Part X of Amulets & Talismans Crossing your fingers for luck, or to prevent “evil luck” has been a common thing in English-speaking regions for centuries — mostly in the UK, the US, and some parts of Scandinavia. Not only that, but it is used discreetly whilst someone is telling a lie or making aContinue reading “Fingers Crossed & Other Handy Things”
Author Archives: Han Adcock (author)
Review: The Inhabitant of the Lake & Other Unwelcome Tenants by Ramsey Campbell
4 out of 5 stars One of my first thoughts, on reading “The Horror From the Bridge” (the second tale in this collection) was: who is Peabody and why is their voice drifting out of the window (on page 28)? The second story, “The Insects from Shaggai” was one of my favourites. The description ofContinue reading “Review: The Inhabitant of the Lake & Other Unwelcome Tenants by Ramsey Campbell”
All About Hagstones
Part IX in Amulets & Talismans Also known as adder stones or dobby stones, are stones or pebbles that have holes naturally going right through them. These stones were — and sometimes still are — thought to possess magical qualities. These include the ability to heal snake bites, or to see through the disguise orContinue reading “All About Hagstones”
Review: Welcome to Meadowbrook by Cassandra L. Thompson
4 out of 5 stars Trigger Warning: This novel contains themes of death, violence, and abuse. There is a trigger index at the back of the book. Welcome to Meadowbrook is a story of stories, beginning with a short poem by the author on how hotels are liminal spaces, which turns out to be importantContinue reading “Review: Welcome to Meadowbrook by Cassandra L. Thompson”
Dead Cats and Lucky Cats
Part VIII of Amulets & Talismans Since at least the 16th-century in England, Scotland, North Europe, and North America, people erecting houses would hide the corpse of a cat (and sometimes other objects such as old shoes, dried dead rats, and witch bottles) in the walls of the building to repel evil spirits and protectContinue reading “Dead Cats and Lucky Cats”
Witch Dolls & Rowans
Part VII of Amulets & Talismans Witch dolls — otherwise known as poppets, poppits, moppets, mommets, pippies, or kitchen witch figures — are small dolls or figures made to represent someone in order to either help that someone or cast a spell on them. They are sometimes discovered hidden in chimneys. Witch dolls have beenContinue reading “Witch Dolls & Rowans”
Rabbit’s Feet & Frog Coffins
Part VI of Amulets & Talismans The belief in carrying a rabbit’s foot amulet for good luck is held in a lot of places including Europe, Africa, Australia, North America, and South America. In some cases, the rabbit from which the foot came must have certain attributes, for example meeting its demise in a particularContinue reading “Rabbit’s Feet & Frog Coffins”
The power of horseshoes and elf arrows
Part V of Amulets & Talismans Most people are aware that the horseshoe is a talisman that brings good luck. However, not a lot of folks know why or how they are supposed to work these days. Because iron was a valuable metal, so that horseshoes were usually reforged and reused, archaeologists cannot know forContinue reading “The power of horseshoes and elf arrows”
Cambions, Witch Prickers, and what in the nine Hells is a ghostmerchant?
Part IV of Amulets & Talismans In last week’s article on witch marks (and witch’s marks…) I touched on the “witch’s teat” and mentioned about cambions. Here is the lowdown on these entities. The witch’s teat — either some kind of skin tag or a supernumerary nipple — was a perversion of the maternal, andContinue reading “Cambions, Witch Prickers, and what in the nine Hells is a ghostmerchant?”
Witch Marks & Curse Tablets
Amulets & Talismans Part III Between the 16th and 19th centuries, strange marks were inscribed near the doorways, windows, and hearths of medieval churches, houses, and barns, and even in caves. Carved into stone or woodwork, these marks were for the protection of inhabitants and their visitors. Protection from evil spirits and witches, hence theContinue reading “Witch Marks & Curse Tablets”
Witch Balls and Witch Seats (Amulets & Talismans Part II)
Similar to witch bottles, witch balls were hollow vessels, usually fashioned out of glass, that were filled with things to ward off evil spirits, evil spells, bad luck, and of course witches. They were hung in cottage windows in the 1600s and 1700s, especially in East and South Sussex in England, though the custom ofContinue reading “Witch Balls and Witch Seats (Amulets & Talismans Part II)”
Amulets & Talismans: Witch Bottles
Amulets & Talismans Part I Witch bottles were a type of apotropaic magic (apotropaic = from the Greek apotrepo, which means to ward off). These strange bottles are mentioned in historical sources from both England and America, the earliest mention being from 17th-century England. However, the term “witch-bottle” was not used for them until the 19th century,Continue reading “Amulets & Talismans: Witch Bottles”
Who and What is Elka Wyverg?
