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Welcome. Toss a blanket down, sit for a while under the willow, relax, and enjoy what's written below.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

THE ATTRACTION OF MYSTERY STORIES


The simplest definition of curiosity is a need to know. We are born with that need. Babies are extremely curious. Each of us is curious on some level. From that curiosity is born the love of mystery. Mysteries offer a chance to feed our curiosity in small bits or large chunks.



We are able to sit and read a cozy mystery by Agatha Christie. Her Miss Marple character is my favorite. Stephen King will also offer you an excellent mystery at the opposite end of the spectrum. He adds horror to many of his mysteries and keeps his readers on the edge of their chairs.

When did the love of mystery begin? No one knows for sure. There have been cave drawings telling stories of men being chased by wild animals or strange spirits in frightening masks. Without words, the curiosity of the human mind takes over, and the solving of a mystery begins.

Fairy Tales were written to teach lessons to children. They are like small mysteries in themselves. The adults hoped children would learn a lesson, but for a child, the mystery took over. They were told what happened to The Little Boy Who Cried Wolf and Hansel and Gretel, but I’m sure the children began to imagine worse case scenarios. They would have dreamed up bigger mysteries and solved them in their minds. I know that is what I did when I heard a scary story when I was a child.

When Mary Shelly or Bram Stoker put pen to paper to bring Frankenstein and Dracula to life for those able to read, they filled the curious mind with possibilities. That curiosity sprang more mystery to life in the minds of Sir Arthur Conon Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe, and H.P. Lovecraft among others.

Mysteries fulfill the curiosity in most of us. We may not be able to climb a mountain to see what is on the other side or help the police hunt down a killer. However, when we pick up a mystery book we can do these things and more. We can be immediately transported to a different time or place. We meet characters we never would in our everyday lives. Our imaginations run wild trying to solve the mystery before the end of what we are reading. Our curiosity is satisfied. 

Mysteries will be around as long as curious minds need something to solve.

Happy Reading!


Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Beliefs of Protection from Evil


For centuries people have tried to find a way to protect themselves from evil. A few things became popular through the centuries. Garlic is one of the most popular that comes to mind. It has been used to ward off vampires for as long as people have believed vampires exist. A string of garlic can be hung on windows and doors to keep vampires away. Also, crushed garlic smeared on keyholes or around other entrances that can’t be locked such as fireplaces will keep vampires away. It can also be worn around the neck. A string of garlic worn as a necklace will keep the vampires away from anyone. This was a popular practice when a person slept and had no other way to protect themselves.



Burning and salt are also two ways usually used in conjunction to kill off a spirit or assure it never returns. In the movie version of Shirley Jackson’s The House on Haunted Hill, a character is heard to say the house should be burned to the ground and the earth salted. This is also a widely used method in the wildly popular TV series Supernatural. Demon or spirit bodies when killed are salted and burned to make sure they do not return. I am a big fan of the show and find their new use of salt in shotgun shells a unique use of an old staple. I don’t have any myself, but if we’re ever invaded by spirits, I’ll be sure to run out and buy some shells and fill them with salt.

Religious objects have long been used to ward off evil. Since churches are blessed and considered holy ground, it is believed that no evil can enter. It makes it the perfect place to hide if one believes they are being pursued by an evil creature. Crosses are also used to ward off evil especially vampires. This belief goes back hundreds of years. Crosses are not only found in and on churches, but in many homes. It symbolizes a person’s belief in God and also many believe it protects them. Many hang one above their bed. That’s where I have mine. Silver crosses worn around the neck are popular. Not everyone who wears one believes they ward off evil. Most wear one for their religious beliefs.

Through the ages, other objects have been used for protection. Crystals, stones, coins, jewels, small statues, rings and all types of jewelry have been used for protection against many forms of evil. Crystals, stones, and jewels have been used in amulets. Whatever can be easily carried and a have a spell placed on it can be used for protection. These items are found in every culture, books, fables, tales, and stories told around campfires. Wherever people believe there is evil, there will also be a way to prevent or stop it.


Happy reading!

