At the start of the year, I mentioned that one of the things ahead for Haunt Jaunts in 2011 was a book. Specifically, one along the lines of the Travel Guide for Restless Spirits that I had first originally envisioned Haunt Jaunts to be, well before I decided to put it in blog format.
People keep asking me, “When are you going to write a book?”
It happened as I exchanged emails with Pamela K. Kinney when she interviewed me for her blog. She even suggested I check out her publisher. (Which happens to be the same one Linda Moffitt, aka HJ’s Paranormal Historian and Researcher, has her books published by.)
Speaking of Linda, she brought it up again last week too. I told her I keep thinking about it and meaning to, but…. There always seems to be a butt. (That last word isn’t misspelled. It was intentional. As in, “I think about getting off mine but don’t!”)
She sagely wrote back, “you can think about it forever, but nothing will happen until you do it.”
Then Jen Blaney, a pal I first met on Twitter, sent me a very nice email. It had been a while since we talked and she explained why. Then she finished the email with something she often suggests, “Are you going to write a Haunt Jaunts book yet? You really should. You’ve got great stuff.”
Nothing like the Universe sending you signs, is there? (That’s what it feels like It’s doing anyway.)
Not to mention, I really have been intending to write a book. But that’s the trouble. I don’t just have one book idea. I have multiple ideas. Ones that are equally appealing.
I also suffer from this condition called “Indecisiveorosis.” Nasty stuff. Leaves you confused and paralyzed and unable to act.
I thought about drawing names from a hat, and going with whichever one I pull. (Heaven knows I have practice pulling names from hats after all!)
However, the other day I read a guest post by Abby Larson on ProBlogger. One of her paragraphs really struck me.
The best part about writing a blog, rather than writing a column in a magazine, is that your readers become a part of your journey. They get their hands dirty with you and thus they become far more invested in your growth.
As I mentioned in the Spirit of Cooperation awards post, I’m really thankful for those who’ve become a part of HJ’s journey. Let me tell you why. It has to do with something I don’t talk about much.
I really didn’t know where I was headed when I started Haunt Jaunts the blog. (Well, other than writing about haunted places I’ve been/wanted to go and paranormal experiences I’ve had.)
I just wanted something happy and positive to think about so that on the days I wasn’t barfing my brains out sick from chemo I’d get my keister off the couch and focus on something productive. (Because for a long time I couldn’t drive, thanks to all the morphine I was on, so about all I could do was head into the office. Which is fine. It’s one of my happy places.)
I’ve spent the last two plus years recovering from my near death experience. Not just physically, but also heart and soul. The people I have met along the way have been healing angels of sorts. Most have had absolutely no clue that when they share links, leave comments, invite me to events, or exchange info and ideas like they do they’re giving me my daily dose of keep well meds.
I’m feeling stronger than ever and am ready to take HJ on a new adventure into another realm. Since I’m Ms. Indecisive, I decided “Why not ask the people who read HJ? Let them pick the first title I’ll tackle.”
You’ll find them below. I’d greatly appreciate you weighing in and casting your vote. Who knows, if I finally write them and get them published, perhaps I’ll refer back to any comments left, pull names and give away free copies one day…
- Memoirs of a Haunt Jaunter: A Director of Paranormal Tourism’s Haunted Travel Tales
- Coastal Haunt Jaunts: A Travel Guide to the Most Haunted Ports of Call
- Romantic Haunt Jaunts: A Travel Guide to Places Where Love Never Dies
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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Absolutely #1. I’d say, go from a more broad one which will appeal to a huge audience and then go for more specific ones because once people have read your first one, they’ll wonder your advice on coastal ones and romantic ones and such. This is brilliant and I will haunt you forever if you don’t see it through!
Wow. THANKS so much for weighing in! But you’re threat is not much of a threat. I would get a huge KICK out of having you as a ghost. Knowing how ornery you are, I can just imagine the hijinks you’d pull. You’d forever keep me guessing and life interesting. It would be a hoot! LOL Seriously tho, I do appreciate you weighing in. Much obliged! =]
I agree with Autumnforest on the book and I concur with you that she’d be a hoot as a haint. I will be more than happy to help with resources and information as well. I really think your best posts are the most personal, so putting them in book form would be great! Indeed, your experiences should be documented. Certainly, you document them here, but you’d also be making those experiences available to more readers researchers like me.
Plus, it would give you a reason to travel more to gain more insights for your book. 🙂
Thank you, Lewis. I very much appreciate your input and thoughts and that you took the time to share them. And I also very much appreciate the offer of help. I just may take you up on that! This helps me enormously. XOXO
If you do it, I want to review it!
DEAL!!!! (And thx. =)