We are delighted to welcome back author JoAnne Myers to Omnimystery News.
JoAnne's collection of paranormal short stories is titled Wicked Intentions (Melange Books; trade paperback and ebook formata) and we asked her how developing paranormal plotlines differs from those of standard fiction.
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Photo provided courtesy of
JoAnne Myers
When it comes to fiction writing, almost anything goes. That is why I love writing paranormal and fantasy stories. The author can go completely over the edge and make something unbelievable seem believable. When it comes to ghost stories, I get a lot of my inspiration from real life experiences. Not necessarily my own either. I watch television programs that partake of the supernatural and paranormal flare. Programs from ordinary people who claim they experienced either an afterlife experience, or a haunting.
For my ghost stories, I get a lot of my inspiration from real life experiences. Not necessarily my own, either. I watch television programs with the supernatural and paranormal flare; documentaries from ordinary people who claim they experienced either an afterlife experience, or a haunting. Some of the stories from my anthology, Wicked Intentions, are based on actual hauntings. In "The Legend of Lake Manor", I placed my young psychic, Cassandra Lopez, in a haunted mansion I fashioned on my knowledge of a three-story mansion in my hometown and information from television about a restaurant/bar in Ohio, supposedly ruled by demons so violent that the local police are constantly closing it down.
A television documentary about a young mother plagued by ghost sightings since childhood, inspired "The Haunting of Barb Marie" and her gift/curse.
And "The Apartment", in which my newlyweds, Bill and Gayle, are plagued by sightings of evil ghosts that threaten their marriage and theirs lives, originated from a real apartment haunted by the ghosts of two homosexual lovers who died violently. The legend says no tenant is able to stay there until the spirits are chased off by a paranormal investigation team.
On the Discovery Channel, is where I got the idea for "Summer Wind". I learned of the colonial explorer Jonathon Carver who lived during the 1700s and whose ghost is believed to be haunting the Summerwind estate, built in the early 20th century. Carver's ghost is, supposedly, searching the house's foundations for deeds to a vast tract of land (10,000 square miles) given to him by Sioux Indian chiefs as a reward for the peace treaty he created between two warring tribes. In my Summer Wind, 29 year-old Ginger is mysteriously drawn to the old mansion, and like the many owners of the real mansion, the haunting had a negative and profound effect on Ginger and her family.
Another investigative program concerned one sister's psychic premonitions about her twin's murder. This led to my story, "Blood Ties", and my heroine, Audra Roper's dark, disturbing visions of her sister's disappearance and the roller coaster of risks, heartbreak, and intrigue that followed.
"Dark Visions" came from reading a newspaper story while sitting in a diner. A young woman began having visions of her father's disappearance that was actually his murder from years earlier. So, my Carrie Reynolds starts having nightmares on her twenty-sixth birthday and believes these 'dark visions' can solve the twenty year disappearance of her father.
I set my murder mystery, "The Truth Behind the Lies", on Norfolk Island after following a three year long murder investigation on that island from 2003. In my story, Federal Police Inspector Ian Christian faces attacks, more murders and ghostly occurrences, and the killer is closer than anyone realizes.
So, the next time you get Writer's Block, or need a new idea, try switching on the television, open a newspaper, delve into history or simply look and listen. You will find something to stimulate your muse.
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JoAnne Myers has been a long-time resident of southeastern Ohio, and worked in the blue-collar industry most of her life. She is a mother of three and grandmother of eight. Besides having several novels under her belt, she canvas paints.
For more information about the author, please visit her website at BooksAndPaintingsByJoanne.com and her author page on Goodreads, or find her on Facebook and Twitter.
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Wicked Intentions by JoAnne Myers
A Short Story Collection
Publisher: Melange Books
"Blood Ties" — Audra Roper has disturbing visions about her twin sister's disappearance, suspecting her brother-in-law Doug of Lisa's death. Police officer Tyler Pettit tries to help, but when the law fails, Audra assumes Lisa's identity, plays amateur detective and discovers a bloody scene. All isn't what it seems as her life becomes a roller coaster of danger, heartbreak and intrigue.
"Dark Visions" — When Carrie Reynolds starts having nightmares on her twenty-sixth birthday, she believes her "dark visions" can solve the twenty-year disappearance of her father.
"The Apartment" — When young newlyweds Bill and Gayle move into their new apartment, their lives are plagued with sightings of evil ghosts that threaten their marriage and lives.
"The Legend of Lake Manor" — For psychic Cassandra Lopez, coming to haunted Lake Manor was like a mission. The Manor and its employees needed her help in ridding the home of specters, most trying to kill and one willing to stay for love's sake.
"Summer Wind" — When twenty-nine year-old Ginger Duncan discovers the old mansion Summer Wind, she is mysteriously drawn to it. Immediately the hauntings have a negative and profound effect on the family.
"The Haunting of Barb Marie" — Even as a child, Barb Marie saw dead people which terrified her parents. With no one to talk to about her gift/curse, Barb keeps the secret to herself. This takes an unhealthy toll on her childhood and two marriages. Who are these people that haunt her home now?
"The Truth Behind the Lies-Laying the Norfolk Ghost to Rest" — Solving the brutal murder of American born Ruthie Geil becomes a gauntlet of attacks and more murders for Federal Police Inspector Ian Christian. Between the victim's family, ex-lovers and ghostly occurrences on Norfolk Island, the killer is closer than anyone realizes.
— Wicked Intentions by JoAnne Myers
