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Judith Sterling

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Judith Sterling

Tag Archives: Halloween

Happy Halloween!

31 Sunday Oct 2021

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Halloween, Jonathan Corwin, Judith Sterling, Salem Massachusetts, Salem Witch Trials of 1692, The Witch House

Happy Halloween! It’s my favorite day of the year, but wouldn’t you know…I’ll be working all day. Thankfully, I enjoy my job as a tour guide at The Witch House, the 17th-century home of Jonathan Corwin, one of nine judges for the Court of Oyer and Terminer during the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. We’ve been sold out all month, and I’m guessing today will be a bit (if not a lot) crazy!

Stay safe and enjoy yourself! 🙂

Trick or Treat Book Bonanza

04 Monday Oct 2021

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Amazon gift card, Guardians of Erin, Halloween, Halloween costumes, Judith Sterling, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, paranormal, supernatural, The Stone Awakened, Trick or Treat Book Bonanza, YA series

Trick or Treat! ‘Tis the season to celebrate all things supernatural, suspenseful, and mystical. If you’re like me, you’ll want to accept this special invitation to join the festivities at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s third annual Trick or Treat Book Bonanza. 27 authors–including yours truly–share what their Halloween costume would be, and there are 32 books featured, with a chance to win a $75 Amazon (US) gift card.

I’m thrilled to be a part of this event. Today, The Stone Awakened (the second book in my YA paranormal fantasy series) is the featured title. Check it out here!

Bookmark this event and tell your friends:

https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/trick-or-treat-book-bonanza

The drawing will be held on November 1st. Enter to win here. Best of luck! 🙂

Spooky Halloween Bookish Giveaway

02 Saturday Oct 2021

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Tags

Guardians of Erin, Halloween, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, paranormal fantasy, Salem Massachusetts, Spooky Halloween Bookish Giveaway, The Cauldron Stirred

October is here, and it’s my favorite time of year. There’s a chill in the air, the leaves turn fiery, and here in Salem, Massachusetts, Halloween is a month-long celebration. Late at night, as the wind shakes my windows, I love to curl up with a good book. N. N. Light feels the same way, and they’re hosting an awesome giveaway. No tricks, just treats for booklovers! Everything from romance to paranormal is up for grabs, and you can even enter to win The Cauldron Stirred, the first book in my award-winning Guardians of Erin young adult paranormal fantasy series.

Check out the list of prizes here. If there’s one in particular you’d like, be sure to name it when entering here. The giveaway runs through the 31st. Good luck, and happy October! 🙂

A ghost story for Halloween…

31 Saturday Oct 2020

Posted by Judith Sterling in Uncategorized

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Tags

ghost story, Halloween, Judith Sterling, Sweden

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!! It’s my favorite day of the year, and I thought I’d celebrate by sharing one of many paranormal experiences I’ve had in my life. At the time, I was 24 and newly arrived in Sweden, where I would study for the next six months under a Swedish Institute scholarship.

This was long before I met my husband, so my Swedish-American boyfriend (back in the States) had arranged for me to stay in his grandmother’s empty house in Stockholm for the week leading up to nyĂ„rsafton (New Year’s Eve), after which my studies would begin. It was a small, quaint dwelling with numerous knick-knacks and—as I would soon discover—a tragic past.

The bedroom where I slept opened onto an alcove, above which the trap door to the attic was poised. My first night, I woke with a start
to darkness and an acute sense of someone hovering in the alcove. The space was alive with creaking floorboards and a bluish light.

A flashlight? An intruder?

My heart pounded. I shifted in bed to gain a better view.

No one was there. Or so it seemed.

I slid out of bed and tiptoed around the house, just to be sure I was alone. The doors were locked, and by the time I climbed back into bed, the strange light was gone. I fluffed up my pillow and rearranged the bedcovers.

All at once, scraping, scratching sounds filled the alcove. Had rats infested the attic?

Then a sudden rush of emotions slammed into me. Despair. Dread. Distress. Not mine but another’s.

Every night brought the same experience: the light, the sounds, and the mood. When the phenomena ceased, I sought sleep again, but as you can imagine, it took a while before I drifted off.

Months later, I learned the truth. My boyfriend’s uncle had committed suicide years before. He’d hung himself in the alcove, not ten feet from where I slept. If I’d known that at the time, I would’ve tried to help him move on. I hope he has since found peace.

And I hope you have a wonderful Halloween. Stay safe and enjoy yourself tonight!  🙂

Happy Halloween!

