It’s that spooky time of year again! Traditionally, Brits are not supposed to be so into Halloween – we’re supposed to be more about Bonfire Night on 5th November, when we set off fireworks to celebrate Parliament NOT being blown up in 1605. But Halloween seems to get bigger every year in the UK, probably because it’s fun! What’s not to like about dressing up in scary costumes (unlike in the US, where I hear anything goes on the fancy dress front, we do generally stick to a spooky theme) and getting free sweeties? Plus as we don’t do Thanksgiving, and it’s never really been a Christmas thing here, it’s our only excuse to eat pumpkin pie. 😉
I started early with celebrating Halloween – there was one family in the village I grew up in who always hosted a Halloween party for the local children, and we’d dust off the ghost outfits our mums had made out of old sheets (minus the separate hood, they doubled as angel costumes for the school nativity play) and run on up the hill for an evening of apple bobbing and ghoulish goodies.
Our houses would be decked with lanterns carved out of gourds grown in the garden, pumpkins not being something readily available in those days, at least not on the Isle of Wight–although I do remember one year, a neighbour grew a pumpkin right next to the fence that separated our gardens. I plucked up the courage to ask if I could have it to make a “proper” Halloween lantern – and was over the moon when he said yes. (With hindsight, I’m fairly sure there must have been some parental negotiation that went on without my knowledge).
When I moved away from home, I took with me my mum’s recipe for pumpkin pie, and have faithfully made it (almost!) every year since.
Giveaway: In the spirit (heh!) of Halloween, I’m offering a free e-copy of of each of my newly re-released werewolf novels Camwolf& Midnight In Berlin to a randomly-chosen commenter on this post. And there are heaps more prizes to be won by checking out the links below – good luck, and happy haunting! 😀
ETA: This contest is now closed, and the winner has been notified. Thanks to everyone who played! 😀
RJ Scott – $20 Amazon Gift Card
Angel Martinez – $25 Pride Publishing Gift Certificate
V.L. Locey – $10 Redbubble Gift Card
Jordan Castillo Price – Ebook or Audio of Reader’s choice plus JCP Swag Pack
J.L. Merrow – Ebook of both newly re-released werewolf novels Camwolf & Midnight In Berlin.
Rick R. Reed – Ebook of A Demon Inside from DSP Publications
K.A. Merikan – Paperback
Charlie Richards – $20 Amazon Gift Card
Amber Kell – $20 Amazon Gift Card
Eli Easton – $20 Amazon Gift Card and second prize of ebook copies of Gothika #1-4
Charlie Cochet – 3 x $10 Amazon Gift Cards
Meredith Russell – $10 Amazon Gift Card
Alex Jane – $10 Amazon Gift Card and Ebook from back catalogue.
Stormy Glenn – $20 Amazon Gift Card and backlist ebook.
Annabelle Jacobs – $10 Amazon Gift Card and backlist ebook
![locknut_200x300[4]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/40247243490_3a97895e2a.jpg)
JL Merrow 
Well, I love spooky movies, and I can’t possibly say which one is my favourite but I love jeepers creepers, a nightmare on elm street, halloween and the conjuring.
I’m embarrassed to say I haven’t seen any of those – will have to catch up on my horror film watching! 🙂
😂😂😉Better start before Christmas then! I’d like to know Tom’s favourite movie though…it doesn’t have to be spooky…or maybe Phil’s if Tom’d rather watch Hell’s Kitchen.
Can’t beat a good werewolf book for Halloween! Much cooler than the vampires 😁
I’ve always had a weakness for werewolves. 😀
I’m going to have to check out some of these books. I am excited to read your books. I love seeing authors I was not so familiar with! Thank you
Amanda
Treasuret69@msn.com
❤
Werewolves, vampires,… I always go back and forth between the two species. I don’t know which one I like best 😉 Never was part of team Jacob or team Edward either, ’cause I could never choose.
*whispers* Choose both! ;P
Halloween is my favorite holiday besides Christmas. I usually go as a black cat.. I’m very basic. Thanks for sharing some insight to British customs. I’d love a chance to win a a werewolf book! Happy Haunting!
