Richie Tankersley Cusick believes in ghosts. After all, she grew up with one, and another seems to have moved into the house she lives in now. She and her husband, Rick, think it may have come with the antique roll-top desk Rick gave Richie as a housewarming gift when they moved into their present home. Or maybe it was there all along. Wherever the ghost came from, Cusick isn't afraid of it, just as she wasn't afraid of the ghost who shared her home when she was younger. Her fascination with strange phenomena doesn't seem to allow room for fear to creep in. This, no doubt, is a trait that is extremely helpful in Cusick's line of work. She writes horror novels for teens and adults, and revels in exploring the dark side of human nature.

The ghost she grew up with was a friendly one, according to...