Friends, Ghosts and, Robots

                                                                 

How’s that for a title? This past week was a whirlwind of activity because a very good friend and the fearless leader of Biff Bam Pop, Andy Burns, came down from Canada to visit his South Jersey Posse. I think the Jersey staff outnumbers the Canadian staff, for now. The South Jersey division of Biff Bam Pop all belong to the South Jersey Writer's Group and includes Glenn Walker (assisting editor of BBP & board member of the SJ writers' group) standing next to the seated Andy, with Loretta Swearington Sisco (BBP) and Steampunk Granny (BBP) on the right. From the left we have Janice Wilson (SJ writers' group) and Jean Ramalho (a fellow ghost investigator & friend). Next to Jean, we have the very talented Robin Renee (BBP & writer & entertainer (www.robinrenee.com) and James Knipp (BBP & registrar for the Philadelphia Writers Conference) 

          

                                                               

                Breakfast at the Pop Shop in Collingswood with our leader                                 

I had asked Andy what he wanted to see while on vacation. He wanted to see the Rocky statue.

                                                                    

 
                                                 And the Liberty Bell
                                            

                        And, he wanted to go on a ghost investigation.
                                                              

Luckily, I was able to set up all three requests, saving the investigation for that night with Medium, Marti Haines. Andy and I will be writing more about this investigation on the Biff Bam Pop site www.biffbampop.com

                                                                  

Patty

In my Roof Oasis Series, there is a character that happens to be a robot and about the size of a small child. In book one of the series, Roof Oasis, the little robot was just a minor character, but as every writer knows; sometimes the characters take over the story. Patty wasn't happy being a minor character and she quickly made this clear to me when I was working on the second book. Patty is not your average robot. She is evolving, but you’ll have to wait until book two, Saving Solanda, is out this summer to find out why we should be worried.

I needed a doll as a prop for when I do my book signings. The only doll that would fit the requirements of what I had imagined when I wrote the robot character was the Patti PlayPal doll.

                                                                         

      
My sister Lucy had a Patti PlayPal when she was little. She loved that doll, but my brother Michael had operated on Patti and she didn’t survive. It's a long story, but ou can read about it here.

                                                                      

A good friend of mine, Cinsearae Santiago Reniniger: writer, publisher, artist, and designer, who also makes all kinds of spooky jewelry and cute zombie dolls, was able to find a doll for me. Here she is. I know she doesn’t look like a robot yet, but she will once I get my designer granddaughter, Allie Gilbert, to make a Steampunk, robotic outfit for her.

                                                                   

Our Secret Place: An Empath's Journey

                                                              

 

I’m belong to a group of talented and compassionate people who have different levels of sensitivity and psychic abilities to the paranormal world. We meet once a week with our instructor, who is a medium, professional ghost investigator, mentor and friend. Her name is Marti and, we are her angels. She is helping us to recognize and build the powers within ourselves. Most people have this power, but are afraid to tap into it. This is why it's such an exhilarating experience to be with same minded and equally sensitive individuals. With Marti's guidance, we are growing beyond the limits of our physical beings.

                                                                       

This week’s assignment was to prepare ourselves for remote readings. An example of a remote reading is if I were to give a person an inspirational reading over the phone. Most of the group is already capable of doing a one-on-one reading in person using their Angel Inspiration Cards, but over the phone? This was a new concept to me.

                                       The cards that I use                               

Marti asked us to try an experiment. She wanted us to create a space in our mind of a safe, happy place that we could go to during the remote readings. She also told us this place could be anywhere. She described her place which was a room full of books and artifacts and a comfy chair. One woman thought of a place in the forest where the trees themselves were bookshelves. Most of the group picked places on Earth, but I’m the oddball of the group. I’d already had my happy place. Had it since I was a kid, but it was miles and miles above the Earth.

Sphere

Whenever I think of a happy place, it is not on Earth, but inside a big sphere. It’s a spaceship made of glass and metal. It hovers over the Earth most times, but will travel to the ends of the universe, when I wish. I have books, many books and, a floating lounge chair to sit on and read said books. I’m not alone. I have two robots that make me cups of tea and, biscuits. They also make sure that we stay on course as we hurtle through space.

