Lions and Tigers and . . . Elephants

Have you ever seen a gourd at the market and thought...that's an elephant?

Well, I see things and think that's an easy elephant.

All I had to do was paint it and then glue on some wiggly eyes.

And then I took some construction paper and cut out the ears.

And then I glued them...

And then I had to find a pumpkin for the body of my elephant

And then I stuck the head on the body with some bamboo skewers

Maleficent

If you want to make an inexpensive diabolical Disney diva, here's how:

Simple take some pipe insulation - which you can buy at your local home remodeling center

And slit it up the side.

Then slip some wire up inside to form it and use duct tape to attach it to a headband.

 Then you can thicken the "horns" with more pipe-wrapping and wrap it in duct tape.

Then either use a swimming cap or slip a baggie over your hair and cover it in duct tape.

You can touch up the widow's peak by using makeup. You can also highlight your cheekbones to accent them. Then simply add a black cape and some wings.

And wah-lah...Maleficent

PARANORMAL BLOG TOUR - SHADOWS OF THE PAST - by Carmen Stefanescu

Shadows of the Past -  Carmen Stefanescu
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Genre: paranormal/light romance/light historical/light horror.

Blurb 

Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling.

But fate has other plans for them.

The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world--one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest.

This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?

A touching, compelling story of tragedy, loss and the power of endless love and good magic.

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.


 Buy Links:
Wild Child Publishing
Amazon
All Romance
Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

Excerpt 

The peal of the church bells from the abbey tower startled Genevieve. The sound added to her mounting anxiety.

The massive abbey loomed over the stone paved path.  All the nuns were at evening mass.  With a bit of luck her disappearance would go unnoticed for a few more hours. The Abbess would assume she was cleaning the toilets as ordered.

Fear skittered through Genevieve when she turned away from the abbey towards the path leading to town. Nothing stirred.  She hesitated.  Evil emanated from the forest surrounding the abbey. With a shiver, she leaned against the solid oak gates that flanked the abbey's main path. They had hidden her from detection for the past couple of hours, but how much longer would she be safe?

The mountain shadows grew thicker and closer.

She moved her weight from one leg to the other. They ached from so much standing, but she lacked the strength to return to the gardener's cottage and wait for Andrew's arrival as planned. Genevieve closed her tired eyes. The image of old Ryan, slumped dead in his chair in his cubicle, caught life in her mind and made her whole body ripple with fear.

She'd rather wait for Andrew here, outside.

Had he forgotten his promise? What if something terrible befell him during the last three days, or he had changed his mind? Why should he risk all for an ordinary nun?

Had his folks talked him into giving her up, made him see reason? Helping her out of her predicament meant a huge risk for him -- losing his family, his friends and his position among his peers. His words echoed in her mind. "I will risk everything for you, even life, if necessary."

                                                          * * * *

"Anne, Anne, wake up. Wake up, please," the insistent voice whispered next to her ear.  The touch of a hand, on her shoulder, startled Anne.

She opened her eyes, still half between sleep and reality. Her gaze stopped on a stranger, a woman, by her side.

The moon's pale face, the only light, filtered through a small gap in the tent's entrance; yet the stranger's whole body emanated a kind of soft ray, a yellowish halo making her figure and face easy to discern.

A long, dark robe, similar to those worn by nuns in monasteries centuries ago, covered her body. No traditional headdress covered the woman's red hair, which fell loosely over her shoulders in long, heavy tendrils and continued down her chest and back.

Anne stood up and studied the intruder with open curiosity. The stranger’s wax pale face looked corpse like. Anne opened her mouth to ask her who she was. She looked Anne straight in the eyes, placed her forefinger on her lips and whispered, "Hush, come. Follow me."

Anne's eyes widened.

The woman, moving away from the sleeping bag, appeared to glide above the ground. Her bare feet didn't make a sound.

As if hypnotized, Anne followed the illuminated silhouette heading into the forest, without questioning her own actions.

An onrush of sensations unfamiliar to her followed. Dizziness and a malevolent feeling of unreality suffocated her. The presence of evil, creeping up and enveloping her, became almost palpable. Her throat turned dry, and she gasped for air.

