Halloween Bash: Day 7 with Author Leanna Renee Hieber

Hello friends!

My favourite thing about Halloween is EVERYTHING. One year, when I was a professional actress in residence at the Commonweal Theatre of Minnesota, playing Mina in Dracula, I created a month-long Halloween celebration calendar that included many activities, readings, movie nights, decorating a Halloween tree, pumpkin carving, scarecrow making, and more. That year I was crowned the Queen of Halloween by the town, and an artisan even crafted an Edward Gorey crown for me.

Winning the costume contest at Authors After Dark was a particular honour. If any of you have seen me in person, you know I take costuming VERY seriously. Dressing up as Miss Percy definitely is my favourite costume of all time. Halloween infuses everything I love into one holiday; fun with the dark side of things, a celebration of all things that are strange and beautiful, costuming, historical tradition, parties with friends and communities coming together, spooky stories, all things pumpkin related (YUM), and best of all we Gothlings get to celebrate in high style- although for we Goth kids, as the Ministry song says: “Every day is Halloween”.

Having recently returned from Mexico City, I was beside myself with all of the amazing Dia de Los Muertos crafts. My suitcase returned full of cut paper banners, ceramic skulls (calaveras) and joyful skeleton dioramas in boxes called Nichos, incredible Goth clothes from The Horror Boutique just off the plaza central, a tin skeleton with a winged heart bearing an image of Frida Kahlo, and a Jack Skellington necklace. Jack, from The Nightmare Before Christmas, is all over Mexico. Tim Burton had to be aware of the incredible rich cultural history of calavera art throughout the country, and Mexicans embrace Burton’s imagining as their own. Speaking of which, my favourite Halloween movie is The Nightmare Before Christmas. I listen to the soundtrack throughout October. Well… all year, really. Jack Skellington is one of my many gothic-esque literary love-affairs. Hail to the Pumpkin King!

Much like Scrooge and Christmas, I promise to honour Halloween and keep it with me all the year!!! Happy Halloween!!

Leanna Renee Hieber
Author of the Strangely Beautiful series and the forthcoming Magic Most Foul series
Website: http://www.leannareneehieber.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/leannarenee
Facebook: http://tinyurl.com/lrhfbfan

*Leanna will try to stop by through out the day to chat.

So say Hi

GIVEAWAYS

 Leanna is generously offering a copy of The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker to one lucky winner!

**US ONLY (even if your not in US, you can still comment to get an entry into the Comment giveaway)
**MUST FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW

Halloween Game

Now Let’s play a game. Todays game is Design a Virtual Halloween Mask! So head on over and design yours,Then everyone can vote on them on Halloween day so make sure you go and play. Email your Mask Design to jojo @ jojosbookcornerATgmailDOTcom Please put HALLOWEEN MASK in the subject
(TO GET A SCREEN SHOT, on your game window press Ctrl + print screen, go to windows paint and paste. save and email to JoJo , Please put HALLOWEEN MASK in the subject

To create you Halloween Mask click HERE

(Click on design to design your own mask,

after you save click on the chest to show your mask)

Here is JoJos:

**Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered into the comment giveaway**

You can see all the rules, giveaways and Info HERE