What better for the Haunted Month of October than an honest-to-goodness ghost story? Check out, then buy The Ghost Host, Episode 1,
By DelSheree Gladden
The curly script on the chalkboard takes me a minute to decipher once the woman pulls her influence away and I can concentrate on the words. “All right, Madeline Crew, here’s your first question. What is one unique event that happened during your lifetime?”
The feel of her influence creeps into me again, even more strongly than before. I feel my hand wobbling against the chalkboard like I imagine hers would. To me, it actually feels like my hand has turned knobby and old, trying to scrawl out an answer. To everyone watching, it looks like I’ve got a serious caffeine buzz. The shaky script slowly spells out her answer. I shake off her influence again and read what she had to say.
I was 40 years old when Kennedy was assassinated.
I’m not all that surprised by her response given her apparel choices. Her housecoat over a loose floral print nightdress looks like something not even my own grandma would have worn before she passed away. Its dated pattern looks like something that would have been popular some time ago.
“Thank you, Madeline. Question two is…what was the best gift you ever received and who gave it to you?”
Madeline’s expression scrunches just a bit as she thinks. It doesn’t take long before she has me writing again.
A train ticket to Tennessee, given to me by Tommy Sharp.
I smile at the cryptic answer. The coy look I get in response makes me chuckle. “I’m sure there’s much more to that story than a simple train ticket.” Madeline’s watery eyes sparkle, but she doesn’t offer any more. I nod, respectful of her desire to keep a few secrets even in death.
“Maybe you’ll tell us more another time,” I say. “For now, let’s get to the last question. What is the bravest thing you did during your life?”
For some reason, Madeline’s face looks like it would have gone completely pale had she any actual flesh and blood. The haunted expression only lasts a moment before she pushes over her influence and has me hastily scratch out her response.
Stealing classified information from the Nazis.
The Ghost Host, Episode 1
Everyone thinks Echo Simmons is crazy, but being The Ghost Host isn’t just a YouTube hoax like people think. It’s the only way to control the ghosts haunting her…at least until the FBI shows up asking questions.
The first eighteen years of Echo Simmons’ life have been less than ideal. On more than one occasion her parents have considered committing her. They don’t believe she sees ghosts or that they harass her on a daily basis. So when a rogue ghost begins tormenting her, they’re the last people she’s going to tell. Her best friends Holden and Zara are doing their best to help, but ghost attacks are only the beginning of Echo’s problems.
Handling the ghosts by giving them a voice on YouTube through her webshow has been her saving grace—even if her parents think it’s all a hoax—but that gets a little complicated when the ghost of Madeline Crew reveals a little too much about her previous life and the FBI shows up at her door wanting to know how she gained access to long-buried government secrets.
It just keeps getting worse from there. Madeline’s message to her great grandson sparks a strange connection between Echo and Malachi, which leads to Georgia, secrets, mistakes, love, lies, and life changing revelations.
DelSheree Gladden
was one of those shy, quiet kids who spent more time reading than talking. Literally. She didn’t speak a single word for the first three months of preschool. Her fascination with reading led to many hours spent in the library and bookstores, and eventually to writing. She wrote her first novel when she was sixteen years old, but spent ten years rewriting it before having it published.
DelSheree has several bestselling young adult series and has hit the USA Today Bestseller list twice as part of box sets. DelSheree also has contemporary romance, cozy mystery, and paranormal new adult series. Her writing is as varied as her reading interests.
Get to know more about DelSheree through:
- her BestSelling Reads author page
- her website
- her YouTube channel
- her Podcast
- Twitter @DelSheree
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