Tag: ghosts

#BadMoonRising Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind by Darlene Foster #childrensbooks #ghosts #supernatural

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising73 Comments

I’m a big fan of this author’s Amanda series. I haven’t traveled to all the places Amanda has, but after reading the book I feel like I have. They’re so well-researched they could double as travel guides. I follow this author on social media and get to see adorable pics of her fur babies, but if you haven’t met them yet, today is your chance. Welcome Darlene Foster!

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

A haunted graveyard. (Aren’t they all haunted? I mean, they are full of dead people, right?) I love graveyards and spend a lot of time in them. They are outside and easy to escape if things get tense. You can get locked inside a haunted house. Yikes!

What is the spookiest ghost story you’ve ever heard?

The story about a young couple who are making out in a car when they hear noises outside. When they check, there is an artificial hand hanging on the door handle. Later they hear on the news about a one-armed serial killer on the loose. That always creeps me out. (Maybe it’s not really a ghost story but it is scary) 

If you could have a spooky Halloween pet (black cat, owl, bat, rat, wolf, etc.), which would you choose?

A black cat. I have owned three black cats in my life and they were all great. Mind you, I was careful not to make any of them angry.

Have you ever travelled as research for any of your books? 

I travel as research for all my books! I travelled to New Mexico to research Amanda in New Mexico: Ghosts in the Wind. I visited the haunted hotel in Cimarron and boy did it have scary vibes. 

Have pets ever gotten in the way of your writing? 

Oh yes! My two dogs, Dot and Lia, are always pestering me for a walk just as I am at an intense part of the book.

What are you working on now?

I am currently working on Amanda in Scotland: The Standing Stones. There just might be some spooky parts in it, you never know.

Amanda Ross is on a school trip to Taos, New Mexico with several of her fellow creative students. She shares a room with Cleo, an anxious classmate who insists she sees ghosts. Although Amanda is determined to prove there is no such thing, she can’t seem to shake the feeling that something or someone is watching her. 

Join Amanda, Cleo and their funny friend, Caleb, as they visit a rugged and beautiful landscape where a traditional hacienda, an ancient pueblo, and a haunted and spooky hotel all hold secrets to a wild and violent past. 

Does Cleo really see ghosts? Can Amanda escape the eerie wind that follows her everywhere? Perhaps The Day of the Dead will reveal the mysteries of Taos in this latest adventure of Amanda’s travels.

Purchase Links

Amazon.ca https://www.amazon.ca/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Wind/dp/1771681209/

Amazon.com https://www.amazon.com/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Travels/dp/1771681209/

Amazon.co.uk https://www.amazon.co.uk/Amanda-New-Mexico-Ghosts-Travels-ebook/dp/B01MT8LXAR/

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/amanda-in-new-mexico-darlene-foster/1125480361?ean=9781771681209

Kobo https://www.kobo.com/es/en/ebook/amanda-in-new-mexico 

Author Bio and Social Media

Darlene Foster grew up on a ranch in Alberta, Canada, where her love of reading inspired her to see the world and write stories. When not travelling, meeting interesting people, and collecting ideas for her travel/adventure books, Darlene enjoys spending time with her family in Canada and with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia, in Spain.

website www.darlenefoster.ca

blog https://darlenefoster.wordpress.com/

GoodReads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3156908.Darlene_Foster

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

Twitter  @supermegawoman

#BadMoonRising The Haunting of Kinnawe House by Steven Rigolosi #horror #paranormal #ghosts

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising49 Comments

Another BMR debut today! I have a weakness for haunted house stories, and dual timelines make them even more irresistible – and just look at that eerie cover below. This author shares the spookiest ghost story he’s ever heard – but it happened to him. Welcome Steven Rigolosi!

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

Firestarter. For me, it fired on all cylinders (pardon the pun). There is something so elementally terrifying about fire and how quickly it gets out of control. I re-learned this lesson not too long ago when my mother’s kitchen burned down in the space of about 3 minutes. Something in the oven ignited, and before she knew it, the kitchen was engulfed in flames. Fortunately, she survived unharmed. But it was such a terrifying experience for everyone that I can’t imagine myself re-reading Firestarter any time soon.

Would you buy a doll that you knew was haunted?

I don’t believe in tempting fate, so the answer is a big No. Also, several years ago I wrote a short story, “Locked in the Basement with Bebe,” about a haunted doll. The doll (Bebe) ended up disturbing me so much that I’ve sworn off haunted dolls forever.

What is the spookiest ghost story you’ve ever heard?

I think this one is the spookiest because it happened to me. When I was in college, I went to Barbados on Spring Break. One night during the vacation, I had a dream about my father’s oldest brother. In the dream we were just sitting at my kitchen table and talking. He kept saying, “You’re a good boy” and “You march to the beat of your own drummer.” The dream was very odd because I was not close to that uncle at all. In fact, he and my father didn’t get along and had almost nothing to do with each other. When I got home, I got a phone call from my mother telling me that my uncle had died—during the night on which I had the dream.

