“When Hauntings Collide” is now available at Amazon. The eBook version features links to take you from decision to decision as you decide what you want to do in the haunted house. You don’t even have to go in if you want to avoid the triple dog dare.
“When Hauntings Collide” is the sequel to the wildly successful “When Childhood Stories Collide.” The two interactive books that put you as the lead character are connected. That means you could find your way from one book to the other as long as you have both books!
If “Choose Your Own Adventure” books (affiliate link) were favorites of your childhood reading days, the Make Choices series is meant for you. I loved being able to be the main character in my story, no matter how many times I died or how many fingers I had to use to make sure I was making the “right” choice.
If you want more of this type of book, you’ll need to pick these up right away and rate them 5 stars! Thank you.
SPOILER ALERT!
I like surprises. I can’t wait to see or read what the creator has put into a story to make it different from other stories like it I have read. Where are the Easter Eggs? What characters did they fit in? Which characters did they vaguely reference? It’s part of the fun.
I avoid trailers for movies and reviews for movies and books when I can. I block people on social media, who for some reason have decided that it’s okay to reveal the secret plot twist of a movie even two weeks after the movie had come to theaters. In short, I don’t like spoilers. If you’re like me, do not read any further. Instead, right click this link to purchase the Make Choices books, open it in a new tab and when you’re there, close this tab. But far be it from to tell you what to do. You have a choice. If you continue reading this article, take note: THERE BE SPOILERS AHEAD and maybe a trip to Davy Jones’ locker… Wait, that might be a different story.
DO NOT READ: SPOILERS!
I’ve warned you all I could, and if you haven’t heeded my spoilers warnings, then you will definitely want to get “When Hauntings Collide.” You’re exactly the type of person that would spend a night in a haunted mansion. The only question that remains is are you the kind of person that would survive the night in the haunted mansion?
Dummies, alien plants, happy and not-so-happy haunts, blood and gore (but stylistically PG -rated), a tiger or a woman, a leprechaun… There are so many things that could be a part of this spooky tale. Which will you be able to find and which will you survive? Only you can choose. Pick up “When Hauntings Collide” today.
Editor’s Note: This article uses affiliate links. If you click them and buy something, our website gets a small amount from each sale. It will not cost you anything extra.
I found a copies of the first two books in the Spellsinger series and got caught up in it. An American college student, who takes the name Jon-Tom, finds himself transported into a fantasy world. The animals dress in clothes, talk and form the basis of society. There are some humans, too, but (at least in the first two books) almost every being is smaller than the over six-foot tall man. Humans typically top out at about five feet tall. There’s a dragon. There’s magic; that’s how he got there after all. There is also some adult words and situations. I’ve been reading about 50 pages a day in the series.
The best part of the story is that Jon-Tom is a Spellsinger, which means he can only cast spells through his music. These spells rarely turn out the way he thinks they should, especially since modern concepts, like cars, need to be translated into the place and time where he is. While reading, I keep thinking about all the songs that he could use for certain situations.
When I’m not reading the book, I often think about what songs would do what if they triggered magic. Of course, I take my cues from the book. A song about the aforementioned car summoned a snake to ride on.
Jon-Tom’s troubles include not being able to control the magic. He is a newbie after all. More importantly, he often can’t think of what songs to sing. His music tastes before arriving in this new world were heavy metal though he knows other genres as well.
Jon-Tom is told several times that the lyrics aren’t necessarily important. He needs to concentrate on what he wants from the magic. Of course, that’s easier said than done.
If it were me, once I finally had time, I would write down the lyrics to the songs I knew and study them for possible effects. Disco Inferno seems like it would be a good song for burning things down, or you could go with Burning down the House. We Didn’t Start the Fire would be interesting. It could keep people from starting fires; it could summon some of the things it mentions. I fear Elvis’ Burnin’ Love would create the wrong kind of conflagration.
Money is always an issue, and most songs are about how it’s bad. Money Makes the World Go ‘Round might be one to use. If you needed nickels, you might be able to go with Playground in My Mind. Weird Al’s Eat It should be enough to conjure a feast, and his Fat might help in a fighting scenario.
