Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The Haunted Mansion Project: Year Two
We are pleased to announce that THE HAUNTED MANSION PROJECT: YEAR TWO is in its final editing stages, with a release date planned for World Horror Con 2013 in New Orleans, LA, via Damnation Books. The second volume does not disappoint; Loren Rhoads has done a tremendous job compiling and editing the submissions, and each person contributing has a unique perspective on their experiences and inspirations to offer. If you haven't purchased YEAR ONE, now is a good time to bone up, considering it's on sale for just under $16 in the print edition at amazon.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
The Black Mass Room
I've written a few observations about The Black Mass Room over at Sephera's World
This is the hallway leading to The Black Mass Room which is on the right hand side at the very end.
Sitting in The Black Mass Room.
Toys for the spirits to play with in the The Black Mass Room.
View out of the The Black Mass Room
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Buzzing
Throughout my adventures at the Haunted Mansion, there remained an undercurrent of bees, of humming, yet I never actually saw any bees this time.
There were numerous conversations, not only at the retreat, but before and after the retreat, about honey bees and what will become of them and people who are allergic to bees worrying about getting stung.
This morning the radio jocks in Toronto were speculating about RoboBee, the robot bee that has been created by scientist and its impact on society and the environment.
Just now, while listening to one of the Ghost Girls' evps recorded in Gretchen's Room, the sound of the electromagnetic doohickey is buzzing in a low grade key like a swarm of bees just waiting for orders.
I think that electrostatic device with its adjustable low grade buzzing is one of my new favourite ghost hunting devices. It doesn't bother me like that Gauss box or whatever it's called with its radio frequencies shifting in and out. This is just a hum that can get higher or lower depending on electric activity. It never really screamed or peaked when I was around it but it shifted enough, seemingly in response, to give pause about what was really transpiring.
It's a box. It sounds like static but you can adjust to it a specific level.
Weirdly enough, the only time the K2 meter went nuts on me was the first night when we talked to Paul for the first time. After that, the K2 just wasn't feeling it for some reason.
The hairs on my arms did.
And of course, we can't discount the buzz derived from wine, rum, beer and absinthe.
Watch this blog for updates as we start to unravel the mysteries of the evidence we acquired!
I only said, "Candyman" once at the resort. Does writing it just now count as twice? Are the bees assembling as I type?
What was in that room?
Follow us and enjoy the buzzing of the bees while you can.
There were numerous conversations, not only at the retreat, but before and after the retreat, about honey bees and what will become of them and people who are allergic to bees worrying about getting stung.
This morning the radio jocks in Toronto were speculating about RoboBee, the robot bee that has been created by scientist and its impact on society and the environment.
Just now, while listening to one of the Ghost Girls' evps recorded in Gretchen's Room, the sound of the electromagnetic doohickey is buzzing in a low grade key like a swarm of bees just waiting for orders.
I think that electrostatic device with its adjustable low grade buzzing is one of my new favourite ghost hunting devices. It doesn't bother me like that Gauss box or whatever it's called with its radio frequencies shifting in and out. This is just a hum that can get higher or lower depending on electric activity. It never really screamed or peaked when I was around it but it shifted enough, seemingly in response, to give pause about what was really transpiring.
It's a box. It sounds like static but you can adjust to it a specific level.
Weirdly enough, the only time the K2 meter went nuts on me was the first night when we talked to Paul for the first time. After that, the K2 just wasn't feeling it for some reason.
The hairs on my arms did.
And of course, we can't discount the buzz derived from wine, rum, beer and absinthe.
Watch this blog for updates as we start to unravel the mysteries of the evidence we acquired!
I only said, "Candyman" once at the resort. Does writing it just now count as twice? Are the bees assembling as I type?
What was in that room?
Follow us and enjoy the buzzing of the bees while you can.
Monday, October 1, 2012
A Sister Event in Australia this February, 2013
Geoff Brown is organizing an event with a similar structure to ours (with my blessing) in Australia at the Aradale Asylum - one of the country's largest haunted places. I believe he is garnering interest now, if you want to check it out. Click the flyer to be taken to his Facebook page for it.
More information and pictures of the location can be found here.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Deep Cuts
Did I mention that I can't believe it's over. I have not had such a pleasant, relaxing weekend since those long, lazy summers when I was a kid. Even the ghost hunting made me nostalgic for those slumber parties where you had seances and tried to call up your best friend's dead grandparent. We slouched around in sweats and ate comfort food just like back then too. And Mom--I mean the staff--cleaned up after us, set out cookies for us, and kept the coffee pot full.
So, the ghosts. I didn't personally have any interaction with them, but it was fascinating watching as others did. I will admit that there were times when I came quite close to freaking myself out. Like, the first night, when I awoke in the middle of the night just in time to see a light go off on the dresser between my bed and E's. NO ONE WAS THERE!
I didn't panic, though. I was brave and bold, and I ran to the bathroom (stubbing my toe on the way, which elicited a string of cuss words that would've scared away even the nastiest ghost). And..., when I came out, the light flashed again! But, that's when I realized it was E's cell phone. Um. Okay.
Later, I was once again going alone into one of the bathrooms, and I didn't close the outer door. I only closed the inner one (because I didn't want to be completely cut off, duh), but when I came out, the door was closed. Hm. Maybe a spirit felt I needed more privacy? Maybe not.
Am I disappointed I wasn't shaken awake by a mischievous spirit? Not so much. Am I sorry no grumpy ghostie whispered, "Get oooooout," in my ear? Uh uh. I had just the right amount of supernatural activity, and it was all in my head--right where it belongs.