                                                                 

There are three Totem animals that have made their home inside the sphere with me. They are my spirit guides. Besides the tiger, grizzly bear and eagle, I also have a pilot.
                                                                   

                    It's GOD and HE likes to show me all the places he has created. Sometimes we'll even land and walk upon these other worlds, but some worlds are hostile and we don't go there. GOD keeps me and the Sphere safe from evil things.

Conclusion

This week, Marti’s angels will have to visit there happy place at least once a day for inspiration. We also need to keep a list of any messages we will receive while inside our special places. The tiger is the only one talking so far. He keeps repeating one word; explore. GOD agrees with the tiger. I think I’ll take their advice.

In the News

                                                         

I had met Rita Manno, reporter and also in charge of her own Public Relations Business, when she did a story on the South Jersey Writers' Group's first anthology Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey. She mentioned me in that article because she was interested in what made a grandmother of nine write about zombies.

                                                         

Over the past year, Rita discovered that I was also into Steampunk and that I was known to all my friends as Steampunk Granny at Dorian's Parlor: https://www.facebook.com/DoriansParlor


But what really interested her was  my ghost investigations under the guidance of the South Jersey Ghost Research/ Sanctuary Paranormal Team that worked out of the Ghost Hunter Store in Burlington New Jersey. You can learn more about Dave Juliano, Marti Haines and Jeanne Butler- Lee here: http://theghosthunterstore.com/about/

                                                            

Although my family has been experiencing paranormal events most of our lives; it's an inherited talent, I got involved with professional ghost hunting through friends Rita and Jean. We each have our own unique ways of sensing the spirit world. We took several classes with Dave's team and went on several investigations with them.

                                                             

This past year, my friends and I became friends with another ghost investigative team, Keystone Spirit Seekers. Check their site here: http://keyss.webs.com/  We went on a very productive investigation at the Selma Mansion this past year.

                                                           

Thanks to Rita Manno's interest in my book, Roof Oasis, which is the first in a apocalyptic series with a twist, I have been featured in the Burlington County Newspaper. Thank you, Rita Manno. https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritamanno


Here is the article featuring me.

http://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/life-style/local-feature/she-s-a-trained-ghost-investigator-a-writer-and-a/article_ac22af22-283f-55cf-af4e-0ecd753f4e93.html


The phone has not stopped ringing with friends and family calling to congratulate me about my book and my being in the newspaper. I'm still in shock. I work very hard at writing, sometimes spending many hours interviewing people, writing recaps for television shows, movies and books and just trying to keep up with my blog and completing  book two of Roof Oasis called Saving Solanda.

                                                          

I have met the most talented people and made many life long friends because of my writing. I love what I do, but I don't travel this road alone. We never do. I have a support system with my family, friends, and fellow writers that keeps me going even when I think I can't write another word. My poor husband, Dan, has been anointed the job of agent, video, audio and tech person along with the job of chauffeur. Thank you, honey.

So the reason for this post is to thank everyone who has helped me reach where I am now and where I'm going in the future. You know who you are. Love you all.

Marie Gilbert aka Steampunk Granny

Steampunk Granny goes from Coffee To Ghosts

                                                                

 

On Friday, August 15^th, my daughter Marie Reid and I headed out to Mullica Hill and the Crescent Moon Coffee & Tea Shop.

                                                                                      

 

I was there to sell Roof Oasis my first book in a series of apocalyptic tales with a twist and Tall Tales and Short Stories by our South Jersey Writer's group. My daughter was there to sell her lovely jewelry. It was a beautiful day and there were many visitors to the shop. Side note: Great coffee selection.

 

                                                                Marie setting up her stand

I was able to coerce Sharon, the owner of this fabulous little gem of a shop located on 141 Bridgeton Pike, to take a picture with me.

 

                                                                                

Kathy was the first person to purchase a book that day. We chatted about my using what is happening to our food and water supply in today’s world and how it led to the catastrophic events in my book.

