Hungry Halloween Book Signing at Foy's Halloween Stores in Fairborn, Ohio

photo by E.L. Hubbard, Dayton Daily News

I had a crazy busy evening last night at a book signing at Foy's Halloween Store in Fairborn, Ohio. Foy's operates 6 unique stores filled with Halloween props, decorations, and costumes. Amazing Halloween props line the street and tower above you on the rooftops. Our tables were right next to two large gorillas and people stopped all night to take a snapshot of their family and friends hanging out with these beasts. The evening began quietly as my friend Terri and I passed out samples and I signed books.  When the sun sank, the music began to play, a hearse pulled up in front of us, Dr. Creep, a Dayton area television icon, arrived to sign autographs, and the crowds swarmed the streets in search of that perfect Halloween item. Happily many found my cookbooks to be that perfect Halloween item.  Thanks to everyone who stopped out and purchased a book.



Photo by E.L. Hubbard, Dayton Daily News

I met so many interesting people and was thrilled to hear so many customers had found this blog and were using my recipes and  ideas to plan their parties this year. One family told me all about the party they were planning based on my Dead Man's Diner theme.  I could hear the enthusiasm in their voices and see the excitement in their eyes.  I hope they have a fantastic party and will send along some pictures.  I'd love to see pictures of any party using my ideas.

Photo by E.L. Hubbard, Dayton Daily News

Aside from the book signing, I was featured on the Channel 2 news at noon today.  It was my first live television interview and I'm happy to say that it went very well.  My only blunder was not knowing which camera was showing my food.  The camera man had a great shot of my cheesy cauldron, then I picked it up right out of the shot.  Oh, well live and learn. Pam, the anchor woman was so friendly and made me feel so comfortable. She was very enthusiastic about the book which always makes talking about it fun. The 2 1/2 minute segment flashed by so quickly, but I was able to show a few of the items from the book and talk about the recipes. I was thrilled, when I got home to watch the program, to see that she wrapped up the newscast by talking about my book again and mentioning the book signing event.  

Photo by E.L. Hubbard, Dayton Daily News


I will be back at Foy's again tonight from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Stop out an see me, if you live in the area. I'm also going to be doing a cooking segment on the Fox 45 morning show on Friday, October 22nd at 8:45 a.m. I'll be demonstrating how to make the vampire chips that are pictured on the left. I am working on a new recipe, and will post it as soon as I can come up for air.  To see more pictures from the event, including pictures of Foy's store and props, click this link. Thanks to E.L. Hubbard for taking so many photographs of the event for the Dayton Daily News.

First Book Signing a Huge Success



Dayton Daily News article by Mark Fisher
To read this article click here

Halloween Recipe - Pumpkin Truffles and Giveaway

Click here to see the recipe to make these Pumpkin Truffles.

Giveaway has expired.

HUNGRY HALLOWEEN CONTEST

Hungry Halloween, my Halloween cookbook/party planning guide has been selling quite well on Amazon.com.  I have heard from so many people who are enjoying the recipes and party planning ideas in the book. To celebrate the book's summer sales, I am giving away two prizes to two lucky winners.  First prize is a $25 Amazon.com gift card and second prize is a copy of Hungry Halloween. Two winners will be chosen at random on August 30th. To enter, answer one or more of these questions in the comments section below. Earn a BONUS ENTRY if you Tweet about the contest or add to your Facebook page or blog about this promotion. Just add a bonus comment to let me know how you helped me get the word out about my blog and contest.

1. 
   
   Do you plan to host a Halloween party or attend a Halloween party this year?
2. 
   
   Do you decorate your home or office for Halloween?
3. 
   
   Do you like to make fun Halloween food?

Rules: You must be a US resident and at least 18 years old to enter. Deadline for entry is August 29, 2010 at 11:59 EST (USA). One comment per person (and a bonus comment) will constitute an entry into the contest. Winners will be announced August 30th and will have 7 days to claim prize or another winner will be selected.

Winners: Pete S wins the $25 Amazon.com gift card and Lauren/Shooting Star Mag wins a copy of Hungry Halloween featuring Movie Monster Munchies, Bewitched Buffet and Dead Man's Diner.

THANKS to all who have purchased Hungry Halloween!

My book has been available from Amazon.com for a little over a month.  I was so excited to see that my Amazon.com ranking last night made it into the top 100,000 in their entire book catalog.  I was at 69,789 overnight and my cookbook made it into the top 25 books in their holiday cookbook category.  Amazon.com sells several million titles, so to be in the top 100,000 is a huge deal and to be in the top 25 of any category is amazing at such an early stage.  I was listed on the page with Nigella Lawson and Lidia Matticchio Bastianich.  WOW, that was cool to see my book just below Lidia's. These rankings are computed hourly and I've moved down to #52 this morning, but what a thrill to be #25 last night.

A huge thanks to every one of my readers who has purchased my book.  I hope you enjoy the recipes and have fun creating them in your own kitchen.  I look forward to hearing about your experiences with re-creating the ideas in the book.

Hungry Halloween Book and Blog

Are you tired of the same old popcorn balls and mummy dogs for Halloween? Need some original recipes and party ideas that will transform your "ho hum" Halloween into a spook-tacular success? Hungry Halloween can give you all that and more! This blog is an accompaniment to my new book, Hungry Halloween. This unique book contains 46 delicious, easy to make recipes that will please the palate of any discriminating guest or ghoul! The book, Hungry Halloween, is divided into three chapters, each showcasing a different party theme - "Movie Monster Munchies", "Bewitched Buffet", and "Dead Man's Diner" featuring recipes such as" Werewolf Won Tons", "Mummy Lasagna", Cackling Crackers", "Black Widow Bites", "Grave-y Stones", and "Stubbed Toe Subs".

Full color, full page photographs accompany each mouth-watering recipe (several also have step-by-step photos) to help make replicating them in your home kitchen a snap. Included are some sweet and some savory recipes that are sure to excite and delight kids and adults alike. Two full pages of templates will allow you to almost effortlessly recreate eye-poppingly impressive dishes that your guests won't believe you made yourself.

You'll be the talk of your neighborhood when you choose one of the three terrifically terrifying themes included in Hungry Halloween for your Halloween bash! Each themed chapter includes a page of frighteningly fabulous party decorating ideas with tips on how to have a "killer" party without killing your budget. Several full color photographs (in gory detail!) show you how you can decorate different rooms in your home for the ultimate Halloween experience. You don't have to break out the toolbox or break the bank to create the ultimate haunted house, witch's lair, or dastardly diner extraordinaire.

More than just a cookbook, Hungry Halloween is a uniquely comprehensive guide to the perfectly harrowing, frighteningly fun Halloween. Year after year it will provide all you'll need to make your Halloween ghoulishly glorious for your Halloween guests!

This blog will feature a few of the recipes in the book as well as new and exciting Halloween recipes, Halloween party planning tips, Halloween decorating ideas and Halloween party activity ideas. If you are as excited about Halloween as I am, I hope you enjoy Hungry Halloween.

To order a copy of Hungry Halloween, click this link.