P.W. Creighton's Blog, page 6

Bound ~

 

17-year-old Emma Morgan believes she finally has the chance at happiness again when she relocates
back to her hometown of Washington, North Carolina and reunites with her older brother, Sean.

But after three years apart, their unique bond is tested when Sean protests her meeting of the oddly charming and bright-eyed, Liam Alexander. A boy who holds a very deep secret from the rest of the residents in Washington.


A secret that will change Emma’s life forever and lead her to discovering the beginning of something she never believed could exist...true love. 

 

Paranormal Perceptions ~ Ghostly Teen Experiences

The Paranormal Perceptions series was created to gather some of the most interesting authors that are using paranormal elements in their stories. Every author has their own perceptions and provides their own insight on all things paranormal, ranging from urban legends and paranormal research, to myths and inspirations. This week on the guest series is a great friend and author of A Human Element, author Donna Galanti. (@DonnaGalanti) 

I’ve had several paranormal encounters as a young adult. Thankfully none as an adult. This is probably a good thing as I now live in a 250-year-old house that’s fortified with three hand-forged locks on every door. To keep the Red Coats out? Hmmm…not sure, but I can imagine the bloody battles, deaths, and mayhem that may have gone on around this old house in Pennsylvania. I’m glad to not live with the ghost of a bludgeoned robber or poor murdered farmer defending his land (that I’m aware of!).

This was not the case with the old house I grew up in. It didn’t harbor a malevolent spirit though, but a sad one. She was a young woman who wore a high-neck lace dress with a cameo at her throat. She would float in my room, stand at the end of my bed, and look sadly at the wall over my head. Who was she? Someone who died there or lost a loved one? I’ll never know. (See photo of the haunted Upstate NY home I grew up in)

I would also hear hammering coming from our falling down “buggy” barn when no one was in it. Was it the ghost of the worker who long ago had been hammering on the three-story ceiling? He had fallen to his death below on the spikes that the horses were tied to.

Then there were the ghost horses in the barn that screamed wild with pain. Their screams floated on the winds to my room. Were they the horses that once fell through the rotted barn floor and had to be shot and cut up to be hauled out? It still gives me shivers.

One time a friend and I channeled an “evil spirit” through a ouija board who levitated the movable indicator. The spirit told us to find a boulder in the woods with an “X” on it as that would be where we would find hidden green treasure. We found the boulder but the only green treasure we found was the angry, verdant icy flow of the raging creek that nearly swept us away that February day. That was my last attempt to play with a ouija board.

The scariest spirit I encountered was at my friend’s house. She claimed a robber lived in her closet. He had been killed in her house during a bungled robbery. Her family and friends joked about it, but she was serious. She would leave the closet open for him a crack each night or he would get angry. He was dressed in black with a mask and carried a knife. I didn’t sleep over there too often and pulled the covers over my head when I did.

My friend wasn’t afraid of him, she said he just watched her–but I was. I only saw him once. I was in the bathroom and he passed by me in the mirror, knife poised to stab. I ran downstairs terrified of the mysterious man in black. And he became the basis behind my own watcher “Man in Black” in my novel, A Human Element. Only I molded my creation out of bad and good.

Whether I’ve outgrown my paranormal perceptions or not, they stay with me and have colored my characters in A Human Element–from Laura Armstrong, the young girl who can read minds and make objects move, to the Man in Black who can seek people out and see into the future, to X-10 who murders with his mind. 

I’m waiting to see if my son, nearly ten, meets up with any spirits in this old house. If he does I won’t joke about it, that’s for sure. And if he does, I hope they’re fun, good-hearted, and mischievous–just like him.

[image error]Donna Galanti Bio:

Donna Galanti is an ITW Debut Author of the paranormal suspense novel A Human Element (Echelon Press). She’s lived from England as a child to Hawaii as a U.S. Navy photographer. If she couldn’t write she would bike, hike, and kayak every day. Donna lives with her family in an old farmhouse in PA with lots of nooks, fireplaces, and stinkbugs but sadly no ghosts.

