The Cannock Window

Yet again, Big-Cats are reported roaming around the woods of Britain's Cannock Chase. With Werewolves, Bigfoot and Ghostly Black Dogs also being reported in the area, surely the woods must qualify as a classic window area? I say "Yes!"

From Today's Anomalist

The Anomalist:

Birth of Bigfoot Times-Standard. Do you know how the name "Bigfoot" came into being? Here's the history of the first application of the appellation to the hairy apelike creature also known as Sasquatch. And you'll find some history (maybe) of Bigfoot's southern cousin in A Chilling Remembrance: Swampee the Skunk Ape. Is Eddie Ayers telling the truth about an encounter in North Carolina?

Happy Halloween!

Here's wishing all of you a happy, fun and most importantly, SCARY Halloween! Keep a look out for ghostly black-dogs and werewolves prowling around at midnight, and let me know if you see any!

Briefly on the Loose

Although this new story is not directly linked to the issue of the Big-Cats roaming the British countryside, it is worth referencing as evidence that, from time to time, big-cats do escape into the wild.

In this case, the animal was only free for a brief period; but those that might have escaped from the confines of, particularly, private collections in the UK, may very well have tasted freedom for much longer...

Crypto-Crazy!

The Anomalist has outdone itself today with a huge amount of new crypto stories; and here they are!


Vampire Moth Discovered -- Evolution at Work National Geographic. Just in time for Halloween, researchers have discovered a "previously unknown population of vampire moths...in Siberia." With photo. And right on the heels of this newly discovered terror, Nick Redfern reveals the terror expressed through the centuries at several locations around the world in Beware of the Black Dog.
Meanwhile, there's something in the water at Cyprus' Kouris Dam as Officials Search for Mystery 'Monster' and there's The Enduring Reign of the Jersey Devil.
Elsewhere, in a time sensitive announcement, Cryptomundo has revealed the limited sale of the Big Gama-Go Yeti.
The Search for the Buru and the Sacred Brass Plates Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Marc W. Miller, psychologist and cryptozoologist, continues the tale of his search for a giant aquatic lizard legend says lives in the swampy reaches of India's northeastern provinces. The cryptid column continues, in sequence, here and here. If you missed it, you'll find the initial installment of this true adventure tale here.

Black Dogs!

Over at Alien Seeker News, you can find an article from me on one of the weirdest and creepiest of all cryptids: the Phantom Black-Dog. Just in time for Halloween!

Super-Sized Road-Kill

Was it a werewolf? Nope! A juvenile moose? No! But check it out anyway: an interesting story over at Cryptomundo from Loren Coleman.

Tina Sena on Crypto

Tina Sena has an interesting post over at Binnall of America on the annual Mass Monster Mash that both Loren Coleman and I spoke at the weekend before last. She has much of interest to say about cryptids, her thoughts on the lectures, and much more. A good, thought-provoking post.

Anomalist Crypto

There's several good crypto-posts over at The Anomalist today that are definitely worth reading:

Recent Central Illinois Giant Bird Sighting Rings Familiar BioFort. On Sunday, a long time, avid outdoorsman saw two giant birds, probably 10 to 15 feet above the ground. The birds had a wing span of at least 10 feet. What were they?
The Search for the Buru Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Marc Miller is a psychologist and cryptozoologist in Ohio. After reading Loren Coleman’s book, Cryptozoology A to Z, he became interested in the Buru, a large, unknown lizard thought by some to have lived in the remote valleys of the Himalayas of Assam in the northeast corner of India. Coleman mentioned that the journalist, Ralph Izzard, among others, had led an expedition in 1948 in search of the Buru. After obtaining Izzard’s journal, Miller attempted to follow his exact expedition. The first in a five-part series.
Elsewhere, Filming Migo, the monster of Lake Dakataua.

Paranormal Palace: Tonight

Tonight, at 8PM CST, I'll be on Paranormal Palace Radio, discussing a wide range of Fortean issues, including cryptozoology. Should be a good one!

Werewolf Radio Tonight

I'll be on Paranormal Radio at 9PM EST tonight discussing werewolves with host Captain Jack.

My most recent book, There's Something in the Woods, contains a lot of werewolf material from both sides of the Atlantic; so we'll likely get into a discussion of that, as well as the subject in general.

Also on the show with me will be Tim Beckley, who recently published The Big Book of Werewolves, for which I was extensively interviewed.

It should be a good show! Here's the link for all the details.

