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Blame It On Poe or Forevermore
 By Denise A Agnew As I tried to think of something to write for this blog, I discovered a trailer for a recently released horror film called The Orphanage. I was hooked after seeing the trailer and jumped over to the website. I found a wealth of information on a movie I know I’ll want to see. Other movies I’d put in the same realm of creepy but wonderfully done would include The Others, The Haunted (1963 version), The Sixth Sense, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Exorcist, Rosemary’s Baby, and a few others. The Orphanage doesn’t rely on gore to scare, making certain the horror aspect evolves from many angles and that there is “story” and “character building” to make for a truly engaging emotional experience. What does this have to do with Poe? For Christmas I got this huge leather volume of all Poe’s works. I’d been eyeballing this book for some time and my hubby grabbed it as a surprise gift. The delightfully twisted, thrilling, and shadowy stories Poe created have always intrigued me, and you might say he was one of the authors that made me want to write my own Things That Go Bump In The Night. Now you might ask what a romance author is doing with the creepy supernatural story line. It’s very hard for me not to include the supernatural in some way, shape, or form in all my romance novels. Granted, I’ve actually written more romantic suspense than I have straight paranormal romance. One of my earlier paranormal romances, which isn’t in print right now, was the reincarnation romance FOREVERMORE. When I wrote my vampire trilogy, DEEP IS THE NIGHT (Ellora’s Cave www.ellorascave.com), I sank my teeth (pun intended) into the vampire genre with the idea of creeping out the reader at the same time I treated them to a flame-thrower romance. I wanted readers to discover they could truly be scared out of their wits, on the edge of the seat, and thrilling to the romance at the same time. My interest in Poe slipped into this novel where the heroine, a true Poe fan, finds herself remembering lines from his stories when something odd happens to her. Micky has been haunted by Shadow People her whole life. Here’s a snippet from DEEP IS THE NIGHT: NIGHT WATCH, to give you a peek into what I mean: Seconds later a cold breeze drifted over Micky’s shoulders and she shivered. The hair on the back of her neck prickled. Iciness slid over her body like a dip into a freezing pond. A shadow passed to her right, and she started and gasped. She listened for any sign the shadow people would continue their assault, but nothing happened. She couldn’t move, stopped in an instant by a wall of panic, the barrier of the unknown. The day seemed to recede in this house. Yawning, a chasm of indescribable dread took her breath. She couldn’t move. Shame flirted with resignation. She’d gotten used to running and hiding from the unknown. Muscling through the tightness holding her prisoner, she turned away and hurried down to the first floor. Whispers taunted her. Sibilant and harsh, they verbalized all her weaknesses. She stopped at the top of the last set of stairs. Another quote from The Masque of The Red Death came to her mind, whirling around in her memory as an explanation for what she heard. And the rumor of this new presence having spread itself whisperingly around, there arose at length from the whole company a buzz, or murmur, expressive of disapprobation and surprise–then, finally, of terror, of horror, and of disgust. Weak light, filtered by encroaching clouds, seeped through the tall windows. A wave of renewed fear coursed through Micky. Half expecting shadow people to show themselves again, to own the voices, she waited. Swiftly rising, the hateful voices told her a million secrets she didn’t want to know. They demanded her attention, as sharp and ravenous as the bite of a serpent. Hate is the answer. She gripped the banister as a strange lethargy weakened her limbs. Her knees trembled. Discord becomes you. Her heart started to pound. We are here. We are near. Dizziness made her sink down onto the top step. I am here. The sonorous sound overwhelmed the others, and the weaker voices slipped into incoherent rambling. Shivering, she questioned what she’d heard and why. She tried shrugging off apprehension, unwilling to collapse under the heavy atmosphere. She’d never heard voices with the appearance of shadow people before. Never. Another shiver rippled through her body. My God. What’s happening here? Swallowing hard, she tried to regain her equilibrium. She waited a few moments in case the voices started again, but she heard nothing but an eerie, almost suppressive silence. Soldiering onward, she stood and headed the rest of the way downstairs. She almost dropped her pad and pen, her fingers clumsy as they