Majanka Verstraete's Blog, page 24
February 27, 2018
Real Haunted Houses: House of the Seven Gables
Who hasn’t heard of the House of Seven Gables? Made famous by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel, “The House of Seven Gables” published in 1851, the house in question actually dates back to 1668. The house itself is a colonial mansion located in Salem, Massachusetts, and most prominent are of course, its gables.
The History
The earliest part of the house dates back to 1668 and was originally built for Captain John Turner and his family. Three generations of Turners lived in the house, up till John Turner III. The Turners kept on adding things to the house, including parlors, extensions, chimneys, and even a whole new wing.
In the first half of the 18th century, John Turner II remodeled the house in the new Georgian style, adding wood paneling and sash windows. After John Turner III lost the family fortune, the house was acquired by the Ingersolls, who remodeled again.
Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote “The House of Seven Gables”, was a relative of the Ingersolls. By Hawthorne’s time however, the house had, quite ironically, only three gables. His cousin told him of the house’s history however, indicating on the attic the locations and remains of former gables, which inspired Hawthrone to write his famous book.
Susan Ingersoll, Nathaniel’s cousin, lived i the house until she was 72 years old.
In 1908, the house was purchased by Caroline O. Emmerton, who restored it from 1908-1910 and turned it into a museum. The historical authenticity of the house was sacrificed in order to interest potential visitors, who expected the house to match the one described by Hawthorne in his book. One of the renovations included a secret staircase.
Hauntings
The House of Seven Gables is reportedly haunted by the entity of a little boy, who likes to play around in the attic area, and look out gable windows. It’s alo haunted by the entity of a female who often peers out of windows before disappearing – many people believe this is the ghost of Susan Ingersoll. Of course, you also get the usual phenomena such as water faucets and lights turning on and off all by themselves.
While staff and visitors have often shared personal encounters, not a lot of evidence about it can be found online. Very few paranormal groups are allowed to go in and investigate the house.
But if you’re in the neighborhood and want to tour the famous house anyway, why not look for some wandering specters while you’re at it?
February 26, 2018
Release Blitz Night of the Victorian Dead
About the Book
A Pride & Prejudice & Zombies for lit lovers!
Mr. Edward Dorchester invites several families of his acquaintance to a ball at his country estate, the night the Harvest moon rises fell and tainted. While those within are consumed by their hopes and schemes, tenants are going missing and arriving guests savagely attacked.
A gothic horror tale of classic zombies meets manners, with an ensemble, upstairs-downstairs cast of Vic. Lit inspired characters.
The knowing modern reader can follow unsuspecting characters down the road to the inevitable.
Author Bio
Amber Michele Cook writes stories of deep, meaningful fun. A devotee of Georgian to Edwardian period pieces, she adores Speculative Lit: Victorian literature-inspired works with a supernatural or paranormal element.
Partly raised in Germany, she went to an international school for high-school, majored in linguistics, loves literature and period pieces. She’s also a photography/graphic arts artist of color and wonder living in the great Northwest.
In addition to leading improv writing tables, she’s the Director of National Novel Editing Month and a Facilitator for the People’s Ink writing community.
Website: www.nightofthevictoriandead.com
Links
Giveaway
We’re hosting a giveaway for a Victorian brooch and signed copy of the book. All you need to enter is your email address!
February 20, 2018
Real Haunted Houses: Whaley House
Built in 1857 in Greek Revival style, the Whaley House – once a residential property, now a museum – is located in Old Town, San Diego, California.
The Whaley Family
The house’s original owers were Thomas Whaley and his family. Thomas Whaley was born on October 5, 1823. During the California gold rush, he traveled from New York to San Francisco, to establish business relations. Eventually, he headed to San Diego in September 1851.
Two years later, he married Anna Eloise Delaunay on August 14, 1853. After the wedding, the couple returned to San Diego and moved into their new home, the future “Whaley House”.
