The Fire Is Lit: Tales from the Hearth Is Now Published
Greetings, Darklings:
Today’s post is all about a brand-new anthology release titled Tales from the Hearth, published by Twisted Dreams Press. I am very excited because one of my short stories is included in this anthology, along with wonderful stories by many other talented authors.
When Baynam Books Press closed its doors, Twisted Dreams Press generously agreed to republish the works of the authors who had been published by Baynam Books. Tales from the Hearth was originally scheduled to be published by Baynam Books, but unfortunately, that never came to pass.
It has been a long wait for this anthology, but I am sure it was worth the wait!
Tales from the Hearth is now available on Amazon in Kindle format and through Kindle Unlimited.
It’s Publication Day for Dreamweaver Press, a division of Twisted Dreams Press!
We are thrilled to announce the release of our very first anthology, Tales from the Hearth! This collection of horror stories by 15 writers is sure to send chills down your spine! Congratulations to the writers included in this book!
It’s available as an ebook and through Kindle Unlimited.
Paperback coming soon!
Here is the book’s blurb:
Tales from the Hearth is a collection of stories both shocking and horrific! From spine-tingling tales of woodland horror to monsters preying on young victims, these stories will chill and delight fans of horror stories that make their skin crawl!
This anthology includes work from the following authors:
Bryan W. Alaspa Nemo Arator Shannon Bradner Dawn Colclasure Zach Ellenberger Matthew J. Gleason Boe Healy with Chisto Healy Emmanuel Herrera Whitney R Holp Heddy Johannesen C Lenz Eric Otero Destiny Pifer Christine N Rifkin Isabelle Robinson
Dare to read these chilling stories of horror that can only come from storytellers gathered at the fire, eager to share their tales of terror!
Don’t miss out on this collection of terrifying tales! Grab your copy today and check out some amazing stories that will haunt and horrify you until the very last page!
The anthology will soon be available in paperback format. I will definitely be snagging a copy for myself, and I can’t wait to read it from cover to cover!
There is something wonderfully fitting about an anthology called Tales from the Hearth. There is an ancient tradition of gathering around a fire and sharing stories—some comforting, some strange, and some that send shivers down your spine. I am thrilled to have one of my own tales gathered among these stories.
In Other News…
I have even more publication news to share!
My article about the forsaken dead went live two days ago on Paranormal Daily News. I shared the article in a previous post here on the blog for anyone who would like to read it.
I also have a poem and a short story scheduled for publication in 2027. Both will be published by Dreamweaver Press, the imprint of Twisted Dreams Press.
And, of course, I have two books coming out in October: The Cult of the Spider People and The Mourning Tide!
I am SO excited about these releases! I will be sharing much more about both books during our favourite spooky month of the year—October!
We are Halloween People, and we are proud of it.
We will always be Halloween People. 🎃🖤
Augtober Is Upon Us!
Yes, Darklings, Augtober is upon us!
I felt positively wonderful slipping into a lovely black lacy dress today. I usually wear black anyway, but the intense heat and humidity have been driving me crazy. I had to pull out all my lovely pure cotton summer dresses just to survive!
But now it is time to dive back into that dreamy October vibe.
The humidity is unreal, so I think I shall hide away, keep cool, and savour every word of the new anthology Tales from the Hearth.
The excitement of the Halloween/ Samhan festive fun is behind us. Now we all face the long, dark cold that lies ahead. Most of us look forward to winter the way we look forward to root canal. The winters in Atlantic Canada leave much to be desired.
My cat’s napping on the couch. The groomer trimmed her claws today. So far, she is doing okay with her new medication.
I believe that the dark half of the year is the ideal time to write and reflect on horror. I love the dark half of the year. I know that the cold, ice and snow go hand in hand with this dark season, but I love it. I want to write another horror novel (yes I am crazy lol). I want to find a trad publisher. I want to earn bigger royalties. Ah don’t we all? I also want my own apartment. Again, another pip dream. It can’t hurt to try. I do have to come up with new writing material. I am proud to say that most of my earlier stuff is all published.
This is the time when many still socialize, but also a time when some people opt to turn inward and be more reflective I am of those. I have a stash of lovely herbal teas to enjoy, cardigans to keep me warm and a cute cat to keep me company. I am so fortunate. This time, as I meditate on what I will write, I want to really ask myself what horror means to me. I have been through a lot, but the last several months have been an eye opener for me. I was thrown out to the streets by my own family, forced to move out of my old moldy apartment, spent a few months moving back and forth from my Mom’s apartment to my boyfriend’s and have to keep seeing my moving boxes stored in my Mom’s basement.
Horror is loss. I returned to my garden only to see the old stuff from my kitchen stored in my garden. It looked as it all lacked the soul that flourished while I lived there. Like no one was there. Like no one cared. Like something had died. Now the kitchen appliances are gone, but it is not the same. I bawled my eyes out. I wish I could go back to my herb garden on Crown Drive, but I know everything has changed. Life’s a bitch.
