Thursday, October 22, 2026

In the Kitchen with Shereen Vedam - Masala Potatoes Recipe #MasalaPotatoes #Recipe #InTheKitchen


Masala Potatoes

This one is great to eat with any flatbread.

I usually eat it with my favorite breakfast dish, Indian dosas.

This is a recipe I learnt from a YouTube video by VaChef. If you want to watch how it’s made, check out his video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFZOXchhDdM

I’d say it takes about 30 minutes to make–but be warned, it’s a long list of ingredients. So, I’d suggest you prep first, and get all the ingredients on the counter in the right proportions (and chopped) before you start to cook.

My tips on how to purchase/use/substitute for ingredients are in brackets:

INGREDIENTS AND DIRECTIONS:

Par-boil until cooked in a pot, drain and keep for later use:

·        4 potatoes (cubed, I love Yukon Gold)

·        Water

Start with this using a skillet:

·        2 tablespoons oil (I use olive oil)

·        1 pinch black mustard seeds

Add these once the mustard seeds start to pop–this adds the best flavors:

·        1 teaspoon of channa dal (these are the same as yellow split peas)

·        1 tsp urad dal (these are small white and almost impossible to find in small towns, also known as Black lentil/gram, even though they’re white. Check out this site to learn more about this item: https://www.readersdigest.in/better-living/story-what-makes-urad-the-ultimate-indian-dal-126431 )

·        2 chopped green chillies (I use serrano peppers. I take out the seeds and chop a lot of these and add melted ghee into very small (mine are cute and tiny bear shapes) ice cube/silicon tray, and then freeze them as cubes in a container for use whenever I want them. They’re popular in many Sri Lankan dishes. I would use 1 cube unless you want it to be really hot.)

·        1 sprig of curry leaves (these are hard to find. I usually get them where there are fresh herbs at specialty markets. Since they’re so hard to find, I also grow my own curry tree in a pot under a grow light (I live in the Northern Hemisphere, so not much sunlight for long periods. This tree needs at least 6 to 8 hours of sunlight to do well. I use these curry leaves in practically all my curry dishes.)

·        1 slice of chopped ginger (I use pre-chopped ginger from a jar)

·        2 tablespoons of roasted (unsalted) cashews, broken

·        2 red chillies, whole (I used dried chilli flakes and put them in sparingly, as it’ll make the dish hot. I prefer flavor to heat.)

 

Next, add this in:

·        3 small onions (chopped)

·        1 pinch of cumin powder

·        1 bunch coriander leaves, chopped (also known as cilantro)

·        1 tablespoon lime juice

·        1 teaspoon salt to taste

·        1 pinch of turmeric (excellent if you have inflammation)

 

Finally, add in:

·        potatoes (pre-cooked; remember boiling these at the start?), smash them in the skillet with a fork, leaving a few small pieces

·        salt

·        lime juice

·        coriander leaves

·        some water if needed                                                                                

Once the potatoes dry and start to brown, you’re done. It’s a dry, mushy curry.

Enjoy with your favorite flatbread or dosa (which you can get in a package; just add water and fry up).


When the Magic Comes
A Grimm Medieval Mystery
Book One
Shereen Vedam

Genre: Cozy Epic Fantasy Mystery
Publisher: Shereen Vedam
Date of Publication: October 13, 2026
ISBN: eBook 9781989036464
ISBN: Paperback 9781989036471
ISBN: Audiobook  9781989036488
ASIN: B0FVYCWP33
Number of pages: 240
Word Count: 62,000
Cover Artist: Suzie O’Connell from Sunset Rose Books

Tagline: Magic. Prophecy. Murder.

Book Description:

It’s been said that Kennard of Grimm is destined to be the first in a long line of warriors who battle evil with magic.

Just one problem: he teaches magic at a prestigious university, but he has no magical abilities.

What he has is a dangerous curiosity, piercing instincts, and a responsibility for a baby dragon named Tala. Normal chaos rules Kennard’s life until a student is murdered, and another is blamed. Convinced the accused is innocent, he sets out to find the real killer.

To further complicate Kennard’s life, his mother and sister visit him, sparking Tala’s protective instincts. Then things turn more dangerous when a second body shows up.