Elka is an eleven-year-old ghostbait child living in Corvin, a village or small town in Dal-Riatah, with her younger brother (Toby) and her parents. Dal-Riatah is a continent in the North-West of the Dal-Riatan Empire and its environs, and this country has a curse on it: every child is born either ghostbait (they “Bring” GhostsContinue reading “Who and What is Elka Wyverg?”
A Demonic Possession in the 1980s
Part XIII of The Possession Diaries “The Devil Made Me Do It” court case was the first court case in American history where the defendant tried to claim innocence by saying he was demonically possessed. Arne Cheyenne Johnson somehow managed to make himself the host to a demon that “escaped” during the exorcism of aContinue reading “A Demonic Possession in the 1980s”
The Butcher Murderer of Ossett
Part XII of The Possession Diaries TRIGGER WARNING: Contains graphic descriptions of violence, murder, insanity. Michael Taylor was born on September the 21st, 1944, in Ossett, West Yorkshire, England. He worked as a butcher and was a member of a Christian Fellowship Group along with his wife, Christine. According to Christine, Michael was having aContinue reading “The Butcher Murderer of Ossett”
The lady behind “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”: Anneliese Michel
The Possession Diaries Part XI In 1976, a German Catholic woman died of malnutrition and dehydration after a series of sixty-seven exorcism rites. Her name was Anna Elisabeth “Anneliese” Michel, born in September 1952. Anneliese and her three sisters were raised by their strictly religious parents, Joseph and Anna. Anneliese went to Mass twice aContinue reading “The lady behind “The Exorcism of Emily Rose”: Anneliese Michel”
The Boy Behind William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist”
The Possession Diaries Part X In mid-1949, newspaper articles ran anonymous stories about the alleged possession and exorcism of “Roland Doe” or “Robbie Mannheim,” a 14 year old boy born to a German family living in Cottage City, Maryland, in the US. Their source was perhaps the former pastor of the child’s family, Luther MilesContinue reading “The Boy Behind William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist””
Clara Germana Cele, the girl who hurled nuns
The Possession Diaries Part IX One day in 1906, at Marianhill mission school in Umzinto, South Africa, a man named Father Erasmus Horner received a confession from one of the young Catholic girls in the school. Her name was Clara Germana Cele and she claimed to have entered into a deal with the Devil. SheContinue reading “Clara Germana Cele, the girl who hurled nuns”
The Case of Gottliebin Dittus & the demon Isacaron
Part VIII of the Possession Diaries In 1842, a girl in Mottlingen, Gottliebin Dittus, was possessed by a few different demons along with the ghost of a widow who had murdered two children and buried them in a field. Johann Christoph Blumhardt, a German theologian, penned a book concerning her two-years-long possession, in which he onlyContinue reading “The Case of Gottliebin Dittus & the demon Isacaron”
The Not-So Secret Possession of George Lukins
The Possession Diaries Part VII The year was 1788, the place was Yatton village, in Mendip, county Somerset, England. Sarah Barber was travelling through the village and discovered George Lukins, a tailor and courier who was afflicted by a strange illness. On the 31st of May she sent word to Reverend Joseph Easterbrook, asking himContinue reading “The Not-So Secret Possession of George Lukins”
Whatever Happened To Elizabeth Knapp?
The Possession Diaries Part VI The case of Elizabeth Knapp’s possession was unusual in the sense that it was recorded and analysed from a more scientific point of view. Elizabeth was a servant in Reverend Samuel Willard’s household and the daughter of a farmer. Reverend Willard was a well-known preacher in the church of Groton, a PuritanContinue reading “Whatever Happened To Elizabeth Knapp?”
