Ashley Hodges Bazer | Locked in the ASYLUM
October 30, 2015
With Halloween approaching, spooky tales are all about. Some of them are so out
there, we can laugh and blow them off. But sometimes, those tales hit close to
home. They don’t have to do with ghouls and goblins, but with real people and
real situations.
As a child, I had two seizures—one grand mal and one petit mal. I went through
the whole neurological work-up, EEGs, hospital stays. The doctor determined I
wasn’t epileptic. He believed they were triggered by playing video games and
using green-screen computers. As a kid, I was horrified and humiliated, but I
dealt with it.
Jump ahead many years later when I worked for a major theme park in Los
Angeles. I'd been living alone, and my brother sent me one of his video game
consoles to keep me entertained on those lonely dateless evenings. (Oh, there
were many. Sad, indeed.) Anyway, on New Year’s Day, a friend and I went out for
a lovely lunch, then headed to a store to do a bit of Christmas clearance
shopping.
I started to feel a little dizzy. I was about to tell my friend I needed to
leave...and that's all I remember. Until I woke up in the hospital.
There is no more disorienting or disconcerting feeling than waking up in a
hospital.
A nurse checked my vitals, then handed me a cup with two white pills in it. I
was required to take them before I could leave. I had no idea what they were,
but because I was in the "trusted, knowledgeable" care of a doctor, I followed
orders. They soon sent me on my way with a prescription for more pills and a
follow-up appointment with the doctor.
I wasn’t allowed to drive for six months. Living alone in LA and working two
jobs...how could I obey that? I took the meds, but proceeded as normal. They
toyed with my head. I had to really focus and stay ahead of myself to keep up.
Within the next couple years, I started to wean myself off the meds. I got a
job with a cruise line, and they wanted to know about this lovely little piece
of my medical history. I had to be released by a neurologist. This doctor
determined I was doing fine and the dosage I was taking wasn't therapeutic
enough. He told me not to bother with it anymore.
I was free.
In the wee hours of the night, when one is trying to sleep, but one's brain
just won't let them, thoughts come. Sometimes, I'd lie awake and wonder why
this happened. Did I have a brain tumor that triggered these random seizures?
(Well, of course not, but darkness always makes things worse.) Even years
later, I was angry and frustrated with that doctor who never bothered to check
my records. Who thrust brain-bending pills into my hand and forced me to take
them.
This is how my book ASYLUM came about. My main character, Trista, goes through
a similar set of circumstances and deals with the same feelings I had. Being a
sci-fi writer, I had more options to explore and could add some interesting
twists, but I drew on my own background to create the plot.
That's one thing I love about writing--weaving very personal parts into a
larger story. It gives a unique authenticity and perspective to the character.
No, going through all that wasn't fun, and at the time, I had no idea I'd
incorporate it in a book. But looking back, I'm grateful.
What doesn't kill us makes us stronger, right?
Giveaway
What are your spooky Halloween stories? Leave a comment below to be entered
for a chance to win ASYLUM!
Ashley Hodges Bazer is the author of the epic sci-fi series, The Crown's
Call, which explores the onset and aftermath of a religious holocaust in a
space opera setting. She also dabbles in young adult fantasy, bringing chess
pieces to life in Checkmate and mixing up fairy tales with fun twists in ONCE
UPON A HEIST. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. After
earning her bachelor’s degree in theatrical stage management, she went on to
work for The Walt Disney Company. Currently a producer for an international
daily radio program, she’s learning to balance working, writing, and momming
duties. And she's a real duchess! Learn more about Ashley and her books at
www.AshleyBazer.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest
Chase and Trista Leighton are about to celebrate their first year of
marriage. Both serve a band of freedom fighters known as the Ghosts, and they
couldn’t be happier. Until Trista is captured by the corrupt government, the
Progressive Legacy. They broadcast news of her execution, but hand her over to
their Experimental Medicine Agency.
Chase's hope outweighs his grief. He launches a search for Trista. While
following a lead, he and his men are ambushed, arrested, and sentenced to the
Straitjacket, a ship-based facility for the criminally insane.
Systems analyst Krissa Carlisle is temporarily assigned to the ship to fix
their computers. As she is working, Chase and the other inmates riot. She
becomes their prisoner. But when Chase comes face-to-face with Krissa, he
recognizes her... As Trista.
Comments
16 comments posted.
