Last week, my debut novel, SECRETS OF THE BLUE MOON, hit the shelves, and I had my first book signing. (Thank you, Switzer Library in Marietta, Georgia. What a lovely event!)
Like many writers, I’d rather be writing than talking about writing. In fact, selling is one of my least favorite things in the world to do.
Off the bat, I scared potential customers away at the signing with what I thought was a simple, well-crafted question:
“Do you like ghost stories?”
My roadie and publicist sat nearby. For the sake of disclosure, please note that I’m sleeping with him. Not that that earns me the right to throw shade on his suggestion, which was to pose alternative questions, like:
“Do you enjoy mysteries?” or “What kind of books do you like to read?”
Okay. I hate to admit it, but he was right. The fact that he’s also my husband makes that extra tough. But the thing is, when I took his advice, people did stick around a wee bit longer.
So let me say it again. He was right. My book is not just a ghost story. It’s contemporary book club fiction about a woman who grapples to overcome fears, deal with past regrets, and regain a sense of purpose and faith. Set in a small town with quaint shops and quirky characters, it is a mystery, but it also provides a few laughs and raises questions about the world around us and how we fit in.
That said, the book is a ghost story. So in honor of Friday the 13th, I’d like to point out thirteen reasons why ghost stories are da bomb. In fact, they’re good for the heart, and here’s why:
1. Ghost stories tap into our fears, and a healthy dose of fear historically kept us physically safe.
2. Ghostlore provides a fun adrenaline rush of terror and dread, yet we can walk away when we feel the need to regain a sense of control.
3. Ghost stories help us develop empathy, providing a way for us to experience loss and sorrow (and horror and more) in a safe way.
4. Ghostly tales serve as a metaphor to help us learn more about life. They can help us examine our thoughts and feelings on social conditions like loneliness and isolation.
5. Stories of things that go bump in the night allow us to escape the everyday.
6. Ghost stories distract us from all sorts of universal fears such as war, financial woes, climate change, social injustice, health problems, betrayals…and so much more.
7. Ghostlore allows us to explore our fear of the unknown (like the supernatural and the afterlife) in a cathartic way.
8. Ghost stories allow us to engage with our inner child, to reconnect with the thrill of a quickened heartbeat and heightened senses.
9. Stories of ghosts can help us to build emotional resilience.
10. Because most civilizations share ghost stories, these tales provide cultural connections.
11. Ghostly tales can move us closer to one another, like when we grasp for someone else’s hand under the spell of a ghostly tale shared by a crackling fire.
12. Ghostlore provides a way to help us explain the unexplainable.
13. Ghost stories represent storytelling at its very best. And that, my friend, is about as good as it gets.
So…here’s an idea. Why not tuck a ghost story at the top of your books-to-read pile for fall?
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Secrets of the Blue Moon celebrates family, friendship, and small-town Southern living. It’s sprinkled with gentle humor and mystery and ghosts that don’t want to let the past go. At times a bit grisly, it deals with topics including loss, self-harm, and death. Yet at its core, it is an uplifting story of hope, resilience, and redemption. Please order it through your favorite book store or by going to my website. Or get a signed copy on the spot at one of my events.
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