HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Haunted Virginia Nominated for 13th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards
My book, Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales was nominated for the nonfiction category for 13th Annual Library of Virginia Literary Awards! Got the letter from them yesterday to let me know.
WEIRD WEDNESDAY
To some this may not be weird, but this is an Egyptian house. Not your typical house you might live in.
Friday, December 25, 2009
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM PAMELA K. KINNEY
Dawn came in colors of red, green and gold,
The deer pranced out of hiding
While squirrels, rabbits and even a bear cub tumbled about,
Christmas had come once again.
Then a hush filled the glen,
As something wonderful stepped out
A Unicorn,
Its spiral horn of gold glinting in the sunlight.
Magic enveloped them in a thin bubble,
Glowing, sparkling, and incredible
Predator laid next to their prey,
All would be friends that special day.
Magic ruled them,
Calmed all with a gentle hand
Christmas swirled in their hearts,
Wondrous to behold.
The deer pranced out of hiding
While squirrels, rabbits and even a bear cub tumbled about,
Christmas had come once again.
Then a hush filled the glen,
As something wonderful stepped out
A Unicorn,
Its spiral horn of gold glinting in the sunlight.
Magic enveloped them in a thin bubble,
Glowing, sparkling, and incredible
Predator laid next to their prey,
All would be friends that special day.
Magic ruled them,
Calmed all with a gentle hand
Christmas swirled in their hearts,
Wondrous to behold.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Christmas Can Be Scary--Krumpus
Christmas myths and legends are more than Santa Claus with his reindeer or eleves making toys in his workshop. It actually has a lot of scary stories attached to it. Ghost stories are told at this time of year, as often as at Halloween. Remember The Christmas Carol by Dickens? It is dark and scary, with ghosts in it. Other terrifying myths and legends are connected to the holiday also. After all, Christmas has its roots in pagan and Roman and Winter Solstice.
One of these scary myths is about Krampus. In many regions of the world, it is believed that St. Nicholas (another name for Santa Claus)had a companion that traveled with him. This creature was Krampus, though another like him was Black Peter, or Zarte Piet/Zwarte Piet. Black Peter is more a being associated with the Netherlands. Black Peter most likely due to Muslims--hence the dark skin.
But Krumpus, isn't like a man, dark or otherwise. He has horns, goat hair, claws, maybe even hooves--an incubus-like thing. He accompanies St. Nicholas during Christmas to warn and punish bad children, while St. Nicholas gives the good children gifts. Krumpus is sort of like black coal given to naughty kids, except coals can't scare you. Images of Krumpus have him carrying a basket on his back to carry away bad children and toss them into Hell itself.
The word, Krumpus, originates from the Old High german word for claw (Krampen).There is a tradition where young men dressed up in sheep skin, wooden masks amd horns. Much effort goes into the making of these hand-crafted masks. For the first two weeks, especially December 5th, these young men roam the streets, frightening children and women with rusty bells and chains. In more rural areas, some even carry out "birching", mostly on young girls.
Next time you cosy up on the couch before the fireplace with a cup of hot cocoa and watch a Christmas movie like "A Christmas Story" remember to make sure the door and windows are locked tight and be sure to stay good. For Krumpus may come a-knocking at your door.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Four Questions Friday
Four Questions Friday is here. Time to answer the questions all about this time of year. And next Friday, there will be no Four Questions Friday, due to it being Christmas.
1. What was your most favorite Christmas memory?
2. What traditions do you follow? (Christmas, Pagan, Hanakkuh, Kwanza)
3. Do you think Christmas is too commercialized?
4. Who or what is your favorite Christmas character?
1. What was your most favorite Christmas memory?
2. What traditions do you follow? (Christmas, Pagan, Hanakkuh, Kwanza)
3. Do you think Christmas is too commercialized?
4. Who or what is your favorite Christmas character?
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Four Questions Friday
Four Questions Friday. Do answer the questions.
1. Do you think ghosts freeze during the winter?
2. What is one thing you like to do with snow?
3. What is the one thing you hate doing with snow?
4. Have you ever tried to do a paranormal investigation during the winter time?
1. Do you think ghosts freeze during the winter?
2. What is one thing you like to do with snow?
3. What is the one thing you hate doing with snow?
4. Have you ever tried to do a paranormal investigation during the winter time?
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Blog Tour Stop for Danielle Rama Hoffman & Her Book, The Temples of Light
Today, I am honored to have author Danielle Rama Hoffman as she stops on her blog tour for her book, The Temples of Light. Welcome her, and check out about her book.
About The Temples of Light (summary):A guide to the open-heart wisdom and secret rites of passage of thirteen sacred temples in Egypt• Provides information on how to thrive as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age• Offers guided meditations and rituals that connect to the ancient power of the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar, the Ka, the energy body, and more• Includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey to the Sphinx and to The Temples of LightThe Temples of Light guides the reader, as the initiate, on a spiritual journey through thirteen of Egypt’s sacred temples--a journey into the sanctuary of the open heart. Each sacred site is a portal to ancient wisdom that can assist the modern-day pilgrim with everyday life issues and struggles--love, purpose, money, and health--and the deeper questions of enlightenment and our divine origin.Danielle Rama Hoffman opens up sacred rites of passage that historically have been kept secret to forge a relationship with the temples of Egypt as allies and spirit guides. For example, the temple of Sakkara is associated with abundance; the temple of Abydos with remembering. The initiations in this book awaken intuition and the Sahu--the fully realized self--allowing connections to the power, magic, and wisdom of such sacred symbols as the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar (the backbone of Osiris), the Ka, and the energy body. Hoffman’s guided meditations, rituals, and exercises also raise the reader’s vibration level, as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age. Embodying the wisdom of the open heart of these temples imparts a shift in consciousness from fear to bliss, from powerlessness to empowerment, opening the body, mind, and spirit to the infinite possibilities within. The book also includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey of the Sphinx.