Horror is sacrifice. Maybe I should say, forced sacrifice. I am personally tired of sacrificing, or being forced into that position. I was very reluctant to leave Crown Drive. My heart longs to return to the past- to the freedom I possessed over my life, but the mold was too far gone. I had no choice. I can’t bring back the past. Now I have to live with someone. It sure is a challenge. The rent is so expensive I honestly have no idea if I will ever live alone on my own again.
Horror is death. My boyfriend and his family had to put their beloved dog, Tucker, down. Tucker was fourteen years old, but he was truly suffering. I took Penny to the vet. I thought it would be a routine check for her fructosamine levels because she has diabetes. Poor cat. It turned out she now has hyperthyroidism and high blood pressure on top of diabetes and arthritis. Now I rub her medication on her ear twice a day. Penny had a bad weak spell prior to her appointment. Penny is also fourteen years old. It’s getting harder for her to jump up to a higher surface, but that is why I am here. I will always be here to help her, no matter what. I hope she has a good long life yet. Yes she has me wrapped around her white velvety paw- with perfect pink beanies on her paws.
I feel like focusing on writing my next horror novel on something that hits much closer to home. I believe that horror has many different interpretations. If twenty people saw Psycho or Silence of the Lambs movies or read the same horror novel, I think the people would each have their own interpretation of it. It is open to many different perspectives. What horror is to one person may not be the same to someone else. Some people like slashers and others prefer true crime or the supernatural. We are all individuals in our tastes and preferences. We are all entitled to our own tastes and preferences. No one is right or wrong in what they enjoy to watch on the silver screen or on their Iphones. Personally I hate TikTok, but I know many others like it.
Horror is personal. I did just mention above that it means different things to different people. Horror can be so many things. There is a difference between terror and horror. Alfred Hitchcock knew that well. Let’s imagine we are on a rollercoaster. Terror is the slow, agonizingly suspenseful of the thing (I forget the word right now), the rollercoaster ride going up, up and up to the high peak. Horror is the terrifying descent paired with the ignored, frantic rational part of your brain praying you do not die. Just for the record, I refuse and just will not ever go on a roller coaster ride again. Just writing all this made me queasy. Losing a pet, a child even your home can be deeply and extremely personal. Terror is waiting for the mind-numbing horror to happen and horror is when it happens and not a damn thing you can do to stop it.
Horror is many things with many scary masks. The scariest horror might be when the mask comes off and what we see then we find the most frightening- when we can recognize it and be repulsed at the same time.
Witches New Year is here!! It’s raining. I hope that doesn’t daunt the trick or treaters.
I am so excited, but unfortunately I had to take my cat to the vet. It turns out she has lost a ton of weight and she now has hyperthyroidism and high blood pressure. Thankfully, she will be treated for it. I hope the medicine helps her.
I have been very busy preparing for Samhain. I just love this time of year. I am not celebrating the ancestral supper at my Mom’s. I am going somewhere else to perform it. I have to clean the kitchen, set the table and prepare the food. I cooked the pot roast ahead of time. I baked a loaf of pumpkin bread and Samhain soul cakes. I plan to bake chocolate cupcakes. I have halloween cupcake liners and decorations!
I’m going to buy a bottle of red wine to make mulled cider. I want the brandy to make another herbal tincture. I have a nice Samhain simmering potpourri potion and I made a nice Samhain anointing oil. Derrick will not be home to attend the ancestral supper. I can perform it alone, then he can reheat the meal afterwards. I really have my work cut out for me to clean. I look forward to it. I still have to carve the pumpkin, dress the table- (and clean, clean and clean), heat the food and set up candles etc.
I attended a Halloween party last night. I won a prize for Best Witch! The party was low key, but I still had fun. There was not a lot of people there. Tomorrow I am attending a public Samhain Ritual and the Witches Ball after the Rit. I can’t remember ever being this busy.
Samhain is the third of three harvest Sabbats. This is a good time to honor our ancestors and reflect on our blessings. I plan to enjoy the dark half of the year. Halifax is perfect for a foggy, misty afternoon. I have not visited a cemetery yet for October. I will visit the cemetery today. I love cemeteries.
Place photos of those who have gone before you, be that family, relatives or pets. Burn brown and black candles. Keep in mind: fire safety! Cook a lovely meal for your own ancestral supper. Light a candle and set it at your window. Carve pumpkins and as you carve, work in your intention. Arrange candles, acorns, gourds, dried waxed leaves, photos around your regular altar tools for a spooky Samhain altar. Put your heart and your intention into everything you do.
I am not certain if doing a grave rubbing is allowed. I want to, but I haven’t tried it. I just don’t want to get in any trouble. I advise checking to see if it is okay first. Most of all, have fun. Be safe and have fun. The spirits are celebrating Samhain right along with you. Invite them in and that keeps you in the good karma department. Don’t dowse your pumpkins in bleach. It makes curious squirrels sick. Don’t burn a ton of candles and wear long, flowing sleeves. That starts fires. Don’t leave candles unattended. Check the kids’ candy.
