Visiting #Montreal + Taking Our Own Ghost Tour! #Canada #travel #paranormal #vacation

According to the friendly bartender, most ghost sightings
occur in the upstairs bar, which was closed that night.  But
I snapped pictures to see if anything showed up!

I love seeing new places, and as an author of ghost mysteries--and a life-long fan of all things paranormal--I often try to visit some local haunted sites.  Sometimes inspiration for a new book strikes, like when I visited the Old Jailhouse in Barnstable Village here on Cape Cod and came up with the plot for Haunted Souls.  A few weekends ago, my husband and I traveled to Montreal, Canada, for a wedding.  I'd never been, and it's a beautiful city!  Friday and Saturday were primarily taken up with wedding activities, but we made sure we had an entire free day on Sunday to explore.  I tried to sign us up for one of the evening Ghost Tours, but they were all booked...apparently there are a lot of people who share my interests!  I was disappointed, but I wrote down some of the sites the different tours visited, along with the history of the haunting, and we built some stops into our day's exploration.  It was considerably less spooky seeing these places in the bright sunshine, but at the end of the day, after 24,000 steps and 42 flights of stairs climbed, I was glad we had no more walking in store for the evening.  Instead, we had a wonderful dinner and a few pints at Hurley's Pub, a reputedly haunted pub pictured above.

First stop was Dorchester Park.  Beneath the beautiful expanse of grass lies the Sainte-Antoine Cholera Cemetery, containing over 70,000 skeletons, many in mass graves.  Apparently during the 1832 epidemic, some victims were likely buried alive by accident due to heavy morphine administration.  

We walked through the Quartier des Spectacles, which sits on the Old Red Light District, an area with quite a bit of haunting history.  As Prohibition laws took effect in the US and Canada beginning in 1919, Quebec quickly abandoned the laws banning alcohol, and Montreal's Red Light District drew crowds of visitors seeking rowdy fun, legal liquor, and the entertainment that goes along with that.  Murder, crime, and exploitation led to many stories of hauntings that still persist today.

One of the beautiful trails through Mount Royal

We climbed Mount Royal to enjoy the view of the city, and learned that this "City of the Dead overlooking the City of the Living" (source: Montreal.org) is considered one of the most haunted places in the city.  Mount Royal is a breath-taking mountain park that is also the location of the largest intact burial ground in North America if you combine the four cemeteries.  The people of the First Nations also buried their dead on the mountain, so it's a very old burial site.

We also walked through Old Port and along St. Catherine Street, and our final stop was Hurley's Irish Pub.  The pub is situated in a former tenement building in what was once the slums, which dates back to 1865.  Dangerous conditions and crowding were problems, and over the years, many fires broke out and trapped tenants inside.  Many sightings of "The Burning Lady" have been reported, but all we encountered was very cool old architecture, great food, and a fun atmosphere.  A wonderful way to cap off a long day!

Tired and sweaty!

More photos I took as I snuck around the quiet parts of Hurley's!

For more posts on haunted places I've visited, check out:

Historic Mt. Washington Hotel, NH

The Old Jail in Barnstable Village, MA

Historic Buildings of Barnstable Village, MA

The Dakota Building in NYC, NY

The Catacombs beneath Paris, France

The Abandoned Glendale TB Hospital, MD


And if you enjoy spooky ghost mysteries, try one of my books!  My latest is The Haunting of Hillwood Farm...and most reviewers advise reading it during the daylight hours!

We earned out poutine and beers!

Visiting #OldPort #Maine with a Donation for #PetsForVets! #Portland #travel

I was honored to present $1,725.00 on behalf of the
authors of Love Under Fire...beautiful day for a walk
along the harbor-side Eastern Promenade Trail, and a
photo with representatives of Pets for Vets Portland
and the sparkling Casco Bay in the background

A few weeks ago, I posted about an upcoming trip to present a donation to Pets for Vets from the authors of Love Under Fire.  Our visit to Portland, Maine, was wonderful, and I wanted to share the pictures from this event!  

A little background on Love Under Fire:  Twenty-one bestselling authors contributed stories to this Romantic Suspense Box Set, and during the six weeks this special deal was for sale, we raised thousands of dollars for Pets for Vets, a wonderful organization that pairs shelter pets with veterans seeking companion animals. 