Excerpt from Sakkara - Sacred Symbology - Your Birthright of Abundance:Sakkara, located some fifteen miles south of Cairo, is the necropolis, or burial ground, of Memphis. The temple complex of Sakkara is grand in scale, and its known use spans from early dynastic to Christian times.1 This necropolis, or “city of the dead,” is best known for being home to the oldest pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid, believed to have been built for King Djoser by the architect Imhotep (see plate 3). More remains have withstood the test of time at Sakkara than at Memphis, including multiple pyramids in various states of ruin. One of particular interest is the underground burial chamber of Unas’s pyramid, where the earliest version of the Pyramid Texts was found. “The Pyramid Texts, the most ancient body of literature known, were inscribed on the walls of pyramids and pharaonic tombs during the fifth and sixth dynasties. . . . They were supplications to the gods that a man might achieve unity with the deities in heaven.”The Pyramid TextsVersions of the Pyramid Texts were included in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which Egyptians referred to as The Book of Coming forth by Day. Perhaps this reference to coming forth by day comes from the symbolic translation of the ancient Egyptian roots of the word pyramid. World renowned Egyptologist Emil Shaker explains it as follows: pr means “go forth,” mit means “road,” and ra is “the sun” or “light.” So the whole word can be interpreted as “go forth into the light.” Many of the utterances in the Pyramid Texts describe the process of the soul becoming the awakened Osiris. Shaker goes on to explain that one translation is “the flesh becomes the star.” The constellation of Orion represents Osiris—the human becomes the awakened Osiris.A common Egyptological interpretation of these texts is that they were part of the funerary rites and believed to aid the deceased in unifying with the Divine in Heaven. However, the initiatory aspect of these mystery school rites, as enacted by the living to attain enlightenment, has historically been kept secret. Jeremy Naydler, in Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts: The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt, suspends the funerary presupposition of the texts and explores the phenomenological implication of the Pyramid Texts: “The aim is to allow, as far as possible, the texts to speak for themselves . . . the rituals themselves were designed to accompany and to promote certain experiences. It is in these inner experiences that the meaning of the texts resides.In the second journey of mystery school initiation at Sakkara, you will experience the Pyramid Texts as a rite of passage, one which symbolically represents your process of renewal, of becoming the awakened Osiris, of uniting with your divine self. This process of going toward the light, of moving from the dismembered self, or darkness, to light and unifying with the Divine describes the journey of enlightenment. This process of elevation, or ascension, also involves the descension of the constellation Orion/Osiris to become the divine human, for it is essential that the expansion occur in both directions. This spiral pathway of expansion is one of ascension and descension: as above, so below; as within, so without.You will receive the gift of symbology at Sakkara in the underground chamber of the pyramid of King Teti. The ceiling of this chamber is pyramid shaped, and hieroglyphs on the wall comprise the Pyramid Texts (see plates 4, 5, and 6). Five-pointed stars on the ceiling symbolically represent human beings; if you were to extend your arms up and your legs out, you would look like a five-pointed star. In this initiation you work with your pituitary gland, where the nectar of the Divine resides, as well as your spinal column, where the cerebrospinal fluid rises and falls in response to the heavenly and earthly flow of chi.The second initiation at Sakkara is an important step on the ladder of consciousness into the open heart because it awakens your subtle senses and enables you to understand the synchronicities and symbols of your life. This helps you to make decisions and utilize the intrinsic wisdom in your life, including the power of hieroglyphs and sacred geometry…Your life is overflowing with symbols, and as you awaken your gift of symbology you will be able to let your life be your message, following the guidance that is inherent in its textures, patterns, and symbols. Sakkara is the perfect place to awaken your gift of symbology because the oldest version of the Pyramid Texts was found there, and it was also the place where the ancient initiates came to lift the veils, to awaken psychic awareness.Drawing ExerciseDrawing the Pyramid TextsDraw or copy the Pyramid Texts over and over again to spark your awakening. Direct the energy from your heart to move down through your arm and hand to guide your pen. Breathe deeply during this process and allow your focus to be light, even dreamy, as you create a personal connection with the Pyramid Texts (refer back to plate 6 for a close-up image of Pyramid Text symbols).Sakkara is a very deep and rich temple complex, and it would be beneficial to repeat the initiations several times. Every time you work with Sakkara, you are able to tap in to a deeper level of connection and a different facet of the broad band of energy available here.
Danielle Rama Hoffman’s Bio: Danielle Rama Hoffman is a spiritual teacher, author, energy intuitive and ancient wisdom keeper. Her passion is to transmit innovative and ancient wisdoms that inspire personal growth and elevate consciousness. Her areas of expertise include moving into and living from the Aquarian age of the open heart, initiatory rites and passages from ancient Egypt and manifesting health, wealth and happiness.Danielle is a conduit of infinite intelligence and divine transmissions that create a quantum field ofinfinite possibility. Since 1994 she has shared her expertise in the areas of metaphysics, the healing arts, energy medicine, massage therapy, counseling and the Egyptian Mysteries to assist 1000’s of people to enhance their quality of life. Danielle provides high vibrational wisdom and cutting edge practical tools that uplift consciousness and inspire you to lead your best life.EDUCATION2001 Member of a Lineage of Thoth2000 Certified Alchemical Healing Practitioner/Teacher through Nicki Scully1999 Kundalini Yoga Instructor1998 Flower Remedy Practitioner1996 Reiki Master1994 Massage Therapist1991 BA in Psychology & Women’s Studies/Counseling Practice
We are extending the bonus offer for one more day -- Temples of Light by Danielle Rama Hoffman, is being offered, along with $3000 in bonus gifts, beginning on December 8th at 12:01 am. We invite you to visit - www.thetemplesoflight.com/promotion and then click on the “order” link, order the book on Amazon and return to the promotional page. Enter your name and email address to reach the bonus page. The bonuses are not available until December 8th.
