Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Bring It On: Dianna Love Dives into the Unexplainable

by Cassondra Murray with Dianna Love

This past spring was my first ever visit to New Orleans. It was early evening at the end of May when I found myself sitting on a balcony above the Bourbon Street chaos, listening to Dianna Love tell stories about her Guardian Angel, times she’s been guided out of harm’s way, and a whole string of other brushes with the strange and unexplainable. I knew immediately that I wanted to turn that conversation into an interview.

Since we’re coming up on the season of spooky, what better time to bring Dianna back to the Lair, to talk about all things paranormal, and to give readers a sneak peek at Dianna and Sherrilyn’s next release?

Blood Trinity is the first full-length novel in the brand new BELADOR series. Dianna calls it Urban Fantasy on Steroids, and it’s an awesome new twist in the Sherrilyn Kenyon-Dianna Love collaborations.

By the way, that photo just down on the left is the art for the BLOOD TRINITY limited edition tour t-shirt. You can't buy the shirts anywhere, but Dianna will give away a couple here in the lair today. Also, some of the characters in the new series are scattered through the blog today, and you can check them out and find out which ones are which on the character page of Dianna's website, here.

Grab a beverage and pull up a chair here in the front room of the lair. The hockey hunks will turn down the lights for some spooky ambiance, and Sven and the guys will be around with snacks.

Cassondra: Dianna, first, thanks for joining us today.

Dianna: Thanks so much for having me here. I’m glad to be back in the lair with the Bandits!

Cassondra: Will you tell us a little about the first time you encountered the unexplainable? And were you freaked out by the experience?

Dianna: I think the first time I really acknowledged to myself that there were some things that were “unexplainable” was as a child on my way to see my first movie inside a theater. Until then, we’d only watched movies at drive-ins from a station wagon. Just as we pulled up to see the movie in the theater, I said something along the lines of, “Oh, no. The movie tape broke.” I was very upset I wasn’t going to see the movie. My family looked at me like I’d lost my mind, but five minutes later we were being told the film had snapped and they couldn’t repair it. Then everyone looked at me as if I was possessed. I realized that day to keep my mouth shut when I “knew” something I shouldn’t know.

Cassondra: So it sounds like your family wasn’t exactly encouraging about it, which must have made it more difficult to process. Nobody else in your family had these sorts of experiences?

Dianna: I have a feeling that I had more unusual experiences than the ones I recall, but I repressed a lot of things or just forgot them because I wasn’t in an atmosphere that would encourage discussing odd things. My family tended to look at me as if I belonged in the movie Exorcist.

If anyone else experienced this, they never shared it around the family, and since I kept odd things to myself after that one time, they had no idea about anything else that happened. They eventually forgot about my unexplained comment that we wouldn’t see a movie.

Cassondra: But you had other brushes with the paranormal?

Dianna: Yes. When I was about 5 or 6 years old, I lived in a small neighborhood set out in a rural area. The acre property next to us was a corner lot overgrown with weeds almost as tall as me. I’d had enough of the six-person family of relatives living with our seven-person family in a three bedroom house so I decided to leave home.

I packed up my savings (had a pile of change) in a little purse, put on my brown coat and struck out along the side of our wooded property. Then I turned and walked the back of the property next door. When I got to the corner where two roads intersected, an old guy showed up. I can’t really say if he walked up or just appeared, but asked me what I was doing. I explained that I was leaving and planned to get a job sweeping floors in a store to support myself. I don’t remember exactly what he said but he talked me into going home and promised the other family would leave soon.

I had a friend who lived just across the street from that weed-infested lot. A few days later she asked me what I’d been doing standing in that lot, dressed up in my coat with my purse. I never liked carrying a purse so she’d known that was unusual. Realizing I’d been caught, I explained about trying to leave home and told her the man had talked me out of it. I asked if she knew who he was. She said there was never a man standing with me. That she’d watched the whole time and I just stood there looking up for a little bit, then I nodded and went back home.

Cassondra: Did you know other people who had these kinds of experiences? Had you read about them or seen them on tv or in movies? You seem, now, to take these things in stride, so at what point did you come to accept these as a semi-normal part of your life?

Dianna: Because I was out on my own so young (at seventeen) I adapted quickly to anything in life. I’ve always been very open to anyone’s way of life and different beliefs. I once met a psychic who had an uncanny ability to pull things out of my past that no one could know and predicted my future with what eventually turned out to be very accurate details.

At the time I met this woman, I was engaged to a man I’d been with for four years. The woman told me I would not marry him and went on to tell me how I would put large paintings outside with the man I would marry. That part about my marrying someone else—I thought that was way off base. I put the tape away (she had me tape her since she wouldn’t remember what she said) and forgot about it. Over a year later, I broke off the engagement and went on to meet the man I would marry and am still with 27 years later. My husband, Karl, was in real estate at the time, but started working with me on some projects. We went on to paint together on large murals and build an outdoor advertising plant. That was the psychic’s vision of “paintings outside.”

Cassondra: Do you think the unexplainable happens around all of us, all of the time, and only certain people tend to notice/pay attention? Or do you think these unexplainable things happen to only a few?

Dianna: I think supernatural things happen all the time, but over the years the world has unknowingly (at times) conspired to squash those abilities. From condemning someone with a gift as being satanic to modernizing our fast-paced lives, we’ve done a lot of things which I believe make it difficult to tap into that part of our spirit that works outside of what we consider the “real” world. Interestingly, we seem to be moving back in the direction of exploring unusual things and this time with a more open mind. Many cultures still practice ancient methods of natural healing that were considered foolish in our culture not that many years ago. But now those methods are becoming more well-known and people are getting interested again.

Kelly L. Stone recently published a book called Thinking Write, which is a fascinating book for anyone, not just writers. She teaches that we have preconscious, conscious and subconscious that we can tap for information or answers to questions. She says we start gathering information the minute we open our eyes from birth, and that all that information is stored. When you think about it – that’s like having an additional sense we don’t normally use. There are people and places (some bona fide, some are charlatans) that will teach you how to tap into your “other” senses beyond the five we understand and accept. I would love to have the time at some point to undertake this study. I have a feeling that down the road this world is going to see an era that is ruled by this ability.

Cassondra: Speaking of the unexplainable, when did Paranormal stories first start percolating in your conscious mind? Did you read paranormal fiction before you got your first idea?

Dianna: I’ve always enjoyed fantasy and paranormal. I like things that surprise me. Who isn’t surprised by magic or a miracle? I’ve always been a voracious reader, but I did not read things that scared me because I have such an active imagination I knew when I went to sleep I’d come up with something even worse. I remember reading Anne Rice and having to put down one of her books in the middle of the night because it scared the crud out of me. But I couldn’t wait to read more the next day (only in daylight) because it was a fascinating idea. I’m always captured by really creative thinking. Even if the subject matter sometimes puts me off I still admire the creative thought process.

Cassondra: The first Belador story, Midnight Kiss Goodbye, was published in late 2008 as a novella in the anthology DEAD AFTER DARK. But you’d had this idea for a while, right?

Dianna: You all have heard me say before that I spent a lot of time hanging over a hundred feet in the air, painting large murals alone for fifteen hour days over the years. I didn’t care for radios because of the commercials and we didn’t have iPods back then so it was quiet when I painted. I started making up stories to entertain myself while I painted. Still, I didn’t form a paranormal story until well after I’d started writing seriously in 2001.

Of course, the idea that came to me wasn’t vampires and werewolves, which were all the rage at the time. I had this group of warriors in my mind that were Celtic in origin, but then I saw them battling with powerful beings that were not Celtic. I started thinking, what if the Celtic, Greek, Hindu, Castilian, etc, gods and goddesses clashed with each other? Who would win? Could one god defeat another god? From that I came up with the VIPER coalition and took off on a story line.

Cassondra: You wrote the first BELADOR story alone, right? How did you and Sherrilyn decide to work on this series together?

Dianna: The BAD agency was originally Sherrilyn’s series, and she brought me into that as a co-author. When the publisher told us they’d like to have a paranormal series from both of us, since I’d already released Midnight Kiss Goodbye, I asked Sherrilyn if she’d like to write that as a series together. She loved the idea, and the publisher was thrilled.

Cassondra: This series centers around three main characters. How did you decide to go that direction, and why urban fantasy, instead of the straight romantic suspense or paranormal romance you and Sherrilyn normally focus on?

Dianna: I wanted a bigger playground than to build the series around one character and kept thinking how much I enjoyed an old television series called The Mod Squad, and--

[The door of the lair creaks on its ancient hinges, interrupting Dianna’s answer. Cassondra notices two of the gladiators snap to attention and reach for their swords. ]

Cassondra : [stands up from the sofa, aggravated] Hey! What gives? I had the “BLOG IN PROGRESS Do Not Disturb” sign on the door!

[Three imposing figures fill the wide doorway. Gasps escape members of the crowd in the back of the room as a tall, Adonis-like blonde Russian male steps inside. Then whispers of, “OMG he’s gorgeous!” stir through the group as a stunning African American man follows. A tall brunette woman in a vintage BDU (Battle Dress Uniform) shirt, jeans and biker boots brings up the rear. The three new arrivals and the gladiators face off, alpha energy zinging through the air.]

Cassondra: [raises an eyebrow at Dianna]: You expecting company?

Dianna: [grins]Hey you guys! Glad you were able to make it.

[The three move a little further into the room, cross their arms and glare.]

Cassondra: [Pats a rock-hard gladiator bicep] It’s okay. They’re friends. Y’all can stand down. [Turns to Dianna] I didn’t know the Beladors were stopping by. [Looks around the room] Sven? Sveeeeeen!!!! Any chance we could get some extra snacks and drinks up here????

Dianna: Everybody, meet Quinn [The blonde man gives a barely-there nod], Evalle [the woman tucks her motorcycle helmet under one arm], and Tzader [Dianna pronounces it “Zay-der”].

Cassondra: These are the main characters in Blood Trinity, the novel coming out next week, right?

Dianna: Yes. They were introduced in the novella last year. It was a paranormal romance with Belador warrior, Trey, and his childhood sweetheart, Sasha, who is a witch, but Trey didn’t know that. At the climax of Trey and Sasha’s story, these three walked on scene in the middle of a huge battle in Atlanta.

[Dianna and Cassondra return to their seats on the sofa, and the gladiators finally relax. Evalle, Tzader and Quinn, however, ignore the chairs Jeanne and a hockey hunk nudge in their direction, and instead, lean against the stone wall.]

Cassondra: I understand that Blood Trinity actually starts with a scene from two years back, which lets everyone know how these three met and why they ‘re so close?

Dianna: Yes. I invited them to stop by today, thinking this would be a great opportunity for everyone to meet them. [Dianna turns to the three Beladors standing across from her in the lair’s main hall] Before we explain about Beladors, I’d like each of you to tell us something about yourself.

[silence]

Dianna: [drums fingers on her notes] I thought you’d like to get out of the writing cave for a while.

Evalle: Being locked in a dark room is nothing new to me. [she grins] Have to understand that it’s just not a good idea to share too much about who we are and what we can do. Not with demons and other things out there hunting us. Besides, when has Z ever been chatty? [cuts a sly look at Tzader whose face reveals nothing about what he’s thinking]

[Sven and Paulo scurry into the room. Sven sets a large tray full of chips, dips and drinks onto the center table. Evalle raises one eyebrow at Paulo, who is obviously keeping Sven between him and the Beladors.]

