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The inauguration of the President of the United States of America is always an event that the world watches with interest. But with the drama of the last few weeks still fresh in our minds, not to mention everything else that has happened over the last twelve months, this particular inauguration was one like no other, in every possible way.

It is fair to say that this year’s event felt especially poignant – and one particular moment that really captured this for me was the brief silence held at Arlington National Cemetery earlier in the day, a place where thousands of America’s heroes have been laid to rest. A moment that was made all the more significant given that Biden’s son, Beau Biden, who served a year-long tour of Iraq in 2008 as a captain in the Delaware National Guard, was laid to rest there after his death from brain cancer in 2015. He was aged just 46.

Perhaps the emotion of the moment was best summed up in the words of Amanda Gorman, the 22-year-old Harvard graduate who was chosen as the youngest inaugural poet in US history, as she read her poem The Hill We Climb:

“When day comes we ask ourselves,
Where can we find light
In this never-ending shade”

And so I find myself fondly reminiscing of my time in Washington back in July 1996. It’s funny how quickly twenty-five years have passed! Back then I was just shy of my 26th birthday, a British tourist on the other side of the pond. That, and a writer in the making, in search of inspiration in the land of the free. And I found inspiration too, from seeing the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights in the National Archives, to sheltering from the rain in the J.Edgar Hoover Building, to name but a few of the sights I managed to take in. The city was, in my eyes, a beautiful place (although the same could not be said of the camping!).

 “Move over Gillian Anderson” reads the note in my journal beneath a picture of a somewhat younger me

If there is one thing that stands out when it comes to America, it is the sheer scale of everything; here’s the Abraham Lincoln memorial, with me for scale. Bear in mind, I’m pretty tall myself!

But what really came back to me today was my own quiet journey to the Arlington National Cemetery. A powerful, peaceful and serene place in which so many tremendous sacrifices are remembered and honoured.

Arlington is, of course, also the final resting place of John F. Kennedy, whose simple grave site, with its eternal flame, cannot fail to make a lasting impression.

I remember well the feelings of sadness and melancholy that I noted in my journal as I look back over those memories – fond memories of a time spent in a truly wonderful country. A country I was meant to be returning to last year as a celebration of my fiftieth birthday.

I guess this particular trip was just not meant to be, a sentiment that so many will share. But despite it all, when I look back and see the America that I remember, it gives me a renewed sense of hope that there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

‘Til next time,

This year, I am absolutely over the (full) moon to announce that I am a finalist for the 2020 Golden Stake Literary Award, an annual award for the very best in vampire fiction. It is part of the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival (IVFAF), an event which takes place in Transylvania every Halloween, bringing together vampire media-makers from across the world.

Also known as #vampfest, the IVFAF was established in 2016 with the aim of bringing together vampire creatives from the genres of film, literature, academia and performing arts, hosting a fusion of these art forms in the magnificent setting of Sighisoara’s medieval citadel in the heart of Transylvania (pictured above). The festival has been listed as one of the top 100 festivals in the world for four years running and been the catalyst for a number of creative collaborations.

This year, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the event will be run as a virtual event, broadcasting live and (un)dead from midday (Transylvanian time) on Friday 30th October, to the breaking of the dawn at Hallowe’en.

The online festival will include streaming of feature and short films nominated for the 2020 Golden Stake Awards, along with winners from the previous four years. Authors with nominated books (yours truly included), along with previous award winners, will conduct on-line readings. There will also be pre-recorded interviews and live Q&As with leading creatives in the vampire genre as part of the Vampire Creative Congress. The Vampire Academic Conference will hear and discuss the latest and best in-depth academic research on everything vampire via video conferencing. Finally, the 2020 Golden Stake Award Ceremony will be broadcast live – and you can be there too!

As the organisers say, “As darkness falls and Hallowe’en approaches and the veil between life and undeath grows thin, we’ll host a debauched sanguinary soirée with a playlist of the best vampire-themed tunes and videos. Carriages are required an hour before dawn to get you back to your coffins on time…”

If you were worried that Halloween was cancelled, here’s your chance to celebrate from the comfort of your home. You can get tickets completely free from Eventbrite here.

To find out more about the International Vampire Film and Arts Festival, visit their official website or check out their Facebook profile. 