About The Temples of Light (summary):A guide to the open-heart wisdom and secret rites of passage of thirteen sacred temples in Egypt• Provides information on how to thrive as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age• Offers guided meditations and rituals that connect to the ancient power of the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar, the Ka, the energy body, and more• Includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey to the Sphinx and to The Temples of LightThe Temples of Light guides the reader, as the initiate, on a spiritual journey through thirteen of Egypt’s sacred temples--a journey into the sanctuary of the open heart. Each sacred site is a portal to ancient wisdom that can assist the modern-day pilgrim with everyday life issues and struggles--love, purpose, money, and health--and the deeper questions of enlightenment and our divine origin.Danielle Rama Hoffman opens up sacred rites of passage that historically have been kept secret to forge a relationship with the temples of Egypt as allies and spirit guides. For example, the temple of Sakkara is associated with abundance; the temple of Abydos with remembering. The initiations in this book awaken intuition and the Sahu--the fully realized self--allowing connections to the power, magic, and wisdom of such sacred symbols as the Flower of Life, the Djed Pillar (the backbone of Osiris), the Ka, and the energy body. Hoffman’s guided meditations, rituals, and exercises also raise the reader’s vibration level, as we move from the Piscean to the Aquarian age. Embodying the wisdom of the open heart of these temples imparts a shift in consciousness from fear to bliss, from powerlessness to empowerment, opening the body, mind, and spirit to the infinite possibilities within. The book also includes a 60-minute CD of a guided journey of the Sphinx.
Excerpt from Sakkara - Sacred Symbology - Your Birthright of Abundance:Sakkara, located some fifteen miles south of Cairo, is the necropolis, or burial ground, of Memphis. The temple complex of Sakkara is grand in scale, and its known use spans from early dynastic to Christian times.1 This necropolis, or “city of the dead,” is best known for being home to the oldest pyramid in Egypt, the Step Pyramid, believed to have been built for King Djoser by the architect Imhotep (see plate 3). More remains have withstood the test of time at Sakkara than at Memphis, including multiple pyramids in various states of ruin. One of particular interest is the underground burial chamber of Unas’s pyramid, where the earliest version of the Pyramid Texts was found. “The Pyramid Texts, the most ancient body of literature known, were inscribed on the walls of pyramids and pharaonic tombs during the fifth and sixth dynasties. . . . They were supplications to the gods that a man might achieve unity with the deities in heaven.”The Pyramid TextsVersions of the Pyramid Texts were included in the Egyptian Book of the Dead, which Egyptians referred to as The Book of Coming forth by Day. Perhaps this reference to coming forth by day comes from the symbolic translation of the ancient Egyptian roots of the word pyramid. World renowned Egyptologist Emil Shaker explains it as follows: pr means “go forth,” mit means “road,” and ra is “the sun” or “light.” So the whole word can be interpreted as “go forth into the light.” Many of the utterances in the Pyramid Texts describe the process of the soul becoming the awakened Osiris. Shaker goes on to explain that one translation is “the flesh becomes the star.” The constellation of Orion represents Osiris—the human becomes the awakened Osiris.A common Egyptological interpretation of these texts is that they were part of the funerary rites and believed to aid the deceased in unifying with the Divine in Heaven. However, the initiatory aspect of these mystery school rites, as enacted by the living to attain enlightenment, has historically been kept secret. Jeremy Naydler, in Shamanic Wisdom in the Pyramid Texts: The Mystical Tradition of Ancient Egypt, suspends the funerary presupposition of the texts and explores the phenomenological implication of the Pyramid Texts: “The aim is to allow, as far as possible, the texts to speak for themselves . . . the rituals themselves were designed to accompany and to promote certain experiences. It is in these inner experiences that the meaning of the texts resides.In the second journey of mystery school initiation at Sakkara, you will experience the Pyramid Texts as a rite of passage, one which symbolically represents your process of renewal, of becoming the awakened Osiris, of uniting with your divine self. This process of going toward the light, of moving from the dismembered self, or darkness, to light and unifying with the Divine describes the journey of enlightenment. This process of elevation, or ascension, also involves the descension of the constellation Orion/Osiris to become the divine human, for it is essential that the expansion occur in both directions. This spiral pathway of expansion is one of ascension and descension: as above, so below; as within, so without.You will receive the gift of symbology at Sakkara in the underground chamber of the pyramid of King Teti. The ceiling of this chamber is pyramid shaped, and hieroglyphs on the wall comprise the Pyramid Texts (see plates 4, 5, and 6). Five-pointed stars on the ceiling symbolically represent human beings; if you were to extend your arms up and your legs out, you would look like a five-pointed star. In this initiation you work with your pituitary gland, where the nectar of the Divine resides, as well as your spinal column, where the cerebrospinal fluid rises and falls in response to the heavenly and earthly flow of chi.The second initiation at Sakkara is an important step on the ladder of consciousness into the open heart because it awakens your subtle senses and enables you to understand the synchronicities and symbols of your life. This helps you to make decisions and utilize the intrinsic wisdom in your life, including the power of hieroglyphs and sacred geometry…Your life is overflowing with symbols, and as you awaken your gift of symbology you will be able to let your life be your message, following the guidance that is inherent in its textures, patterns, and symbols. Sakkara is the perfect place to awaken your gift of symbology because the oldest version of the Pyramid Texts was found there, and it was also the place where the ancient initiates came to lift the veils, to awaken psychic awareness.Drawing ExerciseDrawing the Pyramid TextsDraw or copy the Pyramid Texts over and over again to spark your awakening. Direct the energy from your heart to move down through your arm and hand to guide your pen. Breathe deeply during this process and allow your focus to be light, even dreamy, as you create a personal connection with the Pyramid Texts (refer back to plate 6 for a close-up image of Pyramid Text symbols).Sakkara is a very deep and rich temple complex, and it would be beneficial to repeat the initiations several times. Every time you work with Sakkara, you are able to tap in to a deeper level of connection and a different facet of the broad band of energy available here.
