R.L. Royle

[Michelle]

R.L Royle

Publisher's Website (http://www.doghorn.com) | MySpace Page (http://www.myspace.com/rlroyle)

Interview (http://bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4296) | Reviews - Lucy's Monster (http://bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4320) / E11even Terrible Months (http://bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=4269)

Welcome to our last FA of the year! That came round quick! Rebecca has written two books, and is due to write her third once she's done some travelling.

I know that I'm the only one who's read the books (so far), but I found them both pretty amazing! Rebecca can also chat to us about the process of getting published, why she set up her own company, etc.

Welcome Rebecca. :)

[Michelle]

Rebecca's Interview:

Q. You have two published books at the moment, can you briefly tell us a little about them both.

A. Lucy’s Monster is a dark tale of an A-list celebrity couple’s fall from grace, with un-medicated schizophrenia and drug abuse playing major parts in the storyline. I experiment with my writing style with each novel and in Lucy’s Monster the reader and writer feature as characters themselves.

Eleven Terrible Months, my latest release, is a realistic ghost story. In 1998 a family of five moved into a haunted flat and lasted 11 months: two years later three of the five members write up their personal accounts of what happened to them during that time. It’s as warm and funny as it is scary.

Q. How long have you been writing, and how did it feel when you first saw your book published?

A. I have been writing novels continuously since I was seven years old. I still have each one, even when I used to think ‘said’ was spelt ‘sed’! I have always wanted to be a published author and seeing my work all bar-coded and professionally made for the first time was an emotional turning point for me… I stopped feeling like a good-for-nothing and thought ‘maybe dreams do come true if you want it enough’… it still hasn’t worked for the EuroMillions though.

Q. Where did you get the ideas/inspirations from?

A. I write about whatever I most want to read/find out about at the time and the story tends to grow from two main subjects. I enjoy experimenting with writing styles and creating something different.

Q. Aside form your own experiences, what extra research did you have to do? Is that something you enjoy?

A. The research into mental health for Lucy’s Monster was difficult at times but I still enjoyed it because I wanted to learn. The research for Eleven Terrible Months was easier because a lot of it was based on my own experiences. It depends on how willing the experts are to help and I faced a lot of red-tape when it came to researching young offenders institutions (which features within the account of one of the characters) but I got some great advice in the end!

Q. Are your characters based on people you know, or are they a combination of various traits?

A. Some are, some are totally fictionalised. Because Eleven Terrible Months is set in my locality (Yorkshire) and about a down-to-earth family, I was able to take a lot from people that I know. I also wanted to base this one around those I love because it’s a book that’s very personal to me and it felt right to include them or their experiences in it. I interviewed some friends about major storylines that were based around them and in other bits I fictionalised loved-ones’ experiences without telling them, so they’d read it then think ‘ey up! That’s about me, that is’… in a good way!

Q. How about the ‘celebrities’ in Lucy’s Monster.. are they based on anyone?

A. They are!!! But when people tell me who they picture playing the parts of the three major characters in a film, it’s never the same as who I originally modelled them on! Who are they…? I’ll tell you if you tell me who you think!

Q. What prompted setting up your own publishing company.. do you enjoy it?

A. When I finished Lucy’s Monster, I was planning on sending out details to publishers until a man I worked with said: ‘why don’t you just do it yourself? It’s only marketing.’ I have worked in marketing for eight years and did quite well for the companies I was working for so I thought ‘well if I can sell refrigeration then surely I can sell something I feel so passionately about,’ and bought a stack of books to see if it really was that simple… it was! So I did six-months worth of research then set up Dog Horn Publishing and never ended up approaching an outside publisher. I love the creative freedom I get with being in charge of my own books but the long hours can be tiring. I’ve been doing this (along with a full time job) since March 2004 and am now looking forward to moving onwards-and-upwards and letting somebody else do the business side of things.

Q. Your books are limited editions, with E11even Terrible Months being a gorgeous hardback. Can you share what was behind this decision?

A. Money, space and time constraints mainly, but releasing limited editions has worked in my favour with the collectors market because when I do become a famous author these ones I’ve done myself will be quite valuable. I say ‘when’ and not ‘if’ because it’s my calling and if you don’t believe in yourself then who else will?