We decided to split the funds between the Portland, ME Chapter and the Washington, D.C. Chapter.  As a Cape Cod resident, I'm not too far from Portland, and my son goes to college about an hour away from there.  Plus, we have friends in the area, and I love to explore new places.  I volunteered to deliver the check, and we set up a meeting.

My husband and I had time for a walk along the Eastern Promenade Trail, which runs along the harbor for about 2 miles.  We met the Pets for Vets representatives--including two four-legged ones--above the trail at a beautiful spot overlooking Casco Bay, and I was honored to present a check for $1,725.00.

In the background of the picture is Fort Gorges, a military fort built from 1858 to 1864, and never used as it quickly became obsolete due to advancing technology.  It's now a park, accessible by boat, and somewhere I'd love to explore in the future.

I love that I got to bring a few vintage
treasures from Portland back home!

But there was no time for a boat trip out there on this visit.  Before heading to the Promenade, we stopped for lunch with our son, and then when we arrived in Portland, I eked out an hour to hunt for antique finds at Flea for All.  We've been doing a huge remodel of our very dated 1990s master bedroom, and I was looking for some farmhouse-style decor.  Scored a vintage ladder that will be perfect!  Stay tuned for the pics of the new room...I *think* it's going to be finished soon (fingers crosses, it's been months now).

Later that evening, we meet friends for Happy Hour in Old Port, and they took us to a few of their favorite spots.  My favorite was a bar called Bonfire Country Bar, where they served drinks out of red Solo cups, served us a "Box of Bacon" as an appetizer, and offered a variety of unique seating, including silly bar stools, swings, and saddles.  We had such a great time, and finished up with a late dinner and dancing to a few songs by a local band.

Our "Box of Bacon"!

We had to leave early the next morning (6 a.m.!) in order to be home for a soccer game, but I hope to visit again soon...I still have to explore Fort Gorges, and I hear they do wine tastings there on occasion!  Where do I sign up?

Thanks for stopping by, and please check out all the titles from the Love Under Fire set that raised the money here, and support the authors with a purchase if you need a new read!  My Love Under Fire novel is The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, and it's available in print, on Kindle, and on Audible.  If you enjoy spooky mysteries or romantic suspense, I hope you'll give it a read (or a listen!)

Exploring #Bourne Farm for Inspiration #amwriting #Ghosts #CapeCod #Falmouth #Travel

Bourne Farm, or Crowell-Bourne Farm, circa 1775

You wouldn't think a ghost mystery would require much research--part of the fun of writing paranormal elements is using your imagination.  But I've had to do research for every one of my books...some more than others.  Haunted Souls, in particular, took a huge amount of research.  The initial inspiration for that story came from a visit to the Old Jail here on Cape Cod--the oldest wooden jailhouse in the country, built circa 1690 and reputedly haunted.  For this particular plot, historical research was necessary, and also a great deal of research into the military background of one of the characters, who was an EOD tech (Explosive Ordinance Disposal).  You can read more details about the Old Jail in Barnstable Village and researching EOD in this post.

For my recent ghost mystery/romance, The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, I needed more information on historic farms located on Cape Cod.  The farm in my novel has been in the Turner family for generations, and Luke Turner is determined to save the property from development, despite financial struggles.  So I visited a few farms in person in addition to doing online research.

Crocker Pond on Bourne Farm

Crowell-Bourne Farm (in West Falmouth on Cape Cod in MA) probably served as the biggest inspiration, at least in terms of my vision for the landscape of Hillwood Farm.  The house was built in 1775 by Joseph Crowell, as you can see from the plaque on the building in the top photo.  Although there is no documentation to prove it, local lore says the structure on Bourne Farm was one of the first seven houses in West Falmouth.  This property is now owned by a private land trust, and consists of 49 acres of fields and woodlands.  It's listed on the National Registration of Historic Places, and visitors enjoy walking the miles of trails through the woods and appreciating the views.  We picked some apples from the orchards during our walk, and I'm sharing a few more pics below.

The cattle run...this used to be a passage for the
cattle to cross beneath the railroad tracks.  The
tracks above are now a bike path.

My hubby walking the trails (Otis the dog
must be further up ahead)

Otis posing in the cattle run

    

One other farm we visited was Taylor-Bray Farm in Yarmouth Port.  This farm was originally settled in 1639 when the area was still part of the Plymouth Colony.  I used some of the history of this farm as inspiration--specifically, Taylor-Bray was a working farm until 1941, harvesting hay and selling fruit.  The existing farm house there now was built in the late 1800s, and visitors are allowed to walk through when it's open.  The decor has been preserved, but in my mind's eye, my fictional farm house has had quite a lot of renovations throughout the years.