Do have and show respect for the dead. Don’t summon the dead in a cemetery at midnight tonight or any night. No, it is not cool. Leaving an offering of food or something like it at a crossroads or outside your apartment is fine. If you heed these warnings, know this: Burning the apartment down because of candles left ignored or the like, IS NOT COOL! Your landlord will evict you and hate you and NEVER GIVE YOU A GOOD REFERENCE LETTER! So have fun, have tons of fun, but please be smart about it.
Know how to use a fire extinguisher. Memorize its location. Learn how to use a fire blanket that puts out fires. Buy one and store it in your home.
Keep pets safe!
Merry Samhain, everyone!!
Let me know in the comments below what a wonderful and magickal Samhain you experienced!
October is flying by. Like it’s a witch’s broomstick racing against time. I have been so busy. I apologize for not posting more here. Now for the good news!
The book drive for the Edith Garland Dupré Library (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) was a smashing success! I am so proud to have participated in the book drive. I mailed them a copy of my novella The Cult of the Spider People. Jill Girardi from Kandisha Press had this to say about the book drive’s success:
“Hi Ladies! As you may have heard me going on about, the book drive we did for the Edith Garland Dupré Library (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) was a great success! Here are the first pics of the special Women in Horror book section created just for our books!
Libraries are one of the last strongholds for free speech in America, and every single one of you who contributed helped continue to uphold and fight for this right. Thanks to all of you who sent in books, offered to donate money, and helped in any way. Freedom to read and freedom to write! This is very important to everyone on the planet. We should all have the freedom to read what we choose.
Wicked Shadow Press has published my flash fiction story and many other stories by talented authors in a 3 volume anthology collection- Halloweenthology! This marks their third descent into the haunting heart of Halloween and they are proud to have come this far. I am proud to be pubished in those books!
Cover of Autumn Falls the anthology my story is in
Samhain is almost here! I have a pumpkin and I stocked up on candles and incense for the big day on October 31st! I plan to have an ancestral supper. I am also atending two Halloween parties and a public Rit. I can’t wait! It will all be so much fun.
Stock up on cider and root veggies. I love sipping cider and enjoying a hearty beef stew during the autumn season. Cider and apples are full of Vitamin C, which we need in flu and cold season and the stew warms our hearts. Hot cider is good, too. Carve pumpkins and bob for apples with your friends! Get candy for the trick or treaters and your favorite costume. Before you know it, it will be October 31 and you want to be ready for it, right? I do. I am sad that I do not live on Crown Drive anymore. I had bonfires in my backyard and no one noticed or cared. I miss having my own place. I can still have fun though. I plan to enjoy every single minute of Samhain. I hope you do too.
Collect autumn leaves, hold a bonfire, dress your altar for Samhain and have fun!
I had so much fabric left over from my halloween patchwork blanket project that I used the black fabric for an altar cloth. I just organized all my sewing patterns. It was a real mess to sort through. I had to iron all the pattern pieces (a mountain of them!). I sorted them with the pattern envelopes. I spread the envelopes over my floor. I sat on the floor and it took me a few hours to get it done, but I did. That is a good task to complete before the 31st. It’s good to start the Witches New Year on the right foot….
I know that my life was uprooted earlier this year. I moved from Crown Drive. I had a lot to deal with. However, everything has calmed down. Everything is sorted and all my belongings are all in my Mom’s basement and on the main floor. I did not want to move. I lost my garden. That was the hardest part. I faced a challenge and I learned a lot about myself. I hope that everything gets better. The one thing I did not want to face was thrown right at me, so to speak. I will miss my garden and the nature trail. I do not miss living there though. I don’t miss the ants and the mold. That place was one giant ant hill. I have to live with my Mom (ugh) because the rent is so expensive. That is a huge problem for most people everywhere. I don’t know when it will be affordable again.
I have to adjust to living with someone. My Mom is the ultimate conservative mundane person. I am enjoying Samhain somewhere else with someone who doesn’t get all hung up on that.
Dear readers, I have awesome news! Dreamweaver Press is publishing my spooky novel The Mourning Tide! I am overjoyed. This is the 1000th blog post! I saved the announcement of my novel being published for the 1000th post. This all means a lot to me. My grandparents have passed and I hope that they are proud of me. I am dedicating The Mourning Tide to them. This is a dream come true, a dream that began ten years ago. I first was inspired to write the novel ten years ago. Yes, that long. I am not kidding. I can’t wait for the cover art!
The book is scheduled for release next October. There is always a reason to look forward to October and the publication of my novel is the best reason for celebration ever! I am so happy.
I finished the halloween patchwork quilt! Today I sewed a blanket binding to the quilt. I love how it turned out. It is gorgeous, magickal and screams HALLOWEEN! I will be cozy this winter. If I may so myself, the quilt is bewitchingly beautiful. It was a lot of hard work and so was writing and editing The Mourning Tide. I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing well. Taking care with everything we do and taking the time to get it done is the key to success. Next, I plan to sew a matching pillowcase.
