Happy Halloween!

Illustration by Gilles Vranckx

Happy Halloween, everyone!

What are your plans for the day?  I'll go for a cozy dinner with friends complete with pumpkin lasagna, Halloween treats and lots of Halloween movies.

Doppelgängers, evil kids and monstrous animals

Earlier this month, I guest posted on Paranormal Wastelands and Immortality Revolution about the monsters that scare me the most. Here's the post in case you missed it.

Doppelgängers

A doppelgänger is a person's physical double. Seeing one's own doppelgänger often heralds death or serious illness. Paranormal investigators believe that the doppelgänger is an individual's past or future self. In some traditions, the double has no shadow or reflection.

Here are two seriously creepy horror movies about doppelgängers...

The Broken (2009)

Dream Lover (1986)

Evil kids

There's something undeniably scary about children gone evil wether it's through vampirism (Salem's Lot), radioactivity (The Children Of Ravensback), aliens (Village Of The Damned) or just plain insanity (Devil Times Five, We Need To Talk About Kevin, The Good Son).

The following are my favorite evil kids movies...

The Children Of Ravensback (1980)

Bloody Birthday (1981)

Who Can Kill A Child? (1976)

Monstrous animals

Animals will always be cute and cuddly, even if they take on monstrous proportions. So they might not be the scariest, but they're definitely the most fun. Zombie dogs, demonic cats, killer morays, giant turtles, hungry bears, angry rabbits, ... It would be difficult to pick a favorite. Anyway, here's a small selection...

Belve Feroci (1984)

The Bermuda Depths (1978)

Night Of The Lepus (1972)

What are your favorite monsters?



Blog tour schedule for GPS With Benefits

For over 90 days and on over 100 blogs, I will be posting exclusive excerpts, book giveaways, interviews, guest posts, and so much more to promote the release of my latest story GPS With Benefits. If you're a blogger who wants to join the tour, please email for more details eeriestories75 (at) gmail (dot) com.

November 1:

Review and giveaway @Book Cover Justice

Guest post @This Author's Life

Release announcement @The Book Garden

Release announcement @Book Reviews By Lynn

Author interview @The Character Connection

Release announcement @Book Mews and Tattle Tails

November 2:

Release announcement @Kristina Springer

Release announcement @What You Talking About, Willis?

Release announcement @Sarah Collins

Author interview @Tribute Books

Review @Cuzinlogic

November 3:

Release announcement @Lovely Reads

Release announcement and giveaway @Serenity Sheild

Release announcement and guest post @Lacey Wolfe

November 4:

Release announcement @Independent Paranormal

Review @Lizzy's Dark Fiction

Release announcement and author interview @Shakira's Book Blog 'n' Stuff

November 5:

Author interview @Linda Weaver Clarke

Guest post and giveaway @Monique Morgan

November 6:

Guest post @Nikki's Book Blog

Guest post @Romance Beckons

November 7:

Release announcement and guest post @Mommy And We

Guest post and author interview @Turner's Antics

Release announcement @Readaholic Reviews

Guest post @Cuzinlogic

November 8:

Release announcement @Cosy Travels

Book giveaway @Bonnie Harris

Review @Have You Heard Book Reviews

November 9:

Release announcement @Ao Bibliosphere

Author interview @A.D. Duling

November 10:

Review and giveaway @Minding Spot

Release announcement @Jan Messali

Review @Up All Night Reviews

Guest post @Bonnie Harris

Release announcement @I Love All Dogs

November 11:

Release announcement and giveaway @Identity Discovery

http://gillesvranckx.blogspot.com/

November 12:

Release announcement and giveaway @Live To Read

Review @Eva's Sanctuary

November 13:

Review and giveaway @Coffee, Books, And Me

Guest post @Wanted Readers

Author interview @Bonnie Harris

November 14:

Release announcement @Couponing With Boys

November 15:

Guest post @Reading Rain Blog

Guest post and review @Tattooed Book Reviews

Author interview @Two Ends Of The Pen

Review, author interview and giveaway @Sarah Elizabeth's Bookshelf

November 16:

Guest post @Bibliophila, Please

Release announcement @Book Sniffers Anonymous

November 17:

Release announcement @Howling Turtle

Release announcement and guest post @Scribbler's Sojourn

November 18:

Review and giveaway @Kaisy Daisy's Corner

Guest post @Beck Valley Books

November 19:

Guest post and giveway @For The Love Of Film And Novels

Guest post @ Fligh High!

