October seems to be the month when everyone delves into world building, not just for paranormal romance novels, but for special, creepy effects. Or maybe it just seems that way to me because I’m a paranormal romance author.
Halloween is what you make of it and who you’re making it for. Decorating, fun, creepy or not at all is an inventive way to show others what you’re into and who your target ‘audience’ is.
In the light of day, it becomes glaringly obvious what sort of mood one’s neighbors are trying to create for the looming onslaught of Trick or Treaters.
Some yards sport smiling pumpkins and zombies, silly monsters and rather friendly looking vampires.
But walk on – if you dare – and you might find a bloody hand reaching up from the next flowerbed, be warned off by glaring jack o’lanterns or turn and run away when you catch a glimpse of glowing red eyes watching from a darkened window.
So are you looking to scare the crap out of a crew of teenagers or do you want to enjoy all that is adorable in the 4-8 year old group? Maybe, on Halloween itself, you’re thoughtful in the way of one of our neighbors and you have a little something to amuse the parents while the kids are scampering to and from the door.
In my opinion they deserve an award every year. They decorate in a not-too-scary theme so little ones feel welcome. Then they put out a cooler of beer and wine coolers for parents to indulge as they walked around. This is a fantastic plan and it really takes the edge off when the whining starts.
Personally, I decorate on the fun side, don my full length black cape, crank up the spooky music through our intercom (dates to the 70s but it still works), and sit in the creaky porch rocker to hand out candy.
Any mysterious effect is muted by the cats and greyhounds watching the procedings through the windows and door, wishing they could personally greet the tiny goblins, NASCAR drivers, princesses and ghosts who dash in and out of view.
Live the adventure!
