Supernatural Spotlight: Ryan Buell

It's been a while since I've mentioned Paranormal State here on my blog. I know it'll sound terrible but I rarely ever watch any television at all, even the paranormal shows. There is a certain level of drama set up in every episode (not to mention the suspense before every commercial break, which could either be an amazing discovery or turn out to be a ploy to make you believe there's something exciting waiting after advertisers fill your head with products you probably don't need). But--especially in light of recent events--I felt it was high time I said a little about the star of the show and founder of Paranormal Research Society, Ryan Buell.

Hailing from Pennsylvania (so practically my next-door neighbor) the 28-year-old is known across the country for his "directors log" speeches on the hit television show which is entering its fifth season on A&E. He was just 19 when he founded the paranormal group at Penn State where he majored in journalism and anthropology. It wasn't long before he was launched into the media along with his team and psychic medium Chip Coffey from Atlanta. Some people love him while others loathe him. Like anyone who steps into the limelight he became easy prey for rumors and speculation, praise for his work and scorn for finding so much demonic activity in houses and businesses.

Given his background in Catholicism and the religion's disbelief in ghosts, it's possible to postulate that a demon is more acceptable to the Catholic psyche than the spirit of a dead person. Every belief system labels good and bad in a different sense. However, this hasn't been the only dark shadow looming over his life. Buell has spent the last few years with a buzz murmuring through the audience regarding his personal life. People always want to know the little details and that can detract from anything else about who you are as an individual. The paranormal investigator has finally broken his long-standing silence on his private life and the paranormal in a new autobiographical book, Paranormal State: My Journey into the Unknown.

So... is he or isn't he? You know what I mean. "I’ve decided to share my sexuality and struggle over faith," Buell wrote in his new book, publicly announcing his bisexuality, "in hopes that others will no longer feel as though they are alone or that they can’t be religious." There has been an outpouring of both support and condemnation on his Twitter page as one might expect. He recently made a $2500 donation to The Trevor Project which promotes the acceptance of GLBTQ youth. This marks the first time anyone on paranormal television has openly acknowledged being anything other than straight. And he seems to go about it in the right way.

Sadly, there is the risk that like so many others who have "come out" in a public forum Ryan's sexuality could become the forefront of all focus and attention. Hopefully once the frenzy dies down everyone will realize the one thing so many of us try to get people to understand: we haven't changed. We don't suddenly bust into Barbara Streisand and wear make-up. Being gay, lesbian, or bisexual is just another identity or label like being tall, French Canadian, or near-sighted. It may make part of our life different from our heterosexual counterparts but it is not all we are. As a paranormal investigator who happens to be gay, I can understand why Buell has been quiet about his private life. I've been fortunate to be accepted by nearly everyone in the ghost hunting field I've worked with over the past 15 years but that doesn't mean I haven't experienced plenty of homophobia and rudeness as well. We all hope for the day when making a statement about our sexuality will be answered with a "so what" instead of shock and awe.

Kudos to you Ryan for having the courage to speak up. And I believe I speak for him as well when I say, "Now, let's get back to the ghosts, shall we?"

Supernatural Spotlight: Jeffrey Justice

Well over a year has passed since my last post highlighting someone in the paranormal field. And it was my intention to write about Jeffrey over 4 months ago, but as they say better late than never. In the past year, I have come to know him as a good friend and fascinating individual, regardless of his various talents. But as with everyone I've written about on this blog, whether I know them personally or not, I do my best to set aside any personal bias I may have and give those I deem worthy of some praise a bit of the limelight.

Honestly, I have known several dozen psychics and mediums in my life and they have run the gambit between truly talented and complete frauds. From my own experience, Jeffrey Justice falls into the former category. A Massachusetts native and direct descendant of those disturbing people called the Puritans who landed off Cape Cod nearly 400 years ago, Jeffrey comes from a long lineage of people with some form of psychic ability. While his parents wished for him to have a normal life and avoided discussing any strange experiences he encountered as a child, his grandmother helped him better understand the nature of what people often describe as "the gift."

