Monday Munchday...An Exciting Announcement!

Darlings!

So nice of you to drop by on Monday and visit me!  I missed you so over the weekend :)

And you won't be sorry for coming over!

I have SUCH exciting news!!!

Guess what???

I have invented a new recipe!

Yes!  It's true!

I must give credit where credit is due.  I was inspired by Shelley Kinder in a blog comment on the Halloweensie Winner's post.  During all the talk about nuts vs. no nuts in dessert, she suggested the benefits of peanut butter chips... and an idea was born!

Lo and behold, my new recipe:

Take the brownie recipe of your choice and add 1/2 (or 1/2 +) cup of peanut butter chips!  YUM!

And this gave rise to ANOTHER idea... add 1/2 (or 1/2+) cup of toffee chips!

OR add 1/2 (or 1/2+) cup of crushed peppermint!

OR go the s'mores route and add 1/2 cup mini marshmallows and 1/4-1/2 cup graham cracker cereal!  (Although that might get mushy... I'll have to experiment...!  Maybe crushed graham cracker at the bottom with the brownie batter mixed with marshmallows added on top...?)

I KNOW!

And you're welcome, because I know I have just given you a whole new outlook on your holiday baking plans! :)

At least, I've given MYSELF a whole new outlook on MY holiday baking plans! :)

And the added benefit?  An unexpected Monday Something Chocolate Snack:

Please forgive the photos - I'm a baker not a photographer :) - but I promise they taste delicious!!! :)

So, thanks for stopping by.  I hope it was worth your time.  And I hope you weren't expecting anything else...

What?

You were expecting something else?

Well in that case...

...maybe I should tell you...

...that it's time for...

The 5th Annual Holiday Contest!!!!

WA-HOOO!!!! :)

The Contest:  Write a children's story (children here defined as approximately age 12 and under) beginning with any version of "Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop."  You may use that actual opening, or you may change it to any similar version "[Verb of your choice]ing [any preposition you choose] the [any item you choose] [any preposition you choose] the [venue of your choice]."  For example, "Surfing along the wind-whipped waves at the Yuletide barbeque," or "Wandering through the pine-sweet woods at the cut-your-own tree farm," or "Quarreling in the checkout line at the local Toys R Us," or "Waltzing among the candy canes at the Holiday Bazaar"....   You get the idea, I'm sure :)  But "Rocking around the Christmas tree at the Christmas party hop" is completely acceptable too - whatever works for you :)  Your story may be poetry or prose, silly or serious or sweet, religious or not, based on Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or whatever you celebrate, but is not to exceed 350 words (I know!  So much freedom after the Halloweensie Contest :))  (It can be as short as you like (the judges will be grateful :)), but no more than 350!)  The field is wide open!  Have fun!  The more creative the better!  No illustration notes please. (And yes, if you feel compelled to submit more than one entry you may, just remember you're competing against yourself!)

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between 12:01 AM EST Monday December 7 and Friday December 11 at 11:59 PM EST, and your post-specific link should be added to the link list on the official holiday contest post which will go up on my blog on Monday December 7 and remain up through Sunday December 13 (no WYRI or PPBF during that week.)  If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, please copy and paste your entry into the comments on my December 7th post.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, please email me and I'll post your entry for you! But please don't send attachments!  Just copy and paste your story into the email.)

The Judging:  My lovely assistants and I will narrow down the entrants to 10-12 finalists (depending on the number of entries) which will be posted here on either Monday December 14 or Tuesday December 15 (depending on the number of entries :)) for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed on Thursday December 17 at 5 PM EST and the winners will be announced on Friday December 18.  Whoever gets the most votes will be first and so on down to tenth place.  Judging criteria will be kid appeal/kid-friendliness, creativity, quality of story, quality of writing, and originality.

