Every Halloween night at the house next door, I do more than read and write about pirates--I watch them sail again. My neighbors strut about in what I suspect is their real wardrobe of corsets and knee breeches, firing their cannons and locking captives in the brig. It is a whirlwind of celebration and spooky shivers.
I fell in love with pirates as a child. Perhaps it was a blend of Peter Pan and Robin Hood, but I always had a soft spot for those ne’er-do- wells. Sea fiction like Patrick O’Brian’s classics inspired me to create a story about a pirate turned hero, THE PRIVATEER, published by Awestruck Publishing in the spring of 2009.
My first year in Georgia I noticed interesting habits about the folks living a stone’s throw from my new house. In late spring, they brought out queer duds: long skirts, overcoats, hats with feathers, and swords. My neighbor explained it was time for the Renaissance Festival. Ah, I said. From my back porch, I listened to strange sounds echo from their basement all summer long.
That fall I watched amazed, as week by week a life-sized ship grew up in the driveway next door. Attached to the house, it had a long deck with masts, and yes, sails. A few peeks through the trees and I realized the ship was filled with skeletons and treasure chests. Good Lord, I thought. They might be pirates…
As October blew in so did a cemetery, not to mention, a pumpkin patch and a mausoleum. The pirate ship shined nightly with a soft yellow glow--just enough to see the cannons. I often wondered what kind of neighborhood I had moved into.
It’s been two years since I mysteriously discovered the perfect home to settle down in. Now I find myself wondering if the house did not choose me. Or at least perhaps my neighbors (in some mystical voodoo way). They are enthusiastic and supportive of my piratical interests, and I am in awe of their swashbuckling lifestyle.
A sea-loving historical writer could not ask for better companions living next door. They mind their own buccaneering business, and only fire their cannons one night a year (at the hundreds of visitors who come to tour their shipyard).
Who needs a fence to look over? A pirate ship works just fine for me.
Happy Halloween Holidays--
daniellethorne
Find out more about my pirates next door at their haunted website:
www.swansbroughmanor.com
Find more about my historical, THE PRIVATEER, and my other books at:
www.daniellethorne.jimdo.com
4 comments:
I would love to have neighbors like that. What fun!
I am also one of the lucky one's to be neighbors to them pirates and to writer Danielle Thorne!!!
What an honor to have you write about our little adventure Danielle. We feel so blessed to have you, Rob & the boys right next door. We are so thankful that you all tolerate our pirating ways!
We drove by Saturday night - we were so impressed! It's all there, like you said: the Pirate Ship, the graveyard, the skeletons!
Thanks for writing about it and what great neighbors, Joanie
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