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

I've been busy writing the next Kellie Conley book, Lethal Waters, but I haven't shared many bits of the story. I'll share with you a peek at a few sentences from two more chapters. Each week I'll add a bit from two chapters until the book publishes. Look for the book near the end of September.

Chapter Seven
Amber shuffled through the papers again and read what she’d learn about collecting souls. Maybe there was a quicker way than killing one person at a time.  If there was, how could she be sure she’d catch all the souls? Amber groaned and walked to her desk. She pulled the drawer open and glanced at the glass jars again. Did she have three souls or did she have three empty jars? 

Chapter Eight
Claudia’s gaze shifted to the other side of the room and she stilled. After a few moments, she looked back at Kellie. “Before we discuss the haunting, you need to know a few facts about the soul collector.”

“Haunting?” Taylor mumbled dropping her muffin onto her plate. “Are you talking about two separate entities?”

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

I've been busy writing the next Kellie Conley book, Lethal Waters, but I haven't shared many bits of the story. I'll share with you a peek at a few sentences from two more chapters. Each week I'll add a bit from two chapters until the book publishes. Look for the book near the end of September.

Chapter Five
Kellie groaned, squinted to see the numbers on her alarm, and reached for the phone.
“Hello,” Kellie bounded out of bed as she listened and answered, “Give me five minutes.”
Max mumbled, “Who was that and what are you doing?”
Kellie, struggling to push her legs into her jeans, said, “It was Taylor. Andrea was attacked on her way into work. Someone tried to strangle her. 

Chapter Six
Kellie caught her uncle’s gaze and took a deep breath. She knew he wouldn’t believe Andrea’s attack was anything but some crazed man terrorizing their town, but if he considered just a fraction of what Andrea said as truth it would turn his world upside down again.

Mike stopped in front of Kellie and stared at her for a moment before he spoke, “I did as I promised. I didn’t yell at Andrea or upset her, but that doesn’t mean I trust all she said as the actual memories of a rational woman. She was traumatized and when the brain is deprived of oxygen for even a few moments, the mind plays tricks.” He stared at Kellie for another minute, nodded, and strode toward the door.

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday


I've been busy writing the next Kellie Conley book, Lethal Waters, but I haven't shared many bits of the story. I'll share with you a peek at a few sentences from two more chapters. Each week I'll add a bit from two chapters until the book publishes. Look for the book near the end of next month.


Chapter Three
Hope spoke, “Mom, you should take a nap today. You know there’s nothing to worry about. Miss Annabelle told Faith and I that we’re safe and so is Aaron.” She smiled at Kellie her blue eyes sparkling with innocence and finished her glass of milk.

Max’s eyes cut to Kellie and then back to Hope. “What about Miss Annabelle? Did you have a dream?”

Chapter Four 
Mike swore as he stormed into the kitchen grabbing a travel mug for his coffee.

“You don’t want breakfast,” Rita asked and turned to look at Mike. “Oh, Lord, not another one.”

Mike nodded and Rita melted into his arms trying to hold back tears.

 “What’s happening, Mike?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.” 

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Full Moon and the Paranormal



What are the effects of a full moon on everyday life and does it affect the paranormal events people experience?



I have a friend who is a nurse and she told me that she finally has enough seniority that she can request any day of the month off. She always takes off the night of the full moon. Working on a medical floor, she treats a variety of illness and some surgical patients. The night of the full moon brings strange occurrences that are not always explained. When she worked in the emergency room, she said they would admit more people who have tried to commit suicide or had some sort of breakdown than any other night. Many people feel more anxious on the night of the full moon. Does this strange phenomenon cross over into the paranormal world?

Many people know believe werewolves are active the night of the full moon. The belief in werewolves has been around for centuries. Is there any truth in this myth? Many believe in werewolves and other things affected by the phases of the moon. Farmers plant some crops according to the phase of the moon.  

Paranormal events are said to occur more often during the full moon phase. Three days before the moon is full, the night of the full moon, and the three days after it is full. This is also the same time span most people who are sensitive to the full moon feel most anxious. Is there a correlation? Do spirits feel the pull of the moon emotionally or are humans more in tune with the spirit world during the moon cycle?

