The Story Behind "Spirit in the Rock"
by Terry Ambrose
What about real ghosts, though? Are you a believer? I know several people who are. Hawai‘i happens to be a place where many people are believers. The islands have had myths and legends about supernatural activity for centuries. Some of the first date back to the time of the volcano goddess, Pele. There are also many current-day paranormal rumors and legends.
In Honolulu, O‘ahu Ghost Tours conducts ghost tours. Their offerings run the gamut from easy walks to more moderate activity. When I learned Halloween was one of our available themes in "Happy Homicides 4: Fall into Crime," I was excited. I was eager to write my first-ever ghost story and contacted the friendly people at O‘ahu Ghost Tours.
Most ghost stories try to scare the pants off you. Right? The problem is, I don't write really scary stuff. I'm more of a cozy kind of guy. When I contacted Robert at O‘ahu Ghost Tours, I was concerned. How would someone who made his living in Hawai‘i telling stories about ghosts feel about my type of ghost story?
So what is "my type" of ghost story? Consider it something like a pina colada, but instead of rum, lime, coconut, and pineapple juice, it's a blend of mystery, humor, setting, and quirky characters. Whip all the ingredients together and we end up with a Trouble in Paradise McKenna Mystery.
Don't worry, our "Happy Homicides" mysteries won't send you under the blankets in fear. On the contrary, if I've done my job well, you'll get a good laugh from mine. It's not every day an amateur sleuth and a PI-wannabe take on a couple of Hawaiian spirits as well as a killer.
The title of my story for "Happy Homicides 4" is "Spirit in the Rock." I'll let you in on a little secret. The concept came from my contact at O‘ahu Ghost Tours. The real story goes something like this. A man was walking along the beach one day when he spotted a beautiful rock. He picked up the rock and the spirit inside spoke to him. The voice was that of a young woman. She promised the man she would bestow great fortune on his family if he cared for her.
The man became enamored of the spirit in the rock over time and paid it great attention. Eventually, his wife became jealous and threw the rock into the ocean. Of course, bad things happened to the family afterward. The story did leave me with a question. What if there had been a witness who saw the wife throw away the rock?
With that premise, I was able to bring the story forward to current day. This time, the spirit in the rock is unhappy because someone stole the rock from the museum after her benefactor donated it. The spirit is wreaking havoc on the grand opening of the museum. It's up to McKenna to find the thief, pacify the spirit, and solve the murder of a security guard at the museum. The big problem is, he has to do it all before the clock strikes midnight and Halloween ends. I hope you enjoy "Spirit in the Rock" as well as all the other stories in "Happy Homicides 4."
My latest Trouble in Paradise novella was just released "North Shore Nanny" on August 30. This time, McKenna's client is Kai Palakiko. She’s ten, precocious, and determined to prove her nanny isn’t a killer. She may be McKenna’s toughest client yet. Stop by my website at terryambrose.com if you'd like to learn more about "North Shore Nanny."
Have you had any experience with ghosts? Do you know anyone who has? If you haven't, do you think you'd enjoy a ghost tour? Leave a comment below to enter to win an e-book copy of any of my Trouble in Paradise McKenna Mysteries.
Terry Ambrose writes the Trouble in Paradise (McKenna
Mystery) series, and the License to Lie thriller series. Terry has been
nominated for multiple awards and won the 2014 San Diego Book Awards for Best
Action/Thriller.
Terry’s novels receive consistent praise from readers
for their complex characters and plots. Kirkus Reviews said Terry’s writing has
“. . . the kind of snark that will remind readers of Elmore Leonard.”
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Native Americans believe in spirit guides, so maybe this spirit in a rock is a similar concept. I've had ghosts in a couple of my Bad Hair Day stories but I'd be scared out of my wits if I ever met an entity in real life. The closest I've come is photographing a multitude of orbs in a haunted Arizona hotel.
