October thoughts...

October has always been a favorite month. I love fall colors. I love that the weather is cooling down after the hot Southern California weather of August and September. And I love Halloween.

A couple nights ago I started a four week mask making workshop. Using papier-mâché and a wire substructure we are exploring possibilities.

My intention is to create a commedia dell’arte half-mask of Pulcinello. But perhaps a modern vision of the comic character. I played him in college and have always had a soft spot for him. This week is about the wire understructure. I have a ways to go before next week, but here is where I’m at now. It’s an interesting challenge. I’ll post the stages so you can see the process. As half-masks can be front heavy, I’m extending this mask back over the top of the head with an over the top hairdo. Hopefully it will make it a bit easier to wear. In theory, it should be finished by the end of the month.

I’m also reading so many books right now. The Haunting Between Us is a great Halloween read. Ghosts. Gay romance. Danger. Mystery. But there are quite a few spooky books on these pages. I’m also reading Conrad’s Fate by Diana Wynn Jones (not lgbtq but Chrestomanci definitely makes one wonder), and Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (also not lgbtq but a wonderfully quirky read about two graduate students attempting to rescue their obnoxious professor of magic from Hell so that he can grade their dissertations… significantly more fun than Dante’s Inferno)

October Reading

The Purple Fantastic Book of the Month

The Haunting Between Us

This is a great spooky story with unexpected twists and turns. I enjoyed it a lot. Cameron struggles with insecurities about his weight, though it seems more in his head than in the eyes of his friends. I appreciated that very human element in this gay romance and how that aspect plays out in the relationship. The scary bits are wonderfully evocative even if some of the supernatural rules don’t always seem very clear. It is a fun read. I listened to the audio book and the narrator did a nice job. I was thoroughly engaged.

* * * * *

“A supernatural story of love, friendship, and discovery that’s heartwarming and frightening… engaging, sweet, and realistic all at once.” – Kirkus (Recommends Get It!)

Heartstopper meets The Haunting of Hill House in this queer coming-of-age romance and ghost story.

Cameron can’t believe the boy of his dreams just moved into the house of his nightmares.

Sixteen-year-old Cameron Walsh dreads the haunted Victorian mansion across the street, where the ghost of the White Lady roams the halls. When he sees her through the bay window, his ghost-hunting friend Abby wants to investigate. But then the new owners pull up, and Cameron is captivated by the brooding, handsome boy moving in. He longs for a boyfriend, but years of bullying have shattered his self-esteem.

Sixteen-year-old Hugo Cruz and his father flip old houses, moving often, fleeing from the grief at the loss of Hugo’s mother. They unknowingly move into the most haunted house in Port Townsend, Washington. From day one, Hugo encounters shadows that move by themselves, locked doors without keys, and hidden rooms. He hides the mysteries from his superstitious father, not wanting to uproot their lives.

When the White Lady becomes impossible to ignore, Hugo turns to Cameron to help uncover the house’s dark history. They soon form a bond that goes beyond friendship, but as their feelings deepen, the White Lady’s wrath intensifies. Entangled in a web of sinister secrets, they risk not only their love but their very existence.

The Purple Fantastic Steam Meter gives this a 3. There are sexy bits in this book, but though there is some specificity, this is not one of those books that really focuses on the details. It wouldn’t be a particularly shocking book for a teen. You can read more about the Steam Ratings on the About Page.

Description

“A supernatural story of love, friendship, and discovery that’s heartwarming and frightening… engaging, sweet, and realistic all at once.” – Kirkus (Recommends Get It!)

Heartstopper meets The Haunting of Hill House in this queer coming-of-age romance and ghost story.

Cameron can’t believe the boy of his dreams just moved into the house of his nightmares.

Sixteen-year-old Cameron Walsh dreads the haunted Victorian mansion across the street, where the ghost of the White Lady roams the halls. When he sees her through the bay window, his ghost-hunting friend Abby wants to investigate. But then the new owners pull up, and Cameron is captivated by the brooding, handsome boy moving in. He longs for a boyfriend, but years of bullying have shattered his self-esteem.

Sixteen-year-old Hugo Cruz and his father flip old houses, moving often, fleeing from the grief at the loss of Hugo’s mother. They unknowingly move into the most haunted house in Port Townsend, Washington. From day one, Hugo encounters shadows that move by themselves, locked doors without keys, and hidden rooms. He hides the mysteries from his superstitious father, not wanting to uproot their lives.

When the White Lady becomes impossible to ignore, Hugo turns to Cameron to help uncover the house’s dark history. They soon form a bond that goes beyond friendship, but as their feelings deepen, the White Lady’s wrath intensifies. Entangled in a web of sinister secrets, they risk not only their love but their very existence.

Additional information

book-author

Paul Michael Winters

Format

Audiobook, Hardcover, Kindle Books, Paperback

Language

English

Publisher

Maelstom Press

Pages

376

Year Published

2025

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Maya Angelou

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