Neil Arnold Interviewed

Over at Room 101 (which can be found at Tim Binnall's Binnall of America), Richard Thomas interviews Neil Arnold about his book Monster! They cover interesting ground, including Big-Cats, the Jersey Devil, the Chupacabras, Bigfoot, Neil's theories pertaining to some of the weirder creature cases out there, and much more. Check it out!

Offline

I'll be offline from now until Monday.

Coast to Coast: Tonight

It's literally a last minute thing, but I'll be on Coast to Coast at 2.30 a.m. Central Time discussing werewolves for around 30 minutes. If you're still awake, listen in!

Crypto Anomalies

There's a few interesting crypto-posts over at The Anomalist today:

Film Crew Sets Its Sights on Ogopogo Portage Daily Graphic. The television program ‘‘MonsterQuest" will search for British Columbia's famed Ogopogo using aerial photography, divers, a remote-controlled underwater camera, and thermal imaging. A Japanese television network sent camera crews to Kelowna in 1990 and again in 1992, to no avail. Will they have any better luck this time? Elsewhere, Mysterious Monster Hunts. Is This the Paw Print of the Wolds Panther? Horncastle News. A teenager discovers some strange paw prints in her garden, which looked like they could belong to a big cat. She snapped a photo of the print. Could this be the paw print of the mysterious big cat, or Wolds Panther?

A Chupacabras Lecture

On the evening of November 25, I'll be lecturing on the subject of Puerto Rico's most famous monster, the Chupacabras, for the San Antonio Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) group. I'll be discussing my two expeditions to the island to seek out the beast, and will be showing a lot of never-before-seen photographs taken on both trips, as well as discussing unique witness testimony. The lecture is also open to the public; so, if you're interested in learning more about the Puerto Rican vampire, come along! For more details, click on the poster.

Identifying Bigfoot

Loren Coleman delves deep into the ever-present question: what is Bigfoot?

Blogging Mothman

Regan Lee's intriguing new post on Mothman.

Coming Next Year...

Okay, I know it's a while away yet; but for those of you who may want to attend, I figured it's best to let you know sooner rather than later.

I've just been booked to speak at an event to be held next July - from the 16th to the 18th - in Kansas City, MO, titled Mysteries of the Universe, and which will be held at the Intrigue Park Place Hotel.

My lecture will be titled On the Trail of Monsters and Mysterious Beasts and will detail the various expeditions I've been on over the years, including my trips to Loch Ness in search of the famous lake-monster; the strange story of my search for the Goat-Man of Texas; my quest to determine the truth about the controversy surrounding the British Bigfoot; and much more of a monstrous nature, including all the latest stories that appear in my most recent book, There's Something in the Woods.

For those of you who may wish to attend Mysteries of the Universe, here's the link for location details, price information and the speaker-schedule. Hope to see you there!

The Beast of Bryn Boncath

If you have checked out my blog on the British Bigfoot - titled Man-Beast UK - you'll probably remember seeing an excellent illustration there of the glowing-eyed creature itself drawn by a friend of mine in Wales named Simon Wyatt.

Well, the good news is that Simon - a highly-skilled artist - has just struck a deal to have his graphic-novel, titled Unbelievable, published.

And as the publisher (Insomnia Publications) says about the book:

"Unbelievable is a dark masterpiece that weaves strands of Welsh legend, modern murder, mystery and horror with a dash of cryptozoology that wonders: What if seeing isn’t always believing, but believing will allow you to see?"

Here's the link for more details; and I'll keep you informed of all the developments on what looks to be a great project.

Beyond the Edge

This just in from Eric Altman:

"Hello everyone. Sean Forker, Monica Rawlins and I are celebrating the one year anniversary of Beyond The Edge Radio this Friday night at 9:00 pm and we would like to invite you to join us by calling into the show and spending some time with us this Friday night from 9:00 pm to 11:00 pm est. The call in number is (646) 716-9640. Although Sean and Monica are the new hosts of the show, I am returning to help celebrate the 1 -year anniversary of the show with them. Please join us for the one year anniversary show and help us make it extra special. Thanks and hope to have you join us."

Yeti Prints?

