Interview with Romantic Novelist and Noted Psychic Linda Morelli
Conducted By Ayn Hunt


Linda Morelli is the author of two Romantic Suspense books, Fiery Surrender and Shadow of Doubt, which was just released. She has also contributed, "The Portrait," in the short story collection, Fourteen Pieces of Gold, and a new romantic story, "Sweet Revenge," in Sixteen Pieces of Gold, which will be released in December from Port Town Publishing.

What few may know is that in the 1970's Morelli was a liaison to the priest who served as an advisor to the movie The Exorcist. I asked her about her experience there, and how it came about.

Linda: It's a long time ago, and I don't remember the details precisely, but I worked for a parapsychology research firm from 1970 to 1974. Most of the work was classified as "Secret" so I'm limited as to what I can discuss. However, during that time, a portion of the Exorcist was filmed in Georgetown, just a few blocks from our office. The firm created quite a sensation and after its release, our office and the local Catholic Archdiocese received dozens of calls a day from people who indicated they were, or knew someone who was possessed.

My boss at the time was in touch with the priest who served as consultant on the film, and the firm was asked to field all calls for the priest. Naturally, I answered the phone and handled those calls. My boss and I, as well as the priest, met with several people who showed signs of being possessed, and I was also asked to use my "psychic powers" and give my impression of their "possession" after the meeting. I also visited several local homes, supposedly haunted. If I "felt" there was evidence of anything supernatural in any of these meetings and/or visits, a thorough investigation would follow.

Ayn: Were there any unfortunate incidents that came about to those working on the movie that you would care to share?

Linda: We heard rumors of odd events and strange happenings, such as crew members suddenly becoming ill or odd things happening to the filming equipment, but we never discovered any proof to those reports. The media hyped up the fact that many people, after seeing The Exorcist fainted and even had heart attacks. It's quite possible, since the film dealt with a religious theme and thus made a large impact on their emotions.

Ayn: How long have you realized you were psychic? Have you ever been employed in that capacity? Please share some of your experiences connected with that?

Linda: I realized I had psychic abilities when I was around seven, but I thought everyone had them. I started reading Tarot cards when I was fifteen and my mother was in the hospital. I was told she would die "within six months" and, totally depressed, I went out and purchased some Tarot cards. I did a reading on my mother, which indicated she would not only get well, but she would travel, have several boyfriends, and even remarry. I told my mother about the reading that afternoon and she laughed, but it all eventually came true. Naturally, I've been reading Tarot cards ever since, even for some well known personalities.

As far as being employed in a psychic capacity, I used my abilities extensively at the parapsychology firm. My boss was aware of them and even arranged for the local universities to test my abilities, which were extremely high. In one test, I was to determine the color of the cards which were face down on a table and achieved what I was told was an "outstanding response." In a second test, I was asked to tell the test administrator what symbols were on the cards he held in his hand. The test results were low, until the administrator realized that I saw the card on the top of the deck - the one that was face down and that he had yet to turn up. Again, I scored extremely high.

I've also affected machines during the various tests on my psychic ability. In one scientifically controlled experiment, I made a seismograph register a response at a designated time. I also affected machines unconsciously, such as the light on my office desk. I didn't realize this until one of our many volunteers informed me that they always left me alone when my "…desk lamp flickers on and off," because it only happens when you're upset."

I soon realized that I was able to subconsciously use my psychic abilities in other ways. My boss, for instance, was one of those typical "scientist" types. He'd lock himself in his office all day long, surrounded by piles of paper all over the floors and his desk. Once, when he walked up to my desk, his brow a frown of concentration, I pulled a file from the cabinet behind me. He stared at me and said, "How'd you know I wanted that?" That experience became a recurrent event in the office.

I really enjoyed the job, but the hours were long and hard. (My boss and I were the only full time employees of the firm). I'd bring work home all the time and, more often than not, take my oldest son (who was then seven years old) in with me when I worked on the weekends. I became physically and emotionally drained as a result of constantly using my psychic abilities, and had to leave the job to live a more normal lifestyle.

Ayn: What are your theories about ghosts?

