Passing the Torch and Hunting for Clues...

It's official. I've removed almost all of my old website from the server. It was time to end the emails to update links and wasted space filled up with things I don't keep up with anymore. I am, however, passing along the places, research, and such to Cuyahoga Valley Paranormal so everything won't vanish entirely. I've worked with the founder for several years here and there (can you believe we were rivals back in the day?) so I know it will all be in good hands.

Speaking of CVP, be sure to check out their other site: Haunted Akron. And if you have this coming weekend free, I recommend going to the Cuyahoga Valley for their Scavenger Hunt! We all had a wonderful time last year in April doing the Beaver Creek Scavenger Hunt and I might pop in for this one as well. This year's hunt encompasses the whole valley and is scheduled for October 16 at 8:00 PM. The cost is $5 per person (or $15 per carload). From what I've heard so far it will be a very educational experience... but in a fun way!

I've been hard at work the past few days adding lots of new places to my website (and waiting to get a few books to try to locate a few wayward ghosts around the world) while gathering plenty of things to write about here. So check back later this week for some interesting haunts and strange stories (including a gay bathhouse investigated by a well-known television show).

(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.

One of Those Crazy Months...

And suddenly, three weeks vanish. Who knew?

It has been a busy time, so I regret having neglected this blog, but hopefully it's not becoming a permanent thing! Working on final details with the book (which is still coming out this fall... September), travels, other little side projects here and there... all these things have distracted me. Life has distracted me.

Last weekend, I tagged along with SIGHT of Ohio to an event at Akron's Civic Theatre. I presented the history for a paranormal investigation, opened to the public. It was a good turnout and I enjoyed myself... but with fielding so many questions and doing so many things, I didn't have much chance to explore for myself. That's the downside of being involved behind the scenes at an event: you can't participate. Still, I usually don't mind that. Sometimes, I want to sit back and enjoy a nice ghost walk or presentation, but there are times I'd rather be involved in the production itself and left out of the details.

In just a few hours, I'm leaving for Ottawa for three weeks, with a brief stay in Montreal thrown in for good measure. It won't all be a vacation, but it'll be an adventure. And, time and energy permitting, I will be blogging from there this time! But to spare you all the boredom of merely reading about these places and things to do, I'm thinking I just might give video blogging a try. So if all goes well, expect a taste of haunted Ottawa... perhaps even a brief Montreal clip too.

Otherwise, I'll be back in mid-August... hopefully with updates and new information!

Gone Camping... and Spooking...

Tomorrow morning, I'll be leaving the confines of my small town... to the confines of a small, long-vanished town in a valley: Beaver Creek State Park! Thankfully, the weather is supposed to be nice. Perfect for camping! There is a Scavenger Hunt set up for Saturday night, so anyone who is interested, feel free to stop by. I know full well that some of the prizes are quite nice. Here is the flyer, done beautifully by Jeri Holland:

(click to enlarge the image)

Seek and Ye Shall Find...

Even though it's two months away, I thought I might et everyone in the Ohio area know about an event coming up this spring. Details are still being ironed out, but the basic gist of it is in place. And yes, I will be there... unfortunately, not participating but instead helping with the behind-the-scenes goings-on.

Attention all history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts!
Join the folks at Cuyahoga Valley Paranormal for an evening of fun and mystery on Saturday, April 18. Participants will follow historical clues in teams of 2-4 individuals around Beaver Creek State Park to eerie places on the trail of strange and forgotten legends. At each location, color-coded clues will lead you to the next destination. Put on your thinking caps and a sturdy pair of hiking boots, and prepare yourself for a journey into the past. Ages 12 and up. $5 fee includes a donation to the park.

• Registration begins at 7:00pm at the Pioneer Village Pavilion. Hunt begins at 8:00pm. Transportation not provided.

• Participation limited to the first 20 registered teams.

• Door prizes, pizza and hot beverages provided at the Pioneer Village pavilion followed by a midnight bonfire at the `Pretty Boy' Floyd site.

For more information and updates, visit the website.

And So It Begins...

It's officially October! You know what that means: Halloween is around the corner and everyone starts thinking about ghosts. Things for me become a nightmare. Not in the terrifying dream sort of way. More like everything happening all at once.

Last night was a presentation at the Sandy Valley Branch of the Stark County Public Library here in northeastern Ohio. For such a small, rural area, it was quite a turnout (over 30 people). I had an opportunity to see a few old faces I truly have missed and meet quite an interesting group of people. Technology wasn't on my side, and because of a bit of miscommunication (or lack thereof on my part) I was unable to show any projected images. My talk ended up being more of a lax meeting, going entirely from memory. What was supposed to be a one-hour lecture ended up lasting until the library closed.

But this was just one event marking the beginning of an insane time for me. Aside from the few investigations lately, there is so much slated for the coming weeks, I'm not sure how to wrap my mind around it all. Night hikes in the valley, a newspaper interview/event, a possible involvement with a production company filming about a haunted place in Ohio, taking part in another lecture with Western Reserve Paranormal, visiting family, and continuing work on my current book project. All this crammed into four weeks.

It's crazy! Crazy, I say!

After a decade, I should be accustomed to the slam every autumn, yet it still catches me off guard. Everything is always planned at the same time! I'll manage to muddle through, no doubt. But I'll be looking forward to November when the excitement wears down a little...

In other news, my wireless connection to the internet officially stopped working on my laptop, so I'm having to get creative for the time being with connection to the internet. Great timing, really. I think my best option is to get a DSL cable that's long enough to stretch and give up on trying to connect wirelessly. A new computer is not an option right now.