It’s a classic for a reason. 🙂
Halloween is my favorite holiday, we have a family kids’ party each year that is so much fun!!!
Sounds great! 😀
I was just in Europe on vacation and was told that it is not a European thing to celebrate Halloween. Despite that, I saw plenty of Halloween decorations in stores. Not sure I saw the giant bags of candy or the pre-made costumes, though, that a prevalent here in the US. 🙂
Hm, I’m not sure about mainland Europe – I don’t think I’ve ever been there at this time of year!
Halloween has always been my favorite holiday. I love that dressing up in scary costumes is still a tradition in your part of the world. Anything goes here now, from superheroes to Star Wars characters to Disney princesses. But, when I was a kid, you weren’t just a princess. You were the ghost of a dead princess risen from the grave to haunt the living on All Hallow’s Eve, while the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest.
I just love the backstory to your princess ghost costume! 😀
Love a good werewolf book.
Me too. 🙂
I went to a Brit boarding school longer ago than I care to remember. We always celebrated Hallowe’en with ghost stories, apple bobbing, spooky decorations, etc. We used to scare ourselves silly!! But it was all quite ‘ghostly’ – no costumes other than sheets and chains. and no trick or treating. Those have wandered across from US. My German friends are surprised at Hallowe’en but it is beginning to be a ‘thing’ there, too, no doubt courtesy of US films.
Sounds like you had a great time at your school! And yes, the rise in popularity of Halloween worldwide is just one of many things I’m sure American films & TV are responsible for!
I have great Halloween memories from my childhood of trick-or-treating in our tiny town. My last round of the town was at age 17, when I wrapped myself in a sheet, made a leaf wreath for my head, and set off as Julius Caesar!
Lol – I hope it wasn’t too cold a night! 😀
When I was living in Paris, I would always go to Disney Land Paris in October because the Halloween decorations were so cool. hehehe 🙂
Ooh, that sounds fab!
I didnt know a couple of thangs that you talked about. Maybe i just a little bit obvious. I love learning about the tradition of other countries.
Samantharozyczko@gmail.com
It’s fascinating to see how things differ, isn’t it?
I’m a wimp when it comes to scary movies but I love “The Adams Family”
Oh yes – the Adams family are great!
As someone with an October birthday, I love Halloween! I decorate my house at the beginning of the month with all things black cats. I even have Halloween placemats.
Sounds great – and happy birthday! 😀
Werewolves!! I am always on board for a good werewolf story.
Me too!
I love werewolves!!! I can’t get enough of them.
avarney9197@gmail.com.
This is your time of year, then! 😉
You said the 5th of November and automatically my mind went to Guy Fawkes and V for Vendetta. I’m ready to watch that movie now lol.
I’ve been meaning to get hold of the graphic novel for ages. Perhaps I’ll put it on my Christmas list!
Halloween is my favorite holiday and I decorate accordingly. It’s so much fun seeing tiny tots in Halloween costumes for the first time, not completely sure what it’s all about. I love the parents as they whisper “say trick or treat”. Thanks for the chance. j dot stonewright at gmail dot com
Halloween is spreading everywhere in the world, I guess… I’m kind of sad about it in my home country, Estonia, because we also have sort of similar and very cool traditional holidays of our own in October/November, on St Martin’s and St Catherine’s day, when people dress up and move from house to house, but not just asking for stuff – the traditional way includes singing and wishing good luck for the household, with crops etc (or cursing, if the visitors aren’t given anything). So it’s a pity to see this tradition forgotten in favour of the more commercial Halloween… But I guess it’s inevitable in this globalised world.
Anyway, I love your books, but don’t have these paranormal ones yet, so thank you for organising this giveaway!
I think it’s a shame if an imported Halloween displaces another holiday or tradition. So far in the UK we’ve managed to keep Bonfire Night even though it’s only 5 days away from Halloween, possibly because it’s such a different celebration (and also: fireworks!) It’d be nice if they could all co-exist.
And thank you!
Pumpkin pie is my absolute fave pie. Of course being in Canada we have Thanksgiving but in my family we have it at Christmas as well.