The Signs of Being Possessed, Magdelaine Bavent, and the Louviers Convent (The Possession Diaries Part V)
Magdelaine (or Madeleine) Bavent, born in 1607 in Rouen, was an orphan. Aged 12, she became apprenticed to a linenworker, who depended on the custom of the Church. According to a historian (Jules Michelet), the confessor of the establishment likely drugged his apprentices with a herb akin to atropa belladonna and made them believe he had taken themContinue reading “The Signs of Being Possessed, Magdelaine Bavent, and the Louviers Convent (The Possession Diaries Part V)”
Vampires According to Calmet
In 1751, an Abbot wrote a treatise on ghosts, vampires, and revenants. Dom Calmet, or the Abbot Antoine Augustin Calmet, wrote the book in two volumes. It was called “Treatise on the Apparitions of Spirits and on Vampires or Revenants of Hungary, Moravia, et al” In it, Calmet described a vampire as a “revenant corpse”Continue reading “Vampires According to Calmet”
The Book of Dom Calmet
The Abbot Antoine Augustin Calmet, a Benedictine monk and Lorraine scholar in the 18th century, published two volumes of a book, “Treatise on the Apparitions of Spirits, and on Vampires or Revenants of Hungary, Moravia, et al.” The book was about extensive investigations into the occult, angels, demons, and other types of spiritual entities. OriginallyContinue reading “The Book of Dom Calmet”
The Possession of Lady Elisabeth de Ranfaing – The Possession Diaries part IV
Mademoiselle de Ranfaing was perhaps the first person to be considered “truly” possessed by something, and her predicament was all seemingly caused by love potions. Her story was investigated and included in the book “Treatise on the Apparitions of Spirits and on Vampires or Revenants of Hungary, Moravia, et al” by an Abbot named AntoineContinue reading “The Possession of Lady Elisabeth de Ranfaing – The Possession Diaries part IV”
The Possession Diaries III: The Loudun Possessions
In 1634, a convent of Ursuline nuns in the French kingdom of Loudun claimed they had been visited and possessed by demons. After an investigation by the Catholic church, a priest named Father Urbain Grandier was accused of summoning the demons and sentenced to be burned to death at the stake. This case “rhymes” withContinue reading “The Possession Diaries III: The Loudun Possessions”
The Possession Diaries Part II: The Aix-en-Provence possessions
Welcome to part two of The Possession Diaries. You can find part one here The Aix-en-Provence possessions were a series of alleged demonic possessions amongst the Ursuline (the Order or Company of Saint Ursula) nuns of Aix-en-Provence, in South France in the year 1611. Father Louis Gaufridi was blamed and accused of causing the possessionsContinue reading “The Possession Diaries Part II: The Aix-en-Provence possessions”
Possession Diaries part I: Martha Brossier
In the Middle Ages, “demonic” possession was often used in society to explain strange or erratic behavior. Exorcism was the usual treatment for “demoniacs” and seemed to provide a bit of alleviation for the suffering of those distressed people. Diabolical, or demonic, possession is the term for when a person’s corporeal form has fallen underContinue reading “Possession Diaries part I: Martha Brossier”
The First Bit of Writing Advice I Ever Received
Far back in the mists of time (2007, when I was fifteen) I was absolutely convinced that I was a creative genius and the most naturally gifted writer that didn’t need to do redrafts. (Here I am now, chuckling wryly in the background). Though I should have been concentrating on doing coursework and revising forContinue reading “The First Bit of Writing Advice I Ever Received”
Review: Crevasse by Clay Vermulm (a novella)
5 out of 5 stars Available from Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com Greg and Quinn decide to tackle a challenging climb up Mount Terror, a place where many strange disappearances have taken place. Later, Ellie the ranger is asked to carry out a search and rescue for Greg, but there is something more terrifying than the powers of nature lurkingContinue reading “Review: Crevasse by Clay Vermulm (a novella)”
