Heather Graham Pozzessere's Blog

I'm recently back from a crazy business-family trip. It started out with Necon—Northeastern Writer's Conference, in Bristol, Rhode Island, and ended in Salem, Mass.
First off, Necon is belovedly crazy. Where else can you enroll in the Fussball or Dart Olympics? Beyond the Saugie Roast and Author Roast and zany fun stuff, there are fantastic opportunities, like watching comic and book cover artists work (Matthew Dow Smith, now working on Dr. Who, created a likeness of me as a superhero!) If you've a mind to go, write to papanecon@gmail.com.
There's an added benefit—it's just a twenty minute drive to the Lizzie Borden house. A group of us—Brent Chapman, Lisa Manetti, Dennis Cummins, my Dennis and myself—met Corrine De Winter and four of my five offspring at Lizzie's. Lee Ann, the charming owner, has restored the house to its 1890s appearance, down to a replica of the couch where Andrew Borden lay when he took his "twenty-one whacks."  In reality, a hatchet was the suspected murder weapon, and Andrew Borden received eleven whacks (one so violent it knocked his eye from its socket) and Lizzie's step-mother received eighteen or nineteen (hard to tell when inspecting a crushed skull).
The house is beautiful, and beautifully kept. An exceptional guide, Will, took us through, and a medium was called in. I'm not at all sure about the medium; a table rocks beneath your fingers (a little table!) and she's convinced that Andrew was a pedophile. Most of this was contrary to what the guide had told us. (He gave us facts, just facts; we had to plague him to give us his opinions)
It's fun, and, unless you have true strength of heart, spooky. I don't believe that Lizzie is haunting that house. She hated it. If she's a ghost, she wouldn't be haunting a place she loathed in life. But, hey, Mr. and Mrs. Borden could be hanging around. God knows, they fit the criteria for violent deaths.

We're up late, of course. And it's a strange house. The front staircase leads to the girls' side, and the back staircase leads to Mr. and Mrs. Borden's rooms. (And to the attic, where we stuck Brent, and my sons Derek and Shayne) While Dennis and I had the "murder" room again, my daughter Chynna wanted me with her and her sister Bryee—on the other side of the house. By 4 AM, I knew I wasn't going to make it any longer and went up to bed–on the other side of the house.
The place was dark, with only Dennis Cummins still awake, in the front parlor, watching DVDs. I went down the back stairs, through the kitchen and murder parlor, and up the front stairs to the murder bedroom for my computer. Did Mr. Borden reach out and grab me? No. But my footsteps were moving pretty darned fast. Among the perfect Victorian décor, Lee Ann has a number of headless dressmaker dummies in period clothing—a few with actual Borden garments. There is nothing in that house that scares me like those mannequins! I ran by them—moving like a bat out of hell.
Then, on to Worcester, where we had a great time visiting family and playing

candlepin bowling, heading off to Higgins Armory, and visiting O'Connor's,

a super Irish pub where they make the best shalalie sticks known to man.

Then, Salem. I have a book coming out on August 30th that brings the Krewe of Hunters to Salem when a boy is accused of having—you guessed it—axed his family to death. I've always loved Salem. There were a few new museums since I was there last, many seeking to explain the truth behind the witchcraft craze, a few dedicated to pure horror fun and fest, a terrific pirate museum, the House of the Seven Gables (by the way, the gables were gone for a while and then put back!) Ghost tours, witch tours, and vampire tours. What's not to like? This year, my daughter got it into her head that we had to do the Segway tour, and so we did. Not without misgiving—I was sure I would end the day as road kill. But it turned out to be a lot of fun—and we had a cool, knowledgeable guide.Anyway, I'll be heading And now . . . a few of my old favorite shops have started adding steampunk pieces!

Go figure — the wiccans of Salem getting into steampunk. (Population 40,000, and about 4,000 practicing wiccans.) Laurie Cabot—official witch of Salem since the seventies—has added pieces by her daughter to her wares, and she had me at the first hat. I bought it, of course, and some jewelry. At the Fool's Mansion on Essex Street they've got some nice pieces too. Right when I'm heading into a series called Steampunk Annie. Hey, convenient, or what?

