My List of The Best Romantic Ghost Stories is on #Book Shepherd! #ghosts #romance #bookshepherd #ghoststory #books_worth_reading

 

Which of these fabulous books have you read?

So exciting! All of my books have a romantic piece, but many are mixed with spooky ghost mysteries.  It's my favorite combo to read, too...and I was thrilled to be invited to make a list of my Top 5 for Book Shepherd!

Check out my list here: The Best Romantic Ghost Stories by Kathryn Knight.  And I hope you'll take a look at my novels as well if you enjoy romance spiked with spooky suspense!

A #1 Amazon Bestseller!

An Orange Banner Day for SILVER LAKE! #1 #Kindle Bestseller #Ghost Mystery + Reunion Romance

Silver Lake was my debut novel, and because of that, it has a very special place in my heart.  For years, I had the plot of this reunion romance/ghost mystery spinning through my mind.  I knew the story arc.  I knew the conflicts and the climax.  I knew the characters so intimately, they were like my friends.  They spoke to me, and when I pictured scenes, the dialog flowed smoothly.  They wanted me to tell their story; I wanted to tell their story.  But thinking it and writing it down are two different things.

Obviously, I decided to try.  And for three years, I experienced the satisfaction of creativity, the pain of rejections, the sleepless nights spent editing, the five major revisions based on encouraging advice from agents and acquisitions editors, and eventually, the pure joy of an offer from a small traditional publisher with an excellent reputation.

This started my writing journey, and it's been a wild and exciting ride.  My fifth novel released in May, and I have an upcoming release that's part of the Love Under Fire Romantic Suspense Box Set releasing this fall.

Love a beautiful orange banner!

But back to Silver Lake...this novel always surprises me these days, because it's still going strong six years after publication.  And I never know when it's going to suddenly take off with a strong sales surge and hit #1 on Amazon.  That's because Amazon's traditional publishing house acquired the rights to the electronic version of Silver Lake for their Encore imprint a few years back.  This was my first introduction to rights acquisition deals, and I am so glad I saw this for the opportunity it was and signed the contract.  Every once and a while, I get the pleasant shock of seeing Jason and Rain's story recommended by Amazon as one of their Kindle deals, with all the promotion that goes with that.  Which is...huge, to say the least! 

I'm not usually able to discern exactly what happened, but something happened on Thursday night that made my week, or maybe my month!  I noticed Silver Lake was wearing a beautiful orange #1 Bestseller banner, and it was #1 in two categories, Ghost Fiction and Ghost Mysteries.  It was #3 in Mystery and Suspense Romance.

The book was also selling enough to place me into 5 Amazon Author Rank categories, which only happens when you're in a Top 100 seller in your category.  So exciting!

This business can be incredibly painful at times.  Bad reviews can cut to the bone, even when you remind yourself that everyone likes different things and there's no pleasing everyone with a story meant to entertain.  Time spent holed up in your writing cave is time away from family and friends.  Releasing a new book to mediocre sales is depressing. 

Was exciting while it lasted, but
the universe eventually
corrected itself!

So, when something great happens, you celebrate!  I'm raising a wine glass to Silver Lake, the story that launched my career, and the story that still seems to resonate with a lot of readers.


(As a postscript, I couldn't believe Silver Lake was ranking above two amazing Stephen King ghost novels, which are masterpieces.  Bag of Bones is in my list of favorite ghost stories, you can find that here)  (And for another strange connection I have to Mr. King, check out this story: Granny Griffin and the farm in 'Salem's Lot)

My favorite #ghost stories - Kathryn Knight

I love ghost stories, which is probably abundantly clear from my own novels.  My favorites have a mix similar to what I write--a tension-filled romance combined with a spooky and suspenseful haunting.  That said, I enjoy ghost stories that veer closer to the horror genre as well (and often therefore lack a Happily Ever After).  Of course my books have a special place in my heart, but in order to avoid bias, I won't be including them in this list.  Here are my favorites:


1.  Jane-Emily, by Patricia Clapp. 

The novel that started it all for me.  One of my all-time favorites, this YA book is both a sweet romance and a spooky ghost story.  In fact, I would call this book a huge inspiration for my writing, as it's that combination of ghost story/love story that I find addictive.  My father brought Jane-Emily home from the library when I was around 8 years old, and I read it over and over, then requested it regularly when I needed my Jane-Emily fix.  A few years back, I purchased my own copy (finally!) from ebay and read it to my kids.  The ghost of 12-year-old Emily still delivers chills even after all these years as she unleashes her wrath on 9-year-old Jane--but of course the romance piece was there as well between the hunky Doctor and Jane's young aunt Louisa.

2.  Midnight Bayou, by Nora Roberts

I could not put this book down...literally.  I loved the New Orleans bayou setting and intertwining of past and present.  A sassy Cajun heroine and a hunky ex-lawyer-turned-carpenter embark on a passionate journey to uncover the dark secrets of Manet Hall.  Sadly, I lent my nice hardcover copy to someone and it has not yet been returned.  I'll have to purchase another for my shelf of favorites if it doesn't make it back eventually!

3.  Madeleine's Ghost, by Robert Girardi

One of my all time favorites--a captivating mix of romance, history, and the paranormal.  An original storyline with quirky and believable characters, this book has it all: intrigue, mystery, secrets, star-crossed lovers, and a haunting.  This novel moves between the past and the present, revealing the layers that make the characters come alive.  The descriptions of both New York City and New Orleans are so vivid I felt like I was right there...and I enjoyed every minute spent traveling between the gritty East Village and the humid bayous of Louisiana.

4.  Bag of Bones, by Stephen King

This one is more horror than romance, and in true King fashion, not everyone survives.  But the haunting at the house at Dark Score Lake sent shivers up my spine in a way not many books have.  The premise of two spirits fighting from the beyond--one intent on exacting revenge, one determined to prevent the continuing tragedies--is truly unique.  This concept inspired me to look for ways to make the ghosts in my novels really have to work around barriers to communication--it should never be as easy as simply leaving clues.  If it were, any ghost could simply write out what it needed to convey with no struggle. 

5.  Vaporetto 13, by Robert Girardi

Another atmospheric ghost story by Girardi, this one transports the reader to the damp, stagnant canals of Venice.  It's been many years since I read this one, so I'm due for a re-read.  But I can clearly remember the desperate longing between Jack and the mysterious Caterina, the eerie and evocative descriptions of Venice, and the suspense building as Jack unravels the truth.

Well, that's the first five, anyway...making this list I realized I have read plenty more worth mentioning!  But it's late, so that's a blog post for another day.  Please feel free to leave a comment with your own favorite ghost story, I'm always looking for recommendations!