balls or caramel apples for a little something sweet on the menu. Purchase tamales from a favorite restaurant for the main entrée. This really takes the pressure off from having to prepare the entire menu. Order the tamales at least 1 week before your party. If you wish to offer cocktails, make a “cocktail of the evening” such as apple martinis and prepare in advance in pitchers so you are not spending all your time bartending. Have an assortment of other beverages like beer, wine, apple cider, soda and water.

2. Invite guests via an e-vite. There are many great sites that offer free invitations. Your guests can RSVP online and even get a map to your home. This method gets the invitation to them quickly since you are short on time. Send these ASAP to give guests as much time as possible.

3. I would recommend that you make costumes optional. Some guests really get into getting dressed up and others – not so much. Since time is short, it may be too hectic for all of your guests to get a costume and you would hate for them to pass on your party because of that reason alone. You can always hand out small festive masks from a party supply store as guests arrive.

4. Download music from the internet and make your own custom Halloween party mix. Record songs like “Spooky” by Smokey Robinson, “Monster Mash”, “Thriller” by Michael Jackson, “Ghostbusters” and other fun songs that set the mood.

5. Instead of exhausting yourself trying to decorate your entire house, focus on the table where the food will be presented. Purchase 3 pumpkins of different sizes. The morning of your party, hollow them out and cut out a different face on each one. Put a votive candle in each one and arrange in a grouping towards the back of your food table. Use a large upside down soup pot under the table cloth to put one pumpkin at a different height. (Note: Always use caution when using lit candles). Use a tablecloth in festive fall colors. Purchase paper goods at a party supply store. To save money, purchase plain orange or black plates with clear plastic utensils and glasses. Strategically place small black or orange votive candles and dishes of nuts and Halloween candies (such as candy corn, black licorice, etc.) around the house for added festivity.

6. If you would like to have some games or activities, simply do a quick internet search of “Halloween party games”. There are plenty of sites that have a variety of free games for both kids and adults. Choose 2 or three easy games for your party.

7. Pace yourself and do your party supply shopping a week before your party. Do your grocery shopping 2 days before and prepare as much of the food as you can in advance. Decorate the buffet table the morning of your bash and give yourself a bit of time two hours before your party starts to get dressed and ready.

8. Greet your guests at the door and welcome each one to your home and you will immediately put them at ease. Make introductions to guests who may not know each other well. And one last thing. Have lots fun with your guests at your party!

If you concentrate your efforts on the food, the table and the warm tone that you set as host you will pull off a spooktacular Halloween party in the nick of time!

Halloween Special: Guest Blogger Joel M. Andre

I couldn’t think of a better person to guest blog today for our Halloween Special than horror writer Joel M. Andre, author of Kill 4 Me. Please leave a comment for Joel or rate his story at the end of his guest post.

Halloween by Joel M. Andre

Halloween has become a commercialized success over the years. In fact, many of you reading this article may not even have a general idea of what Halloween is past the trick or treating, scary movies and sugar comatose that follows on November 1. The symbolisms that day trail back centuries. It started as a little night called Samhain back in the Celtic times.

For you trivia buffs out there, Samhain is actually pronounced “Sow-en” if used in the proper Irish tongue the druids used. The mh sound in words is more of a W sound. The fire festival of Samhain would occur on the eve of November 1, based on the druid’s calendar and was considered the most important festival of the Druids, it was their version of the New Year. It’s equally important counterpart is thought to be Beltane which is the pastoral start of summer.

During the rise of Christianity, the Christian Church brought forth the religious holiday All Saints Day on November 1, which would coincide with the pagan ritual. The holiday originally appeared in the Spring where it continues to appear on the calendar for the Eastern Christians, as of current though Western Christians continue to celebrate this day on November 1.

Originally Samhain was intended as a time for no time. All rules and hierarchy where abolished, and chaos was welcomed to run free for 3 days. This was the time when children would go from door to door and seek out meals and treats from their neighbors, which is where the tradition of Trick or Treating comes from. Although, the new form is simply about getting some sugar coated treats, unless you happen to live on a street with dentists. Then you get toothbrushes.

There was a meaning though behind these days, it was the 3 days when the after life and the current life connected, and it was considered the safest set of days for passage between both worlds for those who were ready to die. They were nights of inspiration, and not terror.
Once the Western Christian culture came along, the night was changed to Hallowe’en the day before All Hallows Day, which was extended to a November 2 All Souls Day. This is a clear example of Christianity pulling its roots from Pagan society. The church even pulled elements of the festivals and the 3 days celebration from the traditions. In time we simply know this Holiday now as Halloween on October 31.