Have you ever traveled as research for any of your books? 

Yes, for The Haunting of Kinnawe House, I traveled many times to York County, Maine, visiting towns such as York, Cape Neddick, and Ogunquit. Part of the story takes place in Northampton, Massachusetts, so I went there, too, to soak up the sense of history. Images from all of these places burned themselves into my brain and made their way into the book. Now I’m a big fan of traveling to research my books, though I hadn’t done much of it in the past. For fun, I am also attaching a photo of the real house (now demolished) that inspired Kinnawe House.

What is your kryptonite as a writer?

I can’t write in present tense, so if someone said to me, “You must write a novel in present tense, or you will die,” then I would die.

What books did you grow up reading?

At first I was going to answer this question by mentioning specific writers and books, but then another thought occurred to me. I don’t come from a wealthy family, so money was tight as I was growing up. Of course I made frequent use of the library, but as we all know, there’s nothing quite like buying books. Hardcover books were beyond my budget, and then I discovered the book clubs of that era: The Literary Guild, The Doubleday Book Club, The Mystery Guild, and Book-of-the-Month Club. They made hardcovers affordable, and they helped to form my reading tastes, in that I discovered a lot of writers through them. While I don’t remember them offering a lot of horror selections, there were always a few, and I still have my book-club editions of the classic haunted house stories that inspired my book, including Stephen King’s The Shining, Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Anne Rivers Siddons’ The House Next Door. I also love mysteries, and the book clubs helped me discover a lot of the greats, including Agatha Christie, John D. MacDonald, Andrew Garve, Michael Gilbert, and Dorothy L. Sayers.

The Haunting of Kinnawe House is a ghost story that spans two eras in U.S. history: the American colonial period and the present. Matthew Rollins, an aspiring singer/songwriter, takes a job as caretaker of Kinnawe House in Agamenticus, Maine. The haunting begins immediately upon Matthew’s arrival. Threatening, ghostly strangers stalk the property. The cellar is filled with mysterious, foul-smelling barrels. And with each day, Matthew’s insomnia gets worse. The story alternates between past and present, as Matthew struggles with increasingly violent hallucinations, and the 1740s, as a dark preacher populates his town with a community willing to sell their souls for a comfortable life. Past and present come together as Matthew learns, little by little, of his family’s ties to Kinnawe House—and why the house will not rest until Matthew has taken his own life.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Black Rose Writing

Author Bio and Social Media

Steven Rigolosi is the editor-in-chief of Cambria & Calibri, an editorial services firm, where he specializes in editing psychology, economics, and business books. His other published fiction includes four mysteries, including Who Gets the Apartment? and The Outsmarting of Criminals. Both received the David Award for Best Mystery of the Year, andOprah’s editors selected The Outsmarting of Criminals as one of the best mysteries of its publication year. He lives in Northern New Jersey, where he plays classical flute with the Ramsey Wind Symphony. His other books are Circle of Assassins and Androgynous Murder House Party.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @srigolosi

Facebook: StevenRigolosiWriter

Email: stevenrigolosi AT gmail.com

#BadMoonRising Between the Darkness and the Dawn by Paula Cappa #paranormal #mystery #shortstory

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising59 Comments

I’ve read a few of this author’s books, and if I could only use a couple words to describe them, they would be atmospheric and immersive. It’s so easy to lose yourself in her stories, and it may have something to do with her visiting the actual settings of some of her works. A name on a cemetery headstone inspired a story idea, and now she’s working on the final draft. Welcome Paula Cappa!

Would you rather visit a haunted house or a haunted graveyard?

Graveyard for sure. I prefer the ghostly quiet of cemeteries. Reading the names and dates on the headstones are inspiring for me to conjure up stories and scenes. I once read a headstone with the name Draakensky on it. The name was startling to me and actually ignited a story of a haunted estate named Draakensky. I’m now working on the final draft of my supernatural novel Draakensky.

Which Stephen King novel unsettled you the most?

The Shining. Mostly because the ghosts had such power in the story and they were unrelenting. Jack, of course, became a terrifying entity. The thing about King’s stories is they touch a vulnerable part of the human psyche and once he does that, as a reader, I can’t let go. The psychological elements are always compelling.

Which unsolved murder fascinates you the most?

I think the murders where the cause of death is mysterious and doesn’t lead directly to the killer. When a person dies and the cause is not clear or conflicting, it presents such doubt and curiosity. Something like the old-fashioned lock-door mysteries. How did the killer get in or out, accomplishing what seems impossible?

Have you ever traveled as research for any of your books? 

Yes, for my novel Greylock, a mystery story about a music phantom, I placed the setting on Mt. Greylock in Massachusetts. The mountain itself is said to be haunted, so it was perfect to explore from a ghostly perspective. I traveled to Mt. Greylock twice to walk the trails and spend time at the top, getting inspiration from the views and the trails. There’s a lot of research that can be done online and lots of images, but putting your feet on the ground where your characters are walking, is another whole adventure.  Also, I wrote a ghost short story (historical) about Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Old Manse in Concord, MA. I toured the Old Manse several times to get the feel in the house when Hawthorne lived there. The short story “Between the Darkness and the Dawn,” was published at Whistling Shade Literary Journal and now it’s a Kindle Single.