Anyway I'll be back again next year. I get to be a special guest at Necon, the family's in the Worcester area, and I'll always love Salem. (Years ago, did a Séance at the House of the Seven Gables for a book called The Séance. Okay, so the book took place in Florida! Have to admit, it was super cool doing a promo piece at the House of the Seven Gables. I don't think that Nathaniel Hawthorne was hanging around—he hated his association with the "hanging" witch judge!)
September 23-25, I'll head back p to see blog sisters—Brunonia has created a TLC panel and I'm delighted to be part of it. A few TLC bloggers are special guests, so it'll be wonderful.
Yeah, Salem! Go, Steampunk wiccans!

The world, so it seems to me, is all about juggling. And women are supposed to be wonderful at multi-tasking. Just how far can that go? Not all that well–I find myself despising the old commercial for perfume, I believe, in which the "Enjoli" woman fried the bacon, served it, and never let the guy forget he was a man.

Well, bull on that, I say! Any and all help deeply appreciated in my world!

This summer has been all about work, family, and travel. I need to work to keep us all going, and travel is part of that, but I'm about to watch my youngest graduate from college (this was my last summer with her) and my third lives in Connecticut, so it's all about scrambling to actually work, travel to promote that work and continue to learn, and finding a way to be part of the lives of the children I brought into the world.

That said, we had some terrific times! It was Con-ville, really, starting in April with the Booklover's Convention, May with Book Expo of the Americas, then the American Library Association, Romance Writers of America, Thrillerfest, and lastly, Necon. Necon included a wonderful stay at the Lizzie Borden bed and breakfast–so much fun with a group of friends/writers! On to the Worcester area for family and friends, and then to Salem, Mass for more research and bonding and it was all great.

Now home, and scurrying to get ready for my own extravaganza, Writers for New Orleans. This is something we do every Labor Day, and it's a benefit, no money is made–it's actually lost in the bundles!–but I'm still delighted to do it every year because New Orleans is truly a great American City with so much history you could learn something new on a daily basis. Not to mention it offers an amazing aquarium, some of the world's finest music, architecture to die for, and people ready to fight the elements and the world for the wonder of their home. Please check outwritersforneworleans.com!

Books! Out this summer, Phantom Evil, Heart of Evil, Sacred Evil, and The Evil Inside. Yes, it's the summer of Evil! Also coming up in 2011–An Angel for Christmas, and Bride of the Night, the first is hopefully a feel good novel about the holiday season mingled with the truth of the era–we're all dysfunctional! Bride of the Night is a sequel to Night of the Wolves and Night of the Vampires, and hopefully, lots of Civil War truth and vampire fun and . . . evil!

Next year, the "Krewe of Hunters" realize that there's too much happening in the extreme for one paranormal FBI unit to handle. And so, when the FBI realizes that the bodies that have been discovered seem to fit a pattern–and that the last woman disappeared from the Alamo Plaza while apparently talking with a ghost–a new crew must be formed. 2011 takes the criminal/paranormal team to Texas, on to Los Angeles where a Film Noir murderer seems to be on hand, up to Chicago where shenanigans are going on with ghost ships, and over to Philly where a Revolutionary "beast" seems to have returned. Also! I'm pleased to say that "The Keepers" will be making a return, this time in La-la Land–Hollywood, California. Seriously, where besides New Orleans could the truly different go unnoticed? Lots of fun working with Harley Jane Kozak and Alexandra Sokoloff, and then yes, the Keepers get Christmas, too, and Beth Ciotta will be on that one!

For now . . . .

Please check out writersforneworleans.com. We offer editors, agents, writers, workshops, and amazing parties. We'd love to have you join us!

Back from Houma, Louisiana, and the Big Easy,and being there is such a wonderful experience that I'm still barely noticing the suitcases around the house that are half full, the absolute mess . . . . Ah, well, what is new?