The killer’s audacity is mounting.

Kennard must stop the murderer and soothe his indignant dragonet or risk death and destruction on a much larger scale.

If you enjoy your mystery with a hint of fairy tale, you’ll love meeting Kennard of Grimm and his dragonet, and sharing in their epic adventure as amateur detectives in a magical medieval fantasy world.


Excerpt

This is who I am. I’m the widow of a knight. My father was the Baron of Grimm. I’m the eldest of four. And my brother is the first Grimm to insist he can see magical creatures. My name is Violet.

On this November day, in the year of our Lord 1312, an unusual crime was committed at Edensa University, where my brother lives. There had been no warning that this event would be life-changing for both him and me.

As Master of Magical Theory and History, he soon became entangled in the event, for it had magical undertones. I intended to keep him out of harm’s way. But then I became worried, as I wondered if his convictions were not just the result of an overactive imagination.

What if there really are invisible monsters?

* * *

“Surely magical creatures are naught but myths, sir?” Gazi spoke from a bench two rows back. “They don’t exist.”

This late-night class, the first Kennard had held this autumn, would hopefully be the last. It had made for a long day.

The lit torches shadowed Gazi’s strong features, giving him a devilish cast. He suspected the clever lad of being deliberately provocative. At fourteen, he was only seven years Kennard’s junior, yet Gazi might as well have been a mischievous child of eight, the way he sometimes acted.

Kennard addressed his students. “What do you think of Gazi’s question? Is it worthy of our consideration?”

“No!” Fanil lounged on a bench to Kennard’s left and flashed Gazi, his arch-nemesis, an over-the-shoulder smirk. “But such creatures are present in Bernada,” he added, snapping on the bait despite his avowal to the contrary.

Two vociferous rivals for the class fool.

“As if you would know.” Gazi chuckled. “You’ve never been to the sorcerers’ kingdom. No mortal has.”

“Our queen has,” Elspera countered, one of only three lasses registered for his class, and the only one of them present tonight. She sat directly across from Kennard, her favorite spot.

Her maid sat by the door, head tilted, eyes closed, and mouth half open, while releasing soft snores.

Elspera pointed at a portrait of our fair monarch on the wall. Her long sleeve slid down as she raised her arm, revealing a pale hand and wrist covered in intricately painted, darkly dotted patterns.

Gazi straightened on his bench, running a hand through his hair. “I grant, unlike us, God bestowed Queen Amity with exceptional powers. Yet, even she’s never spoken of magical creatures, not in our lands or even in Bernada.” His tone grew soft as his gaze rested on the fair maiden. “Also, this topic is about magical creatures, like ogres, griffins, and water spirits. Not sorceresses.”

“As a sorceress,” Elspera argued, “the queen could be considered a magical creature. If you seek further evidence, what about religious texts, which mention behemoths, demons, and even dragons? They do not lie.”

“My pa says it is blasphemous to discuss witchery,” a lad said from the last row. “The church forbids it.”

Though Gregory had addressed his comments to the class, his gaze lingered by the doorway. Was he hoping he could be anywhere but here? Possibly. Kennard glanced toward the doorway, where Elspera’s maid, having awoken, sat straight and blinked tired eyes. It had been a long day.

His attention returned to Gregory, who hailed from a small village in Greece. Normally, a quiet lad. Why a religious boy wished to attend sacrilegious lessons had once troubled him when the lad’s family applied to enroll him in this class.

Had the Church sent this “little bird” to Edensa to report on Kennard’s teachings, so they could smear his father’s name? For the Baron of Grimm had spoken out against the Pope a time or two.

Kennard’s fist had clenched at the possibility of his behavior being used to attack his father. In the end, he met Gregory, and his instincts insisted the lad had good in him. So, deciding an enemy close at hand was worth three in the bush, he’d admitted him. Time would prove if he’d been wise or not.

 


About the Author:

Once upon a time, USA Today bestselling author Shereen Vedam read fantasy and romance novels to entertain herself. Now she writes heartwarming tales braided with threads of magic and love and mystery elements woven in for good measure.

