Weird and Scary Wednesday

How creepy and weird. Who would have realistic wild rat bedroom slippers?

Appearances, Book Talks and Signings Through November 6, 2010

Zombie Walk/Funeral at Regal Cinemas New Town 4911 Courthouse Street Williamsburg, Virginia--I'll be at Regal Cinemas with a table, with promo about my books and where I will be signing through 2011. I can't sell any of my books there, but if you have a copy of any of my works, do bring it by and I will sign it for you. For information on the walk, the movie, Zombieland as midnight showing at Regal and more: http://www.zombiewalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3821

Book signing at Twice Told Tales Bookstore Saturday, October 23rd, 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM, 6658 Main Street Gloucester, Virginia 23061 804-693-9209. Books to be signed: Haunted Richmond, Virginia, Haunted Viginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales, and my fiction book, Spectre Nightmares and Visitations.

Talk about paranormal Virginia, plus book signing afterwards at Books Alive Tuesday, October 26th, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Heathville Library 7204 Northumberland Highway Heathsville, Virginia 22473 You may need to register, so call the library at 804-580-5051. Books I am selling: the two ghost books and some copies of Spectre Nightmares and Visitations--only cash and checks, please.

Book signing at Barnes and Noble at Chesterfield Towne Center Thursday, October 28th, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. 11500 Midlothian Turnpike Richmond, Virginia. If can't make it but want a personally signed book, call the bookstore at 804-580-5051. Will be Haunted Richmond, Virginia and Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales only.

Book Talk plus book signing afterwards at Virginia Beach Central Library Saturday, October 30th, 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. 4100 Virginia Beach Blvd. Virginia Beach, Virginia. The event is free, but you may need to register, call the library at 757-385-0150. I will be selling my two ghosts books plus few copies of Spectre Nightmares and Visitations, so only cash and checks, please.

Chesterfield Writers Workshop--Saturday, November 6th 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Held at Meadowdale Library 4301 Meadowdale Blvd. Richmond, Virginia. Library's phone number: 804-318-8778. I'll be on a panel or two, plus selling and signing my books at a table otherwise. If you want to learn about writing, this all-day workshop is $10.00. You may have to sign up for Chesterfield Writers nto be able to register or find out, the link is http://www.meetup.com/chesterfieldwritersclub/calendar/14325043/?from=list&offset=0

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Four Questions Fridays asks about fear.

1. What scares you?

2. When you became afraid, what happens to you?

3. What is the scariest thing that ever happened to you?

4. Do you think being frightened is good for you?

Reading Is Such Scary Fun

Here we are in the middel of October, with Halloween only two weeks away and we are thinking of checking out a scary read at our local library or buy one at the bookstore, or from any of the online retailers.

What is it about this time of the year that we must read something to scare us silly; to give us nightmares at night? After all, horror, dark fantasy and urban fantasy can be read at any time of the year--right?

Is it because of the coolness of the breeze? The leaves changing color? Or the pumpkins for sale at the supermarket or at your local farm? Maybe it's because people are decorating their homes and yards in creepy decor.

Any excuse to be scared to death.

Fear is an emotional response to a preceived threat. It's a basic reaction to a stimulus, such as pain or dangerous threat. Fear is spearate from anxiety, which occurs without external threat. It means to terrify, or to frighten.

Physical reactions from fear are:

Rapid heart rate

Increased blood pressure

Tightening of muscles

Sharpened or redirected senses

Dilation of the pupils

Increased sweating

So why would a person get a scary book when these symptons of fear take over them? For the imagination is the greatest bringer of fear--you read a few pages and suddenly, you thought you saw a shadow in the corner move or heard a sound.

But being frightened is good for you. Just as laughter is. Fear is that rush that brings out the prey in all of us, from our caveman days.

So go ahead. Pick up that book and buy it, or check it out. Read it. You know that shadow didn't more and the sound was the house settling. Nothing more.

Or is it?

WEIRD BUT SCARY WEDNESDAY

This kitty is not a black cat, but he looks scary, or at least, is trying to be. All it did was make me laugh.