Q. With regards E11even Terrible Months, do you think readers can still enjoy the book if you don’t believe in ghosts?

A. Absolutely. One of the characters is very sceptical and acts as the sceptics ‘voice of reason’, for those that don’t believe in the existence of ghosts and spirits. The book’s not just about ghosts – it’s also about family life, teenagers growing up and the general thoughts of three very normal people, who were thrown into this extraordinary situation. This could be YOUR family and it could happen to YOU in your next house, whether you believe or not! That’s what I think is so scary about it; it could happen to any of us.

Q. So where are you going next, what else do you have planned?

A. I am taking a year out to go travelling and then writing my third novel for release, which I have pretty much already written in my head. As for Dog Horn, I am handing the business over in February 2008 so I can concentrate fully on my writing from now on. I am very proud of my little publishing house and the way I broke into the industry but Dog Horn’s too small to take my work to the levels I want to achieve and it’s time to really get this thing on the road! I now have an agent in New York who deals with everything outside of the UK Commonwealth so fingers crossed for overseas success too. Watch this space and remember my name, because I’ll never stop writing and one day I know I’ll get there. Like the British winter weather, ‘I can feel it in mi bones’!

[Icecream]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. Schizophrenia is a complex issue. Did you do a lot of research for Lucy's Monster?

[jenmck]

You've been in marketing for eight years and now, published your own books. My question is what promotional tools do you think work best?

[R L Royle]

Hi. Welcome to the forum. Schizophrenia is a complex issue. Did you do a lot of research for Lucy's Monster?

Hi Icecream,

Pleased to speak to you. :D I did indeed do a lot of research: as well as buying books and scouring the internet, I wrote to psychiatric hospitals up and down the country, spoke at length to a councillor, a social worker and a lady with schizophrenia herself. Researching schizophrenia was fascinating but the main thing I learnt was how misunderstood it is. Schizophrenia is just one word but the illness itself is different from one person to the next. Mostly people living with schizophrenia keep it under control with medication and can live their lives as normal, but in the case of my character Lucy, she denied it to herself for years and never sought help, which allowed it to eventually take her over after a particularly traumatic event. Lucy’s form of schizophrenia is explosive and devastating, but this is due to it never having being medicated. It’s rare that the illness goes undiagnosed in reality but in my character’s case it did, for the story to end up as intense as it does. By the time it’s diagnosed in the book, the damage has been done and Lucy’s in a catatonic state. If Lucy would have faced her demons from the off-set, she would have been medicated for them and Lucy's Monster would not be the harrowing story that it is. Denying it to herself even though it was always there, bubbling under, was the worst thing she could have done. Like anything, I believe it's always best to tackle your issues head on otherwise they end up turning into mountains and being worse than they had to be... that's what I tell my friends who daren't check their bank balance or go to the doctor when something's worrying them, just grit your teeth and sort it out... even if it is bad news, at least you're aware of it and can then take the steps you need to fix it. :blush:

Thanks for getting in touch and take care,

Rebecca

[jenmck]

Hi Icecream,
. Researching schizophrenia was fascinating but the main thing I learnt was how misunderstood it is. Schizophrenia is just one word but the illness itself is different from one person to the next. Mostly people living with schizophrenia keep it under control with medication and can live their lives as normal, but in the case of my character Lucy, she denied it to herself for years and never sought help, which allowed it to eventually take her over after a particularly traumatic event. Lucy’s form of schizophrenia is explosive and devastating, but this is due to it never having being medicated. It’s rare that the illness goes undiagnosed in reality but in my character’s case it did, for the story to end up as intense as it does. By the time it’s diagnosed in the book, the damage has been done and Lucy’s in a catatonic state. If Lucy would have faced her demons from the off-set, she would have been medicated for them and Lucy's Monster would not be the harrowing story that it is. Denying it to herself even though it was always there, bubbling under, was the worst thing she could have done. Like anything, I believe it's always best to tackle your issues head on otherwise they end up turning into mountains and being worse than they had to be... that's what I tell my friends who daren't check their bank balance or go to the doctor when something's worrying them, just grit your teeth and sort it out... even if it is bad news, at least you're aware of it and can then take the steps you need to fix it. :blush:

Thanks for getting in touch and take care,

Rebecca


My husband's first wife was afflicted with this illness. The hardest part was when she'd build up a tolerance to the medication and it didn't work anymore.
Michelle's review of your book had me interested. I'm so glad you're here!

[R L Royle]

You've been in marketing for eight years and now, published your own books. My question is what promotional tools do you think work best?

Hi Jen,

Thanks for posting.

Book wise in a nut-shell; I'd say reviews, direct mail and word of mouth work best.

