Today I’m having a bit of a rest for myself while author, Clarissa Johal, entertains you with her writing story and the odd ghost or two she’s met along the way. When Clarissa isn’t busy penning supernatural tales, she’s taking photos of gargoyles! Take it away, Clarissa.
Writing Supernatural Fiction by Clarissa Johal
People often ask me how I began writing supernatural fiction. I’m not brooding or scary or running off to join the latest séance, which I think is what they expect. And my silly sense of humor oftentimes gets me into trouble, especially with my two daughters.
The supernatural has always interested me because I moved around quite a bit when I was young. It seemed we were always living in an older place and with those older places, came a ghost or two. Now, before you chuckle and roll your eyes (or not) I walk the line between skeptic and 100% believer. On the surface, I may be rolling my eyes with you but inside, I believe in a plethora of things I won’t even begin to discuss. I know what my rational mind tells me, and I know what I’ve experienced. There’s a lot of arguing in my head over those two things. But we’re a collection of what we’ve experienced in our lifetime, and I’ve experienced plenty.
One will always stick with me above all the others. When I was 10-years-old, we moved to an island and rented an older house for a couple of months. I’m an insomniac and have been since I was a kid. Consequently, being awake while the rest of my family slept was nothing new, though my mom would get quite irritated because I would roam around at night and wake her up.
One evening, and after hours of tossing and turning, I decided to get up. While I sat on the couch trying to figure out what to do with myself, I heard singing in my ear. It was as if a woman was sitting right next to me singing Time in a Bottle. The song was popular at the time (and yes, that dates me) but I didn’t know the words. At that point, I did what any kid would do if they weren’t compelled to run away screaming, I politely sat and listened until she finished. Afterwards, I went back to bed and proceeded to have the worst nightmare. I dreamt that I walked into our washroom and found a naked, young woman wrapped up in a shower curtain in our bathtub. She was blonde, had a bullet hole in her head, and was quite dead. It was a graphic nightmare for a 10-year-old; I never watched television and rarely had nightmares. I had it for weeks until we finally moved. Each time, it became more intense—it had gotten to the point where she was clawing her way out of the tub and trying to speak to me through the shower curtain. Needless to say, I was a bit of a wreck by the time we moved. Years later, I found out from my parents that there was indeed, a murder at that house. They didn’t elaborate but I always wondered of the details.
So, back to writing supernatural fiction. I started out writing fantasy. While working on the second installment to my Pradee series, I was interrupted by two characters that truly didn’t fit. I kept setting them aside, but they would return, stronger than ever. Finally, I gave up and began Between, a story of the supernatural. I had the rough draft finished in a month and a year after that, the full novel was complete. Six weeks after I submitted, Musa Publishing accepted it.
I have to say, I’ve been pulled into the Otherworld permanently and the ideas come faster than I can write them down. I love presenting the supernatural in a new and interesting ways. Now, I know what you’re probably going to ask me. Do I write of my experiences or make stuff up? I’m a writer, I write fiction. However, the best fiction is when writers “write what they know” and a little of what I know creeps into my novels from time to time. I hope you will enjoy reading what I come up with!
If you like ghost stories, here’s a peek at my newest release from Musa Publishing.
B
ETWEEN by Clarissa Johal
Tagline:
How far would you go to redeem yourself?
Blurb:
As a young girl, Lucinda was able to see spirits, a gift that didn’t come without its problems. Now, a dedicated young veterinarian, she is committed to the idea that every life can be saved.
After a devastating accident, Lucinda tries to escape her past by moving to a small town. There, she meets a newcomer and feels an immediate connection with him. But there is another mysterious stranger to the small town, one that stirs within her a mixture of unease and desire.
As Lucinda is drawn into a bitter tug-a-war from the forces around her, she is likewise pulled into a dangerous twist of past and present events. Forced to make difficult choices, she finds that the two men are locked in not only a battle for her life…but a battle for their salvation.
BETWEEN Buy links:
Amazon.co.UK
Amazon.com
Barnesandnoble.com
Musa Publishing
Bio:
Clarissa Johal has worked as a veterinary assistant, zoo-keeper aide and vegetarian chef. Writing has always been her passion. When she’s not listening to the ghosts in her head, she’s dancing or taking photographs of gargoyles.
Clarissa shares her life with her husband, two daughters and every stray animal that darkens the doorstep. One day, she expects that a wayward troll will wander into her yard, but that hasn’t happened yet.
Author website: http://clarissajohal.com/
Author blog: http://clarissajohal.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/ClarissaJohal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarissa.johal.9
Goodreads
Photography Portfolio: http://faerie–moon.daportfolio.com/
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Thanks for spending time on Emma’s Ramblings and introducing us to your work, Clarissa. I love that you politely waited for the ghost to finish her song! BETWEEN sounds like a deliciously spooky read. What is it about doors that is so creepy? (the cover).
Have a great weekend everyone, and if you have a moment, why not pop over to Goodreads and add BETWEEN to your TBR list.
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Emma's Ramblings on Supernatural Fiction 