Hag’s Breath Giveaway! Work Your Magic!
Hag’s Breath: A Collection of Witchcraft and Wickedness
If anyone feels like sending some magic my way and sending the number of reviews upwards (honest reviews of course) that would be great! Regardless, it's Halloween and I am feeling generous. Below is the link to claim a download of 'Hag's Breath: A Collection of Witchcraft and Wickedness.' Very few codes left so get it while you can and please, consider reviewing. Thank you and enjoy!
Llancaiach Fawr
This past Thursday evening I went on a Ghost Tour of the beautiful sixteenth century Llancaiach Fawr Manor with my mother -in-law and daughter-in-law.
Llancaiach Fawr has been featured on television many times. It was used as a location for filming (I believe) ‘Dr. Who’ amongst other things and is well known for its beauty and intriguing history. Above all, it is famed for being ‘one of the most haunted houses in Wales.’ Taking the guided tour by torchlight, it is easy to believe that might be true.
Even the grounds leading up to the house are thought to be haunted, many people reporting seeing figures there. Various parts of the house are believed to be haunted, some areas more so than others. I am being deliberately vague just in case anyone plans to go there. I don’t want to give anything away.
Anyway, on the tour a few people reported being poked in the back, having their hair pulled and other similar things. Now, it might be that some of us are highly suggestible, especially in such an atmosphere of expectation. It might also be that these people were genuinely touched by spirits. Who am I to say one way or the other? However, there was one thing that gave us all pause, as a group. Only a very small thing, but it was odd.
We had all gathered in the final room of the tour. One of the guides was telling us about the ghosts that are said to haunt that particular area. We were having a moment of silence, listening for anything out of the ordinary, when a tiny stone rolled across the floor.
Big deal, you might think. Except I was sitting opposite the direction it came from. There was some muted torchlight on, allowing me to see the feet of the people opposite. They were leaning against a table, nothing behind it but a bare, whitewashed wall. I was looking at the ground, concentrating. I did not see the stone, but we all heard it rolling across the stone floor.
A few of us said, at the same time, “What was that?” One of the tour guides (there were two) switched on the big torch and began to search the ground. She found the tiny stone in the middle of the room. To demonstrate the noise, she threw it so that it rolled across the floor and sure enough, it was the same sound.
Nothing big. No apparitions or strange vapours. No moaning or rattling of chains. But something caused that stone to be thrown between the legs of those people standing opposite, to come to rest in the centre of the room. Strange.
I should also add that two of our group were given EMF metres to carry round. I am on the fence about whether these things work. I suspect that there might be natural electricity, so to speak, in certain areas, or electrical cables or whatever that we don’t know about that set the devices off. Regardless, one of the EMF metres flickered quite vigorously at certain points during the tour, mostly when the names of individuals who existed were spoken. Like I say, I am not entirely convinced, but it was interesting.
There were definitely parts of the house that made me uncomfortable to stand in, especially in the dark. Suggestibility, or genuine haunting? Who knows.
The house is most definitely creepy at night, as beautiful as it is. A family lived in it until fairly recently. They have reported all kinds of weird, unsettling events happening there.
All I know is, I would not sleep in it and I certainly wouldn’t stay there alone! Don’t listen to me though, go see for yourself.
They are about to run mock Witch Trials there, based on real-life trials that were held there. If I get a chance to visit when they are on, I will share the experience here.
Happy Halloween!
Put you in the mood to visit? Find out more here: Llancaiach Fawr -What's On
Have you been there? Experience anything? Feel free to share in the comments!
Witch’s Fingers…
Perfect for the time of year, for those of you who can bake! I am hopeless at baking generally speaking, will do you a good cooked dinner though. Anyway, if you have a go at this recipe, it would be fun to see the outcome (photos) in the thread below, with a word or two on how they tasted.
Credit: The Alamanac, A Seasonal Guide to 2022 by Lia Leendertz
Halloween 2022 Free Read is up!
Halloween 2022 Free Read - The Convict - by S P Oldham
Find my latest offering, a short story based on prison hulks, here:Halloween 2022 Free Read - The Convict
If you enjoy it please let me know. Feel free to share! Happy Halloween!
