It just ain’t the same. I mean tonight it will still be light when the tiny ghosts trek to my door. How can a ghost be spooky in daylight? And my witchy costume is so shabby from years of use that I rely on nightfall to conceal all of the patched pieces and cider stains. Sigh.
2008 and 2009 Westside Books had me out and about launching my first book, Sliding on the Edge, and I didn’t have time to post about Halloween. But then 2010 produced this.
Halloween 2010
It’s the time of year to pull those pumpkin vines, bundle the corn stalks and put away the outdoor furniture. Fall is for coming to the hearth with a good book and a hot cup of cocoa-a time to look inward and reminisce about spring and summer days that warmed the garden and brought forth the crops for harvest.
Some of you know I’ve started Email Connect as one way to organize my support for authors and give 12 of them extra promo during the year. I can’t believe I’m almost ready to announce my Featured Follower for November! But before I do, here’s one more bit about October’s Yvonne Ventresca and her new book, Black Flowers, White Lies.
My Quote of the Week: “Memory is the way we keep telling ourselves our stories–and telling other people a somewhat different version of our stories.” Alice Munro, short story writer and Nobel Prize winner.
Dianne K. Salerni says
I've already read Black Flowers, White Lies. Loved it!!
This is the first year my family has really gotten into Halloween in several years. It got harder to "feel the scares" as our kids got older and started spending Halloween with their friends instead of us. But our exchange student from Germany has made the holiday new for the whole family.
Empty Nest Insider says
Lee – What wicked and wonderful flashes from the past! I'm also impressed with the pumpkin field! I miss trick-or- treating with my boys and watching them parade around in their costumes at school! Congrats to Yvonne and love her book title!
Julie
Crystal Collier says
What a fun walk through the past! This is usually my holiday for sharing a piece of free fiction. In fact, the only time during the year that I post a piece of flash fiction for free on my blog.
Yay for Yvonne, and Lee, I'm wishing you a fun Halloween!
Elizabeth Seckman says
Uncomplicated fun is always the best.
H.R. Sinclair, Southpaw says
That's a beautiful pumpkin patch! i love Halloween too. It's just a straight up fun holiday.
Congrats Yvonne.
Katie L. Carroll says
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays as well! Fun memories you shared. I used to host a big rager every year and we'd party all night long!
nashvillecats2 says
Congrats to my namesake Yvonne, most enjoyable post Lee.
Yvonne.
Lynda R Young says
Congrats Yvonne. (Love the fun fact)
I love that pumpkin field! How amazing. It's so wonderful to look back on great memories.
Roland D. Yeomans says
Congratulations to Yvonne. October is my birth month and I love the smells and childhood memories. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. What does say about me? 🙂
Joylene Nowell Butler says
Congratulations, Yvonne. I love October, too. The colours, the cozy fireplace, the swans and geese gathering out front. It was a huge fun time for us when our 5 boys were young. Now we live too far away and none of the children come to our door. Well, actually, there are few children out here. I'm left, as Alice Munro says, re-telling myself my memories.
Tamara Narayan says
Halloween is a big deal around here because both of my daughters are still interested in trick-or-treating. Unfortunately for me, they are also interested in homemade costumes that are technically difficult to construct. (Wolf and the newer version of the Cheshire Cat) So the fake fur will be flying this week. Plus they expect us to carve our pumpkins in elaborate designs and decorate the front yard with lots of cool/scary stuff. Honestly, I'm looking forward to Nov. 1 at this point. Whew!
Tyrean Martinson says
Wonderful memories! I miss my girls being so young that dressing up and running through a neighborhood with one of their cousins was a highlight, even in rainy weather.
Thanks for sharing your memories of your writing and life!
Beverly Stowe McClure says
Your memories of Halloween brought back my memories of the parties, trick-or-treating and fun we had. I saved your story to read. Congratulations, Yvonne.
Mason Canyon says
Congrats to Yvonne.
When I think of Halloween I always remember it usually turned cold, rainy, or windy on Halloween when I was a kid. No fun having to wear a coat over your costume.
Thoughts in Progress
and MC Book Tours
Yvonne Ventresca says
Lee, thanks for featuring me! And I love your trip down Halloween memory lane.
Liz A. says
You know, I don't think I've ever written a post specifically about Halloween. Congrats to Yvonne.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thanks again, Liz. Maybe a school-Halloween post?
Sheena-kay Graham says
Congrats Yvonne and Happy Halloween when it comes Lee.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thanks, Sheena-kay!
Shooting Stars Mag says
How fun – it's nice to look back on older posts!
Patricia Lynne says
Congrats to Yvonne! =)
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thank you, Patricia Lynne!
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake says
Congrats to Yvonne! I love this cover.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thank you, Kelly!
Carrie-Anne says
Congratulations to Yvonne!