 

                                                                              

A very good friend and her son and granddaughter stopped by to visit while I was at the Crescent Moon. Elaine’s granddaughter Autumn seems to like Roof Oasis, too.

                                                                           

 

 

Later that night my ghost hunter buddy, Jean, and I headed to the Laurel Hill Cemetery. It was an event for professional photographers to get some rather unusual night shots of the beautiful site. While the pros were busy doing their thing, Jean and I did ours: ghost hunting.

 

                                                                         

Luckily, the other people there did not have a clue to what we were doing or they might have been a bit frightened to know that the cemetery was extremely active that night especially on the road heading towards Millionaire Row.

 

                                                                                 

I was able to spot a female spirit, but only in mist form, but when I snapped the photo, I got this.

                                                                                 

               All in all, it was a delightful day for selling my book and communing with the dead.

                                                                       

 

You can see a very faint orb lower to the ground between the cross and the large pillar

My Interview with Intertainment Hub

                                                                      

I'm so excited. My friends at Intertainment Hub interviewed me on their show and we had fun talking about my apocalypse book, Roof Oasis, ghost hunting, zombies and Steampunk. I was even invited to play a game with the two fabulous hosts. They were so friendly that I wasn't nervous at all. If you get a chance, go to their site on Twitter https://twitter.com/IntertainHub  Follow them on Facebook too. https://www.facebook.com/IntertainmentHub


Thank you Scarlett and Nathan from Intertainment Hub. You rock!!

Bogart's Book Store offers Coffee & a Side Order of Ghosts

                                                          

I went to one of my favorite book stores called Bogart’s Books and Café in Millville, N.J. last Saturday. This amazing little bookstore is over a 100 years old and it has everything: atmosphere, ambiance, character, books, gift cards, coffee, and it is all because of the young lady who owns this establishment. Amy Lombardo has a personality that makes you feel welcomed as soon as you set foot inside Bogart's. Her bubbly personality rubs off on her loyal customers, too. 
                                                                     

                                                                    

The very first time that I was at this book store was a year ago. We were there to do a book signing for the South Jersey Writers' Group. Our group had published an anthology called Tall Tales and Short Stories from South Jersey. This anthology has a story for everyone, ranging from slices of life to zombies.
                                                               
After setting up the books, I decided to get a cup of coffee, but I was distracted by the ghost. Yes, I said ghosts and since I'm an Empath and very sensitive to paranormal events, I immediately sensed a very friendly male spirit. He was dancing around and telling me how happy he was to be able to spend his time in a book store. He'd always loved books, and to him; this was heaven.
                                                                              
At the end of our book signing event, I made plans with Amy to return to Bogart's the following month with the Purveyor of Spirits Investigative Team, of which I am a member. Jean is our team leader and magnet for the spirits. Jean and I experience physical symptoms whenever a spirit is nearby; chest pains, nausea, etc. and we can get a good picture of the dearly departed in our minds. Rita is usually the one the spirits love to touch. She doesn’t like it much, but for some reason the spirits like to tap her on the arm and while on our visit to Bogart's; give a little shove. With the three of us working together, we really don’t need that much equipment; relying only on our senses.

                                                                   

 

Amy if we could check out the upper floor and the basement. She said yes and let us have free roam of the place. As we walked up the stairway to the upper level, all of us could feel the air getting heavier. I turned around and took a picture of the stairway because I felt a male presence there. I thought I saw a mist begin to form and took this picture.
                                                                            

Jean and I immediately felt the physical effects of two nearby spirits. The woman I had sensed was not the one that Amy had told us about, but an older woman about my age with dark hair pulled back into a bun. She was wearing glasses. She was curious and wanted to make sure that we did not disturb any of the books or paintings on that level. I had the sense that she was the payroll clerk when this building was once a factory.
                                                                  