One thing that's really benefited me is creative marketing. For instance, in order to get a publication to pay attention to me to get a review in the first place, I send my book to the media in a quirky manner that stands out. Usually after sending it, I'll ring a national publication and say: 'just checking that you've received my book, Eleven Terrible Months,' and they'll reply: 'we get hundreds of books, erm... I don’t think I've seen it,' then I'll say: 'It was sent in a black leather box with glitter and sweets,' and pretty much every time, they'll exclaim: 'Oh that! Yes, I've got that!' ;)
It's not the most professional way as it's obviously home-made but that's what sets it apart and it does tend to bring a smile to people's faces, which they remember you for.
Once I have a review, I tend to shorten them down and include them in anything from letterheads to direct mail leaflets.

As for marketing in general, I find direct mail gets me the best results. With Lucy's Monster, I sent out flyers to bookshops offering them free merchandise, book signings and great discounts, and I made a couple of hundred sales from that. This time, with Eleven Terrible Months, I am hand-delivering leaflets locally through people's doors, each tailored to their specific area. Because ETM is set in West Yorkshire, this is why I am choosing this route. Again, this is working well... and it’s good exercise too! :mrgreen:

Whenever I have even a little bit of news, I email a press release to every publication on my database. The database I use is Access and without that I wouldn’t be organised enough to get maximum results. Each publication has its own record with every phone call and outcome logged, as well as all the details I need to know. It took me six months to create it, but proved worth it.

Advertising has never worked that well for me. It's expensive and people tend to skip through adverts. I placed a 1/4 page ad in The Bookseller for £400 and made one sale. :irked: Maybe that'll work better once my name is well known, but for now, it's a no-no.

That pretty much sums it up for the most part; marketing is basically saying ‘hello! I’m here!’ and as long as you think that it would get your attention, it tends to work on others too.

Thanks again for the post and take care,

Rebecca
x

[R L Royle]

Gosh, that must have been terrible for her and her family. Did they find another way to help her?

[Kell]

Hi Rebecca - it's great to have you here! I see that you're very interested in the paranormal (and have some of your own personal experiences on the Dog Horn site). How has that influenced your writing?

[Icecream]

Thanks Rebecca. My OH has Schizophrenia and you are right. It is definitely misunderstood. Sometimes even the professionals don't have a clue. I think even some of the people closest to OH from his past do not understand that, but I noticed it more or less straight away.

As for medication, although he is not on it anymore (he has learned to manage it himself after 20 or so years and is not as bad now anyway) he has told me a lot about what things he was on the past and has done a lot of research himself. I am not sure whether it is actually a good or bad thing.

Your book sounds great. I shall have to see if I can find the money for it one day:)

Jen, I am sorry to hear about that. It can be a terrible thing to live with.

[jenmck]

Gosh, that must have been terrible for her and her family. Did they find another way to help her?

Not really. Her family tried. She moved to another state that had much better mental health care. I think that's the one thing that really isn't talked about is the effect on the family of the person with the illness.
When my husband was married to her, he called the Mental Health hotline locally and they told him the only thing to help him deal with his wife's illness was individual therapy.
What he saw was that the people who live with the ill person are often frightened, resigned, abused and unable to help.
I wondered if you covered that in your book--not only the destruction of a mind, but the helplessness of those who love that person.

[R L Royle]

Hi Rebecca - it's great to have you here! I see that you're very interested in the paranormal (and have some of your own personal experiences on the Dog Horn site). How has that influenced your writing?

Hi Kell!

Thank you, it's great to be on!
Oo yes, I've been interested in the paranormal for most of my life. It does indeed influence my writing, and I've been wanting to write a realistic ghost story since I was ten and first saw Amityville Horror. At that point, it was still dubbed as a true story, but even then I remember thinking 'walls bleeding?! That doesn't happen!' and pretty much every horror I watch or read frustrates me as they are either unrealistic from the off-set or descend into lunacy half way through! I wanted to write something that regular people like you or I could associate with, and i think that's what makes it so scary: it could be your family, it could be you.
My third book - which I am beginning writing once I get back from my travels - is also influenced by my belief in the paranormal, but not about ghosts or hauntings.

Thanks for your message Kell.

Take Care,

Rebecca
x

[R L Royle]

Gosh, that must have been terrible for her and her family. Did they find another way to help her?

