Novelicious.com | The Women's Fiction Blog for Readers and Writers

Susan Hill Picks the Best Ghost Stories of All Time

The author of the most celebrated ghost story of modern times, The Woman in Black, shares which books chill her to the bone.

by Susan Hill

There’s no doubt that the old ones are still the best. The classic English ghost story has no rival.

Start with Dickens. He wrote a number of short ghost stories but his best is his best-known, and the longest … A Christmas Carol.

Novelicious Chats To...Kate Mayfield

Southern mystique, ghosts, family feuds, fetishes, accidents, murder and suicides, Kate Mayfield’s compelling memoir, The Undertaker’s Daughter, is a vivid and stranger-than-fiction account of a now grown little girl who made a funeral home her playground. For over a decade, Kate lived in a place synonymous with death. She joins us now to talk about her inspirations while offering a few tips for aspiring memoirists.

Where do you find inspiration for your books?

Most things inspire me. From the couple on the tube who are clearly annoyed with each other, to a mull around in an antique store, I never know what might set my imagination twirling.

Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?

I’m really happy to shut the door of my office and not emerge all day, but that’s impossible. I often get annoyed at inanimate objects that need attention, like the laundry, or a grocery list. There are times though when I can’t sit still and I really must make that cup of tea immediately, which works out well, because that’s when problem solving happens.

When you are writing, do you use any famous people or people you know as inspiration?

In the case of fiction, no I don’t. But of course in my memoir almost everyone I ever knew from my childhood inspired it.

What female writer has inspired you?

This is sneakily similar to the question above. I think there are many brave female authors from the 19th and early 20th centuries who stand out, like Mary Shelley and Virginia Woolf, Christina Rossetti and Emily Dickinson. The female authors from the American South, Carson McCullers, Flannery O’Connor and Eudora Welty are gold.

Can you give us three book recommendations?

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

From Creepy Children to Haunted Halls: We Select 10 of the Scariest Books of 2014

Pumpkin carving, candy apples and costumes – there’s certainly lots of fun to be had at Halloween. For book nerds like us, however, nothing can beat the lure of a candlelit room and a good, old-fashioned literary scarefest. Here are 10 of 2014’s creepiest books for your All Hallows Eve reading pleasure … faint-hearted beware … don’t say we didn’t warn you!

1. Snowblind by Christopher Golden

When an isolated town is snowed in under dangerous conditions, the local community thinks things can’t get much worse. But they can. And they do. A vivid novel that will chill you to the very bone.

2. The Three by Sarah Lotz

If you enjoyed The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes last year, you’ll absolutely love The Three. Four children are the sole survivors of four seemingly unrelated plane crashes. They all escape unharmed but for Pamela, who lives just long enough to record a message on her phone. A phone message that contains a warning.

3. The Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse

In a Sussex churchyard in 1912, villagers gather on the night when the ghosts of those who will die in the coming year are thought to walk. Here, where the estuary leads out to the sea, superstitions still hold sway ...

4. Bellman and Black by Diane Setterfield

A dark, atmospheric, Victorian ghost story from the author of The Thirteenth Tale, the opening pages see William Bellman commit one small cruel act as a small boy that appears to have unforeseen and terrible consequences. Later, happily married with children, he realises what those consequences are.

Win! A SIGNED copy of The Woman in Black by Susan Hill!

During afternoon tea, there's a shift in the air. A bone trembling chill that tells you she's there.

Happy Halloween, book lovers! It’s that time of year again – your costume is ready, your trick or treat dish is brimming with candies and you’re prepared for any witch, ghoul, goblin or ghost that might come your way tonight. There’s just one more thing to be added to your annual All Hallows ritual, and that’s the heartstoppingly chilling The Woman in Black by Susan Hill. Haunting readers, theatre goers and, more recently, cinema audiences for decades, it’s the perfect ghost story, and we have one SIGNED copy to give away! (Be sure to check back later when Susan Hill herself will be joining us to talk ghostly tales.)