Have you ever tried to write a novel in a genre you rarely or never read? 

I normally don’t read fairy tales, but a story with a king and queen kept circling in my head. When I started writing it down, I realized it was a traditional fairy tale (novelette). So, then I did have to start reading that genre and studying about how to write fairy tales. Because the story used magick (of course), I opened a whole new and exciting element to my writing. And wouldn’t you know, the novel I’m working on now has magick in it. Experimenting in new genres for reading and writing can only add more richness to your writing life and reading.

What are you working on now?

I am writing a novel about a haunted windmill and how magick lives with all of nature. The characters in the story are drawn to the magickal realms, some to witchcraft.

“Cappa’s Between Darkness and Dawn is as nuanced and atmospheric as the stories of Hawthorne himself. Mesmerizing.” –Erika Robuck, author of House of Hawthorne: A Novel.   

Come visit the Old Manse in Concord, Massachusetts. Does the ghost of author Nathaniel Hawthorne stalk the front parlor? Edward Fane, ley line hunter aims to find out. Armed with his EMF meters, Edward tests the Old Manse for ghosts that might be streaming the reported ley lines on the property. What Edward finds is more than just the ghost of Mr. Hawthorne. Edward uncovers a mysterious woman from Hawthorne’s yesterdays. In this supernatural mystery, more than just shadows exist between the darkness and the dawn. This historical ghost story was based on true events in Hawthorne’s life. Between the Darkness and the Dawn was originally published by Whistling Shade Literary Journal.

Purchase Link

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Between-Darkness-Dawn-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B00TEKS8E2

Smashwords.com  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/591916

Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/between-the-darkness-and-the-dawn-a-short-story-paula-cappa/1122774075

Apple Books https://books.apple.com/us/book/between-the-darkness-and-the-dawn-a-short-story/id1057761874

Author Bio and Social Media

Paula Cappa is a multi-award winning author of supernatural, metaphysical, and mysterious fiction. She is the recipient of the Gold Medal from Global Book Awards, the Chanticleer Book Award, and the American Book Fest Best Books Award Finalist for her novel Greylock. She also earned the prestigious Eric Hoffer Book Award, the Silver Medal at Global Book Awards, the Bronze Medal from Readers’ Favorite International Awards in Supernatural Suspense, and is a Gothic Readers Book Club Award Winner in Outstanding Fiction.

She is the author of Greylock, The Dazzling Darkness, and Night Sea Journey—print editions published by Crispin Books, Milwaukee WI.Cappa’s short fiction has appeared in ParABnormal Magazine, Coffin Bell Literary Journal, Unfading Daydream, Dark Gothic Resurrected Magazine, Whistling Shade Literary Journal, SmokeLong Quarterly, Sirens Call Ezine, Every Day Fiction, Fiction365, Twilight Times Ezine, and in anthologies Journals of Horror: Found Fiction, Mystery Time, and Human Writes Literary Journal. Many of her short stories are now Kindle Singles on Amazon. Paula Cappa is a freelance copy editor and writes a short story blog, Reading Fiction Blog, at her website at paulacappa.wordpress.com. She is Co-Chair of the Pound Ridge Authors Society in Pound Ridge, NY.

Website and Reading Fiction Blog:  paulacappa.wordpress.com

Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/paula.cappa.94

Goodreads URL:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6553133.Paula_Cappa

 Twitter:     https://twitter.com/PaulaCappa1 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paula_cappa/

Author page on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Paula-Cappa/e/B009P2HZ7A/

#BadMoonRising Peek and Boo Are Looking For You by David Radman #childrensbooks #ghosts

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising49 Comments

Another children’s book for the young readers in your life – and what an adorable cover! This author is no stranger to paranormal encounters (I’d love to have visited the Stanley Hotel with him and his daughter) and has experienced several. Welcome David Radman!

Do you believe in any ‘mythical’ monsters like chupacabras or shadow people?

I do.  In 2010 my wife and I moved into a home in Littleton, Colorado with our 5 children.  During the first year we encountered numerous incidents that included all 7 of us.  We witnessed shadow people in multiple rooms, moving closet doors, snoring entities on our staircase, full volume DVD players turning on in the middle of the night, our pet cat and dog hissing and barking at specific locations on our balcony, coats that we saw move on a coat rack by themselves, and much, much, more.

What is the spookiest ghost story you’ve ever heard?

Growing up in Lakewood, Colorado, just a few miles from Red Rocks Amphitheatre, I was frequently told the story of the Red Rocks Hatchet Lady.  There are several variations of the story, and the woman who’s child had died up there, but it was believed that if you go to Red Rocks on Friday the 13th, and stand on the 13th seat of the 13th row, and yell out “Cry baby, cry!”, that the Hatchet Lady would swoop down from the rocks, and chop off your head.  Needless to say I never had the guts to try it.

