I'm trying to get a better handle on what readers want in a book on hauntings.
One quandry I am in is that the sample book the publisher sent me has a big emphasis on hauntings where the identity of the spirit is known. The bulk of the hauntings I am considering are in very public buildings where they have no idea who the spirits are. I could include more with identified spirits, but then I would have to use stories that everyone has heard a million times before. When you read these books, do you find them less convincing or entertaining when they don't know who the spirit is, or does that really matter?
The other question is about quoting eyewitnesses. How important is it that you know who witnessed the phenomena versus generic "witnesses say" kind of reports?
Thanks!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Introduction
I am Nellie Kampmann, purveyor of ghost stories. I have recently been asked by a publisher write a book on hauntings in Central Ohio (details to come as they are firmed up). They happened to see a listing of Central Ohio hauntings on my website at http://www.eeriecanal.org/centralohiohaunts.html I also work as a tour guide for the Columbus Landmarks Foundations yearly ghost tours. Far be it from me to turn down an opportunity to tell even more stories. So, here I am starting a major project. And being a writer, I am compelled to write about it.
The same day I was contacted, I also happened to be working a Historic Tavern Tour for the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. I mentioned my good news to a couple of people. It's amazing how many people come out of the woodwork to tell you ghost stories when they realize you won't think that they are crazy. This bodes well for the projects, too. Aside from the Kelton House, where I work part time and am intimately acquainted with the hauntings, I want to feature sites that haven't already been done to death in other books.
It really is amazing how haunted Columbus is. I sat down once to make a list of the known hauntings in the area and was amazed to find over 50 in the downtown area alone. Once you start counting the surrounding neigborhoods, the numbers just keep going up and up. I am actually a bit dumbfounded that Columbus is such a well kept secret in the world of paranormal folklore.
If you know of any unusual haunted site in Columbus or have any personal stories you might like to have included in the book, please let me know.
The same day I was contacted, I also happened to be working a Historic Tavern Tour for the Columbus Landmarks Foundation. I mentioned my good news to a couple of people. It's amazing how many people come out of the woodwork to tell you ghost stories when they realize you won't think that they are crazy. This bodes well for the projects, too. Aside from the Kelton House, where I work part time and am intimately acquainted with the hauntings, I want to feature sites that haven't already been done to death in other books.
It really is amazing how haunted Columbus is. I sat down once to make a list of the known hauntings in the area and was amazed to find over 50 in the downtown area alone. Once you start counting the surrounding neigborhoods, the numbers just keep going up and up. I am actually a bit dumbfounded that Columbus is such a well kept secret in the world of paranormal folklore.
If you know of any unusual haunted site in Columbus or have any personal stories you might like to have included in the book, please let me know.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