Danielle Rama Hoffman’s Bio: Danielle Rama Hoffman is a spiritual teacher, author, energy intuitive and ancient wisdom keeper. Her passion is to transmit innovative and ancient wisdoms that inspire personal growth and elevate consciousness. Her areas of expertise include moving into and living from the Aquarian age of the open heart, initiatory rites and passages from ancient Egypt and manifesting health, wealth and happiness.Danielle is a conduit of infinite intelligence and divine transmissions that create a quantum field ofinfinite possibility. Since 1994 she has shared her expertise in the areas of metaphysics, the healing arts, energy medicine, massage therapy, counseling and the Egyptian Mysteries to assist 1000’s of people to enhance their quality of life. Danielle provides high vibrational wisdom and cutting edge practical tools that uplift consciousness and inspire you to lead your best life.EDUCATION2001 Member of a Lineage of Thoth2000 Certified Alchemical Healing Practitioner/Teacher through Nicki Scully1999 Kundalini Yoga Instructor1998 Flower Remedy Practitioner1996 Reiki Master1994 Massage Therapist1991 BA in Psychology & Women’s Studies/Counseling Practice
We are extending the bonus offer for one more day -- Temples of Light by Danielle Rama Hoffman, is being offered, along with $3000 in bonus gifts, beginning on December 8th at 12:01 am. We invite you to visit - www.thetemplesoflight.com/promotion and then click on the “order” link, order the book on Amazon and return to the promotional page. Enter your name and email address to reach the bonus page. The bonuses are not available until December 8th.
Weird Wednesday
Since I am a Star Wars fan, I think this is kinda weird for a Christmas picture. I mean, the dark Lord and ho, ho, ho?
Friday, December 04, 2009
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
Four Questions Friday is here! Time to answer the questions.
1. They're threatening snow here in Virginia: do you like snow?
2. Would you like to see snow for Christmas?
3. Have you ever made a snowman?
4. Your most favorite thing to do with snow is_________?
1. They're threatening snow here in Virginia: do you like snow?
2. Would you like to see snow for Christmas?
3. Have you ever made a snowman?
4. Your most favorite thing to do with snow is_________?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Weird Wednesday
Today's Weird Wednesday picture starts the Christmas season with a bizarre Christmas decoration. Someone took a skull of a cow or maybe even a camel, and did something strange. What do you think?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Obsession With NaNoWritMo
Well, it's done and over with. No, not Thanksgiving!
I am talking about Nanowritmo. What is it? It's where many people hopefully write a minimum of 55,000 words for a novel, durng November.
Mine was not the original one I started (but will finish this month), but another, an erotic urban fantasy.It has a title: Obsession. Whether, if accepted anywhere, it keeps that title, is another thing. It's dark and erotic, and has a werewolf hero and a human heroine. It has a werewolf villianess and a human villian. And the hero is obsessed with the heroine--hence the title. Due to the erotic content it will be by my pseudonym, Sapphire Phelan.
I mentioned to another author the other day, asking why Nanowrit is during November. At the end of the month is Thanksgiving and the approach of Christmas shopping--unfortunate real world things that can block a writer from her/his appointed goal. The first year I did this I finished. After that, I had manuscripts due, making it hard. The holidays didn't help, either. But this year, I finished beyond my expectations.
Now onto finishing it to be 80,000 to 90,000 words, then editing. But my obsession with Obsession is done--least for Nanowritmo. Just not for the rest.For writers who have not attempted this, do so. If nothing else, it will teach you to work toward a deadline, something you will have to do with publishers. And if you don't want to wait until Nanowritmo 2010, then in January start your own private Nanowritmo. After all, what is in January to stop your obsession?
For information on Nanowritmo, here is the website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/
I am talking about Nanowritmo. What is it? It's where many people hopefully write a minimum of 55,000 words for a novel, durng November.
Mine was not the original one I started (but will finish this month), but another, an erotic urban fantasy.It has a title: Obsession. Whether, if accepted anywhere, it keeps that title, is another thing. It's dark and erotic, and has a werewolf hero and a human heroine. It has a werewolf villianess and a human villian. And the hero is obsessed with the heroine--hence the title. Due to the erotic content it will be by my pseudonym, Sapphire Phelan.
I mentioned to another author the other day, asking why Nanowrit is during November. At the end of the month is Thanksgiving and the approach of Christmas shopping--unfortunate real world things that can block a writer from her/his appointed goal. The first year I did this I finished. After that, I had manuscripts due, making it hard. The holidays didn't help, either. But this year, I finished beyond my expectations.
Now onto finishing it to be 80,000 to 90,000 words, then editing. But my obsession with Obsession is done--least for Nanowritmo. Just not for the rest.For writers who have not attempted this, do so. If nothing else, it will teach you to work toward a deadline, something you will have to do with publishers. And if you don't want to wait until Nanowritmo 2010, then in January start your own private Nanowritmo. After all, what is in January to stop your obsession?