November 20:

Review and release announcement @Read Rate And Review

Release announcement and giveaway @Pretty Opinionated

Release announcement @Filling Words

Guest post @Reading Away The Days

November 21:

Guest post @From The Bootheel Cotton Patch

November 22:

Release announcement and giveaway @Ellen Ross

Giveaway @Pretty Opinionated

November 23:

Release announcement and guest post @Lena Hillbrand

Review @Jinky Is Reading

November 24:

Release announcement @My Mommy's World

Release announcement @Theresa Grisanti

Release announcement @Book Lover's Hideaway

November 25:

Release announcement @Fiction State Of Mind

Release announcement @My Little Book Space

November 26:

Guest post and giveaway @Book Reviews By Dee

Release announcement/guest post @Danita Minnis

Review @Debbie Davis

November 27:

Release announcement @Scrappy Designs

Release announcement @Deals Equals Savings

Guest post, author interview and giveaway @Not Now... Mommy's Reading

November 28:

Review @My Devotional Thoughts

Guest post @The Rambling Readerista

Release announcement @There Will Be Another Sunrise

Release announcement @Christy's Cozy Corners

November 29:

Review @A Multitude Of Drops

Release announcement and guest post @Every Free Chance Book Reviews

November 30:

Guest post @My Devotional Thoughts

Razor Reel 2012

I'll be spending the rest of the month in Bruges to give an introduction to several horror movies at the Razor Reel Fantastic Film Festival RRFFF. Come and stop by if you're around. Here are the trailers of the films I will be talking about...

Citadel

An agoraphobic father teams up with a renegade priest to save his daughter from the clutches of a gang of hooded feral children. Citadel director and screenwriter Ciaran Foy will be present for the screening and introduction of the movie on October 27.

Villa Captive

A young actress seeking a life away from adult movies moves to Florida in search of a new identity. Her newfound piece is shattered when local thugs recognize her. A tribute to hard-edged rape revenge movies like I Spit On Your Grave. The main actress of Villa Captive, Liza Del Sierra (who is also a porn actress), will join me for the introduction of the movie on October 28.

A Little Bit Zombie

"Steve's not dead. He's just a little bit zombie." Infected by a virus, Steve attempts to fulfill his desire for brains while trying to keep it together so as not the incur the wrath of his demanding fiancée. Director Casey Walker will answer questions about A Little Bit Zombie on November 2nd.

ABCs Of Death

A 26-chapter anthology that showcases death in all its vicious wonder and brutal beauty. I will give an introduction to ABCs Of Death on November 3 and will be joined by directors Simon Rumley and Jake West and actress Lucy Clements.

Also check out my Razor Reel posts from the previous years: Razor Reel 2011 and Razor Reel 2010.

Spooky Halloween Treats

Today I have the pleasure of hosting YA author, Kristina Springer. She shares here the recipes for her favorite Halloween treats. Please leave a comment and help welcome Kristina to my blog.

I love throwing parties and I love a theme. So when it comes to Halloween, making some fun spooky treats to share with your friends is a must.

These are all super easy ideas that anyone can do and young and old will love them!

The first one is MUMMY DOGS.

These are so simple to make.

1) Get a tube of crescent rolls and a package of hot dogs. You can make full-size mummies by using an entire hot dog or cut them in half like I did.

2) Follow the instructions on the crescent rolls for pre-heating your oven.

3) Roll out the crescent dough and cut it into really thin strips.

4) Start at the top of your hot dog and slowly wrap it all the way down, leaving a little space for the eyes.

5) Put each dog on the baking sheet and cook according to your crescent roll directions.

So easy! And yum. And if you want, add on two tiny mustard eyes once the mummies are cooked. Kids love these.

Next up, DISGUSTING TEETH.

Not going to lie, I make these for my kids just for fun some afternoons. But they're great for parties too. Or a treat to bring your dentist.

1) Slice up red apples (any kind is fine).

2) Spread peanut butter on one side of each apple.

3) Stick three mini-marshmallows on one slice of apple, peanut butter side.

4) Put another slice or apple, peanut butter side down, on top and smoosh together.

That's it! Serve right away.

Last up, PUKING PUMPKIN

I love, love, love this one! And because I like things simple, the recipe is super easy.

1) Buy a tub of any kind of guacamole, a mini-pumpkin, and some black tortilla chips.

2) Carve two eyes and a pretty big mouth into the pumpkin. Since it's a mini-pumpkin, don't cut off the top. Just do your best to scrape out what you can from the eyes and mouth.

3) Position the pumpkin at the head of your tray.

4) Make the guacamole come pouring out of the pumpkins mouth and down the tray.

