Haunted Natural Bridge, Virginia

These are not all the pictures I took when we went to Natural Bridge, Virginia on August 28th. I got plenty photos of the Caverns, Natural Bridge and the walk after, the Monster Museum, Dino Land, and Foamhedge too. Black and white for the book I am working on now for Schiffer Publishing, and colored ones for myself. If you look you can see the picture with the weird effect of fog over Afton Mountain on I-64 by Charlottesville. Next one down is Natural Bridge in all its glory. the last four have orbs in them. The first one was taken in our room and there is a tiny orb on the wall above my husband that you can't see much here, but when I enlarged the photo I can say it's definitely an orb. The second one was taken in the caverns, as our tour was heading back up to the surface. Natural Bridge Caverns is the deepest caverns in Virginia. The last two were taken in a reproduction of a Monacan Indian living quarters. They had a fire going and one photo has a tiny orb, while the other has a very large one. Why in there and no where else in the Natural Bridge attraction, I have no idea why.

Also that night, from 2:30AM to 6AM our room became haunted. Why, I don't know, as Room 109 at the Natural Bridge Hotel is not one of the "haunted" rooms. Those are the Red Fox Lounge and beneath that, the office and other rooms on first floor. But starting at 2:30AM I was woken up and heard sounds as if someone was picking up things, then someone whispering by my side of the bed (sounded feminine) and last, someone blew cold air on my right ear. After things quieted down and I couldn't get back to sleep, so at 6AM I got up and went to the bathroom. In there I heard through the wall from the room next to us, someone turned the faucets on their sink in that bathrrom, plus afterwards, the shower coming on. I assumed that I was wrong and that it was not empty. But I found out as we left our room at 8AM to get breakfast in the hotel's Colonial Dining Room that the room was empty, the beds still made and no one in it!

Pretty freaky, right?

Join Me Tonight for Radio Interview and For One Also On Sunday the 24th

I will be on Haunting Encounters Internet Radio tonight. My initial interview was was rescheduled from August 1st due to technical difficulties with Blogradio. You can listen in at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Haunting-Encounters at 9PM Eastern, Friday, August 22nd. Listeners can call into the show at (347) 838-8713 to speak to me.

And on Sunday, August 24th at 9PM Eastern/7PM Mountain Time I will be interviewed by HorrorProfessionals.org at http://www.nowlive.com/horrorprofessionals .The call-in number: (201)-661-7217. I will be not only interviewed about my book, Haunted Richmond, but on my horror fiction and more.

Enjoy This Poem

I first published when I was 17-years-old with three poems, "The Horse," "The Leopard," and " Sands of Time." They had accepted by Hyacinths and Biscuits Poetry Magazine. I was excited--they had paid me for poems that had been easy to write--that came from my soul and heart. I published others since then, though for a whilethere i hadn't wrote any poetry or published poetry, until I wrote "Costumed Scare" and it won, taking third place in a poetry contest by Wild Child Publishing. Then Phaze Books accepted that poem and "Full Moon Lover" for a poetry anthology. Now I have two others, "My Nightmare Thing" and "Dream Darkly" that will be in the Twisted Twins Daily Chills Calendar coming out this December in brick and morter bookstores and online. So I guess the poet is still there inside the author. She just had been dormant for a while and needed a reason to poke her head out. Here is a poem I just 'dreamed' up and I am sharing with everyone Enjoy.

“Time Can Stand Still”

By

Pamela K. Kinney

Sparkling like glass caught by sunlight
Time begins clean at one’s birth
The glass gets dirty
As time ages,
Racing toward the tomb of ancient pain.

Busy, busy, busy
Never taking time to stop and rest
Get to know the finer things in life
Like a bird’s song or the soft fur of a cat in your lap,
Or a lover’s kiss, light and airy on your lips
Instead people today rush around with no goal in mind
Except the grasping need for money
Survival is the key
And all it does is age us,
Physically and mentally as well as the soul.

Next time you have the chance
Sit down on your front porch
Listen. Really listen.
Watch. Really watch.
Let the day whisper the truth.

You don’t need to run around crazy
A little time out won’t kill you
So get out there and take the time
Cup of tea or coffee in hand,
Relax, and get to know the real you.

Review of Star Wars: Clone Wars

My husband and I got to see the Star Wars: Clone Wars movie at the premiere showing at midnight on Friday, August 15th. We wore our costumes (he as stormtrooper and me as jedi master), along with another jedi from the Rebel Legion, along two clonetroopers, two Sand Troopers, Vader, a tie-fighter and a Biker Scout from Garrison Tyranus as part of the promotions for Regal Cinemas.

Now for the review. It was great! It delivered the promise that the prequels didn't. The storyline was good, the characters just right, and even the one time Padme was within glancing distance of Anakin when they looked at each other with the secret yearning, you believed in their love for each other. Something I did not in the live action movies--there both seemed too uncomfortable with esch other to be a married couple expecting a baby.

It's not to say I didn't like the prequels, it's just they were not on par with the Trilogy (though Ep 3 came the closest--except for the love scenes). If the rest of the Clone Wars TV show is as great as this movie than expect to be in for some great stuff in the tradition of Star Wars as the Trilogy gave us.

In this film, we are introduced to Ahsoka Tano, a young out of the Jedi Academy student whom Yoda sends to let Obi-Wan and Anakin know that relief is on the way for the skirmish they're involved in, plus to tell them that she is to be Anakin's padawan to train. Something that Anakin does not want. But as the film goes on, both will learn from each other, and we will see they start to grow close in the way that Master/Padawan relationships do--like Qui-Go/Obi-Wan and Obi-Wan/Anakin. She comlements Anakin's brashness with a disarming wit and innocence.