The Prizes!:  Ok, so I'm still working on the prize list and will have to update, but here are some of the prizes that will be offered, and I think we're going to have some additional awesomeness to add! (items in color are links for more info!):

- A Picture Book Manuscript read and critique (winner's choice of in-person, on the phone, or via email) by Claire Dorsett, Editorial Assistant, Roaring Brook Press!!!
   A bibliophile and outdoor enthusiast, Claire spent her childhood summers road-tripping across the United States, reading constantly on the long car rides between parks and museums. Her love of literature led her to pursue a BA in English from Cornell University, where she was involved with campus publications The Daily Sun and Rainy Day literary magazine. Claire then completed the six-week intensive Columbia Publishing Course before finding a home at Roaring Brook Press, an imprint of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, assisting VP and Publisher Simon Boughton. She has worked on a range of projects during her time at Roaring Brook, including Lane Smith's middle-grade debut Return to Augie Hobble, Steve Sheinkin's National Book Award finalist Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War, and picture books The Skunk, There is a Tribe of Kids, and Ned The Knitting Pirate. 
- a brand new Picture Book Webinar Bundle including one webinar on Concept Books and the other on Rhyme, Verse and Lyricism in Picture Books, generously donated by Emma Walton Hamilton, author, editor, writing coach, and teacher of the fabulous Just Write For Kids courses.
- a 2016 membership to Children's Book Insider, including their Children's Writing Knowledge Base, an absolutely fabulous resource for kid lit writers of all kinds, generously offered by Jon Bard and Laura Backes
 - A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by talented author/illustrator Iza Trapani, author of JINGLE BELLS, OLD KING COLE, ITSY BITSY SPIDER, and many, many more!
 - A Picture Book Manuscript Critique by the fabulous Lori Degman, author of 1 ZANY ZOO and COCK-A-DOODLE OOPS!
 - Enrollment in Making Picture Book Magic (my online picture book writing class - in January or a later month to be mutually agreed upon by the winner and me)
 - 2016 Children's Writer's & Illustrator's Market  and a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
 - a pack of Susanna Leonard Hill's amazing What's The Story Cards (hitherto un-introduced to the world!)

I can't thank these authors and other industry professionals enough for their incredible generosity!  Please visit their sites, buy and recommend their books and services to your writer friends and/or friends with kids, write them nice reviews on Amazon, GoodReads etc if you've read and liked their books, and show your appreciation to them in any way you can!

And now!  Sharpen those pencils!  Top off those coffee mugs!  Get those derrieres in your chairs!  And start writing those prize-winning entries!!!

I can't wait for the festivities to begin! :)

The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest WINNERS!!!

Happy Friday, Everyone!

I know none of you has gotten a minute of rest or a wink of sleep for days, what with the torturous anticipation of finding out who the winners of the contest are!

No doubt you have paced a hole in your carpet!

But fear not!  The day has arrived!

Are you ready to see who won?

The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous

Illustration Contest for Children's Illustrators!

Great!

Me, too!

I just have one quick thing to say, which is that EVERYONE who entered this contest should be very proud of themselves.  You all showed up, put in the work, produced GORGEOUS illustrations, followed guidelines, and worked to a deadline - all very important skills to practice when illustrating and/or writing is your profession :)  Even if you didn't make the finals, be assured that your illustrations were greatly enjoyed by many upon many!  Seriously!  I am not making this up.  The contest post with all your links had around 3000 views, which means lots of people were visiting you, even if they didn't all comment!  So we are giving you a round of thunderous applause - clapclapclapclapclap!!!!! - and you should pat yourselves on the back and have an extra slice of chocolate cake - you did good! :)

So now, without further ado, by popular vote, the Winner of the 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest and the opportunity to take Mark Mitchell's fantastic Make Your Marks And Splashes online illustration course...

DDDDDRRRRRUUUUUMMMMM  RRRRROOOOOLLLLLLLLLL  PLEASE!!!!...

Anna Totten!!!

Congratulations, Anna!!!

2nd Place, and winner of the Wacon Intuos Pen and Touch Small Tablet is...

