The Origins of Halloween ~ #Halloween2023 #Halloween

The month of October conjures up images of turning leaves, hayrides, pumpkins, scarecrows, black cats, and of course Halloween decorations.  I love learning about the origin of the holidays we celebrate, and as an author of ghost stories, Halloween is one of my favorites.  So I did a bit of (admittedly rudimentary) research to discover some of the reasons we dress up and try to scare each other on October 31^st.

Originally known as All Hallows’ Eve, Halloween is linked to the Celtic festival of Samhain.  This last day of autumn was considered the time of year when the barrier between the paranormal and physical worlds grew thin. 

The Christian holiday of All Saints’ Day (All Hallows) also influenced Halloween.  It was said that the souls awaiting release on November 1^st had one last night to extract revenge on their enemies before leaving the earth.  Cautious Christians would disguise themselves with masks to avoid recognition.

The custom of carving pumpkins originated from a Samhain practice of remembering souls with turnip lanterns.  Trick-or-treating can be traced back to “souling”, a medieval practice which involved the poor and hungry travelling door-to-door and offering to pray for the dead in return for food.

My favorite Halloween tradition is visiting haunted houses (well, staged haunted houses for entertainment...I do visit actual haunted houses as much as possible at any time during the year.  And an abandoned sanatorium for TB patients...see that post here!) 

If you like spooky reads, I hope you'll check out some of my ghost mystery romantic suspense novels at the following links:  The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, Ghost Moon, Gull Harbor, and Silver Lake.  Happy Halloween and Happy Haunted Reading!

In Need of Spooky Reads? Visit the virtual Spooktacular Halloween Reads Book Fair!! #books #halloween #halloween2023

As you can probably tell from my novels, I'm a huge fan of ghost stories! I enjoy reading haunting mysteries as well as writing them, so I'm always looking for recommendations in this niche, as well as other eerie, chilling, and atmospheric reads! The virtual Spooktacular Halloween Reads Book Fair has nearly 40 titles that fit the bill, and I'm thrilled that six of my titles are featured...my latest release Ghost Moon, #1 Amazon and B&N Bestseller Gull Harbor, RONE Award Winner The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, A Top 3 Read of 2016 Haunted Souls,  and #1 Amazon Bestseller Silver Lake all involve ghost mysteries, and my award-winning YA title Divine Fall is a paranormal romance revolving around a fallen angel, a quest for revenge, and forbidden first love. There are 29 additional spooky titles to check out in the fair, in lots of different genres:  romance, cozy mystery, horror, YA, NA, thrillers...something for all lovers of spooky intrigue!

My subgenre is "Paranormal Romantic Suspense"...ghost mysteries mixed with steamy romance (although The Haunting of Hillwood Farm is what is called 'closed door' in terms of the romance heat level).

So if you are in need of some Halloween reads, visit the virtual Spooktacular Halloween Reads Book Fair from the comfort of home...many of the books are on sale or free!  And if you enjoy spooky suspense that sends a chill up your spine countered by hot chemistry and happily-ever-afters, my books are for you!  The link below 🠋 takes you to the fair...Happy Haunted Reading!👻🕮👻

Why We Fear the #13 & #Fridaythe13th ~ #FridayMorning #Superstitions #Friday13th #FridayFeeling

I embraced the number 13 long ago, since it is the date of my birth...and my birthday has often fallen on Friday the 13th (it did this year ~ January!)  I do sometimes wonder if being born on the 13th has anything to do with my love of all things spooky, though.  Most of my novels incorporate some type of supernatural suspense, whether it's a mystery surrounding a haunting (HAUNTED SOULS, GULL HARBOR, THE HAUNTING OF HILLWOOD FARM, GHOST MOON, and SILVER LAKE) or a quest for revenge undertaken by the world's last half-angel (DIVINE FALL).

Some of my most popular posts discuss the reasons behind our superstitions.  This one delves deeper into the number 13 - while I consider it a lucky number for myself, many people don't!

A fear of the number 13 is known as Triskaidekaphobia.  I actually once worked in a building that lacked a 13th floor.  To me, this made little sense...did the people on the 14th floor not realize they were actually on the 13th floor?  Still, the button in the elevator did not exist.  Why does the number 13 get such a bad rap, anyway?

Some reasons stem from various religions.  In Christianity, for example, 13 people sat down to The Last Supper: Jesus Christ and 12 disciples.  The last to sit down, the 13th, was Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus. 

da Vinci's The Last Supper - Judas (fourth head from left) in the only one with
an elbow on the table, his face is shadowed, and he is clutching a bag

According to Norse legends, the 13th (uninvited) guest to arrive at a banquet of the gods was Loki, who then killed another god and set in motion a series of tragedies.

Historically, condemned people climbed 13 steps to the gallows.

A coven was traditionally made up of 13 witches.