‘Til next time,

 

I’m often asked by my readers, as well as many budding authors, the following question:

“What is an ARC reader and what is the difference between an ARC reader and a beta reader?”

In this article, I’ll take a closer look to help you understand what an ARC reader is and the crucial role they play in helping authors succeed.

What is a beta reader?

 

The role of a beta reader is to read a pre-edit of a final book while it is still a work in progress and provide helpful insight on how important elements of the story such as characters, setting, and plot might be improved. They will also look at areas such as continuity and fact-checking. Beta readers offer valuable insight as to how a book is likely to come across to an average reader, and the author may make changes to the story based on the feedback received.

What is an ARC Reader?

 

ARC stands for Advanced Review Copy. An ARC reader is a person who receives a pre-published copy of a book, usually after final editing. They enjoy access to the book before other readers get an opportunity to buy it
ARC readers are also sometimes known as “early reviewers.” They are given a free copy of an upcoming book in exchange for leaving an honest book review on key sites such as Amazon or Goodreads) once the book is released.

Becoming an ARC reader is a great way to make sure you get the very first chance to read books in the genres you love – plus you’ll be helping an author to succeed and therefore playing a part in their success!

Would you like to become an ARC reader for Team MAC?

 

If you are a serious reader and love horror and dark fiction, you can become part of Team MAC. With Tales From A Scarygirl Two: Darkly Sinister, my second collection of dark horror stories, coming out around Halloween and Eternal Bonds, the final book in the BONDS series set to appear in 2021, there’s plenty to be excited about. If you’d like to get involved, register your interest here and I’ll be happy to tell you more.

‘Til next time,

Name: Frederick Charles ‘Freddy’ Kreuger

From: Springwood, Ohio. 

Occupation: Mass murderer.

Weapon of choice: A bladed glove. 

Claim to fame: Voted 14th greatest villain by Wizard Magazine.

Modus Operandi: To appear, as a vengeful spirit, to teenagers in their dreams. He pursues them, terrifies them, tortures them and eventually kills them. This rather ingenious way of stalking his prey renders them deceased in real life too.

Appearance: Noted for his startling facial disfigurement, due to burning, and his bold choice of colour, in his red and green striped jumper, which certainly makes him memorable. But it is his brown fedora – an ode to a former existence maybe – and, more importantly, his brown leather glove, the fingers trimmed with deadly metal blades, that he is most remembered for.

Background to behaviour: He was a child killer, who was set on fire by the parents of his victims after he escaped prosecution on a technicality. Although he died of his injuries, the youthful minds of the teenagers of Springwood help to keep his spirit alive, by dreaming about him. Clearly, the kids miss having him around and so it’s only fair that he keeps the terror alive long after he is dead.

Weakness: It would appear that by bringing him into the real world, he develops normal human vulnerabilities and, as such, can be killed. Or, can he?

 

I like Freddy. Yes, he is a bad guy and yes, he got what he deserved, but, in a sense, his reason for coming back makes sense. He is seeking vengeance against his own death, by punishing the parents of Springwood. In creating Freddy as a vengeful spirit, it makes his constant reincarnation more believable, as he isn’t corporeal in the first place. He is a supernatural being and, as such, a believable supernatural world can be created; one in which people will trust and one which people will fear. For, the supernatural is the unknown and the unknown is difficult, if not impossible, to conquer.”

‘Til next time,

“Death is not the opposite of life, but a part of it.”

― Haruki Murakami

We all live and we all have to die at some point. Death invokes so many intricately woven feelings, from fear, to wonder, to grief and anger, that it is probably no surprise that most people believe that death may not be entirely final and that the person’s soul or spirit lives on. 

Ever since humans have existed, people have always been curious about what happens after we cease to physically exist, forming the foundation of many varied legends and beliefs about death, the afterlife and whether the essence of a person, their soul or spirit, can remain active and present. 

Coupled with experiences that cannot be easily understood or explained logically and the result is a multitude of stories and images perpetuated throughout world religions, literature and art, featuring ghosts, supernatural beings and fantastical creatures that are believed to live on after death.  

