Nocturnal Journal–Mandy M. Roth

I’m often asked where I came up with the idea to have Pallo (vampire) own and operate Necro Magik & Supernatural Theme Park in the Darkness (Daughter of Darkness) Series. Since I just finished DOD3 Bella Mia and sent it off to my proofers, I thought it would be fun to explore some of the behind the scenes of the series. Today I’ll focus on Pallo and Necro Magik World.

For this behind the story peek, I need to start about five years ago, before I’d ever entertained the idea of writing a book. I was at Cedar Point Amusement Park with my family. It’s an amusement park that we’ve frequented on many, many (I actually met my husband while working there the summer before I left for college) occasions over the years. It was nearing Halloween and the park had started what they call Halloween Weekends. It’s where they open the park only on the weekends and totally re-theme the park with a paranormal vibe. Employees are dressed in costume, some as vampires, some as ghouls, some as werewolves. The list goes on. The entire park transformation was something I found very fun and interesting.

As we were walking through, feeling the eerie vibe that the normally family fun friendly park seemed to suddenly radiate, I got to thinking about some of the legends surrounding the park—hauntings and so forth. We kept walking, I kept thinking. The next thing I know, I’m sort off in la-la land thinking about how easy it would be for a paranormal to hide in the open this way. I mean, what better way to hide than right out where all can see. It’s the Victor Victoria mentality — a woman pretending to be a man, pretending to be a woman. A vampire — pretending to be a human, pretending to be a vampire.

This idea ate at me, leaving me wondering about it while doing dishes, or when I was driving (I know, yell at me later). When the moment finally came that I sat down in front of a blank screen, I didn’t start with the paranormal theme park scenes. I started with another and it flowed into this idea. From there, it blossomed into one of the main locations of the Daughter of Darkness series. I researched various mythologies of demons, beasts, spirits from varying cultures and began inventing rides or attractions that would fit the theme of this park I’d created in my mind. The Boobrie Carousel in the center of the midway was the first such ride to come into play. Here is a small selection from Daughter of Darkness–

In the center of the midway there was a large carousel. In the place of wooden horses were carved Boobries. These were giant water birds that were on the verge of extinction. They looked like a strange cross between a dragon and a bird. Huge talons sprung forth from the carved wood. Scales covered the creature’s legs. The breasts of the Boobries were covered in feathers. Thick necks pointed the way to a bird-like head. A shiny glass red eye stared out at me from each one. The carousel was full of children laughing as they went up and down. The children held tight to the pole, perched on the backs of the black creatures. Each one had been carved with such love and patience that it looked almost lifelike. Boobries had been numerous across the lands at one time, but now their numbers had dwindled to the low twenties. People had feared them when they stopped being satisfied with snatching farm animals and started snatching the farmers instead. Who could blame them? It had been a nightmare to keep out of the news. The tabloids had picked up the story. It made the front page twice, then some pop star’s newest love interest sold more issues, so they quit running it.~ From Daughter of Darkness by Mandy M Roth

Other attractions at Necro’s Magik World surged forth from here and it’s been endless fun. I’m always thinking of something else I want to incorporate. And this has been the behind the story of how Pallo came to own and operate a supernatural theme park.

(Here is someone’s recordings of what its like to walk through a section of Cedar Point’s Fright Zone–a strip of mid-way that is so foggy and dark that you really can’t see your hand before your face)

I hope you enjoyed this peek behind the story!