A haunting history – #Mystery #Ghost #RevolutionaryWar

Lisabet: Your blurb localizes The Misremembered Lighthouse in "southeastern North Carolina". That's pretty specific! Why there? Is this story based on a real lighthouse? Is that where you got the inspiration for the book?

p.m. terrell: Yes, and thank you for having me! The lighthouse was inspired by the Ocracoke Light Station along the North Carolina coast, which was only in use for less than twenty years due to shifting channels. In The Misremembered Lighthouse, historian and author Hayley Hunter rents an isolated lighthouse converted to a rental property near the coast to serve as a base while she researches her next book and continues her genealogy research. The Corbyn Lighthouse, named for its only keeper, Jonathan Corbyn, was only in use for twenty years, ending shortly after the Revolutionary War ended and the channels shifted.

I knew the mystery of the lighthouse, which is haunted by Jonathan’s ghost, would lead Hayley to the Moore’s Creek Battlefield, where a pivotal scene plays out. Due to the location of this real battlefield, which is now a National Park, I had to move the lighthouse further south than the Ocracoke Light Station.

I was also interested in Scottish immigrants who migrated to North Carolina after the Battle of Culloden in Scotland, only to be called up to fight for the British during the American Revolutionary War. At Cross Creek, which is now Fayetteville, the Scots were ordered to assemble and march eastward toward Wilmington to put down the revolution. I placed the lighthouse in a channel that would effectively reduce the time needed for the British to transport additional troops from Wilmington to meet up with the Scots from Cross Creek. The intention was to use a pincer movement, in which two units come from opposite directions to squeeze the opponent in the middle.

The Corbyn Lighthouse is along that channel, and Jonathan discovers he can either aid the British or sabotage their efforts. He really wants to live out the rest of his life in peace, having fought the British in his youth in Scotland, but the war is coming to him.

By the time Hayley rents the restored property, it is in an isolated area surrounded by swamps. When she finds Jonathan’s journal and realizes he haunts the lighthouse, she sets out to discover what has compelled him to remain there even after death.

Blurb

While researching her next book, historian and author Hayley Hunter rents a lighthouse in Southeastern North Carolina. The modern lighthouse and vacation home replaced an original wood structure that only functioned during the Revolutionary War. The old lighthouse may be long gone, but the lightkeeper’s ghost remains.

Hayley becomes increasingly obsessed with finding why the spirit of Jonathan Corbyn lingers between realms. Joined by her lover Shay MacGregor, her search will take her into a world of spies, double agents, and espionage at the dawn of American democracy.

Excerpt

As the waitress returned with our meal, I said hesitantly, “I’ve been experiencing some activity.”

“Activity?” Shay repeated, puzzled.

As we leisurely consumed our meals, I told him of the white German shepherd, the Native American, and my discovery of Beckett Dikshita outside my door. I held back from mentioning the disembodied voice I thought I’d heard. For some reason I couldn’t explain, I felt that discussing Jon was a betrayal of him. He might have died over two centuries ago, but he felt very much alive to me.

When I was finished, Shay’s eyes were narrowed in thought. “I’m relieved you changed the locks and set up the cameras,” he said thoughtfully. “I think we should make it a habit for the locals to see us together, don’t you think? Give them the impression that there are two of us there. As isolated as you say it is, I don’t fancy the idea of the village folk believing you’re there all alone.”

“I agree, though the locals so far have consisted only of Argo and Beckett Dikshita.” I didn’t want to ask exactly how long he would remain before he was due back in Ireland for his job at the university. It seemed that doing so would hasten his departure. “And what do you think of the—unexplained—” I hesitated.

“Ghosts?” he offered. “Apparitions? You didn’t believe a Native American and disappearing dog would get past me, did you? Well, you’ve come to an expert on that as well.”

“Oh?” I chided. “You’re an expert?”

He chewed his food thoughtfully before becoming serious. “The Irish have a different mindset when it comes to spirits, they do,” he said, his voice softening. He cleared his throat. “You Americans have such a physical approach to life; you tend to think that when a person’s body ceases to function, their soul is taken away as well.”

About the Author

My full name is Patricia McClelland Terrell, and I have been writing under the pen name p.m.terrell ever since a publisher presented me with my first fiction book cover. The graphic designer had also entered my name in lower-case letters; my editor hated it, and I loved it. It’s been p.m.terrell ever since.

I began writing when I was nine years old, inspired by a schoolteacher and elementary school principal. Scott-Foresman published my first book, a computer instructional for universities, in 1984. Scott-Foresman, Dow-Jones (Richard D. Irwin branch), Palari Publishing, Paralee Press, and Drake Valley Press have published 26 books to date.

Before embarking on a full-time writing career, I founded McClelland Enterprises, Inc. in the Washington, D.C. area in 1984, specializing in computer instruction for employees in the workplace. I opened another business, Continental Software Development Corporation, in 1994, which focused on custom application development, programming, website design and development, and computer crime.

I was honored to be the first female President of the Chesterfield County/Colonial Heights Crime Solvers. I also served as the Treasurer for the Virginia Crime Stoppers Association. Since moving to North Carolina, I served on the Robeson County Friends of the Library and Robeson County Arts Council.

I launched The Book ‘Em Foundation with Waynesboro, Virginia Police Officer Mark Kearney, and assisted in Virginia, New Hampshire, and South Carolina events before establishing the Annual Book ‘Em North Carolina Writers Conference and Book Fair, chairing it for several years before turning it over to Robeson Community College in Lumberton, NC.

Social Links

Website: https://pmterrell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pmterrell.author/

Buy Links

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-misremembered-lighthouse/id6749962807

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-misremembered-lighthouse-pm-terrell/1148042055

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FM4D9YTB

All other eBook formats: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1832068

p.m. terrell will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.