Ghost Memoirs discussion
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
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I hope you're all having a blast and can't wait to hear from you again!
It means more to me than you know that this discussion group has been started. I am truly overwhelmed and grateful to you all!
I did make a grave mistake when I first came to Goodreads, which was to introduce myself and my book to some of the discussion groups. And although some of the people in the groups were really nice and actually read the book, others were really mean-spirited to the point of my not wanting to continue on Goodreads. I had no idea that just introducing yourself was considered bad, rude. I have done the same on other websites and received such a warm welcome. So I was surprised. Then when Cassidy approached me about the “Ghost Memoirs” group, I was admittedly apprehensive.
But then I thought… I worked really hard on this book, and for quite some time I have lived with the great characters and ghosts! I am very proud of my work and would love to chat with all of you. I am lucky, because of this great site, Goodreads, I am actually able to speak with real people who have read my book! What a treat and honor!
I was a really scared little kid. I grew up in a neighborhood where all the older kids (I was one of the youngest, and by far, most chicken) delighted in scaring the tosh out of each other. When I was about seven-years-old, after a ballet class, my perfect little pink (nothing bad ever happens) world was shattered when I saw the cover of the book CARRIE by Stephen King. It was a picture of Sissy Spacek drenched in blood. It was shown to me by my older neighbor, who informed me that Carrie lived in my closet and when I was asleep she would come out and get me. I was horrified! I spent many, many, sleepless nights waiting for Carrie to come out of my closet. I would actually crawl into my older sister’s room in the middle of the night and sleep on her floor. The funny thing is…I kind of liked to be scared. I think in some way we all like to be scared, as long as there is no actual danger.
I read the book Carrie as a teenager, and realized how amazing the story was; I felt a great deal of empathy for Miss White and Mr. King, who is one of my absolute favorites). I didn’t actually see the movie for Carrie until I was about 23 living with some friends in Los Angeles. My friend Linda (who Lily is partially based on), and who knew how afraid I was of Carrie in my closet when I was kid, went and rented the video and one night, and we watched it together. I was a great creepy movie. Something that had I had been afraid of my whole life was just a killer movie.
Later that night, as I sat in bed watching TV, Linda knocked on my door. She peeked her head in my room and said, “Sid, I’m really proud of you for watching the movie.” I thanked her for watching it with me. She smiled and said, “Goodnight, Sid”, before opening my closet door slightly, and whispering into the darkness, “Goodnight, Carrie!” I couldn’t help but laugh.
I put that whole scenario in Haunted Lily. Late at night, after the Halloween party, Darby (who is afraid of getting a wicked hangover) goes to the kitchen in Lily’s house for a glass of milk and comes across Lily coming out of the basement. They chat and Darby asks her if the story about the girl, Anna, who fell down the basement stairs was a true story. She doesn’t answer, but as she walks away, she peaks into the basement and says, “Goodnight Anna”.
Life imitating art I suppose, which is how most of writing Haunted Lily was for me. Most of the locations are real places, I have visited. I find that anywhere I visit, different cities and states, I always inevitably end up at whatever haunted location is there! I just am so curious about the unknown. And I couldn’t be any more pleased to share it with all of you…my friends! If you have any questions I would love to hear them!
Have a very happy & safe Halloween!
BOO!
Sidney