Fiona Dodwell's Blog, page 4

Book Review: The Sallie House Haunting

THE SALLIE HOUSE HAUNTING

A book review

 

I love horror; I live and breathe the genre. I will admit to you all here and now, that because of my constant exposure to horror/paranormal/psychological thrillers over the years, I find it hard to come across work that unsettles me, or gets under my skin. I like to be frightened (the safe, home-on-your-sofa- type of frightened!) but I rarely find books that scare me.

Enter The Sallie House Haunting, by Debra Pickman.

This novel played on my mind every time I closed its pages. I admit that at one point, I had bad dreams, about being in the Sallie House. I tried to rationalise things in my mind: It's only a book. It's just words on paper. Just close it and forget it about it.  But did my words of rationality subdue my fears? No. Why? The Sallie House Haunting is based on one womans real, true-life experience. I happen to believe in hauntings, and while I'm not writing this piece to bring about debates on the existance of spirits, or the validity of people's claims of the paranormal, I do personally believe there is such a thing as hauntings, and spirits.

This story is a very compelling tale. It is told in a highly engaging, yet very realistic, basic and straight-forward way. There are no over-the-top dramatics here, which makes the haunting appear all the more real and eerie. Facts of paranormal activity are described in vivid and frightening detail; the horrors that the Pickman's endured are laid before the reader, the bare facts and experiences of their time in that house up for our study and more than enough to feed our morbid interest.

The Sallie House Haunting tells, from unusual start to horrific finish, a tale of a haunted property that touches the lives of the family within. Items being moved or going missing, spirits moving across the stairway, cold spots and terrifying dreams: the Pickman's lived through it all. Was it a simple spirit, wanting attention? Or something dark, and demonic? The book explores these theories.

I was drawn in from the start when I read this book and it is now one of my all-time favourite true-life haunting cases. I simply cannot recommend it enough – if you're a believer, you'll love it, if you're a doubter, it's sensible enough to warrant respect, and if you're a skeptic, it's simply an entertaining and creepy tale. There is something for everybody here.

Debra Pickam's story is one I can't forget, and I find myself flipping through the pages, even now, scared by the reality this book presents. It's well worth a read.

I am fortunate enough to be in contact with Debra Pickman at the moment (due to this book review) and she has kindly agreed to be interviewed about her experiences at the Sallie House. We will share the results of our chat and interview on this page soon! So don't forget to check back!

Never judge a book by its cover….. ! Really?

I agree that a book should not be judged by its cover – the words within are responsible for the success or failure of each venture, in my opinion – however a good book cover certainly helps! To me a good book cover is something eye-catching, bold and symbolic of the story within. When The Banishing and Obsessed were assigned the cover artist, Dawne Dominique, I was pleased, because based on her previous work, I knew I was in the hands of somebody who understood the impact a great cover can have.

Strong, bold, engaging and powerful.

Needless to say, I was pleased with Dawn's work on both of my published works.

I have always admired great artists – people who have the vision to see something beyond the obvious. To me Dawne's work here captured the essence of my stories beautifully, and I'll always feel indebted to her for this. I realise taste is personal – to some they might prefer different styles, looks and angles, and the book covers may not be to your personal taste, but I feel Dawne has taken my words and transformed them into image.

I realised that there was a vote for cover artists who had been published on novels during 2011, and I knew my vote had to go to Dawne. Not through obligation – because I could have chosen to ignore this issue altogether – but because I feel she deserves the nomination.

If you feel impressed with Dawne's work, or you know of another artist who you feel deserves to be voted for in the short list, please go ahead. Let's get behind people we believe in!

Here is the link, and the voting section for 2011 covers are about half way down the page. Thanks for reading:

http://critters.org/predpoll/artist.shtml

Happy New Year!

I know things have been quiet on my blog these last few weeks, but I wanted to wish you all a very happy and healthy new year!

I don't know what you'll all be doing to celebrate seeing the new year in, but I hope whatever it is, you enjoy it – and stay safe!

As for me, I'll be having a quiet one at home. Sounds boring? Maybe, but I know I'll enjoy it.