Linda: They exist, though I've never actually seen one. On several occasions, which I worked at the parapsychology firm, I visited homes that were reputedly haunted. During these occasions, I'd feel the tickle of fingers on my neck or face, or someone's grasp on my hand, etc. In one instance, I went to an old mansion that was once owned by John Marshall, but had burned so that only the shell of the house remained. I entered the structure with several people and sensed "something" there, but nothing unusual happened until after they left. That's when a small burnt piece of wood flew from one side of the structure to another. I left there with goose bumps crawling all over my skin.

I've always tried to approach the psychic realm from a scientific standpoint, even though I've had PSI experiences since I was a child. I believe that many ghostly and/or psychic experiences can be explained logically and scientifically. This is only my humble opinion, but I believe humans only tap a portion of their brain's power, which is composed of electrical impulses. In many instances, when we die, those impulses die with us. However, in rare occasions (such as violent or sudden death) our brain is stimulated so that those impulses are intensified many times over. It's entirely feasible that some of them linger on after death, and it's those impulses that people feel - if they're receptive individuals with some psychic ability.

As far as we know, not everyone can perceive a ghost or spirit. I firmly believe that, as children, we have the ability to sense things that we do not as adults, simply because its not the "norm" or it's considered odd. Also, as we grow, we are taught to adhere to established norms and our mind fills as we learn more about the world around us. During this process, our psychic abilities are pushed aside, only to lay dormant. That does not mean that we can't redevelop them in later life. My psychic abilities, for instance, were dormant during my teens and beyond, until I started working for the parapsychology firm. There, at the suggestion of my boss, I took a course with Silva Mind Control and learned how to "bring them out." (I'm not sure the course is still being taught, but if you're interested, you might try to find the book, The Silva Mind Control Method by Jose Silva.)

Ayn: What are your theories about evil spirits?

Linda: Whatever you do, don't mess with them! Learn to protect yourself by going to your "alpha" level, (explained in the above book) and imagine a white light surrounding you. Say a few prayers as well. Can you tell I believe that they exist? You betcha. And it doesn't just have to do with the balance of good and evil.

Take a personal example: One night, when I was still working in parapsychology, I hosted a party at my home. Many of the volunteers from the film attended, plus some of my other friends. One of the latter said he didn't believe in parapsychology, then asked me to bring out my Ouija board. He phased the same question to the board several times, each time getting more and more belligerent, but the planchette refused to budge. This "friend" started cussing at it, and slowly, the planchette moved. One of the volunteers stood off to the side (she was writing down all the messages) and the message was "Y-O-U-G-O-T-O-H-E-L-L." I tossed the Ouija board out that night and haven't touched one since.

Ayn: What are your theories about negative energy?

Linda: That's an interesting question, because I believe there's two types of negative energy: the negative ions in the air that wear us down physically - a more scientific approach, granted, but you know what I mean when you face a hot, muggy day. The second is the negative energy people project that wears us down emotionally. We experience this when someone cuts us off when driving, or does nothing but complain and makes life around them miserable. This negativity not only reflects your perception of them, but also affects your own outlook, for a while at least. Negative energy is never good, and I firmly believe in that old adage, "You can get more with honey than vinegar." A smiling face brightens up everyone's day; a frown makes us pause to consider the reason behind it, if only for a moment.

To tie this in with parapsychology, if we believe that "spirits" or "ghosts" remain due to an emotionally charged death, then their reason for remaining may have to do with a negative experience or attitude. If the spirit had a negative attitude during life, its actions after death might be negative was well; and it may not show remorse. This would explain incidents where people are physically and emotionally harmed by a malicious spirit or ghost. I'm not talking about mischievous spirits here, but those who are truly evil. While psychics do their best to lead these tortured souls toward "the light," they're often unsuccessful, simply because these spirits have no desire to be saved.

Ayn: When did you become interested in writing?

Linda: When I was a child, I was a voracious reader during elementary school and loved to illustrate and write my own stories. Then came junior high and high school, marriage and family, then divorce and another marriage. I've been fortunate, because I've had so many jobs where I was able to employ writing, including a stint as editor of a monthly newsletter to major political donors. I'd also write during my spare time, mostly poetry and novels (one on parapsychology), but wouldn't want to show those to anyone. I've learned so much about writing since then.

Ayn: For how long have you been writing?

Linda: For too many years to count. I actually began writing romances full time in 1994, when my husband gave me a computer for my birthday. That's also when I joined Romance Writers of America, and the local chapter, Washington Romance Writers.