It’s official. I’m going to be presenting “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” at FanX just in time to celebrate Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion’s 55th anniversary! My panel is scheduled for Sept. 27, 2024 in room 250A. (Dick Van Dyke will be in the Grand Ballroom at noon, so Disney fans will have to rush from his supercalifragilisticexpialidocious panel to mine. I’ll do my best to save you a seat.)
What Can You Expect?
I will take you on a guided tour of the Haunted Mansion, so bring your imagination. Along the way, we’ll meet some of the characters that made the Haunted Mansion what it is. We’ll also look at the history and structure of the attraction to give us examples of the creative process and how it works in real life. Hopefully, you’ll be able to put some of these principles to work in your life every day.
Also, fans of the Haunted Mansion can expect to recite the spiel and sing the song as we go on this tour together. Don’t worry. There will be no spooks around to tell you they want to hear the Ghost Host and not you. Creativity can be a team endeavor.
For those unfamiliar with the Haunted Mansion, it’s important to note that the attraction does deal with themes that some might find triggering. This includes death and suicide.
Books for Sale
Unfortunately, I have been unable to partner with anyone on the convention floor at FanX 2024. So, if you want books, you’ll have to order them through Amazon or contact me directly (shadexaminer@gmail.com), so I can bring them with me. Otherwise, I will have a very small number of books available for purchase directly after the panel. (If you get your books on Amazon, I’ll be happy to sign them when you bring them to FanX.
About FanX and Me
FanX is one of my favorite comic conventions because they gave me my start as a journalist covering conventions. I’ve been lucky enough to meet Lou Ferrigno, Battlestar Galactica’s Richard Hatch, and Micky Dolenz, among others. The convention runs from Sept. 26 to Sept. 28, 2024. Make final arrangements now to see the Haunted Mansion Is Creativity at FanX 2024. We’re dying to have you.
When Christ is asked what the greatest commandment is, he offers two:
37 …“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40
All the laws and all the prophets hang on these two commandments. If a Christian can follow these two commandments, they wouldn’t need to worry about anything else, assuming the Christian doesn’t hate themselves, which creates a whole new problem.
Luke also has a similar passage, but in this one, the person who asks the questions seeks clarification about his “neighbor.” Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan:
A man is beaten by thieves and left for dead. He is passed by members of the church, including a priest. However, it is the Samaritan, a person who should’ve had nothing to do with the man, who stops to help the man. The Samaritans hated the Jews and vice versa, and yet, this Samaritan took care of the man’s wounds. He then took the man to an inn, further administered to his injuries, and the next day, he paid the innkeeper to take care of the man while guaranteeing additional money to pay for any expenses that weren’t covered.
In short, the Samaritan took a victim of violence, a person he would’ve otherwise despised, and took care of his health while giving him food and shelter, not just for the moment’s he was with him, but for as long as the innkeeper deemed necessary.
Christ has asked people to take care of their neighbors. He made it the second commandment like unto the first. There is very little separation between the commandments. Even if he ranked one over the other, it sounds like it was a tough call.
Then, he made it clear that our neighbors aren’t just those who we love, or those who are near us geographically. Our neighbors include those we despise. They include those who are hurting. They include those caravans that are coming from the south, who are being unceremoniously shipped under false pretenses by the very same people who call themselves Christian.
Those people have certainly not learned the lessons of the Good Samaritan, and many have not learned the lessons from Christ’s own life. Instead, they use their religion as a bludgeon to hurt others and to remain ensconced in their powerful positions while feeding the emotions of their followers the stones and snakes that a father would not give a son when he asked for bread or fish.
When panel suggestions opened for FanX 2023, I had no idea what I would be doing in September during the convention. I was looking for jobs and hoping to get something that would pay the bills. I figured if I wasn’t employed by the comic convention in Salt Lake City, I could get to the Salt Palace and have a good time. So, I filled out the form and suggested “Disneyland Is Creativity.”
