Go Horror or Go Home! With Author M. E. Franco

Jack Skellington Says: "Eat Me!"
M.E. Franco

Alright Minions, it's here. Every Halloween Season I get with M.E. Franco author of the popular supernatural Dion book series and ask ten questions about our favorite time of year. It's our Halloween tradition, what's yours?!

MS: OK, let's start off by addressing the elephant in the room. On a scale of 1 - 10, how bummed are you that we have to wait until next year to see Halloween Kills?   

ME: I was so disappointed. I didn’t realize how much I was looking forward to it until it got postponed. By the looks of the trailer, I think it’s going to be worth the wait though!

MS: Which female horror icon is your Woman Crush?  

ME: Kate Beckinsale as Selene in the Underworld movies. More action than horror, but she was mesmerizing. 

Marie Laveau's Resting Place 

MS: Name your favorite cemetery that you have visited. 

ME: I was actually able to do a tour of the cemeteries in New Orleans. It was really interesting to see the crypts that they use, since they can’t bury people underground.  Cemetery #1, where Marie Laveau is entombed, was probably my favorite. Would have loved to go back there after dark. 

 

Regan MacNeil

MS: You have three doors to choose from, door number one has Pennywise behind it. Door number two has Regan MacNeil (in her possessed state) behind it. Door number three has Donald Trump behind it, which door would you choose and why? 

ME: Door number three because I could totally take him in a fight.

The Book That Started It All...

MS: Any plans to do a fourth Dion book?   

ME: I hadn’t planned to initially. I did write a few chapters for fun, but I didn’t really have a plot. I eventually came up with an interesting idea for a story line, but finding the time to write is tough.

MS: Spill on what you consider the lamest costume you have worn for Halloween.  

ME: One year I was really busy, and Halloween was on a weekday, so I actually wore one of those lame shirts that say “This is my costume.” 

MS: The Tell-Tale Heart is under your floorboard, what do you do?   

ME: Time to move!! Don’t want to get caught.

Seance, Seance!

MS: Your having the old fashioned version of a Kiki, a Seance. Name three famous people you whose spirits you would call upon to appear, and of course why damn it!   

ME: I’d ask Elvis for a song, Mark Twain for a chat, and Patrick Swayze for a dance.

MS: Losing weight is a bitch. Do you choose a gypsy woman's curse, or blood sucking leeches in your quest to shed pounds?   

ME: After the lockdown pounds, I’d probably be desperate enough for a curse!

MS: OK, last but certainly not least. What are your special plans for everyone's first pandemic Halloween?  

ME: Eat the candy I bought for the kids who can’t trick or treat and look for a good gypsy woman.

Want more M.E.? Of course you do! Get scary with her at:

https://www.facebook.com/MEFrancoAuthor/

https://www.amazon.com/M.-E.-Franco/e/B008NAKQW6

https://twitter.com/mefranco1

https://mefrancoauthor.blogspot.com/?m=0  

Can We Talk? It's National TV Talk Show Host Day

Did you know that with only 8 days left until Halloween that October 23rd is National TV Talk Show Host Day? Why October 23rd may you ask? You may actually, it's in honor of the King of Talk Shows the late Johnny Carson, because it happens to be the date of his birth.

If you don't know who Johnny Carson is, Google him, you are in for a real treat, no tricks. Moving on, also a treat is Drew Barrymore's talk show, called The Drew Barrymore Show, naturally...

"Yes" there are many talk shows, oh so many, I could have chosen to spotlight on this hallowed day, but I chose Drew. Why? Because she is so authentic and enthusiastic on her show, her feel good vibes are quite infectious.

Another reason is, I have encountered Ms. Barrymore off an on throughout the years and she has always been one of the kindest, most genuine people I have ever met. So, yeah I could be somewhat bias, but I do believe if tune in you will be won over by her unique one of a kind energy that is Drew Barrymore.

That's All Folks!

The Drew Barrymore Show on the WWW -

https://www.thedrewbarrymoreshow.com/  

Michael's Musings

Shout at the Devil!
Michael Shinafelt

Hello Minions, here I am representing! "Yes" it's moi in my favorite Halloween costume that I came up with. That's correct my own version of, shall we say, Satan?

It was a big hit the year I wore it, literally, I was packing a riding crop. Ask my boyfriend at the time about that, or not. It's time to crack it either way...

I'll F#cking shred you, you whore! The more you know

What horror movie am I watching tonight? 2020 

Oink Night, getting piggy with it

You're a total Libra? Prove it! 

Vote like you are a fly on Pence's head

Picture yourself on a boat on a river, just do it, and do it now!!!

It's always Halloween in my soul...