Although he has received some press coverage for his talents as a medium, Jeffrey is widely unknown outside his native New England. Yet perhaps that is as he would prefer it to be. Although mediumship is his profession and full-time business, he doesn't wish to find fame and fortune in his supernatural abilities. He does offer his services as a medium, tarot reader, channeler, numerologist, and much more to the public and can be found at certain events in and around Salem (founded by his ancestor Roger Conant), yet doesn't wish to spend his entire life being "The Mayflower Medium", as he is often dubbed. His greatest ambition is pursuing a literary career... and perhaps living in a warmer climate.

Wherever his life may take him, there is no doubt that the paranormal will always haunt him. It's difficult to entirely turn your back on the supernatural once it's in your blood. But at least for now, people from New England and beyond can contact him and explore his talents of the metaphysical variety. Whether or not you choose to believe in psi abilities or the ability of a living individual to contact the dead, Jeffrey is a fascinating individual and worthy of a bit of praise and notice.

Supernatural Spotlight: Dean Radin

The paranormal community constantly battles skepticism and doubt. Belief in anything which isn't widely accepted by both the scientific and academic worlds is met with criticism and doubt. Without definitive science, even weathered paranormal investigators can fall victim to disbelief and jaded outlooks.

So, you ask, is there anything that science can say to give us a glimmer of hope that the supernatural exists?

Don't ask me. Ask Dr. Dean Radin, Senior Scientist at the Institute of Noetic Sciences.

Radin, 14 (he was born on February 29), is a bona fide scientist with a doctorate in psychology. His work ranges from physics to research in consciousness. While he takes his work seriously and maintains a professional, scientific view of the world, he also believes there is more to parapsychology than we give credit.

At a spoon bending gathering in 2000, Radin experienced unusual malleability in the metal. Not content to simply bend a spoon at the neck, he attempted to alter the spoon at its strongest point: the bowl. To his surprise, it bent nearly in half quite easily between his thumb and forefinger. Knowing the amount of force required in the eyes of science, it concreted his long-held belief and understanding in psi phenomena.

Amazingly, Radin believes he has discovered a coexistence between science and parapsychology. If you want to find out about his work, be sure to read his 1997 book The Conscious Universe: The Scientific Truth of Psychic Phenomena. His newest book Entangled Minds: Extrasensory Experiences in a Quantum Reality further explores scientific reality and parapsychological experiences. Even harsh skeptics can't help but take notice.

So, is there truth to our belief and hope that the rational world of science isn't so bland and concrete? Perhaps. But don't take my word on the matter. Read the books and find out for yourself.

Supernatural Spotlight: Jeff Belanger

Back what seems like eons ago, I belonged to several paranormal message boards and kept up on them a quite regularly. One of my favorites that I followed very closely was Ghostvillage. While I haven't found time to be as active as I was, I still stop on every so often to see what's happening. The creator, Jeff Belanger, still operates the site but he has become a bit of a phenomenon himself.

From webmaster to prolific author, Belanger has churned out a series of books on both the paranormal and odd history. And it may not be surprising that his website was the catalyst. The Worlds Most Haunted Places: From The Secret Files Of Ghostvillage.com launched his paranormal literary career, though he had been a writer long before it was published. He received his English degree from Hofstra University and was the editor of a Connecticut newspaper for a spell.

But like many of us, ghosts were a fascination of Jeff's from a young age. His first investigation was at the age of 10 during a sleepover at a haunted house. The lure of hauntings never went away and Belanger is now considered a leading expert in the field of the supernatural. Even so, he maintains a good sense of humor and level head, earning him many fans and lecture engagements.

Ghostvillage.com began in 1999 and has grown to an enormous size. Jeff has been featured on countess radio and television shows and mentioned in dozens of print media sources. Now, he is a full-time writer living in Massachusetts with many projects on his slate. There are plans for a paranormal thriller novel and even a children's book in the works. He is also the writer and researcher for the new series, Ghost Adventures, starring Zak Bagans.

His newest book, Who's Haunting the White House?: The President's Mansion and the Ghosts Who Live There, is currently available in bookstores everywhere. If you're looking for some spooky reading material, this is one author to check out!

Supernatural Spotlight: Sherri Brake-Recco

Over the years, I have met and worked with many paranormal investigators. Only a select few have been gracious and kind, and made working with them a pleasurable experience. In 2005, when I local newspaper asked to accompany me on an investigation, I assembled a makeshift crew of the best people I knew locally.