With the cycle of life and death or creation and destruction being a central part of human life, people have always looked for a way to explain, understand it or comfort themselves in the face of a scary idea. A popular way of dealing with the fear of an abstract concept is to create an image of it, often by personifying it. Cultures throughout the ages and around the world almost universally either have anthropomorphic versions of death, such as the Grim Reaper, or they have assigned gods to wield and control the power of death. For example, in Greek mythology there were several gods and demi-gods associated with death; Thanatos being the deity of death, although many people may be more familiar with Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, home of the dead.   

In Bonds, it is an unintended death that starts the wheels in motion for everything that happens in the series – a death that you will only discover if you sign up for my mailing list and claim your free copy of the Bonds prequel, ‘The Curse of Souls’.

’Til next time.

Clairvoyance is the ability to perceive matters beyond the range of ordinary perception. This may be information about an object, person, location, or physical event, knowledge of which the clairvoyant can only obtain through extrasensory perception. A fortune-teller, for example, practices clairvoyance when she gazes into a crystal ball to see her client’s future.

Although the existence of clairvoyance has been documented throughout history, there is still much scepticism about it in scientific circles, who do not accept the existence of the paranormal.

Precognition, retrocognition and remote viewing

Clairvoyance is generally split into three types. Precognition is the ability to perceive or predict future events, retrocognition is the ability to see past events, and remote viewing is the perception of contemporary events happening outside of the range of normal perception.

In Pagan religions, the gift of clairvoyance was often associated with Oracles.

Early in Bonds, Becca experiences clairvoyant abilities when she has visions and dreams about Antony, seeing things she could not possibly know about his presence even before his sarcophagus is disturbed. 

‘Who is buried beneath that tree?’ Her voice was barely a whisper, hoarse and broken.

‘What makes you think that someone is buried there?’ A feeling of unease began to settle over Father Michael as he spoke to her.

“I can feel him,’ she said and turned to stare at him.

The 5 best-known clairvoyants in history

Joan of Arc (1412 – 1431)

Also known as the ‘maid of Orleans’, Joan of Arc was considered a heroine or a woman of courage in France due to her part in the Lancastrian phase of the Hundred Years’ War. She is a glorified and a beatified saint by the Roman Catholic.

She is said to have seen herself being injured at Orleans and being captured by the English people. Her ability allowed her to save lives by instructing soldiers to change locations in order to avoid danger.

Nostradamus (1503 – 1566)

Michel de Nostradame was a French apothecary and a regarded and well known clairvoyant, seer, oracle and prophet. He was famous for his fortune-telling and published 1000 prophecies many of which have yet to be witnessed. He even predicted his own death on the 2nd of July 1566, telling his secretary that she wouldn’t be seeing him alive the night before.

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand (1772 – 1843)

Marie Anne Adelaide Lenormand was a famous French fortune-teller during the Napoleanic era. It is believed that she was taught by the gipsies how to read tarot cards; she acquired her first deck from them at the age of fourteen. She was popular among the rich, not only for her ability to predict future events and happenings, but also for her skill in revealing people’s characteristics and hidden personalities.

Edgar Cayce (1877 – 1945)

Edgar Cayce was an American and a professional psychic who was able to answer a lot of questions about future wars, reincarnation, Spiritual healing, Atlantis and the future events – famously whilst in a trance-like state.

Baba Vanga (1911 – 1996)

Bulgarian Baba Vanga’s full name was Vangelia Pandeva Dimitrova. Born premature, she had been expected to die at a young age. Her parents, therefore, decided not to give her a name unless she survived. The name Vangelia comes from the Greek word “Vangelis”, meaning “herald of the good news”. As a child, she was caught in a storm and was later found in an abandoned field with her eyes full of dust and sand. Her family was unable to afford an operation and she began to lose her eyesight and go blind. She believed that going blind was the awakening of her psychic abilities as she began seeing things that could not be seen by the naked eye. She established recognition as a mystic, clairvoyant and herbalist.

Cats and clairvoyance

There is an age-old belief that cats possess strong paranormal abilities, a sixth sense that is unexplainable by humans through science. This could be interpreted as a form of clairvoyance. 

This unique ability is illustrated In Bonds, when Becca’s cat Spook senses that Becca has been changed by Antony.

‘What a beautiful cat,’ he said, ‘What’s his name?’

