Calling All Cryptkeepers

If you plan on participating in this year's Halloween Countdown, please read this post in its entirety in order to assure your place on the list of participants. 

First of all, let me apologize for being a bit behind schedule this year. This site has more cob webs than usual, but please be assured that the 2013 Countdown is on.

Everyone that I have contact information for should have received an email from me by this time. If you've emailed me back already, you've been added to the list of cryptkeepers for this year. If you haven't, please check your email.

If you haven't heard from me, that means I don't have a current email address for you. Please email me at universalrobots@aol.com. Put Halloween Countdown in the subject line. In the content of the letter please include a link to your blog(s) and the name you would like to see it listed under (since this is often different). You will not hear back from me unless there's a question I have. Once I receive an email from you I will automatically add you to this year's list. Having an email from you also means I'll be contacting you directly next year, hopefully making the whole process even smoother.

If you are planning to participate as a cryptkeeper this year, DO NOT simply leave a message in the comments box. Please email me. There are so many participants now, that it's easy for someone to get overlooked in the comments box, especially when Shawn and I are both trying to keep everything up to speed, manage our own blogs, and our everyday lives. I know there were periods last year where neither of us were able to check the comments box for several days in a row. Neither of us want to keep anyone waiting, or put them through the stress of wondering why they haven't been added to the list yet. By emailing me directly, you can be certain that I'll get you added asap, probably within just a few hours.

Also, if you only contact us through the comment box, we have no way to reach you directly if there's an issue with your link, or any other matter.  As October proceeds, we will be posting other things at this site, and things get lost when left in the various comment boxes, especially when those boxes don't have anything to do with the participant list.

The goal here is to make everything run as smoothly as possible and for everyone to have fun.

Please use the comments box for any questions or comments you might have as to this year's countdown otherwise.

Thank you. Now go blow the dust out of your trick or treat bags and get ready to turn on your porch lights.

The 13 days of Creepmas!

For all of you boils and ghouls who lament that there aren't more days to stretch out the Countdown to Halloween each year, I wanted to point to the 13 Days of Creepmas site which is holding a similar blogging event to what we do here.  You can find all the details on how to join and some nifty participation badges by clicking on the horned one below!

Happy Halloween!

Just wanted to take a second and wish everyone a belated Happy Halloween, and thank all the participants of the 2012 Countdown!  It was a great year with a wonderful turnout, and I'm sure most of us will be catching up on visiting other participant's countdowns for months to come.  Hope everyone had their fill of candy, pumpkin carving, and scary movies, and I hope everyone had a blast participating in the countdown madness!

Underneath the Juniper Tree Needs All of Us

Many of you who have been participating in the Countdown to Halloween the past few years will have noticed that among the past Cryptkeepers absent this year is Underneath The Juniper Tree. While their presence is missed, it's for a good reason. Lovely literary agent, Bree Ogden has pointed out that they are putting together a deliciously dark Children's Anthology of art and stories sure to please everyone who is participating in the Countdown to Halloween, whether as a cryptkeeper, or as a follower.

Underneath the Juniper Tree has a fundraising campaign through Indiegogo. They are just shy of halfway towards making their goal, but I think with all of our help they can go quite a bit further. Ten dollars from everyone participating would allow them to exceed their fundraising goal. I urge everyone to contribute whatever amount they can. Mention the Countdown to Halloween, so they know where all the love is coming from.

Check out the video for the project and the incentives for donating here.