Thinking Outside the Pine Box...

Just one more full week before Halloween arrives. I know I've been quiet lately. It's been an interesting month to say the least. I want to thank Jason, Bobby, and Robyn again for having me on Strange Frequencies Radio this past Sunday. As always the time goes too fast! I had a wonderful time and loved listening to the rest of the show (and I'm glad Bobby was feeling better by the time I went on). They have a great mix of comedy, skepticism, and open-minded discussion. As soon as the archive is up, I'll post it for anyone who didn't get a chance to listen.

In other news my research has hit a few snags and dead-ends with finding more stories. That's the frustration with seeking out the true stories behind hauntings. I've been following one ghost story from Nevada to Washington State and haven't gotten any closer to pinpointing the full story (or the exact location of the haunting). The more ghost books I read, the more I realize most writers only retell the legend and leave it at that. Sometimes, they don't even give the exact name and town of the place in question! From my own experience I can understand why. It's difficult digging through history and tracking down people willing to talk. But the extra work makes for a better result.

I've broken down lately and done the unthinkable: watching old episodes of Ghost Adventures. To be honest, I rarely watch any of the paranormal television shows. Too many people use them as a training ground for paranormal investigation and learn everything from watching a few episodes and becoming instant ghost busters. Still, they can be interesting and amusing at times. I find myself cringing half the time (and laughing at some absurdities) but every so often there's something interesting or intriguing. I will give Zak Bagans kudos for delving into something I've been talking about for years now: ultraviolet spectrum work. Some animals seem to react to the paranormal and they also can see further into the UV spectrum than we do, so it was always a curiosity of mine. Of course, UV light can also cause blindness so that did stop me from testing some of my ideas in the manner I had considered.

That's the real key to trying to make some headway in the paranormal realm. you have to think outside the box, digest different findings, formulate ideas, and implement new techniques. Running around snapping digital pictures of dust orbs isn't actual investigation. But testing out new ideas can become an expensive hobby. UV light isn't the only idea which crossed my mind over the past 15 years of looking for ghosts. I think a few of my ideas could provide some interesting results but it will take a lot of work to figure out exactly how to pull it all off.

Otherwise, I'm about to head out of town for the week leading up to Halloween. I'll still be posting when I get a chance but enjoying the season while it lasts as well. And starting next month, I'll be talking more about ghosts in Australia as we lead up to my first trip "down under." I leave in just over five weeks, so time is ticking away. So much to do and so little time to finish it all in. Yet I am looking forward to this rare opportunity to explore the southern hemisphere and see wonderful things.

Haunting the Media and a Buell Book Giveaway...

What's happening on October 17th? A couple things, actually.

For starters, Strange Frequencies Radio will be interviewing author and parapsychologist Loyd Auerbach at 4:00 PM EST. Following his interview, I'll be on the show starting at 5:00 PM EST to discuss the paranormal and my book Queer Hauntings. I was already looking forward to it but once I learned I'd be following someone I not only greatly admire but have read books authored by for two decades I was even more enthralled! It'll be a fascinating show so be sure to tune in Sunday evening.

Then later that night if you're still in the mood for something spooky tune in to A&E for the series premieres of Paranormal State with Ryan Buell at 9:00PM Eastern and Pacific time followed by Chip Coffey on Psychic Kids. Paranormal Research Society (PRS) kick off the new season with "The Death Room" where Buell leads his team back to his hometown to investigate a haunted plantation and "They Only Come Out at Night" where the family of a police officer is being terrorized by alleged demonic activity. Here is the teaser:

I've mentioned Ryan's book Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown previously here and do commend him for his bravery and honesty about his personal life. Now, 25 lucky people will win an autographed copy of the book by going to Facebook and entering the Paranormal State Book Giveaway. Be sure and follow the link to enter for your chance to win! The sweepstakes ends on October 19, 2010 at 11:59:59AM EST and winners will be notified on or about October 21.

So take a little time to enjoy the creepy side of the season. Listen in and watch some paranormal entertainment... and maybe even with a book!

Video and information on Paranormal State and the contest provided by enter: new media.

They See Me Drollin', They Hatin'...

Paranormal investigator and fellow Ohioan Anita Brown has found herself in the center of some praise and a little scrutiny this week after taking to Examiner.com to write about an often-ignored subject: hate in the paranormal community. In her article 'Paranoia, homophobia, and racism on the front lines of the paranormal field' she speaks out about some homophobic remarks made by a few individuals but mostly one member of the television show Ghost Hunters: Britt Griffith.

