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Guest Post
America's Haunted Destinations - Chicago, IL
I’ve had the privilege of living in some of America’s most haunted cities. Yet I’ve never (yep—never) had a paranormal experience beyond simple events that can be written off as a trick of the eye or the light or just plain old imagination. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been looking for the paranormal most of my life. Ghosts have fascinated me since early childhood. So in this series of posts I’ll reveal some of the haunted destinations I’ve visited in my search for the supernatural.
I lived in a northwest suburb of Chicago until I was thirteen. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the freedom at the time to explore all of the haunted sites. My parents really weren’t into the paranormal at all. At the top of my list would be the site of the Murder Castle. Of course the original building is gone now, which is a real shame. As gruesome as the whole thing is, I’d be curious to see the actual traps and the location in general.
Don’t know the story? It’s quite fascinating, if you’re into serial killers, that is. H.H. Holmes built a large house in downtown Chicago for the sole purpose of luring victims there to murder them. He preyed on the innocent rubes (mostly young women) who came to the city for the World’s Fair. He offered inexpensive rooms for the night, but he failed to mention the “no checking out” policy. He didn’t limit himself to strangers, having also killed several employees, friends, coworkers… he was an equal opportunity killer. I believe a post office stands where the building once was (it burned to the ground). They say his ghost not only haunts the premises, but also the nearby Museum of Science & Industry.
The Museum of Science & Industry is supposedly haunted by lots of ghosts. These rumors are easy to understand once you see the sprawling structure. When I was a child, we made trips to the city about twice a year. One of my favorite destinations was this museum. If you’ve never been, I highly recommend it. I do wish it was open for guided night tours, though. That place would be downright creepy at night!
Another intriguing destination is Resurrection Cemetery where you may run across Resurrection Mary. I’m sure you’ve heard the urban legend about picking up hitchhiking girls in fancy dresses. At Graceland Cemetery, you’ll find the statue of Inez Clarke who was killed by lightning. She has been sighted roaming around the cemetery at night and is especially active during storms.
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Tortured Souls (Orion Circle #1) by Kimber Leigh Wheaton.
Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.
Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.
When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.
But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.
Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.
Release Date: June 29, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
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Thanks for participating in the tour and for sharing my guest post!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome! I found the story of the Murder Castle particularly intriguing.
DeleteNo I've never had a paranormal experience, and yeah I would like to have one. Thank you for this giveaway!
ReplyDelete