Quinn: [clears his throat] I quite agree about sharing information. I will, however, start the dialogue since we were ordered to be here and I doubt we’ll be able to leave until we give up something. Beladors are Celtic and have been around for over two thousand years. We’re ruled by the goddess Macha who empowered her warriors and we’ve inherited our supernatural abilities, such as kinetic powers and telepathy, from our ancestors. We have other powers… [he pauses as if hearing something then turns to Tzader with an exasperated look] I don’t intend to share that much. Give me some credit.

[Tzader crosses his arms and continues to appear menacing.]

Evalle: [sets her helmet on the floor] Loosen up Z. Quinn’s not going to tell them about your knives.

Tzader: Way to go, Evalle. Anything else you want to run off at the mouth about?

Evalle: [flashes an evil grin] Gotcha to talk.

Quinn: [smiles] Maybe you’d like to tell us the origin of those sentient knives.

Tzader: Maybe I should tell them something about how we met?

[Evalle and Quinn cross their arms and scowl]

Dianna: Nope, no spoilers from Blood Trinity. We had a question about what VIPER is and how the coalition functions. Since you’re stationed in Atlanta, Evalle, why don’t you explain?

Evalle: [releases a long stream of air and twists up the corner of her mouth as though answering a pop quiz question] VIPER stands for Vigilante International Protectors Elite Regiment. It’s a coalition of powerful beings around the universe who have agreed to protect mankind from supernatural predators. The gods and goddesses who joined the coalition are considered allies. The others are either enemies or neutral assets who are allowed to function as long as they don’t harm humans.

Tzader: Or threaten a VIPER coalition member.

Evalle: You want to explain, Z?

Tzader: [his lips quirk with the hint of a smile] Not when I can annoy you instead.

Evalle: Anyhow, the coalition is made of different beings from a range of pantheons that work as teams when necessary. As part of the southeastern US division, I’m assigned to Atlanta.

Dianna: You didn’t mention that Sen is in charge of VIPER in North America.

Evalle: [answers dryly] Gee, how’d I miss that? Oh, I know, because he’s an ass--

Quinn: Evalle, darling, that’s not appropriate language here.

Evalle: Oh? Then you come up with a better description of that jerk. Besides, he’s not my superior. Z is Maistir over all the North American Beladors. I answer to him first. Sen can bite my --

[The hologram of a young woman with a long sweep of curling red hair, green eyes like an Irish morning and clothed in a robe of misty green appears in the middle of the room. Gladiator jaws hit the floor. Paulo scoots behind the bar.]

Dianna: Welcome, Brina. For those who do not know, Brina is the warrior queen of the Beladors, who answers only to the goddess Macha.

Brina: [ignores Dianna and targets Evalle with her sharp gaze] No swearing, Evalle Kincaid.

Evalle: What? [looks innocently at Brina] I was going to say he can bite my boot leather.

Brina: Or lying.

Evalle: [voice humble] Not lying. I was editing as I spoke. That’s what Dianna and Sherrilyn do, right Dianna?

Dianna: [sighs] Technically, she’s correct, Brina.

Brina: [shifts her censoring gaze toward Dianna] You and Sherrilyn encourage Evalle’s reckless behavior enough as it is.

Tzader: Trust me, Evalle doesn’t need any help getting into trouble.

Quinn: [mutters] Hear, hear.

Evalle: [hands on hips] And neither do I need help with getting out of trouble.

Tzader: That’s debatable.

Evalle: I’ve kicked my share of demon butt.

Tzader: Might not have to if you weren’t such a demon magnetic.

Evalle: Hey! I didn’t cause the problem in Atlanta. That started with Trey and Vyan. If Vyan’s warlord hadn’t found a way out from under Mount Meru--

Dianna: Whoa! No spoilers.

Brina: [rolls her eyes] I have more to worry about than spoilers. [she vanishes]

Quinn: [chuckling over Brina’s departure] We could talk about that thing Evalle calls a pet.

Evalle and Dianna: No!

Quinn: In that case, I say we spend some time getting acquainted with the ladies here…ahem…I mean our fans who have stopped by. [the rascal winks at the crowd of Bandits and Buddies. ]

Tzader: [grins at Evalle’s eye roll] I’m in.

[Gladiators cross their arms. A couple of hockey hunks who’ve sneaked in the back door stand up straighter and frown.]

Evalle: Better be careful where you two aim those smiles. Looks like these guys are marking their territory.

Cassondra: Don’t mind them. They’re just not used to having competition in the lair.

Tzader: We can handle competition. [he slices a challenging look at the hockey hunks] Long as the woman is unattached. Quinn and I don’t poach.

Dianna: Absolutely not. All Beladors live by a code of honor.

Evalle: Except for the traitor. When we find that one and hand him over to Macha he’ll wish he’d never been born.

Quinn: True. The goddess is not one to cross. That’s been proven by what she did to our ancestors 800 years ago.

Tzader: [winces] Did you have to bring that up?

Quinn: It’s not as though we can hide what our ancestors did, but Macha made them pay for their bloodlust.

Evalle: That didn’t stop Vyan from coming back to demand his pound of flesh.

Tzader: That was two years ago and Vyan agreed not to throw down with the Beladors again.

Evalle: So much for the word of a Kujoo. Look what his warlord just did in—

Cassondra: Sheesh. So much for this interview . [sighs and reaches for another chip]

Dianna: I think that wraps up this session before this bunch gives away any more spoilers or Evalle gets into real trouble.

Evalle: [smirks] Bring it on.

Dianna: [shakes head in resignation and turns to the Bandits and Buddies gathered in the lair] Thank you all for coming out today. Blood Trinity will be available at online bookstores and in your local brick-and-mortar bookstores on October 19th. Once you read the first in this series you’ll know why we say, “Atlanta is about to get a lot hotter.” Feel free to ask Tzader, Evalle and Quinn questions, but know that I’ll stop them from giving away spoilers.

Cassondra: OR getting too cozy with any of the ladies here.

Evalle: Yeah, it’s not like we don’t know what brain these two [she points at Tzader and Quinn] think with when it comes to women.

Dianna: [looks at the three Beladors and mutters] The excerpt for Blood Trinity is up on my website here and if that doesn’t answer the rest of their questions I could just answer for you three.

Evalle: No way.

Quinn: I think not.

Tzader: We got this.

Dianna: [turns back to audience] You can ask a question or just say hello. Or you can answer one of my questions, below. Everyone who posts will be in a drawing for prizes. I’m giving away 3 copies of Blood Trinity and 2 of the coveted Belador tour T-shirts. If you don’t win one of those here, stop by my Dianna Love Fan Page on Facebook and LIKE me to be eligible for winning T-shirts, books and…a Kindle, Nook or iPad.

Here are a few questions for YOU to answer:

* Have you ever had a niggle that made you go back into the house before leaving that resulted in either finding something you had to have that day or turning off an appliance that could have been a danger?

* How often have you simply known when the phone rang who it was? Or started thinking about someone unexpectedly in an intense way then heard from them or heard news about that person?

*To the mothers out there – when have you had that maternal sixth sense about something to do with your child?

* Do you believe we have extra senses we are not using?

123 comments:

Helen said...

Walk back up the street Gr

Have Fun
Helen

Anna Campbell said...

Oh, darn you, Helen! I thought I was sure to get him today! Looks like he's wandering down from Barb's place to yours. You girls must be feeding him right or something!

Dianna, welcome back to the lair. Cassondra, what a great interview. Wow, love those stories of encounters with the other worldly. They always give me goosebumps! Congratulations on your latest release, Dianna!!!!

Cassondra said...

Woooooot Helen!

I've decided you must spoil him way too much. He likes your place. ;0)

Helen said...

Whoo Hoo he is not going to get much exercise walking up the street but he can rest and read with me and have a couple of Tim Tams LOL

Cassondra and Dianna fantastic post I loved it. I have been catching up on the Bad series just lately and loving it Dianna and have added this one to my must have list it sounds awesome and thank you so much for bringing the Guys in to meet us all I am still drooling LOL.

As for your questions I would say yes to all four questions especially the one about my children (and grandchildren now as well) I always know when they need me or something has happened and when the phone rings I often know who is ringing and my family laugh at me. But yes there is a lot that happens and I am sure they choose to ignore it.

Thanks for a great post Ladies and guests

Have Fun
Helen

Fedora said...

LOL! Congrats on the GR, Helen! And hi, Anna!

Dianna, I think that it's certainly possible we have these extra senses that we don't always tune into, but I'm not the most observant when it comes to that sort of thing, so no interesting stories to share on that front! Very interesting post though--thank you for visiting the Lair!

Cassondra said...

Thanks Fo!

She has a TON of those stories. And I didn't get to finish because we got interrupted. :0(

Cassondra said...

Helen said:

I would say yes to all four questions especially the one about my children (and grandchildren now as well) I always know when they need me or something has happened and when the phone rings I often know who is ringing and my family laugh at me. But yes there is a lot that happens and I am sure they choose to ignore it.

Helen, I think that phone ringing thing is one of the most common. I used to have that constantly when I was a kid. I always knew who was calling, even when it was long distance and an unusual call. I'd say, "Oh, that's (insert brother's name from Canada)" and I'd run to the phone. Or mom would say, "NO, it's not him," but sure enough it would be.

And you're right. A lot of folks ignore it. I guess it makes them uncomfortable so it's easier to just not notice.

I'm not a mom so I don't know how that feels--to know when your kids are in trouble or need you. I think that's such an interesting connection.

Cassondra said...

Hey Flchen1!

I have my moments. Sometimes I'm more observant than other times. Mostly I think it's because of how busy I am. When I have time to slow down, breathe, look around me and not be constantly thinking about what I have to do next, I tend to notice stuff. But when I'm run crazy, I miss most of it.

Fedora said...

Hmm... Cassondra, you're probably right about that--I think I spend too much time in the running crazy mode... I imagine I'd be more sensitive to many things by slowing down a bit!

Helen said...

I too would love to here more of your stories Dianna I find them so interesting

Have Fun
Helen

Donna MacMeans said...

Hi Dianna - So good to have you and your friends back in the lair. Perfect interview for a Halloween countdown, I think.

I just has a similar discussion about sensitivity to psychic influences with Monica Burns. About the only experience with the "other side" that's as clear and tangible as a balance sheet is the day my mother passed away. My mom lived about 100 miles away from me and had terminal cancer. One day the hospital called me to say my mother had fallen the night before and broke her nose. They were waiting for her some of her vitals to stabilize, but there was no cause for alarm. About two hours later they called to say I'd best get down there. I got in my car and drove like a mad woman, but halfway down I knew my mother had passed away. It's was as if a fresh breeze slipped over me - very gentle and loving. I checked the clock on the dashboard. Later when I arrived at the hospital, I learned she had passed. When I asked about the time, it was exactly the same time as had shown on my car dashboard.

Someimes I feel my father's spirit around me, but I've never had a sensation of another spirit, and I've never actually seen a spirit - but I'd like to.

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities. So glad you managed to grab a taste, Cassondra. Hope you're bringing some pralines back to the lair. Yum!

Sheree said...

Fun, fun post!

One time when I was a teen, I astounded my family during a live Academy Awards broadcast by yelling out the winner right before the presenter did. After I guess correctly the fourth time in a row, my family did wonder how I did that. I had no idea; I just did. Too bad I don't bet.

ironss[at]gmail.com

Jane said...

Welcome Dianna,
I have had that niggle that prompted me to head back into the house for something I left. I've also had experiences where I'm thinking about someone and he or she will call right then. I think it's possible that many of us have extra senses we're not aware of.

Kim in Baltimore said...