In the deck of tarot cards, XIII is the card of death - a pale horse and rider.

Apollo 13 was the only unsuccessful mission to the moon; the oxygen tank exploded, putting the lives of the astronauts at risk.


Finally, 12 is considered a perfect and magical number in many disciplines and traditions.  There are 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 days of Christmas, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 apostles of Christ, 12 principal Olympian gods of the pantheon...the list goes on and on.  It follows, then, in some people's minds, that to add a number to 12 would make it unlucky.

That Friday the 13th is particularly scary may be the result of Friday's connection with executions.  The Crucifixion took place on a Friday, which was the day of the week executions were generally carried out in Rome.  America also has a history of holding executions on Fridays; thus, a day that combines two "unlucky" features becomes even more ominous. 

I find the reasoning fascinating, but I still like the number 13, and Friday the 13th doesn't bother me a bit.  But I also have black cats, and we cross paths all day long.  But of course, I have my good luck rituals as well...I have to pick up every penny I see on the ground!

I may pick up a few extra today, just to be safe.  Have a happy Friday the 13th, and grab one of my steamy romance + ghost stories for a page-turning Spooky Season read (or listen) that will both heat you up and send shivers down your spine!

FB Takeover Party ~ Friday Fun! #readingcommunity #books #fridayreads #giftcard #giveaways #Halloween

I'm excited to be doing a takeover of fellow Paranormal Romance Author Kerry Blaisdall's Facebook Group, Kerry's Kindred Spirits, tomorrow, Friday Oct. 6th!  What's a takeover?  Basically, I get to host a fun virtual party for both my fans and members of the group for the day, with gift card and book giveaways, fun questions and games, and opportunities to make new friends and find new reads!  And it's a chance to celebrate spooky season...Halloween is almost here!

To join the fun, join the FB Group here: Kerry's Kindred Spirits

We ride at dawn 😂 noon EST!! But visit anytime this weekend, I won't close the contests and giveaways until Sunday evening!

Love #Audiobooks? Visit the #Paranormal Audiobook Fair & Stock Up on Spooky Listens #pnr #pwf #audible

Click ^ the pic to Check out the Audiobooks!

I LOVE audiobooks...it's how I primarily "read" now, because I can enjoy books as I'm doing mundane tasks--win/win! If you enjoy audiobooks as well, don't miss the virtual Paranormal Audiobooks Book Fair, so you can stock up on some spooky new listens just in time for the Halloween season!  You'll find 25 audiobooks in the genres of Paranormal Romance, Paranormal Women's Fiction, and Fantasy Romance...including four of my titles!! 

As you can probably tell from my novels, I'm a huge fan of mixing steamy romance with spooky ghost mysteries! The books of mine that are available on audio include my latest release Ghost Moon, #1 Amazon and B&N Bestseller Gull Harbor, RONE Award Winner The Haunting of Hillwood Farm, and Top 3 Read of 2016 Haunted Souls! 

So if you enjoy spooky suspense that sends a chill up your spine countered by hot chemistry and happily-ever-afters, my books are for you!  The link below 🠋 takes you to the fair...Happy Haunted Reading!👻🕮👻🎧

PARANORMAL AUDIOBOOK FAIR

The History of #Superstitions ~ Black #Cats, the Number 13, Spilled Salt, Breaking Mirrors...Why people hold these common superstitions #paranormal postings

My current furbabies ~ rescued brothers
Max and Jinx...lucky kitties for sure!

Some of my most popular posts have discussed the origins of certain superstitions--specifically, ones that are considered bad luck.  A superstition is a long-held belief or behavior with no rational basis.  As a fan of all things spooky, I like to research the history behind the more sinister superstitions we hold, especially around Halloween, the season that embraces the paranormal.  Of course, many of these superstitions date back to ancient times, so tracing the exact sources can be tricky...and in doing the research, it definitely appears that often times, several factors seem to have combined to create the belief or behavior.

I love (and rescue) black cats, so it's safe to say I don't believe I'm in trouble if they cross my path.  There are many reasons black cats came to be associated with magic, witchcraft, and the occult, and I have an entire post dedicated to more lengthy details, which I'll also link below, but the idea that cats had magical powers dates back to ancient times; some cultures worshiped them, while others feared them.  Being nocturnal animals, they are out at night, gracefully slinking about in even total darkness.  And the color black in particular is associated with sinister forces.  Some believed witches could turn into cats to avoid capture, or that black cats served as their familiars.    

These are my 2 black kitties, Jinx and Max, getting into the Halloween spirit...
(cats are real, crows are just decoration!)