Not really. Her family tried. She moved to another state that had much better mental health care. I think that's the one thing that really isn't talked about is the effect on the family of the person with the illness.
When my husband was married to her, he called the Mental Health hotline locally and they told him the only thing to help him deal with his wife's illness was individual therapy.
What he saw was that the people who live with the ill person are often frightened, resigned, abused and unable to help.
I wondered if you covered that in your book--not only the destruction of a mind, but the helplessness of those who love that person.

It’s so sad that not only the sufferer, but also the families of the sufferer, have trouble getting help. The effect on my character’s husband was a subject that was covered quite intensely in the story. Lucy is the main character of the story to start with, but later on it focuses on Anthony, her husband, and his struggles with reactive depression brought on by the circumstances. At one point in the book, Lucy is delusional and aggressive and she attacks Anthony unaware that it is him. This hits Anthony very, very hard as he still loves Lucy but his father used to beat his mother so he’s filled with conflicting emotion about the attack and his wife. It’s a very dark and sad story, but ultimately it’s clear the two have a deep love, deeper than even they realise... until its too late.

I do hope your husband's ex-wife gets the help she needs. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
x

[R L Royle]

Thanks Rebecca. My OH has Schizophrenia and you are right. It is definitely misunderstood. Sometimes even the professionals don't have a clue. I think even some of the people closest to OH from his past do not understand that, but I noticed it more or less straight away.

As for medication, although he is not on it anymore (he has learned to manage it himself after 20 or so years and is not as bad now anyway) he has told me a lot about what things he was on the past and has done a lot of research himself. I am not sure whether it is actually a good or bad thing.

Your book sounds great. I shall have to see if I can find the money for it one day:)

Jen, I am sorry to hear about that. It can be a terrible thing to live with.

I'm sorry to hear of your partner's problems with schizophrenia but glad that he's used mind over matter and research to help himself. The professionals themselves admit that they still have a lot to learn. Even just a short time ago as in the 70s, hospitals used to strap sufferers to a bed and give them LSD, thinking that would help! I can't tell you how shocked I was to learn that. These days, for those suffering from schizophrenia in the extreem, hospitals tend to use electric convulsive therapy as well as cognitive therapy and neuroleptic medication. It seems there is a clear divide as to whether ECT is beneficial or not, some doctors swear by it and others are against it, which I think still shows there's a long way to go.

[SteffieB]

There is a new movement afoot to destigmatize mental health issues and diseases of the mind, and it makes me so very happy! Here in the US there is a new college-focused group called Active Minds (http://http://www.activemindsoncampus.org/), that has been gaining some ground. I work at a psych hospital, and it is so useful for people to know that they are not alone in the fight. Did you know Mark Vonnegut (http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Vonnegut), Kurt's son, is a practicing pediatrician who has fought schizophrenia as well? I think more stories like his, and other real people, that highlight functionality are important and need to be passed on. Like Kitty Dukakis (http://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2006/09/17/the_first_ladys_shocking_story/), wife of a former governor and presidential candidate here in Massachusetts, and her book about her depression (specifically ECT).

And you're right, JenMcK, I think there is such a disparity in access to health care and resources that can really affect people's treatment as well.

Thank you, Rebecca, for talking about this. And to Icecream for sharing:)

[jenmck]

It’s so sad that not only the sufferer, but also the families of the sufferer, have trouble getting help. The effect on my character’s husband was a subject that was covered quite intensely in the story. Lucy is the main character of the story to start with, but later on it focuses on Anthony, her husband, and his struggles with reactive depression brought on by the circumstances. At one point in the book, Lucy is delusional and aggressive and she attacks Anthony unaware that it is him. This hits Anthony very, very hard as he still loves Lucy but his father used to beat his mother so he’s filled with conflicting emotion about the attack and his wife. It’s a very dark and sad story, but ultimately it’s clear the two have a deep love, deeper than even they realise... until its too late.

I do hope your husband's ex-wife gets the help she needs. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
x

See, now I really want to read this book! Amazingly, I think my husband still bears emotional scars from some of the things he went through. His ex chased him with a knife, often hit him when he was sleeping, and generally scared the **** out of him. And if you've got a husband dealing with it, I think I'd like to read it.

[Icecream]

I really want to read the book too Jen. I can't afford it this side of christmas though. When OH is in one of his moods, I have learned to just ignore it, although it can be hard trying to organise life and deal with him too.