Griffith appeared Wednesday on Live Paranormal's Home Brew hosted by Rain City Paranormal and spoke very candidly about investigating, the show, and himself. The article points out some offhand remarks he made throughout the show. The most controversial of which involved dropping the other F-bomb. ""You get on the east coast, the west coast," he declared, "and they're all anti-gun pussy faggots." One of the show's hosts came to his defense on the issue saying that while it was a "poor choice of wording" we should remember that " we are ALL human" and he doubts it was Britt's intention to harm anyone intentionally. Griffith also commented yesterday on the article, speaking in his own defense and clarifying all of his remarks. On the gay slur, he said, "Well they are anti-gun, wish i would not have used the F word there, sorry for that cause i love the gays. i am a lot of fucked up things, homophobia [sic] is not one of them."

Now, I don't know Britt personally and we never have crossed paths. I can't say he's a racist, homophobe, or anything like that. The F-word is used a lot by people and hasn't been as blacklisted as the N-word. But does he "love the gays"? Well, I don't have a clear answer to that one either. I don't know if he has gay friends. But even Sarah Palin has remarked that she has gay friends. That must be akin to being Mel Gibson's Jewish friend, I would think. If you strolled around Hillcrest in San Diego I would think it highly unlikely to find many gay men who had straight friends who would refer to anyone as "p*ssy f*ggots" and take it lightly. Any way you look at it, the way the word is used is not meant to be pleasant. And the phrase itself implies a stereotypical and weak gay individual.

I know a lot of people (myself included) who've experienced unabashed and blatant homophobia in the paranormal community. When people don't realize who is listening (or their sexual orientation) they definitely stick their foot in their mouth. What most people fail to realize is that you never know who is straight, gay, or bisexual just by taking a quick look around or spending a little time around them. We don't all wear tight shirts and eyeliner while waving a rainbow flag. It's fine to be who you are, believe what you want, and say how you feel. Just remember that words can be weapons with more impact than a semi-automatic.

I'm one of those rare people who don't feel compelled to hate. To me it's a wasted emotion that takes away too much energy better spent on positive things. No, I don't even hate Britt. It is a free country where you can be a tree-hugging hippie or a gun-toting tea-bagger (if only they realized what a poor choice of wording that is). But I will say one thing: this may not bode well for his advancement on Ghost Hunters International. When you're dubbed a celebrity all eyes are on you. During the show, Griffith said, "I'm very blue-collar, I'm R-rated. If four-letter words offend you, you know how to turn the sound off." Unfortunately, that's not quite how television works. When you're Joe the Paranormal Investigator nobody outside your little corner of the world cares what you say. When you sign a contract with a network or film company everything changes. You now represent a show and a company. Words need to be filtered better. Read through any contract and you'll see that proper conduct and ethics are a requirement. A lot of people find out the hard way that the industry isn't too forgiving. Just look around at some people who've been fired or "relieved" of their positions on television and you'll soon realize there's an unspoken reminder from behind the camera. You can be replaced. You're a dime a dozen.

The news has reported several incidents in recent weeks regarding the effects of homophobic speech and actions. This was undoubtedly a case of very bad timing and the need of a good publicist. Words aren't always just words. Anything you say can and will come back to haunt you. And that's far more terrifying than any haunted house.

Hitting the Frozen Air Waves...

Ohio winters can be unpredictable and depressing... and this year has failed to disappoint in those respects. Snow, rain, sleet, freezing rain, fog, bitter cold, mild warmth. We've experienced it all in northeast Ohio just within the past few weeks. And the dismal gloom of it all weighs on my mind far too often... yet I have managed to keep myself preoccupied occasionally.

For one, I've been getting some enjoyment out of my new iPod Touch (thanks to Yahoo and their Year in Review contest). I can now listen to podcasts anywhere I go, including my previous interview with Beyond Ghosts Interactive Paranormal and my recent talk with Island Ghost Radio. You can subscribe to both on iTunes and download the latest several shows. Click the image below too listen to the Island Ghost Radio interview (I'm in the second half hour).

And the radio show season seems to be kicking in for me! This coming Sunday, I'll be returning to the Kode n' Nyte Show on Nyte's Realm Radio. So be sure to tune in at 8:00 PM EST for all the alcohol-fueled insanity. And don't forget to have your teleshots handy! I'll be sticking around DJ Kode and DJ Nyte for a few days, hopefully to accomplish that investigation of their house without any glitches this time as well as a possible overnight investigation of a residence east of Cleveland. And who knows... I might be dropping by a haunted Cleveland gay bar on Saturday too!