Would you rather go to a real haunted house or watch a horror movie marathon?

One of my daughters was born on Halloween, and her favorite holiday came to follow.  When she was in her 20’s, I took her up to Estes Park, and the Stanley Hotel, to spend the night for her birthday, and tour this historic area.  Little did I know that, not only would we encounter several experiences that night, but later, while trying to watch tv in our room, we found out that every channel they had available, were all playing a different part of “The Shining”.  Knowing that there was no alternative but to watch it, I feel like I experienced a unique horror movie marathon in a haunted house at the same time.

Have you ever tried to write a novel in a genre you rarely or never read? 

Although my niche is in children’s books, I do have a special place for novelists.  Before I wrote any stories, my journey as an author took many turns.  I began writing poetry and music, then tried my hand at screenplays.  At one point I challenged myself to attempt writing a novel, but to my surprise, I just couldn’t do it.  I quickly realized just how complicated writing a much longer project, with much more detail, and the expectation of keeping the reader’s attention would be.  My specialty was writing shorter stories, and my utmost respect goes out to those of you who have the capability of writing a novel.  There is a very special talent involved in that.

What is your kryptonite as a writer?

One of the challenges that I never expected, when I began writing my children’s stories, was how my schedule was going to conflict with my ability to sit and write.  I have never been able to schedule a time to sit and write.  Instead, I would often be hit with an inspiration at the most inconvenient time.  Like in the middle of a meeting at work, where I would have to scribble notes on the back of receipts so as not to forget what just came to me, or at 3:00 am, where I would have to get up and go to my computer.  Many of these early morning sessions wouldn’t tell me what I was going to write, only that I needed to sit down and wait.  Some days it would last a few minutes, and other days I’d be flirting with being late to work. 

What are you working on now?

I love that enough of my fans and followers will reach out and ask, “What’s next?”  Although I have plenty of good rhyming stories written, only a few of them I feel are ready to be submitted and have illustrations begin.  That being said, a part of me has wanted to break from the books, and go back to the songs I wrote in the 80’s.  I didn’t have anything but a cassette copy of rough recordings back then, and now I have a chance, with today’s technology, to go back and make decent recordings, before I lose them forever.  These songs I am putting on my YouTube channel, mostly for my own enjoyment and preservation.  One day I might want to share those with others.

But in the world of children’s books, I have an idea of which one I’ll do next.  When I would take my daughters out to play, we would get in the car and drive through neighborhoods, looking for different playgrounds to play on.  So often we would meet people who would be tired of their own playgrounds, while we would seek new ones every day.  That led me to write, “The Playground Hop”, which I will probably get back to in the near future.

Ready, set, boo! It’s Halloween night, and there is one house on the block that offers more than just tricks or treats. If you stop by, you might be greeted by two of the friendliest ghosts you could ever meet, and they are dying for someone to stay and play a game with them.

Meet Peek and Boo, two lovable characters who invite you into their home for some “not too scary” Halloween fun. But beware, there are many surprising things to see and do inside. If you are brave enough to stay and play, you might meet a lot of others here too. Peek and Boo will be looking for you, to share all the fun of Halloween, without all of the fright.

Purchase Links

“When Grandpa Gets Going” can be found at https://www.amazon.com/When-Grandpa-Going-David-Radman/dp/1612969992

“Peek and Boo are Looking for You” can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Peek-Boo-are-Looking-You/dp/1684334055

“Santa’s Zany, Wacky Just not Right Night Before Christmas” can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Santas-Wacky-Right-Before-Christmas/dp/1933302240

“I Bet a Dragon Could” can be found at https://www.amazon.com/Bet-Dragon-Could-David-Radman/dp/1684339375

Titles published by Black Rose Writing can be found at www.BlackRoseWriting.com

Author Bio and Social Media

I am an award winning author who began writing children’s stories as a single father, when my two daughters were very young. My love of being a dad inspired me to share my creativity through the magic of storytelling. My first book, “Santa’s Zany, Wacky, Just Not Right Night Before Christmas”, won the gold medal Moonbeam Award in 2014, and was a finalist in the USA Best Books competition that same year.

In 2019 my second book, “When Grandpa Gets Going”, was published by Black Rose Writing.

In 2020 my third book, “Peek and Boo are Looking for You”, was published by Black Rose Writing.

In 2022 my fourth book, “I Bet a Dragon Could”, was published by Black Rose Writing.

I continue to write stories that I hope to be able to share in the future. I live in Littleton, Colorado with my wife and stepson.

You can learn more about me, or follow me on my Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/RadWriterForChildren

You can also find out about me and my books at https://www.amazon.com/David-Radman/e/B07C11TKNF

The Promise of Lost Things by Helene Dunbar #bookreview #YA #supernatural #paranormal

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews14 Comments

Three characters with their own agendas converge in a town filled with mediums, where most residents make their living speaking to the dead…and there’s no such thing as resting in peace.