31 Thursday Oct 2019

Posted by Judith Sterling in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Halloween, Joseph Vargo, Judith Sterling, Salem Witch Trials of 1692, The Witch House

Today is my favorite holiday: Halloween!  It’ll be a busy one, too, despite the rain.  I’m working all day at The Witch House, the 17th-century home of one of the 9 judges during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.  All month long, tourists have been asking me if there’s paranormal activity in the house (80% of which is original to 1675).  I’ve experienced quite a bit in the house…all good stuff, though.

Last October, I wrote a blog post about some of my experiences and one of the spirits I believe visits from time to time.  Since I wrote the post, many events have occurred to reconfirm what I wrote again and again.  If you’re new to my blog, click here to read that original post.

Time to get this day started.  The Joseph Vargo art above really sets the mood, doesn’t it?  Wishing you a safe, fun, and spooky Halloween!  🙂

Amazon Giveaway ~ THE CAULDRON STIRRED

25 Thursday Oct 2018

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Amazon giveaway, free eBook, Guardians of Erin, Halloween, Halloween read, Ireland, Irish lore, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, Salem Massachusetts, The Cauldron Stirred, The Stone Awakened

Happy Thursday!  The weekend is almost here, and it’s going to be a busy one in Salem, Mass.  I’ll be working extra hours at The Witch House.  After all, Halloween is just around the corner!

I wanted to let you know…I’m doing another Amazon giveaway, this time of The Cauldron Stirred.  The second book in the series, The Stone Awakened, is nearing publication, and soon I’ll reveal the cover and blurb.  But for now, you can enter to win a copy of the first.  It’s the perfect #Halloween read, with ghosts, a headless horseman, and all manner of creepy creatures from Irish lore.  The climax of the story even takes place on Halloween!  (Of course, it had to because that’s my favorite holiday!)

Here’s the link to enter:  https://www.amazon.com/ga/p/417e6e6a619ce9f9

Good luck with the giveaway.  Wishing you a lovely day and a fun weekend ahead!  🙂

SHADOW OF THE SWAN on NetGalley and a Meeting with Vincent Price’s Daughter!

19 Friday Oct 2018

Posted by Judith Sterling in Uncategorized

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Tags

free digital copy, Halloween, Judith Sterling, NetGalley, Night of the Owl, Salem Massachusetts, Shadow of the Swan, The House of the Seven Gables, The Novels of Ravenwood, The Witch House, Victoria Price, Vincent Price

 

My third medieval romance is available on NetGalley.  That’s a free read for NetGalley members now through Halloween!  Check it out here: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/131427

Speaking of Halloween, I’ve been working extra hours at The Witch House, the 17th-century home of witch trials judge Jonathan Corwin.  ‘Tis the season for long hours here in Salem, Massachusetts, and my husband is just as busy at The House of the Seven Gables.  By the way, I had the privilege of meeting Vincent Price’s daughter, Victoria, at The Gables a few nights ago.  Such a lovely woman, and she had great things to say about her dad!

I have two days off for the rest of October, and today is one of them.  So I’ll be working on Night of the Owl, the fourth of The Novels of Ravenwood.  Enjoy your weekend!

N. N. Light’s Trick-or-Treat Binge-Read Giveaway ~ THE CAULDRON STIRRED

03 Wednesday Oct 2018

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Guardians of Erin, Halloween, Judith Sterling, literary giveaway, N. N. Light's Book Heaven, The Cauldron Stirred, Trick-or-Treat Binge-Read Giveaway

October is here, and it’s one of my favorite times of the year! There’s a chill in the air, and the leaves shift into vibrant, fiery colors. Halloween–HUGE here in Salem, Massachusetts–is near, bringing flocks of tourists, creative decorations, tons of candy, and fun celebrating all things ghostly. In fact, I just participated in a paranormal investigation of the Veasey Estate, not far away in Groveland, MA. So much fun, and in Salem, there’s more where that came from!

But in quiet moments, as the wind shakes my windows, I love to curl up with a good book. N. N. Light feels the same way, and they’re hosting a spooktacular giveaway. No tricks, just treats for booklovers! Everything from romance to paranormal fiction will be given away, including one of my books, The Cauldron Stirred, which features both! So go on: indulge your inner kid and enter this giveaway. Good luck!

Trick or Treat Binge-Read Giveaway: https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/92db775020/

Literary Giveaway Portal: https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/literary-giveaway-portal

Phantasmic Friday ~ Week Four

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by Judith Sterling in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

ghosts, Halloween, Judith Sterling, medieval romance, paranormal, Phantasmic Friday, Soul of the Wolf, Stockholm, Sweden, Yuletide

Welcome to the last Phantasmic Friday of October. Halloween is less than a week away, and I’m loving it! I love the Yuletide too, which is probably why my second medieval romance, Soul of the Wolf, is set in December of 1101. It’s also the season in which today’s true ghost story begins.

