The Light & Dark of Halloween Costumes

12 SHADES OF MIDNIGHT has the full spectrum of writing styles. From Ann Voss Peterson’s thriller, THE SCHOOL…to Angi Morgan’s light-hearted paranormal, HIT & RUN HALLIE. Ann’s ideas for Halloween costumes is also a little darker than Angi (who knows she’s appeared a bit goofy at times). This year Angi’s attending a Gotham City themed party. Out of the many possible Batman characters, all she wants to dress as…is a citizen. Ann would make a great Cat Woman.

Ann: Cat Woman? Hell yeah! Or how about a little Trek?

Ann (aka Yeoman Janice Rand, Star Ship Enterprise): When I was a kid, I loved dressing up for Halloween, and my parents enjoyed helping me make creative costumes (okay, they actually made most of the costumes, but…). I was everything from the Tin Woodman in Wizard of Oz to a Green Bay Packer football card to The Headless Horseman.

Since my hometown of Madison, Wisconsin has a huge Halloween bash on State Street, I continued the dress up tradition far into my grown up years. It was too fun to give up. My friends and I dressed as the villains in the Beatles’ Yellow Submarine one year (we had two Blue Meanies, a Bonker, and a Snapping Turk), anti-war protestors from the 60s (hey, it was Madison, WI!), and of course, my favorite costume (above), the Star Trek crew!

 

And here’s a little taste of the dark side of Halloween; the devil, the clown, and the ghost. I’m Satan, but the scariest costume here is the clown, I swear. Clowns… shudder. 

My story in the Twelve Shades of Midnight anthology does have a bit of a dark, thriller mood, although no clowns. It’s set in the same small Wisconsin town as my Val Ryker Series (PUSHED TOO FAR, BURNED TOO HOT, and coming in 2015 DEAD TOO SOON). Police Chief Val appears in this story, too. But the story itself is about a little boy who disappears inside a very creepy school, his mom’s determination to get him out, and her very sexy next door neighbor who isn’t quite what he seems...

Angi: My new series is completely opposite, Ann. The scariest thing that happens to my bodyguards is that one might break a heel. J In fact, HIT & RUN HALLIE is the introduction to my new series of novellas, BODYGUARDS IN HEELS. My heroine dresses nice and considers it her armor, even if it is four inch stilettoes.

I’ve always loved to dress up for Halloween. My tastes keep me on the lighter side though. I’m not a big gore or slasher gal. So I’ve had lots of fun. Grumpy with seven of my friends who completed the Snow White and 7 Dwarfs. A “cat-tail” waitress…actually waitressing at Pizza Hut. A clown--I’m not sure how many times. A dog (seriously) the year my daughter was in love with 101 Dalmations. A wizard--covered in silver makeup that I washed off for a week. And a rather wacky pillow character that has no name. He was even in a show… Readers can watch him on YouTube. 

* 12 SHADES OF MIDNIGHT  * 12 authors *

* 12 unforgettable, never-before-released stories *

The stroke of midnight ushers in many things. From hijinks and mischief to danger and evil, romance is the magic that binds these paranormal novellas together. Join 12 bestselling and award winning authors as they explore the different shades of midnight in exclusive, never-before-released stories.

For more information on 12 Shades of Midnight

Facebook | Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

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ANN VOSS PETERSON is the bestselling author of over thirty novels and has millions of books in print all over the globe. Winner of the prestigious Daphne du Maurier Award and a RITA finalist, Ann is known for her adrenaline-fueled thrillers and romantic suspense novels, including the Codename: Chandler spy thrillers she writes with J.A. Konrath and her own thriller series featuring small town Wisconsin police chief Val Ryker.

Website   Facebook   FB Fan Page

Twitter @annvosspeterson

Amazon Author Page

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ANGI MORGAN writes “Intrigues where honor and danger collide with love.” She combines actual Texas settings with characters who are in realistic and dangerous situations. Angi's work has been a finalist in the Bookseller’s Best Award, Romantic Times Best First Series, Carolyn Readers Choice, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Daphne du Maurier.