Dow Phumiruk

3rd Place, and winner of the $50 gift certificate to Blick Art Materials is...

Cheryl Pilgrim

Congratulations, Cheryl!!!

4th Place* is...

Michelle Todd

Congratulations, Michelle!!!

5th Place* is...

The Write Laura

Congratulations, Laura!!!

6th Place* is...

Micha Klann

Congratulations, Micha!!!

*4th-6th Places may have their choice of any one of the following:

     - Writing With Pictures by Uri Shulevitz

      - A Caldecott Celebration - Seven Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal by Leonard Marcus

      - Show & Tell - Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration by Dilys Evans

      - 2015 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market by Chuck Sambuchino

  - a Canson sketch pad and a small set of Derwent or Faber Castell colored pencils

and of course you ALL get the bragging rights to having won or placed in a Pretty Much World Famous Contest! :)

Winners, please email me so we can talk details :)

Thank you again to all the illustrators who participated in this contest and treated us all to such beautiful artwork; to our wonderful judges, Iza Trapani and Lisa Thiesing, without whom we could not have done this!; and to all the readers and viewers who visited, commented, and voted to celebrate these talented artists!  It is all of you who make these contests fun and worthwhile!

Have a spectacular 4th of July Weekend, Everyone!!!

The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous Illustration Contest For Children's Illustrators!!!

WOO HOO!  The day has finally arrived!  It's time for . . .

The 2nd Annual Pretty Much World Famous

Illustration Contest for Children's Illustrators!

The Contest: Draw/Paint/Create a children's picture book illustration (no text required - art only) the topic for which shall be

discovery

Above all things, these illustrations are meant to evoke story, so it is crucial that they present at least one character, a setting, and ideally hint at/suggest some kind of plot or conflict idea.

Illustrations should be 8x10, horizontal or vertical, any medium, posted in jpg at least 72 px.  Illustrators may enter more than one entry if they're feeling ambitious :)

Post:  Your entry should be posted on your blog between right now this very second and Friday June 26 at 9 PM EDT (contest deadline!)  Please add your post-specific link to the link list below which will remain up all week so that people will be able to come visit and enjoy your amazing artwork.  If you don't have a blog but would like to enter, you will be able to copy and paste your entry into the comments below.  (If anyone has trouble commenting, which unfortunately happens, you may email me and I'll post your entry for you!)

Judging:  entries will be judged by multi-talented, award-winning author/illustrators Iza Trapani, author and illustrator of over 20 gorgeous picture books, and Lisa Thiesing, author and illustrator of 40 beautiful and fun picture books and early readers!   Judging criteria to include:

 - does the illustration evoke a sense of story,

 - is the picture readable to a young audience,

 - how well does it show the character(s) and

 - is/are the character(s) appealing (character development),

 - originality,

 - skill.

They will narrow down the entrants to 6 finalists (or possibly a couple more or less depending on the number of entries :)) which will be posted here on Monday June 29 for you to vote on for a winner.  The vote will be closed at 5PM EST on Thursday July 2 and the winner will be announced on Friday July 3... along with something for the writers in our audience, so stay tuned! :)

The Prizes!:  There will definitely be a 1st prize.  Whether we give prizes for 1st only, 1st-3rd, or 1st-6th will depend on how many entries we get.  We need at least 12 entries to place through 3rd, and at least 20 to place through 6th.

We've got some great prizes lined up including a chance to take Mark Mitchell's fantastic Make Your Marks And Splashes Online Children's Book Illustration Class (a $249 value, but really priceless!)  This class is packed with video lessons on the topics of drawing, painting, and children's book illustration and video interviews with children's illustrators. It also includes three months of online group critique sessions (2 sessions per month, at this point) with Mark and guest instructors, so the winner could also get the equivalent of a portfolio critique if she/he participated in all six of the sessions.  You can read all about it here: http://howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.com/NewCoursehome2/

http://howtobeachildrensbookillustrator.com/NewCoursehome2/

Additional prizes will include:

 - a Wacon Intuos Pen and Touch Small Tablet (see details HERE)

 - a $50 gift certificate to Dick Blick Art Materials (which is online)

 - choices of the following books:

      - Writing With Pictures by Uri Shulevitz

      - A Caldecott Celebration - Seven Artists and Their Paths to the Caldecott Medal by Leonard Marcus

      - Show & Tell - Exploring the Fine Art of Children's Book Illustration by Dilys Evans

      - 2015 Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market by Chuck Sambuchino

  - a Canson sketch pad and a small set of Derwent or Faber Castell colored pencils

and of course the bragging rights to having won or placed in a Pretty Much World Famous Contest! :)

So ready, set, GO! artists!  We can't wait to see what you've created!  We're ready to be inspired! :)

Remember, add your post-specific blog link to the link list below or email your illustration to me for posting here!

Below are 9 entires (so far) in the post, and the link list is down below them.

Entry from Tina Marantette:

illustration copyright Tina Marantette 2015

Entry #1 from Kristeen Mathews: discovery on the farm

illustration copyright Kristeen Mathews 2015

Entry #2 from Kristeen Mathews: discovery in a book

illustration copyright Kristeen Mathews 2015

Entry #3 from Kristeen Mathews: magic discovery

illustration copyright Kristeen Mathews 2015

Entry from Julie Abery

illustration copyright Julie Abery 2015

Entry from Michelle Todd

illustration copyright Michelle Todd 2015

Entry from Abigail Hicks

illustration copyright Abigail Hicks 2015

Entry from Beth Gallagher

illustration copyright Beth Gallagher 2015

Entry from Meredith Pinkstone

illustration copyright Meredith Pinkstone 2015

Entry from Dyann Joyce

illustration copyright Dyann Joyce 2015

Entry #1 from Susan Klein

illustration copyright Susan Klein 2015

Entry #2 from Susan Klein

illustration copyright Susan Klein 2015

Entry #3 from Susan Klein

illustration copyright Susan Klein 2015

The 2014 Halloweensie Contest Finalists - VOTE For Your Favorite!!!

Holy Jack-O-Lanterns, Batman!

Look at me!  A mere shadow of my former self!

A pumpkin who has fallen off her creaky broomstick!

Wrung out and harrowed after an entire weekend of trying to decide how to rank the incredible entries y'all submitted for Halloweensie 2014.  What a job!!!

It's a miracle I'm even here to tell the tale!

Thank goodness for the sustaining chocolate provided (via Face Book) by Joanna and Kathy :)  Thank you both, from the bottom of my chocolate-loving heart!  (And no, they did not receive "special consideration" for their entries as a result - they are both just lovely people who didn't want me or my assistant judges to keel over :))

And speaking of the assistant judges, I had to call in a fourth!  I'm not kidding!

Because here's the deal: we had the biggest turn out we've ever had in terms of number of entries - 132! - and the overall quality of the entries was fantastic.  Really, it is readily apparent that the quality of entries in these contests is improving every time.  This means there are fewer standouts, almost none that are easy to cut, and there a LOT of pretty good ones that we have to get very nit-picky over!  It is agony, I tell you!

Before we get to the actual list of finalists, I have a couple things to say.  (I know you're shocked :))

First of all, I want to thank EVERYONE who took the time and care to write an entry for this contest.   You all did a fabulous job and provided great enjoyment for many!