Shereen's a fan of resourceful women, intriguing men, and happily-ever-after endings. If her stories whisk you away to a different realm for a few hours, then Shereen will have achieved one of her life goals.











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Friday, October 16, 2026

Dead Man’s Trigger by Kat Huddleston #UrbanFantasy



Dead Man’s Trigger
A Max Maguire Vampire Novel
Book One
Kat Huddleston

Genre: Urban Fantasy Vampire Thriller
Date of Publication: Oct. 5, 2026
Number of pages: 378
Word Count: 119,000
Cover Artist: BRoseDesignz 

Tagline: Former Special Forces Sniper. High School History Teacher. Vampire.

Book Description:

Who Knew Immortality Could Be So Short?

When high school history teacher Max Maguire begins to suspect one of his brightest students is in trouble, he ends up walking down the wrong alley. Suddenly, he's staring down the fangs of a beautiful, powerful, and utterly merciless vampire named Jade.

As Max's life takes a dark turn, he’s forced to learn how to survive in Jade's twisted world. But if Jade thinks her hostage is going to play nice, she really should have read his resume. This former Special Forces sniper might just have to dust off some very lethal muscle memory.

While Max plots exactly how to kill the most dangerous predator on the planet, he discovers there’s another group of vampires that have their own plans for Jade. Before he knows it, Max is caught in the crosshairs of a vampire war that neither side can afford to lose.

And there's one thing neither side knows... Max has a secret of his own.

CONTENT WARNING: This is NOT a romance. The novel contains mature content intended for readers 18 and older. This is a gritty, fast-paced genre hybrid combining vampires with dark urban fantasy, tactical military thriller action, and sarcastic humor, with a wisecracking protagonist at its center. There is explicit sexual material, including non-consensual sex, graphic violence, torture, adult themes, and visceral horror elements. In other words, my vampires don't sparkle.

Excerpt from Dead Man’s Trigger

When Max Maguire joins a group of vampires who hunt vampires, his first mission gets complicated very quickly and Max has to draw on his Special Forces training – and get creative.

Without a word, the team quickly exited the van. They barely made a sound, with only the muffled noise of doors opening and closing to betray their arrival.

Max crawled up into the passenger’s seat and waited. Terry had a revolver out and ready on his lap. Chase and the team stood near the trees sizing up the situation.

“Five hostiles inside with two humans, two hostiles out back,” Chase said in a low voice through his headset. Max watched as Chase pointed to Sumi and Tank and then to the rear of the house. He knew from experience, no one would talk at this stage unless they had to. Sound was always risky.

Sumi and Tank took off in a blur. Max did as Tank suggested and reached out with his senses to follow the action. The rest of the team crouched by the tree line for a moment and then Chase motioned for them to go.

Chase, Shades and Father Frank were beginning their approach from the front. Everything in the backyard was happening so fast, Max was having trouble keeping track of what was going on. One of the vamps went down immediately and vanished from Max’s internal radar. The other had avoided a round to the heart and took off. Sumi was in pursuit, but Max lost her. He tried to find her again, but she was out of his range.

He looked at Terry, a worried expression on his face.

“She’s okay, Max. She can take care of herself,” he said.

Max nodded and got back to the action. The attack from the front had started and Max could sense the chaos in the house as the vampires dove for cover or tried to reach their weapons. Two were killed immediately, but the other three were putting up a fight. Then one of them dove through a side window, right through the wood covering it, and Max saw he was out of the house and headed for them. Max didn’t have a weapon, but he wasn’t about to be a sitting duck. Terry nodded at Max and they both opened their doors to get out of the van.

The vamp looked like a biker, defined by leather, tattoos and long hair. And he was really pissed. When the angry vampire saw them, he raised his revolver and started shooting at them on the run. One of the rounds whizzed by Max’s ear and he dove to the ground in a roll, coming up on his hands and knees. Terry started firing back, but the vampire was moving fast. They were trading shots, so Max pushed himself up and flew at the vampire, tackling him, the two rolling one over the other until they crashed into a tree.

