Extreme Paranormal Investigations by Marcus F. Griffin

This book gives readers a first-hand account of some of the most hair-raising investigations that Marcus F. Griffin and his ghost hunting crew have conducted over the years. Belle Gunness, America’s first female serial killer, and Jeffrey Dahmer are just two examples of whose properties the team visits and encounters some unfriendly ghosts. This book is perfect for fans of the paranormal tv shows, and the author’s writing style is absolutely perfect for the subject matter.

Ghost Hunting for Beginners by Rich Newman

This book would be a perfect gift for someone who loves the paranormal televisions and wants to experience spirits first hand. The reader will be armed with all the basics of what is needed to form a team, conduct an investigation, and learn about the various equipment that can be used during an investigation. Rich Newman is a well-respected ghost hunter with over a decade of experience. His advice and knowledge is the perfect start for those who want to get off the couch and start exploring.

True Police Stories of the Strange & Unexplained by Det. Sgt. Ingrid P. Dean

Do you have someone on your list who is a police officer? If so, this is a perfect gift. Included in this collection are angels, UFOs, and truly extraordinary stories that give one faith in a higher power and that someone/thing is watching over us. It’s a very inspirational book and a fabulous tribute to the very brave folks in blue.

Paranormal Obsession by Deonna Kelli Sayed

So how did we all become obsessed about the paranormal. Was it the tv shows? They’ve only been around since the late 90s. America’s obsession goes way back to the spiritualist movement in the 1850s, and Deonna Kelli Sayed explores the various factors that keep this paranormal obsession fueled throughout the years. It’s an excellent, detailed look that goes beyond the tv shows and ghost hunting. It’s a must-read for ghost hunters.

The Ghost Hunter’s Field Guide by Rich Newman

Do you have a ghost hunter on your holiday list? This book provides over 1,000 locations in all 50 states of haunted public locations. Hotels, restaurants, historic buildings, and other locations are listed by town and allow the reader to plot and plan a trip to visit a reportedly haunted location. There is a key in the entry that lists what activity has been documented at the location. Of course, ghost hunting etiquette must be followed, but if one wants to dine in a haunted restaurant to see if any ghostly vibes can be picked up, there’s an extensive list of options no matter where one happens to be.

True UFO Accounts from the Vaults of FATE Magazine

If you know someone whose motto is: The Truth is Out There, this book is for them. Articles from the over 60 years of FATE magazine’s history have been collected and include the most well-known and documented sighting stories, deep history and explanations of Roswell, and articles from the most respected and revered ufologists are included in this volume.

I hope that some of the suggestions will make perfect gift ideas for those on your holiday list, and thus make the holidays a bit less harried for you.

Happy holidays!

But what happens when the adventure follows you home?

All of the events I’ve attended have been led by professionals and people who know what they are doing. There are ways of protecting yourself when participating in spiritual communications so that spirits don’t harm you in any way, shape, or form.

But there are times when nothing harms you, but you have a sense that something is “there.”

I was invited to a friend’s house to do some table tipping. There was a group of us, all very eager to try this very traditional form of spirit communication. To our dismay, no spirits knocked on the table, but we could definitely feel the energy coursing along the table top.

On my way home, I felt a presence in the car with me. My psychic gifts are rather underdeveloped, but I can sense a presence. My friend who hosted the party lives in a very haunted house, so I wasn’t too surprised that a ghost tagged along. I could feel the spirit follow me as I walked into my apartment. I smiled and said “I don’t mind a tagalong, but I know that Annie is rather attached to her ghosts. You are welcome as long as you do no harm to me or my pets.” I then felt the presence disappear. I got out my white sage bundle and smudged the house just to be on the safe side.

The morning after my first ghost investigation, I was rudely awakened by my cat running around the apartment like something was chasing her. I figured she was chasing a toy and grumped a bit that she had woke me up after a couple hours of sleep. I then heard her panting from exhaustion. I got up, put my glasses on, and saw that she wasn’t playing with a toy. It was like she was being chased by something I couldn’t see. As she was panting, trying to catch her breath (which I’ve never seen her do, and I’ve had her for 11 years), I picked her up. She hid under my arm and was very frightened. As soon as I put her down, she ran into the basement. This isn’t unusual. That’s her hangout, especially in the summer, but she was hiding. This is her typical behavior when guests are over, but it was just me. I would bring her upstairs and she’d howl and run back downstairs and hide. I did this twice and she had the same reaction. I knew something was up.

