Michelle's Pillow Talk
BLOG HOME
Author Michelle M Pillow's take on important events. *cough* Yeah, that's it.
Monday, October 31, 2005
Halloween Trivia

Phasmophobia" is the fear of ghosts.

A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins.

It's illegal to sell a haunted house in
New York without informing the buyer.

Eighty-two percent of children take part in Halloween festivities, as do 67% of adults.

The first jack-o'-lanterns were made of turnips.

"Samhainophobia" is the morbid fear of Halloween.

Halloween is the biggest holiday of the year when it comes to candy sales—estimated at $1.93 billion. One quarter of all the candy sold each year is purchased between September 15 and November 10.

The word witch comes from the Saxon word Wicca, which means "wise one."

Pumpkins also come in white, blue and green.

In
France, more than 30,000 werewolf cases were tried between 1520 and 1630.

Dracula is the most filmed story of all time.

The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,469 pounds. It was weighed in on
October 1, 2005 at the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Weigh-Off.

Trick-or-treating is an Irish tradition, based on a custom where wealthy landowners would give food to the poor on Halloween night, believing ghosts would look favorably on them for doing so and spare them from mischief.

In Romanian, Dracula means "Son of the Devil."

The Scots believed in "Samhanach," a goblin who came out only on Halloween and stole children.

Halloween costume sales are estimated at $1.5 billion.

Eighty percent of kids say their favorite Halloween candy is either chocolate or gum.

Pumpkins are fruits, not vegetables.

Pennsylvania was the first colony to legalize witchcraft.

There is a poisonous mushroom called a jack-o'-lantern. These mushrooms are a bright orange-yellow in color and on rainy nights they appears to glow in the dark.

Fifty-one percent of all American adults believe in ghosts. Nine percent of Americans claim to have been in the presence of a ghost during their lifetime.

Americans consume about 20 million pounds of candy corn each year.

The Count Dracula Society was founded in 1962.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, people in costumes and masks would go from house to house, singing and dancing to keep evil at bay. These people were known as "guisers."

Americans spend about $50 million on Halloween greetings.

According to studies, the smell of pumpkin pie is the most arousing to women, followed by lavender, cucumbers, baby powder and Good & Plenty candy.

At one time, there were public trials and convictions of animals for witchcraft.

In Lewis, Scotland, Halloween was once celebrated by designating one man to wade into the evening sea and offer a cup of ale to Shoney, a sea god.

In the North of England, Halloween was called "nut-crack" and "snap-apple night."

Ninety-nine percent of pumpkins sold in the U.S. are used to make jack-o'-lanterns.

The first Frankenstein film was produced by Thomas Edison in 1910.

The average U.S. household spends $44 on Halloween candy.

There is a Transylvania County in North Carolina.

According to superstition, you will see your future spouse over your left shoulder in the mirror at midnight on Halloween.

"Wicca phobia" is the fear of witches and witchcraft.

October 30 is National Candy Corn Day.

A popular Halloween drink in 18th century Ireland was "lambs-wool," which consisted of roasted, crushed apples mixed into milk.

Dan Rather was born on Halloween, as was Jane Pauley.

Celts believed black cats were once people who had been turned into animals with evil magic.

posted by Michelle Pillow @ 8:03 AM   3 comments
Everything you ever wanted to know about pumpkins
But Were Afraid To Ask...

- Pumpkins are fruits. A pumpkin is a type of squash and is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitacae), which also includes squash, cucumbers, gherkins, and melons.

- The largest pumpkin pie ever baked was in 2003 and weighed 418 pounds.

- Pumpkins have been grown in North America for five thousand years. They are indigenous to the western hemisphere.

- In 1584, after French explorer Jacques Cartier explored the St. Lawrence region of North America, he reported finding "gros melons." The name was translated into English as "pompions," which has since evolved into the modern "pumpkin."