Doubtless some of you will have seen the latest news concerning the reported Yeti prints recently found. Here's the latest on the subject from The Anomalist:

Yeti Project Japan Claims to Have Found Bigfoot in Nepal Herald Sun. A team of Japanese mountainclimbers, on an expedition to Nepal in search of the legendary Abominable Snowman, also known as the Yeti, are claiming that though they haven't been able to secure film of the creature, the footprints in the snow they have measured and photographed are "proof enough." Do footprint photos and measurements bring enough authenticity to this claim to satisfy you? With photo. There's more on this story in Explorers Claim to Find Yeti Footprint in Himalayas.

The Anomalist

As always, The Anomalist is reporting on the latest crypto developments. I've just taken a look at the posts from the last few days while I was at the Monster Mash gig, and there's some good stuff: a lot of Bigfoot material, and much more.

Karl Shuker's Website

Karl Shuker has asked if I can inform people that his website address has changed. Here's the new link.

All-Things Mothman

Well, I got back last night from the annual Mass Monster Mash that was held at the weekend in Boston; and I can say that a great time was had by all, thanks to the hard work of John Horrigan and his crew. I stayed at the house of fellow Fortean and uber-podcaster Tim Binnall while I was there, and we had a cool time hanging out with the likes of Loren Coleman and Big Bird author, Ken Gerhard.

And on the subject of Loren, I have to say that his illustrated lecture on Mothman was most definitely the highlight of the weekend. If you missed it, you missed a treat!

Also on the subject of Mothman, over at my Lair of the Beasts column for Mania.com you can find my new review of the re-issued edition of Gray Barker's classic book, The Silver Bridge - finally back in-print at an affordable price. Here's the link.

GOING OFFLINE

I'll be offline from now until next Monday, as I'll be flying to the Boston-based Mass Monster Mash (see this link for details), where I'll be speaking about (a) the controversy surrounding British Bigfoot reports; and (b) my books There's Something in the Woods and Man-Monkey. If you're gonna be there, say hello!

"Woods" in "Fate"

Anomalist Books highlights a new review of my latest book, There's Something in the Woods that appears in the new issue of Fate magazine, written by Jerome Clark.

As Anomalist Books say:

There is probably no more thoughtful commentator on all matters fortean these days than Jerome Clark. Yes, he has some nice things to say in the latest issue of Fate magazine about Nick Redfern’s latest book, There’s Something in the Woods.

“Part of Something’s appeal is its can-you-top-this quality,” writes Clark, who finds more genuine curious the reports Redfern collects “from persons who, to all appearances of sound mind and unforked tongue, speak of encounters with a range of incredibly peculiar creatures…everything from phantom peacocks to giant snakes with feet to flying humanoids to living pteranodons… Something certainly makes for entertaining reading, while occasioning at times some deeper reflections on the reader’s part.”

Including some from Jerome Clark, who ends the review with these insightful words:

“I doubt firmly that the sorts of esoteric beasts Redfern’s witnesses describe exist as hidden, uncatalogued wildlife alongside us in consensus reality, but they are present in some shadowy approximation, to be encountered in profoundly anomalous states of consciousness. In frustrating truth, the answers that we who are open to such things seek are well beyond current knowledge. In the meantime, ridicule is a very poor substitute for understanding.”

Crypto-News

Today's crypto-news at The Anomalist:

Not Abominable, But Remarkable: "Yeti Hairs" Are Goral Cryptomundo. While maybe not the news a lot of people were hoping to hear, scientists are still excited to figure out what the mysterious animal hairs recovered from the jungles of Meghalaya, India were. They may not be those of the Yeti, but they are from a creature that still doesn't belong there. Also, an updated story: Bigfoot Hoax Body Bid Tops $200,000!. Someone must think it's the real thing still.

A Monster Lecture Tonight

For those local to Dallas, Texas, I'll be giving a lecture at the J. Erik Jonsson Central Library tonight from 7PM to 8PM. Titled Mysteries of Texas, it will have an emphasis on the mystery animals of Texas, including Bigfoot, the Goat-Man, Werewolves, and much more. Here's the link to the library for those who may want to attend.

The "White Things" Interview

Neil Arnold, author of Monster!, has just done an excellent interview with Kurt McCoy, whose new book, White Things: West Virginia's White Monsters, should be on the book-shelves of anyone and everyone interested in cryptozoology.

Neil has a number of intriguing questions for Kurt, and which provoke some intriguing answers too, such as this one:

Neil: "What are your opinions on such monsters - do you believe they actually haunt the woods of West Virginia or are they something far more complex?"