I came to the retreat with a couple goals. The first was to get together with Chris and E, face to face, so we could hack our slush pile to bloody bits and nail down the final story list for Deep Cuts. On this, we were successful! Woo hoo! Rejections will be going out over the next two weeks. Trust me when I say the choice was not an easy one. We had SO many amazing stories. We needed this zen horror weekend to discuss, argue, and negotiate our story choices.Enough about me. I'll just send out my heartfelt thanks to Rain, the mansion's staff, and my fellow retreaties for a memorable, enjoyable, and relaxing weekend!
Sunday Morning....
How is it Sunday already? It seems like seconds ago I was standing in the freezing cold wind and random rain in Toronto at The Word on the Street. Since that time, I spent a few days in San Francisco and then in Mill Valley.
I ran my Ghost Radar for Blackberry every day but some days it refused to save the word recordings. I'll fritter my time away in the airport copying the recorded ones into my notebook.
The first day, my GR said the name "Paul" and it seemed like the name of the weekend.
I've very much enjoyed my week away from life issues and feel refreshed and invigorated for the first time likely since the last time I came here.
I've never seen flashlights answer questions before in real life. That was pretty spooky.
The possession of Dan was unnerving. It reminded me of the only other possession I've ever seen which occurred at the Lizzie Borden House the first time.
I did a little bit of DVR and am eager to put them on my computer at home to see if I caught anything. I didn't use it much because trying to listen to them and find "stuff" is insanely time consuming and I know that with my upcoming schedule for the next two months, it will be nearly impossible to find time.
As it always happens to me at Haunted Houses, I always seem to become absorbed into the vibe of the house and after a while, things that I might have considered unusual in “real life” seem to take on a laissez-faire quality.
Once I get home and look back on this experience, I’m sure I’ll realize how weirdly strange some events actually were.
Although again I did little actual writing during my time here, my adventures and photographing will inspire me for months to come.
I had great fun dressing up last night with Kim and William and you will no doubt see pictures of the three of us in our “Period” clothes.
I sat in my old Black Mass room this morning and attempted to take a 360 picture of it. I only discovered the 360 feature on my camera after Wes showed me how HE took one on his camera. Yeah, I know, I’ve had this camera for years and years.
Yesterday morning, while the Ghost Girl equipment was running, I attempted to engage the children in the house to play with my eyeball balls and spin a propeller thing and play with blinking lights. Perhaps they did when I wasn’t in the room. There were cameras in there and a dvr.
The Dan incident was freaky scary since I was the first one to see him, and perhaps the only one to see him transform from Dan the Man to Dan the possessed being dragged under the bed like something out of Poltergeist.
The first night incident with Wes and Scott was very weird too. People finally believe that we didn’t fake the recordings when other similar recordings showed up for others. It sucks being that scared only to have people not believe you…but now they do.
I wish I could stay here for a few more days. But I’m also getting very homesick for Toronto and my sons.
I’m inspired for both my writing and my ghost hunting skills! I now know the direction my new book, “We All Scream” is going to be taking!
I ran my Ghost Radar for Blackberry every day but some days it refused to save the word recordings. I'll fritter my time away in the airport copying the recorded ones into my notebook.
The first day, my GR said the name "Paul" and it seemed like the name of the weekend.
I've very much enjoyed my week away from life issues and feel refreshed and invigorated for the first time likely since the last time I came here.
I've never seen flashlights answer questions before in real life. That was pretty spooky.
The possession of Dan was unnerving. It reminded me of the only other possession I've ever seen which occurred at the Lizzie Borden House the first time.
I did a little bit of DVR and am eager to put them on my computer at home to see if I caught anything. I didn't use it much because trying to listen to them and find "stuff" is insanely time consuming and I know that with my upcoming schedule for the next two months, it will be nearly impossible to find time.
As it always happens to me at Haunted Houses, I always seem to become absorbed into the vibe of the house and after a while, things that I might have considered unusual in “real life” seem to take on a laissez-faire quality.
Once I get home and look back on this experience, I’m sure I’ll realize how weirdly strange some events actually were.
Although again I did little actual writing during my time here, my adventures and photographing will inspire me for months to come.
I had great fun dressing up last night with Kim and William and you will no doubt see pictures of the three of us in our “Period” clothes.
I sat in my old Black Mass room this morning and attempted to take a 360 picture of it. I only discovered the 360 feature on my camera after Wes showed me how HE took one on his camera. Yeah, I know, I’ve had this camera for years and years.
Yesterday morning, while the Ghost Girl equipment was running, I attempted to engage the children in the house to play with my eyeball balls and spin a propeller thing and play with blinking lights. Perhaps they did when I wasn’t in the room. There were cameras in there and a dvr.
The Dan incident was freaky scary since I was the first one to see him, and perhaps the only one to see him transform from Dan the Man to Dan the possessed being dragged under the bed like something out of Poltergeist.
The first night incident with Wes and Scott was very weird too. People finally believe that we didn’t fake the recordings when other similar recordings showed up for others. It sucks being that scared only to have people not believe you…but now they do.
I wish I could stay here for a few more days. But I’m also getting very homesick for Toronto and my sons.
I’m inspired for both my writing and my ghost hunting skills! I now know the direction my new book, “We All Scream” is going to be taking!
Now, I’m going to pack before having my last meal.
Remainder of the Day
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It's the last day for our motely crew at the Haunted Mansion Writers' Retreat 2012. We're reluctantly packing up and putting on our walking shoes, getting ready to head back home. It's been an exciting weekend, but most importantly, it's been a weekend full of friendship and creativity.
The ghosties were an eventful addition to our activities, but this was truly a writers' retreat with abundant inspiration at every turn, especially the opportunity to be surrounded by other working writers. It's really fantastic to have company for a change!
Wickedly Yours,
Fran Friel
PS - Thank you, Sephora Giron, for the colorful walking shoes/socks inspiration.
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