Happy Birthday Shirley Jackson - December 14

Hmm, I sure am a fan of some unknowns, eh? Shirley Jackson was a writer. An old school sort of writer of simple fiction that carried a lot of hidden intent. She wrote two novels that are favorites of mine, that are considered to be horrific in nature, yet there are no real ghosts or monsters in the stories; other than those that the main characters create out of themselves... in the world that surrounds them. I'm more a fan of her writing than I am of many other writers I may say that I like yet I have only read 3 of her works; The Haunting of Hill House, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, and The Lottery.

I saw the 1963 movie that was made from The Haunting of Hill House first, when I was a child. Then later in junior high school I read The Lottery for the first time. Then in high school I came across a copy of the book stat struck me thje strongest; We Have Alsways Lived in the Castle. But they are are all masterpieces that stick the closest to my ribs. I've reread the novels and have seen the film countless times over the decades, and appropriately enough, I mention dear Shirley Jackson in the opening pages of my new novel.

So happy memory of your dear life sweet lady. You have been an influence upon myself to believe in my own power to write, more strongly than any others out there. Aside for Mr. Barker and Mr. King. But they are quite different characters and influences indeed. Oh, and about what I say in my novel about you is not meant disrespectfully at all. But no, the fullest respect is intended.