What are your plans for 2012? For me, I intend to knuckle down and complete my fourth novel – Diary of a Devil. My third novel, The Shift, is still due for release with Double Dragon Publishing in early 2013, so I'll begin edits for that late in 2012.

Keep in touch guys!

Interview with paranormal investigator, Denise Mott

When I first met Denise Mott, in September of 2011 at a paranormal investigation, I was immediately struck by her passion for the paranormal. Being somebody who is attracted to this subject myself, I quickly became engrossed in the evening's investigation – and Denise's warmth, intellect and desire for serious study of this fascinating subject was something that immediately grabbed me.

Curious about the paranormal since the tender age of 6, when Denise saw a mysterious figure at the end of her bed, Denise has been gaining insight and knowledge about this subject for many years. She runs Compass Paranormal Events, a group where she leads people,  with the help of staff, into some of the UK's most haunted locations. Also leading a UK theatre tour called Psychic & Science, Denise is involved in many areas of live investigation.

I have met Denise twice, and I have found her to be a wonderfully fascinating person. I asked her if she'd do an interview for this blog and she happily agreed. So if you have any interest in the paranormal, I hope you find something to grab your interested in this question and answer session!

Happy reading.

 

 

1. Denise, can you tell us a little bit about yourself and what first got you interested in the paranormal?

  Hi Fiona, now if I answered this question fully I would give away all the details of my book that I am currently writing and hoping to get published early 2012. It's all about my journey and how I came to work in the Paranormal world so I hope you understand if I don't answer the question – the book has yet to be given a title so any suggestions from your readers would be welcome!!

  2. You run a paranormal investigative team called Compass Paranormal Events. How did you first conceive of running a group like this, and what has your experience been like so far?

Having spent years doing private investigations I wanted to show others what we were experiencing rather than just telling them about our nights and so it was a very natural progression into the public arena in forming Compass Paranormal Events, again not to give too many details away it's been a rollercoaster of a ride, some good, some bad but on the whole a very good experience meeting lots of wonderful people on the way it has been hard work but so rewarding and enjoyable .

3. Do you feel you have genuinely experienced paranormal happenings at any your events?

Yes I do Fiona, a lot of things can be explained rationally but what I would like to add is we give our guests when they join us the opportunity to step into our shoes and become the Investigators for the night.

It is their night and their experiences we are as a team there to guide and help them and I personally think it's wonderful when they take on board what we say and genuinely open their minds and thoughts to what they see, feel, and experience whilst they are with us. So to answer your question we have had many a fantastic a night when we cannot hand on heart rationalise the things we have heard and seen. If anyone would like to read our Past event reports they are always on our site.

4. You have been fortunate enough to work with some of the world's most respected mediums. Most Haunted's Barrie John, Chris Conway and Brian Shepherd have all worked with you. What are these men like to work with, and how did they become involved with your group and tour?

I have been very fortunate to be able to work with these fabulous people, they are all extremely caring and genuine people and I am very lucky to be able to call them my personal friends. Ba rrie John has been with Compass from the very beginning and his continued help and support over the years has been amazing, however due to his own work commitments at this time is not as available to work every weekend with us (hopefully this will dispel any rumours that Barrie is no longer working with us) Chinese whispers in the paranormal world are notorious, probably just wishful thinking from a small negative bunch. Barrie and Chris are very professional mediums who have astounded me and guests with their accuracy and messages of a personal nature which they have always delivered with true professionalism. Brian Shepherd due to his ill health last year has not worked alongside us for a while but I am so pleased to see that he has made a full recovery and so I hope that in 2012 he will be able to join us for some events. rian is a true gentleman and very gifted in his psychic art which our guests truly enjoyed on our events.

5. What do your family and friends think of your passion for the dark side of life? Have you had any strange reactions when you tell people what you do for a living?

  It sounds like I work for Star Wars with your statement "The dark side of Life" mind you there are a few people out there that say I remind them of Yoda!!! My family and my close friends have been very supportive over the years and do not think what I do is strange at all after all what is normal?