About A Human Element: One by one, Laura Armstrong’s friends and adoptive family members are being murdered, and despite her unique healing powers, she can do nothing to stop it. The savage killer haunts her dreams, tormenting her with the promise that she is next. Determined to find the killer, she follows her visions to the site of a crashed meteorite–her hometown. There, she meets Ben Fieldstone, who seeks answers about his parents’ death the night the meteorite struck. In a race to stop a mad man, they unravel a frightening secret that binds them together. But the killer’s desire to destroy Laura face-to-face leads to a showdown that puts Laura and Ben’s emotional relationship and Laura’s pure spirit to the test. With the killer closing in, Laura discovers her destiny is linked to his and she has two choices–redeem him or kill him.

Praise for A Human Element:
“Be afraid. Be very afraid. And be utterly absorbed by this riveting debut that had me reading till the wee hours of the night. A thriller star is born. Don’t miss A Human Element.”  – M.J. Rose, International Bestselling Author

“A Human Element is an elegant and haunting first novel. Unrelenting, devious but full of heart.  Highly recommended.” – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times best-selling author

Purchase A Human Element here: 

Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/dg-the-Kindle

Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/dg-he-Nook
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/a-human-element/id562195009?mt=11&ign-mpt=uo%3D4

Connect with Donna here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/DonnaGalanti
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DonnaGalantiAuthor
Website: http://blog.donnagalanti.com/wp/

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Intriguing Observations ~ Putting Others First

The Intriguing Observations series was created to gather some of the greatest supporters and bloggers to provide their own insight on all things creative both in their ventures and their techniques. This week on the guest series is fellow Astraea Press author, and romance author Stephanie Smith. (@lisaorchard1)

Four years ago, I brought my mother to my home to take care of her. To be able to do this one must sacrifice or put their life on hold. (Please understand I am not bringing this up to toot my own horn for being a good daughter. I’m only pointing this out because it relates to what I have observed and presents unanswered questions.)

As a kid, I always let everyone else go first. “You get your spanking first, I don’t mind waiting for mine.” “You go first moving your game piece, I don’t mind.” “You get your paycheck first, I don’t mind, really.” If I’m in the store and see an elderly couple standing in line behind me, I let them go first. Even a mother struggling to keep the children nearby. I let them go before me. Okay you get the point. This brings me to the paranormal world. How you may ask?

I love the mysteries of ghost’s hauntings. Why are they still lurking around? Some people believe the ghost have unfinished business or are trapped in between life and the hereafter. It’s even been said some ghost’s are looking for their loved ones. Some ghost may volunteer or are appointed to be spirit guides for the living. While we will never know exactly what is going on with them, we still observe their existence in our world.

Since I have always been one of those people who let everyone go before me, will I be one of those ghosts waiting in line? I’m not afraid of going first; I just like to put a smile on the faces of those I encounter. Will this cause me to miss the bright light in the hereafter? Does it burn out like a light bulb?

Am I going to be someone’s spirit guide (that thought is scary)?

The vision of this light we all must pass through, I’m seeing something like staring at the sun and when you look away, you still see nothing but extremely brilliant light. Then maybe a higher being is standing at the entrance telling the souls they have to return to earth and finish the job they were put here for.

After my dad passed, I know he stuck around for at least ten years. He was mostly around my middle son. I think he was more than likely my son’s spirit guide. Here’s my take on the matter. My son joined the marines and told me he was taking grandpa with him to Iraq. I had never told my boy’s I thought grandpa was hanging around. Therefore, this was quite a shock to find out he knew. My youngest said he had seen grandpa standing by his bed a few times and then he would disappear. This validated my suspicions daddy was still attached to one of us. Since we had moved twice to different houses, I knew it wasn’t an object, but one or all of us he was watching over.

When my son was out of the US, he would call home occasionally and tell me grandpa was still with him and they were fine. On April 17, 2007 at 12:01 a.m., a very bright light aroused me from my sleep. It was just a flash, but it seemed to be saying everything was all right. I went back to sleep without giving it a second thought.

At 11:00 that morning, I got a call from my son saying he had been hit by a mortar and that he was waiting for a ride back to his unit. Like any mother, I freaked! That is putting it mildly. I asked what time this happened and he told me at 9:01 a.m. his time. For those of you who don’t know that would have put it 12:01 a.m. in my time zone.

