2
Mar
I’m a “Ghost Hunters” junkie.
Believe it or not, I’m actually taking a break from writing and editing tonight so I can get caught up on last season’s episodes before the new season begins on March 3rd. Now, granted, part of the show’s appeal might have something to do with TAPS Tech Manager, Steve Gonsalves (two words: Cutie. Pie.), but mainly I’m drawn to “Ghost Hunters” because, like so many others in the viewing audience, I just love a good ghost story.
In fact, I’m on a bit of a ghost hunt of my own.
I’m not hunting for ghosts in the literal sense — trust me, I’ve had enough of my own personal experiences to last a lifetime. At present, I’m looking for phantasms of the (intentionally) fictional variety. In my writing queue is an open spot for a paranormal romance featuring ghosts in some yet-to-be-determined capacity, but before I really dig in and give it a go, I’d like to read what others have done and get a feel for what’s already out there.
Visit your average library or bookstore and you’ll find no shortage of horror novels dealing with our corporeally-challenged friends and other entities of their ilk, but I have yet to find a romance/romantic suspense novel in which spirits play a major role. Well, perhaps I should qualify that: I’ve yet to find one in which the plot doesn’t ooze melodrama. Now, don’t get me wrong, these might be perfectly sweet, romantic stories, but I’m looking for something dark and edgy that will keep me awake at night.
However, looking at the other end of the spectrum, nothing annoys me more than slashers and splatters masquerading as ghost stories. Plot and character development are two must-haves in what I read, and books of this sort tend to sacrifice plot in favor of gratuitous gore and violence. And character development? Skipped entirely, as most of the characters won’t be sticking around long enough to make it worthwhile. Within the first few pages, you pretty much know how the story’s going to end — it’s just a matter of determining in which order the characters are going to be decapitated, eviscerated, or otherwise heinously mutilated before the protagonist (and possibly a token love interest) finally escape.
What I’m dying to read (no pun intended) is something gritty and scary and sexy, a story that will give me the chills and make my spine tingle for more reasons than one. Give me just the right combination of psychological suspense, fast-paced action, and engaging love story, and I’ll be completely hooked.
I have to believe there are paranormal romances out there that successfully unite my love of the romantic and the spooky, so I’m open to suggestions. If you have any recommendations, feel free to post them here or email me.
Let the ghost hunting begin!
