GHOST HUNTERS

I heard from my ghost hunting partner that Discovery is showing a commercial for "Ghost Lab" using a quote from "Autumnforest." I managed to catch it and tape it on TV and took the screen shot above on my big screen TV. It would have been cool if the told me so I knew to look for it. Well, at least someone sharp caught it. Cool, huh? MORE GOOD NEWS: CreepyQueen magazine accepted my short story "Cave Dwellers" for their January issue which is their premiere hard-copy printing of the magazine and mine was the only short story accepted for that issue. They also are interested in my scary clown story for their spring/summer issue! I want to thank my readers because ya'all made me believe in my ability to provide a riveting short story in the horror genre. Thanks so much!

On my research into the Grand Canyon finds, I kept running across a race of supposed giants whose remains have been found from Alaska to the Midwest. This one will give you the chills… Apparently, these skeletons averaged 7’ tall and have been found in New York, Tennessee, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Nevada, Kentucky, Utah, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Minnesota, and pretty much all over the world. Interestingly, these have been found in caves and burial mounds and sometimes even wrapped in Egyptian style. Those of you who’ve read Genesis, might have heard of the nephilims, giants who supposedly descended from fallen angels. I’m always excited about the way things can link together and the Bible references with the find of giant bodies is quite spine-tingling. There are several reasons for what might have caused such a giant race of people found all over the world: 1. Since taller height is something found in warmer climes and shorter plumper figures are found in colder climates. It could have ...

Want more weird Grand Canyon stuff? We’ve gone from skinwalkers to portals to other dimensions to mummies and ancient civilizations. Now, let’s do UFO’s. This article caught my attention. “ 4,000 YEAR OLD UFO FOUND IN GRAND CANYON! BY LISA MERAKIS Flagstaff, Ariz. - A team of experts called in to examine strange debris at the bottom of the Grand Canyon discovered the wreckage of a UFO that crashed a mind boggling 4,000 years ago! The scientists, members of a highly secret joint military task force on UFOs, inspected the spherical craft and found it to be in good condition despite its rough landing and incredible age. The relic is made of an unknown metallic substance and emits low levels of radiation, according to leaks from highly placed sources. It was immediately removed from the site and is now in a secret location. My contacts tell me this craft is definitely of extraterrestrial origin and without a doubt carried a crew of 12 to 20 individuals, said Dr. Henry Leaumont, a Califor...

Consider this part 3 of the Grand Canyon Series. Who knows, from what I'm finding, how many this will take to explain the phenomenon associated with this amazing natural wonder. You recently read my post on the potential Shapeshifter encounter at the Grand Canyon and then my post about the Grand Canyon mummies. Now, we got a step further into territory that should give you chills, like it does me. I hope we can start an excited conversation about these correlations. Hopi legend tells that the current earth is the Fourth World to be inhabited by Tawa's creations. The story essentially states that in each previous world, the people, though originally happy, became disobedient and lived contrary to Tawa's plan; they engaged in sexual promiscuity, fought one another and would not live in harmony. Thus, the most obedient were led (usually by Spider Woman) to the next higher world, with physical changes occurring both in the people in the course of their journey, and in the envir...

I stumbled across this amazing subject and found out it’s all over the Internet! An actual article written up in the Phoenix Gazette in 1909 told of an explorer finding caves within the Grand Canyon when riding the Colorado river in a boat. What he found was written in astounding detail in the article below. I’m fascinated with the details and the intrigue. On one site they wrote, “ Historian and linguist Carl Hart, editor of WORLD EXPLORER, then obtained a hiker's map of the Grand Canyon from a bookstore in Chicago. Poring over the map, we were amazed to see that much of the area on the north side of the canyon has Egyptian names. The area around Ninety-four Mile Creek and Trinity Creek had areas (rock formations, apparently) with names like Tower of Set, Tower of Ra, Horus Temple, Osiris Temple, and Isis Temple. In the Haunted Canyon area were such names as the Cheops Pyramid, the Buddha Cloister, Buddha Temple, Manu Temple and Shiva Temple. Was there any relationship between th...