trembled. Take it easy. Get a hold on yourself. Sure, Jared had asked her not to explore the tunnels, but she could check out the main room and list what she didn’t want to keep. She headed for the basement door. Putting the paper and pen under her arm, she took out her keys and unlocked it. If she couldn’t go certain places in this house by herself, what was the use of opening the inn? She must conquer this irrational fear once and for all. She waited, listening. Nothing. Half convinced she’d imagined the voices near the attic and the presence of an entity too evil to describe, Micky turned on the light. With a last gasp, her childhood hesitancy about the basement began to disappear. She put one foot on a step and then another, until she tromped all the way downstairs. A musty, damp scent came to her nose. Dark, hollow, a place where light disappeared, the tunnels seemed ripe with danger. Fresh concern tickled at the back of her consciousness. Yet she stared into the abyss. Seconds lengthened into minutes. A voice whispered in her head. I am here. I enjoyed creating all of my vampire novels not just because I wanted to write a hot romance, but because it gave me an opportunity to explore other paranormal realms for the reader. Even when writing a historical romance just recently, the heroine’s visions and a mysterious haunted woods appeared in the storyline. I had a particularly good time weaving the haunted woods into the reader’s mind. Are the woods really haunted? Is it just superstition? What human evil haunts the woods if it isn’t a ghost? So blame it on Poe. I don’t need Halloween (though I do get a hankerin’ to write scary stuff around that time) to write the supernatural, but Poe gave me that first kick in the pants to writing everything thrilling. Chilling. Downright scary. So tell me…have you read any romances that scared you at the same time? What were they? I’ll pick a winner from the responses early today because I’ll be out of town later. The winner will receive a signed copy of DEEP IS THE NIGHT: DARK FIRE, the first book in the vampire trilogy. Happy…uh…creepy reading. :evil: 34 Responses to “Blame It On Poe or Forevermore” |
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January 18th, 2008 at 7:30 am
You’re scaring me. LOL I am the biggest chicken ever and hate to be scared. I never watch scary movies and try to avoid Halloween at all costs, unless I am part of the scare, than it’s fine.
January 18th, 2008 at 10:08 am
I’m one of those few and far between people. :)
Denise
January 18th, 2008 at 10:40 am
OHHH scaring us now lol akkkk :evil:
January 18th, 2008 at 10:55 am
OOOh! Brenda Joyce’s “House of Dreams” was pretty creepy. I loved that it was a contemporary but it’s history was based on her historical “series” of the “De Warrens”. It was a pretty creepy one!
January 18th, 2008 at 10:55 am
A little too chilling for me, Denise! I suffer from an acute case of “Weenie-itis”
January 18th, 2008 at 11:24 am
I meant to throw in a “Happy Anniversary” too - I hope you have a great weekend!
January 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
:mrgreen: Love your work Denise! I need to catch up on my reading some more books when I get the chance! I read your Bridge Through the mist and loved it! Thanks for a great blog post!
January 18th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Another scaredy cat here! I have given up watching scary movies because I cover my eyes at the really scary moments which makes my husband crack up laughing. The last scary book I read was Tick Tock by Dean Koontz. Couldn’t sleep that night.
January 18th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Eeek, another weenie here! I’m hiding under the bed until this is over, OK? Definitely no spooky shows for me (I confess that X-Files tended to be too much for me, or don’t laugh too hard–Buffy…) I do avoid the creepy books often too, but they don’t spook me quite as badly as the visual images. Hence, I can’t remember the name of the last romance I read that creeped me out, or maybe I’m just blocking ;) Have a great weekend!
January 18th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
Happy Anniversary!
How can you not love Poe, although I do hate being scared. LOL I’m the person who watches the scary movie through the cracks in her fingers as she hides behind them. The funny thing is that I love writing paranormal and have always been fascinated by it. Go figure.
Very shivery excerpt. I really liked it!
January 18th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
I am also a scaredy cat. I read to be entertained, not scared to death.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:20 pm
Happy Anniversary!
It’s weird I love to watch scary movies but I haven’t read a scary book. I’ll have to check out some scary novels now that you got me to thinking about it.