Russ Griffin has always wanted to be a fantastic medium. Growing up in the town of St. Hilaire, where most residents make their living by speaking to the dead, means there’s a lot of competition, and he’s always held his own. But Russ knows the town he loves is corrupt, and he’s determined to save it before the sinister ruling body, The Guild, ruins all he’s ever wanted.

Willow Rodgers is St. Hilaire royalty. An orphan, raised by The Guild, she’s powerful and mysterious. But she has secrets that might change everyone’s fate. She’s done with St. Hilaire, done with helping desperate customers who think mediums work for them. She wants to end the cycle for good and rid the town of ghosts, even if that means destroying the only home she’s ever known.

Asher Mullen lost his sister, and his parents can’t get over her death. They sought answers in St. Hilaire and were left brokenhearted. Now they want to expose St. Hilaire as a fraud. Asher is tasked with infiltrating the town, and he does that by getting to know Russ. The only problem is, he might be falling for him, which will make betraying Russ that much harder.

Russ, Willow, and Asher all have their own agendas for St. Hilaire, but one thing’s for certain, no one will be resting in peace.

This book has the same setting and many of the same characters as Prelude for Lost Souls, but is more of a companion novel and can easily be read as a standalone. Still, I’d recommend reading Prelude first.

Russ was my favorite character in Prelude for Lost Souls, so I was thrilled to see him return. He’s feeling the stress in this story – trying to covertly take down The Guild, missing best friend Dec, dealing with his boyfriend/ghost Ian, and carrying the responsibilities of youth counsel leader. Abandoned by his mother a few years ago, Russ and his father are also struggling to make ends meet. Although he may not make the best choices sometimes, Russ’s intentions are pure, and he and Ian only want to save St. Hilaire from the corrupt Guild. When alive, Ian was a powerful medium who enjoyed being the center of attention and maybe flaunted his power occasionally. The Guild is still intent on using him to their advantage, and Russ is now the only person who can summon him.

Asher’s situation broke my heart, and I wanted to reach through the pages and just hug him. After losing his sister in a tragic accident, he’s still grieving and is all but ignored by his parents. With the family moving so often because of his parents’ jobs, he has no friends and is excited at the thought of making one after he meets Russ. Asher’s parents are the hosts of a Ghost Hunters-type show and intent on proving the town of mediums are frauds. Willow is an ambitious girl who has plans for her future and St. Hilaire, and her motives are always suspect.

POVs alternate between Russ, Asher, and Willow, and Ian also has his say in one very revealing chapter. Conflicting agendas, misunderstandings, and story lines converge at an unexpected and somewhat bittersweet ending, but it’s perfect and hopeful. If you’re a supernatural/paranormal fan, I’d recommend both books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#BadMoonRising A Ghost and His Gold by Roberta Eaton Cheadle #supernatural #paranormal #ghosts

On By Teri PolenIn Bad Moon Rising70 Comments

Poetry, children’s books, young adult, cookbooks, adult – today’s author writes in all of these genres. She also works in a demanding profession, is raising a family, and maintains several blogs. Makes you wonder if she ever sleeps. She learned about tarot cards from a fellow blogger (bet I know who) and incorporated them into her featured novel. Welcome Robbie Cheadle!

Have you ever had a tarot card reading?

I have never had a tarot card reading. I don’t know where you would go to get one here in South Africa. I learned about tarot cards through a series of posts by a fellow blogger and found them fascinating. They interested me so much that I researched the meanings of all the different tarot cards and wove them into my book, A Ghost and His Gold.

My main character, Michelle’s, best friend reads tarot cards and I have a few scenes with readings. I also closed out the tarot card readings as part of the conclusion of the story.

Here is a short extract:

“Alice turns over the card on the left. It’s the Moon. Paling slightly, she draws in a deep breath.

“The Moon in the past position, as it relates to romance, could mean that you have an inaccurate perception of your partner. It is possible that your partner has not been completely honest with you and has hidden secrets.”

Michelle grimaces, “That is rather concerning, especially considering the poltergeist, or whatever she is, said he was a lying cheat and that I was a traitor to my sex for marrying him. What can it all mean?”

“I’m not sure, Michelle, but it may not mean what you think it does. Let’s consider the next card and what it tells us about your relationship?”

Alice flips over the middle card and reveals the Ten of Swords.

Starting visibly, Michelle sucks in air through gritted teeth. “That’s not a good card in the context of a relationship,” she hisses.”

Would you rather dunk for apples or carve a Jack o’ lantern?

I have never dunked for apples but have read about it. I have actually assisted my dad with carving a Jack o’ lantern. Halloween is not celebrated much here in South Africa although in the past 10 years, a few people have parties on 31 October. I have always enjoyed the idea of Halloween and loved horror stories from a young age.

A few years ago, our local grocery store got carving pumpkins and we bought few to make Jack o’ Lanterns. They came out well, but sadly, I forgot to take a picture.