That is a very brief background on Halloween, there is also some symbolism that you may find interesting.

Ghosts, Skeletons and Skulls symbolize the lost love ones in the forms that they would return. The ghost being the spiritual form, and the skeleton more of a physical form.

The Black Cat was introduced based on the fear of the feline by medieval Christianity who believed they wandered the earth at night invisibly and attacked the sleeping. In turn there was a point when thousands were abolished. In turn a true black cat is difficult to find, there is usually at least a handful of white hairs mixed in. There is also a popular belief that druids thought that cats were individuals reincarnated.

Bobbing for apples comes from the pagan festival of Pomona. As the Romans continued their persecution of the Celtic people, they continued to create new traditions for Samhain. Fruit would be lined in a bucket of water and individuals would grasp it with the mouths. This was in celebration of the Roman God’s and Goddesses. It was thought to how fortune and luck for the person who managed to grasp the apple.

Black symbolizes the darkness, or death involved with the culture and holiday, while red symbolizes blood or the evil in the hearts of man, while orange symbolizes the autumn season. The colors purple and green symbolize mysticism and the ghoulish behavior.

There are of course many other symbols and historical elements to the holiday. Although mistaken for a day of evil, and carnage. It is more about the rebirth, and a homecoming and reuniting in a spiritual way with those we once lost.

Interview with Fantasy Author Sienna Skyy

We have a wonderful interview for you today with romantic fantasy author, Sienna Skyy. Sienna’s book, American Quest, is the debut title from The Story Plant, a new publishing house set up by Lou Aronica and Peter Miller, two well-known and respected industry veterans.

Itʼs such a pleasure to have Sienna here with us today at As The Pages Turn so we can find out more about her, her book and this exciting new publishing house.

Thank you for this interview, Sienna, and welcome to As The Pages Turn!

Sienna: Thanks for having me!

Can you tell us briefly what your new book is about?

Sienna: Sure. American Quest is a tale about love, evil, magic, and the fate of humanity. It centers around Bruce and Gloria, a young couple with uncommon depths of passion for life, the things they believe in, and each other. But they fall prey to a dark force—there are hordes of demon-like creatures called Maculs who look for ways to defile human virtues. If the Maculs achieve a certain degree of success, they gain power over humanity. Enervata is one such Macul. He abducts Gloria and lays a trap of seduction and temptation, trying to turn her to his side and lay down her love for Bruce and all that she cherishes. If Enervata succeeds, he enslaves the entire human race; but if he fails, he will kill Gloria. Bruce learns that his only hope is to find the Four Pillars of Humanity. He embarks on a quest to find the Pillars, fight Enervata, and save his true love.

Why did you choose to query The Story Plant, a new publishing house and one in which no one was familiar?

Sienna: Apparently my manager had submitted my work, unbeknownst to me. They’d been looking for manuscripts to launch their new publishing house, but couldn’t seem to find the right one. Having read my other work, they approached me with the idea of creating something completely new. I jumped at the chance to work closely with publishing legend Lou Aronica.

Did you have to be agent-represented?

Sienna: I don’t know whether you have to be, but I do have an excellent manager who had made this connection for me.

Aspiring authors area always on the look out for publishing houses that help the authors promote their books. What kind of publicity do you get with The Story Plant?

Sienna: The Story Plant has launched a really cool online marketing campaign, including a virtual tour (which is what brought me here today). But holding true to their innovative model, they’ve also put together an amazing multimedia package, complete with music and imagery.

What are Lou Aronica and Peter Miller like to work with?

Sienna: I’ve learned so much from both of them, and they’re also a lot of fun to interact with. I worked closely with Lou Aronica right from the start of the project, and his guidance helped me to take this to a whole new level. He not only helped me tighten my prose (didn’t realize I had a tendency to wander in character point of view like that) but somehow guided me in such a way that I worked more efficiently than ever before. Perhaps that’s because he is a writer himself and understands the process. He’s also a foodie and a musician, so it was a kick to get his perspective on those parts of the book. As for Peter Miller, he’s an unstoppable force. He knows everyone and is a master of the art of the deal. Everyone wins when he’s involved. This is truly my dream team.

How much time did it take for the book to be accepted and it being published?

Sienna: From the moment of editorial acceptance, it took about 15 months.

What genres are The Story Plant looking for?

Sienna: I’m not sure, but definitely urban fantasy (since that’s what American Quest is), and I believe they also might be looking for thrillers. But I would suspect that genre is less important to them than wide-reaching concepts for international markets, with an emphasis on works that are motion picture ready.

Honestly, why do you believe your book was chosen to be its debut title?