I love October. I am not the only one for sure. I sewed a Halloween blanket, dyed my hair, bought new candles, enjoyed nature walks and went apple picking today! Pumpkins adorn many porches, and the skies are so blue! I even watched Hocus Pocus last night. I sewed myself an orange and black Halloween skirt. I have a new witch hat too! I hot glued black flowers to the witch hat.
Today’s post is short and brief. This is my 1000th blog post!!! Cause for celebration. I hopd you all have a wonderful Mabon-Samhain. I shall keep writing here. Grab a pumpkin spice latte and get ready for more awesome blog posts. I am so happy to have reached this milestone. It feels good to have reached this milestone and to have made my dreams come true.
Samhain is almost here!! Are you as excited as I am? Join me, dear readers, for a post on how I will make a Halloween blanket! Grab a coffee or pumpkin spice latte and settle in.
I began this halloween project by visiting the fabric store. I was enchanted by the array of halloween print fabrics. The fabrics were on sale so I got everything I needed. I bought threads, a zipper, and black, grey, orange and black fabric with red streaks. I was grateful that the staff was so helpful in determining the amount of fabric that I would need. I do believe I bought too much, but it is better to have more than less. The black fabric with red streaks is for a frame over the patchwork squares.
I washed the fabric by hand with vinegar and laundry detergent, then I dried them on the line or in the dryer. I do not want to go to all this work only to have my fabric warp or go wonky. The fabrics have formaldehyde in them for shelf life, so I had to wash them It makes them much easier to deal with. It is a good idea to always wash your fabric, but then it does all need to be ironed again afterwards.
I measured three inches wide and measured the necessary length for each of the three inch wide strips- forty-two inches in total. I have to sew that together, then once all the patches are done, sew the strips to the squares. (Argh stop the madness!) The quilt will be bound (like bias tape) in solid black fabric. I have two strips of orange fabric with a skull print. One will be sewn onto the top of the quilt on the top side showing and the other will be sewn onto the bottom of the patchwork squares on the top side showing. It will all look amazing.
I had to measure and calculate a lot. I hope I have enough brown fabric, that is the bottom side of the blanket. It has to match to the top side of the blanket. Originally, I planned to have six patchwork squares in a row. Now I have extended that to eight. There are nine rows of squares in a grey, orange, black, bright orange, grey or beige square pattern. I cut out about slightly over seventy-two squares. I did not intend to cut out that many, but when I arranged all the patchwork squares in rows and saw how it could all come together, I changed my mind several times. I had to cut out specific patchwork squares- mostly the black and orange. I have a black fabric with a spider and spiderweb print. I had two orange spider and spiderweb prints, but one was more matte and the other bright. I rearranged and rearranged until I thought I had it all planned. My cat laid down on the squares and messed them up. Argh!
I kept changing my mind. Once it is all sewn together, it is permanent. I wanted to be certain. The layout in the photo is not the layout that I decided on. I wanted to share the photo so you would all know what I was talking about. It is a good idea to keep the cat out of the room (not to be cruel, but Penny messed up my squares, sweep and mop the floor to get to layout the squares). Once you sew, it is done.
I sew the first row together, then I sew the second row and so on and so on till I get to the last row. Then I sew them all together. I plan to sew with a quarter inch stitch- the skinny stitch. (I can’t recall right now, my brain is addled.) There is more orange and black in the layout. To save my sanity, I used a black marker and painter’s tape to keep the rows organized. You can see the small pieces of the painter’s tape in the photo above, I wrote row 1 on the tape and stuck that to the squares. I did the same with the rest of them till I got to the ninth row. They are all organized that way. I have to mind that the squares have a decorative print and that all the squares prints face up the right way. They all have to be the same size.
I bought a meter of this cool black print Halloween fabric. The squares were all about nine inch by nine inches. I cut them out very carefully and I arranged them over my patch squares. I kept moving them over the squares till I decided I was happy with the layout. The blanket will be amazing! I want to get filler from the fabric store. Then once the patches are all sewn together and the bottom of the blanket (the brown fabric) is sewn to the top of the blanket, I add the filler. Hopefully it will not be too expensive.
I saved the black strips between the nine inch larger black crow or skull squares. I might sew on the strips of the black fabric over (between) the patchwork squares. I don’t have enough for the whole patchwork top, so we will see how it goes. Or maybe I will be brave and sew the strips on diagonally! We will see.
I chose somber colors for this blanket. To me, Samhain is a time of festive joy and is somber at the same time. The colours are an earthy, muted brown, a cool matte black spiderweb print, a matte orange spiderweb print, a brighter orange spiderweb print, a grey + beige print material covered with crows and punpkins, and a grey +beige snowflake and pentagram fabric. The last fabric was so witchy I just had to buy it. I am happy with the layout and the arrangement of the patchwork squares and the colours. It all just blends together so well.
