Writing into the Sunset: JoAnne Myers, Writing Paranormal, and Wicked Intentions

WRITING PARANORMAL-by JoAnne Myers

When it comes to fiction writing, almost anything goes. That is why I love writing paranormal and fantasy stories. The author can go completely over the edge and make something unbelievable seem believable. When it comes to ghost stories, I get a lot of my inspiration from real life experiences. Not necessarily my own either. I watch television programs that partake of the supernatural and paranormal flare. Programs from ordinary people who claim they experienced either an afterlife experience, or a haunting.

For my ghost stories, I get a lot of my inspiration from real life experiences. Not necessarily my own, either. I watch television programs with the supernatural and paranormal flare; documentaries from ordinary people who claim they experienced either an afterlife experience, or a haunting.

Some of the stories from my anthology, Wicked Intentions, are based on actual hauntings. In The Legend of Lake Manor, I placed my young psychic, Cassandra Lopez, in a haunted mansion I fashioned on my knowledge of a three-story mansion in my hometown and information from television about a restaurant/bar in Ohio, supposedly ruled by demons so violent that the local police are constantly closing it down.

A television documentary about a young mother plagued by ghost sightings since childhood, inspired The Haunting of Barb Marie and her gift/curse.

And The Apartment, in which my newlyweds, Bill and Gayle, are plagued by sightings of evil ghosts that threaten their marriage and theirs lives, originated from a real apartment haunted by the ghosts of two homosexual lovers who died violently. The legend says no tenant is able to stay there until the spirits are chased off by a paranormal investigation team.

On the Discovery Channel, is where I got the idea for Summer Wind. I learned of the colonial explorer Jonathon Carver who lived during the 1700s and whose ghost is believed to be haunting the Summerwind estate, built in the early 20^th century. Carver’s ghost is, supposedly, searching the house’s foundations for deeds to a vast tract of land (10,000 square miles) given to him by Sioux Indian chiefs as a reward for the peace treaty he created between two warring tribes. In my Summer Wind, 29 year-old Ginger is mysteriously drawn to the old mansion, and like the many owners of the real mansion, the haunting had a negative and profound effect on Ginger and her family.

Another investigative program concerned one sister’s psychic premonitions about her twin’s murder. This led to my story, Blood Ties, and my heroine, Audra Roper’s dark, disturbing visions of her sister’s disappearance and the roller coaster of risks, heartbreak, and intrigue that followed.

Dark Visions came from reading a newspaper story while sitting in a diner. A young woman began having visions of her father's disappearance that was actually his murder from years earlier. So, my Carrie Reynolds starts having nightmares on her twenty-sixth birthday and believes these ‘dark visions’ can solve the twenty year disappearance of her father.

I set my murder mystery, The Truth Behind the Lies, on Norfolk Island after following a three year long murder investigation on that island from 2003. In my story, Federal Police Inspector Ian Christian faces attacks, more murders and ghostly occurrences, and the killer is closer than anyone realizes.

So, the next time you get Writer’s Block, or need a new idea, try switching on the television, open a newspaper, delve into history or simply look and listen. You will find something to stimulate your muse.

Blurbs for “Wicked Intentions” 7 bone chilling paranormal tales

BLOOD TIES

After the mysterious disappearance of twenty-six year old wife and mother Lisa Smalley, her twin, Audra Roper, begins having dark and disturbing visions of Lisa’s disappearance. Trying to survive while looking for Lisa, Audra’s life becomes a roller coaster of risks, heartbreak, and intrigue.

THE HAUNTING OF BARB MARIE

Even as a child, Barb Marie saw dead people. This took an unhealthy toil on her throughout her childhood and young adulthood.

SUMMER WIND

When twenty-nine year old Ginger discovers the old mansion Summer Wind, she is mysteriously drawn to it. . Immediately, the haunting’s have a negative and profound effect on the family.

THE TRUTH BEHIND THE LIES-laying the Norfolk ghost to rest

Solving the brutal murder of American born Ruthie Geil becomes a gauntlet of attacks and more murders for Federal Police Inspector Ian Christian. Between the victims family, ex-lovers, and ghostly occurrences on Norfolk Island, the killer is closer than anyone realizes.

THE LEGEND OF LAKE MANOR

For the young psychic Cassandra Lopez, coming to the infamous and haunted mansion Lake Manor, was more like a mission.

THE APARTMENT

When young newlyweds Bill and Gayle move into their new apartment, their lives are plagued with sightings of evil ghosts that threaten their marriage and lives.

DARK VISIONS

When Carrie Reynold’s starts having nightmares on her twenty-sixth birthday, she believes her “dark visions” can solve the twenty year disappearance of her father.

Excerpt from “Dark Visions”

Mark was gone from Carrie’s bed when she awoke. In his place lay a

hand-written love note decorated with flowers and hearts. “Mark, you’re quite the artist,” she said to the note with a deep satisfied smile. Checking the clock she found she had less than thirty minutes to shower, dress and get to

church…and be there on time. Anyone arriving late had to sit in back of the

church, and Carrie was expected to sit with her mother.

She made it to the church with one minute to spare and dutifully kissing

her mother’s cheek, sat with her in the fourth row. “I didn’t think you’d make

it,” whispered Myra, noticing her daughter’s glowing appearance as did others, as evidenced by smiles and wiggling eyebrows. “So, when’s the wedding?”

Carrie stopped her last minute primping and whispered. “Does it show?”

“You got ‘I had sex last night’ written all over your pretty face.”

“He’s the one, Mother. I know it.”

“That’s what I said when I met your daddy…and we know how that

ended.”

“Father was morally and emotionally weak. Mark is not.”

“I may not know everything about men, but one thing I do know is this, ‘If

a man can get the milk for free, why buy the cow?’”

“That’s a horrible presumption to make about Mark.”

“So…when’s the wedding?”

Carrie started to answer, but the organist’s Prelude interrupted. Angry with

her mom and her attitude toward men in general and Mark in particular, she

made a quick exit. Once outside the church, she raced sobbing to her car and

peeled out of the parking lot. She immediately called Mark.

Reviews for Wicked Intentions

1^st Review

5***** on May 2014 by Linda Tonis Member of the Paranormal Romance Review Team

Review: “This was a very interesting collection of short stories and all had a touch of the paranormal. Overall, this is a book well worth reading.”

2^nd Review

4**** by Tenaya Jacob 2015

Review: “Good ghoulish bedtime stories. Wicked Intentions is a collection of short mysterious tales about love gone wrong and restless souls of the spirit world trespassing in the land of the living. Interesting stories to keep you up at night reading.”

Author Bio:

JoAnne has been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of her life. Besides having several novels under her belt, JoAnne canvas paints. When not busy with hobbies or working outside the home, JoAnne spends time with relatives, and volunteers her time within the community. JoAnne is a member of several writing clubs. JoAnne believes in family values and following your dreams. JoAnne’s original canvas paintings, can be found at:

Contact JoAnne:

Email: joannemyers@frontier.com

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/joannemyers

Facebook Author Page: http://facebook.com/authorpage.joannemyers

Facebook Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/joanne.myers.927

Website: Books and Paintings by JoAnne

http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com

JoAnne’s Blogs:

Books and Paintings by JoAnne Blog: http://www.booksandpaintingsbyjoanne.com/page2

Jo Anne’s Blog: http://joannemyers.blogspot.com/

JoAnne’s WordPress Blog:

http://joannemyerswordpressblog.wordpress.com/