5) Fill in the sides with black tortilla chips.

It's so gross, it's good, right?

There you have it! Give one or all of these recipes a try and have a Happy Halloween!

Bio:

Kristina Springer is the bestselling author of My Fake Boyfriend Is Better Than Yours and The Espressologist. Her newest young adult novel, The Paparazzi Project releases December 15, 2012. Visit her at www.KristinaSpringer.com and @TinaSpringer on twitter.

Abandoned horror-themed restaurant

Last weekend Ingrid and Lars from Cosy Travels and I visited visited the abandoned horror-themed restaurant 't Spookhuys, also known as House of 1000 Spirits. Rattling chandeliers, smoking ceilings and moving paintings once decotated this place. Transvestite draculas, illusionists and devil-worshiping dancers entertained the guests while they ate mud pie out of a skull. Rumor has it satanic rituals were held in this house in order to leave angry spirits to roam the premises. Finding 't Spookhuys was a challenge since our GPS indicated that the address was non-existent. Although we didn't see any ghosts or demons around the abandoned restaurant, the place had something unsettling.

The restaurant closed its doors in 2008, but can still be visited at Steenweg op Gierle 441 in Turnhout, Belgium.

Top 10 best zombie movies ever

This post is a special one, made for the "2012 Virtual Zombie Walk", hosted by zombieseverywhere.org. For my own contribution, I'm sharing the trailers of my favorite zombie movies.

Tombs Of The Blind Dead (1972)

Night Of The Creeps (1986)

The Return Of The Living Dead (1985)

The Beyond (1981)

Hell Of The Living Dead (1980)

Nightmare City (1980)

Burial Ground: The Nights Of Terror (1981)

The Vineyard (1989)

The Video Dead (1987)

Zombie 4 - After Death (1988)

What is your favorite zombie movie?


Want to see my zombie post from last year? Click here!

Animals, art and fashion

On Saturday, I went to the one year anniversary party of Ménage à deux, a famous haute couture shop in Brussels. It was complete with an art exhibition of my boyfriend's Gilles' work, a huge crowd and tons of press. Apart from the exhibition, Ménage à deux also used Gilles' animal illustrations on their new collection. A good reason to stop by, I'd say.

You can visit the exhibition for another month or so at Ménage à deux, Rue de Flandres 120, 1000 Brussels, Belgium.

Halloween board game giveaway

Today we have a fun giveaway for you from our sponsor, Goliath Games! They are offering 3 lucky readers a Mr. Creepy Spookslot Halloween board game.

Tired of carving pumpkins and trick or treating? Mr. Creepy's Spookslot Halloween board game is perfect for any sleepover or campout, but can also be played with the entire family. It's a question of life and death: players walk through torture chambers, cemeteries and haunted rooms and try to avoid being caught by the evil tree, the axe and the rolling skull. Mr. Creepy's Spookslot is the perfect Halloween board game promoting not only goosebumps, but also 20 to 40 minutes of creepy fun! For 2 to 4 players.

To enter to win, please leave a comment on this post telling us why you want to win this Halloween board game.

You can gain extra entries by sharing this post on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Tumblr, StumbleUpon, Reddit and/or Google+ or by following this blog on GFC, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Google+. The more you share and follow, the more you'll increase your winning chances. Leave a separate comment for each action you took, so I can count it accordingly.

Open worldwide. Giveaway ends October 25.

Good luck!

Cover reveal "GPS With Benefits"

I'm thrilled to reveal the new cover for my upcoming release GPS WITH BENEFITS, a short film script about a GPS device with a mind of 'her' own. It will be hitting bookshelves November 1, 2012, so mark your calendars!

Cover was designed by Gilles Vranckx.

Jennifer Rainey's Favorite Ghost Stories

Today I have a guest post from Jennifer Rainey, the author of The Beldam's Eye, These Hellish Happenings and Thoroughly Modern Monsters. She has stopped by to talk about her favorite ghost stories.

I love a good ghost story. From the time I was about eight or nine years old, I loved reading spooky tales, and it was inevitable that I eventually write one myself. The Beldam's Eye is my own take on the ghost story, but today I’m here to talk about three others that have inspired and occasionally horrified me—and trust me, horrifying me is quite a feat!

1. The Woman In Black by Susan Hill.

I picked this book up when I started seeing trailers for the movie version that came out earlier this year. The title character is a truly terrifying and vengeful specter who destroys the life of the book’s protagonist/narrator, Arthur Kipps. This book has a fantastically creepy atmosphere about it, and Hill does a spectacular job of pulling the reader in. This is a book you just can’t shake after finishing. If you love period ghost stories, give this one a look.