For information on Nanowritmo, here is the website: http://www.nanowrimo.org/
Thursday, November 26, 2009
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
It's Four Questions Friday. This was put up on Thursday as I will be out on Black Friday Christmas shopping. I wanted to get them out. Please leave your answers in the comments for others to read.
1. When you think of Black Friday, what do you think of?
2. Are you going to do your Christmas shopping by online or in actual stores?
3. Are you planning to give books for gifts?
4. What book do you want most for Christmas and why?
1. When you think of Black Friday, what do you think of?
2. Are you going to do your Christmas shopping by online or in actual stores?
3. Are you planning to give books for gifts?
4. What book do you want most for Christmas and why?
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
It's that time of the week. No, Thanksgiving is a few more days. I'm talking about Four Questions Friday. Get ready to answer the questions by leaving your answers in the comments.
1. For Americans: Do you enjoy Thanksgiving? Other Countries: Does your country celebrate a Thanksgiving?
2. When you hear the word turkey what do you think of?
3. Do you like stuffing?
4. What is your favorite dessert?
1. For Americans: Do you enjoy Thanksgiving? Other Countries: Does your country celebrate a Thanksgiving?
2. When you hear the word turkey what do you think of?
3. Do you like stuffing?
4. What is your favorite dessert?
Thursday, November 19, 2009
My Review of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters Available at Innsmouth Free Press
My review of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is available at Innsmouth Free Press: http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com/?p=3121
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Another Radio Interview for me on The Reading Circle 6AM EST Nov. 14th
I'll be doing the THE READING CIRCLE with Marc Medley on WP88.7 FM at about 6:10am to maybe to 7am tomorrow morning Eastern. www.wpradio887.org
The radio show will be streamlined on the website--so you can hear it live then.
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
Today is Four Questions Friday with querstions on ghosts and more. Please leave your answers in the comments.
1. Do you believe in ghosts?
2. Have you ever seen a ghost?
3. Have you always had paranormal experiences?
4. Have you ever done paranormal investigating?
1. Do you believe in ghosts?
2. Have you ever seen a ghost?
3. Have you always had paranormal experiences?
4. Have you ever done paranormal investigating?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Weird Wednesday
Following last week's "unique" home, here's another weird house. Just looking at it makes me dizzy, never mind trying to live in it!
Saturday, November 07, 2009
National Bookstore Day Today-Celebrate!
Today is the first observance of National Bookstore Day, the Publishers Weekly-sponsored holiday designed to draw attention to the nation's independent bookstores. More than 140 independent stores are participating, according to PW, the journal of record for book publishing and bookselling. The new holiday will always fall on the first Saturday in November.
PW's goal is to draw new customers to independents, but National Bookstore Day is also a time to reflect on the diverse roles that bookstores play in our society. Like Simple Pleasures Books and Gifts in Ashland, Virginia: www.simplepleasuresbooksandgifts.com When you shop at an indie bookstore, you shop local. That's means your money goes back into the community you live in.
Nor is this day confined to independent bookstores. Chains, like Barnes and Noble, offer a safe place for kids to hang out and can also function as study halls where high school and college students can find a quiet place to do their homework. Our economic crisis has closed many branch libraries or restricted their hours and bookstores are a quiet place to study and read, whether chain or independent.
Books make great gifts. Go to your favorite bookstore this Saturday and buy someone a gift in commemoration of National Bookstore Day.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Four Questions Friday
Today’s Four Questions Friday asks about books and what genres you read. With a chill in the air here today where I live and National Bookstore day coming November 7th, this is a good subject to talk about. The current book I am reading is Vampire A Go-Go by Victor Gischler. It’s pretty good so far.
1. What genres do you read?
2. When you down or depressed, do books give you comfort?
3. Name the best book you ever read?
4. Where do you buy most of your books: an independent bookstore, a chain bookstore or online?
1. What genres do you read?
2. When you down or depressed, do books give you comfort?
3. Name the best book you ever read?
4. Where do you buy most of your books: an independent bookstore, a chain bookstore or online?
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Weird Wednesday
The first Weird Wednesday picture of November 2009 is an unusual house like out of a nursery rhyme. Now where is the widow with all those children?
Monday, November 02, 2009
New Review for Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales
There's a review for Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales up at Innsmouth Free Press: http://www.innsmouthfreepress.com/?p=3094
Saturday, October 31, 2009
A Chapter from Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales: The Freaky Legends of Old House Woods
Today is Halloween. I decided, instead of writing about how Halloween came to be as I had done in the past, I would just post an excerpt from my new nonfiction ghost book, Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales. Enjoy it, and have a spooky Halloween. And if you don't have the book yet, you can find it at AMAZON or Barnes and Noble or any other bookstore, incluing your local independent bookstore. If not in the place, they can order it for you through Baker and Taylor. To find an indie bookstore near you: http://www.indiebound.org/
ISBN: 978-0-7643-3281-4 256 Pages
Virginia is unique with haunting myths, legends, and yes, even true stories that may sound like legends. Take a ghostly tour of this historic state to learn about the Bunnyman urban legend and what happens to mortals at his Bunnyman Bridge in Clifton at midnight on Halloween. Discover the myths that surround Edgar Allan Poe and other famous Virginians. See why Natural Bridge is actually a haunted tourist attraction; and what makes the Great Dismal Swamp so creepy: Is it the ghosts or Bigfoot? Meet the Witch of Pungo in Virginia Beach. Find out that Mothman and the Jersey Devil weren't just seen in their own states, but actually visited Virginia at one time. Read about witches, demons, monsters, ghosts, pirates, strange animals, and Civil War legends. Visit an amazing, frightening, and even intriguing Virginia that you never knew existed.
Enjoy this chapter--don't let the ghostly tales frighten you. But wait! It's Halloween, so yeah, be scared, very scared.
