The paranormal genre has exploded in the writing market – romance or not. Everywhere you look, vampires, werewolves, shape shifters, oh my! With the growing trend of the nocturnal continuing to climb, readers are becoming savvier in their knowledge of the darker side.
Many “experts” argue that there is a difference between a ghost and a spirit. To some, a ghost is not aware of its existence; that it is mainly residual energy and plays itself over and over in the same spot. A spirit is cognizant of its surroundings and may try to communicate with the living.
What about the popular poltergeist? It has been said that this ornery spirit draws its energy off of the living, especially from those between the ages of twelve and eighteen. For some reason, the fluctuation of hormones in the teenager (which is out of control) is an aphrodisiac to the obnoxious entity. The poltergeist apparently wants attention, but not to cause harm. It just wants to be noticed.
The definition of a haunting varies, but most experts agree that it occurs for no obvious purpose. It does not have to happen in a specific building or area. A haunting can attach itself to a human being, thus “being haunted.” It can last for weeks and suddenly disappear. It can also span for several years, unfortunately. Contrary to popular belief, a cemetery is not the best place to find a ghost or a spirit! Why would they hang out with the dead if they wanted to communicate with the living?
That pesky “orb.” It seems to be the most popular piece of “evidence” in the ghost world. Most experts will tell you that the orb can easily be explained in photos: dust, insects, shaking of the camera or created by a hoax. It is very rare to capture a true “orb” (a ball of energy or unexplained matter), and most paranormal investigators do not take stock in the orb evidence.
One area to steer clear of is demonology. You might be confused, but this is off limits to most people who study the ghost culture. Demonology is a separate category all together. It is the study of demons and those who worship it. It is considered a side of evil, and those who seek it are asking for trouble. This is in the realm of Christianity versus the Devil and it is part of the occult world. This is taboo! Do not mix up the paranormal of the ghost hunting enthusiast with this very malevolent area.
The ghost/spirit genre can be fascinating for readers and it is important to delve into the world of research before randomly inserting it into any romance you are creating. Be careful of internet websites and check your facts thoroughly. Below are some credited links you may find interesting. Halloween is just around the corner, so why not put yourself into the mood of the eerie, the fun and the booootiful world of the ghost! Happy Hauntings and Spooky Writings!
http://www.theshadowlands.net/ (awesome site! 16 years in the running!)
http://www.hauntings.com/ (fun place to visit)
http://www.wichitaparanormal.com/ (Wichita’s very own group)
http://www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/ (known as “TAPS” on the Syfy channel)
http://www.johnzaffis.com/ (although a paranormal expert, he can also define demonology – the movie “A Haunting in Connecticut” was based off of his experience. He also was featured in “A Haunting” on the Discovery Channel and works with several paranormal organizations around the world)
http://www.hauntedkansas.com/
http://kansasghostworks.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.prairieghosts.com/hauntks.html
Many “experts” argue that there is a difference between a ghost and a spirit. To some, a ghost is not aware of its existence; that it is mainly residual energy and plays itself over and over in the same spot. A spirit is cognizant of its surroundings and may try to communicate with the living.
What about the popular poltergeist? It has been said that this ornery spirit draws its energy off of the living, especially from those between the ages of twelve and eighteen. For some reason, the fluctuation of hormones in the teenager (which is out of control) is an aphrodisiac to the obnoxious entity. The poltergeist apparently wants attention, but not to cause harm. It just wants to be noticed.
The definition of a haunting varies, but most experts agree that it occurs for no obvious purpose. It does not have to happen in a specific building or area. A haunting can attach itself to a human being, thus “being haunted.” It can last for weeks and suddenly disappear. It can also span for several years, unfortunately. Contrary to popular belief, a cemetery is not the best place to find a ghost or a spirit! Why would they hang out with the dead if they wanted to communicate with the living?
That pesky “orb.” It seems to be the most popular piece of “evidence” in the ghost world. Most experts will tell you that the orb can easily be explained in photos: dust, insects, shaking of the camera or created by a hoax. It is very rare to capture a true “orb” (a ball of energy or unexplained matter), and most paranormal investigators do not take stock in the orb evidence.
One area to steer clear of is demonology. You might be confused, but this is off limits to most people who study the ghost culture. Demonology is a separate category all together. It is the study of demons and those who worship it. It is considered a side of evil, and those who seek it are asking for trouble. This is in the realm of Christianity versus the Devil and it is part of the occult world. This is taboo! Do not mix up the paranormal of the ghost hunting enthusiast with this very malevolent area.
The ghost/spirit genre can be fascinating for readers and it is important to delve into the world of research before randomly inserting it into any romance you are creating. Be careful of internet websites and check your facts thoroughly. Below are some credited links you may find interesting. Halloween is just around the corner, so why not put yourself into the mood of the eerie, the fun and the booootiful world of the ghost! Happy Hauntings and Spooky Writings!
http://www.theshadowlands.net/ (awesome site! 16 years in the running!)
http://www.hauntings.com/ (fun place to visit)
http://www.wichitaparanormal.com/ (Wichita’s very own group)
http://www.the-atlantic-paranormal-society.com/ (known as “TAPS” on the Syfy channel)
http://www.johnzaffis.com/ (although a paranormal expert, he can also define demonology – the movie “A Haunting in Connecticut” was based off of his experience. He also was featured in “A Haunting” on the Discovery Channel and works with several paranormal organizations around the world)
http://www.hauntedkansas.com/
http://kansasghostworks.homestead.com/index.html
http://www.prairieghosts.com/hauntks.html
5 comments:
Lots of food for thought. Thanks, Tina.
Thanks Theresa, but it doesn't even skim the top! There is so much out there to learn!
Tina,
Lots of good information and links. It's easy to see you're really into this genre. I hope to someday read your work in print.
Did you pick up a copy of Kansas Ghost stories at the Barnes and Noble signing? Sorry, I'm not sure of the title, but I wondered what you thought of it.
Hi Pat! I acutally did pick up the book and I spoke quite a bit with the author. She was very interesting!
I do love this genre and I hope to get my act together to finish my story!
I could have written pages and pages for this blog, but I figured just a teaser would be a good beginning. I will focus on more specifics next time.
Great post, Tina! I can't wait to check out the links and I'm looking forward to your next post.
This subject is fascinating...but I think I probably like it best at a distance. I'd probably wig out if I encountered this first hand.
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