Website   Facebook   FB Fan Page  

Twitter @AngiMorganAuthr        Instagram  AngiMorganAuthor

A Picture A Day   Goodreads   Pintrest  

Book Trailers on YouTube    Monthly Giveaway        

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LEAVE A BLOG COMMENT and enter the 12-Shades week-long RAFFLECOPTER drawing. Lots of ways to enter. Lots to give away.  Through Sunday, November 2nd.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE COSTUME? Leave your opinion for a chance to win.

Halloween Horror

The first horror movie I ever saw was at my preacher’s house. He loved classic horror movies and he had a copy of the original Dracula…on a reel. That’s hardcore collecting right there. I was about nine and that movie scared me to death. It took me a long time to watch another horror movie. I was sixteen, and my date took me to see Friday the Thirteenth on Halloween night. Seriously?

That was messed up. I don’t actually remember much of that movie. I covered my eyes through most of it and smacked my date every time he came near me. I was not amused. So, you can imagine my surprise when I suddenly found myself writing about the things that go bump in the night. I know exactly when I started liking horror.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. 

That’s right, Joss Whedon got me hooked on horror. Sure, it was a new kind of scare tactic, one laced with humor and snappy dialogue, but it was still steeped in imagery that was terrifying. I love a good fight scene and tension that’ll make you squirm in your seat, but I’m also a fan of humor and deep feelings of love and family. I try to create stories that explore the unbelievable as well as the enduring aspect of the fragility of love. Making it all work is challenging, but it’s something I really enjoy and I hope my readers do too.

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DARK SECRETS: STONE COLD DEAD

Death stalks the dark streets of Boston, but even death has enemies…

Being a hero is Ryan di Taro’s job. Eradicating the city of vampires and other monsters that hide in the dark is how he got the title. When an unknown woman appears and saves his life and then disappears, he’s not sure if he’s made a friend or enemy. Should he accept her help in hunting down the undead, or is she part of an elaborate plan the creatures of darkness have created to end his quest to see evil eliminated for good.

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THE WITCH NEXT DOOR

They say things good and bad come in threes, and with the blood moon rising over Cauldron’s Hollow, Eloise Goodnight knew change was brewing. As one of the three Goodnight sisters, her destiny didn’t bode well. Love lost then death. So when a strange man enters their tiny village, a man with his own brand of magic, Eloise vows to stay away, but destiny—and her dreams—have other plans.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

* 12 SHADES OF MIDNIGHT  * 12 authors *

* 12 unforgettable, never-before-released stories *

The stroke of midnight ushers in many things. From hijinks and mischief to danger and evil, romance is the magic that binds these paranormal novellas together. Join 12 bestselling and award winning authors as they explore the different shades of midnight in exclusive, never-before-released stories.

Facebook | Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

~ ~ ~

Enter the MIDNIGHT GIVEAWAY through Rafflecopter for a chance at $100 gift card.  THROUGH November 2nd.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE SCARY MOMENT? It can be anything from a movie to a real life encounter.

SHINDIG WINNERS

THANKS FOR COMING TO OUR SHINDIG

We hope you enjoyed the evening chat with the 12 SHADES authors

Darlings!

Here’s the enormous list of our winners from our shindig! Phew, y’all, we're still hungover. LOL!

***IMPORTANT STUFFS—please read carefully***

1. You have 48 hours to claim your prize!  See the FB event for email/contact information. Or email 12ShadesOfMidnight @ gmail.com (no spaces)
2. All easy peasy winners are for a copy of Twelve Shades of Midnight!
3. If your name is on the winners list, contact the author email listed and when contacting them, please title your email with the subject header “12 SHADES SHINDIG” so it won’t be missed!
4. Thank you ALL for such an amazing party—you were the shizblat rolled in fantabulous, with some amazeballs sauce on top!

Congrats to everyone!