Book Talks and Signing October 15th and 16th

I'll be doing two talks and book signings this upcoming weekend. First one will be Friday, October 15th, in Virginia Beach at the Princess Anne Library 1444 Nimmo Parkway. You would need to call them and reserve your spot-757-385-2610--it is free. The event is 6:00 PM to 7:30PM and after the hour talk, I will be selling and signing both ghost books plus some copies of Spectre Nightmares and Visitations.

On Saturday, October 16th, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, I will be giving a possible book talk then signing copies of Haunted Richmond, Virginia, Haunted Virginia: Legends, Myths and True Tales and ficiton anthology, Northern Haunts: 100 Terrifying New England Tales (I have a story included in it) at Barnes and Noble 4600 Commonwealth Centre parkway Midlothian, VA.

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Today's Four Questions Friday asks about pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns.

1. Do you like to eat pumpkin in anything besides pie?

2. What kind of face do you plan to carve in your jack-o-lantern for this Halloween?

3. Do you use real pumpkin or the ones you can buy in craft stores to carve?

4. Real candle or fake one to light up your jack-o-lantern?

Halloween!

It's October, and Halloween is at the end of the month. But I love celebrating it all month long. Don't you?

What is it about? How did it get started? There has to be much more about it then just a reason for candy, scary movies and scary books. After all, my ghost books and horror fiction sell all year long.

It all started with a Celtic festival called Samhain ( pronounced sow in or sow an), and even a Christian one called All Soul's Day (November 1st). Though some folklorists claim that it goes farther back to a Roman feast of Pomona, goddess of seeds and fruits, or even to a festival of the dead, Parentalia. The Celts on Samhain built bonfires on All Hallow's Eve, where they burned animals and crops as sacrifices to Celtic dieties.

The Celts believed that the veil between the mortal world and the spirit world was thinnest on this one day of the year. That spirits, demons, monsters, and other frightful beings, could enter more easily. Harmless ghosts of ancestors were made welcome by family, while those who meant harm to mortals were warded off.

No doubt this was how the wearing of masks and costumes came about. Someone wanted to get home, or go to a friend's or relative's. They would wear a costume and mask looking like a dark spirit, so that they would be left alone. Over time this changed to people wearing costumes going from door to door in medieval times, this called souling. And centuries later, it became children going from door-to-door, trick-or-treating for candy.

Trick-Or-Treat did not come about officially until possibly the late 20s through 40s. Before that there was vandalism done by kids. Adults wanted a way to stop this, so they thought up an idea of children being allowed to trick or treat, earning candy for their bags at each home. To the joy of retailers who sell candy, this has become a tradition since the 50s. Americans spend 6.9 million on candy each Halloween, making it the second largest commercial holiday.

Today, it is more than just a kids' day of fun, even adults have joined in. Why not?

Just beware of when you go out that night. After all, the worlds of the living and the dead are blurred this very day. And that partner you're dancing with just might not be human....or alive!

WEIRD BUT SCARY WEDNESDAY

A punker skull mask? Very weir. . .er, interesting.

I'm Giving Introductoy Comments for The Haunting (1963) at VMFA Friday October 8th

I will be introducing The Haunting (1963) film at Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Friday Films, October 8, 2010 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets $7 (VMFA members $5) The Haunting

Description:

Friday Films: Scary, Funny, or Just Weird? In tribute to the occasion of All Hallows Eve on the last day of this month, perhaps the most cinematic of all holidays, we showcase movies that may give you the creeps or maybe just tickle the funny bones. The Haunting--Turner/MGM, 1963 (not rated, 112 minutes). Starring Julie Harris, Claire Bloom, Richard Johnson. Directed by Robert Wise. A team of parapsychologists attempts to unlock the secret of a haunted house. It soon becomes apparent that the house has targeted one member of the group (Julie Harris) who has a childhood history of supernatural experiences. A barrage of strange and terrifying occurrences ensues.

Special guest Virginia haunted house expert and author Pamela K. Kinney will introduce the film and speak afterwards.

