Coffee and Conversation with the #RomanceGems

It's time for Coffee and Conversation with the Romance Gems! So, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and join us for some fun. This month's topic is: What’s your favorite thing about Halloween? 

Is it a childhood memory, trick or treat, a super-cool costume? Maybe it’s something you do, or did, with your kids or grand kids? Do you dress up the dog or cat? (ouch!) Decorate, host your own haunted house, or watch scary movies? Tell us!

"My mother always saved old sheets. I can’t remember being anything other than a ghost. Every year I’d fill a grocery sack almost full of candy. What fun!"
~ Karen Kelley

"As someone who spent 20 years working at a children's hospital, we were encouraged to wear costumes on Halloween. I've been everything from a clown, to a crayon, to a fully-lit Christmas tree. My favorite still remains my ode to McDonalds french fries!"
~ Nancy Fraser

Nancy Fraser at the children's hospital

"As a young girl, my favorite part of Halloween was always the sparklers. I would write in the air with them. (Guess I wanted to write even then, tee hee) Fast forward to today. My girlfriend lives directly behind a house that goes all out for Halloween including a fireworks display that frequently puts to shame fireworks funded by local politicians for civic and federal holidays. We sit on her deck with some nice mulled wine or cider and gaze skyward in awe." ~ Kathleen Lawless

"My favorite thing about Halloween is Trick or Treat. As a kid, back in the day, we were allowed to go on our own through the neighborhood. All the kids were out. No one was afraid to let us Trick or Treat by ourselves. When I grew up, I took my own children out, and now my grandchildren. My son lives in a “safe” neighborhood that reminds me of Trick or Treat of old. Following the kids and watching them have fun like I used to do makes Trick or Treat fun today." ~ Jan Scarbrough

Jan Scarbrough's Trick or Treaters

"I grew up in a small town in the South in an era when little old ladies made popcorn balls, caramel apples, cookies, and fudge to give to Trick or Treaters. Everyone knew the houses where they could get those goodies that were better than any store-bought candy. I'm on the petite side, and I'll reluctantly confess to going Trick or Treating until I was 14!" *LOL* ~ Joan Reeves

"My favorite thing about Halloween has always been giving out candy to the trick or treaters. I loved opening the door to a group of ghosts, witches, princesses, and pirates. I loved seeing their faces when I held out the large black cauldron I kept the candy in (and I always made sure I had tons). The most special thing was when one of my students (past or present) showed up. Some of them knew I lived there, but if they didn't, the surprise on their faces was the best!" ~ Kari Lemor

Connie Vines' grandson Logan

"My Halloween Event is my Spook-tacular Dinner Party for my children and grandchildren. Each year the theme changes.

"My first dinner featured “Deadman over Worms” (meatloaf in person-form with a fork in the chest) served over wheat pasta with snips of parsley, bleeding cemetery cake, and eyeball, witches-fingers appetizers.

"The next year it was hot-dogs carved to look like bloody fingers served in a hot dog bun, punch with ice-cube eyeballs, dip that looked like slime, veggies arranged to look like a skeleton, chocolates shaped like mice served over cake topped with crushed candy graveyard dirt. For photos and inspiration visit my Zombie Nite Café on Pinterest. Happy Halloween my lovelies." ~ Connie Vines

"My favorite thing about Halloween has nothing to do with scary and everything to do with family fun. I love decorating with my daughter! Pumpkins, cornstalk, scarecrows, mums, and vintage Halloween decorations. Plus, our Halloween/fall village collection. We carve pumpkins - Mr. H. enjoys the seed most. Lots of candy, despite getting few trick-or-treaters. (That’s something I miss about living in suburbs) Baking and watching our favorite movies. It’s the kickoff to the holidays in Camp Hills, and it’s ALL about being together. Check out my Pinterest for some fun images of autumn and Halloween!" ~ Kathryn Hills

Kathryn Hills' Halloween decorations

Okay, it's your turn to join the conversation! Add your comments below or send via email through the "contact us” link on the bottom of the left sidebar. You can also make suggestions on what you'd like to discuss here in the future.

Thanks for joining us. Happy Halloween!

~ The Romance Gems ~

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DID YOU SAY WHAT YOU MEANT?

By Caroline Clemmons

Recently I was under the weather and was forced to lounge about reading for a day (that’s my story and I’m sticking to it). The books I read were written by intelligent authors who used beta readers and editors. There were still consistent errors.

Sure, this is exactly how I look,
right-o, you can trust me.

Writers are always in hurry to meet our deadline or personal goal. We often confuse words when we know the difference. Sometimes, however, we may have forgotten proper usage. The following are errors I have seen repeated in books, blog posts, and on Facebook.

Conscious and conscience -- These are not interchangeable.
His conscience bothered him because he was guilty.
She was still in a coma and not conscious.

Virile but, as far as
we know, not viral

Viral and Virile -- not the same
 He was a handsome, virile man.
 The illness was viral. The video went viral.

Then and than
We went to the movies then to have ice cream. (a sequence)
I would rather have Dr Pepper than Coca-Cola. (a comparison)

Further and farther How much farther is it to the hotel? (physical distance. Remember far is in farther)
Go any further and I’ll punch you into next week. (figurative distance)
According to some experts, confusing these is not a big deal.

Here is my Achilles heel:
Lie and lay
Lay means to place something down flat. Lay requires an object to act upon.
Lie means to be in a flat position on a surface. Lie describes something moving on its own or already in position—it’s a quiet word.

Our chickens lay brown eggs. I lay down my book to answer the door.
I need to lie down. If you need me, I’ll be lying on the couch.

Don’t be confused by the children’s prayer, “Now I lay me down to sleep.” That line says “I am laying me down” rather than “I am lying down.”

I’m sure you have similar words that are your pet peeves when used incorrectly. I hope I don’t misuse them!

I’m giving away a copy of one of my e-books to two people who comment today, reader's choice. 

This month every Romance Gems author is giving away something plus we’re giving away 4 Amazon Gift Cards via the October Rafflecopter. Enter often to improve your chances of winning.

Do us a favor and tell your friends about the monthly contest and our great blog!
https://romancegems.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_28.html

Happy Hallowe'en!