Ghost hunters are more successful during this same seven day period. Since they use electronic equipment to find and monitor ghosts and do not rely completely on visual or sensory experiences, it might be possible to draw the conclusion that spirits are more active during the full moon cycle.
The full moon is also responsible for romantic settings which are not in any way associated with the paranormal. However, it is possible that the same pull of the moon which causes humans and spirits to act out in negative ways may cause lovers to feel a stronger than usual emotional reaction.

Until a ghost hunter or psychic is able to ask a spirit what effect the moon may have on them, we must rely on what little we know. The full moon will always add romance or inject more fear into a story.


Happy reading. 

Image obtained from  freedigitalphotos.net

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

I've been busy writing the next Kellie Conley book, Lethal Waters, but I haven't shared many bits of the story. I'll share with you a peek at a few sentences from the first two chapters. Each week I'll add a bit from two chapters until the book publishes. Look for the book near the end of next month.

Chapter One:
Kellie sat cross-legged on her sofa watching the news report. She felt a tingle run down her spine at the thought of the poor young woman murdered along the jogging trail but didn’t understand why. She didn’t feel any spirit activity near her. It must be the horror of the violent crime that brought on her case of nerves. Kellie jumped when her phone rang beside her.

“Hello, Claudia, how are you?”

Chapter Two:
Before Kellie had a chance to slip into the powder room to splash her face with some cold water, her phone chirped with a text from Claudia.
Chatter is active today. There’s been another death.
Something evil is brewing.
Kellie texted back:
I was afraid of that. Let me know if you learn anything.

I'll add a peek at two chapters each week until publication. If you don't want to miss one, scroll down to near the end of the page and click the blue Follow button. Thanks and I can't tell you how much I appreciate all the kind words and inquiries about when the next Kellie book will be released. God bless. 


Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Graveyards


Graveyards or the more conventional term cemeteries strike fear in many people’s hearts. Perhaps it is from the pain and grief we associate with them. Anyone who has attended the funeral of a loved one will understand how difficult it is.


Ghosts or spirits are said to haunt the places they have a strong connection to or the place of their deaths. If that is true, why do people fear graveyards? Very few, if any, people have died in the actual graveyard and wouldn’t be haunting it. Why then do people claim to see spirits hovering over graves and moving through the graveyards?

It is possible that those brave or foolish enough to enter a graveyard after dark are young people looking for fun. These young people also have strong imaginations. A flash of light from a passing car, a group of others in a far section of the graveyard holding a flashlight, or someone lighting a candle trying to attract a spirit could cause others to believe what they are seeing is an actual spirit. One person sees something strange, screams, and the rest see something, too. What they see most likely is completely different, but they are all sure what they saw was a spirit. The story spreads, more people investigate, become frightened, and the town has a haunted graveyard on their hands.

If you believe in spirits, there might be a reason that a spirit walks the graveyard at night. Some believe that a body separated from its head will never come back to life. To control the evil they believe existed in the person, the head is buried elsewhere. Could a spirit walk the grounds looking for its head? I’m not sure. I have never seen one, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist.

There are stories of people murdered and buried by whoever caused their deaths. If two people were involved, one might kill the second and drop the body in the grave to be hidden forever. Would this spirit return looking for revenge? It might explain the spirit roaming the graveyard at night.

I love graveyards, especially old ones. I love reading the dates of when the person was born and died. Older tombstones sometimes contain how they died or a piece of poetry. Others have a comic remark engraved. The best way to see these is on a bright sunny day. I may enjoy walking through a graveyard, but I am not going at night.

Not only do I want to avoid any spirits that might roam around, it isn’t a safe place to walk. Imagine falling and breaking an ankle. Then you’d spend the night in the graveyard and with my luck, my cell wouldn’t work and I’d be alone speaking to headless spirits in search of their heads.



Happy reading and writing.

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

New Kellie Mystery?