Sienna: I know they were looking for a “big” concept, and that they wanted something powerful that would touch the heart. Plus there’s the fact that I’ve always been extremely lucky. :)

Do you plan on more books with them?

Sienna: Absolutely. In fact we’re gearing up for the sequel to American Quest, which will be called Otherworld Quest.

Thank you so much for this interview, Sienna. It’s been a pleasure! Can you tell us how we can pick up a copy of your book?

Sienna: Sure, it’s in all the major stores such as Barnes & Noble, and of course you can always get it online at bn.com or amazon.com. Thanks for having me!

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Halloween Special: Guest Blogger J.L. Miles

Today continues our special Halloween extravaganza featuring guest blogger J.L. Miles, author of the southern women’s fiction novel, Cold Rock River (Cumberland House Publishing). You are welcome to leave a comment for J.L. to let her know how much you enjoyed her guest post. If you would like to tell us your favorite Halloween story or talk about anything that goes bump in the night, email us at thewriterslife(at)yahoo.com and your story can be featured on this blog. Deadline for stories (fiction or nonfiction) is this Friday!

My favorite Halloween by J.L. Miles

Aaah—my favorite Halloween has to be when I was full-grown and my oldest son and daughter were two and four years old, respectively. I had just taught myself how to sew. Nothing fancy, mind you. It was the seventies, the style was a-line dresses and pinafores for the girls and drawstring shorts for the boys. Well, Halloween was approaching. In those days there were no fancy party stores with oodles of costumes to choose from. Mother’s made their own or cut holes in sheets for eyes to make ghosts, or colored grocery sacks orange for pumpkins. I wanted something more industrious and found an adorable pattern for a bunny costume. I purchased blue flannel and pink flannel and decided the kids could use the bunny costumes later for pajamas. The pattern called for attached footie feet and separate head covering complete with rabbit ears. The wires for the rabbit ears were a real trip.

I spend days and days cutting and sewing and trying to figure out the intricate pattern. It called for invisible zippers. What a challenge that was. But low and behold the day arrived ad the costumes were done. They looked adorable. I’d spent a gazillion hours assembling them. I made many mistakes and had to get out my thread ripper and start over again.

Since we had a new baby at home and I was a nursing mother it was decided my husband would take our two little tykes around the neighbor hood. I painted little black noses and black bunny whiskers and let my husband dress them for the outing while I tended to the baby. And of course we took pictures. They were each carrying an Easter basket to gather all the candy they’d be receiving. The costumes were perfect! I’d pass them down to the new baby and the one on the way.

I fed the baby and answered our doorbell to witches and goblins and pirates and princesses but didn’t see any bunnies, not even my own. Three hours later they came trudging up the driveway. The bottoms of their costumes were in rags! My husband had failed to put their shoes on. The kids had completely worn the feet off trudging up and down the streets and sidewalks.

But, they were happy little bunnies with baskets full of candy. I later cut the feet out, hemmed them up and they were able to use them for pajamas after all.

Halloween Special: Guest Blogger Cate Cavanagh

In the upcoming days before Halloween, I thought it would be fun and try something a little different at As the Pages Turn. We will be featuring true stories and fictional stories from guest authors who I have personally asked to participate. My first guest blogger is Cate Cavanagh, author of the young adult fictional novel, Her Godmother. You are welcome to leave a comment for Cate to let her know how much you enjoyed her guest post. Thank you, Cate!