January 18th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Tina,
I aim to please. :evil:
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Sharmi,
I’ve never had the opportunity to read that particular book by Brenda. Will have to check it out.
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Laurie,
I forgive you for having wheenie itis. :razz:
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Laurie,
Thanks for the anniversary wishes. Seventeen years!
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
From one Denise to another, I’m so glad you enjoyed Bridge Through The Mist. Thanks for the kudos.
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Cherie,
Good thing I don’t write all scary books or nobody here would love me. :roll:
I’m a big Dean Koontz fan, though.
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Thanks for stopping by and braving my blog entry, though. I appreciate that.
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Howdy NJ!!! From one author to another, thanks for dropping by. Real scary situations are not so fun, but I think one of the reasons why some of us thrill to reading or watching scary stuff is that it is transitory and we know that. That, or we’re just mighty twisted. :evil: :twisted:
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Well, as I was saying earlier, it’s a good thing I write some things that aren’t scary, eh?
Plus, for those of us who like to read and write scary…that is entertaining to us. 
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
:shock: Sheila, I’m glad I could give you food for thought. In one way a paranormal romance can really be a romantic suspense, too, and there are plenty of authors who love romantic suspense. So if you enjoy romantic suspense at all, you might enjoy not only my paranormal books but my suspense books. Heck, I’ve combined the two subgenres together more than once.
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
A couple of authors I enjoy that can be scary are Heather Graham and James Patterson. I love stuff that tends to more psychological. I love stuff that scares you just using your imagination. That is the best. :mrgreen:
January 18th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Oh I think my first love of books started with Poe. I will read anything and am into historicals at the moment but I always go back to thrillers/horror stories. I’ve seen all the movies that you mentioned. Unfortunately my husband isn’t a great fan but luckily he gives in once in a while. Most of the time I rent them and he can go to sleep on the couch lol. Of course Stephen King is a favorite along with many others. I loved your excerpt!
January 18th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Hi Larena! Psychological horror or paranormal is a favorite of mine. I loved Seven and Silence Of The Lambs. Talk about scary!!
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hi Denise!
Happy Anniversary! Oo - I liked the excerpt - very suspenseful. I like many of the others here, stay away from horror films. I get nightmares and scare myself. My friends made me watch “The Exorcism of Emily Rose” and I made myself stay up past 3 AM every night for 2 weeks. However, I do love Poe. I can’t explain it.
January 18th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Catslady,
My husband isn’t a huge fan of horror either, but he has found a few horror movies to his liking if they were really well done. :) So glad you liked my excerpt! :grin:
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
JSL,
Ah, yes! Another Poe fan! YES!!!! :grin:
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
DRUMMMMMMMMM ROLLLLLL! The winner of today’s contest is CATSLADY!!! Congratulations. Email me at danovelist@cox.net and we’ll connect there. :)
Everyone have a super weekend. I’m off to celebrate my anniversary.
Denise A. Agnew
January 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Some books that have scared me while I was reading them were all of the Bishop Special Crime Unit series by Kay Hooper, The Chosen by Sharon Sala, and On The Edge by Cait London. I love horror but I am also sort of a scaredy cat at the same time. Great excerpt! I can’t wait to try the book. Your one of my favorite authors so keep up the great writing. Happy 17th Anniversary! May you have many more in the years to come! :mrgreen:
Caitlin
January 19th, 2008 at 6:21 pm
I am a total chicken when it comes to scary movie. If I do watch a scary movie you can guarantee that later that night I will be waking my husband up because I heard a noise. I love vampire romance and scary romance books though
January 19th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Oh I just saw this - thank you so much. I’ll email you now :mrgreen:
January 21st, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hi Caitlin! Sorry I couldn’t comment earlier. Just got back today from the anniversary trip. Thanks so much for the kind kudos. I really appreciate it. :grin: I’m double thrilled that I’m one of your favorite authors. That’s awesome!
Denise A. Agnew
January 21st, 2008 at 10:05 pm
:twisted: Karrie,
Maybe its the visuals in spooky movies that really scare you, whereas just reading about it doesn’t flip your imagination into overdrive and scare you quite as much, eh? :razz:
Denise A. Agnew