Max was stunned for a moment, but so was his opponent. He saw the flash of the revolver and he went for it, the two struggling over the weapon. The vampire smashed Max in the chest with his fist and sent him flying backwards. Ending up flat on his back, he rolled onto his knees just as the vampire got a shot off. Suddenly his lower back was on fire and Max knew he’d been shot. Now he was pissed.

Terry was rounding the van. He took a shot, but missed the vampire. The bad guy was distracted for just a moment, and that’s all Max needed. He scrambled onto his hands and knees. Ignoring the pain, Max launched himself at the vampire again, breaking a branch of a tree off along the way and knocking his opponent to the ground. Max drove the large end of the branch into the vampire’s chest as the bad guy was raising the weapon to take another shot. The vampire stopped, a look of total surprise on his face. The branch with its leaves still intact stuck out of him as if the tree was growing right through him. And then he turned to dust.

Max’s back hurt like hell and he fell to the ground on his side. Then Terry and Chase were standing over him.

“Death by maple. That’s a first,” said Terry.

About the Author:

Kat Huddleston is a Chicago-based writer, teacher and artist who loves all things sci-fi. She was an entertainment journalist for the Syfy Channel’s website and for Sci Fi Magazine a while ago, and has always had a deep addiction to writing, teaching and creating art.

Kat is an award-winning painter and fused glass artist who taught fused glass, and her art can be found in several galleries.

While Kat has mostly lived in a fantasy land, she’s made a living as a journalist and dabbled in short story and screenplay writing. 

Dead Man’s Trigger is Kat’s first novel in the Max Maguire Vampire series.

Kat lives with her two helper cats, Jax and Nicky.






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Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Writing with Kids Guest Blog with Jennifer Silverwood


Before I had kids, I was lucky enough to spend hours devoting myself to various passions. I took lessons in voice and piano. I studied traditional art methods in college. But most of all, I wrote stories. I had dreams of becoming a real writer and finally publishing a brilliant novel just like Jo March. These days, my kids are the only ones I sing to. I play piano mostly for myself, but sometimes with my four-year-old. I never find time to sketch or create, but the itch to pick up a pastel stick is never far off when I see something beautiful. I’m currently writing my 12th novel.

My life is an endless balancing act between my day job, carting my ten-year-old and four-year-old back and forth to town, keeping up with the household, and writing. I have tried different time management methods, tips and tricks, and the truth I’ve learned a decade later is simply this: what works for one season of life may not work for the next.

My daughter started preschool this year, and I was amazed at how free my mornings suddenly became. I went from being a writing night owl to writing first thing after I dropped the kids off at school. Months ago, my days were spent squeezing in moments to write every chance I could, usually after the kids were in bed, or typing on the Word app on my phone. For most parents with young children, you may relate to the constant attempts at a schedule falling to pieces at a moment’s notice. Juggling work, kids, and writing has taught me how to be adaptable.

The publishing industry has changed drastically in the last decade of my career and it promises to continue changing with the ongoing tide. How do I plan to survive the changes? I adapt with it, but above all, I continue to tell my stories. If I have any useful tips to share with my fellow creative entrepreneurs, it’s these three things:

1.     Keep creating because you love it. The love will carry you when habits break and you consider quitting altogether.

2.     Be adaptable, but don’t chase every trend that comes along. You only have so much time in a day and that time is precious. Instead of hours scrolling on social media, read a brilliant book. Better yet: write, create, or make something that brings you joy.

3.     Know yourself. What times do you feel the most exhausted, and which are you the most energized? I am the opposite of a morning person, but I have found it so much easier to write with a fresh brain than a brain exhausted from work, kids, etc.

2026 had shifted drastically from one of my least to most productive years since I started publishing in 2012. I don’t think I’ve figured out the secret formula for success. If anything, I find myself falling back to the things I love doing most. I write stories, I play piano, and I spend time with my son and daughter. And while I’m perpetually exhausted like most mothers I know, I’m content.

When I look at my life, and look back at the choices I’ve made, I can honestly say I would make them all again if they led me to this place. The bug is still here to create. I still have dreams and ambitions that like to whisper in my ear at night. One day, my kids will be adults and I'll be left with all the time in the world to fill. While a small part of me looks forward to that day, I have a feeling I will miss this chaotic time when my kids were small, and life flowed by like a song. For now, I will continue to live in the moment and cherish the magic of ordinary days.