I believe the bright flash of light was my dad’s way of letting me know he was doing his job. My son was hit two more times after that incident. Those times were not as serious as the first. A few months ago, I was talking to my son and he said grandpa left as soon as he got back to the states.

Deep down I believe my dad took the brunt of the blows for my son. He saved his life and earned his place in the light. Which brings me back around to the first part of this article… did my dad volunteer to do this? Was he assigned to protect him? Whatever the case may be, I am thankful grandpa was there to watch over him until he came home.

My dad was the kind of person who put others before him. He had a heart of gold and made many sacrifices while he walked the earth. With this in mind, it would make sense that Daddy would also sacrifice his turn to go into the light to save someone from harm.

This is my observation. As you can tell, I haven’t had much time to investigate these areas. However, I would like to hear the observances or experiences from others and their take on these things.  

 

 

Stephy Smith grew up in the Northwest Texas Panhandle and still lives within a few miles of her childhood home. She owns her own ranch and takes care of her mother. She shares her home with three dogs and a chinchilla. Other than writing, she loves to read, garden, ride horses, paint and do just about any kind of arts and crafts. Her love for history, museum's, historical markers and sites along roadsides, old houses and walking through cemeteries tempts her creative imagination. Where there's history there's mystery and ghost! She writes young adult, sweet historical romance and contemporary western romance. You can find her novellas at Astraea Press, Barnes and Nobel, Amazon.

Title: Swim the River

Second book of The River Series (Book one Rescued From the River)

Since Amelia ‘Falcon Woman’ Tucker was a small child, she heard the stories of how her mother was Rescued from the River by her father. All she wanted was a man who loved her with all his heart. Rising Wolf held her heart captive for years before he asked for her hand in marriage. The tall handsome man brought happiness to her life until the unforgettable day of the bear attack. Although the river had always called to her, she never knew how much she loved Rising Wolf until she had to Swim the River to save him.

Earth Child's Handbook ~ Review

The Earth Child’s Handbook was an interesting and surprising read. I was unsure of the overall concept
of the book, just based on the summary, but I found the book very informative.

The book is geared towards children, and is designed to introduce them to the Pagan and
Wiccan belief system. The crafts featured in the book were age appropriate, interesting, and most
importantly, offered an opportunity for dialogue within the family.



Many complex aspects of these belief systems were addressed within the book, all in an age
appropriate and easy to understand manner.


This book may not be for everyone, but for a family wanting to teach their children about the
belief systems and concepts presented in this book, the Earth Child’s Handbook is perfect.

The Earth Child’s Handbook was an interesting and surprising read. I was unsure of the overall conceptof the book, just based on the summary, but I found the book very informative.

The book is geared towards children, and is designed to introduce them to the Pagan andWiccan belief system. The crafts featured in the book were age appropriate, interesting, and mostimportantly, offered an opportunity for dialogue within the family.

Many complex aspects of these belief systems were addressed within the book, all in an ageappropriate and easy to understand manner.

This book may not be for everyone, but for a family wanting to teach their children about thebelief systems and concepts presented in this book, the Earth Child’s Handbook is perfect.

 

 

Brigid Ashwood is an artist, illustrator, blogger and author of various and sundry titles such as The Earth Child's Handbook (Books 1 & 2), Oracle of the Tarot Deck and more.

She is a core contributor to Wired's GeekMom Blog and creates freebies for Geeky Kids with her monthly Printable Fun feature.

Her artwork ranges from New Brow contemporary, Pop Surrealism, Steampunk, Fantasy and Fairy illustration, Celtic Knotwork, Witchy Pin-up to New Age, Pagan and Goddess imagery.

The Book http://www.earthchildshandbook.com 

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/brigidashwood

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/brigidashwood


Facebook page for book:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Earth-Childs-Handbook/124662954255734

Art & Blog
http://www.brigidashwood.com

http://www.brigidashwood.com/blog/

Wired Blogger author Page
http://www.wired.com/geekmom/author/brigid

Twitter: http://twitter.com/skwerlgrrl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrigidAshwoodArt

Tumblr: http://www.skwerlgrrl.com

Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/105571732813733771460/posts

 

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Thanksgiving and Holiday Observations

               
Through a long protracted year of complications, hardships and distractions we are often lost on the things that we should actually be grateful for in our lives. We push from one project to the next, find ourselves caught up in distractions from what we actually want to accomplish and constantly complain about what we're not doing, not getting done.

