Ghosts, Characters and Writers

Since you all were so curious and asked me so many questions, I thought I’d answer a few more this week.

Mica asked: A while ago, I asked whether you believe in ghosts, and you replied saying you had a ghost encounter yourself. My question is, if you don’t mind me asking, could you share what happened in that encounter?

Well, you see to me, ghosts are scarier than vampires or werewolves. Probably because I believe they exist. Not that several of my supernaturals don’t scare the crap out of me, but on a personal scale, ghosts are the scariest.

My personal ghost story happened when I’d just turned ten, and I woke up one night to find my great-grandmother hovering over me. She always was one to hover over you, but at this point, she’d been dead for a week! And actually, she was more like floating. She was in a long white gossamer gown that flowed around her, so she looked like she didn’t have feet. She said she just wanted to let me know that she was okay. Then she told me that someday I’d have to give up the rags I called clothes (she hated the new fashions), and I’d be wearing a gown like hers.

My parents still insisted I was dreaming, but I don’t believe that. J

Caroline asked: How can you (and so many others) write stories with so many different characters? 

Well, I could write a story with only one character, but I think it would be pretty boring. I love secondary characters. That’s what Holiday, Burnett, Della and most of the Shadow Falls campers are, and I couldn’t imagine my books without them. Often my secondary characters become so real to me that they demand their own story. Like Della.

Kisa asked: How did you know you wanted to become a writer?

I get asked that a lot, and I have to explain to people that I grew up in Alabama, which is the Deep South. So, we pride ourselves in learning to tell a good tale, the bigger, the better. And growing up in my family, I learned from some of the best! But being dyslexic, I never really thought I’d be able to become a writer. Then, when I was in my early 20’s, I was considering going back to school to become a teacher. But I told my hubby I didn’t really want to be a teacher. When he asked me what I wanted to be, I told him a writer. Wonderful man that he is, he said I should go for it. So, I did. It took me a long time to get my first book published, but I never gave up on my dream.

So, I’m going to ask you a question. After all, turnabout is fair play! Do you believe in ghosts? Do you have your own ghost story?

Come Meet Me!

On Tuesday, September 23, I will be participating in the Palacios Library and the Writers’ League of Texas’ Half Day of Writing Instruction and Discussion. The event is free and open to the public and I’ll be discussing “Polish Me Pretty: Five Tips to Take Your Writing to the Next Level. Donna M Johnson, author of her memoir Holy Ghost Girl will be discussing “Your Life as Story: Transforming the Ordinary, the Tragic and the Dull as Dirt into Compelling Memoir.” Join us from 1-4 PM at the Palacios Library, 326 Main Street, Palacios, TX 77465. Advanced registration is encouraged and can be made through the library at 361.972.3234.

Did you know I’ll be teaching at Montgomery County Book Festival’s Ramos Family Writer’s Workshop on September 27? I’ll be at the South Regional Branch Library, 2101 Lake Robbins Dr., The Woodlands, TX 77380. For more information contact Natasha Benway: 936-442-7727 ext. 6370 or email her at nbenway@countylibrary.org. Hope to see you there!