Wizard
by Cate Cavanagh

It was a hot summer day when she got off the bus to transfer to the next.
one, it snowed. Not flurries either. It snowed like a blizzard and as it
snowed, her clothes chilled her as the snow melted against her
overheated body. She glanced around and saw everyone around her
just as puzzled as she.
She didn’t know why she sat in the first forward row opposite the driver
and next to him. She knew even less why she began talking to him. It was
just something she wanted to do suddenly. No, had to do. Why, she did
not know. She barely remembered why she went with him and never left. She’d had
an apartment, hadn’t she? And friends? And family? She disappeared
on all of them and she was as lost as the memories of the life she used to have.
Jesse was smug when he talked about a lottery ticket. It didn’t bother
Mary in the least. It was just another happening in the odd life she found
herself living. Dinner parties, fund raisers, political dinners abounded
And she was always with him, beautifully draped in expensive antique dresses and jewelry. All of this did not go unnoticed. There were rules even to demonic bargains.
The day came for the debt to be collected and Jesse prepared for the showdown.
The circle had to be of salt and saltpeter. He already had what he
needed for inside the circle. It would be easy.
There was only one minute left in which he could be claimed. He only needed to be in control one minute he would be free to enjoy all he possessed. Wealth, power, a beautiful woman and a lifetime in which to enjoy it all would be his. After this he might work on eternal youth. His will would be done.
Jesse was ready and walked her to their bedroom and although he had mesmerized
her to drowsiness, he took her anyway.
It was a large circle cast with salt peter in the massive living room. It was one minute to midnight and Jesse sealed himself within the circle with the remaining salt. He walked and uttered ancient Incantations. Nothing would be able to enter the circle to attack him now. He donned his robe and lit the two black candles
with the altar matches. He ignited the saltpeter in the cauldron and, as it
poofed, the clock struck midnight and the Tall One appeared.
“You think a silly circle can prevent me from claiming you?”
“Oh, I think one minute will be long enough for me to get you. I look
forward to seeing you serve as you have made others do.”
“Do you plan to bore me into submission?” Jesse taunted.
The Tall One pointed a finger at the circle and suddenly Jesse saw himself
engulfed within a ring of flames, the fires breezing in toward him, lapping
their heat at his face.
“You cannot fool me. This is your illusion–to make me feel and see fire so
close to me that I will jump out of my circles and into your clutches.”
“Look down.”
Jesse looked down to see all manner of scorpions, snakes and spiders and all of them were poisonous. He almost jumped but did not. Even as he felt the sting of their bites, he sat still. He felt the burning of poisons in his blood until it began to boil.
“Illusion! Illusion! What I think and feel is all illusion! Nothing can come into this circle so all you have is my mind to play with and I know that.
The broad face smiled, no grimaced, and its scales wrinkled grotesquely.
In moments Jesse would be free to enjoy his wealth and power forever. Suddenly the room was cold and a bitter wind blew. Jesse opened his eyes to see the wind dispersing the salt hence opening the circle. His eyes opened with fear. He looked around the room wildly. He had not left any windows opened. That was the only way the demon could summon the winds unto him and command they destroy the circle.
“How did you do this? The rules are clear. You can deal out illusion but
the test is to remain within me!”
“Yes, I am allowed illusion. All types of illusion and while you were focusing on the illusions within your circle you forgot to keep a part of your mind on the innocent woman you imprisoned. You speak of rules! Even among entities such as myself, there are rules to protect victims.”
Circle undone, the winds died down and the billowing curtains settled. To
the side of the window stood Mary.

Visit Cate at quantumspirituality.tripod.com and somethingmagicalinourmists.blogspot.com

In the Mailbox: HOW TO HEAL YOUR HEART AND SOUL FROM DIVORCE by Tammy Lynn

I’ve had this book for a little more than a week, but tours have been keeping me sooooo busy.  But this morning, I picked it up and started in because I want to have this reviewed by the end of the week.

The title is pretty much self-explanatory and judging from its page length (85 pages), I wondered how this book could be any different from all the other self-help books out there on divorce and breakup.

However, I was immediately drawn in by her very first paragraph:

“Although my marriage of 16 years was far from perfect, it never occurred to me that it would end.  In fact, if I were a betting woman, I would have wagered my life savings I would be married to the father of my children ‘until death do us part.’”

How many women have said that?  I know I did and I still believe to this day as rotten as the ex was at the time, he’s still a good man.  But then, it’s been about 15 years and I tend to let bygones be bygones.  And I’m wondering how many other women feel there is still that bond between them and their parted spouses?

Sure, most of us have children that keeps them together in a sense, but how many women truly believe that no matter what they did to us, we still love them?

Well, here goes my relationship expert hat back on.  I used to write a lot about relationships.  When Pump Up started, I just didn’t have time to do both and keeping that roof over my head became the most important thing, but I have to say that when two people come together, no matter what happens, they were truly meant to come together in the first place for a particular reason or set of reasons.  Perhaps in my case, it was to bear children as companion soul mates are known for, but to this day, I can’t release that bond we had.  And I know we’ll never get back together nor would I want to.

Ack.  Anyway, I’ll give you my review of Tammy’s book this Friday hopefully.  So far, it’s looking pretty darn good.

Musing Mondays: When women stop reading, will the novel be dead?

This week’s MUSING MONDAYS post…

I recently read an article (here), that I found through BiblioAddict’s blog, that talked of “why women read more than men“. In it, author Ian McEwan is quoted saying:

“When women stop reading, the novel will be dead.”

Do you believe this to be true? Why, or why not?

Nah, I don’t think so, but I do know that women make up for a good portion of today’s readers.  As for what that article said about the women taking the free book and not the men, it depends on where you are, I think.  Let’s just say, it was a nonpartisan environment where men and women were equally presented, it’s the nature of the beast for women to be friendlier to the stranger with the free book than men, I think.