- Pumpkins are low in calories, fat, and sodium and high in fiber. They are good sources of Vitamin A, Vitamin B, potassium, protein, and iron.

- The largest pumpkin ever grown was 1,337 pounds. It was grown by Charles Houghton of New Boston, New Hampshire.

- Pumpkin seeds should be planted between the last week of May and the middle of June. They take between 90 and 120 days to grow and are picked in October when they are bright orange in color. Their seeds can be saved to grow new pumpkins the next year.
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 8:00 AM   1 comments
Ghostly Experiences
I want a pet ghost, but I think they're scared of me. Though I swear one was drinking my coffee the other day. grrrrr

Have a real life ghost story to share? Let's hear it! Give us the ghouls and the ghosts! The spiritly spirits! The... OUCH! Why'd you hit me Mandy? I was on a role. Oh, sorry, um, yeah, let's hear your paranormal true stories. (heresay fine too, lol--give us everyone elses as well)
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:58 AM   0 comments
New Publisher and Halloween...
I've just sent of my first contract (hopefully the first of many) with new publisher, Samhain Publishing.
The book is REALM IMMORTAL: KING OF THE UNBLESSED. It's fantasy/paranormal/romance. I'm very excited to be working with the fine ladies as Samhain and I wish them all the best in this new endevour. They bring a lot of talent to the table, so I'm sure it will go 'swimmingly' for them. (sorry, been wanting to use that word all day, lol)

****

Ancient Origins of Halloween

origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).




The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.

To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.


During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
To read the rest of this article: http://www.historychannel.com/
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:50 AM   1 comments
Happy Halloween!!! Recipe
I love Halloween. It's probably one of my favorite holidays. Though, Thanksgiving ranks up there because I get fed. I am so led with my stomach. I'm like a stray. You feed me, I follow you home.

In the spirit of feeding me. :) Here's a cake recipe. Feel free to post your own faves!


When cake is cut, it spurts green goop.

~ BATTER ~
18 1/4 oz box white cake mix
4-serving package green gelatin

~ BLACK FROSTING ~
Blue food coloring
Chocolate frosting
~ DECORATIONS ~
4 black licorice whips
2 big green gumballs
6 little gumballs
Prepare cake using two 9-inch round cake pans. Cool.

Prepare the gelatin according to package directions. It works best if it is just a little on the soft side.

On a foil-covered cookie-sheet, place one cake layer for the body. Cut a smaller circle out of the center of the layer. Place this smaller round of cake as the spider's head. Fill the hole left in the body layer with gelatin. Place the other cake layer on top of the body and trim cake slightly to shape , if desired.

To prepare frosting, in a mixing bowl, add blue food coloring to the chocolate frosting until black in color. Frost the entire cake black. Cut the black licorice whips in half and insert for the eight legs. Position the gumballs as eyes.

posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:47 AM   0 comments
October's Angel of the Month

"This month's author came into the romance scene with a bang. Michelle M. Pillow has not stuck to one genre but has given her fans a bit of Paranormal, Historicals and even some Horror. She has added numerous books to her booklist, and if you ever get a chance to read one of her books, don't pass it up...."

Read the whole article here:
http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/October_Author.htm
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:40 AM   1 comments
Sunday, October 30, 2005
M&M Paranormal Day Winners!!! Group 2
M&M Paranormal Day Winners!!!
Congratulations to all the winners! And thank you so much for playing with us! The authors will be contacting you with prize information!
Contest 1
Winner - Reba Newman
Prize - download of one of Kate Hill's EC books

Contest 2
Winner - Amy Smith amysmith98
Prize - Solstice Heat download copy

Contest 3
Winner - romanticafanatic
Prize - Elemental Desires: Rayne Dance download

Contest 4
Winner - Jenn Logan
Prize - reader's choice of a Shiloh Walker download

Contest 5
Winner - Rain
Prize - a print copy of Ann Jacobs EPPIES FINALIST anthology,
to be sent to the winner as soon as she gets her copies

Contest 6
Winner - DannyFireDragon
Prize - download of MEN TO DIE FOR Anthology

Contest 7
Winner - Dawn Murphy
Prize - a free download from Arianna Hart's back list!

