Tina Jens at the mike -- at the Friday the 13th October Monster Bash. The event was held at the Barnes and Noble in Evanston, to promote the Twilight Tales BOOK OF DEAD THINGS, and to promote many of the Chicago-area horror and dark fantasy authors. The lovely and prolific novelist, Yvonne Navarro, and Evanston's own shockmeister, Jay Bonansinga await their turn at the mike.

Also participating in the event were: Andrea Dubnick, Jerry Gilio, Larry Santoro, John Weagly, Bill Breedlove and Kimberly O'Lone. Many of the readers did double-duty at the event, reading for a tough crowd of soon-to-be witches, spidermen and Power Rangers, at the childrens' Halloween show, before breathing a sigh of relief and heading over to the adults' horror show. (Some of the newer authors said they'd never be nervous about a reading again, after facing the crowd of kids.) Both shows were well-attended, books were bought and Halloween candy was passed out. Photo by Mary Duros.