The things that go bump in the night... or the morning.

I've noticed that over the past few weeks, peculiar things happen when I sit down to write. No, not writers' block or anything like that, but unusual things in a supernatural sense. My house is no stranger to paranormal activity, but it has never before shown any "predictable" pattern or connection.

I've been compiling data for the Plantations Project for months now and the topic has been on my mind nearly every waking moment. When I made the transition from data collecting and organizing to writing, things took a turn for the strange. I heard tinkling sounds from the glasses in my dining room china cabinet late Tuesday evening while I was writing in the kitchen. The cats, who normally love to hang out in the dining room, were visibly upset and hurried out. I went to inspect the situation and found nothing out of sorts.

I was plugging along early yesterday morning (again in the kitchen) when one of the cabinets behind me made a sound. I turned just in time to see the door pop open about an inch. This wasn't the first time the cabinets had been opened by unseen hands, just the first time I'd been in the room when it happened.

Just moments ago, while I was writing away, an eerie chill crept up my neck seconds before the power blinked out. I know - they're probably just things I've noticed while my mind is focused on something else - but it's still unsettling!

Virginia Residents, This One's For You!

Don't miss the 3rd Annual Hanover Book Festival on Saturday, August 2nd! The festival spotlights Virginia authors and does a fantastic job celebrating books of all genres.

This year, the event is being held at the Mechanicsville VFW Post (7168 Flag Lane, Mechanicsville, VA 23111) from 10:00 AM until 2:30 PM. Why is that good news for you? It's only a 5-minute drive from haunted Cold Harbor and Gaines' Mill Battlefields and less than a mile from haunted Beaver Dam Creek.

Make a day of it - bring your camera, meet some Virginia authors, pick up a few books, and enjoy the afternoon at some of the spookiest sites in the Richmond area! For more information about the festival, visit their website at www.hanoverbookfestival.com

This year's attending authors include:

Robert Bailey
Thomas Banks
Barbara Baranowski
Tammy Belcher
Teresa Bettino
Beth Brown (I bet you'd already guessed that, right?)
Ellen S. Cartwright
John Conlee
Richard Corwin
Sandra Dean
Sherry Ferrell
Pete Freas
Joseph Guion
Lisa Hagan
Alicia Jones
Ellen Judy
Jean Keating
June Keene
Pamela Kinney
Ken Krakaur
Naana Kyereboah
Tom Lacy
Joanne Liggan
Kathryn Lively
Sharon Miner
Greg Mitchell
Kathleen Mix
Sarah Norkus
Cindy Parker
Elizabeth Nicholas (Pezold)
Robert Pruett
Dave Smitherman
J.M. Snyder
Karen Syed
Sheila Talley
Harvey Tate
Miriam Walker
Greta Ward
Emerson Williams
Saxon Wrenn

On Writing...

"Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go."
- E.L. Doctorow

So many haunts, so little time.

My latest adventures have had me back in Gloucester, Virginia, for more investigative work and interviews. Surprisingly, there are so many haunted historic places in the rural waterfront county that I could spend a week there and not cover them all. The area easily rivals Williamsburg and Charles City in its number of paranormal reports and their intensity.

Some of my recent discoveries hit really close to home - quite literally. My grandparents built a gorgeous summer cottage in Gloucester on the bank of the York River in the 1950's. I spent many summers there and have great memories of the close community ties in the area. Imagine my surprise when three of the haunts I traveled to investigate were within two miles of the old family house!

Recently reported ghostly encounters now have my focus on Virginia's Eastern Shore. It looks like I'll be heading to the beach this week!

Want your paranormal encounter published??

Haunted Battlefields includes 20 previously unpublished encounters with the paranormal and I'm hoping that the upcoming Haunted Plantations can TRIPLE that. How can that happen? With YOUR help!

If you've experienced something you can't explain while visiting or driving near a Virginia plantation, I'd love to talk with you about your encounter. You can help me give readers what they want - NEW ghost stories instead of the same legends we've all heard again and again! You can be credited by full name, first name only, or a mysterious descriptor like "a frequent visitor to ___ Plantation" or "a nearby resident" - the choice is yours. Be sure to include WHERE you were, WHEN your experience took place, and a brief description of WHAT happened. If your story is selected, I'll contact you to chat about more details.

Submit your encounters before it's too late!

If you know someone who may have a story to tell, I'd be grateful if you'd pass along this message!

What? Another Article Already!

That's right, another one fresh out of the box! This time, check out my recommendations for the best digital cameras for paranormal investigators.

On the Road Again

I'll be out and about this week conducting preliminary investigations at four sites for the upcoming Haunted Plantations of Virginia project. This trip will take me to Gloucester County, Yorktown, and Newport News. Don't worry, you won't have to wait a year to hear about it - I promise a few side articles will be born from this excursion!

Can You Really Smell a Ghost?

I think so. Find out more about olfactory phenomena in this article I put together after a particularly stinky investigation!

Check it out - new featured article!

I adore Jeff Belanger! Every one of his books is entertaining and informative. That's right, I'm a crazy fan.

My article about Richmond's Byrd Park Pump House was just added to his Ghostvillage.com as this week's feature!

Breaking in at Blogger

Today I officially said goodbye to my old blog at LiveJournal. I feel a bit sad about it, only because I've been there for years, but am optimistic about a new dumping ground for my thoughts.

Life is moving at runaway-train-speed for me now and I hope to capture some of the best parts here. Expect to see silliness, frustration, inspiration, mood swings, and lots of absurd ideas that I find entertaining!

xoxo,
Beth