Friday, October 23, 2015

Dear Abby - Calling All Girls - Halloween Covers

 Dear Friends,

I just wanted to share some fun vintage magazine covers with you for Halloween.  Calling All Girls was a retro magazine for girls.  It eventually became YM magazine.   It was before my Momma's time, but we both love finding images from the magazine.  The reason?  There was usually a dachshund on the cover!   We found some great retro images to share with you here.  The picture above shows a girl dressed as a skeleton with her dachshund, from 1958.

Below, from 1959, a girl decorates a Jack O' Lantern with the help of her cute dachshund.


 On this 1960 cover, a dachshund helps her person dress up as a tiger.


Now I like this!  The dachshund gets into dress up fun with a Halloween costume here.  This cover is from 1965.


A little dachshund helps bob for apples on this Halloween cover.


I hope you've enjoyed this Halloween fun!  I'd love to hear from you in the comments below.  I'm looking for fun questions and topics for future Dear Abby posts.

Love and a happy weekend to you!

Abby xoxoxo  
 

Author Interview and Giveaway - Diner Knock Out by Terri L. Austin

Diner Knock Out
Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Henery Press (October 20, 2015)
Paperback: 302 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1943390090
E-Book ASIN: B012B59QM4
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Rose Strickland’s life is complicated. Besides her waitressing gig, she works part-time for Andre Thomas, a PI with no faith in Rose’s ability to investigate, her love life with Sullivan has stalled, and her BFF, Roxy, has found a new bestie, leaving Rose out in the cold. 

Determined to prove herself, Rose takes a case on the sly. As she searches for a missing MMA fighter, Rose discovers an illegal fight club, a group of ruthless businessmen, dead bodies, and a trail of drugs.
Hunting down clues that lead too close to home, Rose finds herself in the fight of her life. Can she beat the killer to the punch before she gets knocked out for good?

Related subjects include: cozy mysteries, women sleuths, murder mystery series, whodunit mysteries (whodunnit), amateur sleuth books, book club recommendations, humorous murder mysteries.

Books in the Rose Strickland Humorous Mystery Series:

  • DINERS, DIVES & DEAD ENDS (#1)
  • LAST DINER STANDING (#2)
  • DINER IMPOSSIBLE (#3)
  • DINERS KEEPERS, LOSERS WEEPERS (novella after DINER IMPOSSIBLE in HEARTACHE MOTEL)
  • DINER KNOCK OUT (#4)
BIRDHOUSE BOOKS INTERVIEWS TERRI L. AUSTIN:
Birdhouse: When did you realize you wanted to be a writer?

Terri: As a kid, I was always either reading or daydreaming. I learned that I’d have to actually write down the characters inhabiting my brain if I wanted to get paid. Turns out, being a writer is a pretty great career.
Birdhouse: What was your favorite book as a child?
Terri:  There are so many. The Little House series, Harriet the Spy, and A Billion for Boris were some of the books I read dozens of times.
Birdhouse:  What is your writing day like?  Do you have any interesting writing quirks?
Terri:  I write throughout the day and night. My sleep schedule is a nightmare, so I don’t have a set time.
Birdhouse:  What was the most surprising thing you learned while creating this book?
Terri:  Birch sap water is a real thing. Who knew?
Birdhouse:  Who are your favorite authors?
Terri:  Karen Marie Moning, Janet Evanovich, Kresley Cole, and Joanna Wylde. As you can see, I’m all over the place with my reading habits. I read romance, mystery, YA, fantasy. I love it all.
Birdhouse:  What is your next writing project?
Terri:  I’m currently working on a contemporary romance series that features Irish expats living in Chicago. The working title of the first book is Rules of Engagement. 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
As a girl, Terri L. Austin thought she’d outgrow dreaming up stories and creating imaginary friends. Instead, she’s made a career of it. She met her own Prince Charming and together they live in Missouri. She loves to hear from readers. Drop her a note at www.TerriLAustin.com.
Author Links:
Twitter, FB, Goodreads, TerriLAustin.com, and Henery Press.

GIVEAWAY:
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Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Dangerously Dark (A Chocolate Whisperer Mystery)

Dangerously Dark
(A Chocolate Whisperer Mystery)

Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Publisher: Kensington (September 29, 2015)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1617733475
E-Book ASIN: B00RRT323O
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“Chocoholics and food cozy fans rejoice! With prose as smooth and delicious as its theme, this quality debut cozy introduces a smart protagonist with an unusual and tasty profession.”—Library Journal (starred) on Criminal Confections

Chocolate-whisperer Hayden Mundy Moore has just arrived in Portland, Oregon, where she’s about to scarf soufflés and sip cacao-based cocktails at her friend’s engagement party. Fresh from nabbing her first candy-covered killer, the last thing Hayden wants to do is mix her love of chocolate with criminal mischief again. But then the groom-to-be turns up dead before beginning his renowned Chocolate-After-Dark tour. . .

Hayden’s friends insist that Declan’s death was a freak accident, but she knows there’s no mistaking the bitter aftertaste of homicide. In the midst of habañero hot chocolate and mocha-chunk gelato, a choco-crazed killer waits to strike again. Hayden will need to use more than her extraordinarily gifted taste buds to bring this murderer to justice, but she just might have bitten off more than she can chew in the process. . . 

About This Author
Colette London is the pseudonym of a best-selling novelist who’s published more than three dozen books worldwide.

Visit her on the web at www.colettelondon.com, friend her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/colette.london.books, or follow her on Twitter @Colette__London 

Purchase Links
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Giveaway
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