Aloha! In response to your question, "To the mothers out there – when have you had that maternal sixth sense about something to do with your child?", I refer to Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) visiting Fraser. She mentioned that Freddy's friends were afraid of her because she has a "3rd eye" in the back of her head! My children think the same!

Regarding the unexplainable, the military doesn't take any chances in Hawaii. Everything is blessed by a Hawaiian priestess and draped with leis just to make sure the Hawaiian gods are happy. Seriously.

Dianna Love said...

Congratulations on trotting the GR back up the street Helen! I'm lusting after his Tam Tams.

Cassondra gets a huge kudo for pulling all this together. She's the best. Thanks for reading the BAD Agency books. Those have been a lot of fun. Hope you enjoy Blood Trinity, too.

You said - As for your questions I would say yes to all four questions especially the one about my children (and grandchildren now as well) I always know when they need me or something has happened and when the phone rings I often know who is ringing and my family laugh at me.

I'm never surprised at moms who experience this. I think that's where the gift has managed to stay strong.

thanks for stopping by.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Anna - It's great to be back in the lair. Thank you all for having me. Thanks for the congrats on the new release and for stopping by.

Dianna Love said...

Thanks for doing an amazing job on shaping this post, Cassondra. Hope you're getting some sleep about now. See you a little later.

Dianna Love said...

flchen -
You said - I think that it's certainly possible we have these extra senses that we don't always tune into, but I'm not the most observant when it comes to that sort of thing...

It took a long time before I would start paying attention to catch the smaller things that happened. Until then something had to be pretty striking for me to notice because I worked so hard to ignore my weird side.

thanks for stopping by!

hrdwrkdmom aka Dianna said...

A resounding yes to all questions. I took the kid thing for granted because I had been on the receiving end for as far back as I could remember. What was odd was when my mother became ill and it reversed. All of a sudden it was me tuning in to mother instead of the other way around.

Once upon a time there was a very blatant protection of my person. It was winter and we heated the house with a wood burning stove. My husband was in another state at the time and it was just my daughter and I. I had left her in her crib and went out to get wood which was stacked on a long narrow pallet of sorts. I pulled my little red wagon beside the pallet and was getting the wood and I had stepped between the two sides. As I pulled a piece that was wedged the whole thing started moving towards me, I couldn't get out and just started backing up and it stopped like it had hit a wall. Very strange, once I quit shaking and got out of harm's way, I went against hubby's orders and turned on the electric heat. I didn't go back to the wood pile for a couple of days.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Donna - So nice to be here again.

You said about your mother's unexpected passing -About two hours later they called to say I'd best get down there. I got in my car and drove like a mad woman, but halfway down I knew my mother had passed away. It's was as if a fresh breeze slipped over me - very gentle and loving.

I had a similar thing happen with my husband's grandmother. I'd gotten close to her even though we were in Georgia and she was in Vermont. I went out to paint a billboard with Karl one Sunday and it's hard to explain but I got very agitated telling him we had to hurry and get home (before we had cell phones). I've had that strange reaction when a couple other people were dying but I didn't know of anyone who was ill. When we got home there was a call that Nanny had had a heart attack. It was too late on Sunday to get a flight. Early Monday, we were flying up to Vermont with his mother and as we landed I had the same sensation that she had passed and felt this huge relief because I knew she was in pain. I checked the time, too, and it was correct. The pain I found out later was because they had used the defibrillator on her tiny and fragile body (she was 94) and had broken her ribs. That was only the beginning of one of my more bizarre stories that happened over the next few days.

I'm so glad you felt this calm as your mother passed and that you feel your father around you. It's interesting how we sense "who" it is.

thanks for stopping by and sharing your story.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Sheree -

You said -One time when I was a teen, I astounded my family during a live Academy Awards broadcast by yelling out the winner right before the presenter did. After I guess correctly the fourth time in a row, my family did wonder how I did that.

That's fun and exactly what I mean. When we let our guard down and least expect it we have these natural abilities. I know a lot of people would love to pick lottery numbers, but I think we actually shut down that sense if we try to do that. (just my weird analysis of the sense) However, I mentioned my husband's grandmother in my last post. On one of my first trips to see her it was long before we had the lottery in Atlanta. We were walking along in Lancaster, NH (very close to where she lived in Vermont) and stopped in a little store. Karl said, "pick four numbers" and I rattled off four without thinking. I love anything to do with numbers - games, math, whatever. He bought a lottery ticket. That next day on Thanksgiving we were eating with his grandmother (who had been with us at the store) and she turned on the tv to check the numbers. We won. She used to tell people I had a magic brain. lol - if only. No, I've never picked lottery numbers since then.

thanks for sharing your story!

Dianna Love said...

Jane -

You said -I have had that niggle that prompted me to head back into the house for something I left. I've also had experiences where I'm thinking about someone and he or she will call right then.

I think it would be interesting if we were taught how to be more open to these things. I also think it has a lot to do with who we are around. Even after I was out on my own I only had moments here and there that unusual things would happen. But from the time I met my husband the ability to sense more and know more became much stronger. I think it has a lot to do with deep trust of the person you spend the most time with.

thanks for sharing your story!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Kim -

You said -I refer to Lilith (Bebe Neuwirth) visiting Fraser. She mentioned that Freddy's friends were afraid of her because she has a "3rd eye" in the back of her head! My children think the same!

LOL - I love it. When my husband was small he and his buddy from across the street were standing behind a utility building in my husband's yard and decided to be boys and whiz on the tree. His mother caught them. For the longest time they thought she was psychic or something...until much later when they found out his friend's mother was the one who saw them from her kitchen window that faced the back yard and called my husband's mother. You mom's ARE psychic when it comes to your kids and clever as heck.

You also said - Regarding the unexplainable, the military doesn't take any chances in Hawaii. Everything is blessed by a Hawaiian priestess and draped with leis just to make sure the Hawaiian gods are happy. Seriously.

I've never heard that. I think it's brilliant.

thanks for stopping by and sharing!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Dianna (great name - lol) -

Ah - interesting that you noticed how things changed when you went from being the child your mother had that sixth sense over to being the one to have it for your mom. I really do believe women will be the ones to keep the sense alive and probably develop it more at some point.

You said -
I pulled my little red wagon beside the pallet and was getting the wood and I had stepped between the two sides. As I pulled a piece that was wedged the whole thing started moving towards me, I couldn't get out and just started backing up and it stopped like it had hit a wall.

Wow, what a chilling story. Someone was looking out for you and your child because if you'd gotten hurt badly or pinned you wouldn't have made it back inside to your baby.

thanks for sharing your story!

Unknown said...

Hi Helen .... hope you are not feeding GR too many tim tams
What a good post although I don't think I am psychic or anything like that.... I even have a twin brother but we have never known what the other is doing or if we are sick. I do sometimes know who is on the phone but not often.
Thanks for the post
Barb

Dianna Love said...

Hi Barb -

Interesting that you have a twin but don't feel any "extra" connection. Twins are like moms in that they often have the sixth sense about each other. Goes to show there is no given on any situation.

thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Gannon Carr said...

Fantastic interview, Cassondra and Dianna! And having those hunky warriors show up....even better! *g*

Yes, to all of your questions. I think I have a pretty keen sixth sense---my grandmother certainly did---and I find that when I really tune in and listen to it, I'm far better off.

My husband refers to such things as "woo woo", but like you, Dianna, I think we will find more and more people embracing their sixth sense. I have been to a few psychics over the years, and they have known things and told me more that have amazed me. I have a good friend who does healing touch, and she is also very intuitive. When she tells me something, I listen.

Debbie Kaufman said...

Morning Cassondra and Dianna: Can't tell you how many times an angel has shown up and prevented, directed, or comforted. As to the mother's sixth sense, I have to say that as I warned them, the Holy Spirit always ratted out my kids when they were going in the wrong direction in life. One time, the older son was literally going in the wrong direction. He told me he was going to the mountains and instead headed across state lines to Florida. I knew within a short time of his leaving and began to pray. The phone rang and it was my son, arrested after speeding and found to have a suspended license in deep southern Georgia. His father retrieved him and amazingly the whole suspended license thing was a "mistake." His plans, probably not the best of choices, were totally derailed.

Dianna: I didn't realize we both left home at 17!

Debbie Kaufman said...

Hi Dianna,

I'm at Debbie's ...writing day...and wanted to leave you a note.

I've gotten back out of bed before only to find a door unlocked. Despite the alarm system, it would have been frigtening to wake up suddenly to the alarm if someone had walked in the front door.

Sandy Elzie

Dianna Love said...

Hi Gannon -

You said -Yes, to all of your questions. I think I have a pretty keen sixth sense---my grandmother certainly did---and I find that when I really tune in and listen to it, I'm far better off.

I know we sometimes dismiss those little moments because they don't seem earth shattering but I'm sure all those times we "tuned in" might have had a bigger impact further down the road. It's nice to be able to see it in the family line like with you and your grandmother.

You mentioned having a friend who has the healing touch. Cassondra is gifted that way, too.

thanks for sharing with us!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Sandy (tell Debbie I said hello, too :->) -

You said - I've gotten back out of bed before only to find a door unlocked. Despite the alarm system, it would have been frigtening to wake up suddenly to the alarm if someone had walked in the front door.

I always wonder at those times - did I have a sixth sense kick in or was it a guardian angel nudging me to check on something? I'm just thankful either way.

thanks for stopping by and sharing your story! Have a good writing day

Dianna Love said...

Hi Debbie (somehow missed yours before seeing Sandy's post ) -

You said - Can't tell you how many times an angel has shown up and prevented, directed, or comforted. As to the mother's sixth sense, I have to say that as I warned them, the Holy Spirit always ratted out my kids when they were going in the wrong direction in life. One time, the older son was literally going in the wrong direction. He told me he was going to the mountains and instead headed across state lines to Florida. I knew within a short time of his leaving and began to pray...

I'm thrilled your son's miss-adventure turned out okay after you found out you were spot on about him trying to fool you. (I applaud all of you moms for having children because these stories of kids slipping out or going somewhere they weren't supposed to have been shared for generations and you still take on the job of parenting!). I think the more we open up to angels and guardian spirits in our world the better our lives will be. Life is so difficult some days - who wouldn't want to have a protector?

thanks for stopping by and sharing - you and Sandy have a great day writing

Cassondra said...

Okay I am up.
Barely.

I make no promises about coherence.

I have coffee. The real stuff. Leaded.

It is cloudy and thundering here. WOOOOT! Y'all cross your fingers. Maybe it'll rain.

Cassondra said...

Helen said:

I too would love to here more of your stories Dianna I find them so interesting


Dianna has so many good stories. We didn't get to the one about how her guardian angel saved her life, cuz we got interrupted. I think she may tell that one on an upcoming Fresh Fiction spotlight though, so y'all watch for that.

Cassondra said...

Donna said:

halfway down I knew my mother had passed away. It's was as if a fresh breeze slipped over me - very gentle and loving. I checked the clock on the dashboard. Later when I arrived at the hospital, I learned she had passed. When I asked about the time, it was exactly the same time as had shown on my car dashboard.

Oh, Donna, how cool to have that presence in such a sad time. Well..I hope it was a good thing for you. I think it would have been a good thing for me to know--if I were not with her when she passed-- that she'd actually been with me. That she's at peace.

Someimes I feel my father's spirit around me, but I've never had a sensation of another spirit, and I've never actually seen a spirit - but I'd like to.

I don't usually see them--not with my physical eyes the way Dianna did. I'll kind of look across a space and sense that something is there, and sometimes I'll stare at it for a while trying to discern the shape of it and its intentions. I usually get a sense of it's there for good or it's not.