Creepiness factor: 3.5/5. While The Woman in Black herself is quite the spooky ghost, the book has a few dry spells where you don’t get a lot of paranormal activity.

2. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

Who doesn’t love A Christmas Carol? This book and all of the marvelous movie adaptations helped spark my interest in spirits. Jacob Marley is a tremendous ghost, and it was my dream as a child to play the Ghost of Christmas Past on stage. Dickens expertly blends in A Christmas Carol our own world and the paranormal world. While this isn’t the scariest ghost story in the world, it is a very inspirational one.

Creepiness factor: 2/5. It’s not the creepiest, but The Ghost Of Christmas Yet To Come is pretty hardcore.

3. Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill.

This story of an aging rocker who buys a haunted suit is truly one of the eeriest tales I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Craddock, the spirit after the protagonist, is a relentless villain with the ability to control the minds of the living. The book can go from darkly amusing to horrifying to disturbing, and it does so seamlessly. If you haven’t read Heart-Shaped Box, find a copy as soon as possible.

Creepiness factor: 5/5! Chilling, gripping and very entertaining!

These are just three of my favorites, but there are so many more. Let us know what your favorite ghost stories are in the comments!

***

When Erasmus Bramble finds the recently-deceased Angus Heyer rummaging through his kitchen cabinets, he knows he has a unique case on his hands.

As paranormal investigators in rural Ohio, Ras and his business partner Antony Yeats tackle ghostly problems on a daily basis, from poltergeist exterminations to troubled spirits just looking for a shoulder to cry on. Angus isn't looking for ghost therapy. He needs Ras and Yeats to help him to retrieve a pocket watch stolen from him after death, a pocket watch that is said to be cursed: The Beldam's Eye.

The skeptical Ras and Yeats agree to take Angus's case, but they soon find themselves in over their heads, facing murder, theft and perilous dark magic. Is it all just backwoods superstition or is the curse of The Beldam's Eye grisly reality.

Purchase

Amazon

Halloween in Ireland - Bonfires, bus tours and Halloween parades

Below is a guest post I did for Bending The Spine. Enjoy!

With the day of the dead approaching, now is the time to decide where to spend Halloween. What better place to celebrate than Ireland which has a 2000-year-old Halloween tradition.

Bonfires

In Pagan times, the Halloween celebrations were at its wildest with the druids sacrificing and burning victims. Tradition has it that these sacrificial bonfires had to prevent the dead from crawling out of their graves. Bonfires are now a huge part of the Halloween festivities in Ireland and are lit in both rural areas and towns throughout the country.

One of the best places to watch those bonfires is in the medieval town of Athboy where the underworld and our world are supposedly closest together. On Halloween’s Eve, the inhabitants make a tour with burning torches from Athboy to the top of Tlachtga. The tour ends with a traditional Celtic feast in an Iron Age Fort overlooking the town.

Halloween Parades and Halloween Carnivals

The biggest Halloween parade in Ireland is Derry's Banks of the Foyle Halloween Carnival. While live music and performances take place, more than 30.000 people walk with candlelight toward the River Foyle. The night ends with a spectacular fireworks display lightning up the night sky over the river.

A similar event is the Dublin Halloween Parade, a display of performers, dancers, monsters, giants, ghosts, goblins and witches that ends in extravagant fireworks.

Halloween Bus Tour

If you like it spooky, you might want to try Dublin’s Halloween Night Bus Tour. The bus drives you through the city’s dark, unknown streets and a live storyteller will tell you all about Dublin’s sinister past and legends. It’s a popular attraction, so book in advance.

Halloween Accommodation

Ireland is known for its accommodation offering entertaining and educational Halloween programs for kids:

In the atmospheric Causey Farm, nearby Dublin, children can listen to old Celtic stories, learn to drive a broomstick and much more.

The Clontarf Castle Hotel in Dublin celebrates Halloween by organizing a world championship for vampires.

And the Headfort Arms Hotel, located on a one hour drive from Dublin has Halloween films for kids and other fun activities on the program.

Couples without children might want to stay at the Dunboyne Castle & Spa where you are a participant in a murder story. Or you could taste Prosecco and Halloween chocolates at Castle Leslie Estate.

Irish Halloween Food

You may also try the Halloween foods that Ireland is famous for: Colcannon (dish with potatoes, cabbage, onions, butter, milk, salt and pepper) and Barnbrack Cake (fruit cake hiding objects such as a ring, a tissue and a coin).