The Freaky Legends of Old House Woods—Mathews
For 200 years, legends have been passed down about this area near the Chesapeake Bay—Old House Woods, also known as Old Haunted Woods.
It is fifty acres of pine woods and marshland near the tiny crossroads town of Diggs in Mathews County, northeast of Gloucester. The name, Old House Woods, took it from a large frame house, once known as the Fannie Knight house. It had a wood-covered plaster chimney and stood in the middle of the woods. Abandoned and falling into disrepair, it became known simply as “Old House.” It is said that pirates have been seen burying their gold on the property.
A ghost ship is seen hovering over the woods. There’s a legend told of British soldiers hiding Colonial treasure during the Revolutionary War here. They say skeletons in shining armor roam the woods as they wield their threatening swords. Ghost horses and cows appear and disappear before your eyes. There is even a story of a spirit that walks out of the water, dressed maybe in worn pirate clothing. Then, a Spanish Galleon rises out of the water with men leaping from it to the ground. Sounds of digging and the clanking of shovels fill the air. There are tales of two black headless dogs seen running through the woods.
All of these and more have been reported at different times of the year. There is even a rumor of a witch in a long nightgown who gives off a green light as she flies through the trees. Her long, fair hair streams behind her as her figure rises over the tops of the pine trees, and she wails loud, warning watermen and fishermen to take cover from a storm that suddenly whips up.
There are three reasons why these stories circulate about the woods. One concerns a legend that the crew of a pirate ship came ashore in the seventeenth century to bury their treasure of ill-gotten gains. The story goes on to say they perished in a storm at sea. To this day, it may be the spirits of those pirates who can be heard and seen searching for their treasure.
Another tale about the pirates had been written in the Richmond Times-Dispatch in 1973. The article said that Blackbeard himself intercepted the treasure, murdering the men. And that the men still haunt the woods, stopping anyone who dares to walk on the land.
Second possibility occurred in the second portion of the seventeenth century. Defeated at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, Charles II of England wanted to come to Virginia. To prepare for his trip, they sailed chests of money, plate, and jewels to the colony. The ship never reached Jamestown but sailed up the Chesapeake Bay and anchored off the mouth of White’s Creek, near Old House Woods. The Royalists offloaded the treasure to be hidden, but a gang of renegade indentured servants attacked and murdered them. The murdering thieves only took a portion of the loot in their haste to escape. They planned to return later for the rest. But a sudden storm struck the area and their ship was capsized, all hands lost.
The last story supposedly happened in late 1781, before Cornwallis’ troops were defeated at Yorktown. Two British officers and four soldiers had been entrusted with a large amount of money and treasure. These six slipped through enemy lines to head north. Not finding the British ship they had hoped to find, they buried the treasure in Old House Woods before they were found and killed by a unit of American cavalry.
No matter the stories of what makes the woods haunted, there have been those who have had experiences. Like Jesse Hudgins, who told what happened to him to the Baltimore Sun newspaper in the 1920s. The man ran a store in Mathews County back then. It seemed that he hitched his horse, Tom, to a buggy one October night when a neighbor with a very ill child came by, asking for him to get a doctor. He headed to town.
As he came upon Old House Woods, he spied, about fifty yards away, a light bobbing along the road in the same direction as he. His horse became frightened, but Hudgins got it to move forward as he wanted to find out what the light was. He had seen lights on the road at night before, but those were shining lanterns carried by men. This light seemed strange and unearthly, unlike those. When he caught up with the light, he saw a large man in armor, a gun over his shoulder with the muzzle like a fish horn. Not one sound did this stranger make and he seemed to be floating, not walking normally.
Scared, his horse stopped, not budging an inch more and Hudgins felt fear envelope him, too. The figure turned around to face him andn just then, the woods came alive with lights and moving forms about a hundred yards away from him. Some of the others carried weapons like the figure in front of him, while others had shovels of the kind he never seen before and using them to dig beneath one dead pine tree.
Hudgins noticed then that the man in front of him actually was a skeleton! The armor seemed like glass and he could see every bone underneath it. Illuminated, the skull gave him a horrible grin. Raising a sword, it stalked Hudgins.
Hudgins lost it and fainted. His horse bolted, and the next morning his family found it cowering in the barn. They found him on the road, like he had fallen asleep. For months after, and until the day Tom Hudgins died, he could never get that horse anywhere near the woods and the animal would always tremble and cower if he tried to force the issue.
Years later, there was an account in another newspaper about some young man whose vehicle had tire trouble one night near the woods.
Kneeling on the road to get the old tire off, a voice behind him said, “Is this the King’s highway? I’ve lost my ship.” When the youth turned around and looked up, he saw with horror, a skeleton in armor. Screaming, he ran like a person pursued by demons and did not come back for the car until the next day.
The ghostly ship itself has brought some sightings. Like the time in 1926, when one fisherman, Ben Ferbee, in his boat had been fishing on a star-filled night. He noticed a full-rigged ship in the bay, and was puzzled by it as such ships were pretty scarce in those days. It began moving, heading his way with lights in every masthead and spar, and he grew scared. He thought they would run him down and he shouted at the sailors by the rails, but they ignored him. The ship passed by his boat, swamped by the water. Making no noise except for the most beautiful harp and organ music ever heard, it rose out of the water and up to the Bay Shore Road, the keel about twenty feet from the ground. He knew then it was a ghost ship! He pulled up anchor and aimed for home. As he left, he saw a ladder drop down from the ship and men with tools and other contraptions skittering down it to the ground. Not long after, he and his family moved from the cursed area.
Another sighting of the sailing ship is attributed to a fourteen-year old boy from Mathews County. He and a buddy took a boat from the Mathews Yacht Club over to the Moon post office. Just after sunset, a mist shimmered over the water. A half mile from the mouth of Billups Creek, they came upon the ship. It floated over the marsh and for another hundred yards, then dissipated.