I personally have not had any strange reactions, more often than not when people find out what I do for a living they open up and want to share their own experiences glad that they can talk to someone who understands. One funny incident comes to mind when I was in New York when a man after asking me what I did for a living became over excitable and I never thought I would be able to get away from him!!I really thought he was going to drag me to his apartment which he thought was haunted much to my husband's amusement.

6. You use the Ouija Board many times in your investigations. There are a lot of myths and fears surrounding the use of this tool. What have your experiences been like using the board? Have you ever had any negative encounters, and do you have any tips for those nervous of using it?

  I have been using an Ouija board for over 34 years and I have never been possessed nor has my head spun around 3 times and I have never projectile vomited pea green vomit!! Personally I think a lot of the misplaced fears about the use of an Ouija board have been hyped over the years by films and TV programmes.

I always encourage our guests to watch and learn from its use rather than run away scared it is after all just another method of connecting with spirit like many other items we have and if used in a respectful manner can pass on wonderful messages.

7. You are involved in a live theatre tour, called Psychic & Science. Can you tell readers what this show is about and what people can expect from it?

  Every moment of the 2011 Psychic and Science tour has been extremely memorable and enjoyable. I feel so privileged to have been a part of this amazing show, it is a truly audience participation night and no two shows have been the same. We had absolutely no idea what to expect each time as we worked only to a format and not a script This gave way to the audiences reactions and the results of our experiments.

What I would like to say to your readers Fiona is if they would like a night out at a theatre with a difference check out our website Psychic and Science to see if we are coming to a theatre near them in 2012. Our next show is going to incorporate new and exciting experiments!!

8. Have you ever felt scared during a show or investigation, or at any paranormal event?

  I have experienced every type of emotion during my investigative years ranging from euphoria to despair and I have even given out the occasional scream (which I don't like to admit but cannot deny as it was caught on film). There have been many times when I have been left speechless by the things I have witnessed which for anyone that knows me will find that this is paranormal in itself for me to be lost for words.

9. Do you have any tips, hints or advice for anybody wishing to get involved with ghost hunting?

Personally can I just say I don't like the term Ghost hunting (it sound as though we go armed to hunt and kill ghosts) which isn't possible they are dead already!!! First of all you have to separate reality from all films and TV shows as what we do is a totally different experience. I would recommend that anyone who would like to know more about paranormal investigations would be best to find a reputable company who carry out investigations and not ghost trains with a twist.

There are many companies out there who do what I do and I always say a recommendation or review is a million times more informative than a website.

10. Finally, can you tell readers where they can learn more about you and your work online?

I would just like to thank you for the opportunity to do this interview and your readers for taking the time to read this. If you would like to know a little more about me and my ventures feel free to check out the following websites…

 

www.denisemott.co.uk

www.compassparanormalevents.co.uk

www.psychicandscience.co.uk

On Twitter     @Compass_Events

Or Facebook Compass Paranormal Events

* ALL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY FIONA DODWELL, EXCEPT THE PROMO PHOTOGRAPH FOR PSYCHIC & SCIENCE****

Author Naomi Clark Guest Spot & Competition Time!

Today I am pleased to hand over my blog to author Naomi Clark. The mind behind the amazing "After Life" and my personal favourite "Ungrateful Dead," Naomi has penned more than five popular novels. She celebrates the release of Dark Hunt and to introduce us to this new story, she has offered a glimpse into the story…

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Dark Hunt

Prelude

Cities never sleep.

The creature has learned that over the years. Even when the night is darkest, the bars empty, the roads quiet, the city is still awake. Life still flows through the streets. People don't respect the dark; they always think they're safe. No matter how many violent, bloodthirsty acts are committed in the world, they always think it won't happen to them.

They're always wrong.

Tonight a full moon hangs over Paris and silver light bathes the streets. The creature slinks in shadow, it's one ally. Humans, foolish and full of alcohol, sway their way down the cobbled pavements, heedless of the danger in the darkness. The creature follows, patient despite the hunger gnawing away at it. The hunger never ceases. The creature could feed for eternity and still need more. These humans, they're glittering jewels in the night, full of the life and vitality the creature craves. And they give it up so easily. It's barely a challenge at all to stalk

them, to sneak along behind while they laugh and stumble through the night, oblivious to everything but their own pleasure.