I will alter my dress from Killstar and my green dress from HolyClothing. The hems are too long. I live in Nova Scotia, which means that anything with a long hem will sweep leaves off the sidewalks or collect dirt, mud or leaves. Then I have to hem them again. Best to do it now. I am not totally happy with it, but it pays off to alter a hem as it guarantees the fabric will last much longer.
I will save the fabric that I trim off for the hemming. The patchwork blanket will be a ton of work, but it will be worth it. I sewed all the squares together. There were eight patchwork squares in rows and a total of nine rows of patchwork squares = 79 squares in total. The squares are sewn together and shown in the photo below. I can’t change my mind now on the order of the squares, but I can change my mind on the rows and which order they should be in.
The rows of patchwork squares sewn together.
The last two days I worked hard on the patchwork quilt. I had to see the forest for the trees. In other words, no matter how many times I laid the whole quilt in rows on the floor. I could not see then that some patches were repeated. I had to make new patches and sew them in several times. It is always right sides together when you are sewing and that is easier said than done. Now all the squares are different save for two, but it does not matter. All the patches squares are sewn and all the rows are sewn together. Then once that was finally completed, I started on the frame with the black and red streak quilting fabric. I measured how much I would need by lining the strips of the fabric along the width and length of the material. I cut the strips to the width and length I wanted. The quilt is about 58′ x 64′. Then I pressed and turned over a long edge about a quarter inch to avoid fraying. I stitched that down and then pinned the strips with the turned under edge on the outside. When I sew the top of the quilt to the bottom side, the rough edge will be caught in the fabric and won’t show a raw edge. That also helps me avoid fraying. So I have to sew down both sides of the material. I am nitpicky about the fabric ends meeting evenly and avoiding raw edges showing.
Once that is completed, I can finally sew the brown fabric together and then sew the quilt top to the brown fabric. Then I will insert the nice cotton filler and then line it all up and to make sure it does not bunch up, I will sew the quit filler in. Then I plan to add a black edge binding. It will look amazing! The more effort you put in and caring about all the tiny details, the better your work looks. I added two strips of the orange fabric with a white skul print to the top of the (top of quilt) and a strip on the bottom. If you look closely at the above photo, you can see them. I have to make sure the seams are finished. I always pin and press and line up my edges. The tiniest things, no matter how mundane or boring they seem.,matter and the more care you take, the more beautiful the final effort will be. Sewing has tons of repetition, pin and press and sew over and over again, but that is the way it is. I want my quilt to last a long time and keep me warm on cold nights. Paying attention to the details now guarantees that will happen.
Next, I can sew the brown fabric and once I sew in the spider, check all my seams, sew on the black frame fabric, and sew the brown bottom fabric to the top quilt fabric, then I can finally insert the filler. I have to leave a hole large enough for the filler to go in between the two fabrics then sew the hole closed. Then I am done! I just want to take all the care I can now so that I am truly happy with it.
Today I made the small repairs, sewed the spider onto the front of the quilt and added the filler. I trimmed the excess and sewed the front, filler and the back of the quilt together. I bought bias tape from the fabric store but it was the wrong color. I am so excited to sew the bias tape onto the blanket but I have to be patient. It has been a lot of work so far.
In other news, I sent my BFF Onyx a herbal tea blend. I hope it arrives soon. I bought a cool black blouse online from Killstar, a few candles from Horrified Candles and a wand. However, Canada Post is on strike again. It may be a while before I receive my parcels. I received my Horrified Candles! Very happy about that.
I bought a new witch hat. My black wool witch hat paired with a black top or cardigan (to keep me warm), and my purple astrology boots should keep me stylin’. Yeah We all love October. The most magickal time of the year.
I would love to hear what projects, crafts or rituals you all are conjuring this month, Please leave a comment and tell me all about it.
I want to add that this is my 999th post. The next blog post will be the thousandth post!!!!!! I have learned a lot about maintaining a blog, made mistakes, survived the disaster of my old blog site being hacked. I am still here and typing- and kicking! It makes me so happy to have achieved this milestone. I could not have done this without all the wonderful support from my awesome friends and readers. I love you all. I am very happy to have come this far. I have to party when I write the thousandth post! I have a lot of reasons to party this October. !!! )O(
Fall is here! The leaves are turning. My favourite time of year has arrived!
I finished the green nordic dress. The zipper is sewn in, the belt loops are done and the dress is hemmed. I did a zigzag stitch on the hem to keep the fabric from unraveling. I hung it on the dress form and added my belt. I draped the blue apron over the green dress. It looks great.
Dress with apron
Nordic Dress
I also sewed myself an adult Halloween trick or treat bag. I watched a video on youtube. The bag is reversible too. I am quite pleased with it. I plan to finish sewing the orange halloween skirt soon too. I sewed a pouch to go wtih the green dress. I love how it turned out. See photo below:
I harvested the mugwort this morning. The stalk is so leafy and beautiful. The mugwort will air dry and then I can store the mugwort for teas. Mugwort aids in enhancing psychic abilities. I want to go to the Five Fishermen Restaurant for the birthday of my book in October. I might enjoy mugwort tea beforehand.
