Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Somebody's Knocking...

It’s Valentine’s Day. I write romance novels. So you’d think I’d write a blog entry all draped in pink hearts and dripping melted chocolate, right?

Yawn.

Since I’m sitting here watching Ghost Hunters anyway, I’d rather talk about the ghost that’s in my house. In fact, I think it follows me around from house to house. Every home I’ve lived in has had, at the very least, a “knocker.” Something that brings me bolt upright out of a sound sleep by rapping on a wall somewhere in the house. It moves around. Sometimes it’s in the basement, whacking on the drywall by the stairs. Sometimes it’s somewhere upstairs or in the attic.

Other times it’s right above the headboard of my bed.

We moved to our current house about 18 months ago, and I think my ghost likes it here! I hear the knocking at least once a week. Always three knocks. Rap rap rap. It’s trying out different sounds, now, like clapping. The reason I think it follows us is that we had the same thing in our previous house – one we’d built ourselves, so it’s not like it had a history.

I like to think it may be my musician grandmother, tapping out a musical rhythm, looking for a spot with just the right tone.

I recently had foot surgery, and for the last five weeks I’ve been sleeping with my foot propped up on a big foam wedge, sticking out of the covers.

Last week I woke up to the distinct sensation of someone gently tapping on the bottom of my foot. Four quick taps, as if using four fingers one at a time. My eyes popped open but even though my feet are so ticklish that I can barely stand to touch them myself (yes, I’m weird), it didn’t frighten me. Startled yes, but it felt playful. I rolled my eyes, said clearly, “Okay, you’ve had your fun. Now quit it and let me go back to sleep.”

It hasn’t done it again.

Once in a while I’ll see one of my dogs staring into an empty corner, ears pricked. Recently I’ve caught her staring up at the ceiling in the kitchen, then something will startle her and she’ll come tearing into the family room as if the devil’s pulling her tail. This is a breed that’s bred to go down holes after badgers, so she’s normally not afraid of anything.

My guess is the ghost uttered the one word that turns her into a puddle of quivering jelly: “Bath.”

Hey, a sense of humor! I like that in my ghosts.

I tell you one thing that creeps me out, though – it’s EVP recordings . You know, the ones that pick up disembodied voices in empty rooms. [shudder] Don’t ask me why knocking doesn’t scare me, but voices do! I’m a big fan of Ghost Hunters and the new Ghost Hunters International, but when someone on the show says “Dude, you have to listen to this one,” I hit the mute button.

After all, at some point I have to walk down a darkened hall to get to my bedroom. I’d like to do it without a heart attack, thankyouverymuch.

I know my sister is reading this and laughing her butt off at me. After all, we were both born in North Carolina; our native ground is soaked to the bone with legends and ghost stories. They’re as natural to us a breathing.

But if you don’t mind, I’ll pull my hoodie over my head, stick my fingers in my ears and hum a happy-place tune.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled holiday. I hope y’all had a happy Valentine’s Day!

Pink hearts and gooey chocolate to you and yours,
Carolan

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When Carolan’s not listening for her ghost’s next Morse code message, she writes paranormal and Celtic-flavored fantasy romance. Find out more about her latest releases at www.carolanivey.com .