Sheep at Taylor-Bray Farm.  My fictional farm has horses.

While these two farms are now historic landmarks open to the public, there are a number of working farms on the Cape that still house families.  Those I researched online, or visited their produce stands to enjoy the fresh fruits and veggies!

All in all, this research was a fascinating look at some Cape Cod history, as well as inspiration for the setting.  But then my imagination took over.  Who is haunting Hillwood Farm?  And why?  You'll have to read the book to find out!  It's available on Kindle and paperback on Amazon, just follow the link below to read the blurb.  

THE HAUNTING OF HILLWOOD FARM on Amazon

Winner of Best Romantic Suspense 
at N.N. Light's Book Heaven Reviews!

And for more posts on historic sites on Cape Cod, check out a few of my other posts:  Historic Falmouth, Exploring Washburn Island (abandoned military base from WWII), Haunted Barnstable Village (deserted prisons anyone?), and Visiting Cuttyhunk Island (which is literally like time-traveling to a different decade!).  Thanks for stopping by!

A Resort Weekend #Giveaway for #Military + #Veterans! #ArmedForces ~ Massanutten #VA

My latest release will be available exclusively in this set,
along with 20 other Romantic Suspense Thrillers!

~Links at bottom of page will show you all the titles~

The authors of Love Under Fire are giving back to our military!  We are 21 USA Today, WSJ, and Amazon Bestselling Authors, and we’ve put together a phenomenal Limited Edition Box Set of Romantic Suspense Thrillers, which is currently up for Pre-order and will release this fall.  We’re donating 50% of all our sales to Pets for Vets, a fantastic organization that pairs shelter pets with veterans seeking companion animals. 

We want to do more, though!  If you’re active military or a veteran, you can enter to win a 3-night stay at a 5* mountain top resort home, on us!  The winner of our drawing will enjoy a stay from November 9^th – 12^th at Massanutten Resort in Virginia.  All you need to enter is a valid email address…enter here on our website at LoveUnderFire.net.

Enter to win a Romantic Weekend Getaway at Massanutten Resort this fall!

Please consider sharing the word about our giveaway, and our Romantic Suspense Box Set.  We’d love to have our info shared with any interested organizations, and every book ordered helps a vet get a pet, and gives a shelter pet a forever home. 

Order your set of 21 page-turning Romantic Suspense Thrillers today, and you’ll get them all for only 99 cents!  Find the links below—thanks for helping us help Pets for Vets!

Love Under Fire Box Set on Amazon/Kindle

Love Under Fire Box Set on iTunes

Love Under Fire Box Set on Nook/B&N 

Visiting #vonTrapp Family Lodge, #Vermont #TheSoundofMusic #VT #Travel

I enjoy blogging about a number of topics besides writing and book news, and travel is one of them.  It's always fun to share my experience visiting someplace new, especially if I learn some interesting history or facts while I'm there.

The view along the main road through the resort

We spent a few days in Vermont recently, at the lovely von Trapp Family Lodge, and I learned a lot about the family that inspired the iconic "Sound of Music" story.  The movie is one of my all-time favorites, so to stay in a place where the family actually lived was very special, although learning some of the actual facts that aren't reflected correctly in the story threw me for a bit of a loop!  But as our guides often said, some of the real stories are even better.

A very old pic from my photo album!
1990 - a pic I took of the house used
in The Sound of Music film for
exterior shots.  Salzburg, Austria.

As a fan of the movie and the music, I was very excited to spend time at the resort in Stowe, Vermont, and learn a little more about the family.  Years and years ago, I was lucky enough to study abroad in Europe during college, and I took the Sound of Music tour in Salzburg, Austria.  This mostly focused on the outdoor settings used in the film, such as the Mondsee Abbey (wedding scene), the two enormous houses used as the exterior of the von Trapp villa, the fountain, and gardens.  The surrounding mountains were also used as a backdrop, and in the scene of the family's final escape from the Nazi regime...but as I learned recently at the Lodge, the family actually fled via a train to Italy, then emigrated to the United States and settled in Vermont in the 1940s, on a farm surrounded by mountains reminiscent of Austria's Alps.

