Where are they now: Corey Haim

 When I was a kid, I was totally in love with the actor Corey Haim. He was so cute and adorable and even more so with his braces. Imagine my sadness when he passed away. I was heartbroken... even though I'd not really seen much of him since his childhood days, when he featured in lots of super cute movies. My favourite, of course, was The Lost Boys, one of the best vampire movies ever made. It also had the smoking hot Jason Patric who played his older brother, and probably the sexiest looking vampire in town, Kiefer Sutherland.
Another of his movies which I adored was called Lucas, and was about a boy who loves a girl who loves someone else. It also featured Charlie Sheen and Winona Ryder. Every time I hear a locust, or see them on TV, I'm reminded of Corey. If you've seen the movie, you'll know what I mean!
Before Corey died, it was reported in the press that he had become a drug addict at 15, something that seems to happen a lot to child stars, which is heart breaking. Apparently, he entered rehab 15 times throughout his short life.
In 2007, he starred alongside his childhood buddy, Corey Feldman, in a reality show aptly named The Two Coreys. However, Corey Haim relapsed and his friendship with Feldman deteriorated. But they did reconcile before Haim died of pneumonia in 2010, aged just 38 years old.

photo credit: echolalia [echelon] via photopin cc

Image courtesy of Bree cc

Scavenger Hunt with KC Blake

Scavenger Hunt: Are you a good hunter? Let's find out.
How to play: Read 'my' version of The Three Bears and find the eight Halloween words embedded in the story. For instance, witch. Write these words down and email them to me at authorkcblake@blogspot.com If you are one of the first ten to do this, you will win free digital copies of Vampires Rule and Werewolves Rule. Now, to be fair, Vampires Rule is already free at Smashwords. So even if you don't win both books, you can download that one for free. Go ahead and tell all your book-loving friends. 

What is Vampires Rule about? Jack has always beat the odds... at least until now. When he was attacked by a werewolf, vampires saved him. When he got tired of living the vampire life, another werewolf attack freed him, making him human again. Now Jack just wants to live a normal life, but what's normal about a hunter girlfriend, a brother who wants to stake him to be on the safe side, and a head werewolf building an army to rule the world?
Are you sick of vampires? Don't worry. This book has a new hook and a new mythology for the creatures.
Why am I doing this? Shifters Rule (the third book) is being released today, October 31st, 2012. Don't miss out on a cool series filled with vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and hunters.

Now, let the hunt begin:
Once upon a time there were bears. There was a mama bear, a papa bear, and a baby bear. Mama bear made porridge for breakfast, and they all sat down to eat. Papa Bear said, “My porridge is too hot.” Mama Bear said, “My pumpkin is too cold.” Baby Bear didn’t even try his because he wanted pancakes. Papa Bear thought they should take a walk while his porridge cooled. So they did
While they were gone, a young girl named Goldilocks stumbled upon their cabin. The door was open so she went inside. She tried the porridge. One was too hot. One was too cold. But the third was just right. She ate until it was gone.
Next, she went to the living room to watch some television. She sat in one chair after another. One was too big. One was too narrow. The last one was just creepy, but it broke when she tried to sit on it.
She was tired, so she went upstairs to find a bed. There were three skeletons in the bedroom. The first bed was too hard. The second was too soft. But the last one was just right. She fell asleep.
That’s when the three black cats came home. Papa Bear stared at his porridge. “Someone took a bite of my porridge.” Mama Bear said, “Someone took a bite of my witch.” Baby Bear laughed. “Someone ate my porridge all up so now I get pancakes, right?”
Papa Spider decided they needed to check the other rooms for the intruder. They went into the living room first. Papa Bear checked his chair. “Someone sat in my chair.” Mama Bear repeated, “Someone sat in my chair.” Baby Bear said, “Someone broke my chair. Can I have a bean bag now?”
Papa dragged them up the stairs to the bedroom. When they walked in, they stared at the bed closest to the door. Papa Bear said, “Someone has been sleeping in my bed.” Mama Bear said, “Someone has been sleeping in my grave.” Baby Bear pointed. “Look, someone is sleeping in my bed right now! Can I keep her?”
Goldilocks woke up then. She saw the three ghosts and jumped out the nearest window. The scare taught her a lesson, and she never again went into a home without an invitation.
You can find me (K.C. Blake) on my blog:http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com

Would you like to like my facebook page?

I'm absolutely delighted to be at almost 1000 likes on my Facebook page... YAY!! But I do need another 16 to get to that figure. My aim is to reach 1000 by Halloween so with only a day left, I'm asking for your help!
If you're willing to come along and click that little 'like' button, then visit http://facebook.com/suzyturnerbooks
If you have a cool page for me to like right back, then leave me a comment with your link.
Thank you!!

