It’s really interesting how new information comes when I’m not looking for it. I was reading The Mountains We Call Home by Kim Michele Richardson (Book 3 of The Book Woman series) and how these people in the Appalachians were really superstitious. The main character in this book found an angel crown in her pillow and saw it as an omen that death was near.
So let me explain what an angel crown is. This phenomenon only occurs in feather pillows when the feathers swirl in a circle to form what appears to resemble a crown.
The character in this book found one of these dark omens and refused to sleep on the pillow. She threw it on the floor and slept without. To clarify, she does not die.
Angel crowns were also found in the pillow of a deceased and that was supposed to be a sign that the person went to heaven.
The main character in this particular book by Richardson is Cussy Mary and she has blue skin which is a real affliction by a select group way back in the hills and has been studied by a lot of scientists. Everyone believes if they touch her, they’ll die so they hunt her like she’s a wild animal. I really loved this story.
Anyway, I grew up with a lot of superstitions. A bird in the house is a sign that someone will die. Finding a hat on the bed meant bad luck, illness, or death. To break its curse, you were supposed to spit in the hat, throw it on the floor, and stomp on it. There were a million others. I think these people had way too much time on their hands.
In my new book, Jess’s Reckoning, they’re trapped in an outlaw town with a madman. He’s very superstitious so Abigail, the newspaper owner, plays on his fears by appearing at his bedside in white face paint, wearing a nun’s habit. She tells him he has to pay for his crimes and will face death. Scares him out of his wits. She and Jess McIntyre do finally wear him down and they’re able to get free.
This is a sweet romance. For an excerpt, CLICK Here.
I once had an uncle who was terrified to walk past a cemetery for fear a ghost would get him. He took a night watchman job but never got out of his car. Another time our family was in a flood and found a dead body. They left my uncle to stay there and went for the sheriff. As the water began to seep out of the person, the muscles began to contract in his arms and legs. My uncle took off running and never looked back.
Who still throws salt over their shoulder when they spill it? Or refuse to walk under a ladder? Or how about not crossing a black cat’s path or step on a crack? I don’t think I’m very superstitious but how about you? I’m giving away two copies (ebook or print) of Jess’s Reckoning so leave a comment.
Here in the Texas Panhandle, we do love our cowboys. There's just something about a man in a Stetson and jeans that makes my heart beat faster. I'm not much of a cook but I love to do genealogy and I'm a bit of a rock hound. I'm also a NY Times & USA Today bestselling author of historical western romance. You can contact me through my website and I'd love to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and more. HAPPY READING!
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I’ve been known to throw salt over my shoulder–I’ll stand with my back to the sink so it doesn’t land on the floor for me to sweep up.
Ha! Denise, don’t make more work for yourself. Too funny. I think all of us try to ward off bad luck in some way or another. I’ve never done the salt thing but I still do some other things. I have a writing angel hanging on my wall next to my computer and also have a calligraphy stone by my keyboard. Not sure if they work or not but I want them there. Thanks for reading and commenting.
While doing family history, I’ve read about angel crowns found in pillows, too. There is one on display in our local historical society museum along with hair jewelry, which is quite elaborate. Here in the Ozarks there are many superstitions, legends, myths, etc. My older folks were superstitious, but I’m not, except I avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk, lol
Oh my goodness, Karen. That’s so cool. I never knew anything until I read Richardson’s book. Yes, the Ozarks has its own kind of superstitions and legends. I’ve seen some hair jewelry and thought it was super weird. I think all of us have some sort of superstitions, be they little or big. No, don’t step on cracks!! HaHa! Thanks for coming.
I wouldn’t say that I am superstitious but growing up I remember by grandmother sharing old superstitious she had heard. One I remember is that when your hand itches you could be coming into money or
losing money depending on which hand it is. The problem is I always forget which hand means getting and which hand means losing?. I don’t remember all of the details but I do think of my grandmother when my hand itches and it
brings back so many fond memories of the time we spent together and the stories she shared.
Patti, I also heard that about the hand itching. I think it’s the left that is receiving money and the right is money going out. But mostly it means you need some hand lotion for your dry skin. HaHa! It’s nice when it brings fond memories with loved ones. Thanks for coming.
I’m not superstitious. It’s more like doing things my parents told me not to do growing up. Like what not to do during thunderstorms or what not to do on Sundays. I miss those days.