But my husband, Steve, does. He's seen both my father and my grandfather. After my father died, Steve saw them both several times, and they actually gave him some information about where something important was hidden. My dad had dimentia (or alzheimer's--they're not sure which)and he'd hidden a couple of things we never could find. They were hidden in an outbuilding of my grandfather's. The whole family had searched for the stuff to no avail. My dad and grandfather came to him in a dream and told him where the things were, Steve went there and sure enough, they were exactly where my dad had said.

Cassondra said...

Sheree said:

One time when I was a teen, I astounded my family during a live Academy Awards broadcast by yelling out the winner right before the presenter did. After I guess correctly the fourth time in a row, my family did wonder how I did that. I had no idea; I just did. Too bad I don't bet.


Oh, that's AWESOME! I'm glad they didn't react badly to that. Some members of my family would have taken that in stride. Others, I'm afraid, would have tried to cast something out of me.

And LOL on the betting. Yeah, I've wished it would work for me at times too...like for playing the lottery. I've never bought a ticket, but I if I could make that work the way you did, I'd make an exception.

Cassondra said...

Jane said:

I have had that niggle that prompted me to head back into the house for something I left. I've also had experiences where I'm thinking about someone and he or she will call right then. I think it's possible that many of us have extra senses we're not aware of.

Oh that's cool about the niggle! I tend to discount those because my grandmother was one of those who had to go back in every time to make sure the gas stove was shut off (you know, the constant fear of blowing up the house when you have an old gas stove, one where the pilot lights can sometimes go out), the lights were off, the water wasn't trickling in the bathroom sink, etc etc. So I always just figure it stems from that habit rather than niggles.

I DO get the successful niggle just every now and then, but usually, these days, it's a constant assessment--not "have I" forgotten anything, but "what have" I forgotten. :0/ I think it's another symptom of running too crazy.

And I agree that many of us have extra abilities we never use. That 90 percent of our brains which we think is just sitting there--I believe these abilities are a part of that.

Cassondra said...

Kim in Hawaii said:

Regarding the unexplainable, the military doesn't take any chances in Hawaii. Everything is blessed by a Hawaiian priestess and draped with leis just to make sure the Hawaiian gods are happy. Seriously.

Whoa! That's really cool! I had no idea. But you know, the military has a history of accepting the paranormal as valid--at least in their secret programs--even when the mainstream poopoos it. The remote viewers are an example of that. Because my husband was Special Forces, I'm around a lot of those guys. I actually think that "sixth sense" ability is part of what makes those guys, SEALS, and other spec ops so successful as warriors. Steve just knows when somebody has a bad intention or when something bad like an ambush is about to happen. It's really hard to sneak up on him. The odd thing is that he can't hear worth a darn. Hearing damaged in combat. But I can't sneak up on him. He has this eerie radar.

Cassondra said...

Dianna said:

Thanks for doing an amazing job on shaping this post, Cassondra. Hope you're getting some sleep about now. See you a little later.

You're so welcome! I always enjoy your visits to the lair. We never run out of interesting things to talk about when you're here. I have to say, I think this "unexplainable" thing is one of the most interesting yet.

Cassondra said...

a.k.a. Dianna said:

As I pulled a piece that was wedged the whole thing started moving towards me, I couldn't get out and just started backing up and it stopped like it had hit a wall. Very strange, once I quit shaking and got out of harm's way, I went against hubby's orders and turned on the electric heat. I didn't go back to the wood pile for a couple of days.

Whoa! That's a great story! I know it wasn't fun at the time, but that's awesome. You had some kind of guardian angel watching over you and your little one. I don't blame you a bit for not going back out there. We burned wood for years when we were first married, but I always just stacked it up to about my shoulder for this reason. Even after a lifetime of practice, I've never been able to stack it so it doesn't eventually shift. That's a lot of weight.

Dianna Love said...

Good morning, Cassondra -

Someone pour her another cup of coffee. Sven? Ah, there he is.

What great stories are being shared today. Thanks also to those of you who have come out to participate even though you haven't experienced this sixth sense.

Cassondra said...

About Donna's sensing of her mother's and her father's spirits around her, Dianna said:

It's interesting how we sense "who" it is.

That's one of the most powerful things, for me, about knowing people and recognizing that we don't just know "the body"--there's more there--and that "more" is what we recognize when they're gone. I know people who have sensed the presence of older relatives they've never met in their lifetimes. Or perhaps met only as a tiny infant. That sense we have--I don't see how anybody can believe we're just a bunch of chemicals and skin and bones. I know people do believe that, and someday maybe they'll be proven right. Maybe there's some "solid" explanation for all of this, but I'm not betting on it. (grin)

Hellie Sinclair said...

Grr, it ate my post!

Cassondra said...

Barb said:

I even have a twin brother but we have never known what the other is doing or if we are sick.

I know several sets of twins, and some of them are just as you describe--not "connected" in those psychic kinds of ways, and others are as if they share the same brain. That's so interesting. I've always thought that if I were into psychology or child development as a profession, I'd like to study twins.

Hellie Sinclair said...

Apparently my guardian angel did not want me talking about him. Too f-ing bad, buddy.

I sometimes think my guardian angel gets me to dawdle to protect me from car accidents. Or gets me to leave earlier...either works. But I usually like to dally in general, so he probably doesn't like to take credit for that behavior.

I think there are senses we're not tapped into. I think if I could quiet myself more, I could tap into more--but I feel silly doing it. Also I think I should be listening to some BIG voice of God or something, and sometimes I think these voices are just quieter and you have to really be paying attention.

I frequently think of people and then get an email or phone call from them--it spooks me occasionally. *LOL* I don't always know who's calling when the phone rings, but occasionally I do. I don't like the phone though, so usually the first thing I think is: "Who's calling now? Geez."

Cassondra said...

Gannon Carr said:

I think we will find more and more people embracing their sixth sense. I have been to a few psychics over the years, and they have known things and told me more that have amazed me. I have a good friend who does healing touch, and she is also very intuitive.

Gannon I hope you and Dianna are correct in that more people are tuning in. I don't know if they are, or if they're just "coming out of the closet" so to speak. The thing about those "old ways"--medicine women, medicine men, Shamans, etc, is that they've been kept alive for centuries, but there have been times they've had to be really secretive about it or risk everything. I hope those days, at least, are gone, and people who have these senses can at least come out of their "closets" a little. As that happens more and more, maybe those who've never experienced this stuff before will begin to.


The interesting thing is that there ARE a few people who say they don't believe in any of these things, but as far back as I can remember, if I'm in a group of people, more people believe than don't believe. I guess we've just had to shut it down in school and such, so it doesn't get talked about openly.

I've taken classes in Healing Touch as well--that's a great study. So glad you have a practitioner near you. Isn't that amazing?

petite said...

I enjoyed your post today. Yes, I have had those feelings and senses all through my life. When my children were living at home and feelings that were accurate about their safety and security. Also feelings that were premonitions which did occur. Other times knowing what would happen and did happen, whether I would meet someone that day and where and whom and it did happen. I can feel and sense these things and am sensitive to them always.

Gannon Carr said...

The interesting thing is that there ARE a few people who say they don't believe in any of these things, but as far back as I can remember, if I'm in a group of people, more people believe than don't believe.

Cassondra, I have found this to be true, as well.


I've taken classes in Healing Touch as well--that's a great study. So glad you have a practitioner near you. Isn't that amazing?

It is amazing. My friend, Sara, is not only a gifted healer, but also a lovely, gentle soul.

I'm a first level Reiki practitioner---studied earlier this year. Very cool!

Cassondra said...

Debbie Kaufman said:

One time, the older son was literally going in the wrong direction. He told me he was going to the mountains and instead headed across state lines to Florida. I knew within a short time of his leaving and began to pray. The phone rang and it was my son, arrested after speeding and found to have a suspended license in deep southern Georgia. His father retrieved him and amazingly the whole suspended license thing was a "mistake." His plans, probably not the best of choices, were totally derailed.

Hi Debbie! *waves madly* Whoa! What a great story of intervention! Who knows what he might have been saved from?! I bet he was mad though.

You know how we tend to get very aggravated and frustrated when we're delayed, traffic gets in the way, etc. Well...when I'm in my "mad rush" state, I rant along with everyone else. But in the moments when I'm doing what I call "living right" which means remembering that all things have a purpose, I know better. I say, "there is no telling what we're being saved from by this delay." And I HAVE been saved from drunk drivers, bad pileup accidents on the highway, and even an armed robbery, by being delayed. Sometimes angels are annoying in their methods. *grin*

Cassondra said...

Sandy Elzie said:

I've gotten back out of bed before only to find a door unlocked. Despite the alarm system, it would have been frigtening to wake up suddenly to the alarm if someone had walked in the front door.

Hi Sandy! I saw Dianna's response to you and was scrolling up and down trying to find you! LOL that you posted under Debbie!

That would be awful, waking up to the alarm with someone actually in your home!

I've done that--even sometimes waking up when something is really wrong. My husband sleepwalks sometimes, in particular when he's stressed out. Sometimes he falls asleep on the sofa in the living room and I've just gone on to bed instead of waking him (if I wake him, sometimes he can't go back to sleep). A couple of times this has happened--he's fallen asleep on the sofa and then gone sleepwalking. I've waked up in the middle of the night for no reason, gotten the urge to go check on him, and found him outside, sitting on the porch steps or in a chair out back, sound asleep. And it was COLD!

I know something woke me up to bring him in.

Cassondra said...

Hellion said:

Grr, it ate my post!

Oh, NO! I'm sorry it's doing that again. Wish I knew how to fix Blogger's rotten moments. :0/ Glad you're here though.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Hey Cassondra and Dianna! Fantastic interview. And welcome Quinn, Evalle, and Tzander to the Lair...

(Uhm, Quinn and Tzaner if you're ever bored in the middle of the night...I'm usually here and wouldn't mind the distraction at all!)

Okay, woowoo moments, as I call them. I think Cassondra and I've talked about this before, that my mother has those uncanny maternal woowoo plug-ins about me, my kids and my siblings. She's freaky scary with her phone calls, and dear lord be careful what you ask her to pray for. I swear she has a direct line to the All Mighty!

Me? I call it my "gut talking to me" when it comes to patients. In fact, there are many docs in North Texas that don't like getting the phone call from me saying, "I can't put my finger on it, but my gut is telling me this baby is in trouble." Yeah, followed by a c/section and the discovery of an "OH crap, look what we found in there!" from the docs.

One night, I was walking past a room of one of my sleeping mothers-to-be. No noise came, no call light, but I had this sudden over-powering urge to stop and go check on her. Found her sitting straight up in bed, pointing to the spot just below her sternum, saying, "I hurt so bad right here."

Yeah...super sick. Drew lab work. She went for a STAT section.

Woowoo moments!

Dianna Love said...

Ms. Hellion –

LOL – your Guardian Angel ate your post to stop you. Love your response. 


You said - I sometimes think my guardian angel gets me to dawdle to protect me from car accidents. Or gets me to leave earlier...either works. But I usually like to dally in general, so he probably doesn't like to take credit for that behavior.



I’m envisioning your guardian tapping his/her fingers over this post. ;)

You said - I think if I could quiet myself more, I could tap into more--but I feel silly doing it. Also I think I should be listening to some BIG voice of God or something, and sometimes I think these voices are just quieter and you have to really be paying attention.

