Carmen Stefanescu | Mary M. Forbes

Welcome Carmen – a paranormal romance writer. Carmen lives in mysterious Romania, or as most know it – Dracula country. I want to thank Carmen for participating in my Finding Friday blog as my guest blogger.

Romanian Ghost-lore by Carmen Stefanescu

Let me ask you something. Do you believe in ghosts, phantoms? Is science able to explain them? Ghosts belong to the most mysterious phenomena studied by parapsychology. Objects that are moved from their places by unseen forces, knocks in walls, sounds of footsteps coming from invisible beings, misty human figures. All these are usually explained by scientists as a form of psychokinesis. There’s also mention of a “memory of objects”. The most interesting explanations come from the field of quantum physics. Modern physics has dematerialized matter. What we call the “other world” is nothing but a world beyond our perceptions, but not beyond our reality. Well, as a rule, they say that a ghost comes with a message for the relatives left behind on earth, a piece of info to help the dear ones who are alive, or to appease their suffering. Those involved in studying the phenomenon speak about two types of apparitions: ghosts linked to people and ghosts linked to places. The former last only for a few weeks. With the latter type of ghosts, things are more complicated. Haunted locations are usually old castles or houses. Frequently, the apparition of a ghost is preceded or announced by a feeling of cold, by a freezing draft. This confirms the theory that ghosts use energy to take shape and so they absorb the ambient energy and the temperature drops down. My country, Romania, better known as Dracula’s country, has its haunted places too. It has, in fact, a long tradition of haunted places, of houses regularly visited by ghosts, and tragic events that led to dark legends. Paranormal is at home in Romania. Chiajna Monastery in Bucharest, the Parliament House in Bucharest, Hotel Cismigiu in Bucharest, Hoia Baciu Forest near Cluj, Poenari Castle and many others; the places have included reports of ghostly apparitions, poltergeist activity, shadowy figures, orbs, spirit possessions, EVP’s, and other unusual phenomena.

Even Braila, my town, has its haunted places. Bellow is the image of the famous “house with ghosts” in Braila, situated on Aslan street. They say the house belonged to an old wealthy Greek trademan, Nicolachi Mavrocordulas, who married a young beautiful woman, Voica, the daughter of a peasant from Insuratei village. The sixty year old Greek bought Voica from her family, and had a large mansion built for her. The Greek had no idea or ignored the fact he’d bought Voica, but not her heart that was given to a young man from her village. She didn’t love Nicolachi and, one day, when he returned home, found her in the arms of her young lover. Nicolachi shot Voica, buried her in the wall of the house and left Romania, after selling the house. None of the people who bought the house could stay there for long. Soon the rumor that the house was haunted by Voica’s ghost spread in the town. braila haunted house The house was turned into an old people’s home as no willing customer appeared any more. Even nowadays old people living there or the nursing staff speak of a nightly apparition. A woman, heavily veiled, passes from room to room crying and calling what they take to be her lover’s name. Witnesses say it happens at the time of the year when Nicolachi killed Voica. The ghost harms nobody, yet people are distressed by her wails and sobs. I do believe that ghosts exist. They are souls that haven’t fulfilled their mission on earth and are still haunting the places they lived in.

Shadows of the Past

Publish date: 4^th December 2012 Publisher: Wild Child Publishing Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.

Anne’s relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them. The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world–one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens not only to ruin Anne and Neil’s vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to help free Genevieve’s soul from its torment.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?

A touching, compelling story of tragedy, loss and the power of endless love and good magic.

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves together into a quest to rekindle love.

If you read my paranormal romance Shadows of the Past, you’ll find out why Genevieve’s ghost haunts the forest where Anne and Neil get lost. Tell me what you think, then!

Excerpt of Shadows of the Past

“Come, we should leave at once,” she said and glanced nervously over her shoulder. “Something terrible happened after you left for town. I think the Abbess found out about us. Our meeting in Uncle Ryan’s cabin is no longer a secret. We have been overheard. For all I know someone spies on us even as we speak. I think the Abbess, or one of her ‘friends,’ is hovering somewhere nearby and listening to every word.” Andrew pulled Genevieve to his chest. “Do you regret you’ve come with me?” Passion smothered Genevieve’s doubt and guilt. “Never,” she answered, aware of her body’s response to his touch, and she succumbed to his embrace. Calming the gnawing unease in her mind and the thought of Sister Dominica guessing she was the dough of a sinner, Genevieve repeated, “Never.” With her eyes closed and their bodies touching she became, for the very first time, simply a woman. She melted in his embrace in spite of the invisible vicious threat breathing around them. Aware they might never be alone again, she fought hard to silence the voice of conscience berating her. “Oh, God. Please forgive me,” Andrew muttered under his breath when he bowed his head to kiss her. Their lips met in a passionate first kiss. Genevieve’s spirits fell and her heart skipped a beat when, a couple of seconds later, she opened her eyes and her gaze fell on a knot strangers.

♦

Tears welled in Anne’s eyes, blurring her vision. She couldn’t explain them, or the sudden sadness seeping into her heart. This should’ve been a moment of happiness or, at least, contentment. She was with Neil again, and the outcome of their trip together should, very likely, bring their reconciliation. Why then did she seem detached from where she stood? Anne shivered. Why the deep feeling of having seen this place, this forest before? And why the eerie sensation of being present here only in the body, while her mind was far away? Away from the forest. Away from Neil, the man who’d betrayed her trust and her love. An onrush of sensations unfamiliar to her followed. Dizziness and a malevolent feeling of unreality suffocated her. Anne edged cautiously closer to the rim of the bare cliff. Her foot tapped the edge. It seemed solid. She stared into the darkness of the abyss at her feet. It echoed the shadows in her heart. An unusual curiosity took hold of her. Should she step ahead? What was down there? Other human bones? Another mystery? The presence of evil, creeping up and enveloping her, became almost palpable. The vines of fog folded around her, dragging her to the depth. Her throat turned dry, and she gasped for air. Megan’s face contorted, the voice no longer pleasant. A hoarse gurgle, spluttering distorted words, “Yes, come… I’m waiting… I’ve been waiting for you for such a long time…”

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