Wickeds, we are celebrating Jessica Estevao’s Whispers of Warning. A reminder about what the book is about:
Free from the clutches of her con artist father, Ruby Proulx is starting to settle in at the Belden, her aunt Honoria’s seaside hotel. She loves finally being rooted in one place and also feels a sense of purpose as she helps Honoria keep her business afloat by acting as a psychic medium for the hotel’s metaphysically inclined guests.
When one of the guests, renowned Spiritualist and outspoken suffragist Sophronia Foster Eldridge, checks into the hotel for a monthlong stay, Ruby finds her sense of purpose expands outside the confines of home and family. Sophronia takes Ruby under her wing and mentors her in the mediumistic abilities, encouraging her to fight for women’s rights.
But not everyone is as happy with Sophronia’s appearance in Old Orchard. When a dangerous act of sabotage is carried out and a body is found floating in the pool of a local bathhouse, Ruby takes it upon herself to find answers— and in the process learns that her new friend has been hiding some deadly secrets of her own…
Today’s question for the Wickeds–Jessie has built up a wonderful world that touches on spiritualism. Tell us–are you a believer?
Edith: Wow. Just hit us with the easy question, Julie! I have a vague sense of the “beyond” – and vague is where it’s going to stay. I certainly think the universe contains something larger than us all, and that a continuation of spirit beyond our earthly shells is possible. That said, I love Jessie’s Change of Fortune Mysteries and can’t wait to pick up my pre-ordered copy from my local indy bookstore.
Liz: I am a TOTAL believer! I love all this woo-woo stuff – which is one of the reasons why I love this series. The rest of the Wickeds can attest to my, shall we say, quirkiness in this area. I think they love me anyway, even if they do think I’m a bit strange half the time…
Barb: I’m one of the non-woo-woo Wickeds. I don’t believe there’s a place we go when we die, and I don’t believe we’re ourselves (or anyone else) once we get there, so returning to visit is out of the question. However, I fully admit there are many things about our universe we don’t yet understand. There was a time when the rational people believed the sun revolved around the earth and that illnesses were caused by humours. They weren’t entirely wrong. Bodies did rotate and invisible (or should I say not yet seeable) entities cause diseases. We’re always learning new things, so I’m not going to knock anyone else’s beliefs.
Sherry: I’m never quite sure where I stand on this. I believe in God and angels. I believe that some people are very perceptive (Jessie, Julie, I’m looking at you two). After that it all gets a little blurry for me. There’s a dark side of all of this that scares me which is why I hate horror books and movies.
Jessie: I think the world is vast and strange and there are a lot of ways of knowing things, not all of which can be explained. I adore things that can’t be explained. After all, isn’t that the allure of mysteries, that which has yet to be explained?
Julie: Wickeds, you went deep on this one! I am one of the woo-woo people. And I do believe in spirits, and guides. I’m figuring out what it all means, and am fascinated by Tarot cards and their uses. Another reason I love this series–the exploration of this world. Congratulations again, Jessie!
Readers, what do you think? Are you a believer in psychics?
I agree with Jessie.
Words I love to hear, Barbara!
I am a rational pragmatist–don’t believe in heaven or hell, but while I believe there is an explanation for everything, I don’t need to have everything explained. What fun would life be without intrigue?
I like your take on the topic, Ramona!
I doubt I would ever have lived in New England if it weren’t for the hundreds (literally) of ancestors who lived here before me. We don’t hold conversations (although I’d welcome it), but I’ve always felt there’s a magnetic attraction, and I’ve found a lot of their one-time homes when I wasn’t even looking. So I’d have to say that I believe something lingers beyond death, although I can’t define what.
Interesting. When we moved to Massachusetts I also felt this feeling of being home. When we moved back to Virginia I found out I had relatives who landed at Hingham in the 1600s.
Six years ago, my son and his wife moved to East Haddam, CT, kind of out of blue. This year I discovered generations of my father’s father’s family lived there in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
Congrats, Jessie!
I’m generally a non “woo-woo” person. I mean I’m Catholic and all that goes with it, but I’m…unsure of the metaphysical.
Then again, when I went to college (a Catholic university) we had a real, honest-to-God exorcist on staff, so…
An exorcist on staff! I love it!
The reason I tend to avoid the paranormal cozies is that I don’t believe in it. As a Christian, I do believe there is more to the universe than what we see, but I don’t believe in the woo woo, psychic stuff or ghosts or any of the usual paranormal fiction stuff. However, the occasional exception to my no paranormal rule adds a fun twist to the cozy genre.
I appreciate you making an exception, Mark!
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1
Carol (Woo-woo) Perry
I will think of you with your nickname from here on!
I’m definitely in the same camp as Ramona. There’s too much that I can’t explain to rule anything out but I’ll leave proving or disproving to others. 🙂
The proof part takes the fun out for me, Aimee! I like the idea of leaving it in the hands of others.
I come closest to Jessie’s view of the unknown. I believe that since I’m a bit of a synesthete, I have no problem with mixing perceptions of what is “real” and what is perhaps only imagined. It does keep life more interesting.
Mixed perceptions are part of writing too, I think. What is real and not real can get quite entangled. I know of many writers who have remarked that they experienced something in their physical world that they suddenly thought they wished to report to one of their characters before they remembered the character wasn’t a living being with a separate consciousness. Fun!
I’m with Liz. 🙂 And I love that Sherry mentioned angels. I didn’t know much about them until this past year when I had some experiences that I treasure, so I started educating myself (and of course writing about it). Congratulations again, Jessie. I’m so intrigued by this series!
Thanks, Susan! There is a lot to explore throughout the metaphysical realm. Good luck in your wanderings!
I am a Christian, and therefore I believe in God as The Creator. Believing that he made human beings in his image, I believe we are creative and imaginative too. So fantasy is alive and well, as are mysteries…. some we can never solve. Deep questions, Jessie!
I’m glad you stopped by and shared your perspective, Laurie!
Julie if you are checking out Tarots you should look into Rune stones. I always say they are more spiritual than woo woo. I believe in God, angels, ghosts, those who are more in tune with these things, people who can see spirits, and a lot more. I am gypsy by birth so I have a mixed bag of tricks (easiest way to put it I think)
I love the look and the history of Rune stones, Kay! Thanks for mentioning them!
Hey what can I say. I live in a ‘haunted’ Victorian mansion (circa 1886). Three ghosts. One inside, two (including a little girl) outside. Oh and to make things MORE interesting, I am a cadaver dog handler. 🙂
Wow! You would make a great inspiration for a really wonderful protagonist, Rosemarie!
Yeah, my WIP has a protagonist who is a PI for the dead and she has a cadaver dog. Takes place in the early 1900s. That way I don’t have to deal with all the laws that we search and recovery people have to deal with when we go out on a call.
And speaking of search and recovery dogs, if you EVER have questions, feel free to contact me as I will be happy to answer your questions. And if I don’t know the answer I will find the right person who does. An author contacted me recently about snow cadaver recovery. HA I’m in GEORGIA. I deal with snakes and alligators. I was able to reach out and find the answer in my network.