In reality, we have a multitude of things to be thankful for and despite the strange holiday push for shopping rather than thanks, we are thankful. Especially if we can focus long enough to recognize it. 

What am I grateful for?

 

My wife and our first year of marriage.
Family and Friends that are always there to support.
The opportunities and choices that were possible this year.
Publication of not one but two, 2! books this year.
And most of all, having what we need.

 

One of the greatest things this year that I am thankful for is something I've never really had before... fans and readers. Those that have taken a chance on something new and given me the oportunity to pursue storytelling...

Thank You!

  

AP Author.... Ruth Hartman...

Paranormal Perceptions ~ Alternate POVs

The Paranormal Perceptions series was created to gather some of the most interesting authors that are using paranormal elements in their stories. Every author has their own perceptions and provides their own insight on all things paranormal, ranging from urban legends and paranormal research, to myths and inspirations. This week on the guest series is author of Touching Evil, author Amber Garr. (@AmberGarr1) 

 

Conner and Leila’s First Date

 

Human souls still had their appeal and the restaurant vibrated with them tonight. Taking in an extra long breath, I relished in the energy. I may not need to collect them anymore, but I did enjoy identifying which ones I might have marked.

The bartender, for example, would have earned me an extra slap on the back. Beneath his smile and flirtatious act, he hid a dark secret. He enjoyed the hunt as much as me, but what he did to the ladies once he got them home, was unacceptable. Yes, my father would have been happy to acquire him.

A small hand grabbed my shoulder for support. Sara climbed on the bar stool again, body in constant motion. Her excitement made me appreciate what my new life could be. Now that the contract with my demon father was complete, I could fully enjoy living with the humans for the next millennia.

“There she is!” Sara said, jumping down from her seat and rushing over to the door. Her husband, Ben, smiled and shook his head.

“Is she always like this?” I asked.

He laughed before finishing his drink. “It’s why I love her.” Ben patted my shoulder. “Don’t worry, Conner, she’s great.”

I raised my eyebrows.

“Leila,” he clarified. “You’ll like her.”

I nodded. Did he sense my nervousness? I moved here just a few weeks ago, hoping to start fresh. The last thing I wanted to do was go on a blind date, but Ben had been persistent.

“Looks like she’s talking about you,” Ben said, nudging me in the side.

I turned around, shocked at what I saw. My skin tingled and a red tint flooded my vision, setting the cambion senses on alert. Of all the women in Baltimore, I’d been set up with a supernatural.

Ben laughed again, communicating silently with Leila while admiring his wife. Forcing my eyes back to their human color, I took a moment to assess my date. Blonde hair, long legs, great smile, and a clairvoyant. I would have to be careful.

Sara dragged her friend over to us, nearly tripping on her high heels. Knowing this might be trouble, I still couldn’t tear my eyes away from Leila. Her soul hummed with power. I focused on protecting my secret and tried to act human.

“Conner,” Sara said, “This is Leila. Leila Marx. And Leila, this is Conner Hoffman.”

I glanced at her one more time, concentrating so my eyes would not react to her beauty. Her cheeks flushed and she looked down at the floor. Amused at her reaction to me, I smiled.

“Leila, it is very nice to meet you. I’ve heard so much, but to see you in person is truly a delight.”

Gently lifting her hand to my mouth, I kissed it. The touch sent shivers through my body, warning me to be careful but reminding me what it could be like. I wanted to live as a human again, and Leila Marx might be the key to making that happen.

“I didn’t tell him anything,” Ben joked. “I’m going to grab our table.”

Leila looked straight into my eyes, searching for something, before I let go of her hand. I’ve met clairvoyants before, and I guessed Leila’s gift relied on touch. Her forehead creased ever so slightly in confusion. She had tried to read me.

I smiled, knowing I could only hide my secret so long with this beautiful woman. 

P

Touching Evil is overall an impressive book. The main character, Leila Marx, has struggled through a lot

of traumatic events in her life, especially the murder of her fiancé. Leila is a touch clairvoyant, and uses

her telemetry skills to help the police solve murders.

