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!

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!

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?”

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.

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.” 

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

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. 

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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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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?"  

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.

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.”

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. 

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.” 

Halloween

Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31^st of each year. Adults and children wear costumes and go trick or treating. Costumes range from the most popular fairy princess of the current year to frightening creatures no one would want to meet in a dark or well-lit alley. Children ask for candy at each door with the familiar yell of “trick or treat” and then invariably eat too much candy on their trek home. It is also a holiday that writers love to add to frightening stories. Why?

Many towns now have their trick or treat celebrations at night. Darkness adds to the story’s eeriness. The idea of everyone wearing a costume including the maniac who lives down the street or a traveling serial killer sets a creepy scene with little backstory needed. The serial killer dons nondescript jeans and a dark sweatshirt. He slips on a scary rubber mask and mingles with the very people he wants to kill. He is anonymous, and others may even enjoy his costume or antics. That is until he chases them with a large butcher knife.

Using Halloween as a backdrop for a story adds a layer to the story before the first words are written. Graveyards and abandoned houses take on a special, scary air about them on Halloween. If ghosts do not walk the grounds every night, they are sure to be there on Halloween. The reader will feel the fear of the holiday before the addition of whatever the writer wants to add. If the writer starts with the idea of something evil happening on Halloween night, the reader is ready to turn on all the lights before the end of page one.

It is what a writer strives for, to hook the reader from the first sentence or paragraph. Horrific tales can and have been woven around other holidays, but it is fun to start with one that carries fear in its name.

Another approach is to start with a sweet Halloween story and then turn it into a paranormal or horror story. Going back to the serial killer who blends in so well with the neighbors. Perhaps he is dressed as a clown and entertaining the kids and adults alike. When one of the young moms disappear from the party without a trace, everyone may point a finger at the clown who has also disappeared. However, no one can describe him/her except for approximate height or weight. 

The beginning of a frightening mystery is set.

Working the holiday into a story is a fun way to add that additional layer sometimes needed to grab the attention of your reader. Try it with different holidays. A clown at Halloween, Santa at a Christmas party, an Easter bunny during an Easter egg hunt, or a villain dressed as a turkey at a community Thanksgiving dinner can strike fear into the reader. Want to add a touch of paranormal? Make your costumed villain a ghost. It works every time.

  

Happy Writing.

Image obtained from: Freedigitalphotos.net

A Tale Well Travelled

A Tale Well

 Travelled

Multiple Genre, Interactive Book

Which Path Will You Choose?

Presented By

Susan Horsnell, Kathleen Kelly,

Cherry Shephard, Dzintra Sullivan

and Margaret Tanner

BLURB

When young archaeology student, Mitchell, discovers some unusual items, while digging up a paddock, he believes it could be a major find.

.

Following his instinct Mitchell risks his job and refuses to dig any further until Professor Phinneus Groves, the most respected archaeologist from the university gives him the all clear.

Will the find be significant?

What tale do they have to tell?

YOU now sit at the crossroads, YOU are in control, YOU have five unique tales to follow.

Which way will you go?

Which path will you choose?

 AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

AMAZON AU

AMAZON CA

B&N, KOBO, IBOOKS

EXCERPT

A Tale Well Travelled

Chapter One

Two more hours and I can get off the damn front loader and go for a beer. Digging dirt for a new housing development is as boring as hell and, after ten straight days

I’ve had a gut full. One more year and I’ll have my Archaeology degree and yep, I’ll still be digging the stuff but it will be a hell of a lot more interesting. Instead of moving dirt from one place to another to add to the never ending concrete jungle, I’ll be moving it to uncover the past.

A flash of white in the long grass catches my eye and I shut off the machine. You can never be too careful on neglected sites where the undergrowth can be as high as three or more feet. It could be an animal, a child hiding from its parents or nothing more than a pile of stones. Whatever it is needs to be checked out. I could never forgive myself if I injured someone.

I jump down from the loader and stride through the grass which waves around me in the wind. I stand six feet four inches tall and the grass reaches my hips. Glimpsing the flash of white again, I warily approach. Pushing the vegetation aside, I find what appears to be a rock formation but it’s not natural. It’s shaped like a small pillar, around a foot high and two inches in diameter. My gut tells me it has been placed here for some specific purpose.

My curiosity is peaked and I crouch down to get a closer look. The rock of the pillar is smooth, weathered white, almost like marble. As the grass is blown by the wind, other pillars are revealed. I stand and examine each one. They are all identical, around the same height and arranged in a semi-circle. I’m intrigued. This is something my professor at University would be interested in having a look at. Pulling my phone from my back pocket, I punch the button for his direct number and wait for his answer.

“Professor, Phinneus Groves.”

“Professor, it’s Mitchell Symons.”

“Mitchell, what can I do for you?”

“As you know, I work a front loader for Dry River Construction Company during my breaks from University and I have uncovered something I think may interest you. It may be nothing, but my gut tells me it could be something of significance.”

“Hmmm, what is it you have found?”

“I was working at clearing the plot out by the old Dry River crossing, the one at the top of the hill that looks out over the river. I’ve found six stone pillars arranged in a semicircle. They’re all around the same height, weathered white and I think they were placed here a long time ago.”

“Are you there now?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll meet you in twenty minutes.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Symons, what the fuck are you doing?”

Patrick Johnson, my boss, is standing over me as I crouch down having a closer look while waiting for the professor.

“I found these pillars and I think they could be archeologically important. I’ve called my professor from the university.”

Patrick crouches beside me and pushes the grass to one side. “Looks like a bunch of rocks to me. Get on with the job.”

“No, sir. This needs to be investigated. It could have important historical relevance and I will not destroy them until we know for sure.”

“I’ll take it out of your pay and if this land isn’t cleared by tomorrow evening, consider yourself out of work.” Patrick pushes to his feet and storms off. I will not miss that asshole when I finally quit.

I return to examining one of the pillars. I note small indentations and scrape marks and take photos with my phone. I hope this is a finding of some note, it will be disappointing if it proves to be nothing more than some quirk of Mother Nature.

TRAILER

Click Here

CREDITS

Trailer: Maci Dillon

Cover: Dzintra Sullivan

Teasers: Dzintra Sullivan and Cherry Shephard

Beginning Chapters, Formatting and Published by: Susan Horsnell

Promotion: Cherie Cam from LLEP

PATHWAYS

Contemporary

Are the stones hold a secret from Mitchell's past?

Paranormal/Wiccan

Does the necklace might hold some magical secret?

M/C

Are the pillars are connected to the Dry River MC?

Historical

Are the stones could be cursed?

Western/ Native American Indian

Does the strange arrangement of stones have something to do with Native American Indians in the days of the Old West?

 The choice of where to begin is now yours. When one pathway has been read, visit another.

One book.

One Beginning.

Five completely different stories to solve the mystery of the arrangement of stones.

Which story will you believe?

Which story will be your favourite?

TEASERS