‘Spook,’ Becca said, glancing towards the French doors. ‘He’s been behaving oddly all day, ever since I woke up on the kitchen floor and found…’

Other forms of clairvoyance

Other forms of clairvoyance also exist. One of these is clairsentience. While clairvoyants see things, clairsentients – like myself – have the ability to feel the present, past or future physical and emotional states of others, without the use of the normal five senses (smell, vision, touch, hearing, and taste). This can be overwhelming, especially when picking up on darker energy.

’Til next time.

Well, I’ve come to the end of the videos from Tales From A Scarygirl Volume 1 and The Misfits – and we’re still in lockdown here in Wales! You can, of course, catch up with all my videos on Facebook and Youtube.

Luckily, I have plenty more up my sleeve for you, and that’s without you having to wait for my latest books to appear.

This week, I am launching a brand new Book Giveaway. That’s right – I have 5 signed copies of Broken Bonds, the second book in the BONDS series, ready and waiting to be claimed for FREE. All I ask is that you pay postage to the destination of your choice.

How to win your copy

To get your hands on a free copy of Broken Bonds, all you need to do is take a photograph of your printed copy of Bonds and share it by tagging my Facebook profile. You can post a selfie with it, capture it in its natural habitat or even get creative and show me the most ‘novel’ set you can come up with (do you like what I did there?).

The competition is open until June 15th, so grab your copy of Bonds and get the camera fired up!

’Til next time.

Cats have a unique place in the realms of the supernatural. Our feline friends have been revered and worshipped in cultures past. They have also been the subject of many superstitions. So why do cats have such a connection with the supernatural? Read on to learn more.

Cats in ancient mythology

Cats perhaps had their highest level of esteem in ancient Egypt, where they were worshipped. The goddess Bastet was often depicted in cat form and sometimes took on the war-like aspect of a lioness. In fact, cats were so important that killing a cat, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, was forbidden. He also reported that when a household cat died, the entire family mourned and shaved their eyebrows, marking the death much like that of a family member. It was not uncommon for cats to be embalmed and buried in sacred repositories in the sacred city of Bubastis.

Artemis, the Greek equivalent of the Egyptian goddess Bastet shared her association with cats, and the Goddess Diana took on the form of a cat in Ovid’s Metamorphoses, when the deities fled to Egypt.

During the Age of Discovery, ships’ cats were carried on sailing ships – mainly to control shipboard rodents, but also as good-luck charms.

Cats as a spiritual being

Cats have long been believed to be exalted souls, companions or guides for humans. Because they lack the ability to speak, they are considered all-knowing but mute, meaning they cannot influence decisions made by humans. 

It has long been recognised that cats’ senses are far more acute and heightened than humans, and also other animals –  they have been seen to display strong paranormal abilities, a sixth sense that is unexplainable by humans through science. 

There is also a widespread belief that cats can perceive energy fields and auras which most humans cannot access. They are said to have the ability not only to see the aura of those living, but also those who have passed over to the next realm.

It is generally agreed that because of their incredibly wide spectrum of sight and hearing, cats are able to tune into sights and sounds in the realm of the paranormal that humans simply can’t reach.

Cats and witchcraft

In European cultures, cats have often been thought of as both a guardian of life and a symbol of death and are often associated with witchcraft. In Transylvania, Romania and Hungary, people believed a cat would be able to turn a dead body into a vampire. In European folklore, cats were considered to be witches’ familiars – supernatural entities that were believed to assist witches in their practice of magic. The myth that cats have nine lives (mainly due to their ability to land on their feet) only helped to strengthen such superstitions. In some countries, cats were killed in order to try to kill the evil spirits they were believed to embody. The age-old superstition of black cats representing bad luck is also tied into these ancient associations with evil spirits.

Cats in BONDS

In BONDS, true to mythology, Becca and her family have always been close to cats. In chapter one, we meet Becca’s huge grey cat Spook, who is aware of Antony’s presence before Becca herself is and begins to react to the transformations Becca has begun to experience since acquiring mysterious bite marks on her neck. The witch Anna, from whom Becca is descended, also had a cat which we meet briefly in the early chapters.

Meet Texas and Jasmine

Those who know me already will know that I have two cats of my own, Texas (tabby) and Jasmine (white), who have been with me throughout the BONDS Journey. I couldn’t possibly write this post without sharing some pictures for you to enjoy. 

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Bonds Special offer

Looking for some new reading during these times? All of the BONDS books are now on a special promotion – save up to 20%

’Til next time.