Haunted Richmond
Pamela Kinney
ISBN: 9780764327124
Schiffer Publishing
Reviewed By Terri Hanson
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Pamela Kinney's life has been far from normal, at least by most people's standards…
Growing
up, her mother predicted - with perfect accuracy - such events as the
deaths of relatives or the re-emergence of old friends. Kinney herself
had numerous brushes with ghosts during her upbringing, including
witnessing transient spirits in haunted houses and waking up in the
middle of the night face-to-face with apparitions standing beside her
bed, scowling at her while she slept. She even felt the lingering
presence of a cat that she had previously put to sleep as its ghost
hopped on her bed and pranced around, just like old times.
Nothing that she's experienced, though, comes close to the encounters described by others in Haunted Richmond,
a chilling account of the history - and present - of the Cradle Of The
Confederacy. In it, Kinney provides a detailed overview of the many
unexplained phenomena that continue to befuddle residents and visitors
alike, as well as the history that helps frame the legends in proper
light.
Kinney makes special mention of the following claim of
parapsychologists: those who are killed suddenly, in tragic or
traumatic circumstances, can cause hauntings to occur. Taking the
violent, deadly, and oftentimes brutal history of Richmond into
account, that claim is a grave understatement. Kinney presents
compelling back stories of tortured slaves, children dying in
catastrophic fires, and lovers slain in defense of their beloveds. She
also cites the grave atrocities endured by prisoners, Civil War
soldiers, and Native American tribes. All these events give rise to the
various ghost sightings in abandoned houses, at hospitals, and even on
state highways throughout the region.
Rather than a trumped-up collection of ghost stories designed to scare the bejesus out of fireside Boy Scout campers, Haunted Richmond
is a thorough, informative, well-researched account of real history and
its real consequences. Makes for perfect late night reading - just make
sure all the windows and doors are locked first.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Pamela Kinney (Haunted Richmond)
Apex Reviews: Thanks for joining us for this interview, Pamela. It was a treat reading Haunted Richmond, and we look forward to learning more about it.
In the Introduction, you touch on your mother's latent psychic ability. Do you have traces of that skill yourself?
Pamela Kinney: I think I do. Though not so accurate as she had the two times she told me what her dreams told her. I did have something like a voice inside me a week after I gotten married to my husband (still married to him 30 years) that told me not to pick up the wife of his Navy buddy as we were moving and I needed help. That day a drunken driver who had just hit three cars slammed into me, almost killing me and destroying my car.
AR: Why do you think spiritual phenomena tend to happen around you more than others?
PK: I don't think it happens around me anymore than anyone else. Maybe a bit more psychic but I believe anyone can see a ghost. I have this theory that maybe it's dimensional. That at the right time, a door opens and anyone can see a ghost. I could be wrong on this theory, but something I figure could be.
AR: What would you say to those who don't believe in ghosts?
PK: To keep an open mind. And I respect what you feel, and hope you respect my beliefs. :D
AR: Have you ever had an encounter with a ghost that absolutely terrified you?
PK: Once as a kid, I stupidly agreed with some friends to do a séance in this dark closet in one friend's home. We didn't do any prayers before hand for protection and something came when we called. But I got the feeling it wasn't something nice and I screamed and ran out of the closet, followed by my friends. The other time was the ghost that haunted the place I mentioned in the introduction, on pages six and seven. I wasn't the only person to be uncomfortable with him.
AR: How much time did you spend researching the book?
PK: Actually just a few months.
AR: You mention in the book that Virginia is known as the most haunted state in the nation. Why do you think that is?
PK: Because that's what I read years ago in couple other books that the authors thought so. New Orleans was deemed the most haunted city, by the way. But I agree about Virginia. It seems there is a lot of ghostly tales, plus even legends in this state. Why, I couldn't tell you.
AR: What have been some of the reactions to the book?
PK: People love it and those are excited about going to get it. Both my husband and I have sold it outside of bookstores and I got a lot of signings and speaking engagements coming up in October. I even did well at Dragoncon. It seems that interest in the paranormal is really taking off. I've only had one negative reaction, and this was when I was writing it.
AR: What's next on the horizon for you?
PK: Working on an urban fantasy novel. Then plan to work on a collection of myths and legends of Virginia—like the Richmond vampire. I am always writing short stories and submitting, and by the pen name, Sapphire Phelan, I am submitting and getting accepted erotic and sweet paranormal/fantasy/SF romances.
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share with our readers?
PK: I hope when you get Haunted Richmond for yourself that you enjoy it. Please do email me and let me know how you like it too: pamelakkinney@comcast.net. Anything of mine you read I love to hear from the readers.
AR: Thanks again, Pamela, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!