Today, their former home is a 2,400 acre resort, managed by the son of Maria's youngest son (there were actually 10 children in the family--Maria and the Captain had 3 of their own).  There is fascinating family history everywhere, and plenty of Austrian-inspired decor.  There is actually a family burial ground right near the main lodge, where Maria and the Captain are buried, in the same plot, surrounded by the graves of a number of their children.

The von Trapp Family Cemetery.  Maria and the Captain are buried together,
in the plot beneath the wreath-clad marker farthest to the right, near the cross.

On our first full day, I took a guided snowshoe tour up to The Chapel.  This stone structure was built by Werner von Trapp, one of the older sons, upon his return from WWII.  He served in the U.S. military, returning to Europe and essentially fighting against some of his own countrymen.  During one ferocious battle, he prayed for his survival, pledging to build a Chapel on his family's property if he were able to return home alive.  When he did, he set about keeping his promise, dragging stones up a steep hill by himself.  Offers of help were declined, as he insisted this was a project he needed to complete on his own.  In four years, it was finished, and it still stands in a clearing in the woods.  Inside, there are paper and pens available for any visitor wishing to write down a prayer and leave it in the prayer box.

The Chapel, completed around 1944

My hubby and I in front of the
Sugar House.  An unseasonally
warm day meant short sleeves
and no coats!

In three days, we by no means explored all the property, but a few other things we did on-site included cross-country skiing and a snowshoe hike to the Sugar House, a wooden structure in the woods where the von Trapp maple syrup is produced.  We were also delighted to find a brewery on-site, featuring von Trapp beers and traditional Austrian food.

We came home with some beer, some syrup, and a lot of great memories!  Definitely a wonderful resort with friendly employees and gorgeous scenery that allows visitors to enjoy nature.

Haunted History of #theDakota ~ #NYC #NewYork #Travel #paranormal #ghosts

View of the Dakota from Central Park

Because I have a strong fascination with all things spooky, I tend to seek out haunted places to visit when we go on trips.  When we spent a day in Paris during a London trip, I insisted on exploring the Catacombs.  We also spent a day at the Tower of London, which is surely home to some restless spirits.  In Maryland, I've explored the abandoned Glenn Dale TB Hospital.  Closer to home, I've taken tours of the Old Jail (oldest wooden jail in the entire country), and haunted locations around Barnstable Village. 

More recently, between Christmas and New Year's this winter, we went to New York City to spend some time with our best friends again...with our family in MA, and theirs in VA, NYC is an excellent--albeit expensive--half-way point.  And there's so much to see packed into such a small area!

Looking up from the street...I can believe this building is haunted

When I looked up a list of haunted places in NYC to see what would come up, I was intrigued by The Dakota.  This is an exclusive apartment building on Manhattan's Upper West Side, built in 1884 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The list of celebrities who have lived--or currently live--here is very long, but one of the most well-known residents was John Lennon of the Beatles, who was murdered at the entrance of the building in 1980.  Some claim to see Lennon's ghost, but John Lennon himself apparently spoke of some supernatural encounters in the building before his assassination.  He mentioned an encounter with an apparition in the hallway, who he dubbed "the Crying Lady Ghost".

Site of John Lennon's assassination

Another frequently seen spirit is a little blonde girl dressed in early 1900s clothing, sometimes bouncing a ball.  There have been reports of other apparitions, including a figure resembling Edward Clark, head of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, who built the Dakota but died before the building's completion.

Residents and employees have reported seeing objects move on their own, including things too heavy for a person to lift.

The exterior of the building is a Gothic blend of gables and dormers, arches and balustrades, with ornate iron details.  It is imposing and intimidating enough to have been chosen to represent The Bramford in the horror movie Rosemary's Baby, in which a Satanic cult in the building try to impregnate a new resident with the Devil's baby.  Thankfully, that is a fictitious tale created by Ira Levin in his book of the same name.

This intricate & somewhat sinister ironwork goes all the way around the building

I would have loved to explore the interior of the building, but as I mentioned, it's the home of many famous and affluent residents, and there is security at the entrances.  But I took plenty of photos of from outside, and while I don't think I caught any ghosts on camera, it did give off a spooky vibe that sent a few shivers down my spine.