As you can see from this picture, our local pumpkins aren’t suitable for carving due to their thin skins and flat shape. When I was a girl, I used to wonder how on earth anyone managed to carve a pumpkin, I didn’t know there were different types of pumpkins.

Do you ever see figures in your peripheral vision?

I have seen figures in my peripheral vision, but sadly they are not ever ghosts or spirits, but usually my cat who likes to slink up behind me.

My character, Michelle, on the other hand, does see otherworldly shadows in her peripheral vision. This is evidenced in the following short extract:

“She inspected the board and, after removing the plastic covering, the planchette. There were no instructions on how it should be used. “I must look up how it works,” she murmured to herself.

A shadow shifted on the far wall of her office and an unexpected cold draft made her shiver. Glimpsing a subtle movement out of the corner of her eye, she swung around quickly, but saw nothing at all. There was no shadow on the wall.

Michelle picked up the Ouija board and planchette and placed them next to her laptop. As soon as I finish my work, I’ll do some research on these and how they work.”

Would you and your main character get along?

My main character, Michelle, shares similar characteristics to me in many ways. She is a chartered accountant [just like me] who has elected to leave full time employment and run her own small accounting business so that she can develop her career as a writer [I haven’t done exactly this but I do work reduced hours – in theory anyway]. Michelle’s husband is a chartered accountant [just like mine], but unlike my husband, Tom is the personification of everything I dislike in select individuals in the profession who participate in excessive drinking and extra marital affairs and who become the target of office gossip and speculation.

I think that Michelle is probably nicer and softer than I am. I don’t know if I would be able to forgive my partner misleading me and telling outright lies. I think, when I created Michelle, I made her a better version of me.

If you decided to write a spinoff of a side character, who would you choose?

Hmmmm! For me this question should be could you write a spinoff of a side character. I am not sure I could for the simple reason that, for me, when a book is finished and I sign off for the publisher to go ahead, all the characters disappear out of my head. So far, none of them have returned to tickle my writing fancy again. I only have three novels though so there is still time for it to happen. Somehow, I don’t think it will though. I am not a person who ever looks back or who is good at staying in contact with colleagues and acquaintances from the past. It is always about the future and something new and exciting for me. I’m even like this with baking, never creating the exact same cake or dish twice.

What are you working on now?

That is an interesting question, Teri. I seem to be having a bit of trouble settling on one idea at the moment, so I am working on five books at the same time. I like to write sections in my books from the perspective of different characters and so I am finishing a piece by a character or a chapter, as relevant, and then moving to another WIP.

The one I am currently progressing is called The Soldier and the Radium Girl and is a historical paranormal book about the First World War. I am writing from the American perspective which is quite interesting for me. I have to make sure I don’t slip into language like bloody which is not a term an American would use. I have an American Beta reader who is checking this for me. I am currently at 15,000 words with this story.

I am also working on the first book in a series about climate change and the fourth industrial revolution. This is a sci fi book, but it is heavily entrenched in reality and real future predictions for mankind. I am doing a lot of research for this book too, as I need to get the details of genetic engineering, climate change, pollution, and the future of the pandemic correct and then extrapolate these predictions forward. The writing and research for this book are quite intense which is why I need to take breaks from it. This book is approximately 45,000 words to date.

I am working on the sequel to While the Bombs Fell, a historical novel for teenagers about my mother’s life growing up in a small British town during WWII. I have progressed this document to about 15,000 words.

I am also writing a biography of my own childhood growing up in South Africa in the 80’s. It is stilled along the lines of My Naughty Little Sister by Dorothy Edwards and is called The Girl Who Loved Dolls. This one is approximately 10,000 words to date.

Finally, I am working on a new Sir Chocolate book called Chocolate Fudge saves the sugar dog story and cookbook which is due out before Christmas. All the artwork is finished and I am just finalizing the recipes before it goes to my publisher.

After Tom and Michelle Cleveland move into their recently built, modern townhouse, their housewarming party is disrupted when a drunken game with an Ouija board goes wrong and summonses a sinister poltergeist, Estelle, who died in 1904.

Estelle makes her presence known in a series of terrifying events, culminating in her attacking Tom in his sleep with a knife. But, Estelle isn’t alone. Who are the shadows lurking in the background – one in an old-fashioned slouch hat and the other, a soldier, carrying a rifle? 

After discovering their house has been built on the site of one of the original farms in Irene, Michelle becomes convinced that the answer to her horrifying visions lies in the past. She must unravel the stories of the three phantoms’ lives, and the circumstances surrounding their untimely deaths during the Second Anglo Boer War, in order to understand how they are tied together and why they are trapped in the world of ghosts between life and death. As the reasons behind Estelle’s malevolent behaviour towards Tom unfold, Michelle’s marriage comes under severe pressure and both their lives are threatened.

