I have just recently found a new TV series, well new to me anyways. Haven is a show on SyFy about a town full of people with supernatural powers. Every so many years, the troubles return to Haven, Maine causing some its resident's sleeping powers to awaken. Audrey Parker is an FBI agent who comes to Haven after a criminal but who stays to find out more about her mom and to help the troubled people when no one else can. 

So far there are two seasons with the third starting up in the summer of 2012. I am waiting impatiently for the first episode of season three; season two's finale was so incredible! This series is right up my alley. I love just about anything that is not normal because, well, normal is most of the time very boring. And since my life isn't very exciting on it's own, I need a regular dose of the weird and fantastical. Now, if I could just find a way to get a supernatural power of my own....

Wow, what an incredible weekend I had! Not only did I get to go see my parents and three younger sisters-- plus their families-- I also got to see my older brother that I haven't seen in 26 years! I had most of Saturday to just visit, reminisce and laugh with four of my six siblings. My older sister and younger brother could not make it this time but I'm hopeful we will all get together before long; hopefully not for a funeral. I know, morbid much? But really, have you ever thought of what the number one reason that most families get together might be? Death. Funerals. Laying a loved one to rest. It's a sad but true fact that grief can bring family members to each others side faster than celebrating a birthday or a milestone in ones life. I think we need to make time while we are all alive to enjoy the company and love of each other.

Now, on to the good stuff! I know this might not sound too awfully dark or creepy but it is my blog so I can write what I want! Nyah! (You can't see it but I'm sticking my tongue out at all you nay-sayers!)

My older brother is a magician. Obviously he couldn't do a show while he was visiting--I expect he left most of his props at home. After all, I imagine it could get a little tricky pulling around a box in which to saw people in half. It might even cause a panic, people screaming and running. Probably wouldn't be good publicity to be arrested because those terrified people thought you might be a deranged lunatic bent on removing the top halves from their bottoms. Actually, I'm not really sure if he uses one of those because unfortunately, I have not yet been able to be at a live show-- he lives in California and I am way down south. Although, I think it would be way cool to see it done first-hand. Maybe not to me, as I'm pretty attached to both ends of me and intend to keep it that way but to some other willing volunteer.

So, just to give us a taste and a little thrill he performed a few of his simpler tricks. But don't think they were actually simple. Oh no! Far from it. Jeff pulled out his pack of cards and commenced to impress us all. Let me tell you, he is good! No, he's the best that I've ever seen! (Of course that compliment has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that he's my big brother. Nope, none at all.)

I tried to watch his hands, knowing a little bit about how that works. But this man is an expert at his job. Not only could I not keep up with him, I was constantly being amazed! My daughter is convinced that her Uncle Jeff really IS magic! And seriously, if you had watched him entertaining the kids and adults alike, you might have thought the same thing. Sleight of hand at its professional best!

I highly recommend going and seeing his show if you ever get the chance. Or check out his site: www.jeffezell.webs.com. Or, do both!

Jeff Ezell Magic boasts of a slew of celebrity clients, such as Nancy Reagen, Lucy Liu and even Tom Cruise, just to name a few.

Ever wanted a cool talent, like flying or freezing people? How about throwing balls of fire from your hands? It sounds cool, unless you are the only one in your family without a talent.

So goes the story in the urban fantasy of “Once a Witch.” Tamsin Greene belongs to a family of witches where everyone has inherited some kind of fantastic talent, except her. At seventeen years old, Tamsin goes to a boarding school where she can get away from her magical family and at least act like she is normal. During the summer, she goes home to help in the bookstore her grandmother owns. It is here that a customer mistakes her for her nearly perfect older sister Rowena and asks for help in finding a magical object. Tamsin takes the job without correcting him on the mistaken identity. With the help of a friend, she goes back into time and finds the object. But by bringing back that item, she unleashes a dangerous and evil power that might be the end of her sister if she doesn’t find a way to fix what she messed up. In the end, Tamsin finds out a family secret that changes her life forever.

I have to say, I really enjoyed this book. It might not have been exactly dark and creepy but it is definitely not normal. There was witchcraft, super cool powers, bad guys and a budding romance with a hot guy; what more could you want out of a book? Except maybe a sequel?! Well, Carolyn MacCullough did just that and it’s titled “Always a Witch.” Since I haven’t read it yet, I can’t say much about it, except that I can’t wait to get my hands on a copy of it.

Carolyn MacCullough has four more books under her belt. I encourage everyone who enjoyed “Once a Witch” to check out her other titles. I’m going to and I don’t think I’ll be disappointed.

Greetings

My name is Mary-Elser Kinmore and I love all things dark and creepy. Books, movies, music, games, toys, clothes; as long as it’s darkly themed and beyond normal I usually like it.

I love to read. So, as my very first subject matter, let's talk about zombie books. Zombies are all about the dead or rather, the undead and the horror that goes along with decaying, walking corpses that see you as their next meal. I really enjoy reading about them. The only problem is the low quantity of zombie novels out there that are fit for tweens and teens to read. But there are those who can and do write for younger audiences as well as older. Jonathan Maberry is one I especially like.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

It's 14 years after a zombie apocalypse in which the majority of the American population has become the undead. In one small town, a boy named Benny Imura comes of age in this nightmarish post-apocalyptic world. He leaves the safety of town with his older brother and they both take on zombies and bad guys alike before being able to return home.

Rot & Ruin is a book about zombies but not just about them. It's also about growing up among the undead, of finding love and family amidst dead creatures hungering for your flesh. And realizing that sometimes, the walking dead are not the most evil of creatures you'll encounter; sometimes it's living.

You know the zombies are there, but Jonathan Maberry does not paint totally gruesome pictures of them. You know, like pulling intestines out by the handfuls or burying their faces deep inside the stomach of their most likely still alive victims. Personally, I can handle that kind of gore in a book, but since this is a YA novel, his way is better. Still, there are enough thrills and chills that anyone of any age should be satisfied with it. I know I was and I am already looking forward to reading the sequel: Dust & Decay.

You can purchase Rot & Ruin in hardcover, paperback, audio and for the kindle.