Now is the time to reflect on the harvest. It’s time to harvest from the garden and to reflect on what we want to harvest in our lives. Fall is a time of abundance and the results of our hard work. I will harvest tomatoes and herbs from my garden. I have friends, a place to live and security. I’ve made mistakes and learned from them. This time, I was not rejected in cold blood for being human. That made the lessons that I have learned about myself more valuable. It’s not perfect or ideal and I am very happy. I will be even happier when I get my own place. I hope that is sooner rather than later.
Writing News: I’m rewriting my spider sequel novella, Born of Venom. Wicked Shadow Press published my eighth short story, Cries of Dead Children, in their anthology, Children of the Dead. I love to write for them and will continue to write stories for them.
Summer is almost over. The heatwave is still on. The next turn in the Wheel of the Year is Mabon. Mabon is the first of the three harvest Sababts. I’ve seen some autumn leaves already! Soon pumpkins will be displayed at our fave grocery stores and kids will be back in school. Fall is my favorite time of year.
I’m anxiously awaiting the arrival of a particular book: The Book of Oberon: A Sourcebook of Elizabethan Magic. I can’t wait to get my mitts on it. I ‘m also waiting for a Viking drinking horn to arrive. The waiting is the hardest part.
Wicked Shadow Press is publishing my eighth flash fiction story, The Cries of Dead Children, in their anthology Pocket Full of Posies. I am very happy and I look forward to reading the anthology. Reading what other authors have written really helps me with my own writing.
I read the amazing novel Relics by Tim Lebbon in three days. I just love that book. I don’t know why the book sat on my shelf unread for so long. It is the most amazing book ever. There is a reason why I read the books by other fellow horror authors. They truly do help me with my own writing. I break out of a rut/ shell. I would recommend Relics in a heartbeat. He is an author with a real imagination. Wow.
I plan to organize all the books tonight. I have a ton of books to organize. It’s a very good thing that I have a system. I really want my own apartment but it costs a fortune. IKEA will not come to pick up the pieces of the bed frame. I guess we are stuck with the assembly. Last time I ever order anything from them.
I’m sewing myself a Samhain skirt. I am using the Butterick pattern B6999. The skirt has three tiers and has a ton of gathering. The skirt is orange and has a print of black ravens. The first tier is orange broadcloth- solid colour, no print. The two tiers are made from the printed quilting fabric. I am also adding a lining made from voile. The waistband is elastic. I want to sew on black ribbon to the tiers as well. I hope it turns out well. I am making a modification though. The sewing pattern instructions say to do the gathering in one long seam. I hope that is the right word. The third lower tier is the hardest part. I have to do the gathers. I have already hemmed the tier. I sewed a narrow hem. The lower tier has five sections to gather. Now I plan to modify by sewing it in five individual sections. If I follow the original sewing instructions, I can’t get the long thread tails that I prefer. If I do the gathering basting stitch in the five sections the way I want to, then I can get the long thread tails. I will wrap the threads around the pins in figure eights and secure the gathers with clips. Then I can sew the lower tier to the upper tier and then finish the skirt this weekend.
I cut out the pattern pieces very carefully. I know my readers know that but I wonder how many people ever think about cutting out pattern pieces to get the line of the fabric. The garment is designed a certain way. Once you cut fabric, that’s it. The expression “measure twice, cut once”. exists for a reason. Since I cut the pattern pieces with care, I can easily determine the top part of the skirt pieces from the hem part of the skirt pieces. The fabric has a print too and I made sure the ravens were all facing up and not down or mismatched. I stitched with an even 5’8 inch seam allowance. That insures the skirt seams won’t unravel and that I will fit in it and the pieces lock together much better. I always press my seams, sometimes on the right and wrong sides of the fabric. Pressing seams on both sides ensures that the seam is pressed its very best. I like to make the seams lie flat, like very flat.
Of course, the orange halloween skirt will be worn all year-round. Ha ha just kidding, it will have to be worn in the fall. But then, I am a Halloween person.
I have a lot of leftover fabric. I may make a Halloween bag with it then use the bag to hold Samhain charms, candy or pendulums, tarot cards or runes! Cat treats. Who knows?
The best time of year is almost here. Fall vibes, autumnal breezes and the swish of a halloween skirt… bring it on!
The sun is shining so strong today. Everyone all over the world is waiting for the eclipse. It is the biggest thing right now since sliced bread. People are so excited about it. I wish I had the special eyeglasses for watching the eclipse.
I’m waiting for the delivery of a package. The package is the textbooks I ordered from the Herbal Academy for the Introductory course. The delivery is taking an extra amount of time for some reason. I have never been the patient type of person. Patience is not my forte. I have to find a special spot on my shelves for the textbooks.
I am really feeling the energies today. It feels off: my back hurts, the blender didn’t cooperate when I made soup and I feel edgy and irritable. I mean I am usually irritable but today I am more so. That is the eclipse and Mercury retrograde affecting me.