 

 

Bound Beauty
Wylder Tales 
Book Three
Jennifer Silverwood

Genre: Dark Fantasy / Fairy Tales
Publisher: SilverWoodSketches
Date of Publication: July 14, 2026
ISBN: 979-8186406099
ASIN: B0GY9XF3LC
Number of pages: 390
Word Count: 96,456

Cover Artist: Qamber Designs and Media

Tagline: Forgotten gods haunt her steps, and the cursed prince she left behind isn't done fighting for her soul.

Book Description:

Vynasha is bound to the prince of Bitterhelm. Even if she were to die, her spirit will remain trapped with him in the castle forever. But she won't give in to Grendel without a fight. With the aid of an oracle, a witchling, and the wolf that claims her heart, Vynasha plans to claim her power as the curse breaker.

Ceddrych guards their nephew secretly while fighting to keep the feral beasts roaming their borders at bay. But the monsters are closing in, and the madness he has struggled with drives him to one desperate, unforgivable act.

A war is about to begin between the forgotten people of Wylderland and the cruel might of Bitterhelm. Beings of prophecy and legend unite in the epic third chapter of the Wylder Tales Series, a romantic gothic re-telling of Beauty and the Beast.

Excerpt

IN A FORGOTTEN CASTLE IN WYLDERLAND…

Alone with Grendel, the man she had been tempted to love, the prince she loathed, Vynasha didn’t want to wake up. Let her sleep for a thousand years like the cursed princess, Morana. Let these walls crumble, the rose garden spread throughout the keep with thorns and vines to keep the world out forever.

“I know you are awake, Ashes.”

Vynasha opened her eyes. The prince stood before the hearth, his back to her. He hadn’t changed clothes since she had last seen him. Yet his faintly luminous skin had dimmed from bronze to the dull gray she remembered. “What happened?” she asked.

“A fever in your sleep. Odym says it was the runes.” Grendel’s shoulders hunched as he hung his head. “I should not have come, I know this. But I…” he twisted to face her. “Forgive me, Vynasha, but I cannot stay away from you any longer. I could feel your pain through the bond, yet there was nothing I could do to stop her,” he growled. “Do not ask me to leave you again, I beg of you.”

Vynasha should have been disgusted, but she was coming to accept the fact that Odym had been right. No matter how she truly felt, they needed each other. And she could not deny the way his words danced about her mind and breathed life back into her limbs.

“I wish I could tell you I was different,” he continued, “before my mother cursed me. But the truth is, I was always a monster.” Grendel drew his shoulders back and lifted his chin, pushing away from the fireplace mantel. He shook his head and held his hands before him, palms upturned. “I never wanted to be my father. I shall not make his mistakes, and so I will be honest with you, Ash. No more secrets.”

She shuddered and desperately wished she could bathe, could banish dreams of Nymwe and be rid of the prince. The dread she felt before only grew as Grendel paused, clenching his fists as though steeling himself for words he could not take back.

“I owe you everything, so much more than you know. When you willingly accepted the curse, you took some of the monster into you. I have not been forced to change into a beast ever since. It has given me time to remember myself in your absence, who I was and who I hope to be.”

Vynasha ground her sharp teeth. So they not only shared a bond with his spirit, but she had taken part of his beast? That they were forced to share something she had learned to take pride in made her ill.

Whatever he saw in her face must have pained him, enough for him to turn away. “Forgive me. I shall go. I should have never hoped…” He shook his head, dispelling whatever he might have said as he took two more steps to the door.

She traced the tip of her tongue on her lip, tasting the blood she spilled to forget. His hand was on the doorknob when she said, “Wait.” The strength behind her command surprised her and caused the prince to freeze in place.

Vynasha lifted her hand with surprising ease. “Stay?”

We need each other.

His graying skin flickered to golden life as he turned with hope burning in his violet eyes. “Always.”

At his word, his promise, Vynasha released the breath she didn’t know she had been holding. Even then, a small corner of her mind railed against her actions, at the feelings she couldn’t seem to control. It must Grendel’s influence, his feelings trickling through their bond.