Two of them separate from the little crowd they've been with, shouting goodbyes as they veer off down a side street, where the lights are dim and flickering and the shadows are thick. The creature follows.

The lights here are dim and flickering, neglected. The creature smells waste and rot, mixing with the delicious tang of his prey. This is the ideal hunting ground; the houses are unlit and shabby. The residents won't come running if they hear a scream. They'll burrow under their duvets and pretend they heard nothing, pretend it's not happening.

The creature dips in and out of alleys and doorways, cautious but quick. It could be noisy and careless, for all the humans notice. The smell of alcohol burns in the air around them and the creature licks its dry lips, anticipating the extra burn the liquor will give them. They will taste fiery and bright, like fallen stars.

One of them stumbles, tripping over their own clumsy feet, and the other shrieks with laughter, helping him back up. The creature slinks closer, closing the gap between it and it's prey, it's hunger mounting. It can almost taste them now, almost feel it's fangs sinking into their soft, sweet flesh. It snarls, an involuntary sound swallowed by the clatter and babble of the humans. It's throat is tight, it's muscles tense. It can't wait much longer.

The humans pause to kiss, pressing their warm bodies close together, shutting out the world. The creature seizes it's chance, abandons it's caution. It rushes them, driving them down to the pavement. They cry out. The man's head smacks on the concrete. The crack of  impact is followed by a flood of blood, hot and sweet. The woman screams – briefly. The creature's sharp, ragged nails soon silence her.  More blood gushes from her throat. The creature  feasts.

The city doesn't sleep.

But it doesn't help either.

Contest Time:

We're giving away plenty of swag in

the DARK HUNT blog tour (http://tiny.cc/drkhunttour). There are daily ebook giveaways and hampers of goodies up for grabs at the grand finale of the tour including ebooks, limited DARK HUNT t-shirts, personal horoscopes and tarot readings by Naomi Clark, as well

as postcards from Ayla, Shannon, Vince, Joel and Glory (urban wolf series characters).

Leave a comment here (ask me a question or just say hello) with your email address to be entered. Enter at each point along the

tour for more entries and more chances to win.

Author Bio

Naomi Clark lives in Cambridge and is a mild-mannered office worker by day, but a slightly crazed writer by night. She has a perfectly healthy obsession with giant sea creatures and a preference for vodka-based cocktails. When she's not writing, Naomi is probably either

reading or watching 80s cartoon shows, and sometimes she manages to do all three at once. You can follow Naomi at Twitter (http://twitter.com/#!/naomi_jay); Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/naomijclark) or on her Blog (http://naomijay.blogspot.com/).

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Spirits Were High at "Psychic & Science"

The following is a review of the paranormal theatre show Psychic & Science, at The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.

 

Psychic & Science: The Theatre Show

I'll be honest with you; I didn't know what to expect. As somebody who has been fascinated by the paranormal for many years, I attended the Psychic & Science theatre show in Coventry with an open mind. I also don't mind admitting something else: I was slightly nervous. Proclaiming itself to be a serious investigation into the paranormal, with moments of "extreme tension" and a "lock-down" during the show, my anticipation and tension was almost tangible – but I feel this added to my experience of the night.

 Host Paul Gannon gears up for some ghost-busting before the show

Hosted by Paul Gannon (comedian, director and actor), the night began with a few giggles. It was a nice approach; Gannon's enthusiasm, wit and humour added a nice touch to the evening, breaking nicely into the tense atmosphere that had been created by the team as they came on stage and explained what the audience could expect from the night. Solo vigils into haunted areas of the theatre, seances, table-tipping and ouija board sessions were all on the menu, as was a session with medium Chris Conway and a talk about the history of the location by Richard Felix.

