Of Dreams and Shadow

January 26, 2015January 24, 2015

Ghosts, Shadows and the Unexplained

On occasion, I take part in local festivals. They are a good way of connecting with potential readers/buyers of my books. Of Dreams and Shadow, the first book in the Forget Me Not Series, features a shadow. The shadow is an evil apparition. As people stopped by my table, I would present my pitch, hoping I could entice them to buy a copy. As I described the premise of the story, highlighting the shadow, I was surprised at the number of people asking me if I had a paranormal/supernatural experience as a child. It would seem that plenty of people have. An old woman described how as a child, she was visited by a shadow who wore a cloak and hat. Another shared her experience of a shadowy figure who haunted her until she turned eighteen.

The thing is – these people aren’t alone. As I was writing Of Dreams and Shadow, I researched shadow people and there are a lot of sightings. The cloak and hat guy – I couldn’t believe how many accounts I found concerning him – and while the old woman stood in front of me recounting her experience, I realized how much her story had in common with my research.

As for me – I didn’t see a shadow but I remember having the sensation of feeling “watched.” It was so unnerving, I shared that experience with my main character.

“There are three classes of people: those who see.

Those who see when they are shown.

Those who do not see.”
~Leonardo da Vinci

So – what’s with these shadows? Are they ghosts or something else? Perhaps, they are nothing more than a figment of an overactive imagination or a hysterical response to something like a night terror. If so, what about those people who’ve seen these entities during the day?

I’m not sure I believe in ghosts – but I believe there’s something going on that I can’t explain.

Years ago, our dog (who coincidently was named Shadow) disappeared. We searched for her for hours. I’ll never forget getting out of our vehicle, walking to our house and feeling as though Shadow was running to us. It was strange, to say the least. It wasn’t long before my son came inside. He looked at me and said, “I saw Shadow. She was sitting by the steps watching me and then she was gone.” Sometime later, we found Shadow’s body. Do I believe that she came back to check on her boy one last time – absolutely.

How about you? Any strange experiences or encounters with the unknown?

May 16, 2014

Mean Girls in Young Adult Fiction

There are people who would prefer that the stereotypical mean girl, who so often appears in young adult fiction, would go the way of the dodo bird. But why? Literature is sprinkled with femme fatale characters who use their beauty and charm to manipulate. They lie and deceive. They bring a certain magic to the story. Like the femme fatale, the mean girl serves much the same purpose.

The teenage years are a time of growing and maturing. It’s also the time when many teens are at their most vulnerable. Having a mean girl allowed me to use her as a tool – one that could expose my main character’s insecurities. Jenna is a typical teen. She’s the new girl in school. She’s dealing with all the baggage that comes with a move – finding her place in a new social environment while mourning the loss of the security of her former life and friends. Mean Girl Melissa helped to propel Jenna’s story. She made sure Jenna felt out of place. She possessed a confidence that Jenna lacked. Because of her, Jenna had to grow. She had to become a young woman who knew her own self-worth.

But what of the mean girl? Why do we typically choose to describe her as popular and beautiful? After all, we all know girls that are not only popular/beautiful but sweet and kind. So why the stereotype? There are a variety of reasons but one reason sticks out for me. In our society, looks are valued; females tend to compare themselves to their peers. Most people can relate to the girl who is all too aware of the pimple that blemishes her face or the hair that refuses to cooperate. We know what it’s like to feel as though we don’t measure up. The mean girl is beautiful because she has to be. She’s the picture of perfection, a contrast to the main character’s self-perceived shortcomings.