Book Review: EASY ENTERTAINING FOR BEGINNERS by Patricia Mendez

Easy Entertaining for Beginners
Patricia Mendez
Cooking; Entertaining
Maple Heights Press
172pages

Purchase your copy here!

Readers don’t have to be gourmet chefs or nervous wrecks to host casual at-home entertaining. Beginners will have all of their questions answered, from what to serve to what to do. Included are 13 delicious complete menus with easy-to-follow recipes, full color photographs, ideas for music, activities and drinks. Checklists ease readers step-by-step through every phase of planning, preparation, and presentation. Readers will gain confidence and have a terrific time putting together successful celebrations.

What can you say bad about a book that not only gives you mouth-watering recipes, but tips on entertaining, too? Easy Entertaining for Beginners by Patricia Mendez gives us such tantalizing recipes as Beef Tenderloin Medallions with Savory Sauce (perfect for dinners with the in-laws!), Lemon Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Filling (perfect for themed children’s birthday parties!) and for the holidays approaching, such delights as how to cook that Thanksgiving turkey complete with instructions and how to make that perfect pumpkin pie.

But that’s not all. Inside this beautifully designed book complete with color photos, you get such great tips such as how to plan your first cocktail party, how to set a budget and prepare for special events, mistakes to avoid when entertaining and tips to ensure success with any dinner party.

Easy Entertaining for Beginners has everything you can imagine inside to help you when planning your next dinner party. An excellent book and I look forward to more books from the talented and gifted Patricia Mendez.

I just had to try out the Cadillac Margaritas. Ymmmm! Patricia gave me the exact ingredients to make two full pitchers and it was a hit at my last dinner party! What I loved about this book is that never have I come upon a book that was as good as Betty Crocker’s cookbook. Serious!

Also, I loved her writing style. Being a past editor, I pick up on typos, grammar mistakes, fluff to fill a book just to fill it with something and there was no sign that this book wasn’t excellently edited. And it’s always so much nicer to read a book that didn’t distract you from the contents because of all the mistakes and, believe me, there are a lot of them out there.

Sorry, not a thing.

Wonderful List of Memes

I wanted to refer back to this list of memes that Callista over at SMS Book Reviews gave me at the Book Blogs Ning social network of which I’m a member, so I’m adding it to my right hand sidebar under “Favorite Posts” just in case some of you out there might want to refer to it.

It’s a wonderful list of memes (thank you, Callista!).  I’ve joined a couple of them and am working my way down until I’ve joined them all, but they’re a wonderful way to network, not to mention giving you ideas for blog posts throughout the week.  Remember, you want higher rankings in the search engines, you must keep those posts coming!

Here they are and don’t forget to stop in on Callista at Book Blogs Ning social network and thank her!

Mailbox Monday – share the books that showed up in your mail every week.

Musing Mondays – Muse about books on your blog every monday

Poetry Friday - post poetry or links to poetry every friday

Sunday Salon – sort of a mini readathon. Make time to read on Sunday, then post about it and visit others

Thursdays Thoughts – she posts a topic with a couple of questions and you answer her on your blog for a chance to win prizes

Tuesday Thingers is for Library Thing users (although I don’t see why non users couldn’t answer the questions)

Where Are You? – Once a week post where you are according to the book you are reading (the books setting)

Write on Wednesday – for those looking to hone their writing skills

In the Mailbox: WHEN LIFE STINKS, IT’S TIME TO WASH THE GYM CLOTHES by Kelly Epperson

I have a new client over at Pump Up Your Book Promotion named Kelly Epperson.  Kelly will be touring with her book, When Life Stinks, It’s Time to Wash the Gym Clothes, which is, as you guessed, a collection of humor stories.  Actually, they’re from her columns she wrote over the years which she gathered the best of to put in this darling book.

I say darling because already I’m smitten.  Man, I hate that.  I went in with my serious face and I swore to myself I wasn’t going to laugh out loud unless it was really funny.  Damn, page 13 was as far as I got when the LOL attack hit.

She writes, “I must admit that buying the Carpenters’ CD made me smile.  I was banished to the bedroom to enjoy my new purchase.  I cranked my boom box (okay, I guess one does not really “crank” the Carpenters), and surprisingly I remembered every word to songs I had long forgotten.  I grabbed my hairbrush microphone to lip sync for my boys.  They went scurrying for Daddy.  ‘Help! Mom is acting weird!’”

I know the reason why I laughed.  I could relate.  If a reviewer (or reader) can instantly relate, you’ve gone past first base.  I’ll be talking about Kelly’s book in future posts, but I’ll let you know if I hit a home run.  Something tells me, she’s not going to let me down.