                                                            * * * *

You can find more about the author and her works here: http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/

AND HOP OVER TO THESE OTHER PARANORMAL POSTS:

Daisy Banks – https://daisybanks.wordpress.com/
Carmen Stefanescu – http://shadowspastmystery.blogspot.ro/
Linda Lamont – http://lindalyndi.com/
Cassandra Ulrich – http://cassandraulrich.blogspot.com/
Margo Bond Collins – http://www.MargoBondCollins.com
Adrienne Woods – https://woodsadrienne.wordpress.com/
Flossie Benton Rogers – http://flossiebentonrogers.com/blog/
Julie A. D’Arcy – http://juliedarcystoryweaver.blogspot.com.au/
M S Kaye – http://booksbymsk.com/

Penny Estelle – www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com

How to make a HAUNTED HALLOWEEN

It's super simple to decorate for Halloween without being too ghoulishly scary but still keeping to the season theme. I start with different sized gourds and then I pull out the paint, glitter, glow-in-the-dark paint and googly eyes ;D

Then I line up the little ghosts, goblins and ghouls on the porch.

I also use fall leaves and banners to wish neighbors a Happy Halloween.

And, in the end, it's cuter than scary but it's still super bootiful ;D

And if you want to see some of my other decorations from years past, check out this link.

Lyndi Lamont for Paranormal Romance Thursday

Ilona’s Wolf by Lyndi Lamont Genre: steamy paranormal romance

Blurb: Imagine a world filled with magic, a tormented knight, a damsel in distress, an evil sorcerer...

While picking herbs in the woods, Princess Ilona is rescued from a woodsman by a wolf. When the creature licks her wounds, it is suddenly transformed into a man. A very handsome, very naked man who makes passionate love to her in a glade. Cursed by an evil wizard, Rolf was trapped in wolf form until he tasted the blood of a royal. Now he must escort the princess on a hazardous journey back to the castle to stop an ill-fated wedding. Passion flares between them, but both know there is no future for Ilona and her werewolf. Or is there?

In a world where magic and passion combine, anything may be possible.

Buy Links: Amazon 
Barnes & Noble;
iBooks 
Smashwords 

Excerpt: The wolf looked at her, golden eyes gleaming, mouth open, showing off large, sharp teeth. She closed her eyes and gripped her throat with both hands. Quaking with terror, she listened as the animal padded toward her. She felt its hot breath on her cheek. Opening her eyes a slit, she stared into the face of the wolf. Sad eyes stared at her, and her fears receded. Perhaps he'd been tamed. She reached out with what was left of her powers, but sensed no immediate danger. "Good wolf," she stammered. She held out one shaking fist, and the wolf sniffed it before licking her knuckles. It moved closer, sniffing her clothing. To her surprise, the animal hunkered down beside her and laid its head on her leg. Carefully, she touched it, stroking the soft fur. Relief flooded through her. Saved by a wolf, of all creatures. "Thank the gods you showed up when you did. I'd no wish to be ravished by the likes of him."

The wolf lifted its head and seemed to smile up at her, mouth open, tongue lolling. She smiled at the canine as she continued to pet it. "Grateful I am for you rescuing me, but 'tis not exactly what a girl dreams of. Where's my knight on a white steed? 'Tis he who is supposed to do the rescuing." When the wolf lowered his head, sniffing between her legs, she laughed and pushed it away. "Rude creature."

The animal responded by sitting up and resting its head on her breast. She put both arms around it and hugged it close, dropping a kiss on its head. "Do not misunderstand, Sir Wolf, but I still wish you were a knight. A strong, handsome knight like my Werner." The familiar sadness filled her at the memory of her husband. "I miss him so much, you know. Dagmar says another knight will come for me, a handsome knight to protect us and make sweet, passionate love to me." The wolf whined and raised his head to lick her cheek. Laughing, she tried to push him away, but he licked her full on the mouth. She closed her eyes, stunned when her powers came rushing back, like a flood of magic coursing around her. Turning aside, she summoned her basket to her side. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the wolf jump up, staring at the basket. Her vision seemed to blur as the wolf's face slowly became humanlike, then shifted back. She must have hit her head harder than she'd thought if she was seeing things. She closed her eyes and shook her head, but the aching had receded. When she peeked again, the wolf was gone, and a naked man crouched in front of her. A handsome, well-built man with shaggy brown hair and golden brown eyes.