 

Leila is an incredibly interesting main character, and her strength and determination in the face

of great loss makes her compelling and sympathetic to the reader. It was interesting to learn about her

abilities, and how she uses them to help others. Amber Garr does a wonderful job in weaving Leila’s

special abilities into the larger supernatural context of the book.

 

The suspense aspects of the novel were tense, and keep the reader wanting to know what

happens next.

 

 

Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie. 



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Paranormal Perceptions ~ Teen Horror

The Paranormal Perceptions series was created to gather some of the most interesting authors that are using paranormal elements in their stories. Every author has their own perceptions and provides their own insight on all things paranormal, ranging from urban legends and paranormal research, to myths and inspirations. This week on the guest series is author of Hickey of the Beast, author Isabel Kunkle. 

Hi!

I’d like to thank PW Creighton for having me on this blog, and you all for reading this entry. It’s good to be here!

When I was in sixth grade, an acquaintance of mine gave me a copy of IT, by Stephen King. I spent the first few days of summer vacation reading it, not wanting to stop even at the grossest parts. (The bit with the refrigerator, OH MY GOD. EW.) To this day, it remains one of my favorite books—partly because I’ve always liked horror and particularly horror on a grand scale, but also partly because of the way it deals with childhood, adulthood, and friendship. Later, I got into Buffy the Vampire Slayer for some of the same reasons.

Despite parental outcry regarding gore and violence, and despite the very reasonable reactions of parents who don’t want to wake up at 3 AM when you have nightmares about brain-eating slugs, horror and YA go very well together. Before I got into Stephen King, I read RL Stine and Christopher Pike;  “Bloody Mary” is THE classic sleepover game; and Halloween, a holiday dedicated to the uncanny, is also one of the most kid-centered holidays out there.

I think that power, and the lack thereof, is a huge part of the allure that horror holds for kids. At ten or twelve or fourteen, you can’t vote, drive, or have sex. Someone else decides everything from where you live to when you have dinner, and even your ability to complain about it runs up against the threat of further penalties. Furthermore, there’s a lot about the world you don’t know—even the brightest and most theoretically-educated kid is missing a lot of experience.

Weirdly enough, horror doesn’t actually reverse that situation. It just puts you in a different position. Horror has plenty of rules:  vampires can’t come in unless you invite them, silver stops werewolves, and you shouldn’t play with the damn Ouija board. The thing is, your parents and teachers don’t make those rules. They might not even know about those rules. You’re the one who knows them—in some cases, such as IT or Buffy, it’s mostly kids who even know those rules are necessary. This time, the people who are “in charge” during the daylight, and who seem to know all about how the world works—or at least say they do—are depending on you to save them.

Or, at least, if you’re powerless, so are they. “Because I say so” isn’t going to work on a zombie, and you can’t threaten the Blob with no allowance or not getting into a good college. In the end, horror, for kids, is at least in part about leveling the playing field. Against the Things from Beyond, we’re all equally puny—and when you have to spend your mornings doing long division, sometimes that’s a comfort.

 

Isabel Kunkle lives and works in Boston, where the winters have yet to kill her. She’s been the headmaster’s kid at a number of prep schools and attended Phillips Academy Andover herself, but has yet to develop mystic powers, unless you count the ability to eat nearly anything. When she has a moment, she likes reading, roleplaying, ballroom dancing, and watching bad TV from the Eighties.

 

Intriguing Observations ~ Insight on Writing Young Adult

The Intriguing Observations series was created to gather some of the greatest supporters and bloggers to provide their own insight on all things creative both in their ventures and their techniques. This week on the guest series is fellow Astraea Press author, and Young Adult author Lisa Orchard. (@lisaorchard1)

Hello everyone! I hope all is well with you today! My name is Lisa Orchard and I’m here to talk about some of the things I’ve observed in my writing journey. I’m the Young Adult Author of the Super Spies series and this journey has been a fun learning experience.

One of the things I’ve learned is writing for the Young Adult genre is different than writing for any other genre. I feel this way because this age group is at a time in their lives when they’re learning to make decisions for themselves. They are bombarded from all sides with pressure to get good grades, pressure from their peers to be “cool”, and add in the burden of parental expectations and it’s no wonder some of our teens react by making bad decisions. As an author for this age group I get the unique opportunity to create lead characters that act as role models for my readers.

