It is Friday again, and you know what that means ... time for Lisa at Writing in the Buff's Book Blub Friday. It's easy, it's fun, and you can join in too! Each Friday, Lisa gives us a photo (this week she posted another one of mine; cool, thanks Lisa), and we have one week to come up with a story (150 words or less) where we write a book blurb that goes along with the picture.
Here is my take on this week's photo:
A sequel to Kathy Matthews first novel (Finding Jen) Ernie Rector, Paranormal Inspector is a fast-paced murder mystery with a twist. Follow Ernie Rector as he works to save his club from a haunting reputation and investigates further details of a young woman's death.
The 5' 7", ornery, obese manager of the town's only gentleman's club, Ernie Rector is also regarded as the best paranormal investigator around. Now Ernie has his own ghostly encounters to deal with. The club seems to have spirits everywhere, including one who hangs out on the hallway ceiling leading to his room. Young Jennifer's body was found in the quarters next to Ernie's last month, and he's had no peace from her restless soul. Jen seems to be actively forcing him to bring the full story of her murder to light.
Join Ernie as he solves this haunting and makes things right for Jen.
This concludes the official part of Lisa's Book Blurb Friday
(150 words).
I assigned myself some extra credit, due to the fact that I have more photos of this joint.
The Olympic Club in Centralia, Washington is now a McMenamins hotel. At one point in time, it really was a gentleman's club. A man named Ernie Rector really was the manager. I don't know if he was ornery, but the obese part is true. And the real Ernie Rector, as far as I know, was not a paranormal inspector. I just loved his name, and the picture for this week was taken right outside of his door.
Cary and I stayed in the room named after Ernie:
True to McMenamins style, hand-painted history is written on the walls of each room. Here is some information about the real Ernie Rector (as always, you can click to enlarge the photos):
Is the Olympic Club haunted? Many believe it is. You can click here to read Karen Fraizier's article for a beginning to your research. The Olympic Club was built on site of apartment fire where a man died, long ago. The 1919 Armistice Day Massacre also involved the club property. At least one ghost has been felt, heard and seen, according to some.
I didn't feel anything weird, but I can see a huge face on the ceiling light fixture of the photo prompt that Lisa chose. Also, I can clearly see the face on the wall in the Billiards Room in the picture below (thankfully I didn't see it until after I got home):
Please click here to learn more about the settling of Centralia that suggests that The Olympic Club is haunted (forward it to the 6 minute point for the investigation).
My Photos of Downtown Centralia, Washington:
I think that my photography is better than my fiction writing, but thanks so much for stopping by, and I hope that you enjoyed your visit! Make sure to hop on over to Lisa's to read everybody else's stories, they are lots of fun! Just ""CLICK HERE".
Here is a link to more photos of several McMenamins that we have visited: "CLICK HERE".
Hi Kathy, I would love to be Ernie's assistant in his paranormal investigations! He will do Jen justice, I'm sure. I love the real story behind the name and the photo too. The real Ernie sounds like a true eccentric. I wonder why the police came with a search warrant though?
ReplyDeleteThe murals are fantastic, I love the one with the tram. And that face, ewww!! What was your reaction when you saw it??
Kathy--
ReplyDelete1) Great photo. Thanks for sharing it with Lisa and the rest of us.
2) You wrote a neat blurb. I especially enjoyed seeing the rest fo the photos and reading about the real Ernie Rector.
3) It's amazing how many BBF'ers wrote a mysterious or "paranormal" type of story. I went a different route...
I hope Ernie manages to solve Jennifer's murder. It seems he'll have no peace otherwise.
ReplyDeleteI love the additional information - nothing better than basing a story on real people and places:-)
Give the lady what she wants, Ernie, or you deserve to be haunted!
ReplyDeleteSuccinctly told tale, Kathy. Ernie Rector was quite a character.
ReplyDeleteLove those murals in Centralia.
A haunting, YES! I'll buy it.
ReplyDeleteErnie sounds like quite a guy...like a character who would become a reader favorite.
ReplyDeleteI swear I thought you made up the name and then when I read it was a real name, I had to laugh because I was thinking, how do these people come up with these names? Loved your post and your photos are fantastic!
ReplyDeleteGreat blurb! And you say you don't do fiction. I'd say you're wrong. :) As usual, you're an overachiever. LOL All the extra info about the picture is terrific. I think I've seen most of those from a prior post. It was nice of you to post them again to accompany the blurb. Thanks for playing!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everybody! You make me happy.
ReplyDeleteI came here for a story and I got both a hot read and history lesson-you are way to clever this week! :)
ReplyDeleteSure the club was haunted and by a pretty grumpy looking haint at that. Suppose that was Ernie?
ReplyDeleteReally nice murals.
I say you definately 'do' fiction! great blurb. I think Ernie sounds a perfect poppet and feel I know him already.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great piccies too!
Great blurb. Your photos are great and your writing is just as good. I love ghost stories, particularly when there's some investigation going on.
ReplyDeleteIt's fascinating to see the photos and info about the building. Glad you posted it. Lovely photos as usual.
Amazing--the book is already illustrated and half written! Am so glad because I want it!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos--they remind me of a town near where I live: Plant City. It's a cool old town with lots of photogenic buildings and at least one painted mural as well.
ReplyDeleteYou guys don't know how much I appreciate your feed back on this post! Thank you so much. If I haven't visited you yet, I will soon, I promise.
ReplyDelete