3.03.2020

No (Real) Spooks Allowed


In this month’s Insecure Writer’s Support Group post over on my blog, the question of the month is, Do you ever include traditions or customs from your real life family into your writing?

My short answer was no. But I gave my main character my grandmother’s maiden name and physical characteristics. This got me to thinking about my character’s ability to see and speak to ghosts. In her world, it’s a normal occurrence. As easy as breathing. 

But the ghosts Indigo Eady encounter are not any scarier than they would have been in life. They carry on with their afterlives how they lived their mortal lives. The problems come when they carry on in the space which is now occupied by the living. 

In my cozy mystery books, the stories come with a sense of humor and fun. My sleuth, Indigo Eady, along with her ghostly sidekick, Franny Bishop, a former Victorian madam of some repute, solve mysteries that no one else can.

What makes cozy mysteries so enjoyable to read are not the plots, though it’s fun to help the sleuths figure out whodunit. It's the characters and their interactions that keep you reading. 

Franny is always trying to find Indigo a man (because she knows men, which she doesn’t hesitate to remind Indigo of at every turn) before her shelf life is up. Indigo thinks Franny is an interfering old ghost. But make no mistake, these two are besties.

Cozy paranormal mysteries are fun. We laugh at the character's antics. We want to join in the investigation. Perhaps sit down and have a chat with a ghost about what’s in the ether, and what they do for fun. 

But in real life?

I’m pretty sure I’d head for the hills if I ever ran into a real ghost. I believe they exist.
I do believe in spooks. I do believe in spooks. I do! I do! I do! 
The Cowardly Lion, The Wizard of Oz 

I kind of want to see a ghost. In broad daylight. Surrounded by a crowd of people. Holding my husband's hand. 

I don't consider myself a coward...

...but if I saw one in the middle of the night hovering at the foot of my bed, staring at me? Or touching me? You’d hear me screaming from here to the moon.

Have you ever seen a real "live" a ghost?

Would you want to see one? 


14 comments:

  1. What a fantastic plot. I do have a mild obsession with the paranormal. I've experienced some weird things, whether these were actually paranormal, I don't know, but they're unexplainable. And I do go on ghost hunts in the hopes of seeing something :)

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    1. Haha. It's a fascinating world. I'm slightly obsessed too. I just don't want anything following me home. LOL.

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  2. My jury is still out on the paranormal front, but there are PLENTY of things which we cannot explain. I am not at all certain how I would feel if I saw a ghost (and recognised it for what it was). Probably curious which is one of my defining characteristics.

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    1. There is so much that we can't explain! The nature of existence in all its glory. I'm very curious too, I just don't want to be taken by surprise ;)

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  3. I like to write and read about paranormal things and fiction. I have also had some experience that lean me that direction.

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    1. It's a fascinating subject, and most people have a story to tell about strange happenings. As long as it's not "in your face" I'm okay.

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  4. Can't say I've seen a ghost, but it would be cool to see one, so long as it's friendly. :)

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    1. Exactly. Like Casper. And no sneaking up on people. LOL.

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  5. I do believe too! I've never seen one, but I'd like to think I'd be brave and my curiosity would win out over fleeing. I watch so many ghost hunting shows, I think I can handle most anything. A few friends and I are trying to arrange a ghost hunting night. I'm very excited!

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    1. I watch those shows too. Sometimes they're scary, sometimes funny. I've been ghost hunting and had a great time. Didn't find any ghosts, but it was so fun!

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  6. Haha! I've been on a ghost hunt. Here is San Diego we have one of the most haunted places in the nation: the Whaley House. I didn't see a ghost, but someone in our group caught something on camera. It was scary/cool. LoL.

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  7. Hahaaa...I agree about seeing a ghost in the middle of the night. I do believe in ghosts, spirits walking around, day and night. Weird things have happened in my family. Who doesn't like a good ghost story. I also like cozy paranormal mysteries.

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  8. I have seen 2 ghosts. If I hadn't of seen the first, I wouldn't have known what the second was. It wasn't scary, just weird. Both were in the middle of the day. Since they were dark and inky, I think it'd be really hard to see ghosts at night.

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  9. I've felt spirit energy but I've not seen a ghost.

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