I would love a copy of Jess’s Reckoning. Thanks for the opportunity.
Linda R, superstitions appear to be waning with the newer generation. Younger people these days are not the least bit superstitious. I hope you do get to enjoy a copy of the book. It was fun to write. Thanks for coming.
Good morning Linda! Wow. I don’t think I have ever heard of crown angels before. Interesting. Yes, I have heard all the superstitious things in my life. My granny told my Dad that I shouldn’t be hanging clothes on the line while I was pregnant. He had given us their old washing machine and that Christmas he gave us a dryer. LOL I think it funny because I never used a clothes line until I married! I remember Mama hanging clothes on the line growing up, but I wasn’t tall enough to reach to do it. Later a dryer was purchased. Anyway, the superstition was the cord would wrap around the baby’s neck. That didn’t happen. And I don’t remember ever being concerned about it either! I don’t think I’m a superstitious person either! Never did the salt throw or missing the cracks, or if a black cat ran out in front of the car! But, I will say I have wished upon a star and have pulled a wish bone for a wish! LOL
Thanks for the article Linda! I learned something new today! God Bless you!
By the way, I wished I had asked my granny who hung the clothes on the line while she was pregnant with the first few babies! LOL She had 9 babies and 8 lived! Those first few would have been little! I guess Granddaddy did or a sister or a neighbor. Who knows! The things I think of after everyone that would know the answer is gone.
Tracy, those older people had a lot of superstition. I never heard of this one. I hung a lot of clothes on the line when I was pregnant and in freezing weather where the clothes (mostly diapers) would be so stiff. I just did and went on, satisfied one job was done. When my first two were born, we only had cloth diapers. By the time my 3rd came along, Pampers had come out but they were horrible and I didn’t like them so I still used cloth. Glad those days are over!! I’m happy I could share something new of interest. The angel crowns really caught my attention. Glad you came to read about it.
don’t do that
Thanks, Bn100!
I’m not superstitious at all but I love reading about superstitions.
Rhonda, I love reading about them also. I have a few superstitions like a calligraphy stone next to my keyboard and a writing angel hanging on the wall by my computer. Don’t know if they help but what can they hurt? Glad you came by.
I have several black cats and they cross my path almost daily!
Teresa, by all rights you should be dead to tempt fate like that!! I’ve never been superstitious about cats. either. They’re all born various colors. It’s only a color. 🙂 Thanks for coming by and for my birthday wishes! So sweet of you to send.
Now that you mention some of the older myths, I can recall many of them. I can’t say I was ever suspicious, although we, more or less, followed the dictate, like not stepping on a crack or you would break your mother’s back and the hat on a bed. They are very silly when you look back on them. Walking under a ladder made me want to do just that to prove it was just silly. In reality, if walking under a ladder and some paint or something else were to fall, you would get a bit messed up. The salt over the shoulder was active when I was young, but I do not ever recall doing it.
Judy, I think it was mostly the older generation (which includes me I guess)!! The only things I do is keeping a calligraphy stone next to my keyboard and a writing angel hanging on the wall next to my computer. I’ve never seen anyone as superstitious as my uncle. He was terrified of a lot of things and it was so funny. Thanks for coming, Judy!
Well, I won’t walk under a ladder. And I was raised with the notion that whistling inside was bad luck.
It makes me uncomfortable at work when people do it. I won’t say anything to them. But rest assured, I don’t whistle inside.
Alisa, that’s right! No whistling inside and no walking under a ladder. I can see why it might be dangerous to walk under a ladder. It might fall or something might fall on me. My superstitions mostly pertain to writing. I keep a calligraphy stone next to my keyboard and a writing angel hanging on the wall by my computer. I’ll bet your husband doesn’t whistle in the house!! It’s always good to see you.
I don’t think I’m very superstitious, although I remember my grandmother saying the one about birds in the house. My mother believes things happen in threes. If it happens twice, it will happen again.
Karijean, I believe things happen in 3s also. It seems to never fail. I have never had a bird get in the house but if it did, I’d sure want it out and not because I’m superstitious. That would be awful to have bird poop on everything. 🙂 I’m glad you came to read my post. Thanks for the comment.