~Dakota & Robyn

#1 Ann Voss Peterson 
Six winners, digital copy of Pushed too Far 

1. LaVida Brisco
2. Jennifer Zabel
3. Shirley Williamson
4. Jennifer Santiago
5. Sheila Raper
6. Maria Grover
#2 Ann Voss Peterson Easy Peasy

Lacy Cosme

#3 Angi Morgan 
One autographed copy of The Sheriff 
1. Nicki Dwyer Mooring
#4 Angi Morgan Easy Peasy

Tamran Sullivan Thigpun

#5 Rachel Grant

One autographed copy of Midnight Sun 
1. Susan O’Sick Cambra

Four digital copies of Hometown Heroes
1. Jennifer Coffman Love
2. Sharon Chu Salyer
3. Brigette Thoroughman
4. Shelly Hoyer Rogers
#6 Rachel Grant Easy-Peasy

Mercedes M Prizmonte

#7 Robin Perini

One autographed copy of Game of Fear
1.Ruth Stewart

Two digital copies of Game of Fear
1. Emily Christensen
2. Leila Kytta

Two digital copies of Secret Obsession
1. Maryann Abbott
2. Kristal Hubbard

One autographed Copy of Christmas Justice
1. Anne Marie Keesler
# 8 Robin Perini Easy Peasy

Kimberly DeSha Crowder

#9 Robyn Peterman 
Three HOH FDDU tote
1. Tiffany Aranki Long
2. L.A. Williams
3. Mandi Detwiler Shultz

#10 Robyn Peterman Easy peasy
Alicia Kerner

#11 Claire Cavanaugh 
Five $20.00 Amazon gift cards

1. JoAn Varner
2. Donna M Peterson
3. Renee Sass
4. Tina Hargis
5. Carol Cobun
#12 Claire Cavanaugh Easy Peasy

Angie Parish

#13 Shea Berkley

Two $10.00 digital gift certificates
1.Leigh Cramer-Espinosa
2. Heather Eades
#14 Shea Berkley easy-peasy

Laura Van Guilder

#15 Jenn Stark 
Five digital copies of Getting Wilde with a Tarot reading

1. Candi Fox
2. Pam Biddlecome
3. Stephanie Puterbaugh
4. Karen Henderson
5. Josette Reuel
#16 Jenn Stark easy peasy

Elizabeth Robbins

#17 Darynda Jones 
Five winner's choice of a Darynda Jones' digital book 

1. Stephanie Fredrick
2. Jane Bassett-Nelson
3. Pam Roberts
4. Sue Sattler
5. Mary Davis
#18 DARYNDA Easy Peasy

Jasmin Christensen

#19 Trish McCallan
Three digital copies of both Forged in Ash and Forged in Fire with a T-shirt 

1. Karen Burner Michul
2. Nicole Nikki Swopes
3. Sabrina Joy
#20 Trish McCallan Easy Peasy

Marie Brown (will work on a trade)

#21 Dakota Cassidy

One $20.00 Amazon gift certificate
1. Donna Pyke
One digital copy of An American Werewolf in Hoboken
1. Kimberly Perry
One digital bunndle: Fangs of Anarchy-Forbidden Alpha 
1. Krystle Watts
#22 Dakota Cassidy Easy-Peasy

Brandy DM LovesBooks

#23 Liliana Hart 
One Kindle Paperwhite

1. Kimberly Violette Monnelly
#24 Liliana Hart Easy-peasy

April Prentice

EARLY-EARLY BIRD EASY-PEASY CONTEST
One $5.00 Amazon gift certificate
1. Amy Frye

EARLY-EARLY BIRD: Tag a friend
One $5.00 Amazon gift certificate for each of you
1. Jeanette Frizzle 
2. and your buddy Sharon Rowlands

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE WITCHES

Robyn & Dakota are still having fun at the 12 Shades Shindig-o-rama. There’s still time to get in on the prizes.

Dakota: My witch Winnie’s inspiration came from a combination of two things—every crazy Hollywood trope you can think of for a witch (magic wands, levitation, a snap of a finger), and a whole lotta crazy J

* 12 SHADES OF MIDNIGHT  * 12 authors *

* 12 unforgettable, never-before-released stories *

The stroke of midnight ushers in many things. From hijinks and mischief to danger and evil, romance is the magic that binds these paranormal novellas together. Join 12 bestselling and award winning authors as they explore the different shades of midnight in exclusive, never-before-released stories.