Review: Fright House by Fred Wiehe
Available from Amazon.com,Amazon.co.uk, and Black Bed Sheet Books 4 out of 5 stars 17-year-old Penny is on the run from something — herself. Suffering from ghoulish nightmares (and perhaps waking nightmares / hallucinations), she agrees to a temporary job managing a Fright House in California during the Halloween season. Tory Jackson is the director of Paranormal SceneContinue reading “Review: Fright House by Fred Wiehe”
Another Review: Les Femmes Grotesques by Victoria Dalpe
3.5 stars out of 5 Available from CLASH books, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.com This modern, feminist, short Gothic horror fiction collection will bring you out in goose-bumps. A CREAK IN THE FLOOR, A SLANT OF LIGHT – There were some quirky details that put me in mind of Holly Black’s work. The tale had a delightfully gory legend about three girlsContinue reading “Another Review: Les Femmes Grotesques by Victoria Dalpe”
Dracula’s Guests (curated by Dr. Chris McAuley)
Available from HellBound Books, Amazon.co.uk, and Amazon.com 4 out of 5 stars This collection of vampire horror tales in celebration of Dracula’s 125th birthday will sate your bloodthirst. These are the stories that stood out for me: Dracula in Recovery – Michael Zemecki: I loved this darkly humorous story featuring all the characters from the original Dracula inContinue reading “Dracula’s Guests (curated by Dr. Chris McAuley)”
Review: Bleak Midwinter: The Darkest Night
Edited by Damon Barrett Roe and Cassandra L. Thompson Available from Quill & Crow Publishing, Amazon.co.uk and Amazon.com 4 out of 5 stars This collection of dark Gothic horror tales will make your skin creep off your flesh and slither under the door to hide somewhere – in a GOOD way. The Utburd, Robyn Dabney – A disgraced nature photographerContinue reading “Review: Bleak Midwinter: The Darkest Night”
Review: Blood Coven (Blood Bound series Book One) by Sabrina Voerman
Available from Quill & Crow Publishing & Barnes & Noble Sabrina Voerman’s stunning novel “Blood Coven” is set in a believable world where we see the story of Red Riding Hood stretched and distorted and grown into something other, both the main characters – Red, an abused child and descendant of a witch, and Matthias, also the son ofContinue reading “Review: Blood Coven (Blood Bound series Book One) by Sabrina Voerman”
How To Know If You Are A Writer
Like practically every creative person under the sun, writers are visited by Imposter Syndrome every now and then. They stare at a blank page (or a page with a few words on it) and wonder how they ever got themselves into this situation where everyone thinks they can — and expects them to — churnContinue reading “How To Know If You Are A Writer”
Once Upon A Crocodile and ruminations on birthdays
Issue 15 of Once Upon A Crocodile (a free humour e-zine which I run, edit, and do illustrations / photography for) has been out since mid-March. We’ve got funny stories and flash fiction from: Carl Papa Palmer (Poached Egg) Michael Fowler (Slithy Toves) Bill Kitcher (The Night of the Pickles) Douglas Young (The Elevator Ride)Continue reading “Once Upon A Crocodile and ruminations on birthdays”
Final Part of The Dark Rider and Who Was Morgan Le Fey?
“The summer evening passed in a slow, bad dream for Warren. He suspected it was like pushing through the heavy sludge of a nightmare for all of them. Gran had been the one to help Iain into a standing position and support him into the kitchen, where she let him collapse into a chair. WarrenContinue reading “Final Part of The Dark Rider and Who Was Morgan Le Fey?”
The Dark Rider part 22 and Who is Gwyn ap Nudd?
“Iain Dyfed’s bent back came into view on the other side of the hedgerow, yellow polo shirt covered in mud-stains from his fingers. He whistled an old hymn through his teeth that Warren had forgotten the name of. “Dad!” he yelped. “Hi!” Iain straightened and glanced over his shoulder. “Afternoon. Hello, who’s this?” Mr. Rye’sContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 22 and Who is Gwyn ap Nudd?”