Shown in Reynolds Lecture Hall

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

It's Four Questions Friday and the first day of October, month of Halloween! The questions asks about your reading and viewing taste in scary things.

1. What is the one book that scared you so bad you had nightmares forn months?

2. What scary movie is still hard for you to watch even today?

3. What is the one book you plan to read for Halloween this month?

4. What five scary movies will you be seeing this month (movie theater or DVDs)?

WEIRD BUT SCARY WEDNESDAY

Halloween is on its way. Time for weird and scary pictures for Weird Wednesday. Is is someone been praying on their knees just a little bit too long?

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Four Questions Friday asks about autumn and what you really think of it.

1.It's fall, what do you really think of it?

2. What is the one thing you do when it is fall that you don't do during the other three seasons of the year?

3. What one activity do you like to do always during this time of the year?

4. What is one thing you do not like about autumn?

WEIRD WEDNESDAY

Pickled snake head fish?

Catch My Interview on Red River Writers BlogRadio This Friday Night, Sept. 24th

I'll be doing the Red River Writers Radio Show on Blogradio this Friday, September 24th from 8:00 PM top 10:00 PM. The call in number is (646)595-4478 EST. You can listen at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/rrradio/2010/09/25/the-fire-of-fantasy-and-darkness

Henricus Park's Publick Days

I went yesterday to the first day of Henricus Park's Publick Days in Chester, Virginia. Above as some photos from the event. It was a nice day, in the 80s, making it easy to walk around.

I was there to find out if there were any ghost stories about the place for the nonfiction ghost book, Haunted Richmond II, that I am working on now. One, yes there are, and twom you'll have to wait until the book is finally our to find out what!

Anyway, it was fun, even though my husband had to remain home, being on call for his job with Chesterfield County Utilities. All the smells (yum those cooking fires made me hungry), sights, and sounds (nothing like a blast from a cannon being fired to almost make you go deaf!) You got a taste of all the peoples that been on the land ranged from Powhatans to Citie of Henricus to Civil War. The first hospital in America, Malady Hospital, was up and there was a costumed interpreter to talk about what was used to doctor the Colonists and he had a jumble of bottled medicines of that time on the table by him.

If you are in Virginia in 2010-2011, do stop by this reproduction of the second English settlement in America. Espeically now, as it is the 400th anniversary of the settlement! From the paper I picked up, they plan to have alot of cool activities coming up. Just check their website: http://www.henricus.org/

Henricus Park-s Publick Days

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Today's Four Questions Friday asks about your health.

1. Do you think you're healthy?

2. Do you worry that in the future things can change?

3. Do you feel your doctor is the right one for you?

4. Is there conflicting messages out there about health in your opinion?

Weird Wednesday

Interesting. A shoe zone? I like to know where this is?

Free Shipping When You Order Spectre Nightmares and Visitations

Genre Connections, the webstore for Under the Moon, will have free shipping to anywhere in the U.S. for the next 30 days and $25 flat shipping worldwide. It carries my anthology of my horror/dark fantasy stories, Spectre Nightmares and Visitations in print, besides as an eBook. Find the papwerback copy at http://www.genreconnections.com/shop/index.php?p=product&id=453&parent=110

Four Questions Friday

Four Questions Friday asks about birthdays, since mine is tomorrow.

1. What is your opinion on birthdays?

2. How do you celebrate yours normally?

3. What was your most favorite gift you ever received?

4. What would be the coolest way to celebrate a birthday?

Weird Wednesday

A toilet that's a fish tank too? Just what we all need in our bathroom.

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Today's asks about Labor Day Weekend.

1. What does Labor Day mean?

2. What do you plan to do this weekend?

3. What did it mean to you as a kid?

4. What does it mean to you as an adult?

Thursday Thirteen-Paranormal

My thirteen on the paranormal. Comment what I don't have and your thirteen in the comments.