The only holdovers from the prequels who lent their voices to this are Anthony Daniels as C3PO, Matthew Wood as General Grievous, and Christopher Lee as Count Dooku. The rest are all new voice-actors, including Yoda, which was a big disappointment for me in that I wanted Frank Oz.

Anyway, I won't go on and spoil it for you, but do go see it. I promise you this space opera that will end the summer for you with great promise. And if you have children or grandchildren, this will be a film you both will enjoy.

To learn more about this film go to Star Wars: Clone Wars

I give this film 5 Dragons!

Two Acceptances and More!

I got my article, "Don't Pet the Heads of Strange Black Dogs" for Withersin Magazine for either 2009 or 2010. And another submission of mine, "Pukwudies: Little Monsters of New England" to be included in Northern Haunts: 100 Terrifying New England Tales anthology! The book is stories in first person based on true myths and legends of New England. Northern Haunts: 100 Terrifying New England Tales available for preorders now at http://www.shroudmagazine.com/northern-haunts--100-terrifying-new-england-ta100.html and most of its sales will go to the Amercian Cancer Society.Also, my horror story, "Misery Loves Company" and the anthology it's was accepted for a year ago, World Outside My Window, looks like it finally will have a publisher.

Super Charge Your Writing! VRW/CRW Writers Conference Nov. 8-Williamsburg, Virginia

I am doing Publicity for Virgnia Romance Writers/Chesapeake Romance Writers conference. You don't have to be a romance writer to join this conference--any writer can learn from this speaker. It will be in Virginia, so if you're in that area or can make it, here's the information:

Supercharge Your Writing The Virginia Romance Writers and the Chesapeake Romance Writers are joining forces to bring you an intensive, all-day workshop with multi-talented writer, publisher and speaker Debra Dixon (www.debradixon.com). Author of Goal, Motivation and Conflict: The Building Blocks of Good Fiction, a must have for any fiction writer, Ms. Dixon will present a roll-up-your-sleeves, dig-in-deep workshop including elements for plot and character development that will take your writing to a new level.
When: Saturday, November 8, 2008
Where: Williamsburg Public Library in Williamsburg, VA

Early Registration starting April 15, 2008CRW/VRW members $60.00RWA members $65.00Non-members $70.00

Registration after September 1, 2008CRW/VRW members $70.00RWA members $80.00Non-members $85.00

The day will start with registration at 9:00 am followed by opening remarks at 9:30 am. Ms. Dixon’s workshop will run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm with a 90 minute break for lunch at noon. All guests will be on their own for lunch. There are many restaurants with a wide variety of offerings within two miles of the facility.
Agent and Editor Appointments will be available in group sessions starting at 10:00 am. Agents: Suling Miller (FinePrint Literary Management) and Elaine EnglishEditors: Deb Werksman (Sourcebook), Angela James (Samhain) and an as yet unnamed editor from Harlequin/Silhouette. On refunds, due to needing to cancel after registering:30 (or more) days prior to conference = full refund 14 to 29 days prior to conference = half refund 13 days or less prior to conference = no refund (except in case of emergency)
Hotel Information: Days Inn Williamsburg Colonial Historic Area 331 Bypass Road Route 60 W & 132 S (Exit 238) Williamsburg, VA. 23185 Reservations: 1-800-759-1166To reserve a room in the conference block please give the code "writers". All rooms must be booked by October 7, 2008 to receive the discounted rate of $69.00 per night (plus tax). This price is the same regardless of the number of guests per room.Entry forms available at http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/ and can be emailed or sent snail mail to: Terri Osburn 213 Mill Creek Pkwy #3C Chesapeake, VA 23323

Payments can be made through Paypal. Link available at http://www.virginiaromancewriters.com/

My Haunting Encounters Radio Interview Rescheduled Due to Technical Difficulties

I was supposed to have an interview with Haunting Encounters Blog Radio Friday, August 1, 2008 at 9:00PM Eastern, but Blog Radio had technical difficulties. So if you tried to get in to listen or even call, it's been rescheduled to August 22nd at 9PM Eastern. Sorry, everyone. The webpage to listen to the show ishttp://www.blogtalkradio.com/Haunting-Encounters And for anyone to call in with questions or more it is (347) 838-8713.

Interview with Haunting Encounters Tonight, Book Signing Tomorrow at Hanover Book Festival

Tonight at 9PM Eastern standard time, I'll be interviewed by Haunting Encounters Blog Radio Show. The webpage to listen to the show is http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Haunting-Encounters

And for anyone to call in with questions or more it is (347) 838-8713.

Hope you do listen in.

And tomorrow, I'll be signing at the Hanover Book Festival from 10AM to 2PM at Mechanicsville VFW Building 7168 Flag Lane Mechanicsville, VA 23111 . I'll have copies of Haunted Richmond, plus copies of horror anthologies I have stories include and my chapbook of four ghost fiction stories, Beyond the Four Walls.


Directions to event:
Whether you're traveling 64 or 95, you need to get onto 295.
Take the "Tappahannock" exit which will put you onto 360E.
Stay in the right lane and turn right at the stoplight onto Bell Creek Rd.
Travel to the end of Bell Creek Rd. and continue STRAIGHT through the stoplight onto Brooking Way.
Turn right into the parking lot of the VFW Post 9808 and bear left to the parking area in the rear.