Thomas and Anna had six children: Francis Hinton, Thomas Whaley Jr., Anna Amelia, George Hay Ringgold, Violet Eloise, and Corinne Lillian. Their second child, Thomas Waley Jr. suffered from scarlet fever and died at only 18 months of age, on January 29, 1858.
After the tragic death, the family briefly moved to San Francisco. I nthe summer of 1868, they returned to the Whaley House after having it fixed up.
Tragedy after tragedy
Another tragedy hit the Whaley family in 1882, when their daughter, Violet Eloise Whaley married George T. Bertolacci. Rather than a respectable man, the latter turned out to be a con man, and one day during their honeymoon, Violet woke up finding her husband gone. When Violet returned home, she was shunned by society who thought she was improper because she returned home without her husband and also unchaperoned.
Devastated by the betrayal and public humiliation that followed, Violet committed suicide by shooting herself in the chest with Thomas Whaley’s 32-calibre on August 18, 1885. She was only 22 years old at the time. She left a suicide note that included a passage from ‘Bridge of Sighs’, a poem by poet Thomas Hood: “Mad from life’s history, swift to death’s mystery, glad to be hurled, anywhere, anywhere, out of this world”.
After the tragic suicide, Violet’s sister, Corrine Lillian suffered an additional loss. She was engaged at the time, but her fiancé broke off the engagement due to the scandal related to Violet’s suicide.
Thomas Whaley, desperate to get away from the tragedy that seemed to haunt his family, built a new one-story home at 933 State Street in Downtown San Diego, leaving the Whaley House empty.
In 1890, Thomas Whaley died due to ill health, at their new address. his daughter, Anna Amelia Whaley died on December 12, 1905, at the home she shared with her husband and first cousin John T. Whaley.
The Whaley House stayed empty for two decades until Francis Whaley, the eldest son, decided to restore it in 1909. He turned the home into a tourist attraction, posting signs about the historical status of the building. Meanwhile, Anna Whaley (Thomas’s widow), Corinne Lillian, Francis himself, and his brother George, all lived in the Whaley House.
On February 24, 1913, Anna died from old age – being eighty, which was a significant age at the time. A year later, Francis Whaley passed away on November 19, 1914. George Whaley died on January 5, 1928.
Corinne Lillian, the last remaining child of the Whaley family, kept living in the Whaley House until her death in 1953.
Hauntings
With its tragic history of death and betrayal, it should come as no surprise to paranormal enthusiasts that the Whaley House is haunted. But surprisingly, even the Whaleys themselves believed the house to be haunted – and not by one of their own family members.
Shortly after the Whaleys moved in, they told the “San Diego Union”, a local newspaper, that they often heard footsteps in the house, which they believed belonged to the ghost of James “Yankee Jim” Robinson, who had been hanged on the property in 1852 for stealing a boat.
Despite that, visitors of the Whaley House Museum nowadays mostly report seeing apparitions of Thomas Whaley and his family members, most notably Thomas Whaley and Anna Whaley.
On the last weekend of every month, the Whaley House Museum offers a ghost hunting tour. The Whaley House has been featured in several ghost hunter shows on TV, including America’s Most Haunted, Ghost Adventures and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files.
The house eventually even got its own low-budget movie, called The Haunting of Whaley House.
If you’re interested in finding out more about the haunting, just look for pictures or videos on Youtube about the haunting of Whaley House. There are tons of pictures which you can easily determine for yourself if they’re fake or real, but also some interesting footage. And of course, you can always go visit the museum, and find out for yourself…
February 15, 2018
TV Series Review: The End of the F***ing World
Ever felt like an outsider? Ever felt like you didn’t belong anywhere? That you were weird, strange…different?
I’m pretty sure half of the teen population has ever felt this way. If you feel like this, or you have ever felt like this, then you should watch The End of the F***ing World, because it’s simply sublime. Tailored to those who feel like they’re on the outside, and don’t quite fit it, it mixes the epitome of black humor with a plot that is both unique and thrilling.
