PRICKLE FORREST CHRONICLES

October 2019

By Chrissy Hartmann

 

It’s fall. No better time of the year. The foliage of the trees is changing to beautiful colors of red, orange, gold, and browns. Beautiful! Spices of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg are all around to tickle the nose. And make the belly grumble. Don’t forget the Halloween candy — Snickers! KitKats! Reeses! Crunch bars!

And remember the trick-or-treaters…Wondering what will be the top costume for this Halloween? Pumpkins will be out until the end of November. The chilly air gives reason to throw on jeans, hoody, and some kick-ass boots.

Plus let’s not forget about the added bonus…Football is back. Go Buckeyes!

So what’s not a better reason than these to love the month of October?

 

 

THE TOP five

1. Jack-O-Lanterns.
2. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cookies.
3. Halloween Trick-or-Treating.
4. Pumpkin Spice Latte.
5. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

 

 

WIP (Work In Progress):

Working on book 1 rewrite of the Sugar Creek Trilogy

TAGS…Because Everything Has A Price 2019©

 

Outline is finished and the first 3 chapters are finished. Learned the techniques of Deep Point of View and trying to apply them. It’s a slow process right now, but once it becomes familiar, progress should quicken…If The Muses don’t stir up trouble.

And yes, completed book 2 last year. Hope to start Book 3 in January. Signed up for NANOWRIMO…Hope to have rewrite finished by December 1st. Fingers crossed. No toe crossing yet…Only as a last resort.

 

Although everything will change if nominated to participate in PitchWars. Keeping toes crossed now, announcement on November 3rd.

 

 

QUERYING UPDATE:

Queried quite a few literary agents and publishers August and September. Should be hearing back from them soon. Actually have heard back from one publisher who asked for more time so they could discuss RESCUING WHISKEY’S SALVATION 2019©

Not sure just exactly what that means. Maybe good news? Hoping to hear back from them soon.

But just in case…Already have another group of literary agents and publishers ready to query.

 

 

THE CRAFT

Learned how to use deep point of view. What a game changer for the writing!

Check out the book Method Acting for Writers

By Lisa Hall-Wilson

The Muses give her 5 Oreos.

Lisa also hosts a free workshop on Facebook a few times a year. She has a much more extensive workshop that lasts about 8+ weeks. Unfortunately unable to sign up for it this time, but maybe next time it rolls around.

After this brief workshop, definitely notice a difference in the writing. Love it!

 

 

THE HOLIDAYS:

Halloween is the big one for this month. Will probably pull out the old standby costume of “Where’s Waldo” but will dress as his girlfriend…Wenda. She’s the one who always takes the pictures but somehow loses the camera. Still wondering what happened to Wenda’s twin sister Wilma and Waldo’s first girlfriend. Hmm? Kind of spooky. Huh?

 

The neighborhood Trick-or-Treat is not on Halloween. Bummer.

 

Hoping to also celebrate National bandana day on Frankenstein Friday, which happens to be October 25th and let’s not forget to celebrate National Pumpkin Day on Saturday October 26th. Not sure what to carve the pumpkin into yet. But really only doing it to get the pumpkin seeds. Cover them in sunflower oil and a pinch of salt then bake them at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes Sweeten them up with some cinnamon sugar before you bake them if plain ones don’t float your boat. Fantastic snack!

 

 

MY BOOKSHELF:

1. Method Acting For Writers by Lisa Hall-Wilson
2. Snap Shot: An Atmospheric Thriller by Marilyn Todd
3. Wrapped Up In You by Jill Shalvis

 

 

ALL-TIME FAVORITES:

SEASON: Autumn

SPORTS TEAM: OSU Buckeyes

COLOR: Dark Brown

CAUSE: The Seeing Eye www.theseeingeye.org

SONG: Truly Madly Deeply by Savage Garden

FOOD: Sweet potato or apple chips

HOT DRINK: Pumpkin Spice Latte (with or without Rum)

FLOWER: Daisies

 

DID YOU KNOW…

Adaptations of Washington Irving’s short story “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” (1820) often show the Headless Horseman with a pumpkin or jack-o’-lantern in place of his severed head. (In the original story,

On the morning after Crane’s supposed encounter with the Horseman, the discovery of Ichabod Crane’s abandoned hat lies near a shattered  pumpkin.

 

 

PRICKLERS..

1. Trick-or-treat not held on Halloween.

Seriously? Thank goodness this is not worldwide.

2. Keurig died.

Three years of faithful coffee brewing. RIP my friend.

3. Stores decorating for Christmas already.

Uh? Hello? It’s October.

4. Running out of pumpkin spice cream.

Noo! Only 1 month to go then they’ll yank it from the shelves.

5. Browns losing.

Come on Brownies!

 

 

THEY SAID…

This month’s quote is by — Unknown —

There is magic in the night when pumpkins glow by moonlight.

 

HOMETOWN UPDATE:

* Smithville-Western and Friendsville Roundabout

Whoohoo! Woohoo! Almost done.

* Edgewood neighborhood trick-or-treat

Candy Up! Sunday October 27th from 4 to 6 pm.

* Leaf Pickup

Grab your rakes! Starts October 28th.

DTZs Halloween Rock Out

Get your dancing shoes on! Band playing Saturday October 26th at the Wooster Country Club $10 cover charge.

 

 

CHECK THIS OUT:

They are real! Real pumpkin carols! Thanks Peanuts!

Peanuts Pumpkin Carols

 

 

GOOSING AROUND…

Goosie and Gander are enjoying the colorful autumn weather. Leaves are changing and so do their clothes on a daily basis. Pictures to come soon…but you can check them out on Twitter @USAWriter355

 

 

 

FIND ME ON…

Twitter: Chrissy Hartmann @USAWriter355 (Chrissy Hartmann)

 

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