Today is my stop on the tour for "Haunted Halloween Holiday" by
Robbie Cheadle. I have a review of the book for you, but before I share
my review I have a guest post for you from Robbie, which includes
mention of a giveaway as well as her answers to a couple of questions I
asked her. So, over to you, Robbie.
Haunted Halloween Holiday WordCrafter Book Blog Tour
Haunted Halloween Holiday
by Robbie and Michael Cheadle.
Giveaway
For a chance to win one of three US$10 Amazon vouchers or one of three paperback copies of Haunted Halloween Holiday just leave a comment to show you were here.
Follow the tour and comment at each stop for more chances to win.
The prizes will be given away in a random drawing.
*~*~*
Do you come up with the recipes to fit the characters for the story, or is it the story that inspires the recipes?
This is a great question, Tori. The initial stories were written before Michael and I decided to include the recipes in the books. The idea for the inclusion of the recipes so that the Sir Chocolate series would be interactive, and a first set of cookbooks for children, came from my brother-in-law, Justin.
Michael and I thought it was a terrific idea. We loved to bake together and I had a lot of recipes I’d developed over the years, so it was easy for me to include simple recipes in the books. All the recipes have been tried and tested many times. I have all the Sir Chocolate books on my kitchen shelf as I refer to the recipes often.
Sir Chocolate and the Fondant Five was written more recently and that is the only book where I specifically matched recipe choices to the characters in the book.
Haunted Halloween Holiday is not a recipe book and does not include any recipes. It is illustrated with my favourite fondant and cake art creations.
This illustration is a coffin cake I made with Count Sugular, his brother, Skelly, and the Possessed Teddy Bear seated inside and on the coffin lid.
I know you and Michael work together to brainstorm story ideas, but what are yours and Michael's favourite methods of coming up with inspiration for your next book?
The original idea for the Sir Chocolate stories was Michael’s. He came up with the concept of a little man made of chocolate who lived in a world where you can eat everything.
The initial story was an introduction to the main characters, Sir Chocolate and Lady Sweet, and involves a hunt to find the elusive strawberry cream berries. The berries are protected by a family of trolls.
After the writing of that initial story, it was the illustrations that led the stories. Michael and I would decide what we wanted to bake on a Saturday morning and that item would often lead to a story creation conversation in the afternoon.
Haunted Halloween Holiday is aimed at an older audience than the Sir Chocolate Books series. The story is approximately 3,600 words long (compared to the Sir Chocolate books that do not exceed 600 words which is the standard length for picture books for young children).
Haunted Halloween Holiday also includes several fun limericks about the various characters. It was the creation of the limericks combined with a double ennead (poem comprising of three stanzas of 33 syllables each) that I wrote for a Carrot Ranch Halloween Poetry Challenge hosted by Colleen Chesebro that led the thought process for this book.
The poem I wrote was the result of various discussion I’d had with Michael about the “woke” generation who are well informed in a political and cultural sense, especially regarding issues involving the marginalisation of communities.
My response to this discussion, which is close to the hearts of both my sons and my nephews and nieces, was to pen this poem about difference:
Happy Holiday Halloween Hextravaganza
Hard, disapproving eyes
View my family
Our difference not readily accepted
By your society
How we pity you
***
A small-minded approach
Is so limiting
Freedoms we enjoy, prohibited to you
Exploration of unusual places
By the moon’s pale light
***
Sea serpent splashes about
We watch full of glee
As the cat escapes a muddy green shower
And baby burns the grass
Do you have any fun?
By Robbie Cheadle
Haunted Halloween Holiday touches lightly on the acceptance of difference. I like to be subtle and sensitive in the messaging in my books, hence my use of the word lightly. The message is there but it is couched in a fun and engaging story and does not jump out and hit you on the head. I don’t like strong messages in literature, even for adults.
Many readers miss my messaging, but there are a lot who do understand it and I have been called a poetic activist.
About Haunted Halloween Holiday
Blurb
Count Sugular is delighted when the Sugarpop Bats invite his family to a Halloween party at the Haunted House. He and his wife, Witch Honey, decide to hire a caravan and enjoy a weekend away with their family.
Includes some fun limericks to introduce the various characters.
You can find the book trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fr5OxyUfd4
Purchase links
TSL Publications: https://tslbooks.uk/product/haunted-halloween-holiday-robbie-and-michael-cheadle/
Haunted Halloween Holiday by Robbie Cheadle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is an adorable and imaginative story, which is perfect for a fun
Halloween read. If you are looking for a cute and creative Halloween
story to read to your children, grandchildren, or any other young family
members, or if you yourself are a fan of fun children’s stories, you
should definitely consider checking out this book.