Second, I'd also like to thank EVERYONE - writer, reader, or both - who took the time to go around and read as many entries as you could and leave supportive comments.  This means so much to the writers who worked hard on their stories.  It helps them see what they did well, as well as giving them the joy of knowing that their stories were read and enjoyed.  I hope you all got as much delight  and entertainment out of the reading as I did!  Plus, we got to meet quite a few new people which was a wonderful added bonus! :)

Third, before I list the finalists, I want to say again how difficult it was too choose!  There were so many amazing entries.  Really.  I could find at least something terrific about every single one.  The sheer volume of entries meant that many good ones had to be cut.  So if yours didn't make the final cut please don't feel bad.  There was a huge amount of competition.  Judging, no matter how hard we try to be objective, is always subjective at a certain point - we all have our own preferences for what makes a great story.  And the fact that you didn't make the final cut DOES NOT mean you didn't write a great story.  Everyone who plonked their butt in a chair and worked hard to write a story for this contest is a winner!  You showed up.  You did your best work.  You practiced your craft.  You wrote to specifications and a deadline.  You bravely shared your writing with the world.  And you have a brand new story that is now yours to expand beyond 100 words if you like and maybe submit at some point to a magazine or as a PB manuscript.  So bravo to everyone who entered!

Now.  Onto the judging criteria which were as follows:
1. Kid-appeal! - These stories are intended for a young audience, so entries that were well-written but lacked child-friendliness did not make the cut.
2.  Halloweeniness - the rules stated a Halloween story, so entries that failed to mention anything Halloween-y did not make the cut even if they were well-written.
3. Quality of story - the rules stated that entries were to tell a story, so if they appeared to be more of a description or mood piece, they didn't make the cut.  We looked for a true story arc.
4. Quality of Writing: we took note of spelling, grammar, punctuation etc.  In addition, for the rhymers, we looked at rhyme and meter (for which we are sticklers!)  We also looked at overall writing quality and use of language.
5. Originality and creativity - because that is often what sets one story above another.

This time around, 5 entries sadly had to be cut because of rule problems: one was 3 words over the word limit (I counted 6 times, by hand and with Microsoft Word's word count tool, because it was otherwise a strong entry! but 131 other people managed to stay at 100 or under so I had to be strict!); two used "broom" but not "broomstick"; and 2 did not use "creak" in any form.  (And yes, I checked the word count on all 132 entries and made sure the required words were present.)

After that, the going really got tough.  Some of the stronger stories were written in rhyme where the meter didn't work as well as it needed to.  Some of the most beautiful rhyming entries with great use of language were more mood pieces than stories.  So we had to make some very hard calls.

Without further ado, I present to you the 2014 Halloweensie Contest Finalists.  A baker's dozen - 13 for Halloween! :)  A mix of poetry and prose, stories for younger readers and slightly older (but still kid) readers, funny, spooky, and cute.  Please read through them carefully, take your time, think it over, and vote for your favorite.  To help with objectivity, finalists are listed by title only, not by author.

And I'd like to be very clear about the voting process.  You are MOST welcome to share a link to this post on FB, twitter, or wherever you like to hang out, and encourage people to come read ALL the finalists and vote for the one they think is best.  Please do that.  The more people who read and enjoy these stories the better, and the more objective votes we get the better.  HOWEVER (and I want to be very clear on this) please do not ask people to vote for a specific number or title, or for the story about the pumpkin ballerina or whatever.  Trolling for votes or trying to influence the outcome is counter to the spirit of this competition which is supposed to be based on merit.  I thank you in advance for respecting this.

#1 Halloween SMS (Short Messaging Scariness)



#2 Creaky Cackle

Ever since Winnie Witch crashed into a creek, her cackle was creaky. 
Ah ha ha…hack…cough, cough…
Hallowe’en hijinks were hindered.
Broomstick in hand, she wobbled into the witch doctor’s office.
“Whoa,” said the doctor as she peered into Winnie’s mouth. “It looks like you’ve got a frog in your throat.”
“Chew this pumpkin lozenge,” the doctor decreed.
“Yuck,” Winnie gagged. Splutter, cough, cough…
Out bounded a bullfrog.
“Ba–ruump,” protested the frog and hopped off.
Ahhh ha ha ha ha…Winnie Witch whooped.
“Stay out of creeks,” the doctor yelled as Winnie Witch bounded off on her broomstick.

#3 Full Moon Rising

Full moon rising in the sky,
Owls are hooting, bats fly by.