1. Ghost

2. Ghost Box

2. Drowsing rods

4. EVPs

5. Spirit

6. Haunting

7. Investigation

8. Legend

9. Haunted House

10.Angel

11.Demon

12.Possession

13.EMF Meter

Weird Wednesday

Is this the house the crooked man lived in? Makes me dizzy looking at it.

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Today's Four Questions Friday takes us into the realm of fairytales.

1. What fairytales was or is your favorite?

2. Of all the fairytales you've read, which one might be akin to werewolf myths?

3. Can you name a fairy from a fairytale?

4. What fairytale scared you (gave you nightmares)?

WEIRD WEDNESDAY

Today's Weird Wednesday photo is peeping tom goats. Actually ingenious of the threesome.

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

It's back and that is not a threat. Four Questions Friday asks about if you're ready for summer to be over.

1. Are you ready for fall to be here?

2. What is the one thing you hated most about this summer?

3. The one thing you'll miss about summer when it's done?

4. What fall activity are you looking forward to?

WEIRD WEDNESDAY

Would you dare sit in this chair? Looks like an alien from "Alien" movies.

Investigation at Ferry Plantation

The photos come from the paranormal investigation at Ferry Plantation, Saturday, August 14th, 2010.

Besides the orbs (some really big), I captured pictures of shadows. One of these shadows was between Belinda Nash and a person filming her as she told about a couple of the women spirits that haunt the house. I had Belinda and the woman with the camcorder stand in their positions again, but they did not make a shadow between them and neither did any of us in the room.

I haven't had a chance to listen to my recordings yet, so can't say if gotten anything. But in one photo, Patty Ceran is the woman holding what is called a 'ghost box' and we were asking who was out by the tennis court and the tree slaves had been hung from. Someone named Creed was who was communicating with us. Whoever he was, he followed us into the house and communicated all night, especially by Patty's box and EMF meter. He was definitely not any of the named ghosts that Belinda knew of in the house.

At the end of the night, there were four of us in the gift shop upstairs and we'd had gotten the ghost boy, Eric, then a male voice came on, saying, "Get Out!" twice. After the second get out, my chair that I sat in by the register began to shake like a mini earthquake was happening. It freaked me out and yet no on else had anything happen to them, and I knew it wasn't them, for they were still. Was it the ghost who told us to get out, that shook my chair violently? Anyway, after that we did the room across the hall, then it was 5:05 a.m. and we went downstairs to pack up and go home.

Most of the night was quieter than it was last summer when I did the house with CVPIPR. But they had things going on Friday the 13th, with a seance and all, then 70 bikers invading the house on a Hampton Roads Haunted Homes tour. I figured they were tired of all the people, hence why so quiet and why we got that "Get out!" at the end of the investigation.

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

It's all about the weather today!


1. What is your favorite season of the year?

2. Do you enjoy thunderstorms?

3. Hot and muggy or hot and dry?

4. Which would you prefer to go through: hurricane or tornado?

WEIRD WEDNESDAY

Looks like her heel is in the front. Very odd.

Hanover Book Festival Saturday, August 7th

I'll be selling and signing my books (both the Pamela K. Kinney ones and some written by me under the pseudonym, Sapphire Phelan--(this includes a copies copies of CDs with the erotic urban fantasy, Being Familiar With a Witch on them, that won 3rd place in the novella category of the PRISM AWARDS 2010 last weekend at Romance Writers of America Nationals) at the Hanover Book Festival 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be held at the Liberty Christian School gymnasium at 8094 Liberty Circle in Mechanicsville 23111. Fopr more information what will be going on that day, check out the festival's website at HanoverBookFestival.


SEE YOU THERE!

FOUR QUESTIONS FRIDAY

Today's Four Questions Fridays asks where do you get your books and eBooks.

1. Where do you buy your print books the most?

2. Where do you buy eBooks the most?

3. Have you ever went to a book festival or fair to meet authors and buy their books to get signed?

4. Have you ever tried convention or conferences to get your books and get them signed by the authors?

Weird Wednesday

Not as much weird, as very cool. See the fireworks and how it is reflected in the water below. From the 2008 Olympics, I gather.