I love Halloween - mostly because I love the costumes. I love seeing people use their creativity to transform themselves into all manner of creatures, monsters, super heroes, etc. While I love seeing the adorable kids dressed in the costumes of their choice, my absolute favorites are the ones that took some creativity and thinking outside the box.

One year, I opened my door to a couple of teenage boys. I typically don't like giving candy to teens, but these guys were the exception. They wore jeans and white t-shirts. Pinned to their shirts were numerous "Barbie" dolls and written across the top of their shirts were the words, "Chick Magnet". I loved it! Creative, inexpensive and fun.

Sometimes I'll sit outside and hand out candy as the kids pass by. Our cat, Pepper, used to hang out with me. She'd play in the bushes and pretend she was going to attack the creatures coming to the door. She never did; we both knew she thought it was beneath her to actually attack anything. However, her Halloween was changed forever when one father walked his child to our door. He was dressed in a full penguin suit.

Pepper wasn't afraid of vampires or ghosts or chainsaw murderers. Oh no, she was tougher than that. She looked at them with disdain and pretended to attack. But when faced with a six foot tall penguin - now THAT was truly scary. She ran into the house and never came out with me again. Not even the next year or the following or any year after. There were giant penguins out there, and she wasn't taking any risks.

Those are just a couple of my favorite Halloween memories. What about yours? Share your favorite costume or Halloween memory.

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TRICK OR TREAT!

A child enjoying his hoverboard?
A boy recklessly playing in the street?
An eerie beginning to a creepy film?

​This picture was taken by an amazingly talented friend of mine, and it's of her son playing in a park (NOT in the street). I love this photo because it makes me wonder what's really going on, what the backstory is, and what will happen next.

Depending on your perspective, your interpretation of what you see, you may have guessed correctly. Or, like me, your imagination may have run away with you just thinking of possible scenarios and story lines possible.

​I think about perspective on days like this - Friday the 13th. Long before the horror movie franchise, people viewed this as an unlucky day. I've always seemed to have great Friday the 13th's - including my first date with my husband. So, I've never bought into the negativity around the day.

However, I have friends who strongly believe in lucky and unlucky signs and other strange things we just can't explain, and they can back up their beliefs with examples of why they're right.

It really is about perspective​​. So, on this infamous day, believe what you want. How you choose to believe is up to you. Just like your interpretation of the fascinating photo above.
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​Comment below on your thoughts about Friday the 13th or simply share some love for my friend's awesome picture.

As writers we constantly make decisions - what to write about, characters' names, plot lines, publishing decisions, etc. The list goes on and on.
We also have to think about our brand and who our readers are. Our readers want to know more about us; they want a small glimpse into our lives. They may even consider us a friend. As such, need to make ourselves real to them and let them into our worlds a bit.
However, there's a fine line you have to navigate.
We need to be careful that we don't disillusion our readers. I mention this because I've come to a sad realization. I no longer have a favorite author. I love her talent, her creativity, her storylines. However, I hate her politics, and I've gotten tired of hearing about them. In the past, I'd buy one of her books without even reading the back cover because I knew I'd love it. After reading another one of her aggravating posts on Facebook, I thought about the last time I bought one of her books, and I can't remember how long ago it was! I've probably missed six of her latest titles, and I no longer have a desire to read her work.
It's sad but true.
So, my advice to you, as a writer, keep in mind what your audience wants from you and protect that relationship. My J. Leigh James readers don't come to me for my opinion on current events, and I will never ask them to. If I want to share my viewpoints, I'll either do it from my personal page or I'll create another brand that people will expect those type of messages from. I recommend you do the same.
​Now, please excuse me while I unfollow a former, favorite writer.