Halloween | edenfreed.com

Forgive my typos today, I’m typing with a pencil eraser, so I don’t screw up my nail polish. Y’all know I’m not a girly girl. I was the kid running around Bayonne with male cousins around the same age. I was as comfortable with a ball in my hands as other girls were with purses. My love of all things adrenaline fueled, didn’t make me prissy-sorry, if I come across loud and boisterous, but that’s just me. Flip the switch and I look shy and introspective, quietly analyzing things people say or do-that’s my writer mode. There is a story in everyone you meet, you just need to find it. If I look spacy, I’m writing lines of text in my head for later. I code just the same way (webmaster), so it’s just an Eden moment.

It’s probably why my blog irritates me. I’m the old HTML coder and having a platform to just click and type on is weird and unfamiliar territory. I like being in control of everything from the image sizes to the font styles and colors. I’m just used to typing it in and imagining what it will look like until I hit the save button and publish the page in real time.

I’m sure for people that started with forms, this is great, but ugh, I used to program in basic-I started young with a teacher that had the patience of a saint and within a week I was writing random number generator games, not something she was teaching, but I applied what I learned writing basic code on looseleaf notepaper until I could get to a computer to try it out. The limitations of this form driven cage are unbearable for me because I know what I’m capable of without limits.

Since I’m in need of some serious chocolate this week, we’ll do a black and white. You can spice yours up with a shot of chocolate liqueur or enjoy it as an alcohol-free beverage. Did I ever mention I was a soda jerk? I used to work for F. W. Woolworths. I made sodas, ice cream sundaes, milkshakes, malteds, and of course French fries and deli stuff. My go to meal was French fries and a chocolate (Black and White) or strawberry cream soda. So here’s the recipe-enjoy!

Black and White Chocolate Soda-basic recipe

What you’ll need:

A tall glass-use the same ones you do for an ice cream soda

A straw

A long-handled spoon for stirring

Ingredients (per person)

Vanilla ice cream-optional

whipped cream and cherry-optional and in my opinion wholly unnecessary

1 – 1 1/2 cups cold plain seltzer

2-3 Tablespoons your favorite chocolate syrup(sugar free is okay)-more if you are a fiend

1 ounce half and half (this is the creamy part)

Mix your half and half and chocolate syrup together in the glass until smooth-always do this first
Pour in the seltzer and stir
Add ice for an extra chilly drink or ice cream for an over-the-top rich concoction
Top with whipped cream and cherry for a completely indulgent treat(optional)
This recipe is completely adaptable, so if you want to add chocolate ice cream for an extra chocolatey treat, go for it- or strawberry ice cream for a chocolate covered strawberry soda, hey, be my guest. I like it simple without ice-cream complicating it, but if you’re over 21 you can replace the ice cream with a shot of chocolate liqueur and make it for party guests over the age of 21. Replace the chocolate syrup with strawberry syrup and kids go wild in the summer-lots of versatility here.

* Note, make enough for two. They go down too easy.

Onto the book events- instead of posting some guest authors, I invite you to come out and visit them

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. Who doesn’t love a good vampire read in October?

Then, I’m back to writing until November when I’ll be in NJ for a book signing, but I’ll post some recipes you can use for your Thanksgiving guests.

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.

In the meantime, make those candy apples, pick out your best costume and enjoy spooky October. I’m going to make some small red candy apples with coconut for Halloween and enjoy one, even if it means cheating on my keto diet for a day. Can’t seem to get enough coconut in my life.

Anyway, come visit me and other authors tomorrow night. It looks like rain, so come inside and have some fun.

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)