The two lead characters are phenomenal in their respective roles. At the start, James (the male lead) is intrigued by Alyssa (the female lead) for one reason and one reason only: he wants to kill her. Alyssa is interested by James mostly because she’s lonely. Her mother adores her new husband, Alyssa’s stepfather, and abides his every word. Alyssa’s new twin siblings get all of the attention, and Alyssa is left feeling like an outsider from society – much like James is.
When Alyssa suggests they run away, James initially goes along with the plan because it seems like the ultimate opportunity to kill her… But something else drives James too. He too, is lonely. He too, longs to find someone he can relate to and who can relate to him.
The characters draw you in, and despite many awkward situations, you feel yourself rooting for them to make it out of this unscathed, and to connect to each other.
At times hilarious, at times heart-breaking, this series is a must-see. With compelling visuals, genuine characters and a perfect music score, if you haven’t tuned into this already, then do so now.
February 13, 2018
Real Haunted Houses: Sturdivant Hall
Sturdivant Hall is a historic Greek revival mansion, now turned into a museum. It’s located in Selma, Alabama and was completed in 1856.
History
The house was first inhabited by Colonel Edward T. Watts, who lived in it until 1864 when he and his family moved to Texas. The house was purchased by John McGee Parkman, a local banker, who suffered huge monetary losses in the following years and eventually ended up in prison. Assisted by his friends, Parkman tried to escape, but ended up being killed in the process.
The house was next sold at auction in 1870 to Emile Gillman, a local merchant. The Gillman family lived in the house until 1957 when they sold it to the city of Selma. After the sale, the house ended up being used as a museum.
The Ghost of John Parkman
Aforementioned John Parkman, down-on-his-luck banker, is said to haunt the halls of Sturdivant Hall ever since his tragic death. So too, apparently, would be the ghosts of his daughters.
Museum staff have witnessed several strange events at Sturdivant Hall, including footsteps when no one is around, doors opening and closing, objects moving on their own. Some witnesses also report seeing two little girls staring out of the upstairs window, who are presumed to be John Parkman’s daughters.
Several people have also claimed they’ve seen John Parkman stand on the second floor balcony of the house, wearing a top hat.
One of the first people to mention the story of the John Parkman ghost was Kathryn Windham Tucker, author of “13 Alabama Ghosts”.
Nowadays, if you wish to see John Parkman’s ghost, it’s just as simply as visiting the once stately mansion now turned into a museum, and investigate for yourself.
February 6, 2018
Real Haunted Houses: Ann Starrett Mansion
The Ann Starrett Mansion is a gorgeous Queen Anne house that breathes charm and history. Built in 1899, it was supposed to be the loving home of George and Ann Starrett.
The house was truly unique in architecture and design, with a breath-taking free-standing staircase, and a solar solarium that is downright incredible. With 8 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, and numerous fireplaces, it’s also a gigantic house.
The entire house was build to commemorate George’s love for his wife. The solar calendar in the solarium, in particular the “Four Seasons”, was based on Ann’s likeliness.
Unlike many other haunted houses, this house didn’t meet with one tragedy after another. On the contrary, George and Ann lived in the house all their lives. They had one son, Edward Morris Starrett, who was born in 1894 and didn’t pass away until 1981, well into his eighties.
After several generations of Starrett descendants having occupied the house, it was purchased by Bob and Edil Sokol, who turned it into a Bed and Breakfast – and that’s when the haunting truly began, it seems.
Hauntings
The entities spotted are usually thought to be George and Ann Starrett, or perhaps one of their descendants. Several people also claim to have seen the entity of the nanny who the Starretts hired to look after their son.
The hauntings are pretty harmless. People catch glimpses of see-through figures, or sense a presence. Occasionally, lights flicker or turn on and off by themselves, but it’s all quite benevolent, and probably just the former owners dropping by for a visit.
Unfortunately, the mansion is no longer a B&B but is now a private residence, since the summer of 2017.
