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 and the myth that ghosts are to be feared is realised as nonsense.
It is a matter for individual consideration whether you believe in ghosts or not, but for those who have the gift to see, hear or be aware of people from the past, meeting with them in today’s environment can generate a connection to years gone by. Kathy and Helen Hollick have come across several such departed souls in and around North Devon and at their 18th-century home, which they share with several ‘past residents’.
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 this 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)
cover design: Avalon Graphics
cover artwork: Chris Collingwood
Publisher: Taw River Press
Pages: 201
Genre: Non-Fiction (with a bonus of two short stories)
Descriptions of a ghost or spirit can vary from an unseen but felt presence, a translucent, barely visible shape, or a lifelike form. Most docu-drama supernatural TV shows portray ghosts as anything from an unexplained noise – things that go bump in the night – to something terrifyingly paranormal. Many of these shows are, however, nothing more than excitement-catching pseudoscience-drama. Why are these investigations always conducted at night? Spirits are not confined to the hours of darkness. (Or do ghost Equity unions forbid daylight appearances on commercial TV?) Darkness, of course, magnifies the fear. What could be normal in daylight can be terrifying at night.
Organised ghost tours are popular and are good fun as the guides know their history, are excellent storytellers and provide an evening of interesting entertainment, usually ending at a local hostelry. Devon has several such tours, as do most major towns – London, York, Bath etc. But most ghost tours merely recount exciting stories, and cannot always be taken as legitimate supernatural occurrences.
For most pseudo-encounters, the pleading of, “Is there anyone there?” is a clichéd remnant from the Victorian era when paranormal amusements were popular. Any genuine Medium or Spiritualist are automatically aware of a presence and do not need to ask!
We moved from London to Devon in 2013. It was not long before we realised we were not alone. There are other residents from previous years dwelling in our 18th-century farmhouse, or encountered around the farm. All of them are friendly and welcoming, and are regarded by us as our extended family.
Find out more – and meet a few ghosts – in Ghost Encounters: The Lingering Spirits of North Devon
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.
In addition to her historical fiction, Helen has written several short stories, further exploring themes of historical adventure or the supernatural with her signature style. Whether dealing with the echoes of the past or the weight of lost souls, her stories are as compelling as they are convincing. Through her work, she invites readers into a world where the past never truly lets us go.
Helen started writing as a teenager, but after discovering a passion for history, was published in the UK with her Arthurian Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy and two Anglo-Saxon novels about the events that led to the 1066 Battle of Hastings, one of which, The Forever Queen (USA title – A Hollow Crown in the UK) became a USA Today best-seller. Her Sea Witch Voyages are nautical-based adventures inspired by the Golden Age of Piracy. 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...