I took out my white sage bundle and smudged the house. I said that only positive spirits and energies are allowed, and for all negative spirits to please leave. I asked the spirits to not harm me or my cat, and that any spirits that did so were unwelcome and must leave.

About a half hour after I smudged the apartment, my cat came upstairs, hopped on the couch, and snuggled next to me. I was relieved to know that whatever had followed me home was gone and would no longer bother me or my cat.

When you participate in any type of spirit communication or ghost hunting, please take steps to protect yourself before and after the event. Psychic Protection for Beginners by Richard Webster is a fabulous resource for protecting you and your family and house from any psychic or paranormal harm. Magical Housekeeping by Tess Whitehurst does a fabulous job of keeping your house in magical and mystical harmony. The Ghost Hunter’s Survival Guide by Michelle Belanger is an excellent resource for protection when ghost hunting.

So if you feel that a spirit has followed you home, never fear. It may be friendly, but if it bothers you, your family, or your pets, that’s when it’s time to strike back with a smudge stick!

Hang on, don’t head to the bunkers just yet. This is just a theory that researchers think may happen if the effects of global warming on our planet start to contaminate the rest of the galaxy and universe. Other theories include an alliance between human and aliens (to ward off other aliens), indifference (we know each other exists but don’t do anything about it), to them enslaving us or killing us with alien diseases.

What lesson can we take from this research? Treat our planet with care and help reduce greenhouse gases to prevent our planet from drawing unwelcome attention from extraterrestrials. And let’s hope if contact is made, the first words we (or they) hear is “We come in peace.”

The spaceship dream was not the first contact that Hagar has had with aliens. When he was four, Hagar saw a floating car with no wheels that was kicking up a dust storm in the desert. He remembers throwing rocks at it, but has no recollection of what happened after. 

Hagar’s alien encounter is a very small portion of his book, but he states in an interview with MTV Hive that he could have written a whole book on the subject, but his co-writer convinced him no one would want to read about the subject. I beg to differ.

First-hand encounters about “the unexplained” are fascinating to me. Whether it’s ghosts, aliens, or various cryptozoological beings, hearing what others have experienced first-hand gives me some basis for things I haven ‘t experienced, or maybe I have witnessed and want to hear another’s take on what happened to him/her.

If hearing about Sammy’s alien experiences makes you want to read some first-hand UFO and alien stories, Stan Romanek relays his encounters with aliens and UFOs in his book Messages. Alien Dawn by Colin Wilson is another excellent book that covers extraterrestrial contact.

Do any of you have any first-hand alien or UFO experiences?

Some people are terrified of graveyards. I’ve always felt very calm and at peace while in a graveyard. The church we attended when I was young had the cemetery directly adjacent to the building, and we’d play duck-duck-goose in the unoccupied section during bible school (we stayed away from the graves; respect for the dead was very much enforced). The land for the church and cemetery was donated by my great-great-grandfather and five generations of my family are buried there, so I would often visit them when I was bored. The church is a half-mile up the road from my parents’ farm and has the only flat surface in the surrounding area. My friends and I would ride our bikes there and enjoy biking on the level parking lot. After a few spins around the lot, we’d pick wildflowers and say hi to the relatives.

No matter if you love cemeteries,   Melba Goodwyn’s Chasing Graveyard Ghosts will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up on end. Melba is a parapsychologist and has been ghost hunting for many years, and this is a collection of her tales while investigating graveyards. Aliens, vampires, panthers, ghosts, and statues that move are some of the mysteries included in this book and are and guaranteed to give you goosebumps!

Ghosts are all around, but what if you want to specifically go somewhere that has been reported to be haunted but not have to traipse all over the country? Rich Newman’s Ghost Hunter’s Field Guide is full of over 1,000 locations in all 50 states that have been reported to be haunted. Every location is a business or location that is open to the public, such as restaurants, hotels, and museums. Each entry has a small write-up of the location and a few particulars, along with an activity key that lists what paranormal activity has been reported. The address and a website are also provided. This book is great to keep in your car while on a road trip. If you’re looking for a place to stay overnight, how about a haunted B&B? If you’re not that brave, there are plenty of restaurants that have had interesting experiences.

