Skelli family
This will be the first post to Beehiiv. I will link to it from Substack, but hopefully the import of the e-mail list finally worked (I’ve been trying to get the subscriber list imported since the last Substack post). I will continue to cross post, at least the link, for a little while.
We spent last weekend at Fantasticon. It was the first time they had a Detroit area show and first shows are always hard. Fortunately I was able to get a lot of editing done in the down times.
Staredown at the end of the driveway
The only other big news on the home front was that I decided to push the definition of October by a few days and start setting up the yard. Naturally the first items to go up were the dragons. I got up the last of the big skellies today. I also started to put up another big one, but realized that last year I got my laundry mixed up. It seems that I put the costume for the Reaper’s Ride animatronic in the box of the Towering Reaper and vice versa. At least I hope it’s vice versa. Right now the Towering Reaper is assembled but lying naked in the grass because the Reaper’s Ride is still in the storage unit.
Listening To: For We Are Many: Bobiverse, Book 2 by Dennis E. Taylor. The second book in the series continues the expansion of the Bobs into the universe looking for new worlds while trying to protect humanity and other species from a new threat. This one continues the amazing story telling and introspective examination of the associated elements. I started The Reformatory by Tananarive Due yesterday and I’m already all in.
Currently Reading: Bits and Pieces by Peggy Christie. If you are super busy preparing for Halloween but you still want to do a little horror reading, grab this title. It is a collection of short short, drabbles, and poetry which will sate your horror need but not too take up too much time.
Current Obsession: Getting the decorations up.
Dragon’s Roost Press News
We’re super happy to reveal the cover for It’s Dark In Here: Twenty-One Weird Tales and One Poem About Squirrels. As always, Luke Spooner has done an amazing job. The title will be released on 14 October but the Kindle version is available for pre-order.
The great people over at Tales to Terrify will be hosting a giveaway for a copy of the e-book on their 17 October show so be sure to tune in.
This Sunday (5 October), Michael Cieslak will be at the Brighton Library from 2 - 4pm as part of their Local Author Showcase. Swing by to meet the authors and pick up some new reading material.
This Week’s Rambling: It’s A Labor Of Love (And Spookiness)
I stood out in the front yard the other day, sweating through my shirt, while assembling the new Wyvern I picked up from Home Depot this year. I cursed all the climate deniers. It was never this warm out when I was setting up the Halloween display in Ferndale.
I realized later that I am setting up almost a full month earlier than I used to set up. After some of the decorations went missing one year, I limited the set up to the few days before Halloween. That hasn’t been an issue at the New House™ <furiously knocks on wood>. It makes perfect sense that it would be warmer in September than at the end of October.
Climate deniers can still choke on a bucket of dead fish.
The other big change is that the street we live on now lacks sidewalks. This area is still borderline rural. We have yet to have a single Trick ‘r Treater. This makes me exceptionally sad, as I do love seeing the kids dress up. I’ve spoken at length about how Trick ‘r Treating provides examples of how things should be. Older kids watch out for their younger siblings. The kids always say thank you.
However, it is nice being able to enjoy the Halloween display for more than a weekend. Also, I have heard from a couple of neighbors already that they are looking forward to this year’s display. Ive also heard that the kids on the school bus route are looking forward to it too.