Harry Forrest, a farmer-fisherman, also saw the ship. Before his death in the 1950s, Forrest saw armies of marching Redcoats, the “Storm Woman” and heard her wailings, and many times, his mother and he saw the lights in the woods. He had been fishing one day when right in broad daylight a full-rigged sailing ship came straight at him. He rowed to shore and watched as it lifted and sailed straight for Old House Woods.
He also saw it another time, this time at night with his friends, Tom and Jack Diggs, as they passed through the woods.
Another story involved a farmer’s wife who went to bring home their two work horses and drove them to the barn. At the gate, she called out to her husband to open it. He came out of the barn to tell her he had already put the horses in the stable two hours before. She turned to look at the horses and found two headless black dogs loping toward the Old House Woods. For years, there have numerous reports of headless cattle roaming the woods.
For centuries, stories and rumors of people and animal disappearances in the woods have been told. Like Lock Owens and Pidge Morgan a hundred and fifty-eight years before. Both had been driving their steer back from cattle auction, Lock’s little black dog with them. They, and everything with them, vanished. Cattle would wander into the woods and never come back out again.
They say these animals would head for Old Cow Hole. One day, Old Cow Hole is filled with water, the next day it is dry as a bone. There are rumors of times when the woods have had a bad storm and a person has gotten soaking wet, then upon coming out of the woods, is perfectly dry.
And there’s Tom Pipkin who decided to search for the buried treasure in 1880. He took his boat on some channel—rumor said pirates had used it—going toward Old Cow Hole, never to be seen again. They found his boat, two gold coins of unknown age, and a battered silver cup, the items covered with mud. One coin bore a Roman head and letters “IVVS” on it. Feeling that it had been cursed, no one took Pipkin’s boat and it was
let to rot away on nearby Gwynn’s Island.
Had the ghosts taken him, maybe drowned him, for daring to search for their buried loot? Whatever the truth is behind this story and all the weird tales, there is one warning repeated time and time again. People vanished into those woods, never to return.
If you get close to where the pirate treasure is hidden, you will never get out of those woods—ever!
Friday, October 30, 2009
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
Four Questions Friday is here again, just in time for Halloween. Do leave your answers in the comments.
1. What are your plans for Halloween?
2. What was your most favorite costume ever (as child or adult)?
3. What kind of candy do you like?
4. Ghost or witch?
1. What are your plans for Halloween?
2. What was your most favorite costume ever (as child or adult)?
3. What kind of candy do you like?
4. Ghost or witch?
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I'll Be On The Radio and On TV October 30th
I'll be on the Richmond's Morning News with Jimmy Barrett on 1140 WRVA Radio Friday, October 30th at 8:05am. I'll be talking about ghosts, of course, just in time for Halloween.
Then that night at 7pm EST, I'll be on VCU Insight, talking about the ghostly stories of Richmond and Virginia. It was taped at Hollywood Cemetery last week. You can see it on WCVW-TV PBS Richmond: Ch. 24 Comcast and Verizon FiOS, Ch. 57 DirecTV, and over the air digital 44.1.It will also air at 7pm on Sunday, November 1st. For those not in Richmond, it will be afterwards on the PBS website, I think at http://video.pbs.org
Then that night at 7pm EST, I'll be on VCU Insight, talking about the ghostly stories of Richmond and Virginia. It was taped at Hollywood Cemetery last week. You can see it on WCVW-TV PBS Richmond: Ch. 24 Comcast and Verizon FiOS, Ch. 57 DirecTV, and over the air digital 44.1.It will also air at 7pm on Sunday, November 1st. For those not in Richmond, it will be afterwards on the PBS website, I think at http://video.pbs.org
Weird But Scary Wednesday
Okay, maybe it's not scary, but it's a part of our Halloween decorations/display in our front yard. Happy Halloween, everybody. Next week, it's back to the weird stuff.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
My Talks/Book Signings This Halloween Week
I'll be talking about the ghostly legends of Virginia and signing both of my nonfiction ghost books, Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales and Haunted Richmond, Virginia at a library and these bookstores Halloween week:
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 6pm to 8pm at Ghost Storytelling and Paranormal Virginia (with book signing afterwards) at McKenney/Central Petersburg Public Library 137 S. Sycamore Street Petersburg, VA. 23803(804) 733-2387 (you must call 804-733-2387 or email dsmith@ppls.org to reserve a seat.)
Thursday, October 29, 2009 Noon to 4pm at The College of William & Mary Bookstore 345 Duke of Gloucester Street Williamsburg, VA 23185 757-253-4900
Friday, October 30, 2009 6pm to 8pm at Barnes and Noble at Chesterfield Towne Center 11500 Midlothian Turnpike Space 440, Richmond, VA.
Halloween, October 31, 2009 1pm to 4pm at Simple Pleasures Books and Gifts 10180 Lakeridge Parkway Northcross Center Suite 104 Ashland,Va. 23005 Store Phone: 804-368-7736. http://simplepleasuresbooksandgifts.com (Come to this signing, buy one of my signed books and be entered to win a bowl full of Halloween goodies and a $25 Simple Pleasures gift certificate, too)
(I'll be sharing the signing with Kathy Seaman, author of "The Secrets of Cooley Lake."
Catch My Radio Interivew on Girfriend We Gotta Talk Today at 3PM!
