Things Unexplained

I looked up the definition for paranormal in Webster's Dictionary. It read, "of or pertaining to events or perceptions occurring without scientific explanation, as clairvoyance or extrasensory perception."


Today, clairvoyants are used to help find victims and solve crimes. It wasn't long ago that the mere thought of using someone with supernatural powers in police work was laughable. We're not laughing now, and many victim's families have been grateful for their powers.


I can't say that everything we hear about ghosts and other supernatural events are true, or that what happens couldn't be caused by something in nature, but to me the stories are interesting. Some afternoons I find myself in front of the television watching "Hauntings." It's downright scary and triggers all sorts of story ideas in my head.


Of course, the paranormal genre in writing isn't confined to what I've discussed above. We have stories about vampires, werewolves, zombies, and the list goes on. I doubt anyone really believes in such entities, but it sure is fun to pretend. It doesn't take much for a good writer to get me all wrapped up in their stories and in that case, I do believe, for a time anyway. It's an escape from the ordinary and oh so much fun -- or not -- more frightening. Pure entertainment.


My paranormal stories are mainly time travels. Wouldn't it be fun to travel back to a previous time period, or for that matter, move forward? Time travels are a way to experience history using modern perceptions.

In my contemporary stories, I occasionally like to add a touch of the paranormal.





Here is a short excerpt from my current release from Champagne Books, Forever Faithful. You can watch the book trailer on my website at http://www.lindalaroque.com/ and also view the one for my current and upcoming time travels with The Wild Rose Press.


A whisper of something touched his face. His eyes flew open as a smoke ring erupted from an invisible source aimed at his face. It was followed by another and another. Lucas lay still and watched the perfectly formed circles reach him and disintegrate. Maybe he was still asleep. He sat up in the bed and the display continued. A shiver ran up his spine. Sam was the only person he knew who could blow smoke rings like what he saw.

"Sam, is that you?"

His answer came in the form of a smoke ring that hovered in the air and pulsed. Guess that’s a yes. "Guess you’re pretty pissed about my and Gail’s problems." The smoke grew so thick Lucas coughed. "Yeah, don’t blame you. Wish I could say I’d fix it, but don’t know if it’s possible." He waited for another response but didn’t get one.

Lucas woke coughing. Smoke, he was choking on smoke. The whole thing had been a dream and the house was on fire. He lunged out of bed and raced down the hall to Gail’s room, and then realized there was no smoke. Just outside her door, he stopped to think. Chief would’ve sensed the fire and alerted them. He must have been dreaming. Unable to return to bed without checking on Gail, he quietly opened the door and peeked in. Chief lifted his head, and his tail thumped the floor. A sigh of relief rushed from Lucas’s chest. All appeared well in there.

He closed the door and returned to Sam’s room. Stale cigarette smoke met him as he entered. Back in bed, he pondered what had happened. Had it been a dream? Seconds before he dozed off again, a small smoke ring danced before his face, and then disappeared.

Thanks for stopping by and please leave a comment.

Linda

Linda LaRoque ~ Western Romance with a Twist in Time.
A Law of Her Own, TWRP; Forever Faithful, Nov 1, 2008 Champagne Books; Desires of the Heart, March 4, 2009, My Heart Will Find Yours, May 1, 2009, Flames on the Sky coming soon from TWRP; Investment of the Heart coming May 1, 2009 from Champagne Books.
www.lindalaroque.com