Arthur Kipps, a junior solicitor, is summoned to attend the funeral Mrs Alice Drablow, the house's sole inhabitant of Eel Marsh House, unaware of the tragic secrets which lie hidden behind the shuttered windows. The house stands at the end of a causeway, wreathed in fog and mystery, but it is not until he glimpses a wasted young woman, dressed all in black, at the funeral, that a creeping sense of unease begins to take hold, a feeling deepened by the reluctance of the locals to talk of the woman in black – and her terrible purpose.

My Writing Room by Jenny Harper

I have a small study upstairs. It’s a nice enough space, but when I’m writing, I like a feeling of openness, calmness, and tidiness. It must be something to do with emptying the mind to let creative thoughts flow in. If I’m in my den, all I can think about is that I should be doing my tax return!

So my favourite space for writing is our dining room. It’s usually tidy, it has a glass door to our balcony, which has a spiral stair down to our garden, and in the mornings it’s very sunny. If it’s cold, my corner is right next to a cozy gas-effect fire, and I can draw the curtains over the door to keep out the dark of our long winter nights. I love it!

Review – Ruby’s Tuesday by Gillian Binchy

Reviewed by Debs Carr

This book asks what you would do if you were told that your unborn baby will be profoundly handicapped and what choices you would make. Afric Lynch is six months pregnant and her husband is away on business in China, she goes by herself for a routine ultrasound never imagining that the doctors will change everything she’d ever hoped for with what they discover. Learning that her unborn baby is ‘incompatible with life’ Afric makes the decision to protect her husband, Luke, not wishing him to have to cope with this harrowing news while he is so far away from her and resolves to deal with what she has to do next, alone.

Afric is unable to have her daughter's birth induced in Ireland, so is forced to travel by herself to Liverpool. Determined to make the most of the short period of time between this life-changing discovery and her baby’s inevitable birth and death, Afric decides to make memories for herself and her daughter in the only way open to her. She travels to the important places in her life and shares her thoughts and memories with her unborn baby while she still has the opportunity.

This heart-breaking tale was motivated by the author’s devastating loss of her own daughter and is told with infinite care and above all love. I wasn’t sure I wanted to read about such an all-encompassing loss, but I’m glad I did. The way Afric copes with these few days is told in a strangely comforting way evoking the intensity of love between a parent and child however short that child’s life may be, and depicting that there are always memories that can be shared and treasured forever.

Win! A Saving Grace Scented Candle!

We’ve got a fantastic giveaway for you today! To celebrate the publication of Jane Green's latest novel, Saving Grace, three lucky Novelicious readers can win a scented candle, the perfume of which was personally created by Jane Green herself. 

A perfect stranger wants her perfect life.

Grace Chapman has the perfect life, living comfortably with her husband, bestselling author Ted, in a picture-perfect farmhouse on the Hudson River in New York State.

Then Ted advertises for a new assistant, and Beth walks into their lives. Organized, passionate and eager to learn, Beth quickly makes herself indispensable to Ted and his family. But Grace soon begins to feel side-lined in her home - and her marriage - by this ambitious younger woman.

Is Grace just paranoid, as her husband tells her, or is there more to Beth than first thought?

To enter please leave a comment below this post. The three winners will be selected at random and the competition is restricted to UK and Ireland residents only.

Review – Where We Belong by Catherine Ryan Hyde

Reviewed by Jennifer Joyce

Fourteen-year-old Angie hasn’t had an easy life. Her father was murdered at a young age and her sister Sophie has a form of autism and requires a lot of care. The family have been forced to move around a lot due to the uncontrollable noises Sophie makes and are now moving in with Angie’s Great Aunt Vi. Their new neighbour has a Great Dane, which Sophie takes a liking to and spends hours watching her through the fence. The dog seems to have a calming effect on Sophie and Angie begins to think they can finally settle down in one place. Until the neighbour reveals he is moving away. Knowing Sophie will revert to her old ways without the dog, Angie’s mum packs up their meagre belongings and tries to track the neighbour down.

Where We Belong is quite a sad tale, with Angie at its centre. Angie hasn’t really had the chance to be a child as she has the responsibility of taking care of Sophie, which can be difficult. She moves around a lot and doesn’t have any friends and although she has big dreams, she doesn’t believe she will ever be given the chance to achieve them. Then there is Paul, the grumpy neighbour who also doesn’t have many friends. Although there is a massive age gap between the pair, he and Angie strike up a friendship, which was nice to see. The pair haven’t had much happiness in life so I enjoyed seeing the bond strengthen between them.