I know what you’re thinking…BORING. No teen really wants to read a story that preaches good behavior and the consequences of bad decisions. There’s where the challenge lies. How do I create a story that’s entertaining but at the same time has a life lesson weaved through it?

One way I do this is by creating quirky characters that seem to leap off the page with their unique personalities. Interesting characters are a must in the young adult genre. Your reader must want to get to know them and want to understand their motivations behind their behavior.

In my story “The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer” my lead character Sarah, chooses to remove evidence from a crime scene. She knows this is wrong, but she’s forced to make the decision because she knows who the real killer is…and she knows no one will believe her without the proper evidence. She also knows the only way to get the evidence is by getting it herself. She can’t rely on the police to do it. So, in this situation she is doing something wrong in the hopes of getting the right result. I feel there are times in life when we all have to make this decision. It’s my hope that by having characters make these decisions it provides insight for our young people. It will make them think about what they would do if they were in a similar situation. In fact, I had one reader read this story along with her daughter and it sparked a family discussion. They sat at the dinner table and talked about the characters’ dilemma and what they would do differently if they were in a similar situation. What a compliment! I loved the fact my book was the catalyst for a family discussion. Isn’t that what every author hopes for? Well…that and making it to the bestsellers list! J

Another way I keep my reader’s attention is by writing a mystery/thriller that is believable and exciting. There has to be enough action in the story to keep the reader turning the pages. How I do this is by placing my character in situations that are scary and dangerous but at the same time believable. The story has to be realistic or the reader loses interest. When my characters are placed in these situations they must make some very grown up decisions. Sometimes they make good ones and sometimes they don’t.  I show the consequences of the bad decisions, hoping my reader will learn the lesson right along with my characters. I also hope my readers learn they can survive a bad decision.

  In the sequel “The Super Spies and the High School Bomber” I took the same quirky characters and put them in another situation. In this second story they are the first hand observer of what bullying can do to a person. Most stories portray what happens when students bully other students, but what happens when the bully is a coach or an authority figure? How can a victim stand up to those people?  It’s my hope this second story ignites family discussions and teens talk with their parents about this topic and maybe even resolve some issues they may be experiencing in their own lives.

So there you have it!  Quirky characters and a fast-paced, exciting story are the two main ingredients for a Young Adult novel. Thanks for taking the time to read my post and if you get a chance, check out my books. Let me know if I’ve achieved my goal! I’d love to hear from you!

 

 

“The Super Spies and the Cat Lady Killer”

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-Lady-Killer-ebook/dp/B007JZH61K

 

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-super-spies-and-the-cat-lady-killer-lisa-orchard/1109518725

 

Astraea Press:  http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/id=10078468

 

 

 

 

 

[image error]“The Super Spies and the High School Bomber”

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Super-Spies-School-Bomber-ebook/dp/B008P8O7OY

 

Barnes and Noble:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-super-spies-and-the-high-school-bomber-lisa-orchard/1112263058?ean=2940014992244

 

Astraea Press: http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/~/product/id=13594238

 

You can find me at these social media sites:

 

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Orchard/328536613877060?ref=hl

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisaorchard1

 

Website/Blog: http://www.lisaorchard.com/

Paranormal Perceptions ~ The Old Asylum on the Hill

The Paranormal Perceptions series was created to gather some of the most interesting authors that are using paranormal elements in their stories. Every author has their own perceptions and provides their own insight on all things paranormal, ranging from urban legends and paranormal research, to myths and inspirations. This week on the guest series is author of Abrahans Men, author Kristen Selleck. (@Abrahamsmen)

When I was a teenager, my parents moved our family from Detroit to a town outside of Louisville that barely warranted a dot on the map.  I was a 16-year-old self-proclaimed ‘goth girl’, who worked very hard to appear cynical and brooding, and in my new small town high school, I stood out like Sam Kinison in a library.

You could probably guess that I didn’t make friends very easily.  There was this one boy though, and I’m not going to wax poetic about his finely molded cheekbones or any of that crap, but I generally turned into a stammering, dyslexic, cavegirl when he talked to me.

Example- “Oh…uhhhh…yeah, huh-huh, you like music good? I like too that. I-I-It’s…yeah.”