Halloween Giveaway Event
Only ten 'Mystery Bags' available! Also down to the last few copies of Wakeful Children. If you want one for Halloween or Christmas then get it while you can! Comment below if you are interested and I will pm you. Thank you. UK ONLY.
The Penniless Porch
I found this intriguing. The Penniless Porch, in Wells. As the plaque tells us, it was built to shelter the poor as they begged for alms, presumably from the Cathedral and perhaps from the Bishop himself. While we know that social welfare, for want of a better phrase, was not the best back in the day, isn't it interesting that in circa 1450 a place was built specifically to allow the neediest in society to plea for help?
Meanwhile, in modern Britain, some benches are made deliberately 'anti-homeless' so the poor souls in those areas don't even have a place to rest. In researching this little post I discovered that 'anti-homeless architecture' is a thing. Wow.
Just goes to prove that there is potential to learn from the past, in my view. I know modern problems are bigger, wider and perhaps more difficult to address, but when did society lose its compassion? Makes me sad.
Anyway, on an entirely different note, this is making me think that there might be a story here, somewhere...
Penniless Porch photos are mine (I know they are not very good!)
Spiked bench image: Image: Kent Williams / Flickr
Want to know more about anti-homeless architecture? Anti-Homeless Architecture
The Penniless Porch, Wells Cathedral
Built by Bishop Bekynton circa 1450
The modern way of helping the most vulnerable and needy in our society
Wickedly Witchy Wookey Hole Weekend…
The Witch of Wookey Hole
Just had a lovely weekend away with Adam and mum, staying in Wookey and visiting Wells. We stayed opposite Wookey Hole, where the legend of the Witch of Wookey Hole not only persists today, but is a huge tourist attraction. The story began roughly one thousand years ago, when a woman living in the caves was blamed for everything that went wrong with the village. Long story short, she was turned to stone by a holy man. She can still be seen in the caves to this very day. More information here: https://www.wookey.co.uk/wookey-witch/ Even more interesting, the bones of a woman were found in a shallow grave by Herbert Balch. As I understand it, the bones are very old. Makes you wonder, doesn't it?...
FRIDAY OFFER! TODAY ONLY!
FRIDAY SPECIAL OFFER!
Buy a paperback edition of 'Wakeful Children: A Collection of Horror and Supernatural Tales' and get a free download of any of my other books! You must provide proof of purchase. Today only. (Friday 23rd September 2022) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01C04VGUG
A rare author selfie
Beanies, gilets and more! Rare author selfie!
Beanie selfie! Hate pictures of myself. Had to be done to show off the new merch. Also some very smart navy gilets, nice and warm for winter. I have some competitions coming up so be sure to drop in now and then, to be in with a chance of winning.
Navy Gilet - logo spoldhamauthor.com
Check out the new logo!
New Merchandise - Quality Control Officer…
New Merchandise - Quality Control Officer
Ooh! New merch! Milo has appointed himself Quality Control Officer. He does like to give the boxes a good sniff! Might just be some competitions coming up then... Thank you Adam Oldham
My Limericks and Where to Find Them.
I have had a couple of comments from people enjoying my limericks. If you want to see some more just clink the link. I also post a limerick most Sundays on Written Undead. Hope you have some fun reading them. If you do, please let me know, either here or on my blog. Silly Sunday Zombie Limericks
Urban Explorers - Abandoned Properties
Urban Explorers, Urbexers, Abandoned Properties, Murder Sites, Lonely Deaths, Long-Forgotten Places
Been watching some good Urbexers (that's Urban Explorers for those of you who are not young and hip like what I am) on YouTube lately. I watch for the intriguing back stories, the history, the beautiful houses, to see the material remnants of what were once vibrant, active lives of people long gone. Some of the homes were once murder scenes. Others bear evidence, even now, of the poor souls who died in them, alone, only to be found much, much later. So sad.