You named all the common ones I recall, Linda. Did you used to do this (or do you still) when two people say the same thing? Blurt out, “Jinx! You owe me a Coke!” I don’t recall how it’s handled if they’re equally quick to make the announcement, though.
Thanks for running the giveaway; I’d love to read a copy of your book (the plot sounds intriguing).
I’ve never done that superstition, Mary. My son played basketball all through high school and he always insisted on wearing a certain pair of shorts underneath his uniform. Couldn’t be any others. I’ve also heard of grown men in the NBA who were/are superstitious about certain things pertaining to the game. I’m not very superstitious either and see no harm in laying a hat on the bed and I don’t like feather pillows. I sleep on microfiber pillows.
You’re welcome for the giveaway. I hope you get a copy. You’ll like this book.
It is common sense not to walk under a ladder.
I am not superstitious. But I do remember hearing all of those listed.
I agree, Joye. It’s just common sense to avoid ladders. Growing up, my family was superstitious about a whole lot of things but I don’t think of myself as being someone following those. I think most superstitious people are ones who have little education and are blind to the goings on in the world. At least that was the case with my family. My dad couldn’t read or write until after he married my mother and she taught him. She had an 8th grade education. 🙂 It’s always nice to see you, Joye.
I’m not superstitious and find a lot of them funny!! My aunt had quite a few eccentricities, and one revolved around birthstones, especially opals. My oldest sister was born in October, so opal is her birthstone. My aunt was adamant that ONLY my oldest sister could wear opals, no one else in the family, as opals are bad luck for anyone else to have.
How funny, Trudy. I wear whichever ones I want and think are pretty. It’s strange how superstitions can take hold of people but the older generations really bought into them. It’s always nice to see you.
I am not superstitious. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!
Bridgette, it’s fun to read about what previous generations believed in and I think it goes to them having little education. They didn’t know or understand much about the world. You’re welcome for the giveaway. Thanks for coming.
I guess I am superstitious because I do not walk under a ladder and I get cautious when a black cat crosses my path. And I do believe this: Find a copper penny have a good luck day! I always pick up pennies I find and I have good luck.
Jackie, I still pick up copper pennies too. One of these days they’ll be a rarity. This is a true story – My baby sister were on our way to our oldest sister’s memorial service in a different town and each time we stopped, either Jan or I would find a dime laying by our car door. Four in all. That was way too many for it to be coincidences. We believe it was our sister saying hello and letting us know she was with us. It was a comfort. When I was doing a lot of autographings at conferences, I often found a penny by my chair. I think that was my husband saying he was with me. If it’s just one coin, I pay no attention. But if it happens often, it means something. My sister who passed knew we’d overlook pennies so she put dimes instead. It’s always a joy to see you.
I am not superstitious but I remember as a kid there was the one if you stepped on a crack you would break your mother’s back.
Deb, I remember jumping rope to that saying. Ha! 🙂 Thanks for coming.
No, I am not superstitious but my hubby had a coworker who was. One day, this coworker didn’t show up for work. He never missed work. They called to find out if he was okay. His wife answered and told them he had started to work, but a black cat crossed the street in front of him. He promptly turned around and went back home.
How funny, Barbara! Made me laugh. Wonder how the bosses took that? Bet they were not amused. Glad you stopped by.
Well, I don’t walk under ladders for safety. I LOVE black cats and miss my Emma. My favorite number is thirteen. My paretns were married on a Friday the 13th. Now my Gtan did throw salt over her shoulder when she spilled it.
Carrie, I have a dear friend who was born on Friday the 13th. She’s always seen that as a lucky number. I’m so glad you came.
Never heard of angel crowns… thanks for sharing! I do avoid walking under a ladder… I love black cats so that does not bother me!
Colleen, I’m happy I could bring something not everyone has heard of. I certainly hadn’t until reading Richardson’s book. 🙂 It’s always so nice to see you.
Things happening in 3’s has long been a superstition of mine. During the years I worked as a flight attendant and my husband a pilot I was aware of airline disasters – they tend to come in 3’s. I hoped the cycle would be complete before going on duty.
Stepping on cracks, black cats, walking under ladders, breaking mirrors were all common things to hear when I grew up.
Carol, it’s really strange how things happening in 3s work. I’ve seen it over and over. Thanks for coming.
I do not consider myself superstitous. I do pause when walking under a ladder just for safety sake. Thank you for the opportunity. God bless you. Have a wonderful week.