Contest 8
Winner - KimW rwestgaard
Prize - a prize of a trade paperback copy of the winner's choice of any one of
Katherine Kingston's books available in paperback

Contest 9
Winner - Karen Baker
Prize - a free copy of A MORE PERFECT UNION

Michelle M Pillow
Mandy M Roth
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 9:06 AM   0 comments
M&M Paranormal Day Winners!!! Group 1
M&M Paranormal Day Winners!!!
Congratulations to all the winners! And thank you so much for playing with us! If you won please email any requested information and the author will get you your prize!

Contest 1 - Write your own Headstone
Winner- Reading Dana
Prize - Signed copy of Daughter of Darkness by Mandy Roth
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 2 - Trivia
Winner- maria maripj99
Prize - a t-shirt with the cover of Prince of the Mist by Penelope Marzec
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 3 - Sexy Beast
Winner- Jenny - gryffindorean@
Prize - download of Bonfire of the Vampires Jennifer Colgan
Author will email your prize

Contest 4 -Fave Heroine
Winner -Jenn Logan (maynard625)
Prize -download of Never A Sunset ANNALEE BLYSSE
Author will email your prize

Contest 5 - Aislyn
Winner - Deb Frischkorn debrich6
Prize - a download of Aislyn
Author will email your prize

Contest 6 - Midnight Tryst
Winner- Michelle Anderson" shellya121
Prize -a mouse pad with MidnightTryst cover art!
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 7 - ONE MORE TOMORROW
Winner - Linda Hoelscher" davlin2
Prize - A print copy of ONE MORE TOMORROW
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 8- DREAM WEAVER
Winner - gtwm02
Prize - Print copy of DREAM WEAVER
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 9 - DAY AND KNIGHT
Winner - Amy Smith" amysmith98
Prize - Scented oil lamp and frame set
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 10 - ENCHANTED CASTLE
Winner - "Sara W." srwil1
Prize - a free copy of THE ENCHANTED CASTLE
Author will email your prize

Contest 11- Fire Within Contest
Winner - Tracee [ti07]
Prize - a free copy of The Fire Within
Author will email your prize

Contest 12 - Moon Bright. Moon Dark
Winner - Paula" misnoumer
Prize - a sword pen
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 13 - All Our Yesterdays
Winner - christy" mckenney
Prize - a Christmas ornament
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 14 - Post
Winner - Ellen, ec [excann13]
Prize - The Talisman in either .html or .pdf
Author will email your prize

Contest 15 - Seeing You
Winner - Tracee ti07
Prize - a 2005/2006 pocket calendar with the I'll Be Seeing You cover
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Contest 16 - Rowena Cherry
Winner - Debbie Ellison debbieellison1
Prize - Print Copy Forced Mate
Email Mailing Address to michelle_pillow @ yahoo.com (no spaces)

Michelle M Pillow
Mandy M Roth
www.mandyroth.com
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 8:24 AM   0 comments
Friday, October 28, 2005
Paranormal Day Today!
Tons of contests (each board different) and LOTS OF PRIZES!!!

Join the M & Ms (Michelle Pillow and Mandy Roth) for a day filled with paranormal mischeif!


http://groups.yahoo.com/group/new_concepts_pub/
New Concepts Group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ellorascavechat/
Ellora's Cave Group

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Raven_Vampire_Nightclub/
Raven Vampire Nightclub
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 9:35 AM   0 comments
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Throwing Things Off The Roof
I'm in the middle of moving right now. We're buying a new house. It's beautiful with an area for a garden. Do I garden? Not yet. lol. But it's there. Anyway, I've been packing for the last three days--Six giant boxes of which were books. *sniff, missing them already* Think I have an addiction? I do. And yes, yesterday I climbed out on the roof and threw things down from the second story. What? It's called moving. Luckily, I looked first and no one was hurt below.