Facebook | Amazon | iBooks | Kobo | Barnes & Noble

Liliana Hart - THE WITCH NEXT DOOR

Darynda Jones - A LOVELY DROP

Shea Berkley - DARK SECRETS: STONE COLD DEAD

Dakota Cassidy - WITCHED AT BIRTH

Claire Cavanaugh - MIDNIGHT RENEGADE

Rachel Grant - MIDNIGHT SUN

Trish McCallan— SPIRIT WOODS

Angi Morgan - BODYGUARDS IN HEELS: HIT & RUN HALLIE

Robin Perini - NIGHT OF THE JAGUAR

Robyn Peterman -SWITCHING HOUR

Ann Voss Peterson - THE SCHOOL

Jenn Stark - GETTING WILDE

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ABOUT Robyn Peterman’s WITCHING HOUR

Released from the pokey and paroled with limited magic is enough to make any witch grumpy. However, if you throw in a recently resurrected cat, a lime green Kia and a sexy egotistical werewolf, it’s enough to make a gal fly off the edge.

Not to mention a mission…with no directions.

So here I sit in Asscrack, West Virginia trying to figure out how to complete my mysterious mission before Halloween or get turned into a mortal.

The animals in the area are convinced I’m the Shifter Whisperer (whatever the hell that is) and the hotter-then-Satan’s-underpants werewolf thinks I’m his mate.

My biggest challenge up until now was wondering if I could get away with last season’s Prada purse and shoes…Now apparently I was slated to save my people?

Deny, deny, deny. That was my new motto. Falling for the sexiest werewolf alive? Nope. Starting to care about the fur balls who needed my help? Nope. Wondering if there was more to life than next year’s Fashion Week? Nope. Nope. Nope.

Sadly no one seems to believe me.

If they think I’m the right witch, they’ve swallowed some bad brew.

CHECK OUT THE BEGINNING:

   “If you say or do anything that sends our asses back to the magic pokey, I will zap you bald and give you a cold sore that makes you look like you were born with three lips.”

I tried to snatch the scissors from my best friend’s hand, but I might as well have been trying to catch a greased cat.

   “Look at my hair,” she hissed, holding up her bangs. “They’re touching my nose—my fucking nose, Zelda. I can’t be seen like this when we get out. I swear I’ll just do it a little.”

   “Winnifred, you have never done anything just a little. What happened the last time you cut your own bangs?”

   She winced and mumbled her shame into her collarbone. “That was years ago. They rebuilt the building and no one was killed.”

   “Fine,” I snapped. “Cut your bangs, but don’t come crying to me when you look like the dude from Dumb and Dumber.”

   “You know what?” she shouted, brandishing the shears entirely too close to my head for comfort, “we’re here because of you, asshead.”

   That stopped me dead in my pursuit of saving her from herself. What the hell did I care? Let her cut her bangs up to her hairline and suffer the humiliation of looking five.   Maybe I wasn’t completely innocent here, but I bore far less of the blame than she did.

   “No. We’re in here because of you, Winnifred.”

  She rolled her eyes. “No. It was definitely you, Zelda.”

  “You.”

   “Nope—you.”

   Winnie’s selective memory was messing with my need to protect my ass. “Oh my Goddess,” I yelled. “I didn’t sleep with Baba Yaga’s precious nephew—you did.”

ABOUT Dakota Cassidy’s WITCHED AT BIRTH

Freshly sprung from witch jail, Winnie Foster just has to fulfill the conditions of her parole and she's home free. Too bad that parole takes place in Paris. (Texas!) Where she'll work at a school for the magically inclined. (KIDS!) And be forced to endure the ex who's one of the very reasons she landed in the pokey to begin with. (GAH!!) Bratty tots, sexy ex, timed showers, creepy dolls, magic restrictions and a GPS with an attitude, all wrapped in a Texas town hotter than the surface of the sun? Oh yeah. No way this could go wrong.