The Dark Rider part 21 and the Horn of Plenty
“Two years ago, when Warren started at the grammar school, two friends from his old Year Six class came with him – Robbie and Sam. Rob was a boy a head shorter than Warren with wild, sandy hair and a penchant for fixing badges on his long, beige coat and school-bag, mostly band logos andContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 21 and the Horn of Plenty”
The Dark Rider part 20 and a cupfull about cauldrons
“‘Dad, um, this is, er, Billy. You know… the one I lent Carlton to,” Warren lied. He glared at Kay meaningfully. Kay stood and scratched his head, his eyebrows furrowing together. He was clearly at a loss for what to say or do next but was present-minded enough not to contradict Warren or to askContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 20 and a cupfull about cauldrons”
The Dark Rider part 19 & one or two things about swords
“I don’t understand,” Warren said. His skin was slick and his upper lip tasted of salt. He swiped his forearm across his stinging eyes and stuck the spade upright in the soil. “Don’t the nymphs – or whatever they are – mind us digging around like this?” “Yes,” Merlyn said. He looked a little lessContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 19 & one or two things about swords”
The Dark Rider part 18 and a note about disrespectful writers
“Warren leaned against the wall and scowled. It wasn’t fair. It was as if there was some hidden conspiracy to keep him from meeting Arthur, as if he wasn’t good enough, or as if the King was too dangerous. It rankled. Lyons showed no signs of coming back. Nobody had come to relieve the guard.Continue reading “The Dark Rider part 18 and a note about disrespectful writers”
The Dark Rider part 17 & Susan Cooper
“A man was struggling with a horse near a stone monument – an old, Gothic-style cross carved out of thick, white stone but too large for a grave-marker. The horse – a big, black stallion with a white star in the centre of its forehead – refused to stay still while the man tried andContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 17 & Susan Cooper”
The Dark Rider part 16, Arthurian myth, and Thomas Malory
“George strode behind Mr. Peterson’s desk and broke open the drawers, riffling through them and pocketing a couple of items. He moved around the benches, calm and methodical, turning on the gas taps one by one. “Ready?” he said. “But… what…?” “Office now, yes? Let’s take a peek at those filing cabinets.” He shut theContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 16, Arthurian myth, and Thomas Malory”
The Dark Rider part 15 (excerpt) & shout-outs
“One warrior halted them. He stood the same height as Merlyn, which wasn’t tall, with a wild red beard and a helmet that looked like it had been beaten out of scrap iron. There was a round bundle slung over his shoulder, and as he saw Merlyn, his beard broke into a mischievous grin. “Merly,”Continue reading “The Dark Rider part 15 (excerpt) & shout-outs”
The Dark Rider part 14 (excerpt)
They paused on a landing with three doors leading from it. Merlyn smiled. “Victory is almost here.” “Who are the people besieging Arthur?” Warren asked. “There were loads of people out there, all putting up tents. Some of them sounded Scottish.” “Many. King Lot of Orkney, Arthur’s half-brother Carados of Cornwall, Clarion from Northumberland, Eskand,Continue reading “The Dark Rider part 14 (excerpt)”
The Dark Rider part 13 (excerpt) & other whatnots
He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, rigid, staring every now and then into the patient, amber eyes of his dog. There were no clocks, and he hadn’t put his watch on before going through Merlyn’s door. The temperature crept lower, enough to make the hair on his arms stand up, and the lightContinue reading “The Dark Rider part 13 (excerpt) & other whatnots”
HOSANNAH IN EXTREMIS
Firstly, I want to thank readers for their patience. It’s been a while since I blogged. (8 months, perhaps 9.) I’ve been in and out of hospital for much of 2023 having a couple of operations (one of which happened over New Year in 2023 – fun times) and a another procedure under general anaesthesia,Continue reading “HOSANNAH IN EXTREMIS”
The Dark Rider Part 12 (excerpt) and “Terminal”
George stayed in bed all the next morning. Warren rolled out of his blankets and tugged one of his brother’s legs, which was dangling over the side of the top bunk. “Off,” George mumbled into his pillow. “About what happened last night–” “Eh?” “About the Land Laid Waste–” “There isn’t such a thing as aContinue reading “The Dark Rider Part 12 (excerpt) and “Terminal””
Nightwalks 