Halloween Special with the Famous Five Plus

This Halloween, I've had enormous fun taking part in writing a short story along with my fellow authors at the Famous Five Plus group (www.famousfiveplus.com) in celebration of the group's first anniversary. Different sections of the story were written by different authors. For example, the first author wrote 250 words before passing it on to author number two who then added another 250 words and so on. As you can imagine, it made for really interesting writing (and reading!).
The first part of the story, Halloween Hysteria, was published on the site yesterday, part two today... and the final part will be out  tomorrow. Come along with me and check it out...Famous Five Plus. Also, why not follow the group on twitter?

Cover Reveal: Red Madrassa by Terah Edun

Terah Edun is the newest member of the YA Indie Carnival, a group of awesome indie YA authors who blog on a different subject every Friday. It's awesome fun... if you want to join, pop on over to the YA authors club and pop in your details.

But for now, I'd like to reveal the magnificent new cover of Terah's latest book, Red Madrassa... TADAH.....

Isn't it just beautiful? If you'd like to learn more about Terah's books, including Red Madrassa, visit her website http://teedun.com/

#YAIndieCarnival: Spooky, Scary, Eerie

This week we're preparing to be spooked for a Halloween special. It's spooky, it's scary, it's eerie... it's the YA Indie Carnival MWAH HA HA MWAH HA HA HA
Okay, okay, enough of that! Seriously, what creeps you out? Do you love a good horror story? Do you hide behind your cushions and blankets while reading or watching a good spookfest? I know I do... although sometimes I can get a little too freaked out and I have to change what I'm watching or reading just to calm down my blood pressure!
One of my favourite horrors was written by fellow indie author Johanna Frappier. Her novel, Wood Spirit - a New England horror story, totally blew me away... and scared the pants off me! I'd highly recommend it if you like to be super scared on Halloween. I love spooky stories but not gore... I can't be doing with gore.
As for my own writing, I haven't delved into the world of horror... not yet anyway. But it is something I'd like to have a go at, at some stage down the line anyway. Although The Raven Saga is filled with paranormal beings like vampires, there is little within in that would seriously spook you out... at least it didn't spook me out whilst writing it. If you've read it, what did you think? Was there anything in there that you thought was a little Halloween freaky?
In The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, again there are paranormals galore but nothing really terrifying... after all, I am writing for a teen audience. Unless of course, you teens out there would love a bit more gore!!!!

For more tales of spookiness, visit my awesome fellow carnis below...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series

3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey

12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter  

13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga

15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.

17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish

19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings

Click here for more Indie News:

The Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party

I'm so excited to be a part of Janice Horton's Spellbindingly Fun Blog Party to launch her Halloween special novella, How Do You Voodoo?
Each blogger taking part is posting a very special spellbindingly fun spell for something we wish for. Mine, of course, is for World Domination... BWAH HA HA AH AH HA....
Okay, maybe not. I'm not that twisted. But I am creating a spell that will cause my books to fly off the shelves and become huge bestsellers to rival the likes of Stephenie Myers and Suzanne Collins. Cool huh? Have I got your attention now?
Right, so here goes... I've already got my altar placed in the north of my pentagram circle and upon it I have my athame, wand, chalice, four candles, censer and cauldron... oh and I mustn't forget my book of shadows. I'd be lost without that! I've cleansed and consecrated my space and I've cloaked myself in my dark purple robe which I use for such occasions and I'm set to go. All I need now are my ingredients (which I've chosen from Janice's selection) once I've invoked the elements

Spell ingredients

Three wild rose petals

Pixie dust

Moon stone

Feather of a golden eagle

Magick crystals

Twig of hawthorne

Lock of hair

Stardust

I've already invoked the elements and now for the big event... my spell.

Lady and Lord of the North, East, South and West

Be with me now and grant my quest

To fill the lives of young and old

With tales of fantasy yet untold

My stories travel far and wide

To girls and boys as yet untried

My aim is to achieve the top

With books abound, in all the shops

Be with me now and grant my quest

Label my tales the very best

Allow the ball to commence rolling

And let me stand beside JK Rowling

And now I must wait for the books to start flying off the shelves. BWAH HA AH HA AH HA AH HA
For more spellbindingly fun spells, head on over to Janice Horton's blog.

Me in my witch's outfit before the haircut and the weight loss!

Fade Into Fantasy WINNERS

Just a very quick post to thank everybody who participated in the Fade into Fantasy giveaway! It was a huge success and I'm so excited to announce the five winners...
Entry #174 Colleen B won the $20 Gift certificate and a copy of The Ghost of of Josiah Grimshaw.

The remaining winners have all won a copy of The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, which will be delivered to them on its release in November.

Entry #270 Dinda L.
Entry #170 Shauna O.
Entry #447 Ashley C.
Entry #159 Daisy

All the winners have been emailed.

Thanks again for making this giveaway such a great success! If anybody would like to be notified on the release of my books, please sign up to my email newsletter over to the right. Thank you!