Co-host of the show and founder of paranormal group, Compass Paranormal, Denise Mott, preparing for the show

I have to say, I was impressed. Not only by the detailed information given to the audience about spirits, ghost-hunting techniques and experiences by Richard Felix, but also by Chris Conway. Medium on Most Haunted through series 13 and 14, I was already quite familiar with his work and his approach, but seeing the man in action on stage was something else altogether: he was magnetic – the audience was captivated as he tuned into the spirits of the theatre, and also passing on messages to audience members. His precision, warmth and wealth of knowledge was a wonderful aspect to the show, and I felt his section could have gone on longer, as people seemed to enjoy the segment he led on stage.

Medium Chris Conway relaxes before taking to the stage

Denise Mott (paranormal investigator and founder of UK paranormal group, Compass Paranormal) made a wonderful co-host; her on-stage chemistry with  Paul Gannon made for fun and entertaining viewing. Having said that, she took her role – and the evening itself – very seriously. One of the things I liked, and appreciated about the show itself, was there were no cheap shocks, no cheap tactics – all of it was real, genuine, nothing manufactured or faked. It was a show to be taken with respect – people were encouraged to enjoy the night, but to show regard and sensitiveness to what the team were trying to achieve: contact with the spirit world.

The show did not fail to deliver – messages came through (though slowly at first) on the Ouija Board. The table tipping experiment (which I took part in, after swallowing my nervousness!) was particularly astounding: at one point, when the group, led by Richard Felix, placed hands onto the table edge, it swooped its way across the floor, leaving the participants strugging to follow it across the stage. One of the things I particularly enjoyed about Psychic & Science was the way in which the audience played an integral part of the process. This was not a show to attend and sit back – it was a show to push you into thinking, asking, talking, taking part. Many audience members were invited on stage to get involved with the planned experiments.

I did not come away disappointed. Psychic & Science did deliver what was promised: a tense evening of paranormal investigation. I felt I had seen enough to convince me the team had made contact with spirit during the evening, but I believe even if you are a sceptic, there is something in this show for you. If you can leave your preconceived ideas at the door, and enter with an open mind, there is enough history, discussion, experiment and visual richness to keep even the most ardent sceptic entertained.

Most Haunted's Richard Felix

Would I go again? Most definitely. I found the evening to be interesting, entertaining, atmospheric and very well put together. For something which has never been done quite like this before, I felt the Psychic & Science Team did an incredible job of putting this unusual show together, and I had a fantastic night.

After the show, I chatted to historian Richard Felix. "The only thing," he said, "is the lack of time. We have two hours, but we could go on all night!" And I couldn't agree more. I, personally, couldn't get enough of this unique show, and I'd recommend it to anybody who wants to enjoy a night out with a difference!

Chris Conway and Fiona Dodwell, as the show finishes

The Psychic & Science show is still on tour, with many dates coming up in the UK and US. To find out more, please visit the Psychic & Science website: www.psychicandscience.com

To visit Compass Paranormal (the paranormal group led by Denise Mott) please visit: http://www.compassparanormalevents.co.uk

To learn about medium Chris Conway, visit his page: http://mediumchrisconway.com/index.html

Photos taken by Fiona Dodwell

*Last photograph of Conway and Dodwell, taken by Karen M. of Compass Paranormal

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My Radio Interview : The Gut & Bones Show

I was recently interviewed about my new release – Obsessed – and also chatted about my paranormal beliefs and experiences on the US radio show "Gut & Bones".

I really enjoyed this chat with Robby Bradbury – if you want to listen to the show and didn't get a chance to hear it live, here is the link:

http://www.tenacityradio.com/gut-and-bone-show-archives

 

 

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On Horror & Writing: Griffin Hayes

Today I am welcoming fellow horror writer Griffin Hayes to my blog to talk about his latest release, what he loves about horror, and what inspires him the most. His first published novel – MALICE – is a dark tale that I'm hungry to read myself, so lets learn more about this author!

1. Tell me a little about yourself?

I'm a horror thriller writer. I've been doing this for a while now and finally quit my day job to pursue writing full-time. Along the way, and to help support my writing, I've worked just about every horrible job you can think of over the years. Apartment building janitor, high school substitute teacher, computer salesman, customer service rep, cashier. Hellish as those jobs have been, they were all worth it to get where I am today.