That’s probably one of the biggest obstacles to developing this sense – we feel like idiots while we’re trying to do it because many of us are not taught to sit quietly and tap into an internal sense or voice (telling a kid to sit in the corner for time out isn’t the same thing ). There’s always that stereotypical guru in the mountains who is the center of all knowledge and understanding. Sounds sort of humorous said that way, but going up in the mountains so far from any electronics, voices, noises or distractions is probably a great way to become more sensitive. Some Native American cultures have a “rite of passage” that involves days of being alone and fasting, which opens the person to sights and sounds and spirits they would otherwise not know how to reach.

thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Petite -

You said -
When my children were living at home and feelings that were accurate about their safety and security. Also feelings that were premonitions which did occur. Other times knowing what would happen and did happen, whether I would meet someone that day and where and whom and it did happen. I can feel and sense these things and am sensitive to them always.

I honestly believe it's deeply embedded in female genetics and as a mother women are not just open to the experience, that they actually make themselves want to know what is going on with their children.

thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Ah Debbie, you've seen angels, too?

I saw two once. Standing at a patient's shoulders while I pumped blood into her for hours. The patient never lost consciousness and lived through the whole process, but I knew she would, because the angels told me she would if I just kept working...(that's the short version of the story!)

Carol L. said...

I truly enjoyed this interview. Congrats on the release Dianna. It's definitely on my TRL.
I've always had this second sense.It was much stronger hen I was younger. I think having had seven kids short circuited my brain. lol lol
I can walk in just before a football game comes on say who will win. It's like I see it in a ticker tape kind of picture.I can pretty much look at a acing form and tell you who will win, place or show or used to. But the main thing is I was and never have been able to use any of it for my own gain and if people asked me so they could bet it shut down.I didn't want to feel guilty about someone else's money. Crazy but true. I too could think of someone and hear from them within 48 hours or guess who was calling me.As I've gotten older it's far and in between though.
Carol L
Lucky4750@aol.com

Dianna Love said...

Suzanne -

You said –
(Uhm, Quinn and Tzader if you're ever bored in the middle of the night...I'm usually here and wouldn't mind the distraction at all!)

I can see I’ll have to keep the writing cave locked at night. ;)

You said about your mom –
She's freaky scary with her phone calls, and dear lord be careful what you ask her to pray for. I swear she has a direct line to the All Mighty!

I would bet on it.

You said –
Me? I call it my "gut talking to me" when it comes to patients. In fact, there are many docs in North Texas that don't like getting the phone call from me saying, "I can't put my finger on it, but my gut is telling me this baby is in trouble." Yeah, followed by a c/section and the discovery of an "OH crap, look what we found in there!" from the docs.

Wow, that’s wonderful to hear. I know it probably freaks out some doctors but you’re a guardian to others this way.

You said –
One night, I was walking past a room of one of my sleeping mothers-to-be. No noise came, no call light, but I had this sudden over-powering urge to stop and go check on her. Found her sitting straight up in bed, pointing to the spot just below her sternum, saying, "I hurt so bad right here."

Yeah...super sick. Drew lab work. She went for a STAT section.

Whoa – that’s amazing. Great story and so thrilled you were close enough for her guardian angel to get you in that room.

Thanks for sharing your stories!

Minna said...

How often have you simply known when the phone rang who it was? Plenty of times, but that was just because mom is the one who calls most often, so that one is just a good guess.

Do you believe we have extra senses we are not using? I don't know about extra senses, but our brains gather much more information than we consiously realise.

Lady Gaga - Poker Face - Parody ("Outer Space")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h47fNaOb-JU

Dianna Love said...

Suzanne said -
Ah Debbie, you've seen angels, too?
I saw two once. Standing at a patient's shoulders while I pumped blood into her for hours. The patient never lost consciousness and lived through the whole process, but I knew she would, because the angels told me she would if I just kept working...(that's the short version of the story!)

I've always heard amazing stories from hospitals. I honestly believe some people - like you - are guided in that direction for a reason. You might not have been able to touch as many lives had you been in another profession.

thanks again!

Cassondra said...

Hellion said:

Apparently my guardian angel did not want me talking about him. Too f-ing bad, buddy.

OMG. ROFL!!!!

Actually I think BLOGGER probably didn't want you talking about your guardian angel. It would be spooky the way things have been disappearing around here, if it weren't so annoying. We've actually been looking into other options because we've been so aggravated at Blogger. We don't want our Buddies to get frustrated with us. Life would be WAY too quiet around the lair without y'all.

I sometimes think my guardian angel gets me to dawdle to protect me from car accidents. Or gets me to leave earlier...either works.
My guardian angel WISHES he could get me to leave earlier. Snork! That never happens.

Also I think I should be listening to some BIG voice of God or something, and sometimes I think these voices are just quieter and you have to really be paying attention.

Oh, this is SO profound! There's some scripture that calls the voice of God a "still, small voice," but we tend to forget that, don't we? Nowadays, to be heard above the madness, God would have to roar. Not that God can't roar, but it's my impression that this is not the general mode of operation. ;0)

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Dianna: I've always heard amazing stories from hospitals.

I'll bet Joanie has some stories to tell, too, since she's an ortho nurse.

I knew a nurse in Florida who refused to walk down a certain corridor of the hospital at night alone, because she could feel the ghosts of patients waiting to talk to her.

I think I prefer the angels over the ghosts!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Carol –

Thanks for the congrats on Blood Trinity being released and getting a copy. I’m excited about it. ☺

You said –
I've always had this second sense. It was much stronger when I was younger. I think having had seven kids short circuited my brain. lol lol
I can walk in just before a football game comes on say who will win. It's like I see it in a ticker tape kind of picture. I can pretty much look at a acing form and tell you who will win, place or show or used to. But the main thing is I was and never have been able to use any of it for my own gain and if people asked me so they could bet it shut down. I didn't want to feel guilty about someone else's money. Crazy but true. I too could think of someone and hear from them within 48 hours or guess who was calling me. As I've gotten older it's far and in between though.

I’m chuckling over the “think having had seven kids short circuited my brain.” Bless you for surviving that many and still having a brain. ;) I totally agree about how “asking the gift for gain” is a quick way to shut it down. When I ask for help, I am very careful to only ask for something I feel is important and that I can’t fix/help/save on my own. Not to win money.

Thanks for sharing your story!

Dianna Love said...

Cassondra said -
My guardian angel WISHES he could get me to leave earlier. Snork! That never happens.

Hmm...no comment actually.

Dianna Love said...

H Minna -

You said - I don't know about extra senses, but our brains gather much more information than we consiously realise.

I definitely believe that and Kelly L. Stone's book on Thinking Write is fascinating on that topic.

thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Cassondra said...

Suz said:

....my mother has those uncanny maternal woowoo plug-ins about me, my kids and my siblings. She's freaky scary with her phone calls, and dear lord be careful what you ask her to pray for. I swear she has a direct line to the All Mighty!

Oh yeah! I remember that conversation. And the thing is...I think moms are the most powerful direct lines to God of anybody. There have been a number of times when things were bad for us or something bad had happened to somebody in Steve's family maybe, and I've said, "I have to call my mom. I have to get her to pray." I mean, I have conversations with God regularly, but when the poop hits the fan, if anybody could get to God, I knew it was her.


... there are many docs in North Texas that don't like getting the phone call from me saying, "I can't put my finger on it, but my gut is telling me this baby is in trouble." And thank God for you and those niggles, and I'm so glad the system requires them to come in and do something about it. Or maybe they've just figured out that when you make that call, it's always right.

I'm thinking there are a few kids here in the world who would not be here if it weren't for our Suz listening to those niggles.

Suzanne Ferrell said...

Cassondra:Or maybe they've just figured out that when you make that call, it's always right.

Hehehe, hacked off a new nurse once. I picked up the phone before she did, told the doc, "Your strip looks like sh*t". Handed the phone to the nurse, who wanted to do a bunch of palative measures. The doc said, "Nope, prep her for surgery."

And yep, it was a good thing. Nurse actually appolgized to me!

hehehe

Suzanne Ferrell said...

So, Dianna, is Blood Trinity going to be a several book series? I'm thinking these guys (Evalle included) are going to be great fun to read!

Nancy said...

Helen, congrats on the bird! Maybe you'd better lock up your Tim Tams, though. He was muttering about wanting chocolate.

Cassondra said...

Petite said:

...Other times knowing what would happen and did happen, whether I would meet someone that day and where and whom and it did happen. I can feel and sense these things and am sensitive to them always.

I frequently "know" when something is going to be canceled, or when something we've planned is not going to happen. I'll be like, "that's not going to happen. It's going to get canceled because of ______" and sure enough, we'll get there and it won't happen or we'll get the call saying it's canceled. Steve looks at me kind of cross-eyed, but he's learned to just roll with it.

He often has a sense, when we're driving somewhere, that we should go another way. I've learned to trust that too, even though a lot of times we never actually know what we avoided, or if anything really would have happened. Maybe by our not being there--by going the other way (sometimes the long way around), the whole thing was avoided.

That's so cool that you've always had that sense, and know to follow it. How did you get so comfortable with it? Did your family believe in these things and teach you to pay attention?

Cassondra said...

Suz said:

I saw two once. Standing at a patient's shoulders while I pumped blood into her for hours. The patient never lost consciousness and lived through the whole process, but I knew she would, because the angels told me she would if I just kept working...(that's the short version of the story!)

OH, SUZ! Sometime I want to hear that story. You should blog about that.

Nancy said...

Dianna, welcome back! The art for this is just rocking awesome, and now that I've seen some of the characters, I'm even more excited. You know I love this kind of book.

Yes, I do believe in things I can't see. Not sure how far that belief goes, but it's there. I think it was Hamlet who said, "There are stranger things in Heaven and Hell, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." That sums it up for me pretty well.

One of the books that impressed me most in college, the only one in my Philosophy of Religion course that resonated with me (a couple of the others were just baffling), was The Idea of the Holy by Rudolph Otto. It talks about those moments when we're just awe-struck by something greater than ourselves and labels those moments "numinous." That concept has stayed with me ever since.

I've never had the kinds of niggles in the comment prompts, but I was once about to go to the grocery store after work. I hit the blinker, got in the turn lane for the parking lot, and had a hard chill go straight down the middle of my back. I decided to go home and come back later.

Cassondra said...

Carol L said:

I can walk in just before a football game comes on say who will win. It's like I see it in a ticker tape kind of picture.I can pretty much look at a racing form and tell you who will win, place or show or used to. But the main thing is I was and never have been able to use any of it for my own gain and if people asked me so they could bet it shut down.I didn't want to feel guilty about someone else's money. Crazy but true. I too could think of someone and hear from them within 48 hours or guess who was calling me.As I've gotten older it's far and in between though.

Wow, that's amazing that you could do that. Isn't it interesting that we can't use it for our own gain? Wonder how that's set up to make us malfunction? I know that sometimes it works--hunches when playing the stock market, etc--you KNOW that some people are gifted about stuff like that and are able to use it. But that's more...indirect I guess...I've never heard of an instance in which somebody "knew" which lottery numbers would win and were able to make money that way.

Cassondra said...

Gannon Carr said:

It is amazing. My friend, Sara, is not only a gifted healer, but also a lovely, gentle soul.


My teacher, Bonnie, is just that way. It's amazing the sense of well-being you get just from walking into her studio.

Dianna Love said...

Suzanne -
I vote that we have you do a blog on hospital and patient stories. You have some good ones.

You said -
So, Dianna, is Blood Trinity going to be a several book series? I'm thinking these guys (Evalle included) are going to be great fun to read!