Heading into the next, RT! I finished the script for the vampire ball, and it's out, and the players are now able to send me their thoughts and their bits, and we're trying very hard, of course, to produce an evening that runs as smoothly as last year's event. But, hm, life is to be lived! If we fail, it won't be for lack of effort.

It's seriously fun, though, buying costumes, thinking about the set–and then remembering that we have to get raffle tickets and baskets together. Helen and I pay for the event, and we're not trying to make any money back–we are trying to raise funds for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Fund. Thanks to a lot of good friends, I definitely have the prizes to give away to make a raffle ticket well worth the cost!

I believe it will be my first trip to Columbus, Ohio. And there's much more going on than just my party, though it does have to be my major focus! But before that, others are handling the hard part for the Mad Hatter Tea Party. And as for the other parties, great! I just attend. I'm taking off on Monday, so next week, I'll have the first of the pictures up!

If you're anywhere near Columbus on Saturday, May 1st, Kathryn Falk runs one of the most amazing autographing events in the world. Five dollars to enter for non-registered guests. Buy new books, or bring your old!

New Orleans is, in my mind…one our country's truly unique treasures. And where else better to go on a "ghost expedition?" This was definitely a different experience. It wasn't a walk, nor did we use equipment on this particular evening, as I have done before with the Peace River Ghost Trackers at the Spanish Military Hospital in St. Augustine. This was more an excercise to get in touch with our senses. And so, we headed out to Ashley House, an historic property behind the pool at the Avenue Plaza Hotel. First, it's absolutely beautiful with a winding staircase, and it's been restored to the Civil War era with subtle perfection. We go in at night knowing nothing about the place, what is supposed to be, who is supposed to be haunting the residence, or any of the history. Now, I am the world's greatest coward, and I always have to wonder what I'm feeling just because I'm so susceptible to suggestion. But sent in alone, Connie and I both stop at the entry–there seems to be a heaviness about the place. We're looking for impressions, and I don't care for the music room at all–is it the darkness? Or something really there. Upstairs, in one of the bedrooms, the impression is sadness. Now, of course, I'm jumping at the movement of every shadow . . . .

We find out later that there is supposedly a woman who stands in the entry, perhaps making sure that strangers do not come in and mess up the house! There was a middle aged man who died of a heart attack in the music room, and upstairs, twin sisters had died within months of one another, one from a riding accident, and one from disease. Confederate prisoners were held in the house when "Beast" Butler clamped down on New Orleans when the city was occupied by Northern forces during the Civil War.

I am now trying to find real records on the house, because the history that would bring about a "haunting" is most fascinating to me!

In New Orleans, a bit of scouting and planning for our Writers for New Orleans, taking place Labor Day weekend (please visit writersforneworleans.com,) and then on to Houma and the Jubilee Jambalaya, a chance to see Harley (magnificent and hysterical keynote speech) and Paul, Traci, Tina, Cherie, Molly, Kay, and so many really good friends. Now, a bit more business, and home–to plan for the RT Booklovers convention coming up in Columbus, Ohio, April 28th to May 2nd.

Just back from Easter, –or East-over, as we're calling it, because our extended family includes member of the Jewish faith. A great time, ah, yes, work included, but all the better with family.

Oh, yes, and East-over came right after Brighton, and the World Horror Convention, which was incredible–so much amazing art, and so much fun at the party at Horatio's, the "Slushpile" band playing, and Helen and I and tribe in "Steampunk!" Then, we did the Chevy Chase tour of London, trying to get in Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and the Jack the Ripper tour, all in one day. Bob Loughlin was one of the best Tower guides, ever, kept us laughing and learning, and we had Donald Rumbelow, author, and one of the best guides ever for the Ripper tour. We made it all–even if I did feel like a mother duck rushing my crew along. I have been to London several times, but was trying to think of the most "London" things to do for my crew. Sorry–I did not allow them time for much shopping. And books! Well, we had great books, we had just come from World Horror Convention, and a wealth of scary stuff– hoping, of course, it would be scary enough to entertain us through the twelve hours in the air and six hours in the airports for the trip home via Chicago.