Mummies moaning in the night,
Goblins groaning give you fright.

Milo walking down the path,
Up the steps, he hurries fast.

Floorboards creaking,
Milo’s sneaking,
Across the moonlit porch.

Past the pumpkin,
Past the cat,
Past the broomstick,
Past the rat.

To the door where spiders lay,
Waiting for their cowering prey.

Milo hears a frightening sound.
He doesn’t even turn around.

Glowing eyes behind him stare.
Ring the doorbell, if you dare!

Door creaks open.
Better not run.

Trick or Treat!
Now, let’s have some fun!

#4 Home Alone Halloween
I came home from school very excited. Halloween, my favorite day of the year.

I almost trip over the sixteen pumpkins on the porch.

With a creak, I swing the door open while calling out, “Mom?”  No answer.

The aroma of bat stew fills the house.

She’s not in the dungeon, or napping in her coffin. She must be here somewhere.

I look throughout the house, running from room to room.

Suddenly it hits me.

I fling open the broom closet. Empty. Even her broomstick is gone.

“Of course,” I said, hitting my forehead and smiling. “She is working tonight!”

#5 Sulky Spider's Spooky Webs

Sulky Spider planned a scheme 

For making trick or treaters scream.

Spider silk began to spin

A Jack 'o Web with wicked grin.

"Pretty pumpkin," cowgirls said. 

"Pretty?" Sulky hung her head.

"A webby ghost will do the trick!"

She spun a spooky ghoul up quick.

Pirates shouted, "Ghosts are neat!" 

She gobbled up her web. "Defeat."

   

Spinnerets began to twitch.

"A warty-broomstick-riding-witch!"

A princess cooed, "That witch is sweet."

She stomped all eight offended feet.

"I need a buggy snack," she frowned.  

Sticky thread went round and round.

She didn't hear the stairway creak.

"A spiderweb!" they hollered, "Eek!"

#6 This Year's Halloween Mascot

“Me!”

“No, me!”

Witch School should have been brimming with excitement. But everyone was sick of hearing Broomstick and Pumpkin argue over who should be Halloween mascot.

“No one flies higher,” said Broomstick.

“No Jack-O-Lantern shines brighter,” said Pumpkin.

Black cats cowered, paws over ears. Cauldrons bubbled their disapproval.

C-r-e-e-e-e-a-k-- the courtyard door opened to an assembly of witches.

“The time has come,” Head Mistress said. “The night awaits my decision.”

“This year’s mascot shines the brightest…” (Pumpkin’s head swelled.)

“…and flies the highest.” (Broomstick’s spirits soared.)

“Our Halloween mascot is…”

“… the Moon,” who silently took a bow.

#7 Halloween Chase

The pumpkins were glowing, but I still couldn't see

There was someone or something coming for me

I glanced over my shoulder when I heard the stair creak

My heart leapt from my chest and my legs became weak

I gasped when I saw her, all ghoulish and green

She was staring right at me, eyes angry and mean

Her broomstick was poised to crash down on my head

I wished I could fly, but my feet felt like lead

My fists began swinging, I was ready to fight

My sister took off her mask and just laughed with delight!

#8 Halloween Hide-and-Go-Seek
It’s Halloween! It’s dark, it’s spooky, it’s perfect for a game of Halloween Hide-and-Go-Seek!
Blurp! Bloop! Blub!
Are you in the cauldron?
No, just some toadstool stew.
Rustle! Swish! Swoosh!
Are you in the closet?
No, just an old broomstick.
Creak! Crack! Bang!
Are you behind the curtains?
No, it’s just the wind blowing the windows open and closed.
Scritch! Scratch! Raow!
Are you behind the chair?
No, just the cat settling down.
Giggle, Giggle
Are you upstairs?
Sssshhhhhhh!
Are you in the bedroom?
Hmmmmm.
Boo!
There are my little pumpkins!
You’ve had your trick, now how about your treat?

