Awesome Romance Author Starr Gardinier
My awesome romance author this week is fellow Wild Rose author Starr Gardinier! Starr writes paranormal romance. In her interview, Starr shares some of her ghostly experiences and where she gets her ideas.
Can you start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
I grew up in New York where the winters were long and cold. It created an environment for an active imagination; something that I brought with me on my move to California. That imagination is what helped me write the Other Side series. Living in California, I find that if you look hard enough, there’s more paranormal here than New York could wish for. So, I asked myself, why not write about it, even if it is completely fictionalized?
What was the most interesting place you every visited?
I visited a place in Jerome, Arizona. It’s purported to be haunted. To show you why I found it so interesting, I’m sharing an article I wrote about it after staying there and interviewing the inn owner:
The City of Jerome , Arizona sits atop what’s called Cleopatra Hill between Flagstaff and Prescott . Born to house mining operations and their workers from the early 1800s, the city was no stranger to violence. It was dubbed the ‘Wickedest Town in the West,’ but is now home to its legendary ghosts and various artists.
Having read about the Ghost City Inn and its charming inhabitants, I booked a vacation purposely to include a several day stay. I figured the inn and the city would be fascinating and requested the Verde View Room, which is supposedly the most haunted of this bed and breakfast.
The inn has six bedrooms and is absolutely appealing with its uneven floors, secluded spots and doors with unusually low doorknobs. This latter is because Grandma Garcia was a short woman and they were adjusted for her specifications. There we met Jackie Muma, owner and hostess of the Ghost City Inn—no, she’s not a ghost. Stories abound in this quaint place and Jackie was more than happy to share them. One of the first things she told me was she didn’t realize when she purchased the building ten years ago that the bed and breakfast would have permanent guests—courtesy of the times of yore. Perhaps something happened while the Christian couple owned it because, Jackie admitted, “they were in a hurry to sell it” and Escrow closed within thirty days.
What some scoffed at as funny pranks, Jackie found no humor in. Keys would be missing, only to turn up later. Old-time music could be heard coming from the Verde View Room, even though Jackie unplugged the radio and ensured there were no backup batteries. One of the craziest things that happened to her was when during one of the many times her cell phone was not where she left it. Jackie asserted that after searching, she ultimately found it in the refrigerator, of all places. She is positive she did not place it there and no one else was in the building at the time. It became irritating to her after a while and someone suggested she ask whoever was playing these games to stop. She went room to room asking them to “please leave me alone” and even prayed. Since then, she has not been the brunt of any of the annoyances. Guests however, are a different story.
One of the repeat visitors is none other than the woman who purchased it in 1920. Simply known as Grandma Garcia, this short, hunched woman lived on the premises until her death in 1978 in what is currently the Cleopatra Hill Room. She acted as caretaker for the Garcia House—its name while under her ownership—and the miners frequenting it, cooking all the meals for them when they woke from their eight-hour shifts. At some point during these years, the Garcia House was also a bootleg liquor site; that is, until a still exploded. This incident left Grandma Garcia terrified of any open flames in the house, such as candles or lighters. The damages the blast caused to the upper floor are still apparent. According to Jackie, the eaves under the roof are still charred.
Although this story is not about me, I’m pretty sure you’re wondering about my stay. Human curiosity begs the question: did I see anything? My answer is: unfortunately not. Do I personally believe? Absolutely. I would have loved to have seen Jake or Grandma Garcia. If I had, I planned on asking them questions: what happened to them? Why are they still here? Are they perhaps stuck here waiting for something or someone? I might get another chance to question them because I do plan on going back again.
Is this really all true? Do things go bump in the night at the Ghost City Inn and in Jerome? You be the judge. Go stay there. Maybe Jake and/or Grandma Garcia will appear. If they do, you need not worry. They are harmless and more pranksters than anything. If you see them, ask them my questions, but please share the responses with me. I’m curious to know. Aren’t you?
Where do you get your ideas?
To answer this, I’d like to share an excerpt from an article I wrote titled “You are Here.”