Another "unlucky" symbol I can't accept (because it's the date of my birth) is the number 13.  There are a whole host of reasons for the fear of this number, and I take a deeper look into Triskaidekaphobia in another post, which I'll also link below.  Many of the reasons stem from different religions: in Christianity, for example, Judas Iscariot (a figure also associated with the spilling of salt superstition discussed below) was the 13th--and last--person to sit down at the Last Supper.  According to Norse legends, the god Loki was the 13th guest to arrive at a banquet, and he then killed another god.  Historically, there were 13 steps to the gallows, covens were made up of 13 witches, and XIII is the card of death in a Tarot deck.       

Another well-known superstition involves the belief that walking under a ladder brings bad luck.  One theory is that this dates back to ancient Egypt, where triangles were considered sacred (think pyramids).  A ladder propped against a wall forms a triangle; walking through would desecrate the triangle.  The Christian religion, with its concept of the Holy Trinity, also contributed to the idea that violating a triangle would be unlucky.  Finally, some sources point to the use of ladders in the gallows.  To walk under the ladder was to be caught in the hangman's line of vision.

Do you cringe if you spill the salt?  At one time, salt was a very valuable commodity, so spilling salt could have indeed been truly unlucky.  If you consider our word "salary" comes from the Latin word "salarium", which means salt cellar, the value of salt throughout history becomes even more evident.

Another explanation involves the Last Supper, during which Judas Iscariot--the betrayer of Jesus--apparently spilled the salt.  In the painting The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, Judas is the second to the left of Jesus; his hand is clutched around a bag (of silver, most likely), and his arm has knocked over a cellar of salt.  You can better see the detail in this copy of the painting.  Judas is the only one with his elbow on the table; the spilled salt is near his wrist.

Da Vinci's Last Supper by Giacomo Raffaelli   Attribution: Alberto Fernandez Fernandez, Wikimedia Commons

The way to possibly ward off the bad luck associated with spilled salt is to scoop some up and throw it over your left shoulder, into the Devil's eyes.  This stems from a belief that the Devil stands behind a person's left shoulder.

Breaking a mirror is said to carry a whole seven years of bad luck.  I don't put a lot of stock into most superstitions, but I admit the thought of breaking a mirror makes me nervous.  Like salt, mirrors held a great deal of value at one time--they were both expensive and rare.  Breaking one was a loss, and the guilty party might well be considered rightfully unlucky.  Another explanation goes back to the idea that a person's soul is revealed in their reflection; breaking a mirror would then equate to breaking one's soul.

If you'd like to read further details on why people fear black cats, check out this post.  And for more on the reasons people fear the number 13, click here.  

An ex-boyfriend and
a dangerous ghost await
Claire in GULL HARBOR 

And if you're looking for a new read that will help get you ready for Halloween, try a steamy romance mixed with a haunting mystery!  I have 5 ghost story/romantic suspense novels that fit the bill...my Amazon page link is here, and the tabs above also link to the various retailers and editions (some are on audio!) of each title.  While my novels are not gory horror, they are intended to give you a few chills up your spine, but the steamy scenes help balance that out!  But I have a few less spooky options as well, a Young Adult Paranormal Romance which involves supernatural secrets and forbidden love, so for revenge, romance, and a rogue fallen angel, check out (for 99c!) Divine Fall.  Prefer Romantic Suspense where the danger comes from a more human form? Try Dangerous Currents!

Thanks for stopping by and Happy Halloween!

A #1 Amazon Bestseller - also on Audio!

Garnets - My Birthstone Book Stack Challenge & More on January's Gem! #birthstone #bookstack #bookchallenge #garnets #january #birthday

I love doing different 📚 book challenges on Instagram, and I recently posted this pic of my version of the 💎 birthstone stack challenge!  My birthday is January 13th, which is a whole 'nother post on why I consider the number 13 lucky!  So my birthstone is the gorgeous garnet, and I have loved it since I was little.  Although garnets come in many hues, most people associate the garnet with a brilliant deep red...which happens to be my favorite color! (I mean, look at my blog design, lol).  The name "garnet" comes from a word for pomegranate, the dark red fruit known as "granatus" in Latin.  Garnets are thought to offer protection and healing properties, which I definitely appreciate!  With its 🔥 fiery brilliance, garnets represent passion, creativity, and strength...pretty appropriate symbols for this romance author 💖 and fitness instructor 💪!  Over the years, I have received many pieces of garnet jewelry, which is very special to me...I included most in my photo.  And another wonderful and personal tie for me...it's also my younger son's birthstone.

The books in my stack are:

🔮 Wizard and Glass by Stephen King...one of my favorite novels in the epic fantasy The Dark Tower series

☗ The Dark Tower by Stephen King...the final 7th book in The Dark Tower series

🏰 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets...second in a series that is special to me because I read it aloud to my sons

🦢 Swan Song by Robert McCammon...a fantastic post-apocalytic thriller with supernatural elements (if you enjoyed King's The Stand, don't miss this one!)

❓ Do you like your birthstone or own anything with it?