Ah ... Fall ... and My Favorite Holiday by Nancy Fraser

You’d think someone who lives in a short-summer location such as Atlantic Canada wouldn’t be all that eager for the arrival of fall ... and I’m not. I don’t do pumpkin spice anything (other than pie), and I don’t care for traipsing through the fallen leaves (or raking them).

What I am excited about is the onset of the holiday season. From the first day of fall on, we have an abundance of things to celebrate!  Here in Canada, we celebrate Thanksgiving on October 12^th. I’ll be baking sweet potato pies for ten and enjoying my turkey with almost all the trimmings!

Close on Canadian Thanksgiving’s heels is another holiday and my personal favorite: Halloween!

I spent over twenty years working in healthcare, most of them at Children’s Hospital of Michigan, where we were encouraged to dress for the holiday. Believe me, I took that encouragement to heart on a number of occasions.

However, my love for Halloween goes much farther back than my job at the hospital. I’m a child of the 50s and 60s, so my childhood experiences with Halloween were far different than those of my grandchildren. Back then, it wasn’t unusual to trek for miles for pillowcases full of candy. Nobody worried about tainted treats. We tricked or treated in stores, restaurants, and even in bars. We ran gleefully through the streets from the first streetlight until we could barely see our hands in front of our faces. It was the one time our parents looked the other way about curfew and more than one classmate missed school the next day due to a tummy ache. It was ... magical.

I used those childhood memories a few years back when I wrote a vintage novella titled, Bewitched. And, while there were no actual witches or paranormal elements in the story, it did have a wonderfully nostalgic feel about it.

Chicago, Fall 1964

Allison Stiles is the epitome of responsibility. Guardian to her two rambunctious younger brothers, she also runs a home daycare. While she doesn't have time for a vacation, she really needs a diversion.  

Enter Eric Thomas, her new neighbor. Tall, dark and handsome and just what she needs to get her mind off her responsibilities, even if only for a short time.

 Moving into the house he inherited from his uncle was not part of Eric Thomas' plan. Yet, starting a new business ties up a good portion of his capital, so he forgoes the fancy downtown apartment for the quaint Rogers Park neighborhood.

 Now if he could just get his mind off his sexy neighbor and back on the business at hand.

Given my love for Halloween, it’s only fitting that I make a second attempt at something geared to the season. This time there are paranormal elements—including a very vengeful spirit. Today is release day for The Secrets of Gable House. Yes ... it’s another “Book Birthday”!

Noah Miller is shocked to learn that an unknown great uncle has named him heir to the family fortune, including the residence known as Gable House. Built by Noah’s fifth-back grandfather, the house is ripe with family secrets and unusual occurrences.

Maggie Shephard has spent the past ten years researching the history of Willow-By-The-Sea, including that of her own ancestors. Considered an authority on New England history, she’s often sought out as a consultant. When Noah Miller asks for her help in acquainting him with both the house and his ancestors, she jumps at the chance to share her knowledge with the handsome architect.

Noah and Maggie have an immediate attraction to one another, made even more so by the time they spend together researching the Gable family history. The fact that each Gable male died an untimely and gruesome death, leads Noah and Maggie on a quest for the truth in hopes of setting a murderous spirit free.

And, of course, there’s a trailer!

And a JigSaw Puzzle of my cover!

I would be remiss if I didn’t give a special SHOUT OUT to fellow Romance Gem, Kathryn Hills, whose ghost-hunting experience helped add a special something to my story. Writing The Secrets of Gable House was almost as much fun as trick-or-treating. Almost, but not quite.

Until next month please stay safe, stay healthy, stay happy and well read.

Nancy

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