View all my reviews
About Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle is a South African children's author and poet with eleven children’s books and two poetry books.
The eight Sir Chocolate children's picture books, co-authored by Robbie and Michael Cheadle, are written in sweet, short rhymes which are easy for young children to follow and are illustrated with pictures of delicious cakes and cake decorations. Each book also includes simple recipes or biscuit art directions which children can make under adult supervision.
Robbie and Michael have also written Haunted Halloween Holiday, a delightful fantasy story for children aged 5 to 9. Count Sugular and his family hire a caravan to attend a Halloween party at the Haunted House in Ghost Valley. This story is beautifully illustrated with Robbie's fondant and cake art creations.
Robbie has published two books for older children which incorporate recipes that are relevant to the storylines.
Robbie has two adult novels in the paranormal historical and supernatural fantasy genres published under the name Roberta Eaton Cheadle. She also has short stories, in the horror and paranormal genre, and poems included in several anthologies.
Robbie Cheadle contributes two monthly posts to https://writingtoberead.com, namely, Growing Bookworms, a series providing advice to caregivers on how to encourage children to read and write, and Treasuring Poetry, a series aimed at introducing poetry lovers to new poets and poetry books.
In addition, Roberta Eaton Cheadle contributes one monthly post to https://writingtoberead.com called Dark Origins: African Myths and Legends which shares information about the cultures, myths and legends of the indigenous people of southern Africa.
Robbie has a blog, https://robbiesinspiration.wordpress.com where she shares book reviews, recipes, author interviews, and poetry.
Find Robbie Cheadle
Robbie Cheadle Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Robbie-Cheadle/e/B01N9J62GQ
Robbie Cheadle Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15584446.Robbie_Cheadle
TSL Publications Robbie Cheadle Author Page: https://tslbooks.uk/product-tag/robbie-cheadle/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bakeandwrite
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SirChocolateBooks
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVyFo_OJLPqFa9ZhHnCfHUA
*~*
Tour schedule:
Monday – October 3 – Intro. & Review – Writing to be Read: https://wp.me/pVw40-6wP
& Guest Post w/Review – Undawnted: http://www.undawnted.com/2022/10/wordcrafter-blog-tour-haunted-halloween.html
Tuesday – October 4 – Guest Post – The Many Showers of Blessings: https://theshowersofblessings.com/?p=29443
Wednesday – October 5 – Review & Guest Post – Patty’s World: https://wp.me/pcZCK2-920
Thursday – October 6 – Review & Guest Post – Carla Loves to Read: https://wp.me/p6H3KI-9UE
Friday – October 7 – Review & Guest Post – Zigler’s News: https://ziglernews.blogspot.com/2022/10/wordcrafters-book-blogtour-for-haunted.html
Saturday – October 8 – Review & Guest Post – Annette Rochel Aben: https://annetterochelleaben.wordpress.com/2022/10/08/haunted-halloween-holiday/
14 comments:
Hi Tori, thank you for sharing today's stop on the Haunted Halloween Holiday book tour and for your lovely review. It is much appreciated.
Thanks Tori, for a wonderful post and review. You are always willing to host and you do a great job.☺️
I really like Tori's first question and Robbie's response.
You do a good interview, Tori!
Robbie:
My pleasure. Thanks for the fun read.
Kaye:
Well, it says "Anonymous" but I think it's you, Kaye? Anyway, you're welcome, and I'm glad you liked the post. :)
Elizabeth:
Thanks. And thanks for visiting. :)
Jeanie:
Thanks. Glad you think so.
Hi Robbie, Tori and All.
Great interview Tori. I should have you interview me. Fab review as well.
Grand post all around.
Sorry I'm late. LOL.
Another wonderful question and answer from Robbie. I was quite surprised that my grandson (9 yrs. old) picked up on the theme of differences when he asked about a vampire and a witch getting married. Funny that at that young age, he wondered how two very different characters could get married. We had quite an interesting discussion about that. Great post, Victoria.
Patty:
Glad you enjoyed the post, and no worries about being a bit late in here. Lilie says Blue needs to come do a PetKid Pals interview.
Karla:
Thanks for visiting, and I'm glad you enjoyed the post. Yes, I'm sure that was quite an interesting conversation.
It is great to see Robbie featured here, Tori. Great question about the stories and the recipes. I have read Robbie's explanation of the origin of the series, but what inspires stories and how the process of creation works is always fascinating. Thanks for sharing this and good luck with your projects!
Olga:
Thanks. I'm glad you found the post fascinating. Also, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
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