Halloween is my favoritest holiday, together with Yom Kippur. I don't see anything wrong with wearing my Halloween jewelry when it's not October, or painting my nails orange and black at other times of year either. I haven't had a tablecloth on my table in ages, but I have an orange and black plaid one, bordered by black lace, which I had on the table long after Halloween. I also have Halloween placemats I've used past the holiday. One of the main reasons I'll never be 100% Orthodox is because I refuse to give up Halloween.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I like incorporating any holiday into my life if it makes me happy. Good for you.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Carrie-Anne — Thank you! And I love your idea of Halloween-ness in other months! maybe I won't put my ghost fruit bowl away in November. 🙂
Elephant's Child says
Huge congratulations to Yvonne.
We don't do Halloween over here, though the stores are pushing a tacky, mass prorduced plastic version at us. A holiday without the family minefield sounds good though. Very good.
C. Lee McKenzie says
LOL Family minefield is a great image.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thank you for the congrats! Halloween is one of my favorites and Lee has a good point about no family gathering. 🙂
Jacqui Murray says
My father-in-law loved holidays, especially Halloween. Thanks for the memories.
C. Lee McKenzie says
He was a kid at heart I'll bet.
Susan Gourley/Kelley says
I seldom even think about Halloween now that my kids are grown. I guess trick or treat is on Thursday.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It should be an early night for the school kids!
Chrys Fey says
October is my favorite month. And I've always liked the story about Persephone.
C. Lee McKenzie says
That was a perfect story for the season. Great way to explain the sudden darkness after summer.
Donna K. Weaver says
I love the step down memory lane with your previous Halloween posts. And the pictures. 😀
C. Lee McKenzie says
I'm amazed at what i find when I troll through past posts.
Jemi Fraser says
I hate admitting it, but Halloween is not my favourite. I always hated trying to create costumes for my kids – I'm NOT a crafty person!! Don't mind handing out the treats though! 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
Then part of the holiday works for you. That's enough.
Annalisa Crawford says
Congrats to Yvonne – that's a great title!
Halloween is getting bigger in the UK, but still not as huge as the US. I'll be working, anyway.
C. Lee McKenzie says
I was wondering if they dressed up and went out on All Hallows Eve in the UK
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thanks, Annalisa! I hope you have a fun Halloween either way. 🙂
Juneta Key says
Congrats Yvonne! We will be carving pumpkins for the boys this Halloween and the new house is in an area that has lots of kids, so probably will have treat a treaters for the first time in a long time.
Happy Halloween
Juneta @ Writer's Gambit
C. Lee McKenzie says
That should be so much fun! Get pictures for us.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thank you, Juneta!
I love getting lots of trick or treaters, too.
Shady Del Knight says
Hi, Cheryl Lee!
I enjoyed these glimpses of Halloweens past. I agree it is a relief not to have to plan a family gathering and to be sure to seat Uncle Donald away from Cousin Hillary. 🙂 That vast field of pumpkins in 2010 was spectacular. I hope everybody takes time to enlarge the image. Here in Florida we have a different experience of October and the Halloween season. We don't see many colorful leaf displays and the most we can hope for are a few brief, welcome cool spells that give us a break from the heat.
Thanks, Cheryl Lee, and have a great week!
C. Lee McKenzie says
The week has started well. We can only hope the rest of it will follow Monday's lead. Thanks, Shady.
Birgit says
I do love Halloween and decorate the house up still and even dress up…as a witch of course. I am thankful that I havce a small family:)
C. Lee McKenzie says
I have to repair my witch hat. Thanks for reminding me.
Laurel Garver says
My parents adored Halloween and always made it so fun. I'm thankful that now that I'm a parent, I live in a neighborhood where many really make it fun for the kids, decorating and being very generous to the trick-or-treaters. It really brings the community together.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It used to be an all night event for us. Parties and trick-or-tweeting, then the candy hangover the next morning.
Bish Denham says
Haven't *done* Halloween in years. Used to have lots of fun dressing up, but any more… Well, we don't live in a place conducive for trick or treaters.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Nobody comes to our house. The forest is dark and scary and. . .hey, this is a perfect place. I should see if I can convince some kids to venture out here.
DEZMOND says
that is one massive pumpkin patch!
C. Lee McKenzie says
A feast for the eye if you like orange. Fortunately, I do.
Pat Hatt says
haha that is a good reason to like Halloween the most, no muss no fuss, and no dealing with extended family. Win win.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Absolutely! Then, of course, there's T'day!
L. Diane Wolfe says
I love all of those pumpkins. We still need to get one. My memories of Halloween as a kid always include rain. It always seemed to rain that night.
C. Lee McKenzie says
It must be a curse by some ancient witch, Diane.
Christine Rains says
Congrats to Yvonne! It's my favorite holiday too, and the no family gathering thing is part of it. 🙂
C. Lee McKenzie says
I think Halloween allows us some freedom to be whoever or whatever we want to be for a few hours.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thanks, Christine. And so true, Lee!
Alex J. Cavanaugh says
Congratulations to Yvonne.
Good point about Halloween – no uncomfortable family gathering.
C. Lee McKenzie says
Thanksgiving and Christmas expectations are killers.
Yvonne Ventresca says
Thanks Alex. And Lee, Halloween is one of my favorites!