[R L Royle]

Hi Guys,

It's me, Rebecca, the author of Lucy's Monster and Eleven Terrible Months. You may have heard that we've arranged some special offers for members of the Book Club Forum, if you would like to buy a copy of either of my books direct from my website.
The offers are:
FREE UK POSTAGE on the purchase of 1 book
UK: Buy Lucy’s Monster and Eleven Terrible Months together and get £2 off (usually £18.98, now just £16.98)
REST OF WORLD: All postage on BOTH BOOKS BOUGHT TOGETHER £5
US and Canada: All postage on A SINGLE BOOK £4

The special log-on page for book forum members is:

http://www.doghornpublishing.com/login.html

and is on there now. The password is:

book club forum

This offer will be running until January 19th, when the publishing house is to be taken over and expanded.

Thanks for your interest and don't hesitate to post if you have any questions.

All the Best,

R L Royle

[Michelle]

Thanks for that Rebecca. :)

Did you approach any of the existing publishers before deciding to create your own?

[R L Royle]

Thanks for that Rebecca. :)

Did you approach any of the existing publishers before deciding to create your own?

Hi Michelle,

Unusually, no. Some people see self publishing as a last resort but it was my first choice, seen as I had been working in marketing for so long anyway. I always dreamed of coming up with my own book cover and marketing my work my way and so - following some advice - I set up Dog Horn Publishing from the off-set. It has been great fun and a brilliant way to get my foot in the door of the industry but, boy does it take some work!!! I've been eating, sleeping and dreaming Dog Horn since 2004 and I'm now looking forward to stepping down on Jan 19th (a friend is taking over and expanding it) so I can wholly concentrate on my writing. Now I've got a good record of sales and reviews with two books in print, I'm going down the major publishers route to try and get my big break. Please all keep your fingers and toes crossed for this little writer!!! Even if I don't 'make it', I'll still be writing for the rest of my life. I can't help but do so and I love it, I'd just be great to make enough money to write for a living as for now I have to pay the bills through jobs I don't like and that's not good for one's soul! :blush:

[Echo]

I'm also intrigued by your books! The issue of schizophrenia also hits close to home for me. My boyfriend's favorite uncle had the disease for many years after using drugs heavily when he was younger. Unfortunately, his therapy didn't work and he committed suicide a little over 6 years ago. It was a major trauma for my boyfriend. I was with him when he found out, and he's been struggling with panic disorder and anxiety ever since. His uncle had been living with his mother (BF's grandmother) whom I suspect has mental disorders of her own.

I'm also interested in your book about the haunting. I'm not sure how available your books are here in the US, but I'm hoping to get my hands on them soon!:)

[R L Royle]

I'm also intrigued by your books! The issue of schizophrenia also hits close to home for me. My boyfriend's favorite uncle had the disease for many years after using drugs heavily when he was younger. Unfortunately, his therapy didn't work and he committed suicide a little over 6 years ago. It was a major trauma for my boyfriend. I was with him when he found out, and he's been struggling with panic disorder and anxiety ever since. His uncle had been living with his mother (BF's grandmother) whom I suspect has mental disorders of her own.

I'm also interested in your book about the haunting. I'm not sure how available your books are here in the US, but I'm hoping to get my hands on them soon!:)

Hi Echo,
Thanks for posting. I am sorry to hear about your bf's uncle - it's awful that he felt that ending it was the only way out. I hope your boyfriend will - in time - take something positive from it (ie. advise ppl not to use drugs!) and remember happier days from his uncle's life. I don't know what drugs his uncle was taking, but myself and a group of friends went through a stage of smoking weed very heavily but I started to become paranoid and scared of the world, and since I've stopped I've become my old self again. Doing anything to excess is a bad idea, especially substances that toy with your mind. If you’re interested in buying the books, we’ve got an offer on for cheap postage for American Book Club Forum members, through my website www.doghorn.com (http://www.doghorn.com/) on the ‘special offers’ section of the ‘Buy Safely Online’ page. The password book club forum. No pressure of course and I don’t mean to sound like a sales person, just thought I’d let you know just in case! :blush:
Thanks again for speaking about your awareness of schizophrenia. Have you ever had a run-in with the supernatural at all?
X

[R L Royle]

I've just asked Echo whether she's ever had a run-in with the supernatural, and thought I'd put the question out to the forum. What do you believe? Have you ever seen a ghost or a spirit? :lurker:

xxx

[Kell]

I've just asked Echo whether she's ever had a run-in with the supernatural, and thought I'd put the question out to the forum. What do you believe? Have you ever seen a ghost or a spirit? :lurker:xxx
*Hand goes uplike an eager schoolgirl!* Me! Me! I've had a few encounters! Strangely, despite the fact that I've had several ghostly experiences myself, I remain one of the most sceptical people about so-called sightings, and am always on the lookout for how the "evidence" might have been doctored or even faked outright. I can't watch programmes with people like Derek Accorah as he makes me feel sick - he comes across (at least to me) as such a charlatan! I remain doubtful that we'll ever have final proof of the existance of spririts (other than the bottled, drinkable kind), and while we only have personal experience to go on, the world at large will remain sceptical...

