Thanks so much for having me here at Fang-tastic Books, Roxanne. As it is nearly Halloween, the day when legend says the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest, and as my newest book, GRAVE WITCH, features quite a bit of the Land of the Dead, I thought I’d take this opportunity to talk about ghost stories.
Now, there are a couple different kinds of ghost stories. There are those that are purely fictional for entertainment. There are those meant to terrify. And then there are those based on legend. While the first two are fun (and right up my alley as a fiction writer) it is the last type I find the most fascinating—especially around this time of the year.
I’m not saying that I do, or that I don’t, believe in ghosts, but I think anyone who has ever passed through an unnatural cold spot or heard a door suddenly creak open for no apparent reason has probably wondered about the existence of ghosts. Stories and legends have been told throughout time and across nations. Some legends portray ghosts as malicious, others altruistic, and still others seem completely uninterested in the living. Some are stories of revenge, or warnings, or messages. No matter where you’re from, you’ve probably heard stories of haunting. You might even know someone who knows someone who’s seen a ghost.
As I’m from the Carolinas, one of the ghost stories I grew up with is that of the Grey Man. If you’re not familiar with the Grey Man, he’s a specter who haunts the beaches of Charleston, SC and is usually portrayed as a benevolent spirit whose presence warns the residents of deadly hurricanes. Many people have reported seeing the Grey Man wandering the beach prior to storms. It is also said that those who see him and heed his warning to flee the island tend to fair better in the storm—sometimes to the extent that their house might be the only house surviving on a street. A helpful ghost? A warning omen? I’m not sure, but I’ve met people who swear they’ve seen him!
Question:
What ghost stories and legends did you grow up hearing? Any favorite legends?
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Kalayna Price is the author of the Alex Craft Novels, a new dark urban fantasy series from Roc, and the author of the Novels of Haven from Bell Bridge Books. She draws her ideas from the world around her, her studies into ancient mythologies, and her obsession with classic folklore. Her stories contain not only the mystical elements of fantasy, but also a dash of romance, a bit of gritty horror, some humor, and a large serving of mystery. She is a member of SFWA and RWA, and an avid hula-hoop dancer who has been known light her hoop on fire.
To find out more, please visit her at http://www.kalayna.com/
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