It's that time of year again. The nights are much darker and thoughts are turning to Hallowe'en in a few days time. If you enjoy reading ghost or horror stories why not visit Alfie Dog Fiction where there are plenty to choose from? Some of these appear in an anthology of ghost stories entitled The Day Death Wore Boots. I have three ghost stories published on the site:
- The Journey Home - On the way to their cottage after a busy working week in London, Sophie and Tom give a lift to a teenage girl. Why is she out alone on a cold night, dressed in a flimsy dress? Why are they so uneasy when they drop her off at her home?
- Unfinished Business - Kathy will never settle until she finds her cat, Monty. She ventures out of the house in the dark and in atrocious weather to look for him. But will she be able to face her fears as she nears the end of the street and enter the place she dreads?
- Rock-a Bye Baby ( included in the anthology) - Ali and Ben are awaiting the birth of their first child. The baby’s bedroom in Rock Cottage is freshly decorated and everything is ready. Mums-to-be are supposed to be excited, aren’t they? So why did Ali feel so uneasy? Was it just over-tiredness like Ben said?
You may find them to download HERE.
For the next Writers' Group meeting, we have been asked to write something entitled 'The Room in the Pub'. You've guessed it - the new venue is a room in a pub so it's very topical! I've decided to make it a ghost story and am grateful to Honno author, Juliet Greenwood, for posting this link on her Facebook page. 14 Welsh Ghost Stories That Will Send a Chill Down Your Spine
What better way to get inspiration for a story than to read accounts of 'real' stories of ghosts that have been handed down through generations. Many of the stories involve haunted goings on in pubs where poor souls have met their Maker in unfortunate circumstances. According to author and historian, James Moore, more than two hundred and fifty inns and taverns across Britain are linked to gruesome tales of murder. His book 'Murder at the Inn: a History of Crime in Britain's Pubs and Hotels' links pubs that can still be found today with 'captivating and sometimes horrifying tales from their past.'
So far, my ghost stories have been quite gentle where the ghost can't move on until something has been resolved but perhaps after reading these I may be able to come up with a story that's more terrifying or spine-chilling. Will I have the courage to walk up the stairs to the meeting room in the old pub and read out what I've written? ...Aaaarrrrgggghhh!
Do you believe in ghosts? Do you know of an incident which doesn't have a rational explanation? What inspiration have you had for writing a ghost story? Please share your thoughts by leaving a comment. Thank you for reading.
You may also follow me on Twitter @JanBayLit and on my Jan Baynham Writer Facebook page.
I enjoy writing ghost stories. Not sure if I believe in ghosts or not, but certainly there are spooky things which can't easily be explained away - maybe they're a form of memory or stored energy.
ReplyDeleteLike you, Patsy, I'm not sure. There are certainly spooky things that happen and without a rational explanation. I do find the stories that are handed down about haunted buildings fascinating. Thanks for commenting. :-)
DeleteI believe in ghosts, Jan. Someone walks up our stairs at ten to two every night. We're all used to it by now. Also my Sister and I worked in an old hotel, where we heard a horse and carriage rattling past our window. Yet outside was a walled courtyard. It wasn't until the morning we realised that we must have heard a ghostly carriage. The owner of the hotel told us later he's researched that a bride on her wedding day had fallen from a coach.... oh, spooky...... yikes, I'm scared now.
ReplyDeleteOh my word, Sue. Is your house very old and with lots of previous owners? I love the story about the hotel and the poor bride. Thank you for popping by to leave a comment. :-)
DeleteI've never written a ghost story, but I used to love reading them. My all-time favourite is "The Confession of Charles Linkworth" by E F Benson (who wrote the Mapp & Lucia books), which I used to read regularly and it scared me silly every time. I haven't read it in years and now I'd be reluctant to, in case it didn't have the same effect.
ReplyDeleteI think the beauty of ghost stories is that they can cover such a wide range of emotions. As you say, they can be gentle and sad while at the other end of the spectrum they can be downright bone-chilling. What a perfect blog for Hallowe'en week!
Thank you for your comments, Sue. I've only written a few ghost stories but like to read stories where there's a hint of unexplained happenings or the suggestion of a spooky presence. As for TV, I enjoyed - if that's the right word - 'The Secret of Crickley Hall', the BBC adaptation of James Herbert's novel with Suranne Jones and Tom Ellis. Now that was frightening!
DeleteVery interested on reading the post and the comments here as People's Friend are now accepting ghost stories. Thanks for the links, Jan.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Keith. It's good to know that People's Friend are now accepting ghost stories as I understand they didn't used to, did they? Thank you for reading and commenting on the blog.
DeleteNot sure about ghosts, but I do believe in the power of human imagination. My husband and I once stayed overnight with friends who were renting an old cottage. In the morning, they asked if we'd had a good night's sleep and seemed surprised when we said that we had. They then told us that a previous occupant had hung himself in the room that we'd slept in. Our friends hadn't discovered this until after they'd moved in, but they avoided going into that room as much as possible because it felt 'creepy' and they often heard unexplained noises coming from in there - especially at night. When my husband and I went to collect our bags from the room we, too, suddenly noticed a strange atmosphere and couldn't get out fast enough! But I wonder if we would have had the same feelings if we hadn't been told the story?
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda. That's so spooky. I don't think I would forgive the friends who put me in a room they wouldn't go in themselves! I do agree with you that human imagination is a very powerful thing. Thank you for popping by to comment and tell us the story.
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