Got another quick question for you too:
How did you choose the name for your publiching company? And do you have any plans to take on ther authors, or will Dog Horn remain strictly personal?

[Icecream]

Of course there is a spirit world. What else happens when we die? I don't see why the two can't mix and I think that sometimes they do but I have no proof of course.

Echi. I am sorry to hear about your experience but I have to say this, Schizophrenia is not a disease.

[SteffieB]

Of course there is a spirit world. What else happens when we die? I don't see why the two can't mix and I think that sometimes they do but I have no proof of course.

Echi. I am sorry to hear about your experience but I have to say this, Schizophrenia is not a disease.

There are so many possible things that could happen when we die, and at some point we'll all find out, won't we? :)

I think schizophrenia is such a horribly complicated topic that whether or not one uses the term disease is purely semantics. It is most certainly a chronic health problem, and is that not the definition of disease? Perhaps it is the negative connotation here that is the issue? Which is my point exactly re: destigmatization.

[R L Royle]

*Hand goes uplike an eager schoolgirl!* Me! Me! I've had a few encounters! Strangely, despite the fact that I've had several ghostly experiences myself, I remain one of the most sceptical people about so-called sightings, and am always on the lookout for how the "evidence" might have been doctored or even faked outright. I can't watch programmes with people like Derek Accorah as he makes me feel sick - he comes across (at least to me) as such a charlatan! I remain doubtful that we'll ever have final proof of the existance of spririts (other than the bottled, drinkable kind), and while we only have personal experience to go on, the world at large will remain sceptical...

Got another quick question for you too:
How did you choose the name for your publiching company? And do you have any plans to take on ther authors, or will Dog Horn remain strictly personal?

Lol, well I can't blame you for having your rational thoughts. I'm exactly the same, even when something completely strange happens, I do the whole 'well it could have been this, could have been that' thing. It's only when the rational explanation becomes irrational that scepticism winds me up. Roy, the father in the book, is a complete sceptic throughout and by the time the family come to leave, it almost causes divorce because the facts are right in front of his eyes and yet he still refuses to accept them. I've had oodles of unexplainable things happen around me but only 3 that can't - simply CAN'T - be explained!

What I always find intriguing, is when something obviously strange happens and the people who you’re with give it two seconds of their time, then shrug and instantly forget about it! This last happened in a room with two friends and my boyfriend. Their (shut) living room door suddenly 'boomed', as if a massive gust of wind had been hurled directly onto it/it was kicked. We all sat up, alert, and my friend said: ‘is the front door open?’, he got up and had a look, came back in and informed us it was shut, then everyone looked at each other, shrugged and got back to the tv. I stared at them all one by one incredulously. ‘HellooOOOoo… don’t you think that was strange?’ I said. ‘Your door just bowed inwards violently and that’s it? You’re not bothered?’ and the reply I got was basically that no, they weren’t. It could have been… actually, I don’t know what it could have been… it wasn’t a big incident, but it was strange. Their can’t-explain-it-so-cut-it-off reaction was stranger though, and still leaves me wondering if supernatural things do happen more often than we think, but half the time it comes and goes from our mind’s as fast as the need for a cigarette, and we don’t even realise. Sometimes I wonder (opening a can of worms here but I'll keep it brief... :blush:) if it's because we all know that our souls live on, in the depths of our beings, but we're not allowed to know it in day-to-day life because otherwise as soon as things got hard in this experience we'd bail out because we KNEW we could just come down and do it again. I'd have killed myself a few times over if I'd have known for a fact I could give it another try in another machine (body!), but I'm glad I didn't know because it's all experience and you DO get through it! This life IS the school of hard knocks, and I believe that reincarnation is a choice and it's basically just a learning curve for our souls. We only use 10% of our brains, and I believe that it's for a reason, but that as soon as we die (if we choose to go back home and not hang around and become a ghost) it all comes back to us, and we know the whole score. Lol, I know lots of you will read this and laugh, but that's the tip of the inceburg of what I believe. I love debating about it though so if you have any strong thoughts one way or the other, I'd love to hear them. None of us know obviously, but that's what I believe and it makes me feel better about this life thinking of it as a lesson that ultimately is going to grow my soul - bring on the hard times! :tong:

It must be quite frustrating if a spirit wants to give a message of some sort but no matter what they try, the living just won’t accept it. I think I’ll be quite blatant when I pass and come up with something creative that even the most hardened sceptic couldn’t pass off. Hmm… what shall I do? Hopefully, I’ve got years and years to plan it!