Wake up from your turkey hangover. It’s time for a cozy evening with a fire, some spiced rum-laced apple cider. Light a fire in the fireplace and prop up your swollen feet. It’s time for “Ghost Adventures” on the Travel Channel at 9 pm ( 10 pm for us in AZ) . I’m excited about tonight’s location. The trio will provide plenty of entertainment, but they’re always more fun in places we haven’t seen investigated. They’re going to the Remington Arms factory in Connecticut, supposedly cursed by all the thousands of people who have died from Remington guns. Don’t believe it’s cursed? There were dozens of accidental deaths and murders inside the factory. Two men fell into smelting pots filled with molten lead, others died by ammunition going off, and a huge explosion. Don’t forget to have a nice swig of your drink of choice for every “bro” and “dude.” Tonight’s drink at our house? Hot apple cider with cinnamon schnapps and spiced rum. Yummers!

Skinwalker: (Wikipedia) is a person with the supernatural ability to turn into any animal he or she desires. Similar lore can be found in cultures throughout the world and is often referred to as shapeshifting by anthropologists. Shadow person/animal: (Wikipedia) Are supernatural shadow-like figures of both modern folklore and paranormal popular culture that believers claim appear as dark humanoid (or animal) forms or evasive specters seen mostly in peripheral vision. My ghost hunting partner, Ginny, and her significant other, David, had an experience that so impressed me by their story, that I sat them down to get the details. This time I took notes instead of curling up with my feet tucked under me being spooked by the description. I thought I’d share it with ya’all because, as debunkers, my ghost hunting partner and I both are left puzzled by this encounter. Here is their story: It was July 2006. The couple was leaving the Grand Canyon Park to head south towards Williams for their...

Sappy as it sounds, I give super thanks to the people who read my blog and whose blogs I read. The sharing of knowledge, hopes, dreams, personalities and viewpoints, are all the greatest gifts. I had no idea when I set out to blog about theories surrounding ghost hunting just what I’d get out of it. I hoped to find others who were into ghosts and share experiences over our distances. Instead, I found a wonderful collection of people who are all so precious in their own ways. Every day, I’m amazed even more by how far apart some of us ( a whole globe for some of us ) and yet how very similar we are. Perhaps blogging isn’t so much about expressing ourselves, but finding ourselves out amongst humanity and realizing that with a bit of probing, strangers become family. To my extended family, I thank you for your presence in the blog world and for making the “real” world a better place, as well.

Hey, everyone. I'm hosting T-giving tomorrow. I do every year. My family had a tradition of taking in all their friends who didn't have family nearby or were single and otherwise wouldn't cook a turkey. It's a tradition I really enjoy and a chance to give people little leftover containers to take home and enjoy the turkey overdose in good measure. Today, I'm making apple crumble pie, rum brownie pie, and pumpkin cheesecake, and managing to edit "The Thicket." (It's my day off from work). But, I thought I'd pop on this little informative post today. Enjoy! I might be the blind leading the blind. I’ve never taken a class on how to write horror, although my major was English and creative writing from junior high through college. I have yet to be paid for my publication of horror, although I’m vigorously working to take it out of the “hobby” category and into the “professional” arena, finally (and thanks to your encouragement). I’ve been a part of wri...

One of my favorite cult films of all time is “Tremors,” a 1990 Kevin Bacon movie about remote desert folk preyed upon by a monster. Not the usual 2-legged, 4-legged type. This one tunnels underground and can get you, almost no matter where you hide! This rag-tag group has to come together to find a way to survive as more and more of them are being picked off. The movie is just one of those that you can see on a Saturday afternoon when you’re in the mood for something fun and easy to watch, but tense and laced with that “apocalyptic” feel. It satisfies action, tongue-in-cheek, apocalypse, SciFi, and horror moods. The characters are all interested and a wide mix of locals. One, in particular, stands out: Burt Gummer. The character of Burt Gummer was played by Michael Gross as a survivalist type who is ready to go after the monster with all his stockpiles of arms, grenades, Malakoff cocktails, anything! The character ( showcased in the clip above ) is my second favorite after my very fa...