I received a plaque from a friend that says “Home is Where Your Story Begins.” Thinking about “home,” I realize that the structure that holds your family is your “house.” Your home is what you and your family make of the inner sanctum of that structure. It can be filled with a loving family: spouses and children, and maybe even pets. Among those people and pets are unique personalities and characteristics, physically and emotionally. There’s a litany of ideas just waiting to be used. What happens within your home can elicit a story.
For example, I write paranormal books. My inspiration at times, comes from within my home. It’s a simple structure with a husband and a dog. What could be so odd about that? Everything. Danger could lurk right outside my door….inside my house. An unseen force could be woken by a simple construction job, such as getting new carpeting or changing the structure somehow. Perhaps a residual spirit doesn’t want things altered. They may have liked it the way it was and were comfortable with its surroundings.
Maybe that upset spirit takes it out on my husband in some way. Trips him when he walks down the hall or blocks him from leaving the apartment. My husband’s wallet or car keys could end up missing.
Animals sense things humans cannot. My dog may act weird or stare off into what we see as nothing. He could suddenly become aggressive and try to attack something only he can see. Maybe he barks incessantly at the front door.
After we moved in, one of the neighbors told us an older lady died in this apartment. Maybe she’s a friendly spirit who wants only to inhabit the space she’s lived in for many years. While I’m cooking, she might decide to be playful and hide my spices. Or she could be evil incarnate and, what seems like on its own accord, my hand suddenly reaches inside the hot oven, grabs the rack and I get third-degree burns.
Have any of these things actually occurred in my home? NO. But because I write paranormal, I see how the innocent structure holding myself, my husband and our dog can become an other-worldly atmosphere that inspires me to create parallel universes in which the good and evil reside, and where they cross over and fight one another out of revenge.
Try it. Walk into your house, look around and know that you are here and let your story begin. Then let it evolve with the home that you and your family have created. Whether you write romance, mystery, crime or paranormal, there are hosts of ideas that stem from your house and invade your home. And those ideas can be put onto paper to create a tale like no other.
Can you tell us about your upcoming book?
The Other Side: Ben’s Story is in the works. Without revealing too much, I can tell you that it promises to be darker and the genre of “paranormal” will be stretched to its limit. At the same time, believable: it could happen to you… The question you want to start this book asking yourself is: Will Trent and Melinda live through the devastating events that revenge flings into their already challenging romance?
Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?
Most definitely my imagination. If half of what happens in this series actually occurred to me, I’m not sure I’d be as strong as my characters in dealing with it all!
Is there anything that you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Absolutely, First and foremost – THANK YOU for supporting me. You are why I write; so that a good tale can be enjoyed by you and that you can get lost in someone else’s problems for a while. Second, you are all welcome to contact me anytime with questions and/or comments at: sgardinier@queenwriter.com.
The Other Side: Trent’s Story
Those wretched souls will seek retaliation on the murderous.
Melinda James is finally out of Skyview Haven—an asylum where she was confined for years—and is living her life, free at last. However, things are not going as planned; harassed by unexplained paranormal experiences, she doesn’t feel safe in her own home. And when she turns to her best friend Trent for help and support, she is surprised to find her feelings for him have grown far beyond a simple friendship.
Trent Miller isn’t prepared to fight evil, but he will do whatever it takes to save Melinda from an evil entity that is seeking revenge for past events. Armed with knowledge gleaned from television shows, a team of paranormal investigators, and the prayers of family and friends, he is ready to face anything.
The question is, does he tell her about his feelings for her before or after he fights a battle with evil for Melinda’s very soul?
Buy Links
Wild Rose Press | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Amazon
Learn more about Starr Gardinier here…
Website: Starr Gardinier
Blog: QueenWriter News
Starr, interesting post! I’ve been to Jerome and several other old towns out west and they do have very eerie spots. I do believe in ghosts. What they are, I can’t say, but it’s fascinating to study them.
It is very fascinating, Ilona. I loved Jerome because of its paranormal feelings and its history. Thanks for the comment!
Starr
Thank you so much for having me!