That night on the Towpath Trail, I had the distinct pleasure of collaborating with a delightful investigator and dowser, Sherri Brake-Recco.

Sherri has over 25 years of experience investigating hauntings. A Civil War reenactor for over a decade, her keen interest in genealogy and history drew her into the supernatural realm.

Back in 2003, Sherri began conducting ghost walking tours in the Canal Fulton area. She achieved so much success that she formed her own ghost tour company, Haunted Heartland Tours, the following year. It is currently ranked one of the Top 10 Ghost Tours in the country.

While her tour company keeps her beyond busy year-round, she still finds the time in her hectic schedule to teach classes on a wide range of paranormal subjects and give presentations and lectures at various libraries and events. And now, Sherri will be adding a new title to her roster: author.

The History Press has signed her on for a book, Haunted Stark County, which will be released some time in July of 2009. If all goes according to plan, another book, Haunted Tuscarawas County, will follow the proceeding year.

Keep an eye out for these titles because they'll be here before you know it. And if you're ever looking for a little haunted excursion to a cemetery or haunted landmark, be sure to give her tour a try...

Supernatural Spotlight: Jeanne Barrack

As Abraham Lincoln once said, "...sexual contact is a harp of a thousand strings."

I've been meaning to write about Jeanne Barrack for quite some time now, but I haven't had the opportunity to write one of my regular Monday posts in weeks. She stumbled across me entirely by accident through this blog... and I'm quite glad she did!

Barrack is a former New Yorker (and I won't hold that against her), music therapist, singer, and romance novelist. She married her high school sweetheart and, after chasing dreams across the country, settled in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

When we typically think of romance work, images of Fabio carrying a frail, scantily-clad woman pop into our minds. Yet, Barrack has broken that mold and aimed her sights on the paranormal. One of her latest books, The Sweet Flag, tells the tale of a gay ghost hunter and his encounters with the ghost of a gay Civil War soldier.

Make no mistake: this tale is certainly not for the faint of heart. She certainly knows how to get into the mind of a gay man... If you're looking for something supernatural as well as steamy, this is definitely a must-read!

Supernatural Spotlight: Daniel Hecht

Every so often, it's nice to escape reality and lose yourself in a good book. And if you're looking for something interesting to read with a paranormal slant, you might want to look for Daniel Hecht in your local bookstore.

It has been several years since I received that unexpected email from the author, notifying me about a new series he was writing. Although he is a fiction writer, he carefully researched paranormal investigation techniques and practices and had assistance from several experts to be as realistic as possible. I was asked for an opinion on his work, and was quite impressed.

Hecht wasn't always a writer. The New York native actually began as a musician. It wasn't until 1988 that the writers bug caught him and changed his paths. Though he now writes full-time, his interests are varied. He is also the executive director of the Vermont Environmental Consortium, working to preserve the natural landscape of the state he currently calls home.

His paranormal book series centers around Cree Black, a female 'ghost hunter', empath, shaman, and healer. She is both ordinary and extraordinary. As she and her associates travel around the country, they find themselves dealing with paranormal events and trying to solve the mysteries surrounding them.

The series will eventually expand to fifty novels, but there are only three published at this point: City of Masks, Land of Echoes, and Bones of the Barbary Coast. From New Orleans to San Francisco, Hecht brings the past to life... and tantalizes us all with the world of the dead.

If you love a good thriller, I highly recommend them all.

Supernatural Spotlight: Dougall Fraser

Is there such a thing as a gay clairvoyant? The answer is yes more often than you may think. And one of the better-known gay psychics is Dougall Fraser.

Fraser lead a very different life from most people. He realized at an early age that what he could see was different than others around him. At the age of 8, he gave his first psychic reading. Over the years, he studied massage, psychology, meditation and healing to build on his abilities. He left New Jersey for Dallas, Texas in hopes of becoming a massage therapist. Those plans fell through, but his psychic work gained momentum. By the time he was 20, he was voted Best Psychic in Dallas.

Being 6'6" tall, overweight, gay, and a psychic made for turbulent teenage years. Yet Fraser learned to cope as many of us do through humor and a positive outlook. In 2005, he wrote down the memoirs of his earlier years in the book But You Knew That Already: What a Psychic Can Teach You About Life. He may not be any older than I am, but from the sound of it, he has lived enough to fill a book!