This week–on to New Orleans, Louisiana. First, a ghost expedition at Ashley House with Dr. Larry Montz, a signing in NOLA, and on to the Jambalaya Jubilee, one of my favorite events of any year. It's truly Southern hospitality in Houma, and several friends are speaking, including key-noter Harley Jane Kozak and Slushpile drummer F. Paul Wilson. Next, I'll report on the ghost expedition, and all that occurs in NOLA and Houma.

As I write this, I'm doing my usual, running around the proverbial chicken with its head cut off–ready to leave for World Horror Convention in London, where I'll see lots of old friends, and meet a lot of new, I imagine!

Helen Rosburg and I will be throwing a Gory Ghoul party there featuring the Slush Pile band with Paul Wilson, Dave Simms, and Rhodi Hawk and myself (writers) and a few family members and friends. Looking forward to fun time with the Rosburgs, Ali, and friends as well. I'll we have to do now is get through that endless flight . . . !

On the day I return, The Killing Ege will be on the shelves. A cult massacre happens in Miami, and the killers are caught–or are there? Ten years later, the bloodshed begins again, and one of the survivors must realize she is again on the hit list . . .

Miami, my home town, can be fun. It can live up to its reputation in all ways–it can be hot as hell, crazy as hell, Hispanic, Russian, Haitian . . . you name it! Busy and dirty, pretentious and glittery. But it is my home and I love it!

Anyway, get back for Easter with the family, which is growing, so it will be a busy few weeks ahead. London! Brighton! A million hour long plane ride . . . oh, my. Oh, well. Can't wait to get there, and also see some of my HWA fellow board members. They rock! After out Gory Ghoul party, I think I get to hand out a coveted Stoker, and when you're not getting the award, it's sure cool to get to give it away!

I will be reporting back after Jolly Old England! Please look for The Killing Edge! Hardcover from Mira, already shipping out from Amazon!

Since my Heather is busy updating facebook, myspace, and a handful of other thing ( I don't know how she keeps up) this will become more of an archive of her letters on the home page. Thanks for sticking with us and hopefully we will be getting the site more functional in the near future!

Ah, Friday the 13th! Be afraid, be very afraid.

                But why?

                Well, the number has to do with several events in myth and ancient history.

Most familiar to Americans and Christians worldwide would be the fact that there were twelve apostles and Jesus, making the number 13, and, hm, we all know about Judas, whose name has become synonymous with betrayal, and it's hard to thinking of a time of greater fear or mourning than the death of Christ.

And, remember, Jesus Christ was crucified on a Friday.

Beyond that, once Christianity was established, and looking into Judaism and the Moslem religions, we know that there were angels, and once there were angels, there were fallen angels—including the devil, or Satan. In ancient times, covens consisted of the number 12—but, actually, they were considered to consist of 13—Satan and his twelve apostles.

Actually, originally, some cultures saw the number 13 as lucky. Somehow, across the millennia, they were voted down. In certain ancient societies, the number 13 was viewed as an odd number—after all, there were twelve months. But this came about in a strange way, and not to get the battle of the sexes going, 13 was fine in matriarchal societies because there were (usually) 13 cycles for a woman in a year. When matriarchal societies gave way to male dominated cultures, well, that 13 had to go, and the solar calendar built the hell out of the lunar.  

The Hindus consider 13 an unlucky number for any grouping. They might have somehow gotten that from the Norse. Once upon a time, the gods were having a grand old time at Valhalla. Only twelve gods were invited, but—totally uninvited—Loki showed up anyway, making the number 13. Loki then tricked Hoder, the blind god of darkness, into shooting Balder, the god of joy and happiness, with an arrow dipped in mistletoe. Balder died, and the world became dark, and, naturally, joy and happiness departed the world. Okay, no joy and happiness sounds very unlucky indeed.

They say that people who feel that there are unlucky are more disturbed by the day than others. We've all noticed that some buildings don't have a 13th floor. Some people won't go to work, and others won't dare step out the door, that's how bad it might be!

There's a name for it.

 Paraskevidekatriaphobics.

