Family Review

When the phone rang last night my heart gave a little 'thump'. Caller ID showed it was my cousin, a woman that I've always looked up to and admired. Perhaps it's a sign of my age, or more likely the aging of my family, that made my first thought "I hope nobody is sick." No, nobody was sick. My cousin was simply calling to tell me she just finished reading my novel, Signs of the South. She wanted to talk to me about it. My heart gave an even bigger thump. The thing is, I sort of expected her to say she hated it. I don't know why I expected that, but I closed my eyes and waited for the inevitable. "I loved it!" she said. "I can't wait to read the next one, because I know I'll love that, too!" Her enthusiasm and encouragement brought me to the edge of tears, and reminded me of how grateful I am for the continued support and love of my family. Family will tell you when they think you haven't done a good job, but they support you through everything because they love you. This is what makes the praise all the more meaningful. Thank you, cousin Lynne.

Don't Do It

Okay, peeps, listen up. This is important, it’s about your life. Yes, yours. When someone decides it’s time to end it all, the decision has profound and far reaching effects. You may think that this is the only choice left to you, but it’s not. It is not the only choice. Maybe I should say this again… It is not the only choice. Yeah, I get it, I know, you’re in pain, your life is difficult, things are too much for you. Checking out is not the answer. So what is the answer? That depends, but here’s a list to start with: 1. Talk to someone. There’s not a problem in the world that you might have that someone else hasn’t already dealt with. You’re not the first, the only, or the last to have this in your life. 2. Hang on. Meditate. Pray. Go to an amusement park. Whatever the hell it takes, do something. 3. Do not hurt yourself. Hurting yourself hurts everyone around you, it hurts the world. And yes, people will be upset. Even people you never expected to care will be devastated. 4. Talk to someone. Hang on. Do not hurt yourself. That’s really all I can say on the matter. I know depression can be profound, I know it can impact your life in ways that cripple. But there’s true light in this world, and there’s true happiness to be found. If you’re not here, you won’t find it. So, talk to someone. Hang on. Please. Dedicated to the memory of my former student, 2012.

Book Trailer

So, I've been a very busy little writer-person these days, trying to finish the edits on my next book while keeping up with letting everyone know about the first book. But hey, I truly love what I do, so life is good. I received a message from my publisher yesterday (and just on a side note, I really love my publisher, they are awesome and wonderful!). The message was, "We've completed your book trailer, here it is." Book trailer?!!! I had chills when I first watched the video. You've got to check this out, it's, as my brother says, "Wicked Cool"! Click here to view the video. I hope you enjoy watching this. Also, if you have any questions for me about Signs of the South or my writing, you can send them to my publisher at info@pulsepub.net. Have a wonderful week, and take care of yourselves.

To Find A Ghost

I don’t really know lots about ghost hunting, and what I do know is mostly gleaned from instinct. I write about ghosts in my books, but so far it’s all been fiction. I do know that the dead often visit loved ones in their dreams, I know that the newly departed sometimes hover near those left behind, and I know that a haunting can happen for any number of reasons. If, for instance, I’d been murdered, I’d be a little upset, and would probably hover for a while, trying to set things right. Or if I didn’t know I was dead, I’d spend some time trying to get used to that particular state of being. Well, it looks like I’m going to get a big lesson in ghost hunting next week when I embark on a night of waiting for visitations. I’ll be working with R.T.L. Paranormal, a local investigation group that seems to really have their act together. Here’s a quote from their FaceBook page: The best advice I can give someone who is starting out as a paranormal investigator is this: Don't drink the Koo-Aid. Just because para-stars on TV says something, that doesn't necessarily mean that it is golden. Don't be a sheep, come up with your own thoughts, beliefs and theories. Remember, your brain and your instincts are the best tools any investigator can have. –Ray Okay, so far I really love these guys. I just hope I don’t mess up their investigation by: a. Attracting every ghost in a ten mile radius to the location, causing a spirit highway back-up; b. Unknowingly setting off alarms, resulting in police presence; c. Tripping and falling, knocking the cameras down just as an entity fully materializes; d. Becoming the TSTL girl. If you don’t know what that is, email me and I’ll explain it. Stay tuned for updates on the first ghost hunt of the year for me…

Release Date!

I am pleased to announce the release dates for Signs of the South are November 29 (electronic version) and February 21 (print version).

For more information you can visit my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Narielle-Living/307597632586503 or my publisher's website, www.pulsepub.net.

Our Children

I felt as if an invisible fist had punched me in the stomach, knocking my breath out and bringing tears to my eyes. It was an April 29 news report, one that most people in this area would not soon forget.

Gloucester, Virginia deputies served a search warrant on Shannon Gore, only to find something very different than the stolen gold they were looking for. They found a child, a little girl, left in a cage and starving. Outside, buried under the shed, were the remains of another child.

After the horror of the situation sank in, my first reaction was pure anger. “That’s my daughter!”

Now, let me be clear about something. I know that the little girl is not my biological daughter. I understand the difference between my kids and someone else’s kids. I am not that far gone that I am about to go snatching children from their homes or dementia ridden with the belief that my children are wandering around out there.

But my initial reaction, the outrage I felt, was tied to a very strong instinct I believe most parents have, and that is the instinct to protect.

Obviously not every parent feels this way, or deputies would not have found the little girl living in those deplorable conditions. But many of us do have those feelings, that natural inclination to nurture and care for the kids we know.

Consider this: if everyone felt that each child, whether they are biologically yours or not, was “their child”, things might be a little bit different.

Maybe as a society we would direct more attention to the needs of our children, instead of allowing them to waste away in a foster system that clearly does not work. Maybe we would address the fact that there are more than 115,000 children in this country available for adoption, children who are older or have serious medical needs, children who may very well never find a “forever home”. In the state of Virginia there were more than 106,000 cases of reported abuse in 2010, and children all over the United States die from neglect and abuse every day, regardless of race or income level.

Maybe we would reach out and help the children that desperately need our help instead of not facing the reality of what is happening in our neighborhoods.

Neighbors who lived next to Shannon and Brian Gore were outraged. They had no idea that a little girl was living there, much less that she was being starved. There is no doubt that someone would have stepped in to help.

The little girl (dubbed “Sunshine” by a special online group committed to helping victims) is doing much better. She is still hospitalized but shows signs of significant weight gain (she was believed to be six years old at the time of her discovery and weighed 15 pounds) and has been reported to be doing as well as could be expected.

Just because these monsters have been caught doesn’t mean there aren’t more abusers out there, or that we can look the other way when we see child neglect, or that we can ever forget how a child should be treated.

As a community we can make a difference in the lives of so many kids. After all, they really are “our children.”

Signs of the South

A new job, a new home, and a ghost that won’t let her sleep until she solves a murder.

This is not what Ella Giancetti has in mind when she accepts a college teaching position and relocates. Moving from Connecticut to Virginia, Ella quickly learns of the many cultural differences separating the North from the South, from her first taste of sweet tea to the true meaning of ‘bless your heart’. Adjusting to all this while dealing with incessant phone calls from her sister Lisa and trying to figure out why someone is spray painting spiteful messages on her new house is a little overwhelming. At least there’s a handsome police officer hanging around.

When Ella wakes to find a ghost in her house she decides enough is enough. She’s going to need to find out how the ghost became a ghost if she ever wants to have a peaceful night in her new home. Unfortunately, finding out why is going to take more than a few Internet searches. Unearthing the mystery of this ghost means delving into a town’s long ago past where racial lines were sharply drawn and injustices were a way of life.