Christmas of 1992 found me packing for Sweden, where I would study for the next six months under a Swedish Institute scholarship. At the time, which was long before I met my husband, my Swedish-American boyfriend arranged for me to stay in his grandmother’s empty house in Stockholm for the week leading up to nyĂ„rsafton (New Year’s Eve). It was a small, quaint dwelling with numerous knick-knacks and—as I would soon discover—a tragic past.

The bedroom where I slept opened onto an alcove, above which the trap door to the attic was poised. My first night, I woke with a start
to darkness and an acute sense of someone hovering in the alcove. The space was alive with creaking floorboards and a bluish light.

A flashlight? An intruder?

My heart pounded. I shifted in bed to gain a better view.

No one was there. Or so it seemed.

I slid out of bed and tiptoed around the house, just to be sure I was alone. The doors were locked, and by the time I climbed back into bed, the strange light was gone. I fluffed up my pillow and rearranged the bedcovers.

Then a scraping, scratching sound filled the alcove. Had rats infested the attic?

A sudden rush of emotions slammed into me. Despair. Dread. Distress. Not mine but another’s.

Every night brought the same experience: the light, the sounds, and the mood. When the phenomena ceased, I sought sleep again, but as you can imagine, it took a while before I drifted off.

Months later, I learned the truth. My boyfriend’s uncle had committed suicide years before. He’d hung himself in the alcove, not ten feet from where I slept. If I’d known that at the time, I would’ve tried to help him move on. I hope he has since found peace.

I’ve enjoyed sharing some of my paranormal experiences with you this month. Believe it or not, they’re just the tip of the iceberg! Not surprisingly, the supernatural finds its way into almost everything I write. Check out My Books for more information.

Wishing everyone a safe and fun Halloween!

Phantasmic Friday ~ Week Three

20 Friday Oct 2017

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ghosts, Guardians of Erin, Halloween, Haunted Happenings, Judith Sterling, London, paranormal investigation, Phantasmic Friday, Salem Massachusetts, The Cauldron Stirred, YA paranormal, YA series

Welcome back to Phantasmic Friday! Here in Salem, Massachusetts, “Haunted Happenings”–our month-long celebration of Halloween–is in full swing. I doubt Salem’s founder, Roger Conant (pictured above, in front of the Salem Witch Museum) would approve, but those of us who love Halloween and/or the paranormal have a lot of fun! In that spirit, let’s journey back to my college years for today’s true story.

As an undergraduate, I studied one semester in London. I dove into life in that venerable city and bonded right away with my two roommates. We and our fellow students lived in a Victorian hotel in South Kensington, which also provided classrooms and a baptism-by-fire acquaintance with English plumbing.

The bathroom adjoining our room was a boon, but it was also the lair of the “toilet monster.” Out of the blue, said toilet emitted thunderous, tortured gurgles that begged our attention day and night. During the day, the toilet monster was harmless; at worst, a disturber of the peace. At night, it creeped out the roommate who slept closest to it and often wrenched me from my dreams. Or perhaps there was another culprit.

Once awake, I sat up in bed and squinted into the darkness. Someone unseen watched us. The presence was male, and I sensed he’d lived in an earlier time, closer to when the hotel was built. Sometimes he stood in our room, most often at the foot of my bed or near the bathroom; other times, he lurked just outside the door. His location was as clear to me as if I’d seen it.

Halfway through the semester, another student—who had no idea what I’d experienced and whose room was directly across the hall from ours— shared his own encounter. He woke in the middle of the night to find a 19th-century soldier standing at the foot of his bed, staring at him.

I was certain our neighbor saw what I’d repeatedly sensed. Intrigued, I researched the street where we lived. A few doors down, in 1926, one of England’s first paranormal investigators established the National Library of Psychical Research, where mediums were scientifically tested during numerous sĂ©ances. Closer still was the home of a 19th-century lieutenant colonel who died under suspicious circumstances.

Did activities in the ghost hunter’s lab become a beacon for stray souls? Was the soldier one of them? Perhaps it was he who wandered the halls—and our rooms—as we slept.

In my YA paranormal fantasy, The Cauldron Stirred, the protagonist’s father is a paranormal investigator (in this century, though!). His family joins in the hunt for Irish ghosts in the ruins of a medieval castle and on the shores of Lough Leane. The story’s climax occurs on Halloween to boot!  🙂 If that sounds like something “up your alley,” check it out!

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