This was as close as I could get...at one time,
these arched entrances allowed carriages inside.
A Christmas tree was still on display in the courtyard.

Visiting #Newport #RI ~ #CliffWalk Mansions #Travel #RhodeIsland

My best friend and I have many adventures (or misadventures?) together, and this past weekend was no different.  Although we live 8 states apart, we manage to see each other several times a year.  We've been friends since freshman year of high school, and we've had countless crazy adventures together...seems there's always some sort of bizarre mishap when we're together, too (see the Zip Line fiasco), and our mini-vacation in Newport was no exception.

My friend used some airline miles to book a ticket into Providence, Rhode Island, and I used some of our Marriott points to get us an overnight stay at their Newport hotel right on the water.  Since it was a Thursday night, we asked for--and were given--an upgrade to a harbor view, and it was so breathtakingly beautiful from our balcony, we set an alarm to ensure we actually left the room to experience some of the Newport restaurants and bars!

The view of the marina from our balcony...we could have sat there all night!

It was Restaurant Week, too, but instead of taking advantage of one large meal at one location, we instead ate small plates and had a drink at several places so we could see more.  We went to The Mooring, The Speakeasy, and Buskers before calling it a night.

Even more stunning in the daylight!

The view was no less beautiful in the morning.  But we had things to do before a cold front came in, so we started our day walking over to the popular breakfast spot, The Corner Cafe, before heading over to the famous Cliff Walk.  If you've never been, it's truly something to see...as its name suggests, it is in fact a walk along a cliff, but it's so much more. 

The back of The Breakers, Italian Renaissance style, built 1895 for
Central Railroad President Cornelius Vanderbilt.  138,00 square feet. 

This 3.5 mile National Recreation Trail winds its way along the eastern shore of Newport, offering breathtaking views of the ocean.  But along the other side, built to take advantage of these stunning views, are the backs of mansions built for extremely wealthy families during America's Gilded Age (late 19th century), for use during the summer months.  They were actually referred to as "cottages", but they are anything but...one of the mansions, The Breakers, built for the Vanderbilt family, boasts 70 rooms, 27 fireplaces, and bathtubs with fresh and salt water faucets.  Another mansion, Rosecliff, built for a silver heiress, has been used to film a number of movies, including The Great Gatsby, True Lies, and Amistad.

The start of the walk...I have the map!  ^^

All of this information came from a map I'd purchased in the past, and I was extremely proud I'd remembered it, as it had an informational blurb on each mansion along the walk.  I not only remembered to bring the map on the trip itself, I also remembered to bring it along with us that morning.  I was all set to educate us on each magnificent property along the way.

But, of course, we stopped to take a picture, and I set the map down on the stone wall preventing people from tumbling down into the ocean.  And then the wind blew the map off the wall and into the brush below.  It was somewhat funny, but also disappointing...we'd just started the walk!

The mysterious broken ladder that leads
nowhere...maybe inspiration for a new novel?

As we leaned over the wall to see if there was any way to retrieve it, we noticed a broken wooden ladder, propped up against the ocean side of the wall.  Why was it there?  There was absolutely nothing down there but a small shelf off rocks and brush that quickly dissolved to cliffs and water.  

But...it was there.  It seemed like a sign, even though one side was broken at the top and it looked a bit weathered and worse for the wear.  So, after some discussion about what we would do if it did not hold my weight and I couldn't get back up (not sure if we came to a conclusion on that), I hung off the top of the wall until my feet found the first rung, climbed down successfully, secured the map, and made it back up without breaking any rungs or bones.  Victory!  Was it a good idea?  Definitely not.  But I often do things that are ill-advised (see Exploring an Abandoned TB Hospital for example).  Anyway, it made a good story and we were able to continue our walk with our trusty map.  

I got a few looks from passersby...

Got it!

It was only later that we noticed a new installation...plaques with those square bar codes had been placed along the way, so walkers can scan it with their phone to get more information.  Oh well.  We had a lot of laughs both during and after the great map retrieval event, so there's that!

After completing the cliff walk, we walked around the front of the mansions and then back to the hotel, then ventured back out for lunch and shopping.  Overall, we logged in an incredible amount of steps--over 11 miles--in just a few hours, and we had a blast doing it.  We had to leave around 3:00 for the nearly 2 hour drive back to the Cape, because I don't like to drive in the dark.  When it comes to risky behavior, I only like to climb down cliff walls via mysterious rickety ladders to retrieve $3.00 maps, apparently ;)

Have you ever been to Newport?  Share your stories!  And if you haven't, it's a must-see!