I do have one other bit of good news to share. My book was reviewed in the winter edition of the American Library Association's GLBTRT Newsletter. I'm all for more libraries carrying Queer Hauntings, especially since buying isn't always an option for people in our dreadful economy. And if you wish for your library to carry it, just fill out a patron request at your nearest branch so they know to see about obtaining a copy.

This year could very well turn out to be an interesting one. I'm still in pursuit of more stories for the sequel to Queer Hauntings, so I welcome any input from anyone worldwide. And there is a good chance I might be doing some traveling over this year once more, but I won't go into detail until anything is definite. Of course, I have set my sights on making it to Australia in the not-too-distant future, so I'm making it my goal this year to at least have plans finalized before the year is over. It's a trip overdue for 15 years now... sometimes, life is too short not to throw caution to the wind and make all your dreams a reality. Yes, money is definitely an issue, but I do believe that with enough work and determination, you can accomplish anything.

(Un)Dead Man Walking...

Welcome to October... or, as I prefer to think of it, that time of year when suddenly everyone thinks about ghosts, ghouls, and hauntings only to forget about them after Halloween. Those of us dealing with the dead generally feel it's "just another day at the office" and sometimes scoff at the sudden interest. Although there is one exception to it being like the rest of the year: everyone wants you to be everywhere at once for the whole 31 days.

Honestly, I haven't had what you might call a laid-back October in a few years now. I miss the days when Halloween was something to look forward to instead of the last night and a mile marker for that next chance to take a deep breath, kick off your shoes, and relax. But this is what I've chosen, because I love the paranormal. So I won't complain... though I might try my best to find mild ways of enjoying myself between gigs.

And this month is going to be action-packed for me. I'm gone to Cleveland this weekend to conduct an investigation at a haunted place, followed by an appearance on The Kode 'N Nyte Show on NRR Radio on Sunday to talk ghosts, have fun, and give away a copy of Queer Hauntings. Then I have a few days of down time, hopefully having coffee with a friend, before taking my great adventure east to Salem, the Witch City!

Thankfully traveling via Amtrak again (I love rail travel... so relaxing), I'll be arriving in Boston on October 8th where I'll meet with Jeffrey Justice, who has been tirelessly helping me plan events in Salem for my week-long stay. I don't have a full schedule yet to give you all, but you can be sure I'll be poking around town, popping up in some of the expected (and more unexpected) places. If you happen to be in the area, check with your local bookstores and see if I'll be popping by... I know Cornerstone Books is on my list for the 15th!

Although it is mainly intended to be a "business" trip, that doesn't mean I'm not planning on enjoying myself. If money permits, I'll be having a nice celebratory beverage at some night spot with Jeffrey and I'll be taking plenty of photographs throughout my stay. I''m even planning an excursion to a haunted New England site as research for the sequel to Queer Hauntings (yes, I'm already working on that slowly). Perhaps I'll take a few interesting photos and have a little contest here... letting my dear readers try to guess where I was.

After I arrive back in Ohio on October 17th, it's off to Dayton for another busy week with friends, followed by a ghost tour. Perhaps I'll stop to breathe around the 24th before the month crescendos into Samhain, or All Hallows Eve. All the while my laptop will be with me. During all my excursions, I should be letting everyone know what is happening and updating things accordingly. There is no guarantee I'll have time to post daily, but at least I'll do my best to share my experiences with you all.

Creeping from the Crypt...

I've done it again. I've neglected this blog. Of course, this month I haven't been online as much as I normally am, so that's part of the reason. It's been another crazy few weeks for me, chock full of anxiety, stress, and my usual confusion. The temperatures here are slowly dropping down to autumn levels and Halloween will be here before we know it. That's not such a bad thing, though. I'm ready for pumpkins, cider, and the sweet scent of burning wood mixed with foliage in the air. Besides, 'tis the season for people to suddenly regain interest in ghosts and hauntings...

Personal dramas aside, I have also been working (when possible) on research for a sequel to Queer Hauntings. It might sound premature considering the book isn't even available everywhere yet (and I haven't even seen my first copy of it yet), but this time around. the research will be more grueling. I have perhaps five places to research at this moment, which means I need at least another 35 stories before I will have another full manuscript. My goal is by next year to have it finished, along with another possible book I'm looking into... though writing two books at once might be a struggle.