I was obsessed with capturing a scent that embodied my moniker, “Autumnforest.” I did some research and found a fantastic blog called I Smell therefore I am . The name of a perfume caught my eye, “Underworld.” No, not like the river Styx and Satan himself. Think “Middle Earth.” After reading this description, I had to find the fragrance: “ To me, it smells of the imaginary middle earth, or perhaps the world described in J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Underworld actually smells quite familiar, like a smell I have always known, all my life, even though I don’t know what exactly it is… There are earthy seasonal smells that I enjoy when I’m out for a hike with the dogs. I love filling my lungs with that autumnal aroma in October/November of slowly decomposing leaves and cool crisp air mingled with chimney smoke. Or, in March/April I enjoy the aroma of the damp muddy earth, just beginning to bud and grow, the smell of early spring. Underworld seems like this sort of aroma to me, somethi...

I’ve talked about the fantastic book “ Confessions of a Feng Shui Ghost-Buster ” by Anna Maria Prezio before and I thought this time I’d cover some of her advice about crystals and rocks and their place in keeping your home a happy and spirit-free place. Since I don’t like to close the door on any options in the ghost hunting world and I highly advocate theories, I think covering the use of crystals and rocks might sound a bit new-age to some, but when considering the most haunted places are also in the most geologically rich areas, I’m willing to consider the use of crystals and rocks. I’ve experimented with them a great deal and have ended up incorporated them into my home with great satisfaction. I have a boat-shaped basket and it’s filled with crystals, geods, stones, seashells, pinecones, and feathers. I love things from nature and it never occurred to me that it might change the feel of my dining room with this enormous amount of amethyst, quartz, and other powerful stones like ...

There are a choice few of us out there who see an abandoned place and have to stop everything and rush in to view it. For many, abandoned buildings and objects are nothing more than ugly litter, dirty harbors, and rat-infested, nasty-smelling, indigent nests. If you’re one of those, this post is not for you . Moving on to the audience who finds abandoned things fascinating, I’d like to talk to you about how to go about photographing an abandoned site. They make the most striking and emotional pictures you will ever take. I'd like to teach you the few helpful hints I've learned from documenting such places the past decade. Note: I won’t treat you like children, but I will mention, because it’s worth reminders… beware! You should not go in if there are posted signs not to trespass. You also do not want to go in if you suspect someone might be living within. You do not want to go in alone—ever! Always have lookouts for you while you get lost photographing. Someone has to see if ...

Haunted work sites aren’t just for the docents of historic museums and the renovators of vaudeville theaters. High-rise office staff, shop owners, and warehouse workers all report haunting issues. We often think of ghosts as hiding out in old hospitals and antebellum mansions, but where there are people to perceive their presence, they make themselves known. Our local team, MVD Ghostchasers led by Debe Branning , was actually begun by workers from a motor vehicle department who began to experience ghostly issues in the workplace following a coworker’s death. In search of answers, they formed a group. That was back in the 90s and they’ve been going strong since. Some of the issues at hand in work places are the repetitive nature of work. This involves the same seating places, same halls walked, same doors opened, over and over and over again, day by day, month by month, decade by decade. This is often what we find in homes that have been around for 100 or more years; enough generations ...