Kellie # 9
Cooper’s Restaurant was quiet at one o’clock that Friday afternoon. Kellie and Taylor were enjoying a cup of coffee and a slice of pie while Kellie’s son, Aaron, did his best to mash cookies into his hair.
Taylor smiled at Aaron and commented, “I remember when Kayla ate like that. Thank goodness she’s outgrown it for the most part.”

Shaking her head, “Kellie answered, “He’s much different than the girls. They were little ladies from the day they were born, and now they’re nearly nine. Where has the time flown, Taylor?”

She took a sip of coffee and looked at Aaron. “I don’t know. It’s hard to believe Aaron’s two, Kayla’s four, and Ethan and your girls have birthdays in a few weeks. At least it’s been quiet since Miss Annabelle’s spirit left and you found the last rose.”

“Thank goodness. I think that last single red rose meant our lives would quiet down and the spirits would leave me alone. Max certainly is happy that I stopped battling evil,” she said and slid the last bite of pie into her mouth.

Six hours later, a jogger found a body dressed in jeans and a pink sweatshirt edged with embroidered red roses. 





Sunday, March 12, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Ten of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets, due out spring 2017.

Have you lost your mind?
That’s all Georgie’s text said. I waited, and she didn’t text again. I think she thinks I’m joking. I’ll give her some time to adjust to the idea of searching Old Lady Hagenbak’s haunted house. 

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Nine of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets, due out spring 2017.

We stopped next to Georgie’s car. She leaned against her car door and suggested, “If the mayor’s family made part of their money from bootleg booze, I don’t think he’d try and hide it. It wasn’t his crime, and he can’t be held responsible for his grandfather’s crimes.”
“True, but it could tarnish his reputation. He might not be re-elected. People have killed for less than saving their reputation. 

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Eight of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets, due out spring 2017.


I removed Yummy from his carrier, and he tore down the hall toward the living room barking his little head off.
“Yummy, no be nice,” I heard Laci call out from the kitchen.
Be nice? Now I know something’s going on.
I walked into the living room to find Laci holding a small ball of pure white fur. “A kitten, you brought a kitten home?"  

Sunday, February 12, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Seven of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets, due out spring 2017.

I hurried upfront and stopped dead in my tracks. A man stood just inside the door. At least I think it’s a man. I kid you not; this man looks like the grim reaper in a suit. Tall, gaunt, pale skin and eyes, gray hair, and a strange smile made me look twice.

“Mrs. Ryan,” the man’s gravelly voice grated my nerves.

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Six of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets due out spring 2017.

“Whistler’s Body Shop is just ahead. Kill the headlights,” I told Georgie as I looked around the empty highway in case there were any other vehicles around.
“Geez, Annie, you sound like a crime movie,” Georgie chuckled again as she killed the lights and pulled into the body shop lot.
“Pull over there between those two cars,” I pointed to her left. “No one will see the car from the road.”

She backed into the parking spot and glanced at me, “It’s faster to escape if I don’t have to back out.”

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Five of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets due out spring 2017. 

“Hi,” Georgie said. “I see it went well with the mayor.”
I groaned and told her about my meeting.
Georgie doubled over laughing until tears ran down her cheeks.
“It wasn’t that funny,” I insisted tapping my foot.
“I would pay money to see the look on the mayor’s face not to mention Phillips. You really tossed the mug out the window and hit his car,” she gasped for air as she tried to talk while laughing. 

Monday, January 9, 2017

Six Sentence Sunday

The following six sentences are from Chapter Four of the third Annie Ryan cozy mystery, Bones, Booze & Bouquets due out spring 2017. 

He turned to look at me doing his best to wipe the grin off his face. “You know, Annie, you may drive the rest of the city council and me crazy at times, but I can’t imagine Heavenly Corners without you. Not to mention, if I make you angry enough you may run against me in the next election.”
I stared at the man believing he did lose his mind.
Phillips added, “That’s not funny, she’d probably win.”
The mayor glared at Phillips and Phillips mumbled, “Well, this town loves Annie.”