Disneyland Is Creativity
“Disneyland Is Creativity” is the name of the first book I published. It uses the structure and history of Disneyland to illustrate creativity principles. Main Street, U.S.A. is a good example of how Disney made people feel comfortable when coming into the park; you need to feel comfortable if you want to practice creativity, especially in a business setting. Disneyland’s opening day provides plenty of examples of failure and mistakes; in creativity, you’re going to fail and make mistakes because you’re trying something new.
I had done a panel based on my book at Lilac City Comicon, and I have also done the follow-up panel based on the Haunted Mansion at Lilac City Comicon and Ogden UnCon. I was confident I could present a compelling and enjoyable panel for FanX conventioneers and Disney fans.
FanX 2023 Notification and Work
When I got the email to let me know that I had been chosen, I was excited. I was also working at a bookshop and didn’t have days off available. Still, I figured I would figure out the time off at the time that I was able to let people know I was invited to FanX as a panelist. The bookshop was fine with me going; I just wouldn’t get paid.
Then, I got a notice that my rent would be increasing. My bookshop job would no longer pay for my expenses. I was going to have to find something new.
I applied for a hotel job and a bank job. I scheduled interviews for both, and I was offered the job at the hotel. I told him I would have to discuss it with my wife. He said he would get back to me the next day with the exact pay amount they were offering. He didn’t call the next day.
I did the interview for the bank and was offered the job there as well. However, they had some details to work out before they could give me the benefits package. I called the hotel, the person at the front desk refused to take a message. I called a second time, and left a message with a different front desk person. I called a third time, and I had the bank offer in my hands. There was only one more hurdle to jump for the bank before the offer was finalized. I asked for time off to go to FanX. While waiting for the approval, I called the hotel manager one more time. He did not get back to me. The bank did with the approval for unpaid leave, and I accepted the offer.
Flights and Hotels
I had to book flights and hotels for FanX. I booked the cheapest hotel I could find within walking distance. If I was going to drive, I didn’t want to have to deal with my car during the convention. I should have looked at the reviews. By the time my wife looked at the reviews, it was too late to book a hotel with the FanX discount, which is what I should have done in the first place. We found the City Creek Inn and Suites about 1.5 miles away from the Salt Palace. It ended up being good enough – quiet, waffles for breakfast, clean room. It could do with a renovation, but we were just going to be sleeping there.
I booked flights out of Eugene with Southwest Airlines. They were the least expensive that didn’t charge for luggage. That meant I could take my books, computer, and posters to FanX without paying anything additional. The flights went smoothly; we didn’t even need to pay for earlier boarding. (We got the last two seats that were together on the flight back. All the other flights we sat together without having to worry.)
The Worst Buddhist
Geek Buddhas from The Worst Buddhist
I knew Darren Lamb, the Worst Buddhist, was going to FanX. I think he may have been at every convention put on by the group since its inception – 15 shows or 10 years ago. I edit Darren’s books because he writes stories that need to be written and read. If you’re looking for something amazing with some Buddhist leanings, Darren delivers. His fiction works include “The Book of Benjamin,” an exploration of what happens if the answers are literally inside of us, “Rebirth: a Zombie Tale” explores reincarnation during the zombie apocalypse, and “The Pit Bull” brings together a dog and a disparate and desperate group of people who are looking for healing.
I asked if he would allow me to do a book signing at his booth. He was enthusiastic about it. I asked him to pick us up at the airport, and he was enthusiastic about that, too. I scheduled and did the signings at his booth immediately after my panels.
Darren also writes some great non-fiction. If you are looking for a way to practice spirituality, and you can’t find anyone to help you, “Ronin Buddhism” is a great read to set you on your own path. (I have used affiliate links for the books in this post. They take you to Amazon, which provides me a small commission if you purchase something and doesn’t cost you or the author anything additional.)