Fraser now calls Los Angeles home, where he moved with his husband David last year. He is still a popular psychic consultant. He was featured on X Zone Radio in April and will be traveling back to Texas and New York City in the coming months.

Whether or not you believe in psychic ability, he is certainly a fascinating individual. And of course, if you're in the market for a clairvoyant, he's certainly someone worth checking out...

Supernatural Spotlight: John Kachuba

This week, it's time to finally recognize author and fellow Ohioan John Kachuba.

I actually ran across one of Kachuba's books, Ghosthunting Ohio, a few years ago. Regretfully, I missed his nearby book signing in the town of Peninsula, yet we agreed to call it a draw, considering he left out my own paranormal website in the book (he has a good sense of humor about him).

With his Haunted Heartland book series, he has since gone on to cover the state of Illinois and the rest of the United States with his new book, Ghosthunters: On the Trail of Mediums, Dowsers, Spirit Seekers, and Other Investigators of America's Paranormal World. He treats his approach to the paranormal realm with a healthy dose of objective skepticism and a touch of dry wit.

But don't pigeonhole him as a ghost writer. His first books include How to Write Funny and Why is The Job Killing Me?, co-authored by his wife Mary Newman. He holds Creative Writing degrees from Antioch University and has taught courses at Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati. He has been widely published in various magazines and publications and is an instructor with the Gotham Writers Workshop.

So, whether you're looking for a little help with the craft of writing or an interesting supernatural tale, be sure to check out his work. Or even stop by his Cafepress store and pick up some merchandise. He might be coming to a library, bookstore, or radio program near you very soon...

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.

Supernatural Spotlight: Loyd Auerbach

This week, I decided it was time to highlight the man who inspired many paranormal investigators, including myself: Loyd Auerbach... author, parapsychologist, mentalist, professor, and lecturer.

Indeed, Auerbach wears many hats.

He received his Master's degree from John F. Kennedy University in 1981 and published his first and best-known book, ESP, Hauntings, and Poltergeists : A Parapsychologist's Handbook, in 1986. Only a few years afterward, I bought my own copy which I still have on my bookshelf today (no, not a very common literary choice for a nine-year-old). From there we went on to write a regular column for Fate Magazine and act as a member or adviser for many paranormal organizations across the country. Still, he is probably best known for his occasional appearances of television and documentaries involving ghosts and hauntings.

His newest book, A Paranormal Casebook: Ghost Hunting in the New Millennium, was released in 2005. He is currently offering certificate courses (not like those "certified/licensing workshops" which plague us all, just to clarify matters) approved by the state of California for parapsychological studies.

Whether you're the beginning ghost hunter or an avid investigator, his books and work are not to be missed. With his three decades of work, "Professor Paranormal" has a lot to teach us...

Supernatural Spotlight: Chris Woodyard

Back when I began reading books on the paranormal, Chris Woodyard became a fast favorite. Before stumbling across her first book, Haunted Ohio, in 1991, I hadn't found many stories from my own state to seek out. Her books provided the first locations for my many weekend trips in pursuit of Ohio hauntings.

Chris grew up in Columbus. Her father ran a small printing company. From an early age, she new that writing was her dream. She had some works of poetry published, worked as an editor, and even created a murder mystery novel (which ended up being stolen by a disgruntled secretary). After moving to Dayton with her husband and daughter, she finished her first book about her new hometown.

The librarians in Beavercreek suggested ghosts as an idea for another book. Since there weren't really any Ohio ghost books out there, she decided it was an achievable goal (besides, she had a few paranormal experiences throughout her life). And that started the series of four books on Ohio ghosts, along with a children's ghost book and a few others.

She now operates her website, Invisible Ink: Books on Ghosts & Hauntings, which is the largest seller of diverse paranormal books anywhere. Odds are, if you're searching for that hard-to-find book about ghosts, she has it on her site. In fact, while scouring the internet for new publications, she happened to stop at eBay and purchase a copy of my own work. And she loved it, which made me feel better about a project which had taken almost a decade of searching to finish.

Though some may believe she has faded a bit into the woodwork, she's still out there... doing the occasional lecture and selling ghostly literature. But please, don't barrage her with tales and requests for investigations.