Cover Reveal Slippers and Thieves
http://monsterhousebooks.com/blog/cov...
Promo Post Feathered: Swan Maiden – Book 1
About the Book
Title: Feathered: Swan Maiden – Book 1
Author: Rachel Wollaston
Genre: Fantasy
The light and the dark were never meant to be separated.
When her bargain with a malevolent wizard goes terribly wrong, Marion DuVal finds herself trapped between two forms: a beautiful but darker parallel of herself, and a swan. Somehow, she must adhere to the wizard’s wishes, but it’s hard to perform epic magic when your feet are flippers and your neck’s the length of a small fishing pole. Caught up in a lie of royal proportions, her task is to get close to the queen, and such a thing is difficult when a certain handsome prince keeps getting in the way.
One girl; two identities. Marion must stop the darkness inside her before it’s too late.
Based on the classic tale of Swan Lake.
Author Bio
Born and bred in Gloucestershire, UK, Rachel Wollaston is a huge lover of all things fantasy. From an early age, her dream was to be a fairy, but the pay was no good, so she decided to become a writer instead. A Creative Writing student, Rachel is the author of young-adult fantasy and loves to build worlds that she wishes she could be a part of.
Besides writing, Rachel also enjoys a range of other artistic hobbies, including dancing, drawing, and an unhealthy amount of arts and crafts. You will almost always find her with a cup of tea and a cat watching old ‘70s comedies.
Links
Release Blitz Fool’s Gold
Teaser
Thrown together by necessity, united by love, Melissa and Sebastian must unravel a murderous scheme threatening to tear them apart.
About the Book
Penniless and estranged from her wealthy family in New Orleans, Widow Doña Melissa Bertrand de Cabrillo must barter her way from California to Louisiana in order to save her niece, even if it means posing as the wife of a perfect stranger.
Gold miner and banker Sebastian Henderson needs to find a wife soon . . . or at least a woman willing to play the role. Doña Melissa provides the perfect solution, but sharing a cabin with the tempting southern belle proves more challenging than their bargain—and more dangerous—after a passenger aboard their steamship is murdered. Melissa is convinced the death is connected to her family’s events in New Orleans.
Thrown together by necessity, united by love, Melissa and Sebastian must unravel a murderous scheme threatening to tear them apart.
Author Bio
Cari Davis is an award-winning author of historical romantic suspense, writing tales of love, crime, and adventure in 19th Century America.
Links
Buy on Amazon
Website: www.cari-davis.com
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/CDavis1851
On Facebook: www.facebook.com/CariDavisWrites
Giveaway
Win a $10 Amazon gift card to celebrate the new release.
February 4, 2018
Monthly Goals February 2018
January became very busy very fast…And now it’s already February! Busy times ahead again, with lots of work deadlines, other deadlines, you name it, but luckily, I’ll also (hopefully) have some time for writing. I’m starting to get back into the flow of things with work after the Christmas holidays. Here are my writing goals for next month:
Write a short story a week. That’s 4 stories in this month, since the last week of February is only three days and counts as March for this.
Finish outline for The Sign of The Serpent , the second book in The Adventures of Marisol Holmes Series.
Finish back cover copy for The Sign of The Serpent.
Write two blog posts on my blog per week. Total: 0/8.
Rewrite / Revising Allegro Academy #1, the first book in the Allegro Academy series.
Schedule all my posts for this month on the Monster House Books blog.
Finish writing my reviews for Ind’Tale Magazine (Total: 0/3).
Write first draft for the second book in the Ghost Slayer series, still untitled.
Finish writing the Snoebels, Cat Detective: Piggy Bank Plunder, the first book in this series.
Edit and format Snoebels, Cat Detective: Piggy Bank Plunder for eBook and paperback.
Make sufficient progress on my article and send it to editor by the end of the second week of February.
So, that’s my schedule for this month. What are your writing goals for 2018?