Walt Disney World Vs. Disneyland Panel
Josh Twelves Facebooked me and said I was scheduled for a panel on Thursday. I looked at my schedule and told him I didn’t know anything about that panel. I knew I was scheduled for Friday, but Thursday was free as far as I could tell.
He clarified that he added me to his panel. I didn’t know Josh, but I have been to both parks. Disneyland is my go-to vacation, and I was a College Program participant at Walt Disney World (which was amazing). After a little back and forth, I agreed to do the panel with Josh, Tracy Mangum, and Jake Dietz. (The latter two do “the Movies that Make Us” podcast.)
It was a fun panel that Josh moderated well. There was plenty of audience participation, but I think the consensus was that Disneyland is better overall. We did have a West Coast bias because it’s super easy to get to the Happiest Place on Earth from Utah. We also had a Walt Disney bias; Disneyland is the only park he walked and lived in. Neither of those two things can be said for Walt Disney World.
Disneyland Is Creativity Panel
Jenya said this was her favorite panel of the two days we were able to attend FanX. I had brought the wrong laptop, so I couldn’t connect to the projector. That meant I had to do the presentation without the PowerPoint prop. Jenya thought it went even better than the previous panels I had done on the same subject.
I enjoyed being able to take a group of Disneyland fans down the Main Street, U.S.A. of our imagination while relating aspects of the park to creative principles. The questions afterward were great, and we found out that one of our audience members was headed to do her own Disney College Program experience. If you want me to upload video, leave a comment.
Panels and Books
I was able to sell three sets of the books I brought: “Disneyland Is Creativity,” “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity,” and “Penguinate! The Disney Company.” All three are available on Amazon in eBook format. Only “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” is available on Amazon in both paperback and as an eBook. I have some paperbacks of the other two still available. All three sales came from people who came to the panels.
FanX and Its Guests
Outside of my panelist duties, I was able to see several stars and a couple of panels. Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Zachary Levi, John Rhys-Davies, and Christopher Lloyd were the biggest names that I saw on stage. Lloyd said this would be his last comic convention. Abel was hilarious. They were all hampered about what they could talk about by the writers’ strike that is being supported by SAG-AFTRA.
We started the day with Jim Meskimen, who was funny and sincere. He made a good impression on us, pun intended. Meskimen does impressions as part of his act; you can visit Jimpressions.com for more information. Jenya really enjoyed the History of Costumes panel put on by the costume department of the Hale Center Theater Orem.
Artist Alley
As with almost every comic convention I have attended, there just wasn’t enough time to do much with Artist Alley beyond my own book signing. We saw Ty Hulse from afar, who we had met at Lilac City Comicon. On Friday night, our last day, I took a couple extra minutes to rush through the aisles jam-packed with amazing artwork, stickers, and posters, but nothing caught my eye until I saw a comic book for $2.99. That’s a great price. As I looked more at the booth, I noticed that the proceeds were going to help stop animal abuse. I wasn’t really sure I wanted it, but as I walked a couple of booths past the comic books, I decided that I had budgeted the money, and I should come away with something from my FanX experience. (Plus, Jenya was sure I wanted it and said I should get it.) If it doesn’t support the artist, at least it will go to a good cause.
So we made a U-turn, and I went to the booth. The Calico comic book series from Sigma Comics was eight issues and a sticker for $20. I was warned the comic was graphic; the bad guys won’t make it out alive.
I would’ve loved to stay for Saturday, but budget constraints and other circumstances required me to go home. Thursday was great because it was less crowded than Friday. Friday was great because the convention energy picked up. We were glad to have been able to attend and participate in FanX2023.
I was asked to participate on a second panel while at FanX in Salt Lake City: Which is better Disneyland or Walt Disney World? Scheduled for Thursday at 5pm, this panel will feature five panelists: Josh Twelves, Tracy Mangum, Jake Dietz, and Amanda Provost.
Disneyland
My experience with Disneyland is as a vacationer. I’ve been to the Happiest Place on Earth more than 50 times, and as those who have read My Life in the Projects, Disneyland was a safe place that we went to every year as a family to have some happiness. I am the author of Disneyland Is Creativity.