Win! A Vintage Book Lamp!

Your eyes doth not deceive you, book nerds. That is, in fact, a book lamp for your winning pleasure! How awesome would this look on your bedside table?

Yes, this week we’re giving you the opportunity to win a handmade, vintage book lamp of your choice from Retrograndma’s Etsy shop. Perhaps you’ll opt for one of the delightful Nancy Drew designs or this vintage-looking lamp made with an old copy of Junior Classics Stories of Wonder and Magic? Whichever you choose, it’s sure to add a little literary loveliness to your home.

Feasting on Romantic Comedy – Mushroom Soup from Peter's Friends

Set in a palatial house in the English countryside, with log chopping, cosy fires, misty walks, a group of friends who sing and harmonise, an eighties soundtrack and fabulous food, this film was made for me. Plus, it has to be said, it stars some of my favourite actors. It is one of the films I return to again and again. I just adore it.

The story is a simple one. Six friends from university reunite 10 years later on New Years Eve, along with (for some) new partners. The cast is cracking – Stephen Fry, Imelda Staunton, Emma Thompson, Phyllida Law, Hugh Laurie, Kenneth Branagh, Alphonsia Emmanuel, Rita Rudner and Tony Slattery. 

One of the best characters is Vera, the housekeeper and cook, played by Phyllida Law (Emma Thompson's mum, fact fans). As Peter (Stephen Fry) says, she can be terribly gothic towards his friends. She takes no nonsense and, in perhaps one of my favourite scenes, she gives Carol (Rita Rudner) her money back when she tries to get Vera to make her a non-fat meal. 

Instead Vera is cooking up a storm for the first meal on that first night. Are you ready for this? 

Cream of mushroom soup, roast beef and yorkshire pudding, buttered carrots, sprouts, parsnips, mashed potatoes (with a huge slug of double cream – I saw her put it in!), gravy and trifle for pudding. 

Carol asks for a baked potato, steamed carrots and broiled chicken without the skin. Oh, and she pours water into her soup bowl instead of the mushroom soup ... 

Novelicious Chats To...Ciara Geraghty

Ciara Geraghty is the author of five novels and her latest, Now That I've Found You, is out now. Here, she tells Novelicious about her writing process, her journey to being a published author and her no nonsense advice for aspiring novelists. 

Can you tell us a little about your average writing day?

Things have changed since I started writing. I wrote Saving Grace mostly under cover of darkness, when my unsuspecting family were asleep in their beds. It was a very exciting time as I told no-one of the dangerous dreams I was harbouring.

When I got my second publishing deal, things changed dramatically. Now, I don’t get leave my house, hop on the train in a suit, put on some slap (Irish make-up) and talk to people in the office kitchen about Orange Is the New Black and Masterchef and I’m a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here etc. Instead, I sit at my kitchen table in jeans and a teeshirt, often without brushing my hair, crank up my laptop and ‘make stuff up’ (that’s what my husband calls it). I do this at about half nine in the morning, after the school run. It took some getting used to. The worst bit was the fear that I would never be able to write / be creative at that ungodly hour. But I got used to it. And you know what? Half nine in the morning is not as bad as I had originally feared ... I mean, yes, it’s bad, of course it is ... but not as bad. I work until 1pm when I then pick my youngest daughter up. When there’s a deadline looming, I work at the library on Saturdays (there’s no way I could work in the house when the children are here; they’d never let me get away with it!).

What female writer has inspired you?

I remember Maeve Binchy saying, in a radio interview, that she was reading a book and thought to herself, "I could do that" and she started writing a book that turned out to be Light a Penny Candle. I remember being amazed. That someone could just have a thought like that and then go ahead and do something about it. Her words – and her books – inspired me, made me begin to harbour hopes that perhaps, I could do that too.

Can you give us three book recommendations?