Dog Horn is horn-dog backwards, which is what my boyfriend calls me from time to time! ;) I am stepping down from my role in the business on Jan 19th to travel then concentrate fully on writing, and the man that’s taking over is expanding it from the off-set, releasing a quarterly literary journal and books from undiscovered authors. Can’t wait to see how it grows! :D

xxx

[R L Royle]

Of course there is a spirit world. What else happens when we die? I don't see why the two can't mix and I think that sometimes they do but I have no proof of course.

Echi. I am sorry to hear about your experience but I have to say this, Schizophrenia is not a disease.

A good way I heard it described about how some people are sensitive to ghosts and spirits and others aren't, is that it's like giving two people a radio and telling them to tune into Virgin (for instance!); one might know the exact frequency its on and be able to go straight to it, and the other might have no idea and not be able to listen to the brilliant Geoff Show... it doesn't mean he's not on the air, it just means that person No.2 doesn't know where to find him.

Maybe sensitives have been back so many times that their subconscious knowledge can't help but leak through into their conscious knowledge, even though strictly they're not supposed to know... or maybe its the really sceptic people that know there's no point in searching for answers while we're alive because it'll all become clear when we die???

In one book written by a medium, she says ghosts and spirits don't get captured on camera as a rule because it'll give the game up. I hope it's never proven; the school would collapse! Maybe it is anyway... Oh God, here I go again... the reason I think technology has advanced so much is because each time we come back, we come back with knowledge from our previous lives (obviously 99.999% of the population are unaware of this knowledge, but it's there), so we're always getting smarter. The downside to this is that we’re getting way ahead of ourselves and are not on the right track anymore. Ego and greed seem to rule over nature and humanity and I think back up home, it just makes it even more of a challenge to ‘do the life thing’. I can imagine the powers-that-be up there saying of a soul’s request to come back down for another go: ‘Can you handle it? It’s not called the school of hard knocks for nothing you know, and it gets more challenging each time… are you sure…?!’ In a way I think this 'school' is also an experiment - not in a sinister way, just to see how we deal with certain situations - and that something's got to give because of the way our society's heading. I think we're heading for a revolution or cataclysmic event of some sort. 2012, anyone..?!

If I happen to be right (I can hear you laughing from here!!), would you want to have another go? You could wait for whoever you wanted first – your soulmates – and they could chose to come down with you so you’d be together in the next life… would you want to come back, or do you feel like you’ve had your fill?

Right, I'll stop now because I can't explain myself fully, I've sort-of gone off topic and you’re probably all thinking I’m slightly nuts, lol!

xxx

[Icecream]

You have some interesting insights there, but I know roughly where we are all going. Of course being a christian I would say that and therefore it is probably obvious that I believe we only get one chance at life.

As I said though being religious does not mean I do not believe in spirits. I do believe that they exist and that they can even watch over the world and maybe help out now and again. Your thoughts on past memories and technology are intriguing, but I think that is more down to evolution, as is our current state and whatever future we have will be.

[jenmck]

I've experienced some weird things and every one of them could be "explained away". But to me, I know what it was.
I may know where I'm going, but I don't discount the paranormal.

Just a question.

Do you find now you've done research and are paying attention that more things come to you?

[R L Royle]

I've experienced some weird things and every one of them could be "explained away". But to me, I know what it was.
I may know where I'm going, but I don't discount the paranormal.

Just a question.

Do you find now you've done research and are paying attention that more things come to you?

Hmmm... good question. Possibly, although I have a big wide-open mind already so I am always open to paranormal contact. I have been researching the paranormal for pleasure since I was a wee lass and have been having experiences since the same time - but I don't know whether they're connected. You've given me food for thought for there, Jen!
Usually, if there is an energy in any specific area and if I spend enough time there, I tend to experience 'something', but I've only ever had one visit from a spirit (as opposed to a ghost - they're two very different things) and if the area/property I'm in isn't full of obvious energy then I pick up nothing. I have been living in this ghost-free house for four years now and I miss the adrenalin of activity and am telling my boyfriend that I hope our next house has a presence. This is daft really, because I've said this before during quiet periods of my life, only to then reap what I sow and end up uncomfortable, scared and frozen to the spot with fear thinking: 'why did I want this again?! why! why! why!!!!'. Lol, I suppose it depends on the presence and I think, as an adult with more education now, I’d handle it better these days no matter what.