On the bright side, I'm still looking forward to my great escape to Salem in October. I'll be updating with details as soon as I know anything for certain. I'll also be off to Dayton yet again for another adventure with friends and spooks, so it will be a busy time for me. I'm hoping to have a few books on hand before I begin my travels, but we shall see how things work out. Also, on October 4th, I'll be on NRR Radio talking about my new book, as well as doing a bit of ghost hunting on the air. Apparently, the studio where DJ Kode and DJ Nyte are based has become a lot more active in the past month, so this could prove to be interesting. But don't expect things to be too serious. We're all going to have a little bit of fun... and during the program, I highly doubt the only spirits around will be those of the dead.

I've finally been updating my website a bit, so feel free to check things out. There are book excerpts posted and I'm slowly adding links as I find more booksellers offering Queer Hauntings. I'm still hoping to do book signings, lectures, and library events as time passes though it might take a little time. I know my local library might be interested in setting up something, though I'm hoping to break out of Ohio here and there too. Yet another thing for me to get going on: contacting places and trying to set up a few events as locations from the book. So much to do, so little time when you're only one man. That's where this blog suffers too. Perhaps Jeanne Barrack is right... I need a blogging team to help keep this thing going!

I'll do my best to keep this thing alive, though. Hopefully I'll find some nifty things to write about soon...

A Different Kind of Interview...

It's always interesting meeting new people. And this year, I've been doing quite a lot of that! Among the wide range of characters I've chatted with is "Doctor Paranormal" John Crocitto (not to be confused with "Professor Paranormal", Loyd Auerbach), a host of the internet radio show/podcast Beyond Ghosts! This Tuesday, I'll be on the air at 7:00 PM discussing ghosts and my upcoming book.

It was pre-recorded, so I can tell you that it was a fun show fraught with technical difficulties at the most inopportune times. (And just a minor clarification: I don't hunt gay ghosts exclusively; that would be too difficult!) But that's technology for you. They're not your typical "serious" people, so it was all in good fun. John and the gang (Jena and Ryan) call their approach "Guerilla Radio" and you never quite know what to expect. Hopefully, next time I'll have all the bugs in the system worked out and things will go off without a hitch!

A Bigfoot(ish) Broadcast...

It's time again for another shameless plug for an interesting and charming individual...

Cullan Hudson was the special guest last night on Let's Talk Bigfoot. The discussion involved more than just the furry creature in the woods, though. Stories from his book, Strange State, were mentioned, as well as UFOs and even a brief touch on the subject of ghosts.

In case you missed Cullan's interview, you can listen to it here:

Supernatural Spotlight: Chip Coffey

It's hard to throw a stone without hitting a psychic these days (I wouldn't recommend it... some of them might take offense). Though many undergo tough scrutiny, a few names have managed to work their way into the limelight. Since I have mentioned him in passing on several occasions, I felt compelled this week to highlight Chip Coffey.

Coffey is a medium, paranormal investigator, and writer from Elmira, New York whom many of you may be familiar with from his work on Paranormal State on A&E. He is clairvoyant, clairaudient, and clairsentient (able to see, hear, and feel psychic impressions, respectively).

His abilities seem to run in the family: his great grandmother, Minnie Sue Morrow Foster, was a Native American shaman and medicine woman. Both Coffey's mother and sister were visited by her ghost after her death in 1936.

When he's not trying to help the dead, he does his best to help the living as well. Coffey holds a Masters Degree in Counseling and provides spiritual support through various hospice organizations. InStyle Magazine called him "a cross between John Edward and Dr. Phil".

Aside from his many television and radio appearances, you can find Coffey on MySpace.com or check out his old blog on Blogspot. I personally find him very amusing (in a good way, of course)... and his sense of humor is very refreshing! He also teams up with psychic Patti Starr for Ghost Chasers International. He is currently based in the Atlanta area.

Chip will be appearing this Wednesday morning (May 14th) on Sirius Radio's OutQ in the Morning with Larry Flick at 9:00 AM EST.

Speaking of Ghosts...

Tonight, I'll be on "Let's Talk Ghosts", an internet radio show brought to you by TOP-Org, an Ohio-based paranormal group. It is hosted by Doc J and co-hosted by Sandy Both. This is actually my second time appearing on the program.

The scheduled topic is my book, Haunted Cuyahoga, though I'm sure it will deviate many times. I know she wants to talk about the recent copyright infringement problems online, and we'll probably ramble on about other random topics including those called in by listeners.

The show will air at 8:00 PM EST (1:00 AM GMT for those in England, 10:00 AM EST Friday morning in Australia). Of course, if you want to listen but won't be able to at airing time, the previous shows are available on the radio show website.