This is wrong.

Still, she couldn’t deny how the persistent itch beneath her skin abated with him beside her, holding her hand. It shouldn’t have mattered. Truly, she hated how easily she gave in to these feelings. She could never tell him. Grendel had bound her life to his. Even if she were to leave, to beg the wylderfolk to take her back into their home, she would never be rid of him. And the longer she remained in the prince’s castle, the less she wanted to be free.


About the Author:

Jennifer Silverwood lives in the middle of an enchanted forest surrounded by cursed books, nosy spirits, and mischievous goblins she calls her children. After beginning several nonsensical degrees, she found her calling helping other authors bring their books to life. Jennifer is the author of two fairy tale fantasy series: the Borderlands Saga and Wylder Tales. Because she wasn't satisfied writing in one genre, she also invites you to explore uncharted space with the Heaven’s Edge Novellas—and dare to fall in love again with the standalone romance titles Stay and She Walks in Moonlight.









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Thursday, October 8, 2026

Whispers of the Pale Witch by S.A. Sizemore with Exclusive Excerpt #Horror #ParanormalThriller



“The Ghost House – Creative Halloween Decorating on a Budget from a Themed Entertainment Professional” by S.A. Sizemore
 
Okay. Do I want the twelve-foot skeleton that my local hardware store sells? 

Yes. Yes, I do. 

But do I have room to store it when it’s not hanging out in my front yard at Halloween? 

No. No, I do not. I’m also not spending hundreds of dollars on it. 

What else can you do on a budget that will fold up neatly and compactly for next year? Also, how can I ideally recycle and reuse materials I already have around the house and turn them into something spooky?

By night I write spooky horror/thriller books with a touch of speculative history, but by day I’m a themed entertainment professional. Over the years I’ve come up with a few tricks to make my house super spooky during Halloween time without breaking my bank account, adding to a landfill, or making it impossible to park our car in the garage. 




My neighbors refer to us as The Ghost House.
 
The first part of good Halloween decorating is deciding on a theme. I wanted mine to be a haunted house party filled with ghosts and skeletons. Try to tell a story with your decorations and think of some questions to get you going. What happened right before your Halloween guests arrived? Is something going on right now? What will happen when they leave?  


Secondly, you need to decide how your Halloween guests are going to interact with your theme. Will there be sounds? Will there be lights? Will there be things that activate as people walk by? Are there opportunities for photo ops? For The Ghost House I incorporate all of these things to give my trick or treaters the best experience.




On top of that, my goal is to be able to pack most of my decorations into two or three bins that fit neatly on top of one shelf in my garage. They must not be heavy because I live in earthquake country and things can fall. Plus, I want to be able to pull them down by myself and put them back up on the shelf safely.




Let’s start with the ghosts. I’m going to show you a simple way to make a ghost with easy materials you may already have that will squish down into nothing. They can be used multiple times and are made out of recycled items. You will need three things: a white plastic tablecloth (preferably one you have already used), some string, a black marker, and discarded packing paper or crumpled newspaper. Old white sheets can also be used instead of plastic tablecloths, but if they get wet they can weigh down branches and may not blow as well in the wind. They also don’t pack down as small in storage boxes. 



Take one of the table clothes and grab the center where the head will be. Stuff the head with paper towels or newspaper, enough to make it about the size of a soccer ball. 



Cut a piece of string and tie the head shut around the neck. If you want to be adventurous, you can stuff a battery-operated tea light just inside the neck that can be turned on once the sun goes down. 


 
Next, take your marker and add two black eyes to the ghost’s face. 




 
At this point it’s best to hang your ghost up to do the finishing touches. Cut another piece of string and tie it to the back of the neck string and make a loop or two ends that can be tied together around a branch. Hang up your ghost so you can work on the it’s skirt. 
 


Take the bottom of the ghost’s skirt and start ripping the ends vertically up toward the torso. Not all the way. Just about one third to one half up. Vary the lengths. Use a scissors to start the cut but then rip. Jagged edges flow better in a breeze. You will also want to use your fingers to gently stretch areas all over the plastic. This will remove the “flat” feel of the tablecloth and add some texture.
 