#9 The Shadow

Once upon a pumpkin moon
a rocker creaked,
the wind sighed, Soon….A Shadow stole across the lawn
and stopped upon the stair.

Ghosts and goblins roamed the streets.
They rang each bell
for tricks or treats.
As they approached they didn’t see
the Shadow waiting there.

Through the dark the children stepped,
not knowing where
the Shadow crept.
They stumbled over Shadow and
their screeches pierced the air.

Broomstick tail puffed wide with fright,
poor Shadow fled
into the night.
On Halloween a small black cat
should NOT sit on the stair!

#10 Halloween In A Box

“Skeleton!! It’s here!” Witch cackled. “Halloween in a Box! I ordered it on the Making Potions and Brew Magic website. ‘Fun Guaranteed!’”

Witch looked inside. “Pumpkin centerpiece? Broomstick garland?? Party plates??? That’s it????” She flopped onto the floor and wailed, “My party is ruined!”

Skeleton picked up the box. “I’ll be back.”

Skeleton returned with the box. “Open it.”

Witch lifted the flaps. Out jumped Black Cat, Ghost, Monster from Under-the-Bed, Zombie, his mother Mummy, and Hairy Spider.

“Now THAT’S a Halloween in a Box!” Witch screeched.

“Fun Guaranteed!” Skeleton said, dancing a creaky jig.

#11 Devious Dads And Halloween

Devious Dads and Halloween

Pumpkin creations

Under the stars,

Mama carves goblins,

Papa carves cars.

Kids from our condo,

Itching for treats,

Navigate hallways

            Bound for the streets.

            Roger plays Batdude.

            Orville’s a ghost.

            Omar rocks Elvis,

            Milly is toast.

            Sam’s owl is skittish,

            Tim acts the clown.

            Ike rides a broomstick,

            Cruising our town.

            Kids in cool costumes

Creep through the night,

Rack up the candy,

Eat just a bite.

After, in jammies,

Kids hide the rest,

Eager to keep

Dads far from the best!

#12 Snack-O'-Lantern

“Nibbles,” sighed Chester Cat. “You’re supposed to carve a pumpkin.”

“They’re too big,” the guinea pig replied. “So I am carving a Halloween-o Jalapeño. Scary, huh? Does it make you want to run away?”

“No,” Chester sniffed. “That wouldn’t make anyone run away.”

They heard the creak of floorboards and the clatter of the broomstick Buster used for fetch.

“I bet it’ll make Buster run.”

“No way.”

“Let’s see,” Nibbles challenged. Then he shouted. “BUSTER! SNAAACK!”

Buster galloped in. He gobbled the jalapeño.

His eyes sprang open.

Yelping, he dashed to his water dish.

“Told you he’d run,” Nibbles giggled.

#13 Snip, Snap, Crack

In a deep dark corner, an old lady sits.

She cackles, and snarls, and frantically knits.

Click clack go her needles.

Snip snap go her bones,

As she rocks and she creaks

and her kitty cat moans.

She conjures up spiders, and pumpkins, and ghosts

All spun from her yarn -

“I’m so wicked!” she boasts.

Don’t dare approach her,

She’s all trick and no treat.

What are you doing??

Come hither, my sweet.

Get away from that broomstick! Skedaddle! Shoo!

You’re tiptoeing closer??

Snip

Snap

Crack

BOO!

Now that you've had a chance to read through the finalists, please vote for the entry you feel deserves to win in the poll below by 5PM EST Wednesday November 5.

Tune in Thursday November 6 to see THE WINNERS!!!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to write (if you did), read, and vote!  These contests simply wouldn't be what they are without all of you!

I can't wait to see who the winners will be!

Tune in Thursday... same bat time, same bat station :)

(And we will have a regularly scheduled Would You Read It on Wednesday too!)

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to take a nap.

Okay.

Not really.

I'm SO not a napper.

But I might eat some leftover Halloween candy :)

Have a marvelous Monday! :)