You may have noticed the question or the requested comment that I’ve asked you, dear readers, to answer for me as part of this Bizarre Giveaway. What is your favorite magical creature? Dear Varla, why-ever do you want to know? I’ve been working on a series of e-book only books for my publisher, Weiser Books, […]
Of Magical Creatures: A Pre-Preview Read More »
Well, technically a week and a day but that doesn’t make much of a header now does it? Just a little reminder for those of you who haven’t entered the contest yet! It ends the 31st of May. How to Enter*: Subscribe to THE BLOG OF THE BIZARRE {+1 point} “Like” the Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC Facebook page (they
The Bizarre Book Giveaway, One Week Left Read More »
Attention fans of the freaky and the free! My publisher, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC, and I are teaming up for a briliantly bizarre giveaway. Here are the devilish details: Opens May 2, 2012 – Closes May 31, 2012, United States only The Prize: 1 signed copy of THE BOOK OF THE BIZARRE by Varla Ventura 1
Bizarre Book Giveaway! Read More »
Happy May Day! Often associated with the distress when a vessel or vehicle is in trouble, the call “mayday! mayday! mayday!” derives from the French word m’aider which means “come help me.” Lesser known is the call “pan-pan, pan-pan, pan-pan!” which means there is an urgent situation on board. Though one may think it is
Do you watch Secret Circle? I came to it a bit late to the game, but I am officially addicted (again!). Yes, I’m a teenager deep down inside. As you may have seen in one of the most recent episodes, the always-mischievous Faye and the always-trailing-behind Melissa have started spending more and more time in
Who Do Voodoo? You Do! Or at least, Lee does. Read More »
Recent news had got me thinking about what kind of letters I’d leave behind if I were hit by a bus today, etc. My mother and I have made arrangements for some post-death messages. What would you do? Read my latest post on The Huffington Post Weird News. Click below: Varla’s Huff Po Blog
Afterdeath Communication on Huffington Post Read More »
Ah, the Vernal Equinox. A time for gathering round the fairy ring and dancing two by two, drinking the dew from the Lady’s Mantle for eternal youth and beauty, lying in wait to capture a Brownie, or a Pixie, or if you are lucky, enslave a little Gnome. The nature of the folktales of Ireland
The Goblins of Springtime Read More »
Nothing quite pleases a ghost hunter and paranormal prowler like the story of a Victorian medium who came to her powers after being diagnosed with a tumor, and who was vetted by the Society for Psychical Research as well as by Dr. Hodgson (who examined also Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophical society and called them
Eat Your Heart Out, Blavatsky Read More »
A Kiss in the Dreamhouse One of my favorite bands as a young, surly teen was Siouxsie and the Banshees, whose front-woman Siouxsie Sioux was a gothic chantress who howled like a mythological siren—luring you with her tales of travel and woe. So when I came upon Elliot O’Donnell’s book about banshees I simply had
I was five years old the first time I saw an apparition. I was half-asleep, the pre-dawn crickets had gone silent, and I was stirred into waking by a gentle pulling on my toe. When I opened my eyes I saw my paternal grandfather standing at the foot of my bed. He smiled. I slid
A Ghostly Visit Sparks a Lifetime of Hauntings Read More »