You can find more about the author and her works here: http://lindalyndi.com See more posts here

HALLOWEEN BLOG HOP

It's a Halloween party and I'm hoping you'll all join in . . . share a scary story, a picture, costume, decoration and of course your link to your own post, which will undoubtedly be about your book but of course I'm hoping you'll also share something fun to help us all get ready for this festival . . .

Cover Reveal for Colleen Myers - Must Remember - Coming November 2nd

Colleen Myers visits to reveal her latest and greatest book yet! This is something you Must Remember . . .

Short Bio:

Colleen plays many roles. Not only is she a veteran, a mother, and a practicing physician, but she is a writer of science fiction and contemporary romances. Colleen’s dreams include surviving her son’s teenage years, exploring every continent on this planet, except Antartica, cause that’s way too cold, and winning the Nobel peace prize. Dream BIG! Currently she is getting ready to publish her first novel, MUST REMEMBER in November of this year (cover reveal soon.)  Until then look for her at Three Rivers Romance Writers, at Facebook  Colleen Myers, and at @ColleenSMyers.

Book Blurb:

Nineteen-year-old Elizabeth ‘Beta’ Camden is a survivor.

When the E’mani—those pale alien freaks—destroy Earth with a plague of madness and scoop up the remains, Beta is one of the ‘lucky’ ones. For years, she endures their tortures, experiments and games. Then one day, she manages to escape their ship with her life, and no memory of her time with them.

Stranded on their world, Beta wanders the mountains, looking for a way home. She stumbles onto the Fost—the E’mani’s ancient enemy.  Their war with the E’mani is old and rooted in magic that the Fost once had and the E’mani crave. Magic Beta soon discovers she’s developing along with strange tattoos and disturbing glimpses of her past. The Fost take her in and train her in their ways. As she spends more time with them, she falls in love with their culture and with Marin—he of the hot hands and slit eyes.

But the E’mani took her for a reason and they want her back—dead or alive. If Beta doesn’t remember that reason soon, they’re all going to die.

Excerpt:

Oy. No more weekday frat parties for me, no matter how
noble the cause, especially when I have a test the next day. What was
I thinking? And last minute cramming with a headache was not a
good idea either. Forget it. My eyes drifted to the clock.

And now I was late. Damn it. With a sigh, I threw down my
pencil and scrambled up, my head throbbing. I traded my Eeyore
jammies for skinny jeans and a fitted white t-shirt. Shoes, where
were my shoes? Gah. I ducked and rooted around in the deep, dark
spaces under my bed. Hmm, the green dress I borrowed from Sarah.
Mental note: I need to return that. English book, various dust
bunnies of uncertain lineage…there.

Sketchers on, I grabbed my backpack, turned up my iPod,
and ran out the door. No time to primp.

Good thing the campus I lived on was small. There was a big
central courtyard—the quad—filled with towering oak trees and
wide-open spaces surrounded by squat school buildings and
classrooms. If I hurried, I’d make it…

I raced into the quad out of breath and slowed, turning in a
complete circle.

Huh.

No one around. Unease skittered through me on soft paws.
The courtyard was always busy. I pulled my headphones out of my
ears. Was there some sort of event I didn’t know about going on?
The unnatural silence pressed in on me for a second as the
echoes of my steps faded.

Then screams—men’s and women’s—poured from Main
Street. I broke into a run and shot between the buildings toward the
sound.

Cars littered the intersection. Some guy rear-ended someone
else, causing a chain reaction down the road. A horn blared nearby
and a faint breeze blew the smell of gasoline, smoke, and copper my
way. Clusters of people stood among the wreckage.

 www.csmyersmusings.com

 

Now, if you can't wait any longer to see it....here it is:

 

And, if that wasn't enough, here's a little more...