Happy one month anniversary to The Secrets of Chateau Swansea! I'll leave you all with this final fun fact about the Victorian era.
Fun Fact #4 – Ghost hunting became highly popular in the Victorian era
Ghost hunting was huge in the Victorian era and one could regularly find reports of ghost sightings in newspapers across the country. This is no wonder considering that spiritualism exploded during this time period.
The term ‘ghost-hunter’ can be traced back to at least 1833 when Michael Banim published his fictional novel titled, The Ghost-Hunter and His Family. But they didn’t have all the fancy tools back then that we do today. They relied on mediums, cold spots, eerie sounds and strange movements.
These days you can buy a ghost hunting kit for upwards of $800! ... See MoreSee Less
This is creepy cool.275 year-old door flanked by Yew trees, Cotswolds, England t Edwards church, Stow on the Wold. About 20 odd miles from Stratford-Upon-Avon.
don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @misfithistory ... See MoreSee Less
My research for books always turns up interesting facts. In The Secrets of Chateau Swansea, there is a photograph hanging in the chateau that features a ghost. Or maybe, as my astute heroine surmises, it was just someone who couldn't stand still enough while the photograph was being taken. Or perhaps the photographer was paid a few extra guineas to doctor the photo. This brings us to...
Fun Fact #3 – Death Photography was a ‘thing’
Morbid, but true. Taking pictures of the dead was quite common in the 19th and early 20th century when people died at home so death was a normal part of everyday life. People wanted to preserve their loved ones through a picture which would be taken shortly after death. With this such a common practice, it led the way to ‘spirit photography’. William H. Mumler is one of the 19th-century photographers credited with starting the trend of spirit photography. His double exposure of a photo looked like a ghost lurking behind his subjects. He started doctoring his photos for grief-stricken families during the U.S. Civil War. ... See MoreSee Less
We're in week two of the release of The Secrets of Chateau Swansea, my latest #GothicRomance so I want to share #FunFact 2 about my story. But first some background. My story features a chateau that is haunted by a former renowned clairvoyant Arabella Brown. Madame Brown often held séances in a special chamber and after her death, people flocked to the chateau for a tour of the eerie room. The Victorian era was a time of exploration for the supernatural.
Fun Fact #2 – Séances were held at the White House
The Victorian era was the height of spiritualism and séances in both the United Kingdom and the United States. There were many famous mediums from the Victorian era.
According to the article “Odd Details About Victorian Era Spiritualism” written by Amanda Sedlak-Hevener, two séances were held at the White House in order to contact the dead.
One was arranged by Abraham Lincoln's wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, after the death of her son Willie. Mary was well-known for her spiritualist beliefs. The President himself was reputedly present during at least one of the many séances that Mary arranged for, which were conducted by famous mediums like Cranston Laurie.
The second was arranged by Jane Pierce, wife of President Franklin Pierce. She invited the Fox sisters, Margaret and Kate, to come to the White House to hold a séance to communicate with their son died who in a train accident shortly before President Pierce took office in 1853. ... See MoreSee Less
Holy moly! I signed a contract with Findaway Voices for Ticket to Love for an audio book. Stay tuned. I love the woman’s voice and the best part is she lives in Michigan. My story takes place in a fictional small town in Michigan. Fingers crossed 🤞. ... See MoreSee Less