Kurt: "Truthfully, I think most of these stories are the product of social phenomenon, yarnin', hoaxes, exaggerations and the like. But it is undeniable that there really are some people out there who are seeing Something. While I'd like to believe that at least some of those Somethings are real, biological entities, there has to be something more complicated, something stranger at work. There are too many different 'types' of beings that have been seen and the circumstances under which they are observed range from mundane to the extremely bizarre. Ultimately, all I can say is that we have a genuine mystery of some sort roaming our hills and forests."

Check out the rest of Neil's interview right here.

Crypto News

From The Anomalist today:

Siberian Snowman Takes A Stroll Cryptomundo. Reports are emerging that some Siberian hunters have found several alleged “Bigfoot” or "Snowman" footprints. These tracks are said to have the step length of about 6 feet. The reports are issuing from Salekhard, West Siberia. An image appears in Siberian Footprint Photo. In other cryptozological news: Student Rediscovers Rodent After 151 Years, Sesuit Harbor Monster Resurfaces, and October 18th: Monster Mash and TX Bigfoot.

Crypto in TAPS

The new issue of TAPS Paramagazine includes an article from Loren Coleman on the controversy surrounding the so-called Montauk Monster; as well as a feature from April Slaughter on the Skinwalker. On a non-crypto front, there's also an article from me in there on mysteries of the Martian moons.

The Rise of Cthulhu?

The latest edition of my regular weekly column for Mania.com - Lair of the Beasts - was published on Saturday. Titled Tentacles of Terror!, it's a seriously weird story of a bizarre creature seen at Lake Tahoe in the late 1960s, and that sounds like a real-life version of H.P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu. Here's the link.

The Silver Bridge: Update

I mentioned here last week that Gray Barker's book on the Mothman puzzle - The Silver Bridge - has just been re-published; but that it wasn't yet on Amazon. Well, the good news is that Amazon now have it, and here's the link. Finally, you can get this much-sought-after title without having to spend (literally) a couple of hundred dollars! For those unacquainted with Barker's book, I'll be doing a new review of it here next week.

Profiling the Goat-Man

Haunted America Tours have a great new article posted at their site on the "Goat-Man" controversy.

I've personally investigated three Goat-Man style entities in Texas: (a) in the vicinity of Dallas' White Rock Lake; (b) at Lake Worth, just outside Fort Worth; and (c) at the site of the Old Alton Bridge in Denton. And I can say that each and everyone of them exhudes an air of high-strangeness and menace - which is typical of classic Goat-Man reports.

And as seasoned Forteans will know, bridges - such as that at Denton - are absolute magnets for weird beasts, ghostly activity, and a plethora of folklore, myth and legends.

Speaking from my own personal investigations (alongside fellow creature-seeker Ken Gerhard at Lake Worth in 2005; and Lance Oliver at Denton), I don't perceive the Goat-Man as being a physical beast - or, at least, not in the way we generally interpret the word "physical."

Rather, like so many cryptids, it seems to inhabit that strange, twilight realm of the "now you see it, now you don't"-type.

BIGFOOT ON WIFE-SWAP!

Do you believe in Bigfoot? Do you head to the woods at weekends to try and seek out the beast for yourself? And, are you married with children?

If the answer to each of those three questions is a definitive "Yes!" then Wife-Swap wants to hear from you - pronto!

I have just been speaking with the Casting Producer, Danielle Gervais, who has provided me with the following which explains everything. If you're interested, give Danielle a call, or send her an email!


ABC’s WIFE SWAP CASTING DYNAMIC FAMILIES WHO BELIEVE IN THE PARANORMAL

ABC’s primetime series “Wife Swap” is currently casting its fifth season and looking for unique families with plenty of personality to take part in the show. Specifically, we're looking for dynamic families who strongly believe in the existence of the paranormal, whether it be UFO's or Bigfoot, and have had sightings themselves or have collected solid proof of some kind.

Families who participate in this documentary-style program are given a unique opportunity to share their beliefs and lifestyles with another family. It is truly a once in a lifetime experience that can be life changing for everyone.

Each week on Wife Swap, the mothers from two families with different values and belief systems will exchange lives. It’s an amazing family experience and opportunity to learn how others lead their lives. Half of the week, mom lives the life of the family she is staying with. After making her observations, she introduces several "rule changes," where she implements rules and activities that are important to her family.

It's a positive experience for people to not only learn but teach about other families and other ways of life. Wife Swap airs on Disney owned ABC television on Fridays at 8 pm- the family hour!