So if you’re looking for something to get your heart racing during these winter months, these books definitely fit the bill!

Image courtesy of AMCTV.com

Zombies seem to be popping up everywhere. Yes, those undead creatures who hunger for brains or intestines just can’t seem to stay underground. Many large cities host Zombie Walks/Crawls, where folks dress as zombies and parade down the street, or most likely, from bar to bar. The new tv show that everyone is talking about is AMC’s The Walking Dead. Max Brooks’ book World War Z has made quite an impact on the literary world, and even Jane Austen isn’t safe from the zombie craze. Zombies take center stage in movies such as Shaun of the Dead and Zombieland. In a recent New York Times article, Chuck Klosterman talks about the appeal of zombies and how our fascination with them may stem from that their way of life mirrors our own. And it gives us a chance to think, “What would I do if a zombie(s) were after me?”

Last night, after months of patient waiting on my part, it was finally my turn to pick up the movie Dead Snow from my local library. This movie can be summed up in two words: Nazi zombies. It’s a Norwegian indie film from 2008 that made quite an impact on the Sundance Film Festival in 2009. A group of med students on a break head to a remote cabin. Snowmobiling, snow tubing, drinking, and debauchery eventually leads to an attack on the group from an army of Nazi zombies. As the acquisitions editor in charge of paranormal books, it frankly takes a lot to freak me out. This movie isn’t that scary, but you definitely see a lot of blood (which contrasts so nicely on the snow) and intestines (human and zombie). It’s much funnier than I expected, and I was laughing out loud as the end credits started rolling. The movie was amusing, but I did learn some rather interesting things.

*If caught in a zombie attack, the best weapon of choice is a chainsaw.

*Don’t sneak up on a compatriot during a zombie attack.

*A snowmobile is a great form of transportation, and it can also be used to kill zombies in a variety of ways.

You may laugh, but you never know when these bits of knowledge will be applicable to your life. I have a friend who often thinks, “What would I do during a zombie attack?” I’m all about being prepared for situations, and it’s interesting to think of what you would do in a similar situation.

Llewellyn hasn’t published any books that involve zombies as of yet, and there’s been a bit of a debate. Are zombies in our realm? Yes, we publish books on vampires, werewolves, and other monsters, but zombies are a monster we haven’t tackled as of yet. What’s your take on zombies? Pure fun and camp, or is there more to the walking undead?

Know someone who loves science fiction and fantasy? Their idea of a good time is escaping to a galaxy far away, full of mythic creatures. Get to know the creator of some of the most fantastic stories out there with The Dream World of H. P. Lovecraft by Donald Tyson. You get to know the real man behind the Cthulhu Mythos.

Perhaps someone on your shopping list is addicted to the various ghost hunting television programs. What better gift than a book that revolves about a family living in a haunted house? The Sallie House Haunting by Debra Pickman is a gripping story about a young family who moved to a home where there already was an occupant, namely a young girl by the name of Sallie. The events that happened will definitely get the adrenaline pumping of any warm-blooded soul.

Another gripping first-hand tale that will definitely be of interest to an X-Files fan would be Messages by Stan Romanek. In the book, Stan recounts his encounters with UFOs and aliens. His stories will definitely make you search the sky and look for signs of other life forms. Yes, Mulder. The truth IS out there, and find it out by reading this book!

On a much lighter note, you may know of someone who loves the show Touched by an Angel, is spiritual, and relies on help from the angels that surround them. Help bring them a step closer in communicating with the angels with Chantel Lysette’s book The Angel Code. This book is a very fun and easy to use companion that will help tune in to intuition and open minds to divine guidance. She also gives advice on how to decipher the messages.

So you might be aware that vampires are a popular subject at the moment. For that vamp-obsessed person in your life, Vampires in Their Own Words by Michelle Belanger and Vampires: The Occult Truth by Konstantinos are two fantastic books that will enlighten readers to what vampires are really all about. You won’t find any sparkly vampires in these books! And we must not forget Team Jacob. For that werewolf-loving person, Werewolves: The Occult Truth, by Konstantinos, will bring the lunar lupines’ history to life.

