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.