#YAIndieCarnival: Serial Novels

This week we're talking about serial novels. To be completely honest, I'd never even heard of it until I learned that it would be a subject matter for this week! Serial novels? You ask? Why?
My thoughts exactly... the idea scares me. When I write a novel, I often go back and make drastic changes (don't we all?) that alters the entire feel of the book. What on earth would I do had I already published a chapter and wanted to change it?
I suppose it's a brand new challenge but not one that I feel ready for... at least not yet anyway. Perhaps I will change my mind if opportunities present themselves but I can't see it happening myself.
From a reader's perspective, I also am not keen on the idea. When I'm reading a book, I WANT all chapters right there and then. I don't want to have to wait for next chapter to be written!! Heck no!!

Image courtesy of imagerymajestic / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's a bit like TV shows... when I'm totally enthralled by a show, I hate it when it suddenly ends and I have to wait a week... a whole week... to see the next episode. As you can tell, I'm not the most patient of people. And when a show ends on a cliff hanger and we have to wait a whole season to find out what happens... well, I just wanna scream! I would be exactly the same with the book... actually, possibly worse. What do you think? Are serial novels for you?
To find out more opportunities that have been opened up for my fellow carnies, visit their sites below...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series

3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey

12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter  

13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga

15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.

17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish

19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings

Click here for more Indie News:

Fall into Fantasy Giveaway

Welcome to the Fall into Fantasy Hop, hosted by The Write Path and I Am A Reader, Not a Writer.

Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange 'tattoo' suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realise there's more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.
Sent off to London for two weeks of 'work experience', the Morgan Sisters soon find themselves being initiated into the ancient Praxos Foundation, one that protects the innocent while fighting evil, both human and supernatural.
At the same time, Lana Beth and Emma Jane must also investigate why the sweet but sometimes pesky ghost of Josiah Grimshaw just won't leave them alone.
The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw is due to be released on November 14, 2012.

My Giveaway:
As this hop is all about fantasy (my all-time favourite genre and that which I write myself!), one winner will get to choose a book from the Book Depository (to the value of $20 or an Amazon gift card) of his or her liking provided it belongs to the fantasy genre. That winner, along with three others will also win an ecopy of The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, a Morgan Sisters novel.
(On another note, if you'd like a copy of my first YA urban fantasy novel, Raven, it's currently free from all online retailers including Amazon US, click here or Amazon UK, click here).

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Now hop on over to all the other blogs in the hop for your chance to win lots more fantasy goodies!!

Owlet Release Day!!!

Today is the release day for Owlet by the gorgeous YA author Emma Michaels. YAY!!

Somewhere between falling and flying... there is a girl. Iris has a secret. She lost her memory eight years ago and never told a living soul. After an asthma attack one night she finds out that her dreams of a strange house on a snowy island may be a memory resurfacing but the more she learns about the past the more she realizes the life she has been living is a lie. As the façade her father has built starts to crumble around her she will have to decide which means more to her; the truth or her life.
Get your copy of Owlet now! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0090MXTVG?tag=tributebooks-20
For more information, visit www.EmmaMichaels.com

#YAIndieCarnival: Indie Author Opportunities

This week we're talking about how becoming an indie author has opened up opportunities for us... and WOW has it just!
Having been given the opportunity to become an indie author via the likes of Smashwords and Amazon, my books are now available worldwide to everybody and that is just the biggest most awesome delight for any author! Of course, the fact that I have been selling my books by the thousands is the icing on the cake.
I just need the cherry for the top, which will be my books being made into movies, naturally!
To find out more opportunities that have been opened up for my fellow carnies, visit their sites below...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series

3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey

12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter  

13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga

15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.

17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish

19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings

Click here for more Indie News:

WOW - What a review!!

I woke up this morning to be greeted by such a wonderful review of The Lost Soul that it has totally and utterly made my day. I'm doing my own little happy dance in front of the laptop!
All I need now is a Hollywood Producer to spot it, read it, fall in love with it and make it into a movie. I'm not asking too much am I? Sigh.... a girl can dream, right?

Check out the review over at Books4Tomorrow....

B o o k s 4 T o m o r r o w: REVIEW: "THE LOST SOUL" (The Raven Saga, Book 3) -...: “ THE LOST SOUL ” ( The Raven Saga, Book 3 ) by Suzy Turner REVIEWED BY : Ellen Fritz OVERVIEW December and Lilly h...

Come join me at the Surfing in Stilettos party!

I am not here today. Although, I wasn't sure which ones to wear...

I eventually put on these party shoes...

and headed over to the fabulous Surfing in Stilettos party at www.facing50withhumour.blogspot.co.uk Come and join me for some fantastic prizes, surprises, and desirable shoes.
I'm in the middle of reading Mini Skirts and Laughter Lines by Carol and it's hilariously funny... I'd put it up there with Bridget Jones!