This series is built around those three characters who will be in all the books. The first one focuses more on Evalle as she's at the core of things that are happening in Atlanta and going to happen in future books, but we'll get deeper into Tzader and Quinn's lives as well. I was telling Cassondra I got the inspiration to build a series around 3 main characters from that old tv show "The Mod Squad." I enjoyed seeing each of their lives change and develop, which had me thinking this would make for a much larger world and series. So the short answer is "yes, this will be an ongoing series." I hope you enjoy them.

thanks for asking!

Cassondra said...

Minna said:

I don't know about extra senses, but our brains gather much more information than we consiously realise.

This is absolutely true and has been proven.

Dianna mentioned Kelly Stone's book, Thinking Write. That's a fantastic book.

Kelly's website is http://authorkellylstone.com

Y'all who are interested in tapping into those parts of your brain to help the muse, or for any other reason, this is a great tool.

Cassondra said...

Suz said:

I knew a nurse in Florida who refused to walk down a certain corridor of the hospital at night alone, because she could feel the ghosts of patients waiting to talk to her.


Okay I would not like that at all. I guess I'd deal with it--or find a way to help them cross. I can't help thinking that's bad for the current patients. I could be wrong about that though.

Cassondra said...

Cassondra said:

My guardian angel WISHES he could get me to leave earlier. Snork! That never happens.

To which Dianna responded:

Hmm...no comment actually.

*sticks out tongue*

Dianna Love said...

Hi Nancy –

You said - The art for this is just rocking awesome, and now that I've seen some of the characters, I'm even more excited. You know I love this kind of book.

Thanks! I’m over the moon about our cover and the art. I designed the triquetra (triangle shaped emblem) and Sherri came up with using the sword to wrap the cover (if you open the cover of the book you see the whole sword with the blade going up the spine). We appreciated their accepting our input.

You said - Yes, I do believe in things I can't see. Not sure how far that belief goes, but it's there. I think it was Hamlet who said, "There are stranger things in Heaven and Hell, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." That sums it up for me pretty well.




Well put. There have been many unexplained incidents and happenings over the decades, and some of our greatest inventions and creations have come from an outside influence.

You said - One of the books that impressed me most in college, the only one in my Philosophy of Religion course that resonated with me (a couple of the others were just baffling), was The Idea of the Holy by Rudolph Otto. It talks about those moments when we're just awe-struck by something greater than ourselves and labels those moments "numinous." That concept has stayed with me ever since.

I've never had the kinds of niggles in the comment prompts, but I was once about to go to the grocery store after work. I hit the blinker, got in the turn lane for the parking lot, and had a hard chill go straight down the middle of my back. I decided to go home and come back later.

I love the “numinous” description from Idea of the Holy. LOL on the baffling books – I can appreciate that. There was a time when I was younger I thought “they wouldn’t have published a book about _______ (fill in the blank) unless it was true or hadn’t been proven…right? Then I wised up and realized not everything in print makes sense in my world.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Anna Sugden said...

Hi Dianna! *big wave* Great to see you and to have you back in the Lair. Loved those other-worldly stories.

My BFF's and I have the whole 'telepathic' thing going - too many times to mention I've picked up the phone to find one of them on the line or about to call me.

I'm a great believer in having more available to us than we utilise - an extra sense or a better use of the sense we have.

I've had many experiences with strange happenings and deja vu too. Being from England, it's not unusual to have ghostly experiences of some kind.

My favourite one happened last year on my lovely MIL's birthday. It was the one year anniversary of her passing and we were taking flowers to the cemetery for her. It was a miserable November day, pouring with rain and howling wind. I had to cut flowers under the shelter of a tree to arrange in her memorial vase and it was freezing cold!

When I was done, lovely hubby and I carried them to where her stone is on the memorial wall and placed the vase there, wishing her a happy birthday. At that moment, the clouds parted, the weather cleared and there was an enormous rainbow. It was only for about 30s, but I'm convinced that was my MIL letting us know she'd seen us and liked the flowers.

Hellie Sinclair said...

We've actually been looking into other options because we've been so aggravated at Blogger.

Eek. Grass is always greener, man. We switched from Blogger to Wordpress, and it has its own set of problems. Technology is technology. There is always a problem.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Anna – [*big wave* back at you and always nice to see you, too]

You said - My BFF's and I have the whole 'telepathic' thing going - too many times to mention I've picked up the phone to find one of them on the line or about to call me.


Isn’t that the wildest thing? I’ve experienced that and have been the caller waiting on the phone to ring then the person picks up and is shocked when I’m there because they were getting read to call me. It’s part of our normal week for my husband and I to go all day (or a couple days if I’m traveling heavily) with no communication because we’re both running in different directions then one of us decides to call and the other is in the process of hitting send on the cell phone. We have no set schedule so it would be bizarre if it didn’t happen all the time.

You said - I'm a great believer in having more available to us than we utilise - an extra sense or a better use of the sense we have.

I've had many experiences with strange happenings and deja vu too. Being from England, it's not unusual to have ghostly experiences of some kind.

My favourite one happened last year on my lovely MIL's birthday. It was the one year anniversary of her passing and we were taking flowers to the cemetery for her. It was a miserable November day, pouring with rain and howling wind. I had to cut flowers under the shelter of a tree to arrange in her memorial vase and it was freezing cold!

When I was done, lovely hubby and I carried them to where her stone is on the memorial wall and placed the vase there, wishing her a happy birthday. At that moment, the clouds parted, the weather cleared and there was an enormous rainbow. It was only for about 30s, but I'm convinced that was my MIL letting us know she'd seen us and liked the flowers.

That’s awesome. These stories are giving me chills, in a good way. I love that she sent you a rainbow smile to thank you. How wonderful. I bet there are thousands of great stories with the history you have in the UK.

Thanks for sharing your story!

Cassondra said...

Nancy said:

I've never had the kinds of niggles in the comment prompts, but I was once about to go to the grocery store after work. I hit the blinker, got in the turn lane for the parking lot, and had a hard chill go straight down the middle of my back. I decided to go home and come back later.

Oh, good call on listening to that chill down your spine. Who knows what you avoided!

Cassondra said...

Anna Sugden said:

At that moment, the clouds parted, the weather cleared and there was an enormous rainbow. It was only for about 30s, but I'm convinced that was my MIL letting us know she'd seen us and liked the flowers.

Oh, what a fantastic story! Like she was smiling and happy and the whole world responded to it. Those things prove, to me, that they're not really gone, but just across a veil where we can't see them with our human eyes. *sniff* Okay, is it getting dusty in here? *sniff*

Cassondra said...

Hellion said:

Eek. Grass is always greener, man. We switched from Blogger to Wordpress, and it has its own set of problems. Technology is technology. There is always a problem.

Yeah, I know. We're trying to be really careful so we don't end up out of the frying pan into the fire, so to speak.

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Wow, I've been so bemused by staring at the Beladors (sorry Demetrius! But I DIDN'T offer shield sled rides to anyone, okay?), that I forgot to comment.

I'm tellin' ya, Dianna, those are some powerful folk you've got there - and that's just in the rrrrowww animal magnatism dept. Grins.

Now, as to the questions...well, that stuff happens around me all the time. Either I attract it or I believe in it enough that I just "see" it.

I already signed up on your fan page...I want that iPad. Heehee. I'm really lucky about that stuff too, so fingers crossed. Ha!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Hellion said: Also I think I should be listening to some BIG voice of God or something, and sometimes I think these voices are just quieter and you have to really be paying attention.

And Cassondra replied:
Oh, this is SO profound! There's some scripture that calls the voice of God a "still, small voice," but we tend to forget that, don't we? Nowadays, to be heard above the madness, God would have to roar. Not that God can't roar, but it's my impression that this is not the general mode of operation. ;0)


I'd add that you'd best beware too, if you ASK for big noises! ha! I jokingly said one time, to the Universe and God at large, "You know, I need to make this decision, and you're not being much help. I don't need a whisper, I need six-foot-letters of fire"

Uh, just a note, learn from my mistake and please don't do that. Grins. I got some dramatic answers, but they weren't easy to handle and they ended a relationship very abruptly that I could have (in hindsight) have handled with a whole lot more aplomb and less bridge burning had I not been so startled! Grins.

catslady said...

arghhh it ate my post!

I do believe there are some people who are more intuned than others.

My daughter who is in college and lives on her own is very good about calling but I'm never sure when and more times than I think can be coincidence, I will stop what I'm doing and think she should have called me or I will start to call her and the phone will ring.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Jeanne -
LOL - yes, I sometimes get caught staring at those guys, but now I'm going to be hearing about shield sled rides. Wow, that sounds...intimate.

I'm tellin' ya, Dianna, those are some powerful folk you've got there - and that's just in the rrrrowww animal magnatism dept. Grins.

You said - Now, as to the questions...well, that stuff happens around me all the time. Either I attract it or I believe in it enough that I just "see" it.

I can see how that happens. I believe certain supernatural elements gravitate to either a safe zone or someone who can help from this side.

you said -
I already signed up on your fan page...I want that iPad. Heehee. I'm really lucky about that stuff too, so fingers crossed. Ha!

Everyone should be very worried about you signing up, because I know of one family where the adult children win the most amazing things on a regular basis. I mean trips to Europe, dinner with a celebrity, a vehicle, all sorts of things for the home...they obviously have that touch, too. Good luck to you and I will not bat an eyelash in surprise when your name comes up (thankfully "I'm" not drawing names).

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

Dianna Love said...

Jeanne said -
I jokingly said one time, to the Universe and God at large, "You know, I need to make this decision, and you're not being much help. I don't need a whisper, I need six-foot-letters of fire"

Uh, just a note, learn from my mistake and please don't do that. Grins. I got some dramatic answers, but they weren't easy to handle and they ended a relationship very abruptly that I could have (in hindsight) have handled with a whole lot more aplomb and less bridge burning had I not been so startled! Grins

I don't even know the specifics but i spewed my drink over this one. lol I'm imagining this deep voice from above saying, "You want big, huh? Just remember that size is in the eye of the beholder."

Dianna Love said...

Catslady -

I agree that more people are tuned in on this than they realize.

You said -
My daughter who is in college and lives on her own is very good about calling but I'm never sure when and more times than I think can be coincidence, I will stop what I'm doing and think she should have called me or I will start to call her and the phone will ring.

That's a reassuring thing IMO - that the two of you are linked this way. I know this happens with men some of the time, but I really think women have stronger sensory receptors. Like in that scene from Coal Miner's Daughter where Loretta Lynn had the premonition of her father's death.

Cassondra said...

Jeanne said:

Uh, just a note, learn from my mistake and please don't do that. Grins. I got some dramatic answers, but they weren't easy to handle and they ended a relationship very abruptly that I could have (in hindsight) have handled with a whole lot more aplomb and less bridge burning had I not been so startled! Grins.

Snork!

Okay that's not nice, snorking at you over that one, since I'm guessing it was very painful and that's just rotten to have to go through stuff like that....

But...

Snork! BECAUSE....I've also learned the hard way that paying attention to the whispers is WAY smarter than having to be hit in the head with the metaphorical 2 X 4. Don't like the big boards. Don't.

Cassondra said...

Catslady said:

My daughter who is in college and lives on her own is very good about calling but I'm never sure when and more times than I think can be coincidence, I will stop what I'm doing and think she should have called me or I will start to call her and the phone will ring.

Ah, I've done that before. I do that with STeve a lot I'll be calling him at work --where I have to go through the receptionist to get to him because he doesn't have a direct, back-door line, and I'll be on hold waiting for him to answer when his number will come up on my caller ID--he's always trying to call me when I'm trying to call him. Sometimes it's probably coincidence. But a lot of the time I think it's not.

It's just that connection, yaknow? I believe in it.

Free Your Creative Mind! said...