If you are a two-parent family with at least one child over the age of 5 living at home, and you think your family would make terrific TV, contact us to be a part of this groundbreaking show!

To apply or get information about the show, please contact:

Danielle Gervais (Casting Producer)

Call: 646-747-7956Email: Wifeswap.Danielle@gmail.com or Danielle.Gervais@castingrdf.com

"White Things" Reviewed

Over at his Monster! blog, Neil Arnold reviews what looks to be a very interesting book: White Things: West Virginia's Weird White Monsters by Kurt McCoy.

As Neil says:

"A majority of these tales are sightings which have been passed down as campfire tales, and you can imagine some of these stories being read by the glow of a flickering flame. Of course, you'll be familiar with the Mothman weirdness which is mentioned here, but most of the cases are brand new yarns of terror, so, if you want to read another classic zooform book, then fix your eyes on this before it slips away into obscurity, because I'm pretty sure that monsters such as The White Devil, The Beast Of Boaz, and the White Wolf Of Elkins will have you reaching for the light switch."

Bigfoot: A New Book

Just published is this new book from Chelsea House: Bigfoot, Yeti and Other Ape-Men. As the publisher's blurb states:

"Taller than a human, smellier than a skunk, and stronger than a bear, the hairy creature known as Bigfoot, or Sasquatch, has been reported for centuries. Though Bigfoot has been encountered mostly in North America, similar unknown primates are said to dwell in Asia, India, and Tibet, where they are called Yeti. Other reports of wild ape-men in Russia, South America, and many other areas suggest that different types of unknown ape-men exist in a wide variety of locations worldwide. Bigfoot, Yeti, and Other Ape-Men recounts historical and modern cases and sightings of mysterious creatures from various cultures around the world. Although many claims about Bigfoot and similar creatures are backed by scientific evidence of some kind, no definitive proof of their existence has yet been discovered."

Chapters in the book include: The Arrival of Bigfoot; The Classic Cases; Wild Ape-men Across the World; Sasquatch Science; and Famous Hoaxes.

Beasts of the Skies

Micah Hanks delves deep into the strange world of a certain winged monstrosity.

Creatures in Crisis

For animals both known and unknown, this is very bad news.

The Mothman Resurfaces

Gray Barker's own, unique take on what is arguably that most mysterious of all crypto-creatures - the Mothman - is now back in print. Yep, his classic title, The Silver Bridge (the original of which regularly goes for a whopping $150.00 and above online) has just been re-printed.

My review-copy arrived today; however, Andy Colvin - the author of The Mothman's Photographer trilogy of books and the driving force behind the new edition - tells me it won’t be available on Amazon until later this week or possibly next. I'll let you know when I get an update about its online availability.

Until then, here's what the back-cover blurb says about Barker's book:

What kind of book is The Silver Bridge?

Well, it is primarily not about the collapse of the “Silver Bridge” in Pt. Pleasant, West Virginia, which killed almost 50 people back in 1967 - though it does describe the strange events that preceded the collapse.

Is it about “Mothman,” the hypnotic bird-man who terrified the Ohio and Kanawha Valleys in 1966 and later became as famous as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. Or…Is it a dramatic, emotional docudrama, such as when we hear the sobbing of a sad child, calling for his dog after the unfortunate animal has been mysteriously snatched out of this world?

And what about Woody Derenberger, wondering whether he should tell his neighbors about the otherworldly “Indrid Cold,” who stopped his van on Interstate 77 for a mind-shattering “interplanetary” interview? It can’t be science fiction, because these events actually occurred, as a search through the newspaper files of this time will prove.

One suspects that Barker has in fact written something completely different. It’s a new genre of sorts, about a creature that, ironically, may be very old. Ancient lore tells us that flying avatars similar to the Mothman, such as the Garuda, Thunderbird, and Piasa, have been around a long time.

The Silver Bridge is multi-layered and will likely be interpreted differently by each reader. Some will rave of its “deep psychological content,” others its “social commentary.” Many will be content to sit back and simply enjoy this hair-raising narrative - though it might well creep nightmarishly back into their minds late at night, like the barely audible chanting of robed figures in the foggy, moonlit woods. Regardless of what The Silver Bridge really is, one thing is certain: it will haunt you forever…

This 2008 edition features new introductions by ufology legends Alan Greenfield and Jim Moseley, as well as a foreword by paranormal researcher Andy Colvin, aka “The Mothman’s Photographer,” whose book trilogy of the same name renewed interest in the MIB conspiracies discovered by Barker.

