Blog Archives
My story “Where There’s Smoke” soon to appear in THE HAUNTED TRAVELER
I’m not sure that the true cause of the fire was ever discovered. This is interesting — and it has a direct connection to my story even though I’ve never seen this headline before I posted this–I swear!
My short story “Where There’s Smoke” will appear in a forthcoming issue of The Haunted Traveler: A Roaming Anthology. The first half of the story takes place on the premises of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, which survives today on Greene Street in New York City (my brother lives near there). There is definitely a special brand of chilling silence in that area–at least for me. In fact, here’s an interesting article about the building’s current state: https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/22/triangle-fire-the-building-survives/?_r=0
If you’re not familiar with the tragedy, this Cornell University website is a good place to start: http://trianglefire.ilr.cornell.edu/story/introduction.html
The Haunted Traveler publishes twice a year. You can find out more about it here. To check out past issues: Vol. 1, Issue 2; Vol. 2 Issue 1.
P.R.O.F. INTERVIEW POSTED!
Paranormal Researchers of Fredericton (Canada) recently interviewed me for a feature on their website! If you’d like to read the interview—about, of course, ghost stories, things that go bump in the night and a few odds and ends and advice about the writing life, visit http://paranormal-researchers.com/?p=453.
Interested in paranormal research or better yet are you up in the Frederictonarea? Be sure to check out P.R.O.F.! http://paranormal-researchers.com/
GhoStory Guru: “The Day Ghost” by David Huddle
Ever wonder what goes on in your house when you’re not home? David Huddle’s main character in “The Day Ghost” does—just like the rest of us—and what’s haunting his second floor turns out to be the last thing he expected.
“The Day Ghost” is an unusual ghost story, and that’s what sets it apart. It certainly isn’t your typical chain-rattling chill-fest set in a creepy castle; instead, it’s set in every day modern environments—and what’s haunting David isn’t that much different from what haunts many of us every day. That’s what makes it disturbing: the very same thing could happen to you at any time. For that, I have to place it on my “Genius” list.
You can find “The Day Ghost” in Ghost Writing: Haunted Tales by Contemporary Writers, edited by Richard Weingarten, here: http://amzn.com/096796833X
GhoStory Guru: “Doors” by Pamela Painter
Looking to downsize? After reading Pamela Painter’s “Doors,” you might upsize instead.
“Doors” is a fine example of what extremely subtle ratcheting of tension can do: the situation seems normal. Then it’s normal but curious. Then it’s normal but slightly off…and so on. By the time the reader realizes what’s happening, it’s way too late to put it down—although the story’s subject and content are completely different, the way it was built reminded me of “A Rose for Emily”—and after I’d finished the last line, I felt that same “void.”
While many ghost stories ratchet tension well, I find this extreme subtlety not very common among the modern pieces, so for that reason, “Doors” is a must-own.
You can find “Doors” in Ghost Writing: Haunted Tales by Contemporary Writers, edited by Richard Weingarten, here: http://amzn.com/096796833X