ReplyDeleteIt's similar in some ways, Nancy. I never went on the tour of that hotel in Arizona (If it's the same one, it's in a small town out in the middle of nowhere). Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteAs a Christian I definitely believe in the spirit world! And judging from best selling cozy titles I think readers love ghost stories. Yours should delight.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nancy Jill. I hope you're right about this story delighting readers! It was a lot of fun to write, that's for sure.
DeleteI have a ghost in my 1874 cottage. Fortunately, he's friendly, but likes to play tricks. I like to claim him as my literary muse, but what muse sets your truck on fire?
ReplyDeleteHe set your truck on fire? Maybe he was telling you to write about a truck fire?
DeleteWe love to visit Hawaii and have always been told not to bring home lave rocks because Pele will be offended. I'm not the superstitious kind, but I've never been willing to test it. Pele's fire is daunting! Great Post, Terry
ReplyDeleteThanks Anna. Indeed, there are a number of those stories. Some people have gotten so desperate, they've mailed the rocks back. I say they never should have taken it in the first place! :-)
DeleteI don't know if I have ever had an experience with a ghost, but I do believe I have encounters with my Dad's spirit. II'm driving the car he had when he passed away, and every once in a while the interior lights will blink on and off while I'm driving. I believe my Dad is telling me that he is still with me.
ReplyDeleteThat would be scary to have it happen while you're driving, Dianne, but you could be right. I hope he keeps you safe while you're on the road!
DeleteTerry, I enjoyed learning about an island legend. I bet that a place as old as Hawaii has a lot of them. I don't think I've ever encountered a ghost...but I'd like to!
ReplyDeleteTerry, I loved the way you brought the story into today. I always enjoy knowing the story behind the story!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting us Terry and thanks everyone for your comments. I've had a few ghostly encounters in my life, from a spirit in my college theatre, to a dog named Duke at a local winery. I even caught an EVP.
ReplyDeleteThanks Katreader, it sounds like you've had a number of experiences! Amazing!
DeleteI love the idea of a spirit in a rock. In one of my dreamwalker mysteries, I use the sounds coming from a rock to open a portal to another dimension. I can't wait to read this story!
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of experience with ghost. I have one who lives with me in my 1940s cottage that died here in the 1940s and is quite friendly and sometimes mischievous and a ghost who is always with me in my car, my spirit guild who protects me. I believe objects can have spirits and being sensitive to spirits I would learn a lot about the spirit from the object
ReplyDeleteHey Lexie, it sounds like you would love an O‘ahu ghost tour. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWe have regular ghost tours along the New River in Fort Lauderdale. One night, in the window of the Stranahan House, I saw the ghost of Frank Stranahan, the city founder who committed suicide by drowning in the river. Or, it might just have been the curtain. But I do love a good supernatural story (especially one from a co-author!) and yours sounds like a super one.
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah...hmmm...curtain or ghost, you may never know!
DeleteEnjoyed the story behind the story very much. Thanks again for being there for us (the readers)!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thanks for stopping by and being there for us authors! :D
DeleteI'm probably the only one who hasn't been to Hawaii but I did take a ghost tour in Edinburgh, Scotland in the snow at night and loved it. I've just started a new series and it has a sometimes ghost in it.
ReplyDeleteHi Carole, I've heard Edinburgh has quite a history with ghosts, too. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI've lived in two haunted houses in my lifetime. One house was part of the underground railroad and had a secret room as well as a trap door in the attic. The other house was an old parsonage. The parsonage was the scary one.
ReplyDeleteHi Terry, Just cleaning up old emails and found this one that I kept because it was about Happy Homicides. A few years after my dad died we were going through a rough patch, and over a couple of weeks my mother, sister and I all thought we saw "the man in the yellow shirt" hanging around. We decided it was my father in his favorite shirt, come to help us out. Interesting and comforting but enough ghosts for me! Except in stories of course ;-).
ReplyDelete