ISBN: 978-1-4392-0427-6

Bigfoot at The Anomalist

Here's a few interesting Bigfoot posts from The Anomalist this past weekend:

Foothills Shadowed in Paranormal Phenomena Union Democrat. The area around Tuolumne County, California, is noted for Bigfoot sightings and other reports of high strangeness. With thirty-three Bigfoot sightings, the county ranks third in the nation in that department, but there have also been reports of UFOs and a "salivating half-lizard, half-dog like creature in a man's backyard." Join retired firefighter Bob Strain as he goes "calling for Bigfoot." Of course Tuolumne County, CA, isn't the only place with a Bigfoot history, as you'll see in Bigfoot Lore Alive in Estacada Area. And further north, Bigfoot news has made quite an impact, as noted in Just a Little Big, Hairy Idea. Meanwhile, reading and Bigfoot both get a boost as Crowd Cheers Bigfoot Banned Book Reading.

Long Live The Mammoth!

Is it possible that, against all the odds, the mighty Mammoth still roams some of the more isolated and desolate areas of our world? That's a question that has fascinated me for years. The evidence is, of course, totally against such a fantastic scenario. However, the admittedly small body of witness testimony still intrigues me - hence this new post from me - over at Lair of the Beasts - on this particularly controversial issue.

Crypto-Radio: Tonight

I'll be on the Richard Syrett Radio Show tonight - at 10.30pm Central Time - talking about my book, There's Something in the Woods. Here's the link for details.

Big Cat UK?

A British Big-Cat or just a British cat (with photo)?

Excellent News: The Chase Blog

As you'll know from this blog, I am always keen to highlight the many and varied sightings of both weird and out-of-place creatures (such as Big-Cats, Bigfoot, wild-boar, and even the occasional wallaby) in the vicinity of the Cannock Chase - that large area of woodland in Staffordshire, England, and only a stone's throw from where I grew up.

Well, the good news is that the Chase Post newspaper has just set up a new blog - in the capable hands of Post journalist Matt Lloyd - to chronicle all the weird goings-on in those mysterious woods.

And here's the link.

Given the sheer scale and nature of the strangeness that dominates the area, this is a blog to definitely keep a close eye on for all future developments!

Happy Birthday to the Hairy One!

Bigfoot Turns 50!

Marley Woods

This is an interesting, new update on the on-going weirdness at Marley Woods. The new update includes data on both animal mutilations and sightings of large - and distinctly odd-looking - white dog-like animals roaming around.

Texas Monsters

If you're in the Dallas, Texas area on the night of Tuesday 14 October, I'll be giving a lecture at Dallas's J. Erik Jonsson Central Library. Titled Mysteries of Texas, the lecture will have an emphasis on the mystery animals of Texas, including Bigfoot, the Goat-Man, Werewolves, and much more. Here's the link to the library for those who may want to attend.

The Beast of the Thames

In England's River Thames lurks something dangerous, monstrous and diabolically evil...

Well, okay, I confess I'm exaggerating a bit - but it's definitely far away from home and has no place at all in the Thames! The good news, however, is that the presence of the creature is evidence that the river is getting cleaner and less polluted.

The Mass Monster Mash: A Reminder

Just as a reminder: on Saturday October 18, I'll be speaking at the annual Mass Monster Mash gig on the subject of Bigfoot in Britain.

Here's all the details of the event, location, website details, price, and much more. Check it out if you're in the area; it looks like it will be a great event!

MASS MONSTER MASH Paranormal Infotainment that brings the fear back to Halloween!

EVENT DETAILS FOR THE 2008 MASS MONSTER MASH

Five Outstanding Researchers Set To Speak On Paranormal PhenomenaWatertown, MA -- When darkness falls on Saturday, the 18th of October, 2008, five experts will speak about unexplained phenomena at the Hibernian Hall in Watertown, Massachusetts.

The topics of discussion will include Mothman, Weird Massachusetts, Haunted Baseball, Phantom Hitchhikers, the Loch Ness Monster 75th Anniversary, the Bridgewater Triangle and Bigfoot in England! It's time for the third annual "Mass Monster Mash", New England's premiere paranormal conference!Esteemed cryptozoologist and popular author Loren Coleman will present his detailed research and chronology from his book Mothman and Other Curious Encounters of the incredible Mothman sightings, a series of odd encounters with a winged humanoid that took place in 1966 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

Some feel that this "flap" indirectly caused several fatalities, including a massive bridge collapse. Loren will refer to the hit movie The Mothman Prophecies and give a current assessment and perspective of one of the classic historical cryptozoological mysteries of our time. He may even defer to the "Houston Batman" incident as well as the "Lawndale Thunderbird".

