Promo: Ghost Enounters by Helen Hollick and Kathy Hollick

February 21, 2025

Promo: Ghost Enounters by Helen Hollick and Kathy Hollick

Today, I'm delighted to welcome back a dear author friend: Helen Hollick! She's telling us about ghosts...

Helen has an intriguing new release coming out on February 27th, in cooperation with her daughter, Kathy: Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon.

It sounds like a fabulous insight into paranormal shenanigans in rural Devon. Imagine all those ghostly tales to make your skin crawl! I can't wait to read it, so look out for my upcoming review.

In the meantime, here's a ghostly teaser for you!

Ghost Encounters:

The Lingering Spirits of North Devon

Helen and Kathy Hollick

Everyone assumes that ghosts are hostile. Actually, most of them are not.

You either believe in ghosts or you don’t. It depends on whether you’ve encountered something supernatural or not. But when you share a home with several companionable spirits, or discover benign ghosts in public places who appear as real as any living person, scepticism is abandoned. In GHOST ENCOUNTERS: The Lingering Spirits Of North Devon, mother and daughter share their personal experiences, dispelling the belief that spirits are to be feared.

Ghost Encounters will fascinate all who enjoy the beautiful region of rural South-West England, as well as interest those who wish to discover more about its history... and a few of its ghosts.

(Includes a bonus of two short stories and photographs connected to North Devon)

Buy Links:

Pre-order the e-book on Amazon: https://mybook.to/GhostEncounters

The ebook will be available to read on #KindleUnlimited. and the paperback will be published on February 28^th.

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GHOSTS? THE WRITTEN WORD

by Helen Hollick

Ghosts are mentioned in several ancient cultures, and the religions of early Mesopotamian areas. Ghosts were – are – believed to be created at the time of death when they ‘pass’ to another world. Some remain in that otherworld, others come back, for various reasons to ‘haunt’ the living.

The Hebrew Bible has several ghost references, although most are connected to occult activities and Christ, of course, returns from the dead as a Holy Spirit. Are angels a religious interpretation of ghosts?

The Egyptian concept of an afterlife evolved through several thousand years of their history. But a bandaged Mummy coming back to life to create havoc is modern. (Thanks Scooby Doo!)

Ghosts are common in literature. The Odyssey and Iliad feature ghosts, often included as useful for predicting prophecies, but by the 5^th century BC Greek ghosts had plumped for haunting and frightening the living. To the Romans, a ghost was useful for revenge against an enemy – scratch a curse on a stone or some pottery, place it on a grave and wait patiently for a satisfying result.

We’re all aware of Ghostbusters. Good fun, but utter nonsense.

Better films are the more thought-provoking High Plains Drifter and Pale Rider starring Clint Eastwood. Then there’s Hamlet and MacBeth, of course, and A Christmas Carol. My favourites, though are the recent BBC TV comedy series Ghosts, and that good old movie of Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit where Margaret Rutherford plays the part of the wonderful Medium, Madame Arcati. Forget the recent remake. It was awful.

The classic ghost story arrived during the Victorian period, when anything to do with ghosts and spirits was a popular form of evening entertainment – seances (usually conducted by a skilled con-artist) were especially favoured. Many noted authors penned ghost stories influenced by gothic fiction and traditional folktales, and today ghost stories remain popular – some copying the trend for scary horror, but as many, depict friendly ghosts whose only concern is to be noticed...

So if you happen to meet something which may well be a ghost, don’t be alarmed. Just smile and say ‘hello’.

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About the Authors:

Helen Hollick

Known for her captivating storytelling and rich attention to historical detail, Helen might not see ghosts herself, but her nautical adventure series, and some of her short stories, skilfully blend the past with the supernatural, inviting readers to step into worlds where the boundaries between the living and the dead blur.

Her historical fiction spans a variety of periods and her gift lies in her ability to bring historical figures and settings to life, creating an immersive experience that transports readers into the past. Her stories are as compelling as they are convincing.

Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which became a USA Today best-seller. She also writes the Jan Christopher cosy mystery series set during the 1970s, and based around her, sometimes hilarious, years of working as a North London library assistant.

Helen, husband Ron and daughter Kathy moved from London to Devon in January 2013 after a Lottery win on the opening night of the London Olympics, 2012. She spends her time glowering at the overgrown garden and orchard, fending off the geese, helping with the horses and, when she gets a moment, writing the next book...

Kathy Hollick

When not encountering friendly ghosts, Kathy's passion is horses and mental well-being. She started riding at the age of three, had a pony at thirteen, and discovered showjumping soon after. Kathy now runs her own Taw River Equine Events, and coaches riders of any age or experience, specialising in positive mindset and overcoming confidence issues via her Centre10 accreditation and Emotional Freedom Technique training to aid calm relaxation and promote gentle healing.

Kathy Hollick riding her horse, Lexie

Kathy lives with her farmer partner, Andrew, in their flat adjoining the main farmhouse. She regularly competes at affiliated British Showjumping, and rides side-saddle (‘aside’) when she has the opportunity. She produces her own horses, several from home-bred foals.

She also has a fun diploma in Dragons and Dragon Energy, which was something amusing to study during the Covid lockdown.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

Website: https://helenhollick.net/

Amazon Author Page: https://viewauthor.at/HelenHollick

Bluesky: @helenhollick.bsky.social

Blog: supporting authors & their books https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/

Monthly newsletter : Thoughts from a Devonshire Farmhouse

https://ofhistoryandkings.blogspot.com/2024/01/thoughts-from-devonshire-farmhouse.html

Kathy’s Official Website: https://www.white-owl.co.uk/

For additional (and any new ghost encounters!) visit

https://ghostencountersofdevon.blogspot.com/

Cover design: Avalon Graphics https://avalongraphics.org/