For the record, I HATE PACKING. It sucks and I have way too much stuff. Moving has to be the only time people admit to that. After awhile, you just look around and start thinking that maybe all you really need is your computer and a couple dinner plates. lol. Okay, we can buy disposable plates. Just grab the laptop and we're good to go.
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:07 AM   5 comments
Friday, October 21, 2005
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEW CONCEPTS PUBLISHING!!!

Hey, Readers!

October marks the 9th Birthday of New Concepts Publishing! To celebrate, NCP and her authors are having a GREAT new contest just for you!

With over twenty authors participating and tons of prizes, you don’t want to miss this!

Below you will find a list of participating authors and their websites. That’s the easy part. What YOU have to do, is search their sites for the phoenix graphic below (either black or white.) These little guys are hidden only ONCE on each site.

Then in an EMAIL list the authors and the links of the page where you found the graphic.


Send the EMAIL with the answers to:
phoenixbirthdaybash@yahoo.com
(phoenixbirthdaybash @ yahoo.com *no spaces).

*****DO NOT reply to any yahoo loop, this blog or send to any other

address or you WILL be disqualified!!!*****

Contestants have until October 31st. Winners will be notified on November 1st.

Good luck and have fun cruising the authors’ websites. And Happy Birthday NCP!!!!




NEW CONCEPTS BIRTHDAY BASH



Author

website



Jaycee Clark

www.jayceeclark.com



Mandy M. Roth

www.mandyroth.com



Michelle M. Pillow

www.michellepillow.com



Ellen Ashe

www.ellenashe.com



Barri Bryan

http://www.barribryan.atfreeweb.com



Kate Hill

http://www.kate-hill.com





Angelia Whiting

http://www.geocities.com/angeliawhiting



Angel Lynn

http://www.geocities.com/angellynnb2003



Adrienne Kama

http://www.AdrienneKama.com



Kay Wilde

http://www.kaywilde.com



Shelley Munro

www.shelleymunro.com



Jennifer Colgan

http://www.jennifercolgan.com



Bernadette Gardner

http://www.bernadettegardner.com



Myra Nour

www.myranour.com



Anita Verkerk

www.anitaverkerk.com



Monica Burns

http://www.monicaburns.com



Penelope Marzec

http://www.penelopemarzec.com



S.J. Willing

http://www.sjwilling.com



Annalee Blysse

http://www.annaleeblysse.com



Janet Miller

http://www.janetlynnmiller.com



Rowena Cherry

www.rowenacherry.com



Sydney Somers

http://www.sydneysomers.com



Ashley Ladd

www.ashleyladd.com



Celia Ashley

http://www.celiaashley.com



Tracy L. Ranson

www.tracy-ranson.freeservers.com



Brenna Lyons

http://www.brennalyons.com



posted by Michelle Pillow @ 5:06 PM   0 comments
Thursday, October 20, 2005
RANDOM WINNER!!
Congrats to Pam K! Please email us at michelle@michellepillow.com to claim your prize.
A PDF of All Hallows' Eve by Michelle and Mandy!

Keep posting on our blogs to win!

Michelle & Mandy
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 7:05 PM   2 comments
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Just another day...
It's noon here and already I've watched a little tv while writing, baked a cake, fixed several pieces of guttering on my house and am now giving a duck a bath. Yep, it's just another day.

What's everyone else up to?
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 10:06 AM   2 comments
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
*Pulling Out Hair*
That's it. I've heard from the editors, lol. I want to hear from you readers. What in the world am I supposed to be doing? *looking around messy office and shaking head*

Sorry I haven't been on here bloggin' away. I'm drowning in the written word. Actually, thanks to the help of some very nice people, I'm starting to see the surface of this paper ocean. Ouch, shoot, another paper cut!