Ayn: Whey did you choose the genre of romance to write about?

Linda: Actually my first book, Firey Surrender, was a straight historical about the Battle of Yorktown, but my agent at the time suggested that I change it to a romance since, according to him, it was so difficult to get published in the history genre unless you're already established. Shortly after that, I changed it to a romance. Of course, I love romances and have read them since the early 70's, so changing it to a historical romance was fine with me. In fact, once I started revising it, I realized it worked far better as a romance.

Ayn: Who are your favorite authors, and why?

Linda: Wow, there's so many! Let's see…Nora Roberts, because I love her descriptions and poignant love stories; Leanne Banks for her sensual love scenes; Carole Bellacera for her out-of-the-norm relationships; and Jo Ann Putney for her wonderful historical romances. Then there's Lori Foster, Susan Wiggs, Heidi Betts, Eileen Charbonneau, Patricia Gaffney, Cathy Maxwell, Julie Moffett…the list is endless. Not to mention Shakespeare, Tom Clancey, Agatha Christi, Anias Nin and others in different genres. I did say I was a prolific reader didn't I?

Ayn: What are the titles of your favorite books?

Linda: Outlander, The Legend MacKinnon, The Veiled Webb, In The Midnight Rain … again, the list goes on and on.

Ayn: Is there any one or possibly two authors who have influenced you the most? Why do you think she or they have?

Linda: Probably Shakespeare and Goethe, since I had to study them in high school and they both wrote romance (even though Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther had a tragic ending). But then so did Wuthering Heights, another one of my favorites.

Ayn: What are your hobbies? Why?

Linda: One of my hobbies is gardening, though I don't have much time to do it since I've started editing for Port Town Publishing (and have two small children who demand much of my time). I love to get my hands into the earth and plant, and am teaching my children to savor the same experience. Gardening gives me time to think about my writing, especially if I'm suffering from (perish the thought) "writers block." Pulling weeds is great as well for working out frustrations.

My other hobby, though for a while it was my profession, is painting. I have shown my paintings in galleries around the country and sold quite a few (which is why I have so little of my artwork at home) but put that aside when I began writing romances in 1994. I have however, used my artistic abilities by designing the covers of my books, Fiery Surrender and Shadow of Doubt.

Ayn: What do you do for relaxation?

Linda: You've got to be kidding, right? With two small kids and dust bunnies that collect by the multitudes? LOL. Actually, I read stories to my children and spend as much time with them as I can. That's all the relaxation I need, except maybe watching CSI or Mystery on television with my hubby, after the kids are in bed.

Ayn: Do you find listening to any special type of music while writing nurtures your muse, and if so, what is the music?

Linda: I usually type without any distractions (that is, when the kids are in camp or school), but if I do listen to music, most likely it would be Enya. Her music is so peaceful and relaxing. Sometimes, if I'm writing a particular love scene, I'll put on some classical music.

Ayn: Do you have any pets? If so what kind?

Linda: Yep, my husband. Seriously, we don't have any pets at the moment, but we'll eventually get a dog when my children are old enough to care for it. I love dogs, especially ones with big brown eyes.

Ayn: What is the thing you like most about writing?

Linda: Translating a story in my mind onto paper. Heck, to be honest, I also love editing. You know, making sure the story line flows smoothly, that all loose ends are tied up by the end. That's a typical Virgo trait, I think.

Ayn: What's the thing you like least about writing?

Linda: The fact I don't have enough time to do it as much as I'd like to. Actually, most people worry about writer's block and I'm not immune.

Ayn: Do you use an outline or notes while writing?

Linda: Actually, I use a combination of methods. First, I'll do a brief sketch of the novel and characters, mostly brainstorming, and do some research on the setting, character's professions and traits (astrological books are excellent for this). Then I'll start writing the first chapter, and maybe the second and third, and make notes within those chapters of any ideas that strike me. Then I'll vary between writing, research and outline. I never go back over the chapters until I have the entire novel sketched out, primarily because I may write something in a later chapter that affects an earlier chapter. Then, once I have the entire manuscript outlined, I'll go back and flush out all the details, scenes, action, etc. One method that I recently discovered and I love is The Plot Doctor by Carolyn Green (PlotDoctor@aol.com). It's absolutely great for laying out a proposed novel and fleshing out the character's motivations.