1. An Evil Cradling by Brian Keenan. The book tells the true story of the imprisonment of Brian Keenan – an Irish writer and academic – and John McCarthy – a British journalist – from 1986 to 1990 in Beirut. While the book deals with the hostile and sometimes brutal conditions the men endured during their captivity, it also captures the essence of friendship and companionship and love and this, for me, is what makes this book sing like a song you’ll never forget.

2. I always seem to be pressing copies of Dark Lies The Island and There are Little Kingdoms by Kevin Barry into people’s hands and telling them they will laugh out loud – and not in a Facebook LOL way but actual belly laughs that will make their stomach muscles ache. These darkly comic short stories are beautifully written and the author’s keen appreciation of the vernacular makes the characters leap off the page and thump you in the face.

Review – The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Lisa Dickenson

Reviewed by Zarina de Ruiter

A few months ago I had the privilege to review Lisa Dickenson's snort-out-loud funny novel You Had Me At Merlot for Novelicious and so I was super excited when the complete version of her previous book, The Twelve Dates of Christmas, which was released last year in six bite-sized eBook novellas, arrived in my mailbox just in time for my annual three-month-long festive celebrations.

Twelve Dates does what it says on the tin – it chronicles main character Claudia's twelve dates during the month of December; dates which vary from the ludicrous (one of the men she goes out with has a nosebleed during the date … on her face!) to the utterly sweet. At the start of the novel, Claudia sees her long-term boyfriend Seth's willy glaring up at her when all she wanted to do was take a quick wee during the interval of the ballet show she is watching and, next thing she knows, she finds herself single just before the holidays.

Even though Claudia is still trying to process what exactly went wrong between her and Seth, her two best friends, Nick and Penny, refuse to let her mourn the loss of what, according to their expert opinion, wasn't meant to be a lifelong relationship. So, they set about organising a series of distractions for Claudia. With dates to places such as the ice rink at the Natural History Museum, the Royal Opera House for a performance of The Nutcracker and Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, this novel sets the perfect seasonal scene for Christmas crazies like me.

Ciara Geraghty's Top Five Writing Tips

1. Be honest. Stay true to your characters. Let them do what they will on the page, regardless of whether or not you think it’s ‘nice’ or ‘politically correct’ or ‘moral’. Readers will invest themselves in your characters when they are believable. Don’t make them two-dimensional. There’s no such thing as a completely ‘bad’ person or a totally ‘good’ person. There are so many aspects to people. This is what makes us interesting to other people. Show all sides of your characters to your readers and they will follow your characters wherever you take them.

2. Write as if nobody will ever see your work. Don’t think about what your mother might think. Or your husband. Or the parents on the PTA. Write as if you are a hermit in a cave who never meets anyone or goes anywhere. This is fiction; it’s not an autobiography.

3. The blank page is terrifying. So fill it up with words. It doesn’t matter if you think what you’re writing is terrible. That’s what editing is for.

Novelicious Picks...Top Authors Recommend Books on Twitter

Back by popular demand, here are a few more book recommendations from popular authors on Twitter. What are you recommending this month? Do leave your own suggestions in the comments!

1. The Missing One by Lucy Atkins (@lucyatkins) – As recommended by Kerry Fisher (@KerryFSwayne, author of The School Gate Survival Guide).

Kerry says: "Can't tell you how much I'm enjoying The Missing One by @lucyatkins – won't spoil it but I am on the edge of my seat."

In the novel Kali has just lost her mother, Elena, and has many unanswered questions about her mum's life. While going through Elena's belongings, she finds a series of postcards from a Canadian called Susannah. So Kali travels, with her toddler, to find out more. But has she made a huge mistake?

2. My Salinger Year by Joanne Rakoff – As recommended by Fiona Gibson (@FionaGibson author of Take Mum Out).

Fiona says: "Really enjoying the v charming My Salinger Year by Joanne Rakoff."

This is a memoir set in the late 1990s before email and social media took off. Joanna moves to New York after graduate school to pursue her dreams of becoming a poet. She finds a job as assistant to the literary agent for J.D Salinger, where she is given the task of answering Salinger's fan mail. Instead of using the standard reply form, however, she finds herself writing back.