I bought a book online that looks interesting, titled Old Dark Houses: A Halloween Novel by Tylor James. Speaking of Halloween, I saw the latest Ghostbuster movie Frozen Empire. Do we really need another Ghostbuster movie? No. Now it feels so forced. I enjoyed it but I just fail to see what they are adding to the whole Ghostbuster franchise. I also bought a book titled The Complete Book of Black Magic and Witchcraft. I am sure the black magic book will be a fun read… ahem. I shall not cook up the boys who cry out that I am a Witch at the top of their lungs while riding their bikes, I promise. Witch’s honour. Well, they are not wrong.
Chives, lemon balm, garlic and tiger lily sprouts are up in my garden. Spring is here! The next turn in the Wheel of the Year is Beltane. Beltane occurs in May. I shall post more about that in the future. Beltane is the third spring Sabbat and a nice way to usher in the summer season.
My plants are growing so lovely in my grow light kit. It’s April now. They can be planted out in the next six to eight weeks in the garden. The last frost is in early June. I bought a bag of potato seedlings. I might buy an extra grow bag to hold all the taters. I bought red onion seeds too. I can’t wait to get growing in my garden. The birds chirp their little avian hearts out. They know the nice weather is here, which means food. I made them one last offering of bird suet. I cooked hamburger meat grease, lard, peanut butter, bird seed, bread crumbs, oranges, apple chunks and olive oil. The birds enjoyed every bite. If they ate it, then that extra food wasn’t wasted. I fill their feeder regularly too.
This collection of true eerie tales is sure to put you in a spooky mood! Read on to get scared! Remember to stay spooky…
5 ghost tour guides share their favourite haunting tales from across Canada
Haunted hotels, back-alley apparitions and more terrifying local lore.
(Credit: iStock/Getty Images)
Just as pumpkin spice lattes pair perfectly with leaf peeping, there’s perhaps no better way to get in the Halloween spirit than with a good old-fashioned fright night.
In fact, Canada has plenty of its own nightmare-inducing campfire tales to keep you lying awake in terror — take it from some of the nation’s top tour guides who specialize in spinning cobweb-covered yarns from the crypt.
To celebrate spooky season, we asked five of these pros to share their favourite sinister stories with us — many of which are associated with regular, real-life ghost sightings. So, read on, if you dare.
These stories have been edited and condensed for clarity.
I love all my ghosts equally, but what I love to talk about is the Woman in Black and the Man in Black of Gaoler’s Mews.
The Alhambra Hotel was completed in 1887, the year after the Great Vancouver Fire. It was an opulent hotel and it also had a reputation for being a full-service hotel — meaning, you could get any kind of room service you might desire (wink, wink). I’m sure the building has its fair share of ghosts, as do many old hotels, but its most prolific ghost makes her appearance on the back stairs in Gaoler’s Mews. She seems to have a preference for dark, rainy nights, however, that is not absolute. She materializes as a stunning woman in long black dress with long black hair, and is often seen clutching her waist. Then, she straightens, glides down Gaoler’s Mews and disappears into Blood Alley. People theorize that she is a widow walking toward the hangman’s noose that once stood in Blood Alley. But was there ever really one there? I have doubts.
But what of the ghost that follows? The Man in Black? He is a well-dressed gentleman in a long black coat and bowler hat. He usually makes his entrance via the front door of the restaurant that backs onto this alley — now known as L’Abattoir. He’s so solid that the host or hostess will try to give him a menu but he simply walks forward, through the restaurant, often disappearing in the alley behind the atrium. So what’s his story? Since he is often seen seconds after the Woman in Black, one can reason the two had a relationship, but we can only speculate on the nature of it. Is he watching out for her? Or is he a customer still hoping to visit his favourite mistress?
Back in April of this year, I had a mother and young daughter from Calgary on the tour with me. Once we got to Gaoler’s Mews, even before I began telling any ghost stories, the young teen looked up at the window above the Twisted Fork, and said, “there’s a man in an old top hat looking down at us.” I couldn’t see anyone so I asked her, could he be wearing a bowler hat? She didn’t know what that was, but it was an old-fashioned black hat. Apparently, he watched us the entire time we stood in that spot. The Man in Black often disappears into that very building, and the second floor was once a brothel.
Experience it in person: Ghostly Gastown Tour, 90 minutes, $27
The tale of the headless nun
As told by Shawn McCarthy, co-founder, Character Matters Miramichi
The legend of the ghost in French Fort Cove proceeds in this way: one night, around 1758, after having helped a woman through a difficult childbirth, Sister Marie Inconnue was returning to the settlement at the cove — at the time home to a battery of 16 cannons and a small detachment of soldiers. As she crossed the footbridge over Crow Brook, she was set upon.
Some say it was a pair of leprous sailors from L’Indienne de Morlaix, out for revenge on those who had imprisoned them. Others insist that it was a mad trapper, wild and desperate from years living in the woods. Whoever he was, he was looking to extort the location of a buried treasure from the young nun. Sister Marie adamantly refused to divulge the whereabouts of the treasure, uttering only prayers for the redemption of the poor wretch’s soul.
