Read Something Scary! Killer Valentine Ball & Muse Masquerade Festival!

Getting in the Halloween mood! Come to MuseItUp Publishing's Masquerade Festival all month!

* Prizes, free ebooks and more! Visit the MuseItUp Publishing blog to sign up to the reader's list and check out the day's blogs!

** The perfect scary read! The Killer Valentine Ball

A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser? But this is no ordinary party...

The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget. (You've got to read it for the surprise ending!)

Excerpt:

As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race...Buy: The Killer Valentine Ball

Writing when Hungry? Food in Searching for a Starry Night and the Killer Valentine Ball

I'm not sure if it's a matter of writing when hungry, (like shopping when hungry? Don't do it!) but food seems to appear quite a few times in many of my stories and books.

Even funnier, I just noticed the connection via a group of my favorite quotes from Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery.

In the book, friends Sam and Lita eat favorites like ice cream (several times!), but they also enjoy other favorites like iced tea, lemonade, cookies and turkey sandwiches. (Read chapter 1 and see reviews at link.)


Memorable Quotes:

Lita: “Butter cookies. Any cookies, really. That always does it for me.”

Sam: “He (Petey) looked like a hot dog without the bun.”

Petey the Dachshund: “Woof!”

Buy:
* Print
* KINDLE
* B&N eBook
* KOBO: Smartphone, Tablet, Ereader
* Sony Reader

** Got any food favorites in your own stories or books you like to read? **


In the new ebook, The Killer Valentine Ball, Jess attends what sounds like a fun Valentine's Ball - at first... They have drinks... the tables are fully set, but not how you'd expect...

Just in time for Halloween!

A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser? But this is no ordinary party...

The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget. (You've got to read it for the surprise ending!)

Excerpt:

As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race...

Read more & Buy: The Killer Valentine Ball

** Also available on Kindle. Buy:

New Searching for a Starry Night Themes 2

The brain's working overtime! Parents/Teachers: Check out a couple more themes I just added for Searching for a Starry Night, A Miniature Art Mystery. Read chapter 1 and see reviews at link.

Themes:

Dollhouses: Some of the described pieces and houses owned by housekeeper Mrs. Drake are based on the author's own collection. Miniatures collecting is a great hobby and creative outlet for kids of all ages.

Miniature Art: Miniatures are a specialized art category, usually 6-inches in size and smaller done by noted artists in oil and acrylic. Some artists recreate works by the masters in miniature for dollhouse collectors.

Family & Community: Students can make connections and discuss their family and community in comparison to Sam's relationships with her mother, friend and neighbors.

History: Students can discuss modern conveniences and their history by comparing what isn't used or available at the late aunt's Victorian house.

Dogs and Kids: Animal Adoption: The Dachshund, Petey, plays an important role in the book, and demonstrates the relationship between kids and a pet. The dog brings attention to animal shelters as Petey was adopted from a shelter.

Buy:
* Print
* KINDLE
* B&N eBook
* KOBO: Smartphone, Tablet, Ereader
* Sony Reader

Miniatures: New Half Scale Couch

New half-scale couch I made to go in the 1/2" witch's house. It's hard to tell here, but both fabrics have a sparkly finish. I made the pillow too. (A how-to is coming up!)

News Ad Nauseum - The latest epidemic...

Is the news trying to scare us? Just when you think it's safe to turn on the TV... more bed bugs! An epidemic. Don't go out with covering yourself in plastic!

Eek! The news grabs something and will-not-let-go. Remember the flu epidemic?

What's your favorite - or non-favorite news story that would not die?

Miniatures Monday: Medieval Books

Some of the new miniature medieval books I made with leather covers.

Perfect for Halloween, medieval castles, wizards, etc. Just a few of the different types and sizes I make. They're also for sale. Contact me if interested.

Searching for a Starry Night Fun Facts and New Links

A few fun facts about Searching for a Starry Night. Parents and Teachers: check out the themes.

About the book:
Sam, her BFF Lita, and a mischievous Dachshund named Petey, face a cranky housekeeper, a dog-hating gardener and an ancient family curse as they search for a missing miniature replica of Van Gogh's famous painting, "Starry Night."

Buy:
* B&N eBook
* KOBO - Smartphone, Tablet, Ereader
* Sony Reader
* Print
* KINDLE


Characters:
Samantha Carlton: A 13-year-old "tomboy" who loves to fish and solve mysteries

Lita Jackson: Sam's best friend who has an aversion to ghosts and scary movies. They've been friends since childhood.

Petey the Dachshund: Petey has the energy of 10 dogs. He's a digger and always seems to be in trouble!

Memorable Quotes:
Lita: “Butter cookies. Any cookies, really. That always does it for me.”

Sam: “He (Petey) looked like a hot dog without the bun.”

Petey the Dachshund: “Woof!”

Setting:

Sam and Lita think they're going for a vacation in Lake Geneva, but instead help Sam's mom, Grace, search for that missing miniature painting apparently left behind in her late Great Aunt Hilda's old Victorian home just outside Lake Geneva, Wisc.

First Sentence:

Samantha Ann Carlton tilted her head back and tried to see all the way to the top of the old three-story Victorian. Funny, it looked much bigger than she remembered—and creepier.

Themes:
Dollhouses: In their search for the missing dollhouse-sized "Starry Night" painting, Sam and Lita realize the cranky housekeeper, Mrs. Drake, is a dollhouse collector. And when they see her houses, they get a glimpse of real life - only smaller. Some of the described pieces and houses are based on the author's own collection, some of which can be seen in her miniatures gallery. The author hopes to interest kids in a hobby and collecting for fun and as a creative outlet.

Miniature Art: Miniature art is a specialized category usually 6-inches in size and smaller. These are real paintings done by noted artists. Some artists paint in oil and acrylic for the dollhouse collectors' market.

Dogs and Kids: Animal Adoption: The Dachshund, Petey, plays an important role in the book, and also demonstrates the relationship between kids and a pet. It also brings attention to animal shelters, as Petey was adopted from a shelter

Neat Miniatures Idea: Tired of that plain old desk?

Oh this is soooo cool! In real life, it's a neat idea, but of course, it has FANTASTIC miniature applications!



This information desk at a library is made of --- recycled books! Yes, it would be a LOT of work in mini, but how original this would be! You can see more pix here.

Now Available: New Short Horror Ebook, The Killer Valentine Ball

Just in time for Halloween!

NOW AVAILABLE!!

A party at a day camp; a blind date on Valentine's Day. Can you say loser? But this is no ordinary party...

The Killer Valentine Ball has more thrills than Jess ever expected--or will ever forget. (You've got to read it for the surprise ending!)

Excerpt:

As they walked into the shadows, Jess noticed that things weren't quite as they appeared. Sections of the room lightened for a moment before being cast again in deep shadow. What Jess thought she saw in that split second made her heart race...

Read more & Buy: The Killer Valentine Ball

** Also available on Kindle. Buy:



** Purchasers: there are some fantastic upcoming contests so be sure to check out the MuseItUp Publishing bookstore!

Miniatures Monday: Welcome to the New Minis by Kitty blog!

Say hello to a new minis blogger!

My Dutch friend, Kitty, has started an English version of her blog, MinisByKitty.

It may take a while for her to set up her photos and stuff, but make her feel welcome and be a follower, okay?

Photo: The spoon set (I love how she's aged it!) is part of some recent additions to her Brocante house, one of my favorite projects that she's done. I'm sure she'll be sharing more of the pix from this great project. Check her blog for the full photo.