Inside This Issue
October Musings
What Is It About October and a Ghost Story?
From the River Styx and the Witch of Endor to Shakespeare, Irving, and Poe, Sharon traces our age-old fascination with ghosts, and the Samhain traditions that shaped the Halloween we know today.
Down the Rabbit Hole
When a Mother Is Accused
Emily Lloyd and Lindsay Clancy: two mothers, two courtrooms, 154 years apart. What might have happened in 1872 if women had sat on Emily's jury?
From My Studio
When Poe Becomes Paint
Sharon's new body of Poe-inspired oil paintings, including Annabel's Sea and Pluto, paints the emotion of his work rather than the stories themselves. Plus, every painting she exhibited at the inaugural Reflectionist exhibit sold.
In Good Company
A Hauntings Evening in Leesburg
Loudoun Museum's Leesburg Hauntings tour runs October 22, 23, and 24, ending with a reenactment of the Emily Lloyd trial from Veil of Doubt. Sharon will be signing books on the courthouse steps.
Sharon's Bookshelf
9 Nail Biters to Keep You Up at Night
Nine recently released gothic novels where mood matters as much as the characters. Enter to win all nine nail-biting reads.
#ReadWithSharon Book Club
A Box Full of Darkness by Simone St. James, October 29
Join the discussion Thursday, October 29 at 7pm Eastern. Enter to win a copy of A Box Full of Darkness and a signed copy of Bargains of Fate. Next up: Before Dorothy, Raising the Titanic, and The Pirate Queen.
What to Expect Each Month
Sharon's newsletter arrives once a month and never overstays its welcome. Each issue includes her personal essay on history and modern life, a Behind the Lines TV segment recap, book club picks, upcoming events, and a question to leave you thinking.