Ellis Nelson's Blog, page 8

Final Countdown to Book Release-

Final Countdown To Launch- Down the Treacle Well (Nov 7th): Announcements! Review magazine, early reviewers, book trailer, cake, a book horoscope (really? REALLY!!).

TREAT & A BOOK:

Some final comments on how last night’s Halloween book event went.

GHOST HUNTING: Highlands Ranch Mansion

Last week we attended a session of ghost hunting at a local historical site. The Highlands Ranch mansion was the home of John W. Springer, a man with ties to politics, banking, and law. He owned the site from 1897 to 1913. The mansion sits on a hill south of Denver with great views of the Rockies.

It’s also connected to a very notorious set of murders. John’s two-decades younger wife, Isabel, became involved with two different men who had an altercation at the downtown Brown Palace (connected to Molly Brown- remember the Titanic?) resulting in two deaths. Frank Henwood shot and killed his rival, Tony von Phul, and an innocent bystander in the Marble Bar. The murders culminated in a series of high-profile trials in 1911. John then dumped Isabel who ended up dying alone and destitute in New York. The mansion went on to pass through a series of different owners over the years. Much later, the TV mini-series Centennial (1978) used the site for the fictional Venneford Ranch. Interestingly enough, reading about that nugget soon led me to uncovering that actor Richard Kelton died of carbon monoxide asphyxiation in his trailer while filming. Reading the newspaper accounts, they say he was at a ranch near Denver but doesn’t name the exact location…

Anyway, the mansion is a pretty place with spectacular views! We joined others in the ballroom for a presentation on ghosts and haunting phenomena given by a local paranormal investigator. He showed some photos and played recordings of things his group had caught in various haunted places including the mansion. Later we broke into three groups for our ghost hunting “experience.” People were encouraged to download various apps or checkout (by leaving your driver’s license) various detectors. We didn’t. The groups were taken around the ground floor rooms and given access to the upstairs bedrooms. We heard the story of the murders upstairs. We also heard one group’s device say, “What are you doing here?” just as we walked into a room. Another group reported their device called out the name, “Kevin”- who was our presenter that night. We stood around the paranormal investigator who spoke into one of the devices asking for spirit interaction but never really heard anything clearly. I’m not a fan of EVP. Toward the end of our tour, I overheard someone ask Kevon if he had seen the ghosts of animals. He said he hadn’t but had experienced things after the deaths of his own pets. I almost wanted to shout, “Me too!” Which led me to ponder…

I think there was a lost opportunity there. This group really wasn’t a collection of hard-core skeptics and deniers. How many of us have had our own experiences? What could we share if given the chance? Weren’t they more meaningful than stumbling around in the dark in a strange location?    

We returned to the ballroom. As we waited for everyone to have a turn at “ghosthunting,” we could watch four different cameras aided by the various kinds of instruments set up around the mansion to capture phenomena. They picked up interesting orbs which we were already told were mostly dust particles swirled about by natural currents in the house. The highlight of the night was probably the card readers stationed in the ballroom. Three different psychics had been chosen to read cards. I had someone read angel cards which resulted in an overall energetic analysis with guidance and a tarot reading. The tarot reading was more practical and relatable. Even my husband said he got something out of his reading. Yay! (But mostly he wanted me to copy the cards down so I could tell him what it really meant.)

Overall, it was something that got us out of the house and doing something local. It was another one of those events we’d always wanted to do and so now it’s crossed off the list. Returning to the idea of the missed opportunity. I think the planners should consider facilitating an experience where everyone could have the chance to discuss what they may have experienced in their own lives in small, comfortable groups.  

MY GHOST STORY BOOK:

TIMELESS TULIPS, DARK DIAMONDS- A GHOST STORY

When fourteen-year-old Lydia travels to Amsterdam with her parents, the last thing she expects is the weird incidents that plague her stay. Curtains flutter mysteriously, and unexplained shadows move through the kitchen unnerving her. But Lydia is more concerned with the potential move to upstate New York. She dismisses the odd occurrences blaming them on jet lag and the various symptoms of her migraine disease.

When Lydia’s father lands a new job and the family moves to an area first settled by the Dutch, the bizarre happenings continue. Suffering from migraines has never been easy, but now Lydia has to contend with what she may have inadvertently brought home with her.

BUY E- book here: https://amzn.to/2l7LhHP

Look What the Mail Brought

The magazine review of Down the Treacle Well arrived today! So lucky to be chosen for one of the five MG books reviewed for their holiday edition of Foreword.

Grab the magazine to read at your newsstand or library.

What’s the book about, you ask?

While visiting a museum in England, Ben and Kyle experience the extraordinary. Gazing at the Alfred Jewel, an ancient Anglo-Saxon artifact, they watch as it spins, contorts, and evaporates from its case, taking them with it.

Whisked back to Victorian England, the brothers are shocked to find themselves sprawled on the floor before Mr. Charles Dodgson, also known as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.

They soon learn that the famous author’s muse, Alice, is missing. Alice has used the Alfred Jewel to enter Wonderland and, by so doing, has upset the time continuum. The only way for the boys to return home is to locate Alice and return her safely.