That time I quoted a movie and someone asked me if the quote was from Maid in Manhattan, "As If" 

Woman Crush of the Week - Sissy Spacek in Carrie. If you haven't seen this, you're dead to me

I'm so excited for the veil between the living and the dead to reopen for business

Don't make me projectile vomit 

Wouldn't Tom Hardy make a great Dracula? Michael just sayin' 

If you die and you are a ghost, do you still have piercings? Asking for a fiend (not a typo)

Humbled to accept my Noble Prize for my contribution to the culinary world: A three bean salad with stir fried turkey

More fun with food with me here:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt   

Hump Day & Chill

Season of the Witch
Jamie Lee Curtis

With only 10 more days left we have entered the final countdown until Halloween. Thus I thought we would Hump Day & Chill with the Queen of Halloween Jamie Lee Curtis, dressed as one of my favorite seasonal archetypes (other than a Vampire) a Witch!

So here's a Halloween story for you to Hump Day & Chill with. As a Kid I went out Trick or Treating as a Witch, and had mad crushes on Witches in general, pretty ones and green ones with warts.

Well my Dad took me to a Haunted House one year and there were people dressed as various spooky things entertaining people while they waited in line to enter. One woman was dressed as a, you've got it, Witch! 

She was of the green with warts variety. She came up to us I told her I thought she was pretty and asked her if I could give her a kiss. She said "Yes" and thanked me after.

There you have it, now Hump Day & Chill on that for your remaining 10 day countdown!

Mic Drop!!!

Witches on the WWW -

https://www.history.com/topics/halloween/history-of-witches-video 

"You Got What I Need"

Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff

 ETSY TO LEGENDARY PRODUCERS KENNETH GAMBLE & LEON HUFF:

‘YOU GOT WHAT I NEED’

Legendary Philadelphia International Records (PIR) co-founders and R&B pioneers Kenneth Gamble & Leon Huff have a new commercial placement from their massive song catalogue. “YOU GOT WHAT I NEED,” which Gamble & Huff wrote and produced in 1968 for Freddie Scott – three years before launching PIR - is currently getting massive TV exposure in a new ETSY.COM commercial. Philadelphia International Records was home to The O'Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and many other acts that defined the Philadelphia soul sound of the '70s. 

“Seeing the Etsy commercial featuring the song on TV so prominently, makes us instantly reflect back 52 years, when we wrote and produced the song in the studio for Freddie Scott – a great, yet unsung Soul/R&B artist and vocalist,” said Gamble & Huff in a joint statement. “We are so glad this original song and Freddie are getting their just recognition and their due.” 

Usage of “YOU GOT WHAT I NEED” has proven popular for sampling in recent years. But this is the first time the original recording is anchoring a popular TV commercial in the U.S. 

Rapper Biz Markie used many elements of the original recording on his 1989 hit "Just A Friend." Kanye West, Common, Pusha T and Big Sean feat. Kid Cudi and Charlie Wilson sampled the song on “Good Friday” (2010). Ghostface Killah sampled it on “Save Me Dear” (2004). And in 2017, Janelle Monáe sang “You Got What I Need” in a Gap commercial promoting their Christmas offerings.  

“YOU GOT WHAT NEED” originally reached #27 on the R&B chart. Scott died in 2007 at age 74. 

www.gamble-huffmusic.com 

Monday Motivation

VOTING!
Taylor Swift

I know I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again, and most likely one more time before November 3rd. Today's Monday Motivation is VOTE! VOTE early, VOTE on election day, VOTE by mail or drop your mail in ballot off at an official drop off box. Not a fake GOP one, they send you the official locations near you with your ballot FYI.

Here today to help me motivate you is Taylor Swift. Ms. Swift has recently gotten vocal in a political way (not a music way, she's been doing that for a while.) about her political leanings. 

She recently stood in line and cast her VOTE for Biden/Harris. How do I know who she VOTED for? Because she came out and backed the Biden/Harris ticket publicly, that's how.

Now I'm not trying to motivate anyone to cast their ballot a certain way, OK, yes I F#cking am! Please join Taylor and myself and cast your VOTE for people who are not insane and addicted to Adderall.

VOTE!!!

Voter Information -

https://www.vote411.org/  

One Of The Tethered

Sharp Objects
Tracee Ellis Ross

Being as we are down for the count with a mere 13 days until Halloween, I thought I would bequeath to you Tracee Ellis Ross as one of the Tethered from Us.

Dress as a Tethered for the High Holy Day and you too can be your own doppelganger. That's correct Minions, after all who looks more like you, than, well, you! Or perhaps a real live Tethered (that's a conversation for another time.)

I'd tread lightly though around Tracee, she took being a Tethered to a whole new dimension. She's toting a mean looking scissor in her hands and from the looks of things knows how to, and will use them.

That's so Tethered!

Mic Drop!!!

Tracee on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/traceeellisross/?hl=en