Ayn: Do you know the ending of a story before you start writing, or do you like for the characters to surprise you?

Linda: I generally know the ending, since I sketch out my story first. That's not to say that my characters don't surprise me occasionally, and many times that's a blessing in disguise (as though my subconscious is telling me that a certain character would react differently than I anticipated). There are times, however, that the surprise leads to a reaction that's atypical of the character and that's something all writers have to watch out for.

Ayn: How much time do you spend researching the backgrounds of your novels?

Linda: I spent well over four years (most of it during the writing process) researching for Fiery Surrender with additional time doing research at my publisher's request (such as finding the names of plants/birds/trees in the Paris area) for specific parts of my novel. Most of the research I conducted in libraries (such as the main library in Fairfax, VA, which has microfiche copies of Yorktown, VA; Newport, RI; and even Paris, France, where my husband has relatives. Fortunately, Rick is as much of a history buff as I am and didn't complain when we trudged around the fields and towns. The Internet was also a real life saver, but nothing beats the written word.

Shadow of Doubt developed as a result of the many visits my husband and I took driving up the coast to Mendocino, CA to tour the wine country. (This was before we had our last two children). I fell in love with the area and thought it would be a perfect setting for a romance: jutting cliffs, like fingers stretching out into the ocean and roaring waves splashing against the rocks below. My husband and I actually ate at one of the restaurants mentioned in the novel while we stayed there, and I used a photo I took of the cliffs when I designed my cover.

Ayn: On the average, how long does it take you to complete a book?

Linda: That depends on whether I'm writing an historical (which naturally demands more research) or a contemporary novel. Fiery Surrender took a year to write, but Shadow of Doubt took only six months. Of course, I didn't have my younger children then and I wasn't editing as well.

Ayn: What do you do to promote your books?

Linda: Everything I can! I carry small envelopes in my purse, which contain information on my book (a photo of the cover, ISBN, and a brief synopsis and blurb), an order form from my publisher, and my business card. These I pass out to people I meet who express an interest in reading my book when they learn I'm a romance author. This is especially helpful, since my publisher is a small press and my book can only be obtained through online orders or at booksignings. These really work! I've even handed them out to bookstores while shopping and obtained booksignings as a result. By the way, I always keep a few copies of my book in the trunk of my car. You'd be surprised how many people will want to buy a copy as soon as they learn you've written a romance.

I sent out my publisher's press release to the local media (newspapers, TV stations and radio) at first to announce the release of Fiery Surrender along with a tri-fold brochure I designed that includes my book info (mentioned above) and bio. I follow these up with mailings announcing upcoming book signings. I sent out letters to local bookstores indicating I would love to sign at their stores and included the tri-fold brochure, my bio and a press release, then followed these up by calling the individual stores.

I mailed ARCs to online and magazine romance reviewers, and developed a mailing list of my fellow writers, friends and family. My publisher did an initial announcement mailing to that list which brought in a large quantity of orders. Now, I use the list to send out quarterly newsletters and to alert friends and family about upcoming booksignings. (Every time I meet someone who's interested in my books or wants to hear about future booksignings, I add them to the list).

Online promotion mustn't be forgotten either. I have my own website which contains several pages - one dedicated to romance readers; I have also established a separate site with AuthorsDen.com. This is just a sampling of the promotion I do on a constant basis.

Ayn: How much time do you spend promoting your books?

Linda: I really can't answer that because I promote them every chance I get. If I had to give an answer, I'd say promotion is 50% of my writing time now and 50% is straight writing.

Ayn: What projects are you currently working on that you'd like your readers to know about?

Linda: Shadow of Doubt just came out from Port Town Publishing.

I'm also the Associate Editor at Port Town and as such, have finished the preliminary editing on three books and am working on the fourth (Jean does the final editing on all books offered to PTP). I have already started a romance set during the California Gold Rush and a nonfiction book discussing our adoption of two small children from Russia and Kazakhstan, at the request of my agent.


Linda Morelli's books and short stories can be ordered from: http://www.portownpublishing.bigstep.com

Author Websites: http:www.lindamorelli.us and http://members.aol.com/lbmwriter/romance/INDEX.htm