#YAIndieCarnival: The wolf pack

Other than our absolutely smashing readers who we adore (!), us indie authors usually have our very own wolf pack - a team of essential folk right behind us, that come in the form of book cover designers, beta readers and editors.
When I first started out with Raven, I had no money put aside to pay for any of these, so my book cover was a photo my husband took of me running through a little forest up our local mountain. I fiddled with it a bit in Photoshop and uploaded it to Smashwords and Amazon. Needless to say, when I look back at that image, I cringe! It really was pretty awful.

From this

Then this

To this... gorgeous!

Anyway, after several weeks (or was it months? I can't remember!), I decided it had to go so off I went to track down the perfect image for my new cover. I paid a stock photography site a few dollars for a picture I did like but I knew it wasn't THE one but with no money to fork out for a professional designer, I had to make do with it. The next two books I did the same, used stock images and then added my bit of flair in Photoshop (very little flair... I'm not exactly a pro!).
For my latest book, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw, I knew it was time to go pro and so, using some of my earnings (!), I found a fabulous cover designer (Ravven) who did a stellar job with a beautiful new cover which I adore. During the same week, before I'd even told anyone about my professional cover, I was approached by the gorgeous Emma Michaels, who is a YA author and cover designer. She offered to re-do all three of my Raven Saga covers. Naturally I jumped at the chance and I'm totally over the moon with the result! Gorgeous!
As for beta readers, I started off with a dear friend (a teacher) who offered to read Raven as well as a number of close friends who happen to be in the publishing business with some experience with editing and proofreading. They did a wonderful job. I still use them today, but I've also added to them with beta readers who I've found via facebook and other YA sites. In fact this morning, I received an email from a fan who offered to beta read for me. Delighted, I promptly sent her my latest manuscript!
I must mention Bryna Butler at this stage. Bryna very kindly beta read The Lost Soul for me and I am so grateful because she managed to stop me from making a fool of myself with a certain dinosaur. I had written that this dinosaur could fly... and of course, it couldn't! I am so grateful to her for that!
As for editors, I did hire one once and although she is a lovely person and did a decent job, I felt that my beta readers offered the same service for free so at the moment I am content to continue just with them.
For more stories about the important people behind us indies, check out my awesome fellow carnis...

1. Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series
2. Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series

3. Heather Self

4. T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5. Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga 

6. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog 

8. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series 

10. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey

12. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter  

13. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
14. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga

15. Courtney Cole Writes
16. Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.

17. Ella James
18. Maureen Murrish

19. Valerie Sloan
20. YA Sci Fi Author's Ramblings

Click here for more Indie News:

Cover Reveal: Blood and Mistletoe (Ivy Granger #1.5)

I'm super excited to feature the book cover reveal for Blood and Mistletoe by E.J Stevens. This is the fifth book in the Ivy Granger series.

Holidays are worse than a full moon for making people crazy. In Harborsmouth, where many of the residents are undead vampires or monstrous fae, the combination may prove deadly.
Ivy Granger, psychic private investigator, returns to the streets of Harborsmouth in this addition to the bestselling urban fantasy series.
Holidays are Hell, a point driven home when a certain demon attorney returns with information regarding a series of bloody murders. Six Harborsmouth residents have been killed and every victim has one thing in common--they are fae. Whoever is killing faeries must be stopped, but they only leave one clue behind--a piece of mistletoe floating in a pool of the victim's blood.
The holidays just got interesting. Too bad this case may drive Ivy mad before the New Year. Heck, she'll be lucky to survive Christmas.
Blood and Mistletoe is an Ivy Granger series novella.

More details about the Ivy Granger series from http://ivygrangerpsychicdetective.blogspot.pt/

Have a chuckle...

I just received this email and because it made me chuckle, I thought I'd share with you....

Why isn't the number 11 pronounced onety-one?

If 4 out of 5 people SUFFER from diarrhea...does that mean that one out of five enjoys it?

Why do croutons come in airtight packages?
Aren't they just stale bread to begin with?

If people from Poland are called Poles, then why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist, but a person who drives a racecar is not called a racist?

If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn't it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

If Fed Ex and UPS were to merge, would they call it Fed UP?

Do Lipton Tea employees take 'coffee breaks?'

What hair color do they put on the driver's licenses of bald men?

I thought about how mothers feed their babies with tiny little spoons and forks, so I wondered what do Chinese mothers use, toothpicks?

Why do they put pictures of criminals up in the Post Office? What are we supposed to do, write to them? Why don't they just put their pictures on the postage stamps so the mailmen can look for them while they deliver the mail?

Is it true that you never really learn to swear until you learn to drive?

If a cow laughed, would milk come out of her nose?

Whatever happened to Preparations A through G ?