Disneyland is the only park that Walt walked in. It is home to innovations, without which Walt Disney World couldn’t exist. Disneyland is the OG park.
Walt Disney World
I worked in the resorts at Walt Disney World while a participant of the College Program. (Going to Salt Lake Community College gave me the opportunity to be a part of Walt Disney World.) As a member of the custodial team for Saratoga Springs, I was able to take advantage of everything the four parks and backstage have to offer. It was spectacular.
Which Is Better?
The answer to the question will depend a lot on the comparison. Are we comparing the two resorts: Disneyland and Disney California Adventure against The Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and Epcot? Or will we stick to Disneyland versus the Magic Kingdom? There are questions of budget, time, and attractions. Will we come up with the definitive answer? Do we have to choose?
I will also be giving the Disneyland Is Creativity Panel scheduled for Friday at 3pm. As with all comic conventions, panels and participants are subject to change. Download the FanX 2023 app and mark these panels as favorites, so you don’t miss them.
If you would like me to bring you a copy of Disneyland Is Creativity or it’s sequel The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity, please contact me. Otherwise, I will have a very limited number on hand.
It’s official! We are less than a month away from FanX 2023 in Salt Lake City, and I have a panel, “Disneyland Is Creativity.” Based on my book, this panel will provide ways to improve your creativity by using examples and metaphors from Disneyland’s structure and history. This panel is a must for fans of the park and for those who are interested in learning principles of creativity to improve their lives and the lives of others. The time and place of the panel will be released with the FanX app. Download the app, bookmark our panel, and join us for a walk down memory lane.
Get ‘Disneyland Is Creativity’
You can get a copy of “Disneyland Is Creativity” and its sequel “The Haunted Mansion Is Creativity” from Amazon. You can also order them directly from me and pick them up at my panel. We will bring a very limited supply of books to be available at Darren Lamb’s table in Artist Alley. (Darren is known as the Worst Buddhist; his table will have cool, geek-inspired Buddhas and stickers as well as books he’s written.) I’ll be happy to sign your books when I see you at FanX in Salt Lake City.
FanX 2023 in Salt Lake City
FanX 2023 is Salt Lake City’s premier comic convention. It will be held September 21 to 23, 2023. Tickets often sell out. Get yours ahead of time.
As always, events and panels are subject to change. Be sure to confirm the panels and activities you’re excited for, ahead of time.
While watching the highly entertaining, over-the-top, comedic, delicious portrayal of the Sanderson Sisters in the cult classic Hocus Pocus and its newly released sequel, the audience often forgets that the sisters are evil. They talk about eating children, they terrorize teenagers, including keeping two of them in a cage, and the audience sees them kill a child by sucking in her essence to become young and beautiful, or at least, younger and more beautiful.
Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy are amazing, charismatic, and can sing a tune in a beguiling, amusing manner. They have individual and unique senses of style. Their portrayal of the Salem witches is truly something to behold. Still, no matter how much we like the characters and the actors, who make them, the Sanderson Sisters are evil. If you need a better reminder of their evil ways, look no further than the Disney “Hocus Pocus Spell Book.”
The hardbound tome is “A Guide to Spells, Potions, and Hexes for the Aspiring Salem Witch,” and Disney doesn’t soften it up. Inside, the book’s graphic novel style presents beautiful, intricate drawings along side what could be real spells and potions based on their ingredients. The infamous dead-man’s toe is there along with oil of boil, cockroaches, tarantula hair. The sharp-eyed Disney enthusiast will recognize a couple of spells, potions, and magical items from other evil Disney warlocks and witches. A scream of fright, anyone?
Interspersed among the pages are words from Winnie, Mary and Sarah as they navigate the books spells, and ready themselves to face the elders coming to burn them at the stake. Their personalities shine through the brief missives.
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According to “Every Penguin in the World” (affiliate link), a penguin’s call is its identity. Each call is unique. It’s how life mates find each other in a colony of look-alikes. When a king penguin called to Author Charles Bergman, who was standing on the penguin path, the penguin was announcing and identifying itself, and it waited for Bergman to do the same.
