The Medium Next Door - A Review

"I see dead people..."

This famous line from the very popular movie, The Sixth Sense, has been quoted over and over, but for Maureen Hancock communing with the dead isn't a joke, it's a way of life. 

In The Medium Next Door, Maureen shares her life story which includes some of her own tragedies as well as her ability to hear and respond to the dead.  This unique talent of Maureen's has helped many grieving people obtain peace, she has solved mysteries, assisted the dying and has landed her her very own television show. 

What makes Maureen different from all the other "ghostbusters"?  "I enjoy making people smile," Maureen says.  "I think what differentiates me from other spirit mediums is that I believe our loved ones in spirit enjoy coming through with a celebration and not reliving another wake."  In addition Maureen likes to "jump in with humour and help the person left behind know that it's okay to continue living, laughing and celebrating these great memories."

Even if you're skeptical about "ghosts" and an afterlife, Maureen's candor and readings are chillingly accurate - I found myself wishing she had a message from beyond for me!  She also looks like an ordinary mom (no layers of flowing scarves and dangling jewelry).  Her humor throughout the book is a wonderful change for a subject that could otherwise be morose. 

I will admit I had my doubts about Maureen's authenticity when I first picked up her book, however, the more I read the more I believed she truly does have a wonderful gift and the fact that she uses it for good (lots of time for free) is just more convincing.

For more information on The Medium Next Door, please visit; http://maureenhancock.com/, HCI Books or Amazon  

Local ghost whisperer: The medium next door: MyFoxBOSTON.com

Professor Pens Middle Grade Fantasy Novel

When 12 year-old Genevieve’s mother goes missing, she begins to search her house for clues to her disappearance. Nothing is unusual until a map drawn by Genevieve and her best friend takes on the feel and appearance of real rock. Genevieve is drawn to it. She swipes her hand across it and the turret ceiling in her bedroom suddenly slides back revealing a dark space. Intrigued she crawls up and see’s...

“... a bracelet. Made of multi-coloured stones – mauve, orange, blue-green, sea-green, midnight blue, rose pink – each stone engraved within it a design in a complimentary shade...”

Could this bracelet, her magical map and, what appears to be, her mother’s glove perched and pointing on top of the squire of the gate, all be clues to her disappearance? Find out in, Time Witch by Jacqueline Corcoran.

This book is exciting and mysterious as Genevieve finds herself on the adventure of her life after she slips into another world. Between her encounters with two youngsters engaged to be married, (a snooty princess and her dashing prince) witches, trolls, flying horses and a world based on “time,” this book will have your middle-graders staying up late reading under the covers with a flashlight. I LOVED it!

Check Time Witch on; Amazon and Solstice

About the Author:

Jacqueline Corcoran was born to Irish and Welsh parents in England. Influenced by the Celtic tradition of storytelling, witches, trolls, and winged horses inhabit her middle-grade fantasy. She has lived in the U.S. for most of her life – in California, Michigan, Texas, and now in Alexandria, Virginia.

She holds a Ph.D. in social work and has been a member of the faculty at the Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond since 2000. Before that, she was on faculty at the University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work for four years. She has published numerous professional academic articles and eleven books in her field. Although Jacqueline has been writing novels for over 28 years, Time Witch is her first published novel.