* (translation: Hey, I see you’re listening to the Pixies.  I am also fond of this musical act.  Their innovative blend of indie and noise rock was influential on mainstream alternative rock.)

If you’re starting to roll your eyes at the fact that my life sounds like the intro to every paranormal romance you’ve ever read…stick with me, it gets better.  Anyhow,  the guy was unfailingly nice to me, and ended up asking me to hang out with him on Halloween.

 We drove around on these winding, two-lane, back roads as he told me scary stories about the area I had moved to.  We went to a cemetery where, supposedly, the souls of the confederate soldiers who were buried there, rose from their graves when the sun went down.  We drove by a cave where a bunch of people were murdered (maybe).  There was also an old covered bridge that was haunted by—to tell you the truth, I don’t even remember.  Finally he brought up something called ‘the Death Tunnel’.  The story went that there was an old abandoned insane asylum that sat on the top of a hill, and the death tunnel started at the bottom of the hill and led up to the basement of the asylum.  In the old days, people were tortured and killed there, and the bodies were hidden in the tunnel until they could be disposed of.  It was said that if you went into the tunnel you could hear voices whispering, and that hands would reach out and grab you.

Now for those of you who are familiar with the true history of Waverly Hills Sanitarium, a tuberculosis hospital that closed down in the 60’s, you’re probably shaking your head at this, but most urban legends start with at least a grain of truth.  The tunnel was used for getting supplies up the hill from the trains and for employees to walk through to avoid the steep downhill descent.  At one point, when the tuberculosis epidemic was causing mass casualties, it was used to transport bodies for burial.  This was due to the fact that it was generally thought that if the patients were to see a constant stream of bodies being taken away, they might give up the will to live.

But at the time, I didn’t know any of that.  I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of being able to walk around inside of an abandoned asylum.  It would be just like a horror movie!  We never found it (understand that this was in the long ago 1990’s, before there was GPS or Siri.). But it did serve to spark an interest in me.  Up until that point, I had never wondered why there were so many abandoned insane asylums, or why they all looked so similar.

I know the answers now.  Here’s the condensed version, try and stay awake:  A bunch of doctors realized that insanity didn’t occur from demon possession and began studying the workings of the human mind.  Asylums were built so that those affected with these diseases could be studied, taken care of, and, hopefully, cured.  A great many of these institutions were based on the architectural recommendations of a brilliant physician and advocate for the mentally ill, Thomas Story Kirkbride.  He felt that if you housed these sick people in beautiful buildings, with large windows, and spacious hallways, gave them pleasant and peaceful grounds to view and to walk, it would help inspire them to become healthy.

 It was a nice thought, but as most of you know, it didn’t work out that way.  Asylums quickly became overcrowded, understaffed, and badly regulated.  Lobotomies…electric shock therapy…water treatments… we’ve all heard the stories, and they’re true.  By the time psychiatric drugs came on the scene, we had already begun to realize that taking all of the mentally unhealthy people and locking them up away from the rest of society, wasn’t working.  As more and more useful drugs and better treatments became available, these old asylums emptied out and closed down.

And now we are left with dozens of elaborately beautiful old structures--empty, windows broken, insides gutted and exposed to the elements--and mostly, they’re just rotting away. 

 

Traverse City Insane Asylum

In case you’re wondering, I did finally get inside Waverly Hills… legally, and into a lot of ‘real’ asylums too (uhhhh…not as legally).  They’re very eerie and sad places, and they draw a certain sort of dark fascination from people.  I noticed this when I used to show my pictures to friends and they would immediately ask all sorts of questions and sometimes even ask for prints.  When I started writing my first novel, I took my interest in the history of psychology and institutionalization, and combined it with my secret addiction to paranormal romance to produce a weird little book which was aptly (albeit, uncreatively) named, Asylum.  It did well enough that I was encouraged to turn it into a series, and very recently, I published the second book, Abraham’s Men.