It always makes me wonder why family don't come forward to claim property, documents, photos, mementos and so on. Breaks my heart to see these things left to rot and fall apart. Some of the buildings are furnished with such great quality, expensive, truly beautiful items of heavy furniture I can't help thinking it would be better to let people just take it, rather than leave it to go moudly and eventually to collapse. Such a waste. Though I also understand the need for respect. The idiots who go in just to trash the place and break things, spray painting walls and smashing windows, are no better than the four-legged vermin who live there now, in my view.
Of course, there are a whole host of reasons why family might not want anything to do with the deceased's former home. Some interesting stories right there, I bet. My daughter in law Rebecca Oldham just happens to watch the same Urbexer as me. She was telling me of a local property which is often explored by people. I did not even know it existed! Only down the road from me. It was once a mental asylum. Such sad places, as I have said here before.
If I was in better shape, to climb over things, up dodgy stairs and so on, and if I could still run away from the angry individual who seems to be a self-appointed guardian of the place and regularly chases people away (with a gun once, allegedly,) I would go for a look myself! Have any of you ever done anything like this? Investigated abandoned mansions, hospitals, schools? Anyone want to do it but haven't taken the plunge yet? I would love to know!
Image credit: Jamison Riley for Squarespace.
Post Mortem - Available Now!
Post Mortem, now on Amazon
NEWLY PUBLISHED!
September 2022
Post Mortem - by S P Oldham
I am excited to finally say that my new book, ‘Post Mortem’ is up and running on Amazon! I hope you enjoy it. Let me know your thoughts!
Danny Davies is proud to work at ‘Winscombe Funeral Home, Crematorium and Cemetery.’ His job is not exactly run-of-the-mill yet in a curious way, Danny enjoys treating the dead with care and respect. Mr Winscombe, his employer, is meticulous in his work; a very private, much esteemed member of the community of Lychgate and somebody Danny looks up to.
When Mr Winscombe mysteriously disappears one afternoon, Danny is naturally concerned. After all, the man is usually such a stickler for routine. He goes to the police later that evening when there is still neither sight nor sound of his boss.
As a courtesy, the police despatch two officers to Mr Winscombe’s home. Little does Danny know that the town of Lychgate will be forever changed afterwards. As will his opinion of his boss.
Some things are meant to be buried.
It’s Been a Funny Old Day, So Far…
To coin a phrase, WTF?
Been a funny old day so far. Milo went to the groomers, but he has to have the cut completed on Thursday as his tired old legs started giving way on the table after such a long time, bless him. I am glad the groomer puts his well being above all else. Makes me think she is the right choice for us. She found a grass seed embedded in his leg and had to remove it. Damn grass seeds! I always try so hard to make sure he is clear of them when we come back from a walk. Then, when she asked me to write my contact details, I wrote my current house number followed by the street address of where I lived as a child! To coin a phrase, WTF?
Got caught in a monster downpour on the way to pick him up (yes, my roof is still leaking) when suddenly my right boot went all weird and floppy. Checked it to find a hole and a split right across the sole that wasn't there when I left the house. Ducked into the local charity shop, where a pair of black ankle boots in just the right size were sitting, waiting for me. Well worth the £2!
To top it off, I just bit into a snack bar that contains honey! Thankfully, I am okay. I am always vigilant about that stuff too, but the print is so small! There are so many varieties of honey that the chances are I would be okay with some kinds, but that is a risk I try hard not to take!
All in all, I have experienced flip sides of coins today, so to speak - the good and the bad of odd little situations. Like I said, it's been a funny old day, so far.
A Mystery Death at Montgomery Castle…
Montgomery Castle - A Mystery Historical Death
The curious death of Maud Vras, as told by Cadw. You may know by now that I love history as much as I love writing, and where possible I try to include or allude to historical periods, events, folklore and mythology in my work, when I can. As a side note, Montgomery in Wales is an incredibly pretty part of the world, crammed full of history. I should also add that I am not entirely sure that the photo above (I took it) is the precise spot of the incident.
Post Mortem - New Release ARC readers wanted
Okay, it's time to give out 'copies' of my new book, 'Post Mortem.' I have a few readers already lined up. If you are interested, let me know below and I will message you with the details. For transparency, I will be asking for timely and honest reviews when the book is finally published, but I offer no renumeration or payment of any kind in return.