And, as I often do when the surface is nearing, I'm beginning to itch to start a new book. But what will it be? More Tribes of the Vampire? Another Taming Him? Scorched Destiny 2? Galaxy Playmates? Futuristics? A side character from one of my many books who need his own tale? Or do I start another series? stand alone?

Yep, folks, I'm lost. So, I'm appealing to you, the reader. What in the world do you want me to write about? Just post whatever you want to see from me. Believe it or not. I listen!

~michelle~
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 6:20 PM   6 comments
Taming Him ~ New Release EC

Taming Him By Michelle M. Pillow

Aliens do not exist.

Maggie is a practical woman and practical women don't believe in aliens. But when a sexy alien kidnaps her and brings her to his spaceship, her world is shaken. When he tells her she's meant to be his wife and that she's going to spend her days being pleasured by him, she finds she's ready to believe—and do—almost anything to be his.

Buy or Read Excerpt: http://www.ellorascave.com/productpage.asp?ISBN=1-4199-0368-3
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 6:18 PM   3 comments
Tuesday, October 04, 2005
Théâtre de Passion ~ New Cover, Coming Soon NCP

Théâtre de Passion:

Phantom of the Night


Orphaned at a young age, Lily Graye is taken in by her aunt and raised in the theatrical world of the Pavilion, a place where every strange whim is normal and every odd behavior encouraged. However, when her long dead childhood crush comes back to life, even she, a born eccentric has to question if life within the Pavilion has become a little too strange.
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 8:11 PM   5 comments
Suspicious Minds
"We're caught in a trap, I can't walk out
because I love you too much baby

Why can't you see, what you're doing to me
When you don't believe a word I say.

We can't go on together, with suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams, on suspicious minds...."
~ Elvis Presley


This song is stuck in my head for no reason other than I like it, which got me thinking about superstitions. Thanks to Mandy, whenever I lose something I ask Tony for help. LOL It does work.

So, what do you all do? Throw spilled salt over your shoulder? Don't walk under ladders? I'm very curious as to what superstition are alive and well today. Who taught them to you and, better yet, do they work? If you have anything else interesting to share, please do. :)
posted by Michelle Pillow @ 9:20 AM   4 comments
Enter your email address below to subscribe to Michelle M Pillow!


About Me
Michelle M Pillow
Author of All Things Romance (tm)

Name: Michelle Pillow
Home: United States
About Me: NEW BLOG ADDY:http://michellepillow.com/blog/

Website– www.michellepillow.com

Blog
– http://www.michellepillow.com/blog/

Chat Group
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/The_Raven_Vampire_Nightclub/join

Author Newsletter/Book Notification Group
- http://groups.yahoo.com/group/michellempillow/join

Myspace
- http://www.myspace.com/michellepillow

Free Story for Readers
- http://www.ravenhappyhour.com

Podcasts
- http://www.ravenhappyhour.com/raven_podcasts.htm

Raven Blog (paranormal blog with Mandy M Roth)
– http://ravenhappyhour.com/ravenblog

Bookvideos
- http://www.michellepillow.com/videos.htm

Contest
- http://michellepillow.com/blog/?cat=10
See my complete profile

Everyone's welcome to stop by and comment, don't be shy! I tend to keep it relaxed around here.

Want to hear me blog about a topic? Have an idea for a blog theme day? Want your blog on my blogroll? Want to contemplate the different shades of red toenail polish? Feel free to email!
michelle_pillow@yahoo.com

Previous Post
Archives
Michelle's Links

Publisher Links
Support My Research Book Habit!
Simply click here before buying anything on Amazon.com

Author Blog Links
Other Blog Links
Some of My Books
Other Links
Blog for Readers



Weblog Directory - Directory of blogs from all around the world.
Powered by

Free Blogger Templates

BLOGGER