What are your memories-recent or long ago- about Halloween? Is this something you always celebrated? Did your kids? Do you remember maybe back in the early 80s when we had the terrible scare about nut cases putting bad stuff in kids’ candies? Unfortunately, now we’ve got nut cases putting drugs in some bags. Makes me so mad. Come on. Get a life and leave other people alone, especially kids.

My mother often made my costumes. My favorite was a gypsy costume with a white puffy sleeved blouse and a lace-up cummerbund type of thing and a full skirt. Of course, I was draped in all kinds of bracelets, necklaces. The best thing is she let me wear a pair of her earrings that looked just like a gypsy would wear. (Like I knew what that would be.) LOL

As a young mom, I’d dress up as a gypsy wearing my mother’s red taffeta skirt, a black scoop neck, blousy-sleeved top, and a red dotted scarf around holding my hair back. I still had those same earrings I wore as a child. And of course bracelets and necklaces. I felt really good in that outfit.

Now, I spent thirty minutes searching for the pic of me in this outfit that I have in my head. Could not find it, but here’s the outfit itself. One of those things I probably don’t have room for in my closet but can’t quite make myself get rid of. Don’t think I can even wear the skirt, but it brings back good memories. Do you have an outfit or something like this? You hold on to it past it’s use just because of the memories?

I wish I had a Halloween type book to share. In VERMONT ESCAPE, my first published book, I make mention of the holiday. This is a great book to read in the fall. Here’s the link. https://books2read.com/u/3JXxZK

Here’s the blurb: After the murders of Jill Barlow’s husband and then her father, she flees to Vermont, but the Texas gambling syndicate believes she’s hiding damning evidence against them. To get it, they’ll kill again.

Here’s an excerpt.

Wednesday, October 31

A week and a half had passed since Mitch’s funeral. Liz said her grandmother was managing. Jill understood. Pain welled in her middle and shot up through her throat, where it gagged her. How you went on after the loss of a child, albeit a difficult one, she couldn’t imagine. She’d only talked with Jerrod once. He was sticking close to his mother. He expressed relief at hearing the deputies continued to make drive-byes of her house.

Mike Riley returned to Fort Worth after the funeral, promising to keep in touch and requested she do the same. He was a nice man, a good man. She’d never told him how much she appreciated his coming to Vermont when she called.

Despite Mitch’s murder and the business with the vandalism of her car, miraculously, things returned to normal, whatever normal was for her. She’d even been able to get Mrs. Cooper’s sculpture to her. Officers found several pieces unharmed in Mitch’s truck.

She went into work several days a week but never closed at night alone, and she developed a habit of frequently looking over her shoulder. Mary Ann came back to the shop. Jill found comfort in knowing if she left Woodstock, Mary Ann would help Sally. Jill resumed her Pilates sessions, which helped her deal with stress. Trick-or-treaters added to the ordinariness of her life.

Working with Karen on Historical Society events took on a familiar feel, a simple existence, reminding Jill of the normal life she’d lived in Fort Worth. Before all the tragedies struck. A lifetime ago.

She gave in and told her children about the break-ins at her Fort Worth house, the store, and her rental property.

“My God, Mom. What were you thinking? You should’ve told us when these problems first surfaced.”

“I’m all right, Ethan.”

“I can get emergency leave and come up there.”

“Absolutely not. You already took time when your grandfather died and for my birthday. Wait for Thanksgiving. If you can only come one time, I want you here for the holiday.”

“You can count on Ellen and me being there, Mom. In the meantime, I’ll check with the sheriff to make sure he’s doing everything to keep you safe.”

Halloween night brought the snows.

Also, I hope you’ll stop by WORTH THE WAIT Seasoned Romance Readers Facebook Group tomorrow October 29 for lots of giveaways, and a chance to meet news authors. The Heroines and heroes are all in their 30s and above. You need to join the group to play along. I’ll give away a print copy of TRUTH BE TOLD, an e-copy of COMPROMISE, and a $10 GC to Amazon and Starbucks. Hope you’ll stop by.

And as, always I’d love to hear from you.

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