Do you have a friend who can sense things before they happen? They pick up the phone before it rings or they know what song will be on the radio before it’s turned on? If so, Spiritualism & Clairvoyance for Beginners by Elizabeth Owens is the perfect book to help your friend enhance his or her clairvoyance. And for fascinating tales of what it’s like to be psychic or clairvoyant, Growing Up Psychic by Michael Bodine and The Happy Medium by Jodi Livon are fantastic books that will keep the reader’s nose firmly planted inside.

And last, but not least, for those who are constantly on the lookout for faeries (and may sport wings now and then to get into character, or at the regional Renaissance festival) will enjoy Through the Faerie Glass by Kenny Klein. This book will be a huge hit for its detail on where to find faeries and what they are all about. The reader will learn how to work with and enlist the faeries’ help in everyday life.

This concludes my gift-giving guidance, and I hope you all have a safe and fabulous holiday season!

When glancing at NPR’s main page yesterday, the words “Haunted Wisconsin” jumped out at me. In this piece from All Things Considered, author Benjamin Percy talks about one of his guilty pleasures, the book Haunted Wisconsin by Michael Norman and Beth Scott. 

When I read this article, it was like I was reading my own thoughts. I grew up in the country on a dairy farm between two small villages (and when I say small, I mean 400-500 population each) in northwestern Wisconsin. There was a very small library in Prairie Farm, but we’d occasionally go to the library in Barron or Menomonie if I was bored out of my mind and needed new reading material. But when you live on a farm, your life is ruled by the weather and the animals, especially in the summer, and a trip to town or library wasn’t so easy. Fines were something my mom loathed, so library trips didn’t happen often. I was able to not drive my mother insane by a lovely feature of the local library system called Books by Mail. They would send you a catalog with the book listings, you’d send a postcard with your choices, and in a few days, a zippered pouch would arrive containing the books you requested. When you were finished, you turned the address card over and trudged up to the mailbox for the mailman to cart back to the library. And this was free, and continues to be. My mom is still an active patron.

In fourth grade I learned all about Wisconsin’s history and immediately fell in love with the subject. I don’t know if it meant more because it happened around me, but I was hooked. When I was poring over the BBM catalog, I stumbled upon Haunted Wisconsin because I thought it would contain more information for my brain to soak up. Ask any acquaintance of mine. I am a walking encyclopedia of Wisconsin facts.

When the book arrived, I was entranced. I was scared, intrigued, and I immediately wanted to visit every single place in the book. I then started to wonder if there were any haunted places in my area. Oh, the gears were turning. I sadly had to return the book, but I would put in another request every few months and re-read the book.

Many years went by and when I moved to River Falls, I thought of Haunted Wisconsin because there is a haunted home in town that is featured in the book. I had thought to myself “I need to find a copy of that book.” It eventually slipped my mind, as things so often do, and I was browsing the library book sale when I saw a very familiar and tattered cover. It was like purchasing a part of my childhood for an astounding 50 cents. The stories brought back so many memories, and I was once again inspired to visit the haunted locations.

I have hunted down some crazy things in the book Oddball Wisconsin, but not Haunted Wisconsin. After reading about Benjamin’s guilty pleasure, I have realized I need to dust off my copy and start planning some roadtrips. I have walked and driven past the house in River Falls many times, and I was lucky to hear the author, Michael Norman, speak at the River Falls Public Library a couple years ago during the annual fall author series. Norman is a professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and has penned other collections of hauntings across the Midwest.

Haunted Wisconsin is my spooky touchstone for many reasons. It was a huge catalyst for my curiosity and interest in the paranormal, as well as provided historical facts and details about my home state. It was a much-loved book as a child, and still stands up almost 25 years later. It brings back good memories, is comforting, and always manages to spark the wheels that turn in my head.

What’s your spooky touchstone?

The kite hobbyist is now back at home . If you happen to drive through the east side of St. Paul and you see some strange lights in the sky, I would definitely check things out and get a bit closer to the source and see what you find. It may very well be a UFO, but just make sure it’s not a kite with LED lights.