She's still afraid of spooks...

Supernatural Spotlight: Karen Laven

Of all places to run across a paranormal author: I first heard about Karen Laven on craigslist.

Everyone who knows me knows how much the paranormal intrigues me. Therefore it was no surprise when a family member sent me information from an ad on craigslist looking for Ohio ghost stories. On a whim, I wrote to the author and introduced myself. I heard back almost instantly.

Though Karen may be a shy, quiet person, she is a very accomplished writer. She began as a journalist and photographer in Buffalo, NY made the leap to books after moving the the northern Kentucky/southern Ohio region several years ago. Her books are diverse in topic, though I find myself very partial to the paranormal ones.

Her first ghost book deals with a fascinating city, Cincinnati. It is quite a fascinating place, both paranormally and historically. Personally, I've always been intrigued by the subway tunnels running underneath the city... for a subway system which was abandoned just as it was being finished...

'Cincinnati Ghosts' is already available at many bookstores. 'Dayton Ghosts' and 'Ohio Ghosts' are still being written and are expected to be released this fall.


And if you happen to be familiar with Ohio and have a personal tale of the paranormal to tell, be sure to check out her site. She is actively seeking new stories. Her deadlines are quickly approaching so be sure to get them submitted very quickly!

Supernatural Spotlight: Antonio R. Garcez

I don't have a single drop of Native American blood coursing through my veins. That does not mean I'm not extremely curious about the myths, lore, and history surrounding the early civilizations of the Americas. And oddly enough, I've had a few unexplainable experiences involving Native spirits during my life... experiences which still sometimes haunt me to this day.

In our modern times, the Eastern Woodland tribes of the Midwest are a distant memory. We are left with a few artifacts (arrowheads, mounds, and sparse monuments) acknowledging their existence in the region over thousands of years. The few whom were left were forced West in the early 1800s and late 1700s. Some descendants still can be found in the Southwest, though much of the original cultures are forgotten.

A few years ago, I stumbled across Antonio Garcez's website while browsing paranormal topics. It was sheer coincidence that someone mentioned his name and recommended his work. I bookmarked his site and ventured on with my research, soon forgetting the page in my hundreds of saved links.

Many months later, an email from the author reawakened my intrigue. He combines two of my favorite topics: Native American history and the paranormal. His books reveal hints of "entities" throughout Colorado, New Mexico, and other scenic, arid areas of the United States. On a backdrop of adobe homes and graceful canyons, the spirit world comes alive once more.

Not only is his website beautifully designed, but his work is truly outstanding. Before he came along, most books dealing with "ghost towns" failed to mention the supernatural aspects of these places. Starting in New Mexico, he began scouring the Southwest in search of ghosts. He spoke with regular people and discovered a fount of tales and plans to embark on further explorations around the country. There is even talk of television and film work based on his writing.

I have to admire the mavericks of the world who blaze new trails in the paranormal community. People like Garcez keep the field interesting...

Supernatural Spotlight: Rebecca Muller

Every so often, my website Haunted Cuyahoga gets a little attention or the random hit from an interesting person. I have made some wonderful business contacts, as well as a few friendships, simply from random people finding my site through search engines. Writers, photographers, attorneys, psychics, journalists,... the variety of visitors never fails to amaze me. Though some may be strange or disturbed, most are truly great people.

One of the most intriguing contacts I've made this year comes from my own state: Ohio.

Rebecca (Shott) Muller is a clairvoyant and paranormal investigator originally from the Cleveland, Ohio. Two years ago, she moved to Columbus with her husband. She stumbled across my site and sent me a message. The more we've talked the more fascinating it has become. We've worked with some of the same people, dealt with plenty of colourful characters, and share the same views on many matters.

Of course, she is definitely more famous than I am.

She is one of the more professional, rational investigators I have encountered. She may be psychic, but she doesn't simply believe everything, nor does she behave in any arrogant or self-righteous manner. She's just a regular gal who happens to love spooks. She and her husband even went to the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast last year to celebrate their honeymoon! If you're in the Columbus area and need some help with the paranormal, I highly recommend her. If only more investigators were as nice (and as well-behaved)...

Last October 31st, she was featured on the Today Show. You can see the short (and albeit stifled... not by her choice) video here: