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| Our family's cabin. Photo taken by my Tween. |
Do you believe
in the supernatural? Ghostly visitors from another realm? What scares you? It’s
amazing the small occurrences that build up into a full-blown encounter.
A cuckoo clock.
A light that turns on automatically. A door that slams shut. All minor
incidents alone. Combined, the effect can be frightening.
My husband’s
family owns a cabin in the mountains of Big Bear, which also partially served
as inspiration for the story mentioned below. First, let me mention I’m not a
nature lover. I tend to be allergic to the great outdoors. Oh, I love the idea
of being away, in a cabin, but it doesn’t actually work out as ideally for me.
Add to that a
haunted cabin and the experience grows even more uncomfortable. (Oh, I know you
want to visit now.) The cabin isn’t exactly isolated, but empty lots surround
all sides, so we’re not right up against others.
Over the last
six years, we’ve lost both of my in-laws, and while we’ve inherited the family
cabin, we’ve also inherited visitors. Upstairs, above my father-in-law’s
favorite chair, is a light that changes intensity with a touch to the
lampshade. It will be turned completely off, and when we get back home, it’s on.
Since my
mother-in-law passed away, the cuckoo clock, which was one of her favorites, is
always off. My husband says that it “needs
attention.” Sometimes it runs slow, and sometimes it’s fast. And as I’m writing
this post, the one in our house passed down just chimed in an off moment.
(Spooky!)
Finally, there’s
the upstairs bedroom door that likes to slam shut by itself. We now sleep in
the master bedroom. Well, that is when I am brave enough. Above my side of the
bed is a hanging train mobile my daughter made with my mother-in-law and I
swear that thing moves in the dark. In the mountains, with the windows open,
one would think no big deal for the door to slam, right? Well, this one is held
open with an old iron. Somehow, the iron gets moved aside, and the door shuts.
Every fricking
time the BAM makes me jump! It’s
especially lovely when I’m in residence alone.
Gentle reminders
of loved ones gone? Fodder for a writer’s overactive imagination? Oh yes. What
are your thoughts?
Haunted Hotties, Vol. 2
Edited by Jaymi
Lynn
With stories
by McKay, Rob Rosen, Dakota Caudill, Elizabeth Coldwell, Jessica Payseur,
Jessica Chase, Louisa Bacio, Charles Payseur, Helena Maeve, Avery Dawes.
This Halloween
collection has a little something for everybody. With demons, ghosts, psychics,
reapers, shifters, and witches... a rainbow of paranormal/supernatural is
included.
In Everything
a Big Bad Wolf Could Want by McKay, Whimsy has to decide if he's in love
with his straight, next-door neighbor by Halloween or risk losing him forever.
In Casper the Horny Ghost by Rob Rosen, Chris not only inherited a
long-abandoned house, he also inherited the ghost that came with it. In Necromantic by
Dakota Caudill, Kaitlyn's always felt like she was waiting for something, but
she never expected her new girlfriend to be able to raise the dead.
In The Man
in Green by Elizabeth Coldwell, Richard intends to cut down all the trees
surrounding his new property, but the man in the woods has other ideas.
In Haunts Old and New by Jessica Payseur, Rosalie doesn't like the
new ghost that's in her house and yet, she can't seem to stay away from her.
In The Fisher Lot by Jessica Chase, it turns out being dared to spend
the night in the local "haunted house" might be the best thing that's
ever happened to Barney.
In Open by Louisa
Bacio, Martina keeps trying to pretend that everything is fine, but the ghosts
in her new B&B are just as determined to get her attention. In A Friendly Ghostbusting by
Charles Payseur, an old rival who once humiliated him is not what Cas needs as
he sets out to explore an old psychiatric prison. In Darkling by
Helena Maeve, Eugene tried to warn Caleb and his friends away from Ledwich
University and soon enough they'll learn... they really should have listened.
In The Devil's in the Details by Avery Dawes, since they died during the
Civil War, Oliver and Francis get one night a year together; but they have to
be careful or they'll never get another one.
Available now
via Torquere Press, AllRomance and Amazon.
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| Halloween Goody Bag (blanket beneath not included). |
Contest:
Halloween Goody Bag – including a Jack & Sally magnet, which I’d rather not
part with, and Hello Kitty mints. Winner will be chosen from comments at
random, on the evening of Nov. 1.
Tell me:
Something you enjoy about Halloween or this season? A ghost story … your
favorite candy? Leave a comment, and a valid email address, to be entered.
Mailing is for U.S. only.
Make sure to check
out Bobbi Romans stop from yesterday, https://bobbiromans.wordpress.com/2015/10/27/13-days-of-halloween-my-day-squee/
and tomorrow, visit Monica Corwin http://www.monicacorwin.com/?zx=6f0ffa2c253c1a32
Happy hauntings!
Louisa Bacio
