Release Delay

Apparitions' scheduled release month has changed from March to April of 2007.

Which gives me an extra month to get Night Wing wrapped up! Phew.

Happy Thanksgiving

Take a few moments out of the hectic Holiday rush to give thanks for all your blessings. It's what Thanksgiving is about!

I think my dentist has a fabulous idea too. Instead of promising yourself you won't stuff yourself this holiday season...just admit that it'll happen and have fun! Eat and enjoy! It's better than feeling down on yourself or guilty about the fun and good times you had.

Just increase your activity for the next month by a few minutes a day and your body will never know you splurged.

Writing About the Supernatural

The supernatural, ghosts and all the howling, growling creatures have all ways enthralled me. When I was young I used to sneak downstairs to peer into the living room late at night when my mom was watching movies about mummies or those short ghost stories they used to show on T.V. I thought I was being the ultimate sneak. Now I'm sure she knew I was there and just didn't say anything. My earliest recollection of a movie was the B&W version of the Mummy.

My novel, Apparitions, was my first venture into actually writing a book length work of fiction that revolved around ghosts. Like the films of old it's very much a ghost story yet it also has a human side. For right now though we'll stick with the ghosts and their creation.

Whenever you're working with a critter that isn't known to science -- whether it be ghost, werewolf, dragon or anything in-between -- plausibility is your main obstacle. The apparitions you show must be 'real' and to be real they must have a set of rules that they abide by. Once you set these rules they shouldn't be broken.

If you've done any reading into the supernatural or the occult you'll know there are hundreds of different theories. Which do you choose, if any?

My answer -- whatever suits your fancy and your story so long as you can set the rules and maintain them throughout your story.

If at the beginning of the novel you show that a ghost cannot leave the place it is bound to then none of your ghosts can move outside of their allotted area. If they do then the reader will rightly assume that since one rule is void they all are and they may cease to believe in your ghosts.

For Apparitions I chose to follow Greer's view on ghosts for the most part. You will see however that I tainted it as well. I twisted a few rules and made their nature more sinister than he puts forth. I took a few of their known abilities and enhanced them.

Perhaps one of the oddest things I did (for me the writer) was to insert myself into a few of the ghosts' viewpoints. Now that was an eerie experience!

Whichever way you choose to work your ghosts and beasties unknown -- be very careful when deciding. Keep your plot and characters in mind at all times. Stick to your rules and let the shudders begin!


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About the Author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming supernatural horror novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Raven's Blog

Ghosts in The Attic

…or bats in the belfry.

I've always wondered why most people view supernatural events, ghosts or horrific sightings with such a negative eye. Some people sensitive to the supernatural have been accused of taking mind-altering substances or being wonky in the head.

Why?

Is it fear? Are skeptics so afraid of what might exist that they endow themselves with the arrogant right to declare infallibly that ghosts, spirits and monsters do not exist?

If so, what causes this fear? Is it that it opens an entire realm that they cannot control? Or is it more personal…if there are spirits there is life after death and perhaps our actions or inaction here do play a role in our final destiny?

Or are they really that arrogant to believe that their view of reality is the true view of reality and nothing else exists?

Points to ponder.

Me, I'll stick with admitting my ignorance thanks.

I can say ghosts exist because I've seen and felt them. Spirits too. I've had supernatural experiences too and you can call me batty if you want -- I think they're cute.

As for the rest…I've never seen anything out of cryptozoology (such an intriguing field by the way) but I don’t see why such strange and interesting animals couldn't exist.

In the end I think the question is more -- why wouldn't they exist and who are we to place limits on this world and this universe when really…we know so very little about it.

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About the author -

Raven Bower is the author of the upcoming horror / suspense novel, Apparitions (ArcheBooks March 2007)

Raven's Hollow