Now you are ready to hang up your ghost outside. Once you get it into the desired location, grab two of its “arms” and then tie its “hands” to other branches, edges of a bush, or to your patio eaves. You want your ghost to look like it is dancing with its arms in the arm or about to fly away. When the fall wind picks up, it’s going to look amazing. And the best part, when you are done with Halloween, you can have dozens of ghosts that easy squish down into a box for next year.
 
I mentioned skeletons. If you have a little more storage space, get the three-dimensional skeletons, but for space-saving needs there are lots of flat skeletons you can find that fold up nicely in the bottom of a box. Hang these along your eaves or in between your ghosts. 



 
Another option is to get used skeleton “parts” and make a graveyard. I like getting a pack of premade headstones, which stack nicely together in a bin. You can also go green and make your own headstones with used cardboard boxes. I have a set of pre-owned skeleton arms that I place into the ground as if the skeletons are trying to break out of their graves. Adding some LED flickering tea lights around them adds ambiance. Look around your yard for discarded bricks or other things you can add around your headstones for stability and additional layers. I also hang up marigold garlands for a pop of color and a festive Day of the Dead feel to my Ghost House party.
 


Once you have all these things in place, lighting and sound are super important to really get your ghost party to come alive. I place four or five red and purple spotlights that give a wash of color across the front of the house. I particularly love the kind of lights that have movement to them or a pattern that projects onto the facade. If you can, make sure to light up your skeletons and ghosts with a spotlight or a battery-operated light inside them. There are some great solar lighting options now, too. 

The final touch is sound. I have a curated playlist of Halloween music that I blast from two small speakers in my yard. Not only does this bring home the ghost party theme, but it also draws trick or treaters toward your house, along with the lights.
 
I hope this gave you some fun, inexpensive, green, and easy to store decorating ideas for your Halloween this year. If you want to read a fun horror occult book this spooky season, please check out my new multi-award-winning book series that starts this September with Whispers of the Pale Witch. It’s a story four hundred years in the making set in Salem, Massachusetts.

Shall we begin?

BeckettCoven.com


Whispers of the Pale Witch 
Beckett Coven Series
Book One
S.A. Sizemore

Genre: Horror/Paranormal Thriller
Publisher: Rowan Prose Publishing
Date of Publication: September 29, 2026
ISBN: 978-1-961967-99-1
ASIN: B0FTBTKG9J
Number of pages: 398
Word Count: 98,000
Cover Artist: Kelly Moran

Tagline: Shall we begin?

Book Description: 

Some secrets should just stay buried. 

After the sudden death of her great-aunt, Kylie Beckett lands her dream job as a forensic photographer in the small seaside town where she was born. But once there, a series of murders and the theft of a dangerous relic force Kylie to uncover the dark truth about her ancestors. 

With the help of newfound family, she learns to harness unconscious powers to stop the vengeful and unstable Pale Witch before she unleashes a demonic spirit on Salem, Massachusetts once again. 

Shall we begin?

Excerpt 2 from Chapter 3

Elizabeth was distracted. This is just so damn overwhelming, she thought as she studied Kylie’s face.

The last time they were both on this porch, Elizabeth held her small toddler hand and tried not to cry as they hugged goodbye. Now, Kylie Beckett was a grown woman standing in the doorway some twenty years later. Elizabeth waited decades for this moment, but it felt unexpectedly awkward and strange.

Kylie had the same caramel complexion and bright smile of her African American father, along with a feminine version of his athletic build. Her mother’s Anglo-Saxon features were also apparent in her soft reddish-brown hair and intense amber eyes. She looked rather androgynous without any makeup or earrings. Her t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers were more appropriate for Southern California this time of year than the coming New England autumn.

The rain poured down hard on the porch roof.

“You can come inside if you like.” Kylie motioned for her to move forward.

Elizabeth glanced past the front door towards the cellar. A pained look flashed over her eyes. “It was me.” She touched a tiny bronze cylinder hanging from a chain around her neck. “I’m sorry, I wasn’t completely honest. I was the one who found Hester after the heart attack. I haven't been able to step foot in the house since.”

