Magical Times are Slow

 Everyone is waiting for the next Magical Times book to be published. WHAT?! You have no idea what I'm talking about? Magical Times, you know. The book series...

You never read one, have you? *sigh* I've written a total of 9 going on 10 Magical Times books and YOU NEVER HEARD OF IT? WHY???

Ok, I'm sure I've done this before, so I shouldn't do it again... but, here we go. *groan*

Magical Times is about my life in the future. But it's not about me, it's about my kids. Twin brothers, August and Chadly, and their little sister, Britt. This is an amazing series, because it's fiction, but with a small speck of truth. Now, even though this book is called Magical Times, it's not really focused on magic... It's about miracles! So, yes, this is a Christian book series.

You see, the three kids are training to use their special powers, a gift from Heaven, to learn to help other people. But there are some complications with the series, too. Ya see, the boys are neighbors with their dad's worst enemy from high school, and their sons are rivals as well. But August wants to learn why there's a feud between the two families, because his father... me, doesn't know what happened.

Meanwhile, his brother gets tied up in this mess when all he wants to do is learn how to control his own powers. The story gets a bit serious sometimes. However, it's all about teaching friendship, family, and Christian values.

Now, I shouldn't be doing this, because you should have been reading Magical Times since 2020. But here, Purchase here < click on that link and you get a copy of the book.

I'm only doing this because if you don't read these books, you're going to miss out on drama, action, and cliff hangers. Yep, this series is THAT good. So what are you waiting for? Buy a book now!

Next Event of the Year

 So as of now we are doing the monster voting portion of the contest. So I have about 11 entries to place in the voting category. But people are wondering what does Shiver and Fears have going on next? Well let me tell you because you might want to get involved! 

Once we have announced the winner of the Boo's Beastly Buddy Contest, we will start the Share your Scare contest. The Share Your Scare contest is a chance to find scary, spooky, and creepy images around the neighborhood. How it works is, you take a video or picture of something you see for the Halloween season. This can be a decoration you find at a store, A prop around the neighborhood, or a scary prank you pull at home. You can even present a craft or Halloween treat you saw online! You ever heard of mummy hotdogs? Or eyeball cake pops? We just want a chance to share your spirit of Halloween season. 

Here's a good example: One day I was in a store and found a Halloween prop that lights up with a push of a button. I filmed myself saying a small poem to make it come on. It was as if I had casted a spell to make it work! 

Not a fan of that idea? Try this one:

 The rules are very simple. 

1.  Each person can send 1-5 videos and/or pictures of their scares.
2. Each entry turned in will recieve an audiobook for each entry.
3. We request not to send them all at once, gives us time to set up.
4. Pictures and videos will be posted on our Tiktok page, so be sure anyone IN the photo/video is ok with being presented.
5. Editing is fine with entries but NO FILTERS. (Example: walking ghost video above is an edit with no special effects.)
6. to send video/ photo is best sent by email shiverandfears@gmail.com

Now, what happens when you share your scare?  By Halloween night, we will check which is the most popular image and post it on other social media platforms! Everyone is a winner in this contest! 

Now, some of you might have been informed about a calendar. We are working on that now. If you are a contestant from the Boo's Beastly Buddy Contest, (even if you didn't win) you get one.

I want to also inform you about the Scary Creepsmas Give-a-way. All true fans will be given a gift to give to someone special. But this will be explained later in the fall. 

If you have any questions on ANY events. (Past, present, or future) you know how to contact me. If you don't, read the blog again!

Voting is canceled

 So the first week of voting for the best monster has started just last week. But to my surprise. No one cared to vote! Last year we had 54 vs55 vote or 71 vs 29. but this year... Polls were weak.

It is time for our polls to make an appearance somewhere else. Or maybe we'll get some judges. I don't know, it was just a sad week a few days a go. I mean, we even had ties! WE NEVER HAD TIES! And some weak ties. I'm talking about 2 vs 5 or 0 vs 1. This surprised me. So I had to announce to the public the polls were no longer posted on Tiktok. You think anyone cared? Nope. It was like Shiver and Fears has lost it's audience. 

I can't blame them, it's nearly been a year since a Shiver and Fears book or event or ANYTHING has been mentioned. I haven't promoted Magical Times to anyone. and hadn't even finished the 10th book in the series. 

But hey, I'll let you know that Magical Times
is on sale. So, if you want this Christian/ fantasy book. You can get it here: Book shopping. I always lead people to Walmart first because that's not an easy accomplishment. For one thing, Walmart is hard to contact about selling a product. And they don't accept just anyone. But something about Shiver and Fears was something for them to fall for.

Meanwhile, we'll see what happens this year as we come up with a new idea for this years monster contest. 

Yes, this is one of our contestants. Before you ask or say anything. This is Tikelmare, he likes to tickle his friends. I know what your thinking, but looks can be deseaving. I mean look at Casper. He's a ghost, like Boo, but he's a friend. And that what this contest is about. Making friends!

An Exclusive Year

 Things for Shiver and Fears aren't going too well. This is the place to get the news on Shiver and Fears events and reports on what's been happening and the causes of these things, but this time. Things aren't going well, and that's all I can tell.

So, no I can't tell you why things are difficult, if you haven't already heard, BUT I can let you know what this means for your favorite author. I'm sorry to say, but Shiver and Fears has to be exclusive to outsiders. Does that mean you can't purchase a book? No, you can buy one at Walmart whenever you want to, or even the ever-so-popular Barnes and Noble. 

