Something that came to me very easily when I wrote Flash Paranormal Fiction: 13 Storiesis that having a background as a paranormal and UFO investigator (as well as a few other topics thrown in), those pieces fell easily into place and made sense in the book. The reality of it mixed so well with the fiction, that no one questioned the premise.
When I first began writing nonfiction ghost books many years back for varied areas around the Mid-Atlantic US, I learned from the bottom up through a very specialized group, the Chester County Paranormal Research Society in Pennsylvania. I was mentored through the entire process—participating in investigations (some very high profile), using equipment, learning concepts and research theories, and generally becoming a staunch investigator. Working as an editor at a paranormal publishing company, I’d felt that if I was going to be able to be seriously effective in advising paranormal authors, I needed to understand every single obstacle they might be faced with when they were writing their nonfiction books. I was so right. I needed to know. Not only were they asking writing technique and publishing questions, but they had questions about how to present their topics in a way that everyone reading would benefit from—and believe—their experiences. And having under gone most of what the authors were writing about, I was afforded the ability to help them with practical solutions when “things” happened. And in the paranormal world, trust me, “things happened.” (I’ve got stories.) I also was able to amass a huge list of contacts and associates while working with these professionals who were able to help me whenever I had a question about any aspect of the paranormal or mind/body/spirit world that I was struggling with.
I had no idea then, that when I was writing now that these methods of accumulating information and experience would become so important to me. Coming up with the story lines was easy. I had so many real experiences and of course those that were told to me that the characters and development just fell into place. I knew ghost and UFO investigators, witches, demon hunters, BigFootenthusiasts … the list goes on for miles it would seem. There’s a lot of paranormal out in the world! That means a lot of fun stories to write about. Personally, I can’t go out of my house without seeing something mundane and thinking to myself something like: Wonder what would happen if an alien landed here… or a ghost stalked me … or we had a zombie apocalypse for real? Don’t say it can’t happen!
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/HiMcUPPRyAc
Excerpt - Zombie Love
It was a beautiful morning, just gorgeous. I was sitting back in my no-gravity lounge chair holding a cup of hot coffee and sipping away the sunrise. The temperature was just right and the plants along the front screen of the porch seemed to reach toward the warm glow of the sun. This was a day that made all the other days’ worth dealing with. It whispered relaxation and creativity.
The only thing I couldn’t get my mind around on this glorious day was the zombie that was trying to open the latch on the screen door. I’d been watching it for a good ten minutes or so, just as it was watching me drink my coffee. My question: Where the hell had this thing come from? And why was it ruining my perfectly quiet morning?
This one I was looking at was none too bright. It could easily punch through the screen, but instead, it fiddled with the sliding lock. I’d heard about these things. A bit short on brains. But then again, who knew? Maybe it thought I was stupid for drinking coffee. I’d thought that one or two times myself.
Just then I heard a voice. “Hey man, what’s that you got there trying to get into your house?”
It was my neighbor, Monroe. We were pretty close on most days. “Gots me a zombie, me thinks,” I replied after a nice long coffee swig.
Monroe, standing back from the door but still close enough to talk through the screen continued. “What’s ya gonna do when it figures out the door?” He yawned.
“Hmmm. Good point,” I said with a nod. “Guess I better go get the gun so I can take care of business if I need to.”
Monroe was nodding as well. “Terrible way to spend this beautiful morning, though. Still, zombies are nothin’ to mess with. So I heard.”
“Maybe wait a little while, though,” I said. “It’s too nice out to make things all blood and guts. We got time.”
“I hear ya,” answered Monroe.
Then suddenly, another voice erupted through the morning. “Outta the way, boys!”
At that point a woman and a teenage girl raised rifles and blew holes in the zombie’s head. The thing fell like a rock.
Both Monroe and I jumped back to keep from getting muck on our clothes. I’d had to roll out of my chair, and I spilled my coffee.
“Dam
women!” I yelled out. “Know just how to ruin a morning!”
Hi all! Thank you for stopping by to read about me and my new paranormal flash book! I hope you enjoy my stories! Dinah
ReplyDeletethis would definitely keep me up at night lol. Sounds great
ReplyDeleteIt was great fun to write! It might keep you up giggling too!
ReplyDelete