My interview is this afternoon on the Halloween edition of "Girlfriend We Gotta Talk"at 3-3:30pm on WLEE 990AM. If you're not in the area but want to listen, do so at http://www.wlee990.am/welcome.htm For who can't listen to it today, you can listen to it after the live show at http://www.girlfriendwegottatalk.com/
I'll be talking about Haunted Richmond, Virginia and Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
A Day in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia
Bill took the day off as vacation and drove me to Colonial Williamsburg. This time to tour th Peyton-Randolph House, most haunted house in Colonial Williamsburg. or so says the ghost tour we took back in August.
All I will tell you is something did happen to me and I got a couple of pictures. No more, as this will go in my next book. So, I guess you'll have to wait until the book is written, published, and out in bookstores to read what that is.
The last picture is the back of the Randolph House. Above it is the film crew that the three groups that toured the house had to rush through as they were going to film something there for a commercial. I plan to go back and take the last tour of the day and see what happens then.
The other photos are of Colonial Williamsburg and Public Hospital (the Dewitt Museum part, which is beneath it). Also take a gander at the first photo--read the sign. That was in the hospital, by the stairs going down to the other part. LOL
Anyway, it was a nice day in the 70s, but crowded. We found out it was William and Mary Homecoming Week. But I hope it is that crowded in the College of William and Mary Barnes and Noble bookstore when I do my book signing Thursday, October 29th.
And if you do live in the area, do come by if you can. The signing will be from Noon to 4pm at 345 Duke of Gloucester Street in Merchants Square. If ned to find out more information, the bookstore's phone number is 757-253-4900.
Friday, October 23, 2009
FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY
Here are four questions for you to answer. Leave your answers in the comments. Thanks.
1. What book would you recommend for someone to read for October or Halloween?
2. What kid's book did you read as a child that frightened you the most?
3. Name your top five favorite horror or paranoral books.
4. What is your favorite nonfiction ghost book?
1. What book would you recommend for someone to read for October or Halloween?
2. What kid's book did you read as a child that frightened you the most?
3. Name your top five favorite horror or paranoral books.
4. What is your favorite nonfiction ghost book?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Scary Films for Halloween
It's that time of year again--Halloween. Where you purposely read scary books and watch scary films in the theater or on DVD.
I'm going to post here some films that I know of. If anyone else has some I don't have posted, please do leave the names in the comments. This way, others can go out and rent or buy them to watch on Halloween or up to that day.
Trick R Treat (just came out on DVD--I bought it and enjoyed it)
The Haunting (1963--forget the remake, this one is like the book, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson)
Alien
John Carpenter's The Thing
Dog Soldiers
The Wolfman (the remake is coming to theaters so, so watch the original from the 1940s)
Ghost Breakers
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (who says we can't laugh and be scared?)
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Frankenstein (1930) and Bride of Frankenstein (1931)
Dracula (1931-Bela Lugosi-my fave)
Ghost Ship
30 Days of Night
Lady in White
American Werewolf in London (there's the sequel, American Werewolf in Paris--okay, but not up to snuff like the first one)
The Howling and The Howling II (forget the rest of the sequels-yuck!)
Wolf
Ginger Snaps and Ginger Snaps II
Cat People (both the 1940s one and the 80s one)
Dunwich Horror
The Descent
Shaun of the Dead (since ZombieLand is out-humor/horror about zombies, try the Brit humor one)
Fright Night and Fright Night II
Young Frankenstein
Nightmare Before Christmas (good to view for Christmas, too)
Beetlejuice
Let the Right One In
The Hunger
Near Dark
Moon of the Wolf
The Mad Monster
Silver Bullet
Salem's Lot
It (a mini series, but hey!)
Bad Moon
DarkWolf
Big bad Wolf
Werewolf of London
The Mummy (Boris Karloff--30s)
The Mummy and The Mummy Returns (Brandon Frazier--more adventure than horror, but fun)
Van Helsing (not scary, but fun)
Blood and Chocolate
Mad Monster Party
Mimic
I know there's more, but this will be it for me. Now for those others with suggestions, leave them in the comments.
And have a frightening Halloween!
I'm going to post here some films that I know of. If anyone else has some I don't have posted, please do leave the names in the comments. This way, others can go out and rent or buy them to watch on Halloween or up to that day.
Trick R Treat (just came out on DVD--I bought it and enjoyed it)
The Haunting (1963--forget the remake, this one is like the book, The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson)
Alien
John Carpenter's The Thing
Dog Soldiers
The Wolfman (the remake is coming to theaters so, so watch the original from the 1940s)
Ghost Breakers
The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (who says we can't laugh and be scared?)
Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein
Frankenstein (1930) and Bride of Frankenstein (1931)
Dracula (1931-Bela Lugosi-my fave)
Ghost Ship
30 Days of Night
Lady in White
American Werewolf in London (there's the sequel, American Werewolf in Paris--okay, but not up to snuff like the first one)
The Howling and The Howling II (forget the rest of the sequels-yuck!)
Wolf
Ginger Snaps and Ginger Snaps II
Cat People (both the 1940s one and the 80s one)
Dunwich Horror
The Descent
Shaun of the Dead (since ZombieLand is out-humor/horror about zombies, try the Brit humor one)
Fright Night and Fright Night II
Young Frankenstein
Nightmare Before Christmas (good to view for Christmas, too)
Beetlejuice
Let the Right One In
The Hunger
Near Dark
Moon of the Wolf
The Mad Monster
Silver Bullet
Salem's Lot
It (a mini series, but hey!)
Bad Moon
DarkWolf
Big bad Wolf
Werewolf of London
The Mummy (Boris Karloff--30s)
The Mummy and The Mummy Returns (Brandon Frazier--more adventure than horror, but fun)
Van Helsing (not scary, but fun)
Blood and Chocolate
Mad Monster Party
Mimic
I know there's more, but this will be it for me. Now for those others with suggestions, leave them in the comments.
And have a frightening Halloween!