Hi Diana,

Thanks for a great and fascinating post.

I have always been interested in paranormal activity and in response to Cassondra's questions at the end-- yes to all. One time I was stopped at a traffic light when the light turned green. Even though there was literally no other car in sight, I heard a voice say "Stop" as I moved my foot to the accelerator (I was alone in the car). Alarmed, I stopped the car. Seconds later, another car came out of nowhere & barreled through their red light on my driver's side, traveling at a very high rate of speed and directly through my path of traffic. It would have surely killed me if the cars made impact-- this was the days before air bags!!

I enjoy all the BAD books and look forward to the next in the series.

Best,
Kelly

Christine Wells said...

A hearty welcome back to the lair, Dianna! We love having you with us. Thanks for the great interview, Cassondra.

Dianna, how fascinating that you've had these supernatural experiences. I think some people are just more open to such things. It must have been scary and isolating for you as a child, though. My heart went out to that little girl.

Both my mother and I often dream things before they happen. I remember clearly that I dreamed Anna Campbell would land a particular agent and sure enough, she did! Of course, you never know which ones will come true and which won't so it's not all that helpful a 'skill'.

What an awesome t-shirt! And what a pity banditas aren't eligible to win it. I love the idea of your series. That's really high concept thinking! I love that you brought all your characters to the lair. Looking forward to meeting them in your books!

Helen scored the rooster again! Oh, my! He's going to need bootcamp with Cassondra soon!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Kelly –
So nice to see you here. [BTW everyone, this is the Kelly L Stone I referenced in the interview who has a book in how to tap into information stored in your subconscious. ]

You said - I have always been interested in paranormal activity and in response to Cassondra's questions at the end-- yes to all. One time I was stopped at a traffic light when the light turned green. Even though there was literally no other car in sight, I heard a voice say "Stop" as I moved my foot to the accelerator (I was alone in the car). Alarmed, I stopped the car. Seconds later, another car came out of nowhere & barreled through their red light on my driver's side, traveling at a very high rate of speed and directly through my path of traffic. It would have surely killed me if the cars made impact-- this was the days before air bags!!

Oh, that’ll make you a believer real quick. I can see that whole scene unfolding. It’s interesting to me that we have such definite messages come through in extreme situations. I try to stay open to anything because I think we could hear or feel these things more often but there’s sometimes so much noise clutter going on the message can’t get though – like was mentioned above about our guardian’s trying to speak over the roar around us some days.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing that story.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Christine -

Thanks for the welcome back. I love visiting the lair any time I can.

You said -
Both my mother and I often dream things before they happen. I remember clearly that I dreamed Anna Campbell would land a particular agent and sure enough, she did! Of course, you never know which ones will come true and which won't so it's not all that helpful a 'skill'.

I love to hear about premonition dreams and have heard more about that since becoming a writer. I think there's something about opening up that creative vein in your brain that welcomes information. How great that you may have gotten it from your mom.

You said -
What an awesome t-shirt! And what a pity banditas aren't eligible to win it. I love the idea of your series. That's really high concept thinking! I love that you brought all your characters to the lair. Looking forward to meeting them in your books!

Hmm...I didn't know about that rule. If I don't get thrown in party penalty box for saying this - I'll donate one more Tshirt JUST for a Bandita drawing. You know how much I love all of you. :) Thanks for the encouraging words on this new Belador series. I'm pretty excited to see the Beladors coming to life in full novels (there was one novella 2 years ago).

thanks for stopping by and sharing with us!

Jeanne (AKA The Duchesse) said...

Dianna said Hmm...I didn't know about that rule. If I don't get thrown in party penalty box for saying this - I'll donate one more Tshirt JUST for a Bandita drawing. You know how much I love all of you. :)

Penatly box? We have a penalty box? ANNA!!! Did your Hocky Hunks import a penalty box?

*tsks* Those boys. Bet they'd like to put two of the three Beladors in it after that standoff this morning. SNORK!

No penatly box for gifties, Dianna, and that's really cool. Thanks!

Sally Kilpatrick said...

What a fun post on many levels. Cute guys and lots of the weird sixth sense stories I love to read. I think sometimes that I'm to analytical to admit a lot of the weird things that happen to me, but I have had dreams that come true. Usually I'll have the dream, think it's odd, then have a sort of deja-vu moment months or years later.

Another big moment for me was after some relatives died and I was helping clean up the house. I started to enter the master bedroom and it was as if an invisible brick wall kept me from entering. Someone did NOT want me there, and I happily obliged them.

Cassondra said...

Kelly Stone said:

One time I was stopped at a traffic light when the light turned green. Even though there was literally no other car in sight, I heard a voice say "Stop" as I moved my foot to the accelerator (I was alone in the car). Alarmed, I stopped the car. Seconds later, another car came out of nowhere & barreled through their red light on my driver's side, traveling at a very high rate of speed and directly through my path of traffic. It would have surely killed me if the cars made impact-- this was the days before air bags!!

Omygosh! What a testament to listening to the inner voice! I'm so glad you listened!

We've been telling everyone about your fabulous book, "Thinking Write" which stays on my nightstand. I use it to remind myself to try some of your techniques every night to help kick my muse into gear.

So nice to have you stop by to visit!

Nancy said...

Dianna, how nice of you to donate another shirt! Some bandita is going to be very, very happy.

Nancy said...

Hi, Sally--I'm a big believer in following those urges. I think we have hunches for reason.

Cassondra said...

Christine said:

Both my mother and I often dream things before they happen. I remember clearly that I dreamed Anna Campbell would land a particular agent and sure enough, she did! Of course, you never know which ones will come true and which won't so it's not all that helpful a 'skill'.

That's the thing about some of these skills...a lot of them don't lend themselves well to using at OUR will. They have to just come when they come, and that makes it all the harder to learn to listen and trust them, isn't it? It's easy to say, "oh, that's nothing" when it's not something you're used to using all the time. I'm still glad for the help from wherever it originates, but wish I were a bit more skilled at using it.

Cassondra said...

Dianna said:

Hmm...I didn't know about that rule. If I don't get thrown in party penalty box for saying this - I'll donate one more Tshirt JUST for a Bandita drawing. You know how much I love all of you. :)

Awwww...no penalty box.;0) We usually reserve our goodies for our Buddies/visitors to the lair, but every now and then we'll have a guest who insists. That's very nice of you.

Cassondra said...

Sally Kilpatrick said:

I think sometimes that I'm to analytical to admit a lot of the weird things that happen to me, but I have had dreams that come true. Usually I'll have the dream, think it's odd, then have a sort of deja-vu moment months or years later.

This is exactly the way I am at times. I might think, "that was odd," but it's easy to reason it away as coincidence or try to come up with some explanation for it. Interesting that you have dreams--like premonitions of coming events. I have one other friend who has those. It's uncanny.

Another big moment for me was after some relatives died and I was helping clean up the house. I started to enter the master bedroom and it was as if an invisible brick wall kept me from entering. Someone did NOT want me there, and I happily obliged them.

Oh, my. I think I'd oblige them too. If they don't want me in there, unless it was my sworn duty to go in, I think I'd want to stay out.

Dianna Love said...

Hi Sally -

So nice to see some of the PFHT group here today (these are GA girls who have the PetitFoursandHotTamales blog].

You said - I think sometimes that I'm to analytical to admit a lot of the weird things that happen to me, but I have had dreams that come true. Usually I'll have the dream, think it's odd, then have a sort of deja-vu moment months or years later.

I felt that way too many times since I'm very logical and analytical, but there have been moments that were impossible to explain or ignore. I'd love to see a whole blog on dreams that came true some time.

You said - Another big moment for me was after some relatives died and I was helping clean up the house. I started to enter the master bedroom and it was as if an invisible brick wall kept me from entering. Someone did NOT want me there, and I happily obliged them.

Ah, that's very interesting. It's those moments that are so hard to define but are as real as the furniture in the room or the relatives walking around. I mentioned earlier about an unusual time when my husband's grandmother died unexpectedly. I had several odd things happen in her house that felt like she was directing everything, which totally fit for her personality.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your story!

Dianna Love said...

I'm signing off for the night. As many of you know I roll pretty early and tomorrow we hit the road driving from GA to VA. I'll drop by as soon as we're on the road and see who else showed up tonight with the rest of you night owls.

Thanks so much for inviting me to the lair today. Hearing everyone's stories has been wonderful. I appreciate all the encouraging words on the new Belador series and BLOOD TRINITY.

Tzader, Evalle and Quinn will be hanging around Atlanta...and a few other interesting locales as they protect all of us from the dark side of supernatural.

What? Oh. The hockey players informed me that they don't need no stinkin' protecting. Point taken and thank you for your restraint today. Now I'm getting that "look" from Tzader, Quinn and Evalle that says "they" were the ones showing restraint.

I give up and am going to jump off before things get out of hand.

A huge thanks to Cassondra for the great job she did on this post. It would have been a rambling mess if you'd gotten it the way I sent it to her. She's not just a brilliant writer but an assistant extraordinaire.

I wish you all peace and the positive energy when you encounter the unexplainable.

Cassondra said...

Dianna, thanks so much for being our guest. We always love having you here, and never get tired of your stories.

Huge congrats on this awesome release. I can't wait for everyone to read it. Yes, I'm gloating a little because I've read it already.

(grin)

Come back and visit again soon!

Teresa K. said...

Diana, this is another side I've got to know about you. I would have loved to talk more about this when I was at DragonCon. I can say this being brought up as a very Tradtional Native American, I know there is magic and strong medicine in this Universe.
My grandmothe had a gift as well as my mom and I have it and my son now is showing this gift.
We were given the gift of seeing things that come to pass through dreams.
I have dreams about events or people that will happen and not once have they not come true. The dream might seem different than the event of actual time but it's always is a warning of something that will happen.
With my son it started when he was young he actually was talking to someone who passed that we were close too. At the time of her death he was having a conversation with her in my house. He was about 4 at this time. I asked him he was talking too and he said, "Grandma Alice". I told him she was not there. And he proceeded to tell me yes she is and went back to talking to her. I walked around the corner to look and as you guess no one was there that I could see. I later got a call telling me Grandma Alice had passed at 1:30 p.m. the time that my son Brion was talking to her.
So yes Virginia there are things out there you can't explain.

LilMissMolly said...

* Do you believe we have extra senses we are not using? Absolutely. I also believe that our ancestors' spirits help guide us in our everyday lives. I use to be able to sense them much better when I was younger. But, I always feel that someone is looking over my shoulder.

Louisa Cornell said...

Hey Diana !!

Late to the party, but couldn't resist dropping by to say "hello" to one of the people who got me started on this writing path I'm on!

Diana was the first published author to encourage me to get my butt in the chair and write! Five years later I am still at it and just a bit closer to publication thanks to your encouragement. Thanks Diana!

And you know I LOVE the BAD agency books. I can't wait for the Blood Trinity series to arrive!

I often have those little warning niggles to go back and check the stove or to check the door locks. I rushed out one day and forgot my cell phone. Once I walked up the hill to my car something told me to go back. I'm glad I did. That night my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Without my cell I might have stayed out there all night alone or worse! I always pay attention to those little feelings even when it appears they happened for no reason.

My mother is a twin. Her sister died when they were six months old. Happened often during the depression. However, my mother can tell you exactly what her sister looks like now. Lois comes to Mom in dreams anytime something bad is about to happen in our family. She visited the night my grandmother died, the night each of my Mom's siblings has died and the night my father died. She came to Mom one night and told her that I needed her. Mom awoke and saw it was 1:53 AM. She called my house and got no answer. The reason? A car in which I was a passenger was upside down in a ditch in the middle of nowhere (I spend a lot of time there for some reason!)The car clock stopped at 1:53 AM. My half Cherokee / half Creek Mom scares the crap out of us sometimes!

