🎃 Spooky Friday Finds – 31 October 2025| Featuring Indie Author Elizabeth Pantley | Halloween Recipes & Party Decorations

 

🎃 Welcome to this spooktacular edition of Friday Finds!👻

It’s Halloween, and I couldn’t resist a frightfully fun lineup of indie author magic, ghoulish treats, and crafty inspiration. This week, I’m shining a cozy spotlight on Elizabeth Pantley, the bestselling author behind two enchanting mystery series that blend warmth, wonder, and just the right touch of supernatural sparkle. Keep reading for fang-tastic recipes, DIY décor ideas, and a few bookish treasures that’ll keep you spellbound all weekend long.

If you’re new here, I’d love to have you join the community! Click Subscribe Here » to make sure you never miss a Friday Find, and don’t forget to nominate your favorite indie author for a future feature.

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The weekly independent author feature has been a huge hit, so I will continue it each week for now. I usually pull names from my list, but I also love receiving nominations! Tell me your favorite Indie Author on my website — you can find all my authors➡️HERE.

 

🪄 Friday Finds Indie Author Spotlight: Elizabeth Pantley

✨ Meet Elizabeth Pantley

Elizabeth Pantley is a bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction, known for her gentle wisdom and sparkling imagination. She’s the creative mind behind two enchanting cozy mystery series:

• The Magical Mystery Book Club – where book lovers solve murders within the very stories they read.

• The Destiny Falls Mystery & Magic series – where family secrets meet small-town charm and a dash of wonder.

Before she began weaving her magical tales, Elizabeth became an internationally bestselling parenting expert, helping families worldwide through her No-Cry Solution book series — now translated into more than twenty languages. Her thoughtful, heart-centered writing carries through every genre she touches, whether she’s soothing a new parent or leading readers through a fantastical mystery.

🌲 From the Pacific Northwest to the Arizona Desert

Elizabeth splits her time between the majestic forests of the Pacific Northwest and the sun-drenched desert of Arizona. Each setting influences her storytelling — lush, moody landscapes inspire her mysteries, while bright desert skies bring a touch of magic and warmth to her pages. Though she insists she hasn’t met any real-life witches or shifters just yet, her books brim with the kind of cozy enchantment that makes you wonder.

📚 Elizabeth’s Books I’ve Reviewed ... So Far

• Falling Into Magic - Book 1 of Destiny Falls
• The Disappearance of Emily - Book 2 of Destiny Falls
• Meditation and Mischief - Magical Mystery Bookclub #8
• Puzzles and Premieres - Magical Mystery Bookclub #10

💬 Why I Love Featuring Elizabeth Today

Elizabeth’s stories remind us that books themselves hold worlds within — places where friendship, mystery, and just-the-right-amount-of-magic coexist. She’s an indie author who’s built a bridge between practical nonfiction and escapist fiction, showing that a writer’s heart can hold both wisdom and whimsy.

🔗 Connect with Elizabeth Pantley

Website | Blog | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon | Instagram | BookBub

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📜Gina's Recent Blog Posts

This week’s book blog roundup includes interviews, giveaways, and some must-read new releases. (Click on the image for more information, including raffle entry.)

Indie Author Showcase!

Celebrating independent author Mark J. Engels, creator of The Forest Exiles Saga. Discover how his engineering precision and love for anime shaped a thrilling werecat universe.

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A haunted lighthouse, a lingering ghost, and a mystery that bridges centuries — The Misremembered Lighthouse (Hayley Hunter Mystery, Book 2) by p.m. terrell blends history, suspense, and the supernatural into a hauntingly beautiful story. Join me for my full review and an exclusive guest post from the author.

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A darkly comic sci-fi spotlight featuring Extraterrestrial Noir by Rich Leder. When an alien crash-lands in suburbia, chaos gets cinematic. Includes a guest post on balancing life and writing and a $25 gift card giveaway.

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A dark fantasy with a fairytale’s shadow—Age of Magic by Tim Vee blends danger, destiny, and mythic adventure. Read my review, excerpt, and enter the $25 GC giveaway.

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The Cyclopes’ Eye by Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius Book Spotlight — a gripping YA speculative fiction and BBNYA 2025 semi-finalist exploring love, loss, and corporate control in a chilling near-future.

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Last week's Friday Finds Recap

In last week's Friday Finds we celebrated indie author, E. Denise Billups,  cooked up a delicious fall harvest soup, and talked about growing colorful bonsai trees. All on top of the many book recommendations and snippets. If you missed it, click the link above to catch up.

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🩻 Ghoulish Foodie Fun 31 October 2025

🦴Sweet & Spicy Skeleton Bone Appetizer

Do you need a last-minute Halloween party appetizer? It doesn't get any simpler that this. As many of you know, my digestive system is not very tolerant of spicy foods. Don't let the name fool you, this one is perfect for all palates. Although I have heard that Raspberry Preserves make a "bloody good" substitution.

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Halloween Popcorn Balls are sweet and salty and spookily perfect for parties and movie night! Perfectly gooey and loaded with fun candies and pretzels, this easy popcorn ball recipe is a must-make for your party!

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🐈‍⬛Craft Corner 

Ok, you have a couple of appetizers to go along with the big bowls of candy. Now you need the perfect tablecloth!

This one is super fast and simple. Grab your disposable tablecloth, splatter on some paint in Halloween colors, or use the red theme above. Make bloody handprints or creepy black and orange spider handprints all over it and then let it dry. Perfectly ghoulish in no time at all!

I keep a supply of these on hand all the time. You never know when a party is going to break out around here!

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🎃 Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks for joining me for this Halloween edition of Friday Finds! 🎃

I hope you discovered a few new favorites — whether it’s a clever cozy mystery, a hauntingly delicious snack, or a last-minute party craft. Your visits, comments, and shares mean the world to me and keep this indie-friendly space alive and thriving. Don’t forget to drop your Fun Time Giveaway answer in the comments, and I’ll see you next week for more books, bites, and creative delights.

Until next time — stay cozy, stay curious, and keep reading under the glow of your pumpkin lights! 🕸️✨

Remember to subscribe so you’ll always receive the weekly indie author updates, giveaways, recipes, and crafts.

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