Coleman, the world's greatest living paranormal researcher, will provide unique insight into his research of this unexplained incident that rattled an Appalachian community 32 years ago. As he will be making a rare Boston appearance, he will be available to sign copies of his books, including his culture-changing masterpiece Mysterious America, considered by many to be the seminal book of cryptozoology.

It was Coleman who dubbed the anomalous area in Southeastern Massachusetts as the Bridgewater Triangle, which was prominently featured at the 2007 Mass Monster Mash along with Loren's presentation about the "Dover Demon".

He also created Cryptomundo, the premiere cryptozoology web site on the World Wide Web.A rising star - and arguably one of the most versatile paranormal authors in the world today - will be speaking for the second time at the 2008 Mass Monster Mash.

Writer Jeff Belanger will once again dazzle the audience with some of his classic legends. Belanger is widely recognized as the most prolific author working in ghost research today. A frequent guest on Rob McConnell's radio show the X-Zone, Belanger is an eloquent speaker who articulates the most chilling accounts of alleged ghost and poltergeist activity.

His web site Ghost Village is one of the most popular ghost activity and research portals on the Internet. Jeff's lecture will be entitled "Weird Massachusetts". No, he won't be talking about the state's liberal politics or moral promiscuity. He'll tackle some of the Bay State's greatest paranormal mysteries in its 350-year history. He will be selling his vast array of titles that encompass poltergeist activity such as "The Ghost Files: Paranormal Encounters, Discussion, and Research from the Vaults of Ghostvillage.com".

Another prolific author, paranormal expert, government agitator and professional monster hunter is Nick Redfern. Nick was born in Great Britain and now resides in the United States. He has appeared on more than 60 TV shows to promote his numerous books (including the Sci-Fi Channel). He has traveled to Puerto Rico to search for the legendary Chupacabra and he has appeared on MSNBC with Keith Olbermann. He has lectured at a variety of conferences, including the Laughlin UFO Congress (in 1998 and 2001); the Mutual UFO Network Conference in 2004; the Aztec UFO Conference in 2003; the Texas Bigfoot Research Conference in 2004; at numerous events for the British-based UFO Magazine between 1997 and 2000 (now closed); and at the UFO Crash Retrieval Conference in Las Vegas (in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006). His many book titles include Three Men Seeking Monsters, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, and his newest title There's Something In The Woods.

As it has always been traditional for the Mass Monster Mash to have a bigfoot element (Stan Gordon in 2006 and Don Keating in 2007), Nick's lecture at the Mass Monster Mash will be entitled "Man Monkey: In Search of the British Bigfoot".

Dan Gordon first experienced the magic of Fenway Park in the summer of 1975 when his father took him to his first game. With a Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, Gordon studied global baseball culture in Japan, the Domincan Republic, Cuba and Nicaragua. His writings on baseball have appeared in the Providence Journal, Fort Worth Star, San Juan Star, NINE, Elysian Fields Quarterly and Scribners Encyclopedia of American Lives. Gordon recently published the popular Cape Encounters: Contemporary Cape Cod Ghost Stories.

His lecture will be the same title as his newest book: Haunted Baseball. He'll talk about such tales as: The historic Spring Training ballpark in St. Petersburg, where Babe Ruth and his teammates still roam the field, the ghost encounters at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, Wrigley Field, and Dodgers Stadium; the beloved Cleveland Indians trainer said to have revisited the team in the form of a seagull and eerie player stories from road-trip hotels they insist are haunted.

The Loch Ness Monster will be having its 75th birthday celebration at the Mass Monster Mash. "Nessie" came to the public's attention on June 5th, 1933 when a young maidservant named Margaret Munro supposedly observed the creature for about 20 minutes at about 6:30 am. She spotted it on shore from about 200 yards and described it as having elephant-like skin, a long neck, a small head and two short forelegs or flippers. The sighting ended when the creature re-entered the water.

Although sightings of the creature on land around the loch reputedly date back to the sixth century, modern interest in the monster was sparked by a sighting on July 22nd, 1933 when George Spicer and his wife saw 'a most extraordinary form of animal' cross the road in front of their car.