There was a male spirit there, too... not our happy Andrew, but a grumpy, slightly overweight, balding, middle aged man in his late fifties. I think it was this spirit that we felt as we climbed the steps. He wore a sleeveless undershirt and suspenders. He reminded me of Jackie Gleason's Ralph Kramden.  I had the feeling that he did not normally hang out on the level we were on, but in the basement. He wanted us to go to the basement and actually gave Rita a slight shove to hurry her steps as we walked back down the steps.
                                                                         
The basement is filled with books. Amy had mentioned that the basement ghost, which she was a bit wary of, was frequently dumping over the boxes and large plastic container, spilling books onto the floor. Rita, Jean and I did our thing and I realized that the Ralph Kramden spirit was there. He'd followed us down to the basement. After looking at the container and the boxes, I was hit with the strongest conviction that this spirit was upset because a book that he liked had been recently packed away and he could not find it. Amy confirmed that this was so. The books were moved and packed. But, which book was the spirit looking for? The sense I got of this man was that he was a grumpy man with a large dose of OCD and he didn't like when things were moved around. 
                                                                          
Your personality is the same dead or alive. If you are a pain in the butt alive, well...you get the picture.
                                                                

This year I had the chance to return for another book signing, but this time it was for my own book, Roof Oasis. This is a sci-fi paranormal story of love and the events that lead to the apocalypse. Roof Oasis can be purchased on Amazon.com. While at Bogart's I had the chance to sell books and interact with the living and the dead.
                                                           

          

You owe it to yourself to head down to Millville, New Jersey and visit Bogart's Book Store. Stay a while; chat with Amy. Buy one of her books and when you're ready for  lunch head down to the Old Oar House Irish Pub and get the best Irish Stew, ever! 

 

New Beginnings for a New Year

                                                                  

My Mom passed away on this very day, last year. I attended her funeral out west with my sister Jane and then brought back Mom's ashes to New Jersey so that my family here could say goodbye.

                                                                     

Although she and my father (who passed away several years ago) occasionally visit (haunt) my house, I still miss them. They are the Fred & Lucy of my weekly episodes. I think they are hanging around to keep us safe. I told them to keep an eye on Jimmy, my grandson who is now in boot camp at Parris Island.
                                                                         

I was picked as one of the contestants for Best Blogger of 2014 and was one of the three finalist. I didn't win this year, but my worthy challenger did. Thank you everyone who voted for me. Go to Twitter and congratulate https://twitter.com/ScarlettFlame2 for winning best Blogger of the year.
                                                                     

I'm not making any New Year's Resolutions! I never keep them, anyway. My yearly resolution that I do keep is to "Love life and love all GOD's creatures, even the ones who are a major pain in the butt" "Go with the flow"  "Live and let live"  "Live life to the fullest" "Do no harm"

                                                                  

                                                                

I'm planning on building up, or teaming up with another Ghost Investigative Group. I'm planning on having someone build me a better website for my posts. But...most of all...I'm planning on heading into more adventures.
                                                                       

So to all my Facebook, Google+ and Twitter family and friends, I'm wishing you a year of good health (mentally & physically), good fortune, love and happiness. Love you all

                                                                      

MIdnight Ghost Hunting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okay, my little ghostly friends and zombie snacks. I've been on Grim Philly's tours and they are amazingly fun and you have to go and see for yourself. Tell them Steampunk Granny sent you.

 

 

 

 

Midnight Ghost Hunting!

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This Friday October 25^th

11:00 pm to 1:00 am

From 104 Chestnut St. Olde City Phila, Pa 19106

(Mexican Post Tavern)

856-829-3100

Join Grim Philly and renowned author, psychic, and ghost hunting expert: Laurie Hull McCabe this Friday night at 11:00 pm for our special edition of Halloween Midnight Ghost Hunting!

Enter Promotional Code: "Ghost" and receive an additional 15% off the regular ticket price when you purchase from: http://grimphilly.tix.com

Check http://www.grimphilly.com/tours/ for additional information and to purchase tickets for this year's Halloween Midnight Ghost Hunting!

