backstory

The Paranormalist blog is about:
Finessing bipolarity. Writing horror. Studying ghosts. All without forgetting to feed the chickens.

Why is this blog called “The Paranormalist”? Because I fell in love with the word:
When you came looking for a blog with such a name, you probably didn’t expect such a mash-up of topics. I don’t mean to be misleading. To me, the word beautifully describes my life, especially when you break it down.

Para- / par-ə / Prefix. ”Alongside, near, beyond, altered, contrary to.”
normal / nawr-muhl / Adjective. “Conforming to the standard; usual; regular; natural.”
-ist / Ist / A suffix of nouns. “A person who practices or is concerned with something, or holds certain principles, doctrines,etc.”

My personal ad:
Rural-suburbanite, aspiring-writer, and amateur paranormalist seeks non-vicious agent, editors, publishers and haunts. Qualifications: Worked in a variety of (usually food & liquor related) jobs, as the family budget required, throughout mothering career. Raised 2 kids into brilliant, creative, kind, nerds. Supervises home school education of remaining minor child. Keeps too many critters around. Occasionally does volunteer work for environmental groups and service organizations. Knits. Loves all things retro. Has completed several drafts of a novel. Has no interest in sending anything into the light.

I love my ratty old Columbo-coat.

13 things you’d hate about me:
* I don’t enjoy holidays.
I’m obsessive & absent-minded.
I smoke. And I don’t want to quit.
My moods are unpredictable AND obvious.
I have no real perception or understanding of the passage of time.
I rarely answer my home phone. When I do, I hang up as soon as I possibly can.
I refuse to drive on freeways, and despise straying from my established routes.
Socially, I always want to do the same thing: meet on a patio, drink beer and talk.
I avoid conflict by humoring you or avoiding you, but I seethe.
I seek excessive intimacy … sometimes inappropriately.
I plan too much and do too little.
I’m not a good secret-keeper.
I procrastinate.
* except Halloween

My creed / mission statement / holy quest:
I intend to use my innate qualities to
nurture my intimates and my animals,
explore the natural and paranormal world,
and develop a rewarding writing career,
while recognizing and celebrating the joy of being alive.

My best pages & posts. Well, my favorites anyway:

• Pages:
• WriMoProg Home – a new goal setting and accountability group I created.
• Dark Touchstones – a lifetime’s worth of creepy stuff, circa 1997.
• 50 fearsome things.
• Posts:
• The Paranormalist is building a blog.
• Hot autumn nights and serial killers.
• Noises in the night.
• I am not a ghost hunter.
• Too much blood and sleep, not enough tiny little ape-people.
• A short excerpt from my novel.
• Phantom phantoms.
• A closet of one’s own.
• Wintery chills leave me cold.
• Possibly paranormal experiences through multiple generations. (Part II)

My current projects & affiliations:

My own project for setting and tracking writing goals. Join me!

Boys allowed! Click here for information about a monthly Skype meeting of serious writers who also want to have a little fun once in a while.

 

My 101 in 1001 list.

Past projects and affiliations:

The inspiration for my own Writer's Monthly Progress Challenge. (To the best of my knowledge, Lauren's group did not continue past November 2011. CORRECTION! As of January 2012, they are giving it another go. Yes, I'll be doing both mine and theirs

November 2011. My goal is to complete this daily post challenge once each season.