New Release, Cusp of Night, and the Birth of the Spiritualist Movement By Mae Clair

I am so excited to have talented author Mae Clair return as we celebrate the release of her fabulous new novel, which, by the way, I absolutely loved! (See my review here). She is about to share some of her inspiration behind the story. I'm sure it will intrigue you every bit as much as it did me! 

Welcome Mae!

Thanks for having me as your guest today, Debbie!  I’m excited to be able to share my new mystery/suspense novel, Cusp of Night. The story features two timelines—one in the present and one in the past. For the past timeline, I delved into the era of Spiritualism, a religion/pseudo-science that experienced its birth in the mid-1800's. Founded on the principle that life existed after death, and that the dead could communicate with the living, most consider the Fox Sisters responsible for setting Spiritualism in motion.

In 1848, John Fox, his wife, and two daughters—Margaret and Kate—moved to a cottage in Hydesville, New York, temporary lodging while their house was being built nearby. Previously owned by a family named Bell, locals referred to the cottage as the “spook house.” A peddler, rumored to have had an affair with Mrs. Bell, vanished after visiting and was never seen again.

Within days of arriving, unexplained noises began to plague the Fox family. Rattling sounds, tappings, and loud bangs were heard each night. John thought nothing of it at first, but the incidents increased in frequency. His wife and daughters were so disturbed, he took to making nightly rounds, searching for the source of the mysterious noises.

After a time, Kate realized that whenever her father knocked on a wall or a doorframe, the same number of knocks would come in reply as if something was trying to communicate. She and her sister named this unseen entity Mr. Splitfoot. In no time they were communicating through an intricate series of knocks.

Cusp of Night by Mae Clair 

Release Date: June 12, 2018

Mystery... Thriller & Suspense... Paranormal

As you can see, my sweet friend Mae Clair has a new book coming soon and I am excited to share the news! I have already pre-ordered this book and I am sure that after you read the blurb, you'll want to do the same!

BLURB: Recently settled in Hode’s Hill, Pennsylvania, Maya Sinclair is enthralled by the town’s folklore, especially the legend about a centuries-old monster. A devil-like creature with uncanny abilities responsible for several horrific murders, the Fiend has evolved into the stuff of urban myth. But the past lives again when Maya witnesses an assault during the annual “Fiend Fest.” The victim is developer Leland Hode, patriarch of the town’s most powerful family, and he was attacked by someone dressed like the Fiend. Compelled to discover who is behind the attack and why, Maya uncovers a shortlist of enemies of the Hode clan. The mystery deepens when she finds the journal of a late nineteenth-century spiritualist who once lived in Maya’s house—a woman whose ghost may still linger. Known as the Blue Lady of Hode’s Hill due to a genetic condition, Lucinda Glass vanished without a trace and was believed to be one of the Fiend’s tragic victims. The disappearance of a young couple, combined with more sightings of the monster, trigger Maya to join forces with Leland’s son Collin. But the closer she gets to unearthing the truth, the closer she comes to a hidden world of twisted secrets, insanity, and evil that refuses to die . . .

A Soldier's Premonition of Death...Imagined or is it Real After all?

As we have released of the audio version of Love Letters from Heaven, beautifully narrated by Sharon Cline, I thought I would share part of the inspiration behind the story with a couple of examples. Keep in mind though, I have more! Lots more...

During America’s Civil War, at the Battle of South Mountain, Maryland, Private George Miles died. The month was September, and the year was 1861. He had enlisted with Company A of the 6^th Wisconsin infantry just a few months earlier—May 10^th, 1861 to be precise. That morning he had grown unusually quiet. This was not like him at all. By nature he was a man of good cheer and joviality, a thing which boosted the spirits of all the men in his company. When they asked him for the reason of his melancholy, he simply said, “You fellows would be quiet too, if you knew you would be killed tonight.”

Though the men laughed, they must’ve taken him seriously, for later that afternoon, when an unexpected battle presented itself, the men asked the Captain to give him a duty elsewhere. The Captain, having a fondness for the private as well, complied. However, George would have none of it. “I came here to do my duty and although I know I shall be killed I shall go in,” he said.

Alongside his comrades George proceeded to climb the mountain. Fighting was intense. About half-way up, he was struck by a bullet. Just as he said, the bullet took his life.