I am absolutely thrilled to introduce today’s guest to you. She and I bonded online through several common interests (sadly the Steelers are not one of them, as she’s a Ravens fan šŸ™ ) but for some reason I only recently read one of her books. And now I’m hooked! So today I’m going to turn the reins over to paranormal enthusiast and uber-talented author, Mae Clair. Take it away, Mae…

Can you spot the ghost in this photo? by Mae Clair

A huge thank you to Staci, for hosting me today. Staci and I originally ā€œmetā€ through Triberr and Twitter, and Iā€™m delighted we connected. Iā€™m a PA girl with an Italian family background, so we have a lot in common. šŸ™‚

Myth And Magic-highresToday, Iā€™ve brought two treats to share ā€”MYTH AND MAGIC, a novel of mystery and romantic suspense set during Halloween (on sale now for just $.99) andā€¦a ghost.

Recently, my husband and I took a trip to Point Pleasant, West Virginia so I could conduct research for an upcoming series of novels Iā€™ve set in the area. We stayed at the Historic Lowe Hotel. This is a very old four-story behemoth built in 1904.

I canā€™t begin to relay the mammoth scope of this place. With its long halls, old stairways, elaborate moldings and woodwork, there were times I felt like I stepped into the Overlook hotel in The Shining. Everything was furnished with antiques, and I do mean antiques. I opened the top drawer of the dresser and discovered a songbook from the 1920s, the pages yellowed and tattered. The second-floor landing had a huge parlor with a piano, parlor benches, and chairsā€”this even before we ventured down the hallway to our room.

So where does the ghost fit in?

When I inquired why the hotel was billed as haunted (something I didnā€™t realize until our last night there), our host told us a phantom had been spotted occasionally on the third floor. Nothing much appeared to be known about this ghost, but there was a photograph someone had snapped hanging in the second-floor hallway.

Our host told us the spirit was visible in the photo, so my husband and I checked it out. I wasnā€™t expecting a lot, but was surprised to see the image of a woman in the bottom right-hand corner. I tried to grab a shot of it with my cell phone. Are you able to see the ghost?

ghost

I posted this same photo on my blog in July and it was amazed at the number of different entities people saw in this picture. Clearly there is a lot going on in the photograph. Iā€™d love to know what you see.

But before you start contemplating apparitions, Iā€™d like to take a moment to tell you about my Halloween-themed novel, MYTH AND MAGIC. Itā€™s filled with Halloween happenings, pumpkins, hayrides, a mysterious house with an infamous past, and rumors of hauntings.

Hereā€™s the blurb:

AS CHILDREN THEY PLAYED GAMES OF MYTH AND MAGICā€¦

Veronica Kent fell in love with Caith Breckwood when they were children. As a teenager, she was certain he was the man she was destined to marry. But a traumatic event from Caith’s past led him to fear a future together. He left Veronica, hoping to save her from a terrible fate. Twelve years later, Caith, now a P.I., is hired to investigate bizarre incidents at the secluded retreat Veronica manages. Returning to his hometown, Caith is forced to face his nightmaresā€”and his feelings for the woman heā€™s always loved.

THEN ONE DAY THE MONSTERS BECAME REAL.
Ā 
After the callous way Caith broke her heart, Veronica isnā€™t thrilled to see him again. But strange occurrences have taken a dangerous toll on business at Stone Willow Lodge. Forced to work together, Veronica discovers it isnā€™t ghostly apparitions that frighten her, but her passion for a man she has never forgotten. Or forgiven. Can two people with a tarnished past unearth a magical future?

~ooOOoo~

And a short excerpt for your reading pleasure:

Veronicaā€™s stomach clenched as a mixture of fear and dread skittered through her. The expression in her eyes must have betrayed her unease because Morgana took her by the arm and drew her aside. Across the hall, the caterer and florist were busily consulting with the head of Morganaā€™s household staff. Three workers wearing black shirts that proclaimed Ghosts & Ghouls, Inc. wheeled a life-sized coffin through the front door. Having attended a number of Morganaā€™s Halloween parties, Veronica knew trays would be fitted inside the open lid, bearing all manner of delectable treats.