Purchase Roberta Eaton Cheadle’s books

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Roberta Eaton Cheadle author biography

Roberta Eaton Cheadle is a South African writer and poet specialising in historical, paranormal, and horror novels and short stories. She is an avid reader in these genres and her writing has been influenced by famous authors including Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Amor Towles, Stephen Crane, Enrich Maria Remarque, George Orwell, Stephen King, and Colleen McCullough.

 Roberta has short stories and poems in several anthologies and has 2 published novels, Through the Nethergate, a historical supernatural fantasy, and A Ghost and His Gold, a historical paranormal novel set in South Africa.

Roberta has 9 children’s books published under the name Robbie Cheadle.

Roberta was educated at the University of South Africa where she achieved a Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1996 and a Honours Bachelor of Accounting Science in 1997. She was admitted as a member of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants in 2000. Roberta has worked in corporate finance from 2001 until the present date and has written 7 publications relating to investing in Africa. She has won several awards over her 20-year career in the category of Transactional Support Services.

Follow Roberta Eaton Cheadle at:

Website

https://www.robbiecheadle.co.za/

Blog

https://wordpress.com/view/robertawrites235681907.wordpress.com

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19631306.Roberta_Eaton_Cheadle

Twitter

Facebook

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Through The Nethergate by Roberta Eaton Cheadle #bookreview #YA #supernatural

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews45 Comments

Can one girl banish evil?

Margaret, a girl born with second sight, has the unique ability to bring ghosts trapped between Heaven and Hell back to life. When her parents die suddenly, she goes to live with her beloved grandfather but the cellar of her grandfather’s ancient inn is haunted by an evil spirit of its own.

In the town of Bungay, a black dog wanders the streets, enslaving the ghosts of those who have died unnatural deaths. When Margaret arrives, these phantoms congregate at the inn, hoping she can free them from the clutches of Hugh Bigod, the 12th century ghost who has drawn them away from Heaven’s White Light in his canine guise.

With the help of her grandfather and the spirits she has befriended, Margaret sets out to defeat Hugh Bigod, only to discover he wants to use her for his own ends – to take over Hell itself.

A clever melding of fiction and historical facts. 

I’m always up for a good ghost story, and I have to commend the author (or cover designer) for such an intriguing, foreboding cover. It does a wonderful job of setting the tone of the story.

My heart immediately went out to Margaret. She’s lost both parents in a tragic accident and has been taken away from her familiar environment to live with her grandfather in a haunted inn. Having second sight, she encounters several ghosts, and I enjoyed learning their backstories and how some of them came to linger at the inn. With several historical characters woven into the story (many of them spirits – good and evil), it’s clear the author did extensive research. I’ve read several YA horror/supernatural novels, but a character with the ability to bring ghosts trapped between heaven and hell back to life is new to me and adds a unique spin.

After Margaret is attacked and taken, and Lucifer shows up with plans to use Margaret’s gift for his own benefit, the story becomes a battle between good and evil. A lot is going on, and much responsibility falls on Margaret’s young shoulders. She’s thrust into some extreme situations, and some scenes may cause goosebumps (love it when that happens).

Although categorized as young adult, with the historical aspects and social commentary on several important issues, this novel would also be a crossover to adults. With a mix of supernatural, horror, paranormal, and history, Through the Nethergate will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

House of Shadows by Darcy Coates #bookreview #horror #TuesdayBookBlog

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews19 Comments

Sophie’s world is shattered when disaster bankrupts her family. She’s still reeling from the news when she’s offered an unexpected solution: Mr Argenton, a wealthy stranger, asks for her hand in marriage.

Marrying Mr Argenton will restore her family’s fortunes and save them from scandal, but condemns Sophie to a life in Northwood, a vast and unnaturally dark mansion situated hours from civilisation.

Sophie struggles to adjust to her new position as mistress over the desolate house. Mr Argenton’s relatives are cold, and Mr Argenton himself is keeping secrets. Even worse, the house is more than it seems.

Mr Argenton’s young cousin, Elise, draws terrifying images. Doors slam. Inhuman figures slink through the forest surrounding the house. A piano plays in the middle of the night. Blood drips from the ceilings.

Sophie is inevitably pulled towards the terrifying truth: Northwood’s ancient halls are haunted by the family’s long-dead ancestors. The malevolent spirits–produced by grisly deaths–resent her intrusion into their home.

Trapped in Northwood and desperate for an escape, Sophie’s fate is further complicated as she finds herself irrevocably drawn to the tall, dark-eyed man she married. She suspects her feelings are returned, but Mr Argenton is hiding the truth about the house–and his secrets are so dangerous that they might just be unforgivable. 

This is my second Darcy Coates book and I’ve come to learn there are two things I can count on – my enjoyment of her writing style and eerie covers perfect for what’s inside.

Reading The Amityville Horror many years ago made me a fan of haunted house novels.  I seem to gravitate toward them.  House of Shadows has a distinct gothic feel, an aspect which adds to the creep factor in my opinion.  When candles are your only souce of lighting, you never know what that light will fall on when you round a corner.  Or what it might miss in the shadows.

