News and photos

Issue No 51:
19 December 2008

Welcome to our fifty-first PartyChitChat.

Here is our news:

• I am enjoying my stay in Chicago. I'm hoping it will inspire me to write some new mysteries set in the US.
• We have added some new small standard versions of "Murder In Outer Space". So now along with the play format for 10 to 11 guests, there is a bundle of small standard versions for 8, 9 (5f4m), 10, 11 (5f6m) and 12 to 16 guests.
• We are still working on some new educational versions of our kits with the help of an educational psychologist Dr Scott Terry (see The Ardent Center for details). We will be integrating executive function skills into some of our kits and creating more school versions. Please let us know if you would like to be informed when these new versions are ready by emailing info@merrimysteries.com.

In this issue, we have articles about:

• Our photo competition winners
• Our decoration competition.

Our photo competition winners

We have had a number of entrants and winners this month. The winners are:

• Kari Stemple (USA)
• Kathy McCann (USA)
• Felicity Milton (UK).

We are commencing a new competition with a closing date of 15 January 2009 (see photos.htm for details).

Decoration competition

Danielle Davis (USA) was the winner in our competition (see her photo below).

We are commencing a new competition with a closing date of 15 January 2009 (see decor.htm for details).

Here is Kari's photo from her "The Balmy Bahamas Cruise" party:

Kari sent in this feedback about her party:

"Hello, I recently had a 13th Birthday party for my daughter and we used the Balmy Bahamas party kit. We REALLY had a great time! Everyone said this was the neatest idea for a party. Thanks so much!"

Here is Kathy's photo from her "Mystery In The Library" party:

Kathy sent in this feedback about her party:

" It was fabulous!!! Whoever thought that a bunch of grownups could have so much fun dressing up as mostly storybook characters? Since everyone was given a character assignment, they spent their time simply working on their character and not wasting time trying to figure out what to be. Definitely a plus. Our party was held Saturday, Nov. 1, 2008. The weather for the weeks before was beautiful, but for party night it was a downpour of much-needed rain. That meant that all the vignets we had planned to decorate around which were to be outside had to come inside. Last minute decorating! What we did was make up 10 vignets to honor the 10 suspects. We had a ton of fun just planning what it would look like.

It was interesting to watch the evening unfold. At first people weren't sure what to do, but as they started chatting and reading their clues, they definitely got into the swing of things. One group of about 10 were found sitting in the family room, and they were discussing in a quite serious manner, about whether Aladdin was at such-and-such a place, and could he have done it! What a hoot. No politics. Just real sleuthing and concern for Henry VIII. When we gathered back in the library/living room by the fireplace, we went around the room and each character explained who they thought did the deed and why. It was amazing how high-powered executives could spend their time solving this "crime"! Everyone had a blast and said it was probably the best party they had ever been to. Better yet, we have to come up with another one for next year!!! So, thank you so much, and please, oh please, have the perfect party idea, again, for my group of 35-40 people.

Sincerely,

Kathy McCann "

Here is Felicity's photo from her "Celebrity Celebrations" party:

Felicity sent in this feedback about her party:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

I am writing to you as a previous customer, I purchased 2 of your parties in the past Celebrity Celebrations and ... They went down a treat, thank you - I have attached a great photo of the Celebrity Celebrations team!

Best Wishes,

Look forward to hearing from you,

Felicity Milton"

Here is Danielle's photo from her "Celebrity Celebrations " party:

Danielle sent in this feedback about her party:

"Hi!

I was looking for a way to celebrate Halloween this year that didn’t include the risqué costumes that people my age tend to sport at parties – and something where there was more involved than beer pong and keg stands. Once I found your site – I knew a murder mystery dinner was it! Being in our late 20’s and early 30’s – we were looking for something that would be a good fit, not too old, not too young - something that would keep us on our toes. We had so much fun with this – all the guests loved it! They asked if we could make it tradition and host a mystery party once a year! This had to be one of those most fun nights I have had in a long time.

I attached a few photos just so you can see the hilarious costumes – and so we can enter the contest. Please let me know if you need anything else.

Have a wonderful week and thank you for your creativity!!

Love,

Danielle"