The Forty Steps, one of the major landmarks along the Cliff Walk...
Originally built in 1830 out of wood and used by the Irish staff from
the mansions as a gathering spot
to play music and dance during their time off.

Fall Family Fun Weekend! #Staunton #VA #MD #Travel

Selfie with my brother

I'm back from a whirlwind trip that included seeing a bunch of different family members, celebrating joyous occasions, and reminiscing about the past.  My journey was filled with train and car rides, loads of laughter, and two family events.  Oh, and because it's me, there was also one trip to a haunted building.

I started off making my way from Massachusetts to Maryland via a long but peaceful train ride.  I love the train, actually--I always choose the "Quiet Car", where talking and cell phones are prohibited, and I get to read uninterrupted (with the exception of naps) for hours on end.  It's a mini-vacation in and of itself.

One of the pics I took exploring
Glenn Dale Hospital

From Baltimore, I needed to hook up with my brother and sister, so I took a car to my sister's office.  Like me, she loves all things spooky, so we had to take a quick side trip to the Glenn Dale Hospital,  an enormous, 216-acre campus of abandoned buildings that once served as a tuberculosis sanatorium and isolation hospital.  Built in 1934, it hasn't been used since 1981.  I went into a few rooms (not exactly legal) to snap photos, and while I don't think I encountered any ghosts, it was certainly eerie.  It reminded me a bit of the tour I received of an abandoned prison here on Cape Cod.  In fact, as we get into the Halloween season, I'll probably do an entire post of the history of Glenn Dale hospital and the legends surrounding the facility and include the rest of my pictures...who knows, maybe it will even serve as inspiration for a new book--seems like a perfect setting for one of my stories!  

From Maryland, we hooked up with our brother and continued on to Staunton, Virginia, located in the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains (both parts of the Appalachian Mountains).  We know it best as the hometown of both our cousins on our mother's side and The Statler Brothers, a country music group we used to see in concert every year when we'd visit for the Fourth of July.  Since it was just a sibling road-trip--we left the spouses and kids behind--it felt like we were time traveling, back to the past.    

Staunton, Virginia

My cousin's wedding was lovely, an all-day event that brought us together with family and friends we hadn't seen in years.  We had a great time reminiscing and the two days we spent there went by too fast.  

We took some of the wedding flowers
to use at the Baptism - love these

Then it was back in the car to my sister's house, for the Baptism of my youngest niece.  I got to see more members of the family and play with my nephew and nieces, whom I adore.  

I was back on the train on Monday, exhausted but thrilled to have been a part of the family celebrations.  It may not have been the easiest trip to make, in terms of timing, logistics, and convenience, but I know it was important too.  Now I'm slowly trying to get back into my usual routine, and it's not easy after five hectic days away!  So, time to get off my computer, and get back to the laundry.  Thanks for stopping by! 

Signing #Books in #Falmouth Cape Cod #CapeCod #Author Events #amwriting

I have lots of events coming up this September, both writing-related and personal!  This week brings both an online event and a local 

event.  On Tuesday the 12th, I'll be a guest author at Casi McLean's Beyond the Mist Facebook party--a celebration for her newest release, with 12 author offering giveaways and giftcards!  Check this post for more info on that...all you need to attend is a FB account.  Then the next night, Wednesday the 13th, I'll be in Falmouth. at a Bingo Night Fundraiser.  This is always a good time.  The suggested donation is $20 (proceeds this month go to Walk MS Falmouth, ALS Cliff Walk, and Walk to Defeat ALS), and that gets you 20 games (wear orange OR blue and white for a bonus card!).  Complimentary light appetizers and a cash bar too!

Where do I fit in to this event?  There are a whole bunch of local artists and vendors setting up for shopping before and in between the games, and we've all donated to the cause as well as offered prizes for raffles.  The complete list of vendors is below, so if you're in the area, please consider stopping by!  

