I’m afraid of the dark.
Well, not exactly the dark. I’m afraid of the shadows that move in the dark. More precisely what the shadows conceal. Fear of the dark can be explained as a primitive survival instinct. Cavemen huddled around the fire not only for warmth but because the wild animals cringed away from the dancing flames. Outside the circle could be hard the growls of the hunters and the screams of their prey. They feared what they could not see.
In Gothic tales, the heroine hurries down the dark hall with a flickering candle in her trembling hand. Will the draft blow out the flame before she reaches safety?
Modern ghost hunters always turn off the lights. Why? I’d keep every lamp burning until dawn if I were in one of those infamous sites like Alcatraz or the Norwich Insane Asylum. And they see movement in the dark, shadows that dart across the room.
So we’re back to my fear.
I grew up next to an old cemetery. I don’t know when I became afraid. During the day the place had an old-fashioned charm and peace. The monuments told a sad story of a child who died after three years two months and seven days on this mortal soil or joined with the others in the family. I’ll never forget the smell of that place. Shaded by huge pine trees the green grass was crowded by a sour smelling weed. When crushed underfoot the weed odor filled the air.
We played among the head stones all summer. Sometimes after supper, we’d play hide-n-seek until dark. I wasn’t afraid until the long evening when I was the last one ‘it’. As I counted to one hundred, they all crept away. I was left alone, calling names. Where are you? Come out. Come out, until I realized they’d abandoned me.
Now I write dark and frightening paranormal romance to get the ghosts out of my head.
I have a few scary short stories posted on my blog under why visit here.
http://barbaraedwardscomments/wordpress.com/
If you want to meet me, I’ll be at the Write Angles Conference 2011
By writers, for writers — in its 26th year in Western Massachusetts Mount Holyoke, East Hadley MA
PANEL SESSION II – 11:15 am to 12:30 pm (Choose one)
Exploring the Avenues and Lanes of Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Andreola Room)
Moderator: Tanya Shersnow
Panelists: Holly Black, Corrina Lawson, Barbara Edwards
This panel will explore the sub-genres within this ever expanding genre, giving attendees a sense of what’s new in 2011, and offer advice and inspiration about associations and publishers within this genre.
Author Website: http://barbaraedwards.net/
Blog Site: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards
Ancient Blood http://on.fb.me/naHRY5
Twitter: http://twitter.com/barb_ed
Authors Den: http://authorsden.com/barbaraedwards
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A
Buy link for Ancient Blood http://tinyurl.com/3f627vh
In Gothic tales, the heroine hurries down the dark hall with a flickering candle in her trembling hand. Will the draft blow out the flame before she reaches safety?
Modern ghost hunters always turn off the lights. Why? I’d keep every lamp burning until dawn if I were in one of those infamous sites like Alcatraz or the Norwich Insane Asylum. And they see movement in the dark, shadows that dart across the room.
So we’re back to my fear.
I grew up next to an old cemetery. I don’t know when I became afraid. During the day the place had an old-fashioned charm and peace. The monuments told a sad story of a child who died after three years two months and seven days on this mortal soil or joined with the others in the family. I’ll never forget the smell of that place. Shaded by huge pine trees the green grass was crowded by a sour smelling weed. When crushed underfoot the weed odor filled the air.
We played among the head stones all summer. Sometimes after supper, we’d play hide-n-seek until dark. I wasn’t afraid until the long evening when I was the last one ‘it’. As I counted to one hundred, they all crept away. I was left alone, calling names. Where are you? Come out. Come out, until I realized they’d abandoned me.
I have a few scary short stories posted on my blog under why visit here.
http://barbaraedwardscomments/wordpress.com/
If you want to meet me, I’ll be at the Write Angles Conference 2011
By writers, for writers — in its 26th year in Western Massachusetts Mount Holyoke, East Hadley MA
PANEL SESSION II – 11:15 am to 12:30 pm (Choose one)
Exploring the Avenues and Lanes of Sci-Fi/Fantasy (Andreola Room)
Moderator: Tanya Shersnow
Panelists: Holly Black, Corrina Lawson, Barbara Edwards
This panel will explore the sub-genres within this ever expanding genre, giving attendees a sense of what’s new in 2011, and offer advice and inspiration about associations and publishers within this genre.
Author Website: http://barbaraedwards.net/
Blog Site: http://barbaraedwardscomments.wordpress.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/BarbaraEdwards
Ancient Blood http://on.fb.me/naHRY5
Twitter: http://twitter.com/barb_ed
Authors Den: http://authorsden.com/barbaraedwards
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003F6ZK1A
Buy link for Ancient Blood http://tinyurl.com/3f627vh