The Blurb: Danny Davies is proud to work at ‘Winscombe Funeral Home, Crematorium and Cemetery.’ His job is not exactly run-of-the-mill yet in a curious way, Danny enjoys treating the dead with care and respect. Mr Winscombe, his employer, is meticulous in his work; a very private, much esteemed member of the community of Lychgate and somebody Danny looks up to.
When Mr Winscombe mysteriously disappears one afternoon, Danny is naturally concerned. After all, the man is usually such a stickler for routine. He goes to the police later that evening when there is still neither sight nor sound of his boss.
As a courtesy, the police despatch two officers to Mr Winscombe’s home. Little does Danny know that the town of Lychgate will be forever changed afterwards. As will his opinion of his boss.
Some things are meant to be buried.
Book Cover Credit: SelfPubBookCovers.com/ DesignzbyDanielle
The Mindless Trilogy - All in One Volume!
From S P Oldham.
Finally, all three books in one volume! Get The Mindless Trilogy for only £4.99/$6.06 on Kindle now!
An unlikely group of fellow survivors venture out into a changed world, the new reality one of horror and brutality. Lavender Gin, Bumper Scuffs, Rumble Strips and Mad Gasher make up a motley crew, with their strengths, weaknesses and weird monikers. But what better way to start a new life, than to leave old names behind?
The group come to the aid of Carson, a lone survivor in a very sticky situation. In return, he gives them shelter. Nothing can be taken for granted in this new world though. Pretty soon the group is faced with a shared danger; one they must overcome together.
Or die trying.
Been away, going away…
I have just spent a lovely five days with my sister, helping to look after my nephew’s house, cats, dog and chickens in West Wales. A beautiful part of the world. Now I am home for ten days, before going away again, this time to Llanberis, with my oldest son, my youngest son and his wife, and our gorgeous little granddaughter! Lucky me!
I am editing at the moment, my new book due to be released around the end of September, with luck and a fair wind!
If you would like an ARC copy (download) in exchange for a timely, fair and honest review, just let me know below, or message me, whichever you prefer. It is another zompoc novel, my last for a while as I intend to move on to other things.
In the meantime, here is me on the beach at the stunning Pembrey Sands, because if there is not a photo, then we all know it didn’t happen!
The Colour of Magic on Audible - Sir Terry Pratchett
An early birthday present. Thank you Adam Oldham - this should be fun! Can't wait to hear Peter Serafinowicz as Death! (Oh and by the way, the A - Z of Horror featured in this screenshot is Volume E is for Exorcism, published by Red Cape Publishing House and featuring my story 'A Gave Mistake' in case you're wondering...) #discworld #terrypratchett #fantasy #fantasyfiction #birthday #audible #thankyou
36 copies left - get them while you can! Wakeful Children.
Get a paperback copy of ‘Wakeful Children’ for half price when you enter the code ‘Wakeful.’
Only 36 copies remaining! Half price (£5) if you enter the code 'Wakeful' at checkout. Get them while you can, because once they're gone, they're gone! UK only.
If you would prefer a signed copy ordered direct from the author there will be an additional small charge to cover p&p.
'Wakeful Children is a collection of highly imaginative and inventive short stories.
The oak sways gently, a shiver shimmers its way from roots to tip. A branch creaks as if in resistance. A small, fresh leaf strains to curl into life, shows promise for an instant, then withers and dies. A sigh, just beyond human hearing, vibrates the night. All else is still.
You will be unwittingly taken on a journey to witness the twisted brutality of Joe Gallows, the weird dream-scape of The Sandman, the ice-cold grasp of The Face of the Gale, the elemental horror of an ancient, evil entity in Devil’s Drop. You will visit some of the residents down a darkly troubled street in Absorption; watched over by a beautiful, malignant presence all the while.
These and other tales make Wakeful Children an extremely unusual, compelling and refreshingly different read in this genre. One that will leave you thinking of it long after you have turned the last page...'
https://www.troubador.co.uk/.../fantasy.../wakeful-children/