Halloween | edenfreed.com

Summer is about to end with a bang, well, fireworks on my block anyway. I’ll have the doggies inside and snuggled up with some treats, since they don’t care for loud noises. Weird since they live with me and it’s crazy loud in my home.

Since I’m all about Halloween (could you guess, lol), I’m looking at the calendar of upcoming events and filling it up with fun things to do. In addition to writing this carni-mom will be working as a professional entertainer for lots of school events, fall fairs, and of course parties. I was never really part of the coffee clutch, but I have my uses.

In addition to writing, I’m a professional entertainer. It’s my day job and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I get to do all the fun things we wanted to as kids: balloon twisting, face painting, henna tattoos, airbrush tattoos, balloon decorating… it’s an absolute blast!

Since Halloween is my favorite holiday, you know I’ll be coming up with lots of spooky balloons and jazzing up my costumes! Yes, I get the odd look when I wear a clown costume, but hey- I love it. It’s an exhibitionist thing. I get to be the center of attention and make people smile. As many moms end up in my chair for face painting as children, so I know the magic still works.

Before you ask, no, I’m not one of those scary clowns. My costumes are toddler friendly and cute as a button. Remember I’m the biggest 80’s fan. We had Strawberry Shortcake, Fraggle Rock, Cabbage Patch Dolls, and Saturday morning cartoons! It figures into my costumes, though for most parties it’s just jeans and a staff shirt, what a bummer.

With two of the imps away at college until their fall break and two taking classes locally, I’m also spending more time than usual with the perpetual puppies. I’d hate for them to feel neglected, and the start of school always gets them down. The days are getting shorter and quieter, but they’ll learn new tricks (for treats) and take long walks with me in nature.

Still, I’ll be running around like a chicken with no head getting everyone where they need to be and keeping the puppies from perpetual boredom. Those drives and walks give me my best book ideas so expect lots more books, soon.

In the meantime, I have a couple book signings coming up in 2026

6p, Friday, October 16th, 2026 – Horseman Rising Launch: Books, Brews & Boos at Round Table Brewery (55 Railroad Ave W, West Haverstraw, NY 10923-1254)

Celebrate the launch of Horseman Rising with a spooky night of books, brews, and local magic.

Featuring Round Table Brewery’s seasonal Sleepy Hollow IPA, spooky local authors, bookish vendors, and Halloween inspired makers, this curated event brings together eerie reads, autumn vibes, and Sleepy Hollow spirit for one unforgettable fall evening.

In addition to lots of authors and vendors, I will be there signing my Vampire, Werewolf, Psychic, & Ghost books, and if the printing press works on schedule, my latest NEW vampire book. Who doesn’t love a good vampire read in October?

Ask me nicely and maybe I’ll bring my tarot 😉 for some spooky fun.

This next event is also near and dear to me, and a little closer to my neck of the woods.

11am to 3pm, Saturday, November 14th, 2026- Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce’s 3rd Annual Central Jersey Book Festival at the Ross Street School
110 Ross Street
Woodbridge, NJ 07095 United States

Yes! The debate is over. There is a Central Jersey! I will be there with other authors, so make sure you come out and get some great reads.

I have more events coming up in January and March 2027, but I’ll list those for you later on.

It’s time to celebrate. The decorations are up, the pumpkins have been carved, the puppies are in costume, and a big bucket of candy is waiting outside for my trick-or-treaters. I’ve got some party foods in the oven, including pigs-in-a-blanket and spooky English muffin pizzas for the kids. Since I’m having children at the party, I will have some spooky mocktails for them and something a little stronger for me. Make sure you pick one color with alcohol and one color without and please if you are using a punchbowl, put the nonalcohol version out. Keep the over 21 version safely away from children and make sure guests that are drinking are not driving-I can’t stress this enough.

I’ve spent this month getting my newest book, Knot A Psychic out on Amazon in the many forms readers like, so I’m completely batty at this point. After the big release I grabbed my favorite horror books from Stephen King, Anne Rice, Clive Barker, and some of the original greats and have been reading. It’s Halloween here all year, so scary books are not in short supply.

This is also the last day 10/31/2025 to pick up your free Kindle copy of Knot An Actress, book 1 of the All Tied Up In Knots series. Don’t wait until the free offer is gone.

With the snacks in the oven and the timer set, it’s time to start making the mock/cocktails. See the recipes below and let me know which is your favorite.

Pick one for adults and one for children (different colors so there are no mix ups).

Dracula’s Teeth- sure to knock the teeth off your favorite vampire! It’s a fun twist on a Kir Royale.

Adult version-(this has alcohol, so drink in moderation and don’t drive or operate heavy machinery)

Making for children or alcohol free peeps-omit all the alcohol (use the substitutions) and put in cute spooky glasses-yes you can add some fangs ’cause its fun. I’ve also used clear plastic cups with lids and bat stickers-huge success.

What you’ll need:

Wax or Plastic Vampire Teeth

Martini Glasses or Champagne Flutes

A bottle of CHILLED Champagne, Spumante, or Moscato depending on your taste (substitute sparkling cider for children)

Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur (substitute 1/2 ounce blackberry juice and 1/2 ounce black cherry juice for children)

Enough Grenadine to dip your fangs in

Recipe- double, triple, or quadruple as needed

1 ounce Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur (5 ounces if you make it by the pitcher)

5 ounces Champagne, Spumante, or Moscato (entire bottle if you make it by the pitcher)

Enough grenadine to dip your glasses in and fangs to garnish your glasses(see image above for inspiration). What I like to do is take a small plate and pour about 2 ounces grenadine onto it and just refill as needed when rimming glasses. You can also add some red dusting sugar if you have sparkly vampires.

Rim your glasses and soak your fangs in grenadine.
Add 1 ounce Chambord to your glass.
Fill to just below the rim with 5 ounces or so of your favorite bubbly.
Garnish glass with fangs, and serve cold.

Purple People Eaters

Remember, if you are making this for ADULTS THAT DRINK ALCOHOL(over 21) you can use the alcohol version. If you are making this for children or adults that don’t drink alcohol, double the amount and put in cute glasses(not shot glasses).

What you need:

Gummy eyeballs, lots of them!

Shot glasses (or fun cups for children)

Vodka (substitute 7-up or Sprite for children)

Blue Curaçao (substitute Blue Kool-aid for children)

Sweet & Sour Mix (omit for children)

Grenadine (Thicker red kool-aid works fine if you don’t have any on hand)

Cranberry juice- the redder, the better

Ideally, you’re looking to get that purple color so play with ingredients if you don’t like the shade.

Recipe:

1 1/2 ounces vodka

1 ounce Blue Curacao

1 ounce sweet & sour mix

1 ounce grenadine

1 ounce or more cranberry juice

Add all ingredients to a measuring cup or pitcher and pour into shot glasses. Add gummy eyeball, serve.

Remember if you are serving this variation for children, make sure everything (including your grenadine) is alcohol free. Double or triple the recipe for children and don’t forget the gummy eyeballs. Yes, you can make this all in a punch sized bowl, but I prefer cups with lids for small children. (2024 Target had these cute eyeball shaped glasses with lids, perfect for children that want some spooky fun- or you can decorate paper cups with a self adhesive googly eyeball just saying)