What’s a party without goody bags?

I love my work as a writer. I do. But I’ve been working non-stop lately, and yesterday was just the break I needed!

We had a total blast at the 1st Annual HWA-CT Poolside BBQ at the house of one of our members! Bert hosted, her husband Will cooked burgers and dogs (and made homemade pretzels, you have not LIVED until you’ve eaten these), we had cake for a couple of birthdays, we had salad made with cucumbers from a member’s garden and Judy brought her famous pasta salad that was unique and quite delicious! We also got to enjoy the pool and make plans for our future. And, of course, there were goody bags.

What’s the HWA-CT? It’s the Connecticut Chapter of the Horror Writers Association, a non-profit which promotes the interests of horror and fantasy writers. I’m an HWA member and co-chair the Connecticut chapter with writer David T. Griffith. Some states and countries have chapters. Ours is relatively new, and we’re still figuring out what we want to be, but so far, we’re having a great time.

It was a truly magical day, and I really didn’t want it to end.

Here’s a few pix. I didn’t take many. For once … I was just chillin’ out.

We got ourselves some swag! I made the bookmarks, stickers, and pens. Bert made the beautiful journals. OMG, they’re awesome.

Bert’s husband, Will, made these pretzels. They were hot and coming out of the oven when I arrived. “Thank COVID,” he said. “I learned how to make these.”

This was the first pina colada of way too many for me!

We had birthdays to celebrate, so I got a chocolate/buttercream cake to celebrate! The candle had a lizard alien because one birthday girl is into lizards, and the other is into aliens. It was perfect (and thank you, Shop Rite, because my local Shop Rite does kick-ASS cakes and I won’t go anywhere else!)

Judy and Bert posing with the cake!

Bert has an awesome, soothing pond with koi and goldfish.

Group shot of the HWA-CT members who could attend! From left, Jackson Kuhl, Gevera Bert Piedmont, me, and Judy Pancoast.