Re: Ashley Hodges Bazer | Locked in the ASYLUM
dont have any (Marissa Yip-Young 5:21am October 30, 2015)
The only spooky story that I have is that I understand about having a form of seizure that comes on once in a while that is yet to be understood by medicine, yet is controlled by medication. I, like you, went through a battery of tests, and saw many doctors, but was spared the agony of having my license pulled. I don't drive that much, and can tell in advance on those days when a seizure is in my future. Mine seem to be caused by severe stress, so I've learned how to control it for the most part. Anyway the scariest thing of late would have to be going to see my Father laying on his death bed in the hospital. The doctor came in to talk to my Sisters and myself about taking him off of life support, and I asked him if my Father could hear the conversation. He said yes, and I yelled at the doctor about being so cold regarding the conversation. We then took it to a private room. The whole thing was not only scary, but eerie in its' own right, because we were holding his right to exist in our hands. (Peggy Roberson 9:11am October 30, 2015)
Ashley, I did want to add that when I read the synopsis to your book, I was totally blown away!! I have to say that I can't recall seeing a story line quite like yours, and am looking forward to reading your book!! It's on my TBR list. Congratulations on your book, and I'm sure it's going to do quite well!! Thank you for coming today and sharing your story, as well as letting us know about your book!! (Peggy Roberson 9:14am October 30, 2015)
I don't really have any spooky Halloween stories but I love hearing them. (Pam Howell 9:56am October 30, 2015)
I enjoy Halloweeen spooky stories but don't know any. (Sharon Berger 1:27pm October 30, 2015)
I like the Fear series of books by Kay Hooper (Tracee Imai 3:22pm October 30, 2015)
Living in New Jersey, the spookiest, scariest thing I can think of is the Jersey Devil. One night when I was driving home from helping a friend repair his hunting cabin in the Pine Barrens, I reached a point on the deserted road where the road made a sharp right turn. As I approached this turn, there was a very tall and very old pine tree ahead of me. It was around 9 p.m. and the October night was pitch black. I noticed two red points of light about 20 feet up in the pine tree. I didn't think too much about it right then because I was concentrating on navigating the turn. But as I got closer to home, I started to think. I had never seen an animal's eye shine red. I couldn't have been a deer because it was too high up and their eyes shine green. It wasn't an owl because the 'eyes' were too far apart and owl's eyes don't shine red either. The same applies to bobcats although they can climb trees. I couldn't imagine what kind of animal it might have been. I told my mother about it, but she had no suggestions. The next day I called my friend and told him about it. He chuckled and told me that I had seen the Jersey Devil. I don't know if it was true because my friend did love to tease me, but his explanation is as good as anything I can think of. If one searches the internet for the Jersey Devil, one finds that there have been innumerable sightings for several hundred years. Including sightings, even in daylight, by police officers, firemen and even a mayor. My mind remains open. However, I do try to avoid dark and deserted places when I'm by myself and I always remain hyper-aware. (Irene Menge 8:25pm October 30, 2015)
When I was a kid, my brother and I were riding in the back of a pickup truck (this was back in the days when that was considered okay!). My parents were in the truck driving us along a dark, forested area on some small road in the middle of nowhere, SC. My brother and I have overactive imaginations and swore we saw "tree people" staring at us and banged loudly on the window and demanded we all squeeze inside the truck so we'd be safe from the "tree people". We still laugh about it to this day! (Debbie Wiley 10:00pm October 30, 2015)
Nothing specifically Halloween oriented, but almost everyone can come up with something either from local lore or personal happenings that fit into the scary mold! (Matthew Burkhead 2:27pm October 31, 2015)
The young couple out parking... hear a noise... get scared...gun the car... later on find a bloody hook on the door handle. Heard that as a kid & it really scared me. Still haunts me! (Nancy Ludvik 5:40pm October 31, 2015)
When I was younger we went to the movies to watch all the halloween movies. A car load of people came in yelling etc. when we came out there was bodies under the car. They were stuffed but sure looked real. (Cynthia Keagy 6:17pm October 31, 2015)
I had a neurological development that caused facial axial drooping, ocular and olfactory hallucinations, lasting approx. six months acutely. Had every test for every test docs could think of and they came up with nothing. I still have axial facial asymmetry but that seems to be it. I think it's a variation of post encephalitis syndrome but that has had very little research done on it, unlike post polio syndrome. (Kathleen Bylsma 6:51pm October 31, 2015)
Nothing spooky happened to me, but I do like to read those kind of stories...looking forward to your book-it sounds really good! (Cynthia Powers 10:45pm October 31, 2015)
I had seizures also - back in my senior year in high school - three grand mal seizures, no cause was ever found - I never knew when they were coming on, and I remembered clearly what I was doing before the seizures (except for the one I had in my sleep!). (Felicia Ciaudelli 12:29pm November 1, 2015)
i had one seizures in 2009 i don't remember it.But i do remember going to the hospital a litle bit.my mom heard it,and she told my dad,and i have been talking the medience ever since. (Ann Unger 11:19pm November 1, 2015)
What a unique experience to draw inspiration from. It makes your story much more enticing. I've never had a seizure, but have been with someone who had them. Very scary. I do hope you are well now. (Freda Mans-Labianca 3:37pm November 2, 2015)
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