Guest Post by Melody Carlson

A Halloween Themed Post  Teens and the Occult A surprising new study finds that 73 percent of American teens are experimenting with the occult. Three out of every 10 teenagers have played the Ouija board, and another third have had their palms read according to a study conducted by the Barna Group called "Teens and the Supernatural". Some are even more serious about the occult: 1 in 10 has taken part in a real séance and 1 in 12 has actually cast spells or made magical potions. Author Melody Carlson knows teens are experimenting with the occult, not from a survey or study, but from teens telling her their stories. The best-selling young-adult novelist receives emails from thousands of teens who tell her things they don't tell their parents. Carlson writes about the issues teens are really facing, including a growing interest in the occult, a topic she explored in Moon Whiteand The Secret Life of Samantha McGregor. Halloween is approaching. Teens are curious. Many will experiment. They will learn about the occult from somewhere. Carlson's books give parents a safe way to bring up the subject and teach consequences. Committed to helping teens navigate the minefield of adolescence, Carlson learns about all the issues they face and delivers life lessons in a package they can understand without being "preachy".

About Melody Carlson Melody Carlson published her first book in 1995 and she has been writing prolifically ever since. To date, Melody has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 5 million her award-winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Carter House Girls series. In her professional life, Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Audrey, her yellow lab. They enjoy skiing, hiking, and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.