My youngest brother had an imaginary friend when we lived in England. After three years we discovered the friend was actually a ghost when my brother pointed at a picture of our landlord's brother - dead ten years - and said "That's John. That's my friend." This happened 40 years ago and when we ask my brother if John was real he says "He was to me."

My ancestors believe that we are not superior to the animals, but fellow travelers on this earth. And the animals have retained senses we once had, but have long forgotten. Some of us, however, have flashes of those senses from time to time. And some of us are open enough to retain an echo of the senses we once had.

Cassondra said...

Teresa K said:

I can say this being brought up as a very Tradtional Native American, I know there is magic and strong medicine in this Universe.


What great stories about your son--and the gift that your family shares! Thanks for stopping by to say hello!

Cassondra said...

LilMisMolly said:

I also believe that our ancestors' spirits help guide us in our everyday lives. I use to be able to sense them much better when I was younger. But, I always feel that someone is looking over my shoulder.

I know I've felt the spirits of loved ones around me after they've gone--in particular at times of stress they seem to hang very close. I've heard a number of people talk about ancestors they've never met, but somehow sense the identity of the spirit. I haven't experienced that--at least not that I know of, but I have no doubt it can happen. Thanks for stopping by!

Cassondra said...

Louisa said:

youngest brother had an imaginary friend when we lived in England. After three years we discovered the friend was actually a ghost when my brother pointed at a picture of our landlord's brother - dead ten years - and said "That's John. That's my friend." This happened 40 years ago and when we ask my brother if John was real he says "He was to me."



You know, I think a lot of kids who have "imaginary friends" actually have REAL friends--just ones we can't see. I think sometmes they're relatives who've passed, or maybe ghosts, as your brother's was--but sometimes I think they're angels or guardian spirits too. I find it interesting that we decide for them what is real and what is not, just assuming that because we can't see it, it can't be real. Maybe that's where we learn to discount our "extra" senses?

My ancestors believe that we are not superior to the animals, but fellow travelers on this earth. And the animals have retained senses we once had, but have long forgotten. Some of us, however, have flashes of those senses from time to time. And some of us are open enough to retain an echo of the senses we once had.

My ancestors believed that as well. ;0)

What an awesome story about your mom and her abilities!

SiNn said...

awesome post!


Have you ever had a niggle that made you go back into the house before leaving that resulted in either finding something you had to have that day or turning off an appliance that could have been a danger? often and its usually soemthing no one thinks is dangerous till it happends to them i left teh oven on all day one day lucky for me nothing wa sin it and was a cold day but was dangerous all the same

* How often have you simply known when the phone rang who it was? Or started thinking about someone unexpectedly in an intense way then heard from them or heard news about that person? now this one i do often I know right before my mom calls that shes calling so i grab the phone turn it on and she sthere befor eit rings i get intence feleinsg about thos im close to then all of a sudden for instanc emy best firned tells me shes moving on with her life got out of thebad relationship she was in soon after i statred thinking and talking about her to my fiancee

*To the mothers out there – when have you had that maternal sixth sense about something to do with your child? my son is always doings omething to him self one day just got that mom feeling and i was right he was playing with his skateboard down soem steps i get a bad feeling caus ehes a teenager my fiancee calls me to inform me he sat the hospital our son just broke his collar bone

* Do you believe we have extra senses we are not using? we only use 7 percent of ourbrains by scientific standards so yes i think we do i think people ignore that 6th sence they just chalk it up to a feeling or something if more people embraced it the less likely we would find our selves in certain perdicaments

Dianna Love said...

Hi Teresa K –

You said –
I can say this being brought up as a very Tradtional Native American, I know there is magic and strong medicine in this Universe.
My grandmothe had a gift as well as my mom and I have it and my son now is showing this gift.
We were given the gift of seeing things that come to pass through dreams.
I have dreams about events or people that will happen and not once have they not come true. The dream might seem different than the event of actual time but it's always is a warning of something that will happen.

That’s a great heritage to pass along and it’s stayed strong in your family because it’s obviously been encouraged as a gift to appreciate. What’s even better is having the prior generation who can educate younger ones on what these gifts mean.

You said –
With my son it started when he was young he actually was talking to someone who passed that we were close too. At the time of her death he was having a conversation with her in my house. He was about 4 at this time. I asked him he was talking too and he said, "Grandma Alice". I told him she was not there. And he proceeded to tell me yes she is and went back to talking to her. I walked around the corner to look and as you guess no one was there that I could see. I later got a call telling me Grandma Alice had passed at 1:30 p.m. the time that my son Brion was talking to her.

That is such a heartwarming story for her to come see her grandson as she passes from one world to the next. When gifts like this are shared and understood they can be a comfort instead of something that scares you.

Thanks for sharing your story!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Little Miss Molly –
You said –
I also believe that our ancestors' spirits help guide us in our everyday lives. I use to be able to sense them much better when I was younger. But, I always feel that someone is looking over my shoulder.

I do believe our ancestors watch over us. My mom was the nicest person to know, would help anyone anytime. But she watched out for children in particular. We lived in a rural area. If she was driving us home from getting groceries and saw a kid walking alone she’d stop to give them a ride home. She used to say she was helping other people’s children and hoped someone would help hers if they ever needed it. I know she’s been the one to help me out of tough spots many times in my life and I’m betting she’s still helping all her children – plus a few others - the same way even if they won’t talk about it.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Louisa –

Thank you for the kind words about encouraging you to write (you’ve done an amazing job since starting! So proud of you) and the kudos on the BAD agency books. I hope you enjoy Blood Trinity as much.

You said –
I often have those little warning niggles to go back and check the stove or to check the door locks. I rushed out one day and forgot my cell phone. Once I walked up the hill to my car something told me to go back. I'm glad I did. That night my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Without my cell I might have stayed out there all night alone or worse! I always pay attention to those little feelings even when it appears they happened for no reason.

That is something we all should listen to – I know I have many times over and been rewarded with finding out something crucial I needed to know or to have with me.

You said –
My mother is a twin. Her sister died when they were six months old. Happened often during the depression. However, my mother can tell you exactly what her sister looks like now. Lois comes to Mom in dreams anytime something bad is about to happen in our family. She visited the night my grandmother died, the night each of my Mom's siblings has died and the night my father died. She came to Mom one night and told her that I needed her. Mom awoke and saw it was 1:53 AM. She called my house and got no answer. The reason? A car in which I was a passenger was upside down in a ditch in the middle of nowhere (I spend a lot of time there for some reason!)The car clock stopped at 1:53 AM. My half Cherokee / half Creek Mom scares the crap out of us sometimes!

Wow, that’s an interesting connection to a twin who died young. I hope you put that in a story some time. We were talking earlier about how different twins can be – either connected or not.

You said –
My youngest brother had an imaginary friend when we lived in England. After three years we discovered the friend was actually a ghost when my brother pointed at a picture of our landlord's brother - dead ten years - and said "That's John. That's my friend." This happened 40 years ago and when we ask my brother if John was real he says "He was to me."

My ancestors believe that we are not superior to the animals, but fellow travelers on this earth. And the animals have retained senses we once had, but have long forgotten. Some of us, however, have flashes of those senses from time to time. And some of us are open enough to retain an echo of the senses we once had.

I can see that as the case, but I hope it’s a sense we can develop again. We now live in a society that is trying to be more open to the strange and unusual. I say “trying” because there’s always going to be the ones who won’t accept it, but there are many more every day who show a true interest and an open mind.

Thanks for sharing your stories!

Dianna Love said...

Hi Louisa –

Thank you for the kind words about encouraging you to write (you’ve done an amazing job since starting! So proud of you) and the kudos on the BAD agency books. I hope you enjoy Blood Trinity as much.

You said –
I often have those little warning niggles to go back and check the stove or to check the door locks. I rushed out one day and forgot my cell phone. Once I walked up the hill to my car something told me to go back. I'm glad I did. That night my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. Without my cell I might have stayed out there all night alone or worse! I always pay attention to those little feelings even when it appears they happened for no reason.

That is something we all should listen to – I know I have many times over and been rewarded with finding out something crucial I needed to know or to have with me.

You said –
My mother is a twin. Her sister died when they were six months old. Happened often during the depression. However, my mother can tell you exactly what her sister looks like now. Lois comes to Mom in dreams anytime something bad is about to happen in our family. She visited the night my grandmother died, the night each of my Mom's siblings has died and the night my father died. She came to Mom one night and told her that I needed her. Mom awoke and saw it was 1:53 AM. She called my house and got no answer. The reason? A car in which I was a passenger was upside down in a ditch in the middle of nowhere (I spend a lot of time there for some reason!)The car clock stopped at 1:53 AM. My half Cherokee / half Creek Mom scares the crap out of us sometimes!

Wow, that’s an interesting connection to a twin who died young. I hope you put that in a story some time. We were talking earlier about how different twins can be – either connected or not.

[I'm finishing this reply in the next post because I got a note the whole post was too big...whiny internet wouldn't post it]

Dianna Love said...

Louisa - [continued]

You said –
My youngest brother had an imaginary friend when we lived in England. After three years we discovered the friend was actually a ghost when my brother pointed at a picture of our landlord's brother - dead ten years - and said "That's John. That's my friend." This happened 40 years ago and when we ask my brother if John was real he says "He was to me."

My ancestors believe that we are not superior to the animals, but fellow travelers on this earth. And the animals have retained senses we once had, but have long forgotten. Some of us, however, have flashes of those senses from time to time. And some of us are open enough to retain an echo of the senses we once had.

I can see that as the case, but I hope it’s a sense we can develop again. We now live in a society that is trying to be more open to the strange and unusual. I say “trying” because there’s always going to be the ones who won’t accept it, but there are many more every day who show a true interest and an open mind.

Thanks for sharing your stories!

Dianna Love said...

Once again, thanks for having me here. These have been amazing stories and so wonderful that you shared with everyone. Thanks for the well wishes on Blood Trinity and have a super day!

Dianna Love said...

Once again, thanks for having me here. These have been amazing stories and so wonderful that you shared with everyone. Thanks for the well wishes on Blood Trinity and have a super day!

Dianna Love said...

Hi SINn –
I didn’t skip you - your post popped up just now. The internet and its fickle ways. “grin”

You said –
i do often I know right before my mom calls that shes calling so i grab the phone turn it on and she sthere befor eit rings i get intence feleinsg about thos im close to then all of a sudden for instanc emy best firned tells me shes moving on with her life got out of thebad relationship she was in soon after i statred thinking and talking about her to my fiancée

Those are the moments that make us sit up and notice that we “must” have another sense beyond our standard five.

You said –
my son is always doings something to him self one day just got that mom feeling and i was right he was playing with his skateboard down soem steps i get a bad feeling caus ehes a teenager my fiancee calls me to inform me he sat the hospital our son just broke his collar bone

I’m glad it wasn’t any worse than a collar bone but that’s scary enough. That mom spidey sense was kicking in.
You said –
we only use 7 percent of ourbrains by scientific standards so yes i think we do i think people ignore that 6th sence they just chalk it up to a feeling or something if more people embraced it the less likely we would find our selves in certain predicaments

How true. It would be interesting to see them do a study on a group before and after being “trained” to embrace this extra sense.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Christine Wells said...

Dianna, what a generous suggestion about the t-shirts! Really, you don't need to do that. How like you to offer, though.

Thank you for being with us today!