So what's so exclusive about Shiver and Fears, the blog? No. But we might be writing less for a while. Truth is, it's the events. Yep, the monster drawing contest, the Share Your Scare, Scary Creepsmas to All, yep, all of it! Events will not be publicly announced. In fact, if you hadn't noticed, Shiver and Fears isn't even publishing this year, so nothing is being added to the books. 

So what does this mean for the monster drawing contest? Well, until this situation gets settled and passes on only contestants who have been invited can enter the contests and events. In fact, we are even still thinking if we should even make public appearances.

I know, I know. We might not be in the parade this year, or have a book signing, or even appear at Enid Library.

I'm sure hearing all this makes you wonder what's going on. But I've told you this is... exclusive. It's best if you don't know. I'm not even sure writing this blog is even allowed. All we ask for you is to keep supporting us. and for you Christian fans, we ask for your prayers. We truly do need it more than you may think!

Entries Are Being Delivered

 Ok, so if you haven't heard then you CAN'T be a fan of Shiver and Fears because that contest that I have been telling you about, that happens every year, has started. We already have kids drawing monsters right now. 

Now, I can't tell you how many people tell me how they can't draw or whatever. Well, some time before, the monster drawing contest was a photo editing contest. During the first contest, there was an app where you could take a picture and add moster addings to it. Well strangely, that feature disappeared. It was a year afterwards when an app was discovered to make scary faces from photo images.

At some point it was noted as too scary for kids—Only from the parents, anyway. So after some time we tried a new method where monsters weren't scary, but friendly. Sad part was, there wasn't an area for kids to create monsters cretures... So, we made one!

This game  was created for kids to create monster figures. But this feature had not been made in time for it to work. So, the drawing contest would have to do until then. Now the game is all set. Here's an example of it now:

Now, yearly we get dones of voters, but we don't get a lot of entries trying out this game. Now, don't get me wrong. We want kids to draw their monsters, but we want to include those who can't draw BUT we won't allow that to be the reason why they won't enter.

Those of you who are reading this blog should really try and enter this contest. It's fun! If you haven't already check it out HERE

As of now we want to inform as many kids as possible to enter in this contest. Rumor has it, we even have an adult entering as well! So don't be draw draw a monster... or just create it.

New Book published

So Shiver and Fears is still on vacation, but Magical Times is taking huge leaps! As of now all 9 books of the series can be located at Walmart, as well as Barnes and Noble and Amazon. So have we even talked about this book series? Maybe I need to make a Bio about it, well here's the gist of it all.

The book series is about my future life. I married my highschool sweetheart became a teacher and famous for the books i write. But the book isn't about all about me. It about my boys. I have 3 kids; twin boys and a daughter, they all have magical powers given to the m by angels.

Now there's a lot going on in this series. There's friendship, love, enemies, problem solving, magic, and Christian values. I'm not going to give it  all away, but there is some fun going on within the Hardwick family. Every character has a special part in the story.

And as my life continues, there more stories to tell. It's exciting to write this book. Mostly because it's like a timeline. This is my first time writing a story where everything is consistant.I don't know how some author's do it. Keeping the facts straight. Keeping knowledge of every character and every action. I mean it's already hard retacting facts in a cartoon. You know, like when a character makes a return after a while, or when a character goes through memory lane. Everything has to enline. Age, behavior, locations... EVERYTHING! Otherwise you get those readers who question everything: She had brown hair before, when did she turn blond? Or, I thought he was 10 years when he learned to ride a bike, how was that 6 years ago? 

I don't know, the point is there are some things you have to keep track of when writing a connected series. I do enjoy Magical Times, and hope others do too, but I do enjoy Shiver and Fears creative storyline. ANYTHING can happen that way!

 

13th Bookaversary Plans

 It's been 13 years since the day Shiver and Fears was founded and became a popular icon to most people. But here's the drill on what's happening for the bookaversary and why it's a fuss this year.

Things have been difficult because for one thing money has been tight. Secondly, things haven't gone as planned. In fact, I think the most successful plan was a year or so after the quarentine of 2020. We set up a quick drive by with little gifts to give to our fans. 

This year the plan was going to be simple. We weren't going to focus on fans or attracting new people, this year we were going to call some friends and host a pool party... Well- that was the plan...

The plan was simple, go to my brother's apartment and swim at the pool. Eat some food and play some Jackbox games... The thing about the world is plans get changed whether you want them to or not.

First of all, my brother moved into a new house. An area without a pool. So my mission was to call my aunt, figured she had an idea... Nope, not at all. she'd be out for the whole month... Now, you might start to see where the fuss is coming in. 

My official plan was to just have a simple BBQ. That was a simple solution, but the thing about simple solutions is that sometimes you get help and they go over and beyond to do so.

Long story short, this simple BBQ is now a BQQ party with Shiver and Fears gifts and books to give to every guest along with a game for someone to win a Shiver and Fears prize.😣😣So now I have 2 weeks to find prizes and gift with what I have available as well as come up with a guest list...

Bookaversaries only come once a year, and sometimes the simple answer isn't the correct answer. But luckily I can make it work!

In the meantime, do me a favor. Go up to the closest icy station and get yourself a Shiver and Fears Chill Out Cone (Silver Fox with Blue raspberry) and share it with your followers, and comment what you think.

Happy 4TH of July folks!