I am currently reading a fantastic book which helps those who wish to, to unlock their psychic powers. It's like the book I've been waiting all my life for! I never thought I could be psychic until I started reading it, and now I'm learning we all have it, it's just whether you want to unlock it. Well, I do! I'm learning how to be emotionally psychic and hope that I will be able to read auras, read flowers and have a better understanding of the world and the people in it. I am full of enthusiasm and excitement because I have felt unconnected from other people for most my life and I am hoping that, by realising that we're all connected, I will feel less frightened of the world. I will finish this book with all its various exercises before we set off travelling Asia, Europe, America and Canada in February, and I hope to expand my skills my own way en route. This new way of thinking combined with travelling most of the world might be just what I need to sort out my issues with the world and myself, not to mention further explore my love of the paranormal. I think, once I expand my mind to these levels, I will be more receptive to energies.

:lurker:

[jenmck]

Oh wow! I hope that works out!
You'll write a book about the experience right?

[R L Royle]

Oh wow! I hope that works out!
You'll write a book about the experience right?

Yeah, me too! It'd be amazing to feel at one with the world and discover more about the human spirit. I've got a feeling it may just change my life, which is welcome 'cause I've been wanting a change for a while.
I am writing about my travels in a journal but that's more for private use. However, the experience and knowledge I will garner from all the different cultures we'll be tasting will no doubt make for wiser writing in my future works of fiction. It'll benefit us in so many ways - I just can't wait to set off! Our house looks like a squat now because we've sold all the furniture ahead of the sale completion date, lol, but we daren't book our flights in case the sale falls through or is pushed back!

XXX

[jenmck]

Well, I can't wait to see the results and I hope you keep us updated.

[JudyB]

Hi Rebecca

I'm currently enjoyed Eleven Terrible Months and have reached Chris's story. I was initially attracted to the ghost element of the story, but the real draw has turned out to be the family dynamics that are so accurately portrayed. As a mother of teenagers I found the mother's story very poignant at times. What I am wondering is how you have managed to step into so many people's shoes and understand their thoughts etc - I'm in admiration of your ability to do so.

[R L Royle]

Hi Rebecca

I'm currently enjoyed Eleven Terrible Months and have reached Chris's story. I was initially attracted to the ghost element of the story, but the real draw has turned out to be the family dynamics that are so accurately portrayed. As a mother of teenagers I found the mother's story very poignant at times. What I am wondering is how you have managed to step into so many people's shoes and understand their thoughts etc - I'm in admiration of your ability to do so.

Hi Judy B, I apologise for this late reply and wish you and everyone reading a very Happy New Year. :friends0:

Thanks so much for reading and reviewing Eleven Terrible Months!

I’m glad that, as a mother of teenagers, you felt Sue to be written accurately. I always step into the character’s I’m writing, as an actor would their part. While writing one character, I shut off all the other ones and don’t think about their thoughts. When I was writing Sue, I became the mother of three children for that period and wrote the way that I would if I was in her position, knowing what her kids allowed her to know and trying to fathom the rest on her own. The same goes for Chris and Sally (funnily enough, while writing Chris, I started to chav-up my speech in day-to-day conversations and found myself swearing a lot :blush:).

I was always good at acting at school and think that getting into character is the same for both arts. I really enjoy it, it’s like being somebody else! Also, strangely enough, I mostly enjoy writing the ‘baddies’ as it allows me to explore my darker side. I know a lot of actors say that too.

The fact that I can put myself into other people’s shoes - not just characters, but real life too - makes me a good person to argue with as I can always see all points of view... but then I get frustrated when people don’t do the same for me!

Thanks again and hope 2008 is filled with love, fun and happiness. :D

xxx

[JudyB]

Thanks Rebecca - I wish you every success for 2008.

It is very realistic that Sue's children only allowed her to know what they wanted her to know and that she had to fathom the rest out - my youngest can be very much like that. In the case of Chris I thought it was sad that he did that because, for example, they didn't realise how much he loved his car wash job and so when he lost they weren't able to appreciate how much of a blow it was to him. It was that lack of communication that made his story so sad to me - although his was the funniest at times also.