Ghosts of Charleston

                                                         

In between fighting a sinus infection, ear infection and a broken tooth, my ghost hunting friends and I actually got in some good research. While we were at Wilmington North Carolina, we visited the battleship USS North Carolina.
                                                                             
It wasn’t until we got to the section of the ship that houses the engines, that I experienced that familiar unsettling in my stomach (it’s my “tell” that a spirit is nearby). Whenever this happens, I block out all other noises and concentrate of the spirit, but all I could sense was that the very young sailor in front of me, had died on the ship and the engine room was his scheduled work area. One of my friends, who entered a few minutes behind me, also sensed the young man, but we weren’t able to ask or record our “interview” as a large group had now entered the room. I picked up the sense that although this young man was confused on how he had died, he was proud of being in the Navy and a part of this ship’s crew.

                                                              

                                                                                                                                              

Once we had reached Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, we headed into Charleston and the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, but although there were stories of pirates being held there, we picked up no sensations of spirits in the building that day. Doesn’t mean the place isn’t haunted, but I sensed nothing during that visit. We were told about a woman and her husband who were hanged because of some rather nasty dealings. Her name was Lavinia Fisher,  a serial killer.

The Prison
                                                                  

My friends and I were under the impression that Lavinia and John Fisher were held at the Provost Dungeon, and so, when we went to the prison, we went there not knowing that this is where she was actually hung.
                                                                   

                                                                                                                                   
 While waiting for our guide to take us into the building, Rita who often has an experience where she's either touched by or sees a spirit (experiences that she is not at all comfortable with), commented to the guide that she saw someone climbing up the stairway. The stairway was visible through one of the prison windows; this was not witnessed by anyone else in our group. The guide assured us that no one was in there, but Rita argued that she saw someone in a white dress climbing the stairway. Brushing off her insistence that she saw something, the guide led us into the building. Jean and I, who normally sense if spirits are near us, didn’t feel a thing until we walked up the steps and into a large holding area.

                                                                      

There was something in this room and it wasn’t happy, but I wasn’t able to tell if it was male or female, at first because I was concentrating on the anger of the spirit. Suddenly, a black shape moved beside me, blocking off my line of vision to another person that was standing next to me. The anger I felt, was strong and I began to say the protection prayers while holding on tightly to my rosary beads in my coat pocket. When it moved passed me, I began to edge backwards towards Rita and Jean. “Something evil is in here,” I warned both of them under my breath.

“Someone is a dress just passed by me and headed in your direction,” Jean replied.

“It’s the woman, from the stairway,” Rita added. 
                                                                        

                                                          

Before we could take pictures or get our equipment set up, the spirit was gone. We asked our guide if he knew anything about the female ghost that all three of us had encountered and that is when he told us that Lavinia was hung at this prison. Now, all the clues fell into place. We had encountered Lavinia, herself. The guide then mentioned that there was an investigative team in the prison a while back and since they left, the staff has been experiencing more sightings. This sometimes happens if an investigation is done improperly and the investigative team has taunted or angered the spirits.

                                                                       

My next experience was at a cemetery behind the St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Charleston. We were walking through the cemetery with our cameras at the ready and our equipment on. I had walked away from my friends because I could sense that a spirit was nearby, then I heard someone call my name. Spirits don’t usually call out my name, so I was freaking nervous and curious as to why this was happening, now. I thought I saw something moving and took a picture. Who was it? What did they want? How did they know my name? I don’t know! 
But here is the photo with an orb. It's positioned right in front of the tombstone. This is one of the best orb pictures that I’ve ever taken. It almost looks solid. I called out to my friends, but they were unable to get a good shot.

                                                            

                                                                           

I don’t have to be in a cemetery or actively looking for ghost, but I can sense them when they’re around and recently a friend asked me to check out her house; the house was haunted by the former owner; kind soul who was watching over the little family now living there. The wall between the living and dead is only a heartbeat away. Sometimes, after a soul has passed over, if that person really loved their home, they may come back to visit. Here is a closer shot of that orb.

                                                                  

                                                           

 

Have you’ve ever encountered something from the other side. Would you like to share your story with me? contact me at mariegilb@comcast.net