They described the creature as having a large body (about 4 feet high and 25 feet long), with a long, narrow neck, slightly thicker than an elephant's trunk and as long as the 10 to 12 foot width of the road; the neck had a number of undulations in it.

They saw no limbs because of a dip in the road obscuring the animal's lower portion. It lurched across the road towards the loch 20 yards away, leaving only a trail of broken undergrowth in its wake.

And finally, in August of that same year a motorcyclist named Arthur Grant claimed to have nearly hit the creature while approaching Abriachan on the north-eastern shore, at about 1 am on a moonlit night. Grant saw a small head attached to a long neck; the creature saw him and crossed the road back into the loch. Grant dismounted and followed it to the loch, but only saw ripples.

There will be a tribute to Scott Norman of Cryptosafari, a classy cryptozoologist and friend to the Mass Monster Mash, who suddenly passed away this year. Artist Bill Rebsamen has created a wonderful portrayal of Scott's work. Scott was lucky enough to encounter a Pterosaur during one of his expeditions. He also searched for the legendary Mokele-mbembe.

Back again as a co-host at the Mass Monster Mash will be Matt Moniz. Matt has over 20 years experience investigating paranormal phenomena. He has a "Forrest Gump"-type litany of involvement with historical UFO, ghost and paranormal case investigations and has even tried to pick up a phantom hitchhiker!

Matt will chat specifically about that legendary entity, namely the Red-Headed Hitchhiker of Route 44. As a chemist, Matt analyzed soil samples from the famed "Bentwaters Incident" and was acknowledged accordingly in the book “Left at East Gate” by Larry Warren and Peter Robbins. He will be bringing soil samples from that area where an alleged UFO landing took place 27 years ago.

Matt was also featured in the popular books “Witnessed” by Budd Hopkins, and “Glimpses of Other Realities” by Linda Moulton Howe. Matt will be reporting live from the Mash for the hit fortean radio show Spooky Southcoast that is hosted by Tim Weisberg and Matt Costa.Some other special guests will be on hand for the Mash.

Christopher Balzano, who is a staple at the Mass Monster Mash, is an expert on paranormal phenomena in New England, director of the "Mass Paranormal Crossroads", author of the book Dark Woods and a recent recording artist. Chris will be on hand (he lives in Florida now) to meet and greet the conference attendees. Chris has also written about the Dover Demon case and is a collector of urban legends, such as the "Red-Headed Hitchhiker of Route 44", Ghosts of the Bridgewater Triangle, Ghostly Adventures, "Pukwudgies" and "Killer Clowns". Balzano has spent countless hours researching the Bridgewater Triangle. His latest book is Picture Yourself Ghost Hunting.

Tim Binnall is the producer of the Binnall of America Audio Podcast and webmaster of the very popular internet portal Binnall of America that deals with "esoteric" phenomena. Tim is a webmaster for Coast to Coast with George Noory and he will be back to meet-and-greet the speakers and attendees while again serving as the Monster Mash Ambassador. He was a vital participant in last year's conference (and recognized as such with an award) and his company was enjoyed by many.

Film producer Aaron Cadieux may be on hand as well. In 2006, he screened his film "Inside The Bridgewater Triangle" at the Monster Mash and received critical acclaim. He is recognized as one of New England's up-and-coming film producers and has just released his latest documentary "The First Patriots", dedicated to King Philip's War.

Chris Pittman, a Massachusetts folklorist, paranormal investigator and a recent recording artist is considered by many to be the foremost authority on the Bridgewater Triangle. His extensive exploration of this anomalous area, research into the Dover Demon and encounters with black helicopters make him a fascinating and enigmatic guest. His brief lectures at last year's Monster Mash and Mass UFO Show were riveting. Both he and Chris Balzano may be on hand to autograph their CD entitled "Mysterious Bridgewater Triangle".

Joining the Mash once again may be defending Monster Mash trivia champions (and the "belle and beau of the ball") Arlene Nicholson and Thomas D'Agostino, author of the books Haunted Rhode Island, Haunted New Hampshire and Haunted Massachusetts. Arlene and Thomas (who is recognized by his peers as the most comprehensive New England ghost historian) will be available for questions during a book signing.

Ned, the hyperactive janitor-at-large from Paraforce (played by comedian Steve Russo) will once again disrupt the proceedings. We are hoping that he limits his use of Homer Formby or at least uses it in a responsible manner with proper ventilation.

This event was created and produced by philanthropist and paranormal gadfly John Horrigