Welcome everyone October is my favorite month of the year. It’s usually the first month where we get that crisp chill in the air and I love taking out my boots and fall sweaters. I love going apple and pumpkin picking, and honestly anything pumpkin spice flavored. But more than anything, I’m a HUGE Halloween fan. Which is why once upon a time, I attempted ghost story writing.
I’ve always loved to read witchy books. Give me some magic and some fight between good and evil any day. Throw in a haunting or some other magical creature like a vampire and you really have me sold! As a historical fiction author, you know I’m a nerd for anything historical as well. So, I especially love witchy books with some true historical element. For instance, I’m obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials and love books that reference that time period. See my other blog post where I share some of my favorite Salem Witch Trial reads.
But there is one particular gothic thriller that really got under my skin. It’s called The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I still remember stumbling across it in the library once upon a time. It’s a fairly skinny book actually, and I remember devouring it in one sitting. It’s an old book, written back in 1860, so the language was definitely intricate. But I can only classify it as eerily creepy.
It opens with a mysterious encounter on a dark road between a traveling man and a woman dressed all in white. She is clearly frightened and tells him that the house he is planning to visit is owned by an evil man. The traveler discovers she has escaped from a nearby insane asylum, but he can’t shake her warning.
Overall, there are many things to like about this story, but I think it’s the eeriness of the opening and then the intricacies in which Collins brings this mystery to life that still have me thinking of this story years after reading it. The story is told from multiple narrations and each character is unreliable, making it difficult to know who to trust.
I became more serious about writing myself soon after reading The Woman in White for the first time. I became obsessed with trying to write my own spooky, mysterious thriller. My ghost story writing was far less intricate and honestly “campy” in my execution. I first wrote about haunted houses and ghosts seeking revenge for their murders. I later attempted murder mysteries where a group of friends (modeled after my own friends) would end up trapped with some murderer picking them off one by one. My friends loved reading them, but as I said, they were far from masterpieces.
It’s funny now, thinking back to my foray into ghost story writing. I dipped my toe into a few other genres, like romance, “chick lit” and fantasy before eventually finding my niche in historical fiction. But, I’ve always been curious if other writers experiment with an array of genres before finding their right fit also. Is that part of the process where we try on writing genres like articles of clothing seeking the right fit and style?
Whether it’s the same for other writers or not, my spooky stories were part of my writing history and made me into the writer I am today. And who knows? Maybe you’ll see me return to ghost story writing one day and I’ll publish one of my “campy” murder mysteries after all!
For more of my favorite spooky stories check out my other blog posts:
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That must be a really creepy story if you still remember it. I think writers often write in other genres to figure out which is right for them. And some write in more than one genre as a way to sell more books.
I think that’s potentially true. I know many who have picked up a pen name for this reason. I do think it potentially hurts or confuses an author’s brand if they publish different genres under one name. I’d love to hear if someone has had a different experience with that though.
I love the cover. Looks like someone loved the book enough to create a beautiful cover. Happy IWSG day, Joyana.
It is a beautiful cover!
I haven’t read Wilkie Collins’s story but the title does remind me of tales about Madame Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes who reported appeared to people dressed in all white. Writing in various genres seems to free an author from any chains of strict focus. I’ve written mysteries, poetry, and a genealogical novel and the freedom to experiment is a nice feeling.
My all-time favs (for spooky and ghostly stories) are the chicken skin tales of marching spirits and ghostly appearances in Hawaii.
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Ooh, both your stories sound creepy as well! I think we all need to be free of chains to explore. Otherwise, too much restriction/focus will eventually make the well run dry. What are chicken skin tales? Just the name sounds scary!
Business oriented discussions tend to stress sticking to one genre, and I’ve made myself a niche in horror, but I’m not sure I’ll ever stop exploring multiple genres, even if it’s not the best thing for business. If I stop having fun and exploring as a writer, I don’t see the point in doing it anymore.
I definitely see that point. I’m in the same boat. I’ve made a niche for myself in historical fiction. But I have a fantasy novel I’d still love to see published one day. I think you’re right, we’re creative people, we need to keep those creative juices and exploration going.
Oo, just the name is creppy — in an innocent sort of way. The Women in White.
Definitely! Ripe for a ghost story!
I’ve written in almost most of the genres but still come back the PNR as my favorite. Your story is exactly what I look for as a tucked under the covers tale.
It is definitely a perfect tucked under the covers tale!
Why not combine historical fiction with horror? Think of the possibilities!
There will definitely be a historical witch or ghost tale some day! I already have the outline percolating!
You have a lot of company loving ghost stories. I’m more of a cozy girl so you can imagine I enter this genre carefully. I’m on the hunt for nice ghosts.
I like cozy too. Fall definitely brings that out in us. It just makes us want to curl up with a blanket, a book and a cup of something warm. I like ghosts with no intent to harm. Looking for help with unresolved business works for me. But I’m also a Caspar fan, who doesn’t love that friendly guy?
What a well-written blog post, Joyana. Your pleasure from the novel shined through. I also like to write romance, and that’s great you’ve found your home in historical fiction. Which eras intrigue you the most?
Thanks! My novels have so far been immigrant history around the early 1900s. I wrote about the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911. But my current WIP takes place in the 1920s.
I’m thrilled to find a fellow October lover. I’d forgotten about The Woman In White, and I don’t know why because I have a print of a handbill for the play. Thanks for the interesting read today!
Oh, I’ve never seen the play. That would be a great one to see! Happy October!
Hi,
I must admit that I don’t particularly care for fall and winter. Give me summer anyday. As for spooky stories, The Turn of the Screw, Rebecca, and Poe’s stories were enough to read in my university days, that I don’t need to read anymore.
Shalom shalom,
Pat
Thoroughly enjoyed your well-written post and exploring all the goodies on your blog. Yes, I had to go shopping too! LOL..I have read books written in the early 1900s like the Yearling. The language makes it so difficult to read. I can’t imagine plowing into The Woman in White, but it certainly influenced you. Glad you found it! I messed up by not writing one genre. I didn’t realize how important branding is. I challenged myself to explore all kinds of fiction and nonfiction writing. But when one says author JQ Rose, noone can say, oh yes, she’s known for her cozy mysteries. It would be easier if I had stayed with one genre as far as marketing. But I have enjoyed playing with all kinds of writing. Best wishes…