But Wonderland is a strange and dangerous place…

ORDER HERE: (pre-order now, available everywhere Nov. 7th)

bit.ly/3roGX9f

THE HOSTESS WITH THE GHOSTESS

By EJ Cooperman

(Book 9 of the Haunted Guesthouse Series)

I read this book a while ago because I liked the premise. As a writer I was also interested in how to pull off a book where a ghost helps solve a crime. How can a ghost effectively take an active role in a plot?

The basic idea of the series is that Alison Kerby has opened a guesthouse and actively markets the place as haunted. Visitors flock to have the experience of ghostly phenomena which her resident ghosts help provide since they are all friendly types. Alison herself can see, hear, and interact with all these beings but her guests witness only the results of their daily shows.

In this particular installment, a new ghost arrives who happens to be the brother of one of her ghostly residents. Richard is disoriented having been recently killed while trying to solve a murder case in which he was representing the state’s number one suspect. Alison is drawn into the case and with help from the other side, she attempts to solve the murder.

This is a bestselling series so there is no doubt some people love it. I found nothing spectacular here. None of the characters stood out in any way. There is a kind of humor in the writing that over explains things and leaves nothing to the reader’s imagination. The tone is lighthearted and spoofy. There’s nothing really creepy here even though violent murder is the subject of the farce. I also had the feeling that the author is far older than the Alison character she is trying to portray. This happens a lot. For some reason, mainstream literature insists on having characters in their 40s, even though they read more like they are in their late 60s or 70s. This isn’t a horrible book, it’s just a very predictable cozy mystery like so many others.   

To find my books, click here:

https://tinyurl.com/ypybkeux

PRE-ORDER: Down the Treacle Well (releasing Nov. 7, 2023):

ORDER HERE: (choose your favorite store)

bit.ly/3roGX9f

ARC Readers: Down the Treacle Well

Last chance to be part of the launch team for the Nov. 7th release. I have a couple of copies available. Email contact: himalayaspencerellis(at) yahoo.com

Alice & Popular Culture:

In Alice’s Studio this week, I talk about how Alice in Wonderland is popular throughout the culture but how difficult the original book is for the modern reader. And the launch of DOWN THE TREACLE WELL is fast approaching (Nov. 7th).

ORDER HERE: (pre-order now, available everywhere Nov. 7th)

bit.ly/3roGX9f

Synopsis of Down the Treacle Well:

While visiting a museum in England, Ben and Kyle experience the extraordinary. Gazing at the Alfred Jewel, an ancient Anglo-Saxon artifact, they watch as it spins, contorts, and evaporates from its case, taking them with it.

Whisked back to Victorian England, the brothers are shocked to find themselves sprawled on the floor before Mr. Charles Dodgson, also known as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.

They soon learn that the famous author’s muse, Alice, is missing. Alice has used the Alfred Jewel to enter Wonderland and, by so doing, has upset the time continuum. The only way for the boys to return home is to locate Alice and return her safely.

But Wonderland is a strange and dangerous place…

MUSINGS ON GENERATIONAL CONFLICT

I’ve been reading a book called The Fourth Turning is Here by Neil Howe. The book concerns itself with the theory that history is cyclical and that these cycles repeat about every 80 to 100 years (about the lifetime of a human). Each 20-year period can be represented by a season (spring, summer, fall, winter). The author believes we are now in winter (the 4th season) and that we are getting ready for a crisis event that will herald a new cycle. It sure feels like we are holding our breath, ready to take the plunge. Although the exact event or timing of the turning can’t be precisely known, the theory predicts the process will play out in a pattern governed by historical cycles.

Interestingly enough, there is a corollary in astrology that indicates the same thing. Which is fascinating. Uranus will transit Gemini starting in 2025 and remain there for about 7 years (until 2033). The last time this happened was during the WWII years of 1941-1949. In fact, astrologers have long noted that that when Uranus is moving through Gemini, things- well, …happen. Big things! The Revolutionary War, the Civil War, and WWII. Coincidence, you say? Oddly enough, Neil Howe’s book, a history book is saying the very same thing. I would argue that the underlying mechanism of his theory, at least on the fourth turning point, relies on this well-known astrological pattern. But historians today are NOT allowed to publish books that rest their evidence on astrology. ‘Nough said!

Anyway, I wanted to cover a different topic here. For years, I’ve noted the conflict going on between generations of Americans. Those of us of different ages have different life experiences, different values, different perspectives, and lately these are causing more than the usual generational clash. Older generations despair over youth today. And younger generations can’t relate to how out of touch older folk are. In some ways, I’ve found myself in between these two warring groups. Because of this, when this book about generational history came across my path, I grabbed it.

I think there is a lot that can be learned by all generations through the simple understanding that all of us are, to some degree, a byproduct of the historical time in which we were born. These generational characteristics were not necessarily chosen by us but rather adopted by us as a response to the environment in which we found ourselves. Moreover, the generational tendencies are cyclical. Look back in history to find your cohorts or forward to find a new generation you’ll share similarities with. Wow! So we’re not all that terribly unique.

