New Release: Mysteries of the Macabre

Today, Alicia Dean is returning to tell us about a new anthology of Halloween stories. It happens that Renci Denham and Rohn Federbush, two of the other authors featured in the anthology are members of my local Romance Writers of America chapter, so when she asked for bloggers to feature this collection I jumped at the chance. Here's Alicia:

****

Since Halloween is just around the corner, I thought it would be fun to share a little quiz that goes with the season. This quiz also appears in the October issue of the Novel Notes newsletter I am in with three other author friends, Diane Burton, Kathy L Wheeler and Leah St. James. If you’re interested in receiving our monthly newsletter, go here:

https://www.facebook.com/NovelNotesAuthors

We give a prize of a $25 gift card each month, plus, there are all kinds of interesting and fun things going on in the Novel Notes world.

Now, to the quiz and a blog giveaway. To be entered to win your choice of a print* or ebook copy of Mysteries of the Macabre AND a $5 Amazon gift card, comment with your answers (right or wrong, you’ll be entered). You can just use the format 1) a, b, or c (whichever answer you choose), etc.

*Only US residents are eligible for the print copy

Winner to be draw Sunday, October 25^th

Trivia Questions:

1) Because of a tight budget when the first Halloween movie was made (1978), they had to use a cheap mask for Michael Myers. Was the mask a:

A) Hockey mask

B) William Shatner mask

C) Handmade by the director’s wife

2) Samhainophobia is the fear of:

A) Halloween

B) Ghosts

C) Choking on candy

3) What city holds the record for the most Jack O’ Lanterns lit at once:

A) Paris

B) Boston

C) New York

4) What did the people of Ireland and Scotland originally use as Jack O’ Lanterns on Halloween?

A) Turnips

B) Cabbage

C) A plant pot

5) So far in 2015, the most popular child’s costume is:

A) Buzz Lightyear

B) Princess

C) Ghost

****

UPDATE! WINNER OF THE BOOK AND GIFT CARD IS LINDA CARROLL-BRADD! 

HERE ARE THE ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ:

1) Because of a tight budget when the first Halloween movie was made (1978), they had to use a cheap mask for Michael Myers. Was the mask a:

B) William Shatner mask

2) Samhainophobia is the fear of:

A) Halloween

3) What city holds the record for the most Jack O’ Lanterns lit at once:

B) Boston

Although, apparently the record has been broken by  Keene, New Hampshire with a total of 30,581   

4) What did the people of Ireland and Scotland originally use as Jack O’ Lanterns on Halloween?

A) Turnips

5) So far in 2015, the most popular child’s costume is:

B) Princess

****

And now, I’d like to share my latest release:

A Halloween Anthology – Six Stories by Six Authors

MYSTERIES OF THE MACABRE  

Authors Alicia Dean, Leah St. James, Alexa Day, Renci Dunham, Rohn Federbush, and Elvy Howard share Halloween mayhem in 6 short stories:

A masked stranger ~ Teen angst ~ Ghostly appearances

Hot Halloween sex ~ A tropical nightmare ~ Visions from the past

http://www.amazon.com/Mysteries-Macabre-Halloween-Alexa-Day-ebook/dp/B014LZ6T6I/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1442322320&sr=1-1&keywords=mysteries+of+the+macabre

My story is Scarred:

Gothic romance 

Blurb:

Sometimes, the most haunting scars are the ones beneath the skin. 

When Natalie Jayne moved away from her home town ten years earlier, she left behind painful memories, along with Simon, the man she loved. Now, she's back on Halloween night to attend a memorial marking the one-year anniversary of the tragic passing of her childhood friend, Jessica. Rumors that Simon was responsible for Jessica's death unnerve her. Even more disturbing is her unsettling attraction to a masked stranger she meets at the event. Her gift may be the key to unlocking the truth, but will it also lead to heartbreak? 

Excerpt:

Simon Cordell left his dark, empty home and headed deep into the woods. As usual, he was restless, filled with too many memories and no longer able to stand his own company. The nighttime suited him. The darkness and density of the woods helped hide his disfigured face…his guilty soul.

Light from a full moon sifted through spidery branches of the wintry trees. From the distance, the howl of a wolf filtered to him—eerie…haunting.

Frigid wind bit through his coat, but he welcomed the pain. Pain made him aware he was still human, that his tragic act from a year ago today hadn’t rendered him the unfeeling monster he sometimes felt himself to be.

The soft ground gave beneath his feet. Tree limbs whipped against him as he plodded through the thickets, scratching his exposed flesh. All welcome sensations. He was alive, although he had no right to be.

The sound of music and cheerful voices interrupted his self-recrimination. He peered between the trees where a faint light shone. As if he had no control of his own body, his feet took him toward the light…toward the sound. From the edge of the woods, he stood, staring at the mayor’s mansion. Guests in colorful finery exited vehicles and made their way up the path to the door.

Simon was about to step back, to fade into obscurity, when a particular guest caught his attention. His heartbeat sped up. He nearly called out her name but stopped himself just in time. Dark hair framed her pale face. Beneath her black cloak, the skirt of an emerald green gown floated around her. The woman paused for a moment and glanced in his direction. He slunk back behind a tree, pulse pounding. Had she seen him? He didn’t know. He did know that he had to see her. Had to get a closer look at the woman he hadn’t seen in ten years but had been unable to erase from his memory.

****

Doesn't this sound like the perfect Halloween story? Here's more about Alicia:

BIO

Award-winning, multi-published author Alicia Dean began writing stories as a child. At age 11, she wrote her first ever romance (featuring a hero who looked just like Elvis Presley, and who happened to share the name of Elvis’ character in the movie, Tickle Me), and she still has the tattered, pencil-written copy. Alicia is from Moore, Oklahoma and now lives in Edmond. She has three grown children and a huge network of supportive friends and family. She writes mostly contemporary suspense and paranormal, but has also written in other genres, including a few vintage historicals. She is a freelance editor in addition to being an editor for The Wild Rose Press.

Other than reading and writing, her passions are Elvis Presley, MLB, NFL (she usually works in a mention of one or all three into her stories) and watching her favorite televisions shows like Vampire Diaries, Justified, Sons of Anarchy, Haven, New Girl, The Mindy Project, and Dexter (even though it has sadly ended, she will forever be a fan). Some of her favorite authors are Michael Connelly, Dennis Lehane, Lee Child, Lisa Gardner, Sharon Sala, Jordan Dane, Ridley Pearson, Joseph Finder, and Jonathan Kellerman…to name a few.

Find Alicia here:

Website: http://aliciadean.com/

Blog: http://aliciadean.com/alicias-blog/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008364070487

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Alicia_Dean_

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/aliciamdean/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/468339.Alicia_Dean