Haunting Ingredients

What makes a house spooky?

WHAT ARE WE DISCOVERING THIS MONTH?

• Could Life not be mean?

• What makes a house spooky? My friend, H.R. Sinclair has some ideas.

Hey everyone, I’m breaking from the poll to have a friend on to talk haunted houses. Which is good as I’m behind on research for the Lake Michigan Triangle as I’m working two jobs now. School is in session so I’m back at crossing guard, and I’ve transitioned to a year-around employee at Salvation Army. I gotta take as many hours as possible, too, because hubby got laid off, and he was the bill payer.

Life is…chaotic right now to say the least and sometimes I want to go cry in a corner, but I’ll do my best to keep the monsters coming.

Anyway, I’m going to let H.R. take over and talk about haunted houses.

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Hello fellow myth-lovers! I’m H. R. Sinclair, author of Bloodstone, an urban fantasy with a spooky haunted house. Shrouded in mystery, with legends of ghostly inhabitants and tragic events, haunted houses have long captured my imagination and I dare say that of many others. Who can resist creaky floorboards, flickering lights, and inexplicable noises?

Whether real or overactive imagination, haunted houses make an exciting adventure for thrill seekers and a perfect backdrop for storytelling.

What make a house haunted?

• Tragedy: Homes with a history of violent events

• Architecture: Creaky floors, narrow hallways, hidden spaces, etc.

• Decay: deterioration and age leads to creepy noises and unusual shadows

• Location: The older the house, even in great condition, is ripe for haunting

• Local legends: People and creatures up to mischief

The United States has some seriously spooky haunted houses. One of these is the Whaley House in San Diego, California. They built it on the historic grounds where the town’s notorious horse thief, Yankee Jim Robinson, was publicly executed. Another well-known place is the LaLaurie Mansion in New Orleans, Louisiana, haunted by the slaves of Madame LaLaurie. And there’s good ‘ol Lizzie Borden’s House in Fall River, Massachusetts. It’s haunted by Lizzie’s family as well as the kids next door who were murdered by their own mother.

And then there’s the Winchester Mystery House, in San Jose, California, which I mention in my novel. When I was a teenager, I toured the home, and it left a huge impression on me.

Sarah Winchester, the widow of firearm magnate William Wirt Winchester, built the Winchester Mystery House with architectural curiosities. Construction began in 1884 and continued nonstop for 38 years until Sarah's death in 1922. The tour guide told us that Sarah believed if she stopped building, she would die.

The Winchester Mystery House features peculiarities such as staircases that lead to nowhere, doors that open to walls, and windows in the floors. There is supposedly a room within a room, but no one has ever found it. According to folklore, Sarah built the home in a way to confuse (or appease) the spirits of those who died from the Winchester rifle.

Sarah Winchester used reoccurring themes:

• The number 13, her favorite number

• Daisies, because they have 13 petals

• Spider web patterns

• Sunbursts and decorative hardware

Though a fascinating piece of architecture, the Winchester Mystery House is also haunted.

Employees and even visitors have seen “Clyde,” a mustached man in white overalls and a Victorian boater hat, usually doing repairs. Footsteps and an unidentified presence tugging on visitors’ shirts have also been reported.

Who knows what mysteries lurk beyond our sight? Have you been to a haunted place? Have you seen a ghost?

PS: The ghost in my haunted house is real.

BLOODSTONE BY H.R. SINCLAIR

Katelyn Grey is a gardener in Southern California. She’s content with pruning shrubs and looking after her step-mom, the only family she has left. That is, until a lawyer shows up and tells her that her long-lost aunt died, leaving her the family home on the other side of the country.

Though Katelyn hates to travel, a weird clause in her aunt’s will forces her to visit a quaint New England seaside town. Her world changes when she discovers she’s inherited a haunted brownstone, fickle magic, and a hidden key that someone else wants. And they’re willing to kill for it.

Now, she must learn how to use magic, find the key, and figure out what it’s for before she ends up like her long-lost aunt. Dead.

ABOUT H.R.

H. R. Sinclair is a left-handed hermit prepping for the squirrel apocalypse. She was born and raised in Southern California, but now lives and works in New England. She writes fantastical stories and visits cemeteries for inspiration. Find her at iamhrsinclair.com or subscribe to her newsletter.

IS YOUR HOUSE HAUNTED?

I think H.R. (and my one best friend) can keep the haunted houses. I like my sleep too much to have ghosts disturb it, but I would love to visit the Winchester House. Have you ever visited the Winchester House? Do ghosts lurk in your home? Share your stories, but again, keep your ghosts. 👻

My next email will drop into your inbox on the 27th. Keep your eyes open because I will be sharing the flash fiction story you voted for.

No poll this month as next month I will finally tell you all about the Lake Michigan Triangle.

Twisting the Myths exists because of YOU!

If you were inspired, please hit like 🩷and share Twisting the Myths with someone you know would love to join the fun. 👻

Thank you for reading.

Until next time, stay spooked!

~Patricia J.L.