Let’s suppose the hypothesis proposed by the author (and astrology) has some merit. That means the next few years (2025-2033 approximately) will test ALL generations to meet challenges we have not seen in about …. the last 80 years or more. While boomers are busy bemoaning millennials, the rich joke is that it is this generation that carries the archetypal identity of the next HERO generation (according to the book). This is the generation who will be called to make the greatest sacrifices and as it turns out, they will be ready to rise to the occasion. They share values with their preceding WWII HERO generation and were raised in very much the same way. All the generational archetypes will find a new mission as the crisis emerges; each will contribute in their own unique way. The diversity of thought and response amongst the generations can be seen as a strength as we enter brand new territory and attempt to re-emerge as a new society.  

Below I’ve tried to extract some identifiers for the different generations so that everyone can see where they fit in. This is not an exhaustive list and I’m sure each of us could add to it, but it’s a start to try to foster understanding. As an individual, you probably won’t perfectly agree that each qualifier describes you. Keep in mind that these are generational tendencies. Your birthdate (early or late within the generation) may also influence how many of these traits and the degree to which you take on these traits. So think about the generations as a whole and in broad brush strokes. Remember that the goal here is NOT to find the best generation because there is NO best generation. Each generation plays a role in the historical cycle that is necessary to bring about the next cycle. I have limited the discussion below to the generations born post 1942. The previous generations of the G.I. (“Hero” Archetype, born 1901-1924) and Silent (“Artist” Archetype, born 1925-1942) can be found in the book. Read beyond your own generation to understand how the others differ from yours. Remember that there is an overall core strength in the wholeness of all the generations as they enter the fourth turning. If we can manage to focus on the real problems as they arise and draw from these strengths, we may manage to create the new future many of us desire.

Boomers (“Prophet” Archetype) born 1943-1960

Individualism- cultivation of the selfHigh drive for personal risk-taking, independence cherishedViewpoint of right v. wrong (creation of the counterculture)Material wealth not as valued as meaningful career (making a difference)Question the prevailing power structure with passion and violenceValues take precedence over law  Showing conviction and standing out are valuedPreference for independence and solo living

Gen X (“Nomad” Archetype) born 1961-1981

Collective low self-esteemDistrust of elders & institutions to provide for themValue: self-sufficiency, resilience, survival skills, and reality detectionEmbrace high-turnover, low-trust, free-agency lifestyleHone their grab & go instincts in the workplaceFocus is external, bottom-line return (the market sorts winners & losers)Institutions reward ruthless bottom-line successMost immigrant and diverse generation, with small middle-class representationInnovative entrepreneurs who made US corporations world leaders in some marketsSpiritual preference- personal, without community or public ritualLow voter participation, low engagement in running for officeFavor GOP- less government stance

Millennials (“Hero” Archetype) born 1982-2005?

Protected in youthPractical, pragmaticRisk adverse, avoid conflict of all kindsCompliantCommunity-oriented, value kindnessClose to parentsFear rejection, isolation, lonelinessChronic stressExtended living at home with parentsShun taking on debtEconomic security before life milestones

Gen Z (“Artist” Archetype) born 2006? And after

Highly agreeable, cooperativeVery sheltered (maybe even “bunkered”)Highly risk-adverseVery compliantFirst generation in 50+ yrs where 2-parent families are on the rise24/7 parental oversight & controlStrict rules govern home & school lifeSEL (learning to manage emotions) seen as criticalSafer & healthier, illegal drug use way downHighly stressed, don’t want to disappoint/upsetDon’t want to grow up & leave homeParents pushing practical STEM careers with defined credentialsGoal: find a small haven in a tough worldThink small, think practical, seek security    

Remember that there is an overall core strength in the wholeness of all the generations as we enter the fourth turning. If we can manage to focus on the real problems as they arise and draw from these strengths, we may manage to create the new future many of us desire.

The Story Behind Alice in Wonderland:

Here I discuss the real story of how Lewis Carroll came to write Alice in Wonderland. Including photos of the author and the real girl, Alice Liddell. My new middle grade adventure reimagines Wonderland and Lewis Carroll as a main character. DOWN THE TREACLE WELL releases Nov. 7th and is available for pre-order at your favorite store now.

ORDER HERE: (pre-order now, available everywhere Nov. 7th)

bit.ly/3roGX9f

How I Discovered Wonderland:

I talk about how I got interested in all things Alice.

Synopsis of Down the Treacle Well:

While visiting a museum in England, Ben and Kyle experience the extraordinary. Gazing at the Alfred Jewel, an ancient Anglo-Saxon artifact, they watch as it spins, contorts, and evaporates from its case, taking them with it.

Whisked back to Victorian England, the brothers are shocked to find themselves sprawled on the floor before Mr. Charles Dodgson, also known as Lewis Carroll, the author of Alice in Wonderland.

They soon learn that the famous author’s muse, Alice, is missing. Alice has used the Alfred Jewel to enter Wonderland and, by so doing, has upset the time continuum. The only way for the boys to return home is to locate Alice and return her safely.

But Wonderland is a strange and dangerous place…

ORDER HERE: (pre-order, available everywhere Nov. 7th)

https://books2read.com/down-the-treacle-well