Wednesday, September 13th

5:30 to 9:30 at the Holiday Inn Cape Cod
291 Jones Road Falmouth

Shop with local artists and vendors:

PartyLite, LuLaRoe by Brooke, Thirty One, The Pampered Chef, Arbonne, Ruby Ribbon,

Paparazzi Jewelry, Reine’s Creations, Nanny’s Knits, Younique, Pruvit, Tupperware, Mary Kay,

 Dragonfly Dreams, LuLaRoe by Heather, It Works, Limelight by Alcone, Avon, Usborne Books,

Athenas, LuLaRoe by Stacy, Steeped Tea, WarmShades Widgets, Touchstone Crystal, doTERRA,

LuLaRoe by Trina, Allison Asher – Realtor- Kinlin Grover Real Estate, Kathryn Knight Books,

CyAnOriginals, Beautycounter, Jamberry & More! 

Then I get to spend a long weekend away from work, visiting with family for both my cousin's wedding in Virginia and my niece's Christening in Maryland.  The negative...I'll be missing my older son's first Parent's Day Weekend...but we're close enough that I'm making up for that by visiting him this weekend.  And his Dad and brother will be with him for that tailgate while I'm away.

Finally, when I get back from my travels, my latest Fiction Writing and Publication class begins in Falmouth on Tuesday, September 26th. More info on that can be found in this post.  And then comes October, with all the usual haunting-related events I do...but between all that, I hope to finish my latest manuscript...in all my free time????  Wish me luck!

Exploring Washburn Island #CapeCod #vacation #travel Cape Cod

A sailboat washed ashore on Washburn

I love exploring new places, whether far away or close to home, but it's especially exciting to "discover" the hidden gems in your own backyard (for me, that's now Cape Cod).  A few summers ago, we visited Cuttyhunk, a secluded oasis in the Elizabeth Island chain only accessible by private boat.  It was like being in another world.  People do live there year-round...about 86, to be exact.  This summer, we spent a day on Washburn Island, a completely undeveloped island located in Falmouth.  Again, this is an island only accessible by private boat, and there is almost nothing there except for some primitive camping grounds.  Well, not nothing, really.  There's history, beauty, and undisturbed nature.  In fact, nature has reclaimed the remnants of the human intervention of the past, and it's slightly eerie to walk amongst the "ruins" and imagine the structures that once carved out space on the island.

Washburn Island is located in Waquoit Bay, and has, at times, been connected to the mainland via man-made bridges or changes in geography.  The Native American name for the island was Menauhant, and in the 1700 and 1800s, it was used for livestock grazing and small farms.  In the late 1800s, the island was acquired by Henry Bryant, who built a house and facilitated the installation of a hand ferry for passage to the mainland.

A small part of the house that once stood on Collin's Hill

After Bryant's death, his widow eventually sold the island to a group of investors.  The only property developed was purchased by Fred and Fannie Collins, and the remains of their summer home is visible on Collins' Hill.

One of the investors, Henry Washburn, purchased the remainder of the island, and he and his wife Florence moved into the Bryant House.  A fire destroyed the property in 1926, and after Henry's death, Florence allowed the island to be used for recreational purposes.

Rusted remains of military vehicles

When the United States entered WWII, the need for amphibious training became tantamount to military success.  The Federal Government leased the area and reconnected Washburn Island to the mainland via a sand causeway and a wooden bridge.  The island was soon the home to roads, buildings, drill fields, parade grounds, obstacle courses, docks, and piers.  After the war, the island was returned to Florence Washburn, who again allowed locals to enjoy the location.  Eventually, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts acquired the island, and it's now part of the Waquoit Bay Reserve.  Visitors may enjoy the beach, hike the trails, and camp (with reservations).


The one time I did camp there, we had little time for anything but setting up camp and then tearing it back down for our one-night stay.  But during our recent day trip, I was able to see so much more of the island, and really appreciate this historic and pristine piece of Cape Cod. And, on our journey, we found an actual message in a bottle, washed up on the sand!  The letter inside asked for a response, and as a writer, I was thrilled to comply.  Already, ideas about a character finding a message in a bottle are providing the inspiration for a new novel.

In the meantime, my latest Work-In-Progress, tentatively titled Dangerous Currents, does involve the Waquoit Nature reserve, if not Washburn Island itself.  I love drawing from local history for my stories, as I've done with Gull Harbor and Haunted Souls.  If you'd like to visit Cape Cod via my novels (along with some steamy romance and spooky suspense), check out the links!  And if you get to visit here in person, don't miss the beauty and history of Washburn Island.  

My husband walking the trail that was once a paved road
used by army vehicles during WWII