Out of the corner of your eye, have you
ever caught a glimpse of something, and then when you turn it’s gone? Have you
heard creaks and bangs that can’t be explained? Has the temperature around you
suddenly become chilled? Do you believe in ghosts? I do!
Ghost and witches have to be the most fun
and versatile creatures to write about. Your ghost can be solid or transparent,
look perfectly normal or hideous, be nasty or nice, helpful or mischievous. My first romance, The Silver Crescent, has several ghosts, nice and nasty, in it.
Since I set my new release, Rue Toulouse,
a romantic suspense, in New Orleans, and ghosts are such a prevalent part of the city’s history, I
thought I would share some of my ghostly encounters with you. The one that
stands out the most is the time I was zapped by the Voodoo queen, Marie Laveau.
Due to the low elevation of the city, most of the cemeteries in New Orleans are
above ground, and because of the rows of tombs are known as cities of the dead.
The tombs, or mausoleums, can be plain or ornate. Weeping angels may hover over
them. Some are still kept up by family members, and some have crumbled as a
result of neglect. I find them to be both fascinating and creepy.
A few years ago my husband and I were in
New Orleans touring St. Louis Cemetery #1, the oldest in the city, where the purported
tomb of Marie Laveau is located. Offerings such as dead chickens are still left
at the base, and the exterior is covered with X markings. The legend goes that
if you draw an X on the wall, turn around three times and knock, then yell out
your wish, she will grant it.
When the tour stopped in front of Marie’s
tomb, the strangest sensation came over me. I became extremely dizzy and had to
sit down. I felt so bad we had to leave the tour. The further we got from the
cemetery the better I felt. Now, my husband will tell you it was heat
exhaustion, but it wasn’t that hot, and I felt fine until we stopped in front
of the tomb.
Two years ago we went back, and this time
I was ready. As we approached the tomb, I braced myself, but thankfully nothing
happened. Of course my dear husband said, “I told you so.” But I still believe
I had an encounter with the Voodoo queen.
My second ghostly incident was when I was having afternoon tea at an old house with three of my friends. The house had been converted into a combination B&B/tea room. The house is listed as one of the most haunted houses in Ohio and has had numerous ghostly sightings. I told the owner I was an author and was planning on using a haunted historic home in my next book. She was gracious enough to let us tour the bedrooms upstairs. I felt absolutely nothing until we stopped in the doorway of one bedroom.
My second ghostly incident was when I was having afternoon tea at an old house with three of my friends. The house had been converted into a combination B&B/tea room. The house is listed as one of the most haunted houses in Ohio and has had numerous ghostly sightings. I told the owner I was an author and was planning on using a haunted historic home in my next book. She was gracious enough to let us tour the bedrooms upstairs. I felt absolutely nothing until we stopped in the doorway of one bedroom.
What happened next was one of the scariest
things I’ve ever experienced. I was standing next to my girlfriend, and
suddenly I was hit with a force so hard I grabbed her arm for support. I began
to tremble uncontrollably, and a sensation of extreme sadness came over me. All
I could say was “Get me out of here.” My one friend, who believes in ghosts
about as much as my husband does, said I turned white, and that the look of
fear on my face made a believer out of her.
My uncle's house in Michigan is located in the Irish Hills. The house, which sits on a hill overlooking Sand Lake, was built in the late nineteenth century. As old houses do, it has its creaks and groans. But in this case it hasn’t only been me who’s heard footsteps when there’s no one there, doors banging shut when nobody is coming in or going out, and seen the hair on the back of the Labrador retriever stand on end as he stares into an empty corner and growls.
One night while we were visiting, and everyone had gone to bed, my husband was reading on the couch when he began to hear bumps and bangs coming from the kitchen. The skeptic that he is, he couldn’t resist getting up to take a look. He figured it was as good a time as ever to meet his first ghost. He didn’t see anything, but he had to admit he heard something.
My uncle's house in Michigan is located in the Irish Hills. The house, which sits on a hill overlooking Sand Lake, was built in the late nineteenth century. As old houses do, it has its creaks and groans. But in this case it hasn’t only been me who’s heard footsteps when there’s no one there, doors banging shut when nobody is coming in or going out, and seen the hair on the back of the Labrador retriever stand on end as he stares into an empty corner and growls.
One night while we were visiting, and everyone had gone to bed, my husband was reading on the couch when he began to hear bumps and bangs coming from the kitchen. The skeptic that he is, he couldn’t resist getting up to take a look. He figured it was as good a time as ever to meet his first ghost. He didn’t see anything, but he had to admit he heard something.
Now, whether you believe in ghost or not,
I think everyone enjoys a good ghost story.
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