That’s smart, Debra, and makes sense when having to walk under a ladder. Sometimes, we can’t avoid it. Thanks for reading my post. God bless you as well.
I’m not particularly superstitious, but I know a lot of times in my life, death has come in 3s, so when someone passes away, I sort of expect two more people to also pass.
I do too, Kim. It’s very strange how that happens. Thanks for coming.
I’m not superstitious. Thanks for a really interesting post.
Thanks for coming, Diana.
I don’t think I am very superstitious, but I don’t think it is a good idea to walk under a ladder. Who knows if someone left a hammer up on one of the steps and it falls on your head if you jiggle the ladder.
Absolutely, Connie. Just makes sense to avoid it. Thanks for reading my post.
Hi Linda. I won’t admit to actually doing any of those superstitious things anymore, but growing up my grandmother firmly believed in a lot of them. Not sure I have ever actually walked under a ladder, and I probably only stopped throwing the salt over my shoulder when it was my own kitchen and I had to clean it up. I had never heard of angel crowns. In the photo they look like prim little hairpieces.
I loved Cade’s Quest and Summer’s Heart and the Jess’s Reckoning excerpt.
Thanks for the giveaway. And happy you had a good birthday. xo sally
Great to have you come over, Sally. I’m really glad you’ve enjoyed the first two books in this series. Jess’s Reckoning wraps everything up and he finds his little sister, making their family complete. Thanks for the birthday wishes. I had a great celebration. Thanks for coming.
LInda, I used to be a lot more superstitious than I am now. As a kid I did a lot of stuff like not walking on cracks, not going under a ladder, etc. Just the common ones. Never felt anything but love for all cats, and I’ve had a couple of black cats in my life that were just the very very best pets ever. I’m not superstitious about Friday the 13th–my husband considers that one of his best days. LOL
I have never heard of Angel Crowns! That is really interesting! I still do believe that things happen in threes–mainly deaths or misfortunes of one kind or another. And I always breathe a sigh of relief when that third thing has just happened, thinking “Well, that’s the end of that!” LOL
I love your cover for Jess’s Reckoning and I’m looking forward to reading it! Looks wonderful!
Hugs, my friend!
Love, Cheryl
Cheryl, I believe things happen in 3s too. This has happened too many times for it to be a coincidence. I had never heard of Angel Crowns either and it fascinated me. Uneducated people really are a lot more superstitious than normal ones with a lot of book learning. And people in the Ozarks and Appalachians find signs of death or bad luck in everything. I have a writer friend born on Friday the 13th and she’s always considered that good luck.
If you read Jess’s Reckoning, I hope you enjoy it. Love you, my Filly Sister!
We now live in the Appalachian Mountains where the Book Woman books take place. The further back in the hills you go, the more closed off the families are and the superstitions and suspicions still strong. I don’t think there are any Blue People left in the area. The last was born to the family about 1975, but the blue color fades as he grew and only showed in his lips and fingernails when he was cold. The area also has the Melungeons. They are believed to descend from the intermarriage of black slaves, native Americans, and white settlers. Their appearance and culture set them apart. They are concentrated in some of the mountain valleys and were shunned by white society until relatively recently. There were superstitions and beliefs surrounding them and often preventing them from joining society. They were affected by the Jim Crow laws, even if their skin tone were lighter.
I used to play at the old superstitions like stepping on a crack, walking under a ladder, and avoiding black cats. I do not pay much attention to them now, but sometimes do find myself avoiding stepping o n cracks.
Pat, that’s so true about the Appalachians. The more uneducated, the stronger their superstitions. How sad that the Blue Skinned people have mostly died out. Yes, I know about the Melungeons and that’s so interesting and sad. Jim Crow laws destroyed a lot of people and I pray they never come back into power. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make all that prejudice and hate disappear. It’s always so good to see you, dear friend. Sure wish I could see you again. Much love.
I am not suspicious at all. I used to be a little when I was growing up due to my mother’s influence but gradually got away from it as I grew older.
Cherie, our parents really do influence how we think. Then as we get older and more educated, we can see superstitions for what they are. I’m glad you came.
I am not suspicious but sometimes I wonder.
Debra, the only thing I really wonder about is the mysterious things that happen in 3s. Thanks for coming.