Happy Halloween! You're Invited to an Online Party!

If there's one holiday that gets my vote for TOTAL CUTENESS, it's got to be Halloween.


HALLOWEEN PARTY ONLINE

On Monday, October 31, we'll be inaugurating my new "fan page" on Facebook. Helping with the festivities will be 12 of my best author buds. Here's the lineup:

9 to 9:30 p.m. EST
Mollie Cox Bryan (Scrapbook of Secrets)
Angie Fox (A Tale of Two Demon Slayers)

9:30 to 10 p.m. EST
Betty Hechtman (Behind the Seams)
Laura DiSilveria (Die Buying)

10 to 10:30 p.m. EST
Julie Compton (Tell No Lies and Rescuing Olivia)
Alan Orloff (The Taste)

10:30 to 11 p.m. EST
Casey Daniels (A Hard Day's Fright)
Vicki Doudera (Killer Listing)
Penny Warner (How to Party Like a Vampire)

11 to 11:30 p.m. EST
Joanna Campbell Slan (Make, Take, Murder)
Margaret Grace (Murder in Miniature)

Special "drop in" guests will be Linda O. Johnston (The More the Terrier) and Monica Ferris (Buttons and Bones).

We'll be giving away books, books, and more books! Just come to my new Facebook Fan Page and click "LIKE" or ask to be my FRIEND. (Which you are, aren't you?)

SLAN's SLAM ALBUMS

In the spirit of the spirits, I make these two adorable "slam" albums. Here's a great explanation of how to create the body of the albums: SLAM

Now on to the fun part...

Both "spiders" are just buttons with googly eyes. To one, I attached wire legs. To the other I cut a thin strip of blackish page and folded it accordian-style. That became a leg.

Is this fun or what?

Happy Halloween!

P.S. READY, SCRAP, SHOOT is now available for pre-order!

JUST for ME Contest Winners, and a Review of the Past Wild Week!

JUST FOR ME Contest Winners





As I promised, here are the names of the Just for Me Contest Winners:


Christy K. from Louisville KY


and


Lynn H. from Lawrenceville GA


I'll be contacting them via email and sending out their gifts.

Meanwhile, keep checking this blog and reading it carefully as I think I will mention other ezine readers' names--and if YOU respond, I'll send YOU some sort of fun gift! My gift cupboard is overflowing. I love picking up trinkets as I travel.

MAGNA cum FUN and a SMALL CONTEST

Wow. Another whirlwind week. Just returned home late last night from Magna cum Murder, the fantastic conference held at Ball State University (my alma mater) in Muncie, Indiana. Here's a photo of me and my pal Monica Ferris. Isn't her hat to die for? (That's sort of a joke. Her new upcoming book is called Thai Die!) Do you love hats? I sure do.


Be the first to comment on the photo of Monica and me, and I'll send you a Ball State University coffee mug!

By the way, I also connected with Louise Penny. She's a wonderful, soulful woman. I'll try to get her to guest post here.


TEACHER, TEACHER--"Getting Published"



Last Tuesday I filled in as an instructor for a Lewis & Clark Community College Class called "Getting Published". Since it has been a while since I taught a class, and that one I fell into at the last minute, I was a bit nervous about the evaluations. I opened my email today to read these:



"I have learned more than what I thought I would. The class was grrrreat! I knew it would be good, but it was wonderful. I loved it!"



"The instructor was obviously aware of the topic -- I found her to be smart, informative -- FAR exceeded my expectations!"



"This course is a 'must attend' course for anyone wanting to pursue a writing career. Information is invaluable and well worth the money spent."



"OMG (oh my god)! Her knowledge taught me so much, I would pay for this class again!"



"Being a working journalist I had a basic overview of writing, but having aspirations as a novelist it was a great help to get me started."



"I liked how Joanna asked each individual what they expected to get out of the class, wrote it on the blackboard and reviewed that each expectation was met."



"The instructor made everyone feel very comfortable. She was very professional yet down to earth. She left time for answering questions and open discussion."



Yes, I've been invited back. I'll try to post the new class schedule here. If you live in the southern Illinois or St. Louis area, maybe I'll see you.



LUCI, THE POISON LADY

I've asked my pal Luci Zahray if she would be a guest blogger here. No one knows more about poison than Luci. So...she tenatively said, "Yes." I know she's busy, and she loves to research, but isn't so keen on writing, so let's keep our fingers crossed!