Horror movies have taught us that all abandoned asylums have a stock cast of ghosts: the evil, experimenting doctor, the uber hot and completely emotionless nurse, lobotomized patients, the psychopathic serial killer, etc.  I didn’t take any of my characters from that catalogue.  Although the story is a fictional one, I hoped it would cause people to think about the people that really lived there, and what they went through.  I’ve been in a lot of abandoned asylums, and I can tell you honestly that I’ve never seen an apparition, or heard voices, or felt a cold hand on my shoulder.  I have always felt something though.  It can best be described as an overwhelming feeling of hopelessness and abandonment.  And maybe, underneath the images of blood-spattered doctors with hacksaws, and zombie patients that asylums seem to conjure up, that’s what really scares us.

-Kristen Selleck

 

 

[image error] Kristen Selleck is avidly evil. Until recently, she worked as a mad scientist. After several diabolical attempts at world domination proved unsuccessful (most notably, building an army of robots from used pipettes, empty reagent boxes, and other things left lying around the lab), she decided to pick up the pen. She used the pen to poke an annoying lady at the gas station in the eyeball. Then she decided to write.

She has been known to speak with a strong Russian accent. This is inexplicable due to the fact that she was born in Detroit. It has also been documented that she likes vodka, roller coasters, things which are purple, and blowing things up with dry ice. She abhors kittens, wood paneling popularized in the 1970's, and her arch-
nemesis Jimmy (the Evil Overlord of Specimen Processing). She was last known
to reside in Grand Rapids, and may be in the company of two evil apprentices,
and her devoted henchman, Shad. If seen, please contact the FBI immediately (she
owes someone in Accounting a sandwich).


http://kristenselleck.webs.com/

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5305353.Kristen_Selleck

http://www.amazon.com/Kristen-Selleck/e/B0060FB49U

https://twitter.com/Abrahamsmen

http://www.facebook.com/BirchHarborSeries

 

 

Paranormal Perceptions ~ Top 10 Paranormal Vampire Series Today

The Paranormal Perceptions series was created to gather some of the most interesting authors that are using paranormal elements in their stories. Every author has their own perceptions and provides their own insight on all things paranormal, ranging from urban legends and paranormal research, to myths and inspirations. This week on the guest series is author of Mark of the Witch, author Jessica Gibson.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog today P.W! Here’s my top 10 paranormal books/series

 

1      Night Huntress series~ This series has everything that I love all rolled into one amazing series. Vampires, magic, and an awesome love story. I love Cat and Bones, and with the spin-off books I’ve gotten to know the side characters better too.

2      Harry Potter~ Thank goodness for Harry Potter!! I think I’ve read the whole series at least 4 times. I love all the magic, and all the action.

3      The Vampire Diaries~ I really love this series, especially Damon. I never expect what’s going to happen.

4      Sookie Stackhouse~ This is another series that I’ve read multiple times. I love all things vampire, and this series has only fueled that love.

5      Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles~ This was the first vampire series I ever read, and I’m so glad it was my entree into the world of vampires. These are not warm and fuzzy vampires, and I love that.

6      Gwen Sparks series~ I was immediately hooked. I love all the magic....the hot vampires and shifters don’t hurt either. I adore Stephanie Nelson

7      Bend, Bite, Shift series~ This series is so different from any other vampire/witch series I’ve read. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I can’t get enough Olivia Hardin!

8      Twilight series~ Yes, I’m going there. I know this series gets a lot of flack, but it’s such a sweet love story. I’ve read all the books a few times, and seen all the movies. I’m not a fanatic about them, but I do enjoy them.

9      Blue Bloods series~ This was a very different type of vampire series by Melissa De La Cruz. I was hooked from the start and burned through all the books quickly. She has a real talent.

10   Vampire Academy series~ Love, Love, Loved this series!!! I jumped into this series after almost all the books were out already. I think it took me like a week to read them all. I could not get enough.

 

Thanks again for having me on your blog! Hope you all enjoyed my favorite series. What books or series do you love??

 

 

Jessica lives in California with her husband and young son. She loves to read, and that love helped her to branch out into writing. Aside from writing, she runs an online event planning business called the Release Day Diva.

In addition to novels, Jessica writes and maintains the blog Book on the Bright Side. Keep up with Jessica and her latest releases and events on her blog.


Website: www.releasedaydiva.weebly.com

Blog: www.thisauthorslife.blogspot.com

Book Blog : www.bookonthebrightside.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica...

Twitter: jessicajgibson

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