What with mince pies, Christmas cake and Christmas pudding, I guess we just don’t have room for pumpkin pie at Christmas! But there’s also just not much of a tradition of eating pumpkins in the UK. Possibly because the ones that are grown for carving and flood the supermarkets in October often don’t have a lot of flavour.
I can’t carve pumpkins anymore and I really wish that I could!
It’s pretty hard on the wrists, isn’t it? I’m in awe of some of the designs I see posted up on the internet.
Anything is a good reason for pumpkin pie!
Indeed! ;P
I grew up with Halloween and I watch it every year, but Pet Cemetery scared me and creeped me out so much I only watched it once.
Sorry. I forgot my email address.
donnaemayer@aol.com
Halloween is fun
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
Another case of admitting I don’t watch ANY horror! But sometimes I can read it 😛
I’m always more comfortable reading than watching! 😉
I’d love to make a big thing of Halloween, not so much the scary films though, lol. But the Midlands village I live in, well let’s just say, for the last 2 years I’ve had 0, that’s 0 trick or treaters. Most disappointing.
That is a shame. I think a lot of it may be down to parents being responsible and only letting kids knock on doors of people they know will be glad to see them.
I love werewolf stories. What a great prize. Thanks
I love hearing how other places celebrate Halloween. I love watching and reading spooky things. Mainly reading because I can’t watch scary things without giving myself nightmares for days. I love reading anything paranormal but my favorite spooky movies would have to be Hocus Pocus, Psycho, and I love the final destination movies.
Ooh, some more movies for me to check out – although like you, I’m usually more comfortable reading scary stuff. 😀
So many of my favorite authors! Love your stories!
❤
When I lived in England, we carved swedes. I tried to make a pumpkin pie once from fresh pumpkin and it was a disaster–way too wet. I don’t even know why because I prefer sweet potato pie. I love dressing up, but but husband never does so it’s just me. Lol
Top tip: steam the pumpkin, don’t boil it. Stops the sog.
And enjoy those outfits! 😀
I love werewolves!
I love a good werewolf story!!!
Gotta love a good werewolf story.
dejamew@centurylink.net
Werewolves or vampire stories. Love love love them.
I love Halloween! It’s my favorite holiday besides Christmas.
I like pumpkin pie but can never eat more than a few bites. I usually go for apple pie since it’s in season right now and I can eat the entire thing.
humhumbum AT yahoo DOT com
Pumpkin pie is my dad’s favorite. We have to make one for him and one for everybody else.
paranormal is my go-to read….werewolf, vampire, dragon etc
leetee2007(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for the chance!!!
I love Halloween. It’s a huge holiday for my entire family, we go all out! Thanks for the chance 🙂
I love horror movies, but I must recognise that they keep me scared for long time after watching them. One of my favourites is Darkness, with Anna Paquin. It kept me awake for a whole week!
I live in the UK where Halloween is not a big thing, but still we get some trick-or-treaters on the day. I enjoy the little kiddies all dressed up and stuff and always make sure there’s lot’s of candy on hand!
I love werewolves and vampires 😀
I understand the growing trend thing. When I was a child, my country never had a Halloween tradition, but it seems to be growing each year.
I’d rather read a spooky book than watch a spooky film because I don’t like the jumpyness lol.
I too enjoy Halloween but never have the courage to participate! I’m surrounded by people who conform to being bland. Their blandness swamps me at times and I feel my self slipping in to their mindset. My real life horror story. Somthing that had kept me aflot was reading one of your books. Thank you for restoring my faith in reading again. I was most entertained:)
Noooo!!! Don’t give in to the bland! Find other people who enjoy your brand of weird and get out there with them, even if it means travelling a little out of your comfort zone! And have fun! *hugs*
My two all-times favourites are in the psychological horror side: Seven and Stanley Kubrick’s The Shinning. I never get tired of watching them 😛
I live in the US, but I haven’t celebrated Halloween for years. And where I live, no one has young kids anymore so I don’t get any trick-or-treaters. I just buy myself a bag of peanut butter cups and call it good.