After marrying someone she barely knows and moving far away from her family, Sophie is immediately thrust into an unwelcoming sitation with Joseph’s relatives.  It’s also clear the staff are terrified of something and barely speak.  Sophie initially gives off the damsel-in-distress vibe, but when her back is against the wall, she comes through when it counts.

This is a quick read, but I wouldn’t have minded it being longer.  Once the climax is reached, pacing moves at break-neck speed, but the ending nicely sets up the second book.

If you’re looking for aggressive horror, this may not be the book for you, but if you enjoy some creepy-crawly moments that send chills down your spine with a touch of romance, you’ll settle in quite well with House of Shadows.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Eventide (Hode’s Hill #3) by Mae Clair #bookreview #supernatural #suspense

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews53 Comments

The darkness is coming . . . 

The old house near Hode’s Hill, Pennsylvania is a place for Madison Hewitt to start over—to put the trauma of her husband’s murder, and her subsequent breakdown, behind her. She isn’t bothered by a burial plot on the property, or the mysterious, sealed cistern in the basement. Not at first. Even the presence of cold spots and strange odors could be fabrications of her still troubled mind. But how to explain her slashed tires, or the ominous messages that grow ever more threatening?
 
Convinced the answer lies in the past, Madison delves into the history of the home’s original owners, only to discover the origin of a powerful evil. An entity that may be connected to a series of gruesome attacks that have left police baffled. No matter where she turns—past or present—terror lingers just a step away, spurred on by a twisted obsession that can only be satisfied through death…

I’ve been riveted by every book in this series, but this one is probably my favorite.  Probably my favorite cover, too.

Mention a book featuring a haunted house, and I’ll snatch it up every time.  Madison’s house is most definitely haunted, and it’s pretty clear she’s not welcome.  Most people would tell her to leave, but after using nearly all her resources purchasing the new home, her options are limited and she chooses to find a way to exorcise the ghosts.  I was thrilled to see my favorite character from book two make another appearance.  With his extensive experience in dealing with spirits as a medium, Dante is brought into the house to determine exactly what Madison is dealing with and learns some frightening things.

As with the other books in this series, Eventide alternates between past and present, allowing the reader to learn the history of the house and the heartbreaking reason it’s haunted.  The jumps between timelines are seamless, and that story is just as compelling as Madison’s.  Be prepared for some spine-tingling, chill-your-bones scenes – this author is an expert at making you feel unnerved.

I’m sad to see this series end, and I’ll miss these characters who feel like friends.  Each of these books can be read as a standalone, so starting at the beginning isn’t required.  If you’re a fan of small town suspense with a supernatural twist, Hode’s Hill certainly delivers.  Highly recommended!

The Invited by Jennifer McMahon #bookreview #supernatural #mystery

On By Teri PolenIn Book Reviews21 Comments

A chilling ghost story with a twist: the New York Timesbestselling author of The Winter People returns to the woods of Vermont to tell the story of a husband and wife who don’t simply move into a haunted house, they start building one from scratch, without knowing it, until it’s too late . . . 

In a quest for a simpler life, Helen and Nate abandon the comforts of suburbia and their teaching jobs to take up residence on forty-four acres of rural land where they will begin the ultimate, aspirational do-it-yourself project: building the house of their dreams. When they discover that this charming property has a dark and violent past, Helen, a former history teacher, becomes consumed by the legend of Hattie Breckenridge, a woman who lived and died there a century ago. As Helen starts carefully sourcing decorative building materials for her home–wooden beams, mantles, historic bricks–she starts to unearth, and literally conjure, the tragic lives of Hattie’s descendants, three generations of “Breckenridge women,” each of whom died amidst suspicion, and who seem to still be seeking something precious and elusive in the present day.

I’m really behind on my Jennifer McMahon books.  The last one I read was The Winter People, which was an easy five stars for me.  When I saw The Invited on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it.

This author is certainly talented at creating a chilling, atmospheric setting.  Forty-four acres of rural land, very few neighbors, and creepy bog?  Oh, and someone died by hanging at the bog?  Perfect.  Throw in a main character who uses building materials from allegedly haunted locations?  Disturbing.  The author also weaves in some spine-tingling visuals – nothing that kept me up at night, but I’m a horror fan, so that’s a difficult task to accomplish.

The characters are likable in the beginning, but once the supernatural events begin, they’re at each other’s throats.  While both Nate and Helen develop individual obsessions, the reader feels the same frustrations with them as the characters do with each other.  Honestly, if I was Nate, I probably would have tossed Helen out on her keester.  They’re also pretty slow to realize things aren’t quite right in their neck of the woods.

Maybe it was because I read an ARC, but several things are mentioned in the book that didn’t happen – events, something a character said, etc.  Like maybe the author meant to go back and add things during revisions, but forgot?

The Invited is a slow burn, supernatural tale that starts off a bit sluggish, but picks up around the 45% mark.  Enough hints are dropped that readers will probably figure out the twists before the ending, but it was an enjoyable read for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.