What could Bergman answer? Who was he and what response would be appropriate to give to a king penguin? In part, “Every Penguin in the World” is Bergman’s response, but it goes deeper for him. This one penguin questioned Bergman, wanting to know who he was and what his responsibility to the colony was. Bergman wanted to know the answer as well.
Identity is a powerful motivator. Who are you and what are your responsibilities to the colony? How would you answer the king penguin?
Too often, we hide behind our names and what we do for a living. Those aren’t who we are, we just gird them on like armor to protect us from the difficult journey that involves questioning ourselves and our place in the world. Our identity gets tied up in groups, politics, hobbies – these allow us to connect, give us a sense of certainty, and when done correctly, bring us joy. However, until we use our power to discover our own unique voices, we cannot be as forthright as the king penguin. The inward journey that requires is tough to make. It is continuous, but the rewards may be trumpeted through our entire being.
Penguins in a basket for penguin awareness day
If you like penguins, check out Jenya’s handmade penguins at Etsy.com. A portion of the adoption fees will go to the Royal Albatross Centre in New Zealand for their work with little penguins and other birds.
Polly Penguin Wants to Fly
Shad’s books “There Are No Penguins in Alaska” and “Polly Penguin Wants to Fly” are available at Amazon or when you use a contact form from Penguinate.com. We have a limited number of “There Are No Penguins In Alaska” in hard copy for coloring. They run $8 each plus shipping and handling. A portion of the sale of each “Polly Penguin Wants to Fly” goes to support Tiritiri Matangi Island for their work with little penguins and other New Zealand wildlife.
At Penguinate, we believe creativity happens at the intersection. When two or more fields of knowledge interconnect, you’ll find something new. That’s why we vary our content. However, creativity cannot happen without a core set of knowledge, and that’s why we focus on some topics more than others. Creativity is a meta-skill that everyone possesses, and with practice, you can improve your creative powers.
This site uses affiliate links. If you buy something from an affiliate link at Amazon, it won’t cost you more than if you went there on your own to get it, and we get a small portion for steering you to the product.
Jenya has put many of her stuffed penguins on Etsy. Because each of these penguins is one of a kind, it’s important that you adopt your favorite quickly. Jenya puts so much time and love into these penguins; they are hand-crafted with hand-embroidered eyes. The fabric is soft and huggable, and every penguin has its own personality. For every penguin adopted, we make a donation to the Royal Albatross Centre in New Zealand for their work with little penguins and other birds.
If you want something for stress relief, Jenya’s Roly Poly Penguins are just the thing. Hand-knit from the softest yarns, these penguins are cute, and happy for you to squeeze them. The tactile experience will help you feel calmer.
All of these penguins come with their own names, likes and dislikes spelled out on a penguin passport. There are limited number available for the holidays. Adopt one today.
“There Are No Penguins in Alaska” is a coloring book that includes several animals that are in Alaska. The ending will leave you with a chuckle. It is available on eReader, though we do not recommend coloring on your eReader. Shad also has a very limited number of IRL coloring books (around 30 are left from the first printing).
Polly Penguin Wants to Fly
Shad wrote “Polly Penguin Wants to Fly” as a book his mother could read to her grandchildren. Newly hatched Polly Penguin is amazed at the birds she sees flying overhead. She wants to fly. But penguins can’t fly, can they? This book is available on eReader, in paperback on Amazon, and directly from Shad (if you want an autograph). One dollar from each copy sold, regardless of format goes to Tiritiri Matangi Island for their work with little penguins and other New Zealand wildlife.
Penguin Flat Friends
Part of the meal on the train (flat friend: penguin not included)
Only three flat friends are available for adoption. These felt penguins are about two inches tall and two dimensional. They were hand-crafted by Jenya out of felt. They make great ornaments, bookmarks, and decorations. Get them before they are gone.
Penguinate! Positive Creativity 