  Okay, so these are some aspects of our little human minds and psyches that lead to the fear of 13—but Friday? Well, there is the Crucifixion. It was also hanging day in the middle ages and so on, but worse! Friday was dedicated to Freya, the Norse goddess who was dedicated to love and sex, among other things. And in Rome, Friday had been dedicated to Venus, another mistress of love—and sex.

When trying to tamp down the ancient religions, the Christian rulers wanted to be very careful with Friday—which became known as the witch's Sabbath. It was just a bad day all along, as they saw it.

Ah, well.

I happen to like Friday the 13th. My sister was due to be married on Saturday, the 14th—a big grand church wedding. Well, she'd forgotten to get her wedding license, so she had to fly with her groom to be to Georgia, where she didn't need to have the same waiting period to be married legally–so that she could be married in the beautiful ceremony that was planned. (My parents, naturally, were ready to throttle her.) Anyway, time went by, she celebrated both, her church wedding in Florida—and her first wedding , in Georgia, on Friday 13th. She wore a black dress—they had to pack fast!

My nephew, DJ, one of my favorite people in the word, was born on Friday, February 13th, 1981. If that's not lucky, I don't know what is!

 

Ghosts, goblins, and ghoulies will be out soon. Not to mention vampires and rock stars, princes, princesses, Jedi warriors and more. Halloween.

It's a fun holiday! It's a religious holiday! It's just the scene in Chinatown, it's both, especially when you slap it all around.

For many of the ancient peoples, it was already a holiday. Especially in Great Britain, Ireland, and northern France, where pagan Druid and cultures and others similar were very real. The night, for them, was sacred to the harvest, the gods and godesses of harvest, and a Celtic festival known as Samhein. (For those of you, like him, who call this sam-hine, it's closer to sowe-in.) It marked the end of one year, and the beginning of another. To honor that passing and beginning, the people dressed up in animals' skins and other such array. They believed that the spirits of the dead came back on this night, and the priests and priestesses could better foretell the future, and help the people through a hard and lonely winter. They had great bonfires and sacrificed animals (animals, I can't find a specific reference to sacrificing people, though we kind of do know because of peat bodies that they did offer up human sacrifices!)

Ahha. Along came the Romans.

 Feralia and Pomona! Let's face, one did not conquer the known world by being stupid. The Romans wanted to keep control of subdued people who learned to co-abide. It was really difficult, you see, to instantly repopulate the known world with Romans. Feralia was a holiday that celebrated the spirits of the dead. The second of the imported celebrations, Pomono, celebrated fruit and the bounty of the earth.  

Hey, folks, let's have one holiday that we all acknowledge. And thus, from this, the concept of bobbing for apples became part of the holiday as well.

By the early eighteen-hundreds, Christianity had replaced what had come before–almost. In the collective soul of many of the people, the old holidays still existed. The pope was a bright man, too. He decreed that all Hallow's Eve might be the eve of All Saints day, and therefore, all together in a holiday that was religious–and still one that celebrated the secrets of the human mind.  

Some Christians dressed up as saints, angels, and demons. Others were still dressed up as animals. Trees, maybe Roman soldiers, Celtic priests and priestesses, and more.

Now, you will still see animals, saints, angels, trees, and demons. You'll see warlocks, witches, and vampires. You might just bob for apples, though in these days of terrible flu strains, it's unlikely!  

But you will see a few handsome fellows from Twilight now, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a few rock stars, and more. There's always my favorite. Dropping by church one night, I saw a wolfman and a vampire walk in together. Luckily, I attend a university church, and the Father–dressed in his favorite Dolphin colors–went on with the rite of communion though his church was filled with costumed creatures–and then warned everyone to be careful!  

So, whatever your mode of celebration, go forth and enjoy–just be careful. As the good Father said, "We don't need to be adding any more souls in for next year, we've plenty to honor as it is!"

It is always so hard to believe that summer is gone, fall is here, and winter is on the way. (Especially in South Florida!) But as I write this, Halloween is almost here–so happy Halloween–and then, as usual, Thanksgiving will come and before anyone knows it, it will be Christmas. Time goes so quickly, which is one holiday message that we all need to heed. And that, of course, is why the holiday season–no matter what your belief–is such a great time.