Ghost huntings shows always travel to sites of death and torture in search of hauntings. But the question that comes to mind is, "can we bring the ghosts to us instead?" It doesn't seem like an illogical concept. They certainly shouldn't be limited by the lack of availability on plane flights or the unreliability of cars, so why not? Is it something in the environment that they need in order to manifest? Conditions so specific, they just can't show up in "weak" spots? This question came to me once when I was at a cemetery. One thing I've noticed about them is that there seems to be a good deal of activity when a grave has recently been visited. Is it the family calling upon the loved one? Or is the residual of the family's emotions leaving an imprint on the environment. Or, as I am beginning to suspect, do our emotions create a condition that is attractive or perhaps produces enough spiritual energy for some interactions to occur? Let's look ...

TONIGHT: Travel Channel at 9 pm ( for us in the SW, it’s on at 10 pm ). Are you feeling it in the air? Hair standing on end? Prickly goosebumps? A chill cold spot? It’s Friday. Time for another episode of “Ghost Adventures.” So, pull your Snuggies around you, ease back into your sofa, tuck your toes up under you for protection, and enjoy a really prime location this week: Ohio State Reformatory. The prison has a long history of violent attacks. There have been over 155,00 inmates to pass through the prison in the last century. One prisoner set himself on fire. Lots of unmarked graves on the grounds. In a state with ideal geology. Basically, we’re talking prime ghost broth . Enjoy Zak and the Boyz on their newest adventure and don’t forget your bottle of beer or shot glasses. One hit for every “bro” and “dude.” I hope your Saturday morning isn’t too terminal and your weekend is fantastically relaxing.

The market is crazy saturated with way too many “hunters” these days and not enough intelligent beings to make heads or tails of the evidence they accrue. Without diligence, debunking, and extremely “hygienic” methods, a lot of proof of hauntings is nothing more than anecdotal. That's why I'm so thankful when I come across a hunter who to me stands out from the crowd. When I saw Paul Bradford join the team of "Ghost Hunters International" last season, I felt like I could finally exhale. Guys like Paul promote the evolutionary process by strengthening the ghost hunting gene pool, so to speak. He's the “gadget guy" who joined GHI's ranks. He's earnest, clear-thinking, not distracted by his surroundings or the ambiance, and ever focused on helping the field advance to the next level. If Jason and Grant came up with a basketball, Paul brought the hoop and net to the game. He's helping to focus the research and refine it by beta-testing tools for ghost...

Every now and then, you’ll get a sort of spiritual look at ghost hunting from me. This is one of those times. I would like to discuss the concept of “soul residue.” When I say “soul,” you can feel free to see it as the Biblical form that ascends to heaven, leaving the human body. You may also consider it the sum of all your intentions, your personal merit. Let me lead you into a discussion about soul residue: On shows like “Ghost Adventures” and “Ghost Hunters” you see teams entering prisons and asylums, shivering against the sensations of residual anguish, anger, pain, and isolation. Is it possible that souls can stain an environment, leave an imprint? Have you ever felt something bad and dark when standing in a botanical garden? Ever stand before the Lincoln Memorial, stare up at the huge statue of Lincoln and break into hysterical laughter? Nope. Nope. Ever walk into someone’s home and immediately feel like you know them and their spirit? Ever wait in line at DMV and swear the buil...

Note: I promised I'd occasionally write a short story. I popped this one together today. Once I knew the premise and the character, I had a fun time with it. In this werewolf case, you'll see the wolf is not the ugly one. Enjoy! The fleeing woman stumbled along the edges of a creek bed, her sandaled feet digging into the muddy banks, sending her sprawling onto the mossy rocks. She let out a sob of anguish, searching behind her into the darkness of the ancient trees and raspberry brambles, searching for the source of her fear. Abigail pulled her legs up protectively beneath her, oblivious to the cold water and the sludgy mud catching on the hem of her once beautiful gown now tattered by the thicket. Beyond the sounds of the bull frog’s rhythmic bellows and the cicadas constant hissing there was another sound. Not the sound of heavy footfalls she heard earlier, following her through the woodland path to her home from the church dance. No, this sound was beastly and not 20 feet a...