In a fit of rage, the maniac severed her head with a violent blow. Some say he severed the head so he could dig into her throat, thinking she had swallowed the map as she saw him approach. The head was thrown into the waters of the cove, and her body was left on the bridge.
The settlers mourned the loss of Sister Marie for months. The militia attempted to find the man who had perpetrated this terrible crime, but were unsuccessful. Sister Marie’s death could not be avenged. Her body was sent to France for burial, but her head was never recovered. Since that day, it is said that the ghost of Sister Marie still roams the cove, still diligently protecting the treasure — and searching for the head that will make her whole again.
As told by Kristen Treusch, owner and guide, SquarePeg Tours
This story takes place at the Fort Garry Hotel in Room 202. The urban legend is that the spirit of a woman haunts this room. She looks like a bride and lets people know she’s in the room in several ways. People have reported hearing footsteps in the room, feeling someone sitting on the foot of the bed, and occasionally, lying beside them when they were half asleep. She has also been known to leave wet footprints in the bathroom, turn the light on in the closet and mess with the TV and phone. If you are fortunate enough to actually see her, she’ll chat and then exit the room through the window.
It is said that this bride was either murdered by her new husband or witnessed him being struck down by a trolley car on Broadway when he went across the street to get something. When she saw this, she was torn apart with grief and guilt and [died by] suicide in the room.
I carry a K2 meter on my tours and it lights up whenever I talk about her; that’s how she lets me know she’s around.
Experience it in person: Broadway Ghost Walk, 90 minutes, $15
One of the most intriguing ghost stories I tell is honestly one of my favourites. It also happens to be tied closely to our history. While the Canadas were still colonies of the United Kingdom, we became the front line for the War of 1812. Lake Ontario was frequently populated by both American and British warships — with more than a few battles fought on the water.
One fateful day, the wind had died down. Unable to move their ships without the aid of the air, both sides were forced to wait on the peaceful water. The winds returned as a violent storm in the early hours of the morning. Two American schooners, the Scourge and the Hamilton, sank under the weight of their top-heavy guns. Over 50 sailors were sent to the bottom of the lake with them. The intense storm, filled with rain and lightning, only lasted a few minutes.
Today, the ships still lie at the bottom of the lake, their wrecks officially considered a national historic site — but that’s not where their stories end. A local legend has since emerged among some older mariners. This tale suggests the ships continue to set sail from time to time. One might see two ghostly ships emerging from the mist on dark nights with thick fog. The sailors who died that day, still on board, are forever trapped in their final moments on deck. Some even say that to see these ships may lead to a death on your own crew.
Experience it in person: Original Haunted Walk of Toronto, 75 minutes, $24.99
The haunting of Room 207
As told by Ghost Guide Daniel, overseer, Ghost Walks
I love to tell the story of Molly McGuire at the Prince of Wales Hotel. The legend talks about the house, which once stood on that land. During the War of 1812, as the American soldiers marched in, one soldier was sent into the house to check it for the British. It was dusk and there were no electric lights. Upon entering a second-floor bedroom, he mistook a shadow for a British soldier. He rushed in and ran the person through with his bayonet — only then realizing it was an innocent woman.
The woman was Molly McGuire, and the bedroom is said to be where Room 207 at the Prince of Wales Hotel exists today. Room 207 is considered the most haunted room in the hotel.
A manager told us the story of a couple who stayed in the room. In the middle of the night, they awoke as something fell in the bathroom. Getting up together to investigate — neither wanted to do it alone — the wife opened the bathroom door, flipped on the light and saw a woman with long, dark hair staring at her from inside the bathroom mirror.
One of our guides had a similarly spooky experience. While telling Molly’s story, she noticed a swing across the street in Simcoe Park. One seat was swinging violently back and forth. There was no wind. It was nighttime, so also no kids.
She ran into the park to check it. The swing continued swinging, until a guest took a photo. After the flash, it slowed, then stopped on its own. The best part: in the photo, there was a big, bright orb on the swing seat.
“Gothic horror and cosmic dread from the ghostly shores of Halifax.”
Heddy Johannesen
Conjuror of Gothic Horror
Welcome to My Monsters.
I've always been drawn to the shadows, where the monsters live and their stories hunger to be told.
I write about ghosts, monsters, witches, and outsiders, exploring the darker places where fear, mystery, grief, and the supernatural collide.
Welcome to The Paranormal Quill
Gothic Horror. Dark Folklore. Cosmic Indifference.
Step across the threshold.
I am Heddy Johannesen—conjurer of gothic horrors, paranormal nonfiction writer, and dedicated student of herbalism. From the ghostly shores of Halifax, Nova Scotia, I pull back the veil on creepy alternate dimensions and secrets that refuse to stay buried
Pull up a chair, light a candle, and explore the shadows with me. Just mind the spiderwebs.