There was an awkward pause between them.

Kylie was thrown upon meeting Elizabeth. After their phone conversations, she had pictured someone quite different. Instead of the frumpy, busy-body white woman she imagined her to be, Elizabeth was by far one of the most strikingly beautiful women she’d ever met. It was strange, though. She felt familiar, like a childhood friend, not just a recent acquaintance.

“I meant to be here when you arrived.” Elizabeth tapped some raindrops from her umbrella again. “My assistant only just told me you called. We had a very busy Friday afternoon.” She pointed to the left of the doorframe. “The switch for the porch light is on the wall just by the coat hook.”

Kylie leaned over to flick it on. The porch became bathed in a warm glow as if the house was coming back to life. A moth tapped on the ceiling lamp after missing its warmth.

“When do you start your new job?” Elizabeth asked.

“Monday.” Kylie brightened. “Thank you so much for the introduction. I’m really looking forward to it.”

A warm smile crept across her mouth as Elizabeth noticed the tiny, white seashell on a black cord around Kylie’s neck. More emotions rose inside her.

“I'm sorry.” Kylie rubbed her eyes. She didn’t want to seem inhospitable, but she was very tired. “It took a few days to get here, and I still need to pull some stuff out of the car before I get to bed.”

“Of course. Of course.” Elizabeth nodded in agreement. “Can I help you?”

“Oh, no worries.” Kylie peered out at the rain and then back at Elizabeth’s impressive heels and expensive suit. She waved her hand. “I've got it. Just bringing in a couple of things.” She paused for extra emphasis as she said, “I really do appreciate everything you've done for me over the last few weeks.”

Elizabeth thought her heart was going to break right there and then. Her fingers fumbled around in her vest pocket and fished out a white business card. She handed it to Kylie. “Here’s my contact info again in case you need anything. I'll have my assistant set up a time for us to talk. Maybe The Roof on Sunday for brunch?” She opened her umbrella, but the showers magically abated as she descended the porch steps.

“Sounds fun.” Kylie nodded in agreement, not having a clue what The Roof was.

“And we can discuss the lawsuit,” Elizabeth said as she walked down the path.

“W-wait, what?” Kylie stuttered. “What lawsuit?”

“I emailed you about it.” Elizabeth turned slightly. “Beulah Prudaetor is contesting your aunt's trust. But don't worry. She can't take this place from you. I'll make sure of that.”

“But...” Kylie moved forward and wrapped a hand around the white porch post. She looked past Elizabeth at the neighborhood beyond. She liked this place. Loved its quirkiness. Hester’s house already felt like home, even though she’d only been there for a few minutes.

The stress on Kylie’s face drew Elizabeth back to the porch. “Please don't worry about it right now. Go in and get a good night's rest.” Then, she broke her promise and said what she had planned to hold back. “You look so much like your father and so very much like your mother.”

“You knew them?” Kylie asked while startled and curious by the sudden compliment. “You knew my mother? I never did.”

“I know.” Elizabeth pushed down her emotions and patted Kylie's hand. “You get settled in. There will be plenty to talk about and lots of time in which to do it...now that you’re back.”

Before Kylie could see her cry, Elizabeth walked out to the rain-soaked street. She got into her brand-new, white, electric sedan and drove off.

Kylie was alone again on the porch.

The rain paused long enough for her to run out to her hatchback and bring in a few boxes. Before going inside, she picked up the business card she had set down on the porch railing and read it aloud, “Elizabeth Ingersoll, Esq.”

There was so much to focus on in such a short time. Kylie hadn’t noticed the surname until now. Ingersoll was her mother's last name.

“Elizabeth is family.”

 

 

 


About the Author:

Drawn to playwriting from an early age, S.A. Sizemore began writing professionally while studying English and theater arts in college. After producing several plays regionally in Southern California, Sizemore pivoted to the themed entertainment industry. Whispers of the Pale Witch is the first installment of the Beckett Coven series inspired by Sizemore’s ancestral connection to the Salem Witch Trials. She is a full member of the Dramatists Guild of America, proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, European and Cherokee/Chickahominy decent, and resides in California with her wife and two dogs, Agatha and Harry.









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