ā€œI know my son,ā€ Morgana said, cutting through the noise and activity. ā€œHeā€™s stubborn, but heā€™s not stupid. He isnā€™t going anywhere, Veronica. He may not be willing to admit it, but heā€™s in love with you.ā€

ā€œNo.ā€ She tried to draw away. ā€œDonā€™t say that.ā€

ā€œItā€™s the truth.ā€

She shook her head. ā€œCaithā€™s terrified of love.ā€

ā€œHeā€™s terrified of loss.ā€

Veronica clamped her mouth shut. Morgana was right. Even if Caith wouldnā€™t admit it, she knew it was the defining emotion that had driven him all of his life. The reason heā€™d chosen a career designed to keep others safe, the reason heā€™d given his son another name, the reason he still couldnā€™t bring himself to visit Traskā€™s grave.

She wet her lips. ā€œI have to see him.ā€

ā€œGive him time first,ā€ Morgana suggested. ā€œStuart said he was up all night working on the case. Heā€™s barely slept and probably isnā€™t thinking clearly.ā€ She smiled encouragingly, hooking her arm through Veronicaā€™s. ā€œYou can stay and help me decide where the band should go. And the goblins. Did I mention weā€™re having roving goblins?ā€

Veronica managed a small smile. The Ghosts & Ghouls people were pushing a series of crates through the door. Tall ones, large ones, squat ones.

ā€œMrs. Breckwood,ā€ a sandy-haired worker called. ā€œWhere would you like us to put the trolls?ā€

~ooOOoo~

E-copies of MYTH AND MAGIC are on sale now for $.99 Ā  for a limited time across all major online booksellers:

AmazonĀ |Ā Barnes and NobleĀ |Ā KoboĀ |Ā iTunesĀ |Ā Kensington PublishingĀ |Ā GoogleĀ |Ā All Romance eBooks


Mae ClairMae Clair opened a Pandoraā€™s Box of characters when she was a child and never looked back.Ā  Her father, an artist who tinkered with writing, encouraged her to create make-believe worlds by spinning tales of far-off places on summer nights beneath the stars.

Mae loves creating character-driven fiction in settings that vary from contemporary to mythical. Wherever her pen takes her, she flavors her stories with mystery and romance. Married to her high school sweetheart, she lives in Pennsylvania and is passionate about cryptozoology, old photographs, a good Maine lobster tail, and cats.

You can find Mae Clair at the following haunts:

WebsiteĀ |Ā BlogĀ |Ā TwitterĀ |Ā Google+Ā |Ā Facebook Author PageĀ |Ā Amazon Author PageĀ |Ā Kensington Books Author PageĀ |Ā GoodreadsĀ |Ā Newsletter Sign-Up

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21 Responses

  1. Hi Mae,

    That hotel sounds fascinating. I’d love to visit, but not sure I’d want to stay there for a night! It would be fun to walk around in the evening and take in the old architecture and perhaps seeing something unexplained.

    Your book sound really good!

  2. Ghost and paranormal stories are some of my favorite reading material. Now can we convert Mae to a Steelerā€™s Fan?

  3. I love a good ghost story! We visited Gettysburg this past summer and did the ghost tour. None appeared however, but there were plenty of stories shared. Your book sounds intriguing (and so does a visit to that hotel.)

    • Hi, Joan! I live about 45 minutes from Gettysburg and have visited numerous times. Only one weird experience there…..kind of a very odd “feeling” come down from Little Round Top. I’ve hiked that numerous times, but the last time I was actually spooked on the descent for some reason I can’t explain.

      The Lowe Hotel was an interesting experience, although thankfully, we didn’t encounter the ghost. Thanks for checking out the post on MYTH AND MAGIC! šŸ™‚

      • I thought you’d be interested in this one, Joan.

        Mae, have you ever been to Jennie Wade house in Gettysburg? I actually have a Christmas-themed story about that one.

        • I haven’t been in the house, but I’m familiar with it. You have a Christmas-themed story out on that one? What’s the title. I’m going to have to snatch it up. I love Christmas reads! šŸ™‚

        • Staci, you should do something with this story – I’d love to read it. We didn’t go inside the Jenny Wade house, but passed by it and heard numerous stories. We did visit the nearby orphanage where so many children were tortured.

          • I’m torn about that story. On one hand, I’d love to find an anthology to put it in. On the other, I crammed so much in there, I think I could turn it into a novel. At the very least, a novella.

            Hmm… food for thought.

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