Coming to Darkside New Jersey Art & Oddities Festival

Believe it or not, I only have one free weekend to myself between now and Christmas. Between my business, my mother's business, and author events, I'm booked for at least one event each weekend through pretty much the end of the year. Next weekend is the exception, but Halloween week is my time to treat myself, so I kept it clear no matter what. That means actively turning down events that want my brand of horror.

Tomorrow I'll be at the inaugural Darkside New Jersey Art & Oddities Festival. This is run by the same team that does the NJ Punk Rock Flea Market, so you know it's going to be a good time.

I have so many wonderful things to show you in person tomorrow at the NJ State Expo Center in Edison, NJ.

• I have my books, obviously, as well as more information on the upcoming A Symphony of Your Own Destruction poetry collection and my next non-fiction title.
• I have my 3D printed My Heart Monsters, both as standalone figures as well as keychains, pins, and bookmarks.
• I have a variety of horror-themed hand painted 3D prints, fully licensed for commercial use from STLFlix.
• I have the Sketching Details signature embroidered t-shirt, celebrating horror, sci-fi, and fantasy in a design inspired by old tube TVs.
• I also have an entire table full of Halloween, horror, and fantasy ceramics. These are a mix of my own pieces and pieces from my mother's storefront. We pour the molds, we fire the pieces, and we paint or glaze them to perfection. I learned everything from her, just adding a bit more creepy than cute into my finishing touches.

Tickets for Darkside NJ start at $20 for the day, 10-8. They also have limited spots left for the taxidermy workshops for an extra fee.

The event also has a fantastic array of tattoo and piercing artists available for services.

Special guests include Nicole Angemi and Margaret Q Kane, the hosts of Mother Knows Death; Alan Robert from Life of Agony; Mark Scuerman and Mark Moran from Weird NJ; Brimstone, actor, producer, professional wrestler, and host of The Grindhouse Radio; Jeff Goodwin, Hollywood makeup artist; and Jon Flanagan, a professional funeral director in NJ. Some of the guests are even hosting live events.

There is also a robust lineup of main stage attractions, including an alternative circus and a cosplay contest.

Plus there's a film festival running most of the day.

Listen, as a fellow Halloween enthusiast, I know you have no shortage of haunted attractions and events to attend. Darkside New Jersey is looking like a one-stop shop for all the spooky fun you could want in a weekend. I look forward to seeing you there.