CHECK OUT THE BEGINNING:

    “I’m warning you, Winnifred Foster. If you say or do anything today that sends our asses back to the pokey, I’ll zap you bald and give you a cold sore that makes you look like you have three lips,” her best friend Zelda groused as she futilely tried to snatch a pair of scissors from Winnie’s hand to prevent her from giving herself bangs.

   Winnie hopped on the sagging mattress of her cot, looking down at her partner in crimes of abusive witch magic and current cellmate in witch jail with an accusatory glance.

   She held the scissors up in the air. “I’m sorry, me? As in moi? If I say anything? Er, wasn’t it you who told Baba Blah-Blah she was wearing the wrong color leg warmers for that wart on her nose? Or was I just imagining things?”

   Zelda swiped for the scissors again. “It’s Baba Yaga,” she corrected, reminding Winnie she’d purposely twisted their jailor’s name out of spite, and it was one of the reasons they were in magic jail to begin with. “You’d better get that right at Council so we appear respectful.”

   “Call her whatever you like, Z, but you insulted her, not me. I love you, and while I totally agreed with your fashion assessment, and she did look hideous, I bet pointing out Baba DooDah’s flaws aren’t going to win us favor at Council today. She’s an elephant, my friend. She remembers everything.”

   She hopped back off the cot when Zelda stopped trying to make a grab for the scissors.   She was worried. They were up for review for parole today and she didn’t want anything screwing that up. She wanted out of this rank-smelling cell with its gray concrete walls and equally gray sheets.

   She wanted to go to parties and laugh and drink champagne like they used to.

   Drown herself in luxury and forget Ben…

   Their cell was barren of any modern conveniences, especially those they could perform magic with—like mirrors. Locked up in Salem, Massachusetts, like serial killers in an old hotel built in the early 1900s that had been converted to a jail for witches.

CHECK OUT THE ANTHOLOGY TRAILER

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Robyn Peterman writes because the people inside her head won’t leave her alone until she gives them life on paper. Her addictions include laughing really hard with friends, shoes (the expensive kind), Target, Coke Zero Cherry with extra ice in a styrofoam cup, bejeweled reading glasses, her kids, her super-hot hubby and collecting stray animals. A former professional actress, with Broadway, film and T.V. credits, she now lives in the south with her family and too many animals to count. Writing gives her peace and makes her whole, plus having a job where you can work in your underpants works really well for her. You can leave Robyn a message via the Contact Page and she’ll get back to you as soon as her bizarre life permits! She loves to hear from her fans!

Contact   Website  Facebook   Twitter   @robynpeterman  Pintrest   Backlist 

Dakota Cassidy lives for a good laugh in life and in her writing. In fact, she almost loves a good giggle as much as she loves hair products and that's saying something.

Her goals in life are simple, (like really simple): banish the color yellow forever, create world peace via hot rollers and Aqua Net; and finally, nab every tiara in the land by competing in the Miss USA, Miss Universe, and Miss World pageants, then sweeping them in a stunning trifecta of much duct tape and Vaseline usage, all in just under one week. Oh, and write really fun books!

Dakota lives in Oregon with her dogs  and has a husband who puts the heroes in her books to shame.

Contact          Website         Facebook       Twitter  @DakotaCassidy  Backlist

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Don’t forget to enter the Midnight  week-long Rafflecopter giveaway where the grand prize is a $100 gift card.

Who’s your favorite witch? Real or fictional… Leave your comment for a chance to enter.

The 12 SHADES SHINDIG-O-RAMA

We're throwing a Shindig

&

YOU

get all the party favors!

Just stop by our Facebook Event Page: http://bit.ly/12ShadesShindig 

Leave lots of comments.

And be eligible for lots and lots of giveaways.

Party is open for 24 hours. Winners announced 10-31.

Here's the schedule in central time:

5:00 Ann Voss Peterson
5:30 Angi Morgan
6:00 Rachel Grant
6:30 Robin Perini
7:00 Robyn Peterman
7:30 Claire Cavanaugh
8:00 Shea Berkley
8:30 Jenn Stark
9:00 Darynda Jones
9:30 Trish McCallan
10:00 Dakota Cassidy
10:30 Lilianna Hart