2. Can you tell us something about your novel?

At heart, Malice is a story about revenge and redemption. A 17-year-old boy witnesses a murder by a being that can possess its victim's body and force them to commit suicide. Of course, no one takes the boy seriously and so he's left more or less alone to peel back the layers and figure out what's going on. Before long, he discovers the murders are connected to a witch's murder in the 17th century. Somehow, the witch has returned, and she's out to even the score.

3. Why do you think you enjoy horror so much?

I love being terrified. It's a great way of connecting with our most primitive selves, all from the safety of our living room couches.

4. What authors have inspired you?

Oh boy! That's a long list and some of it might surprise you. Of course, I love reading horror, Stephen King, Scott Nicholson, Peter Straub even some Richard Laymon, but I also enjoy reading James A. Michener, Ken Follett, Arthur C. Clark and Michael Crichton, among others.

5. Are you working on anything at the moment?

Yes, I'm finishing up a second draft of a novel I'm tentatively calling Nocturnal. It's about a guy whose desperate attempts to stop his nightmares – and finally get some sleep – end up tearing a rift between those two worlds. When he wakes up, he finds that things from his dreams have followed him back, and some of those things aren't very nice.

6. Do you have any tips/advice to share for wannabe writers?

I've always loved this one (and I'm paraphrasing). The difference between a published writer and an unpublished writer is that the published writer never gave up. That has stuck with me every time I thought of throwing in the towel.

7. Tell us one thing about your approach to writing. For example, do you research heavily? Do you write on only certain days? Do you plan outlines?

I plan as little as possible, mostly because I'm impatient, but also because I like to discover the story and the characters as I go. If it's all too rigidly outlined beforehand, I become bored.

8. Where can readers find out more about you?

A few places.

If they're interested in Malicethey can check out:

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Malice-ebook/dp/B005QCC122

Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94966

To hear me blab:

My blog http://griffin-hayes.blogspot.com/

Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5241459.Griffin_Hayes

Twitter @griffin_hayes

Author Bio:

Griffin Hayes spent most of his adolescence watching grainy reruns of The Twilight Zone or rereading worn-out copies of Raymond Chandler novels. His taste for the unsettling and the inexplicable eventually found outlet in his short stories; two of which have been published: The Grip with Black Ink Horror and Last Call with Alienskin. His first novel, Malice, is currently available on Amazon. In November of 2011, he plans on releasing the novella, Bird of Prey and his short story, The Second Coming. He is currently finishing his second novel.

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The Verdict on Obsessed? A 5/5 Review

My latest release, Obsessed, was reviewed over at "Molly's Book Reviews" today, and here are some of the things she had to say about it:

"Obsessed has all the elements of a fantastic horror…."

"It's not one I'd want to read before going to bed…."

"Now one of my favourite novels!"

Thanks to Molly for her review, and if you want to read the full page review, please click the link below:

http://www.reviewsbymolly.com/2011/10/bewitching-blog-tour-review-obsessed-by.html

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Obsessed: The Virtual Book Tour

So, Obsessed has been out for just over a month now. I've already had great feedback from some readers, and I've been busy with the online book tour, hosted by Fang-tastic Books. I thought it'd be helpful for those interested to see the updated list of where I've been "visiting" for the tour, that way you can catch up with my interviews and guest posts as they happen. I'll keep updating here until the tour is complete! Thanks for checking.

The Tour Party Kick-off at Fang-tastic Books:

http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2011/10/obsession-tour-party.html

"Everyone Loves A Sinner" Blog post: "All in the Mind"

http://zenes-escape.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-by-fiona-dodwell.html

My post over at "Reading Between the Wines" on "Ghosts and the After-life"

http://readingbetweenthewinesbookclub.blogspot.com/2011/10/tour-obsessed-by-fiona-dodwell-guest.html

There will be more "tour stops" until this Sunday, so please keep checking if you want to follow my posts and information on Obsessed!

Thanks for reading!