 

I love the whole historical concept of Halloween. Make sure, when you're trying to influence those of pagan religions, to match up your religious holiday with ones that the native peoples recognize. Good idea–and a nice point. No matter how we see our spiritual lives, no matter what religion we call ourselves–we are simply on different paths. So, first, Halloween–and maybe it's good to think of the dark side as well as the pure fun! Let's face it, no one living has the answers! On that note, out right now and on the shelves is Unhallowed Ground. It's a murder mystery, a ghost story, and hopefully, a good and chilling read.

 

Onward to Thanksgiving. Okay, most of us are annoyed that the Christmas commercial season crashes down on us before our grand old America holiday. Still, turkey day is grand. I'm thrilled by this holiday, because it gets harder and harder, as time goes by, to get my family together. But I do feel like a wicked witch when the season approaches and I get to think, "Mine! All mine!" The whole family, including our newest member, Noah Davant.

 

Christmas, yes, I get them all then, too! I have Christmas novels out right now as well, There Be Dragons, illustrated by Fortin and Sanders and including a CD by the Slush Pile Band is available on the Internet sites (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders,) and one that is just popping out on the market October 27th, Home in Time for Christmas. Both were lots of fun to write, and hopefully, will get you in the spirit of the season!

 

Going from summer into fall was crazy. I left home on September 1st and have been back only a few scattered days since. Writers for New Orleans was wonderful, after which I wound up on an Amtrak ride out to California for Zombie TV, and then on to Killercon in Las Vegas. After Killercon I was headed out on tour when I discovered that the publishing industry had suffered a tremendous blow and I had lost a dear friend, my first editor, Kate Duffy. Her death still leaves us all reeling. People say that we all live on in the memories of those who loved us–in that respect, Kate will live forever, because we all have so many stories to share about her.

 

New York led to Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Savannah; which included an amazing evening with new friends headed by Sprout–Peace River Ghost Trackers. I had a chilling, fascinating, enlightening time with them at the old Spanish military hospital in St. Augustine. In Savannah, I was able to stay in Room 204 at the 17 Hundred 90 house. I didn't see the ghost, but Miley Cyrus, a previous guest in Room 204, apparently had her luggage rearranged a bit, according to the diary kept at the bedside for guests! (She didn't use her name but her note was written one of the nights of her stay! Miley didn't want to take anything away from the ghost!)

 

Super ghost tours–by hearse, trolley, and foot. Savannah is a truly beautiful city. Jason, my oldest son, went on this tour with me, and we had a great time visiting an Irish pub, and then heading out to Bonaventure, surely one of the most artistic and atmospheric cemeteries in the world.

 

On to Bouchercon! Bouchercon always makes me feel like a happy puppy in a basket with a lot of other happy puppies. I loved getting to spend time with the British contingent, Paul, Alex, Harley, both halves of P J Parrish, and many more friends. My panel was with Charlaine Harris, Deborah LeBlanc, Carolyn Hart and moderated by Judy Clemens. What a blast we had! Tremendous fun on a panel.

 

Home again, home again. The dust bunnies have dust bunnies. And talk about bizarre! I keep coming home to dead bees. I'm hearing eerie music in my head!

 

Next up–Miami Book Fair International. I will be speaking on Sunday the fifteenth, in downtown Miami. After that, we'll be enjoying the holiday season with a few trips down to Key West, where I'm now setting a ghost trilogy, Orlando, where there's much to do, and then the New Year. Right off, I'll be attending my FRW's cruise–ah, just how bad can be. Work–in the midst of the Caribbean!

 

After which–crossing the big pond! I'll be throwing a party with Helen Rosburg at the World Horror Convention this year in Brighton, England. The Slush Pile will be playing–our first International gig. I'm thrilled to be heading to England, a fantastic convention, and a chance to see old friends.

 

But right now, a quick moment to breathe and catch up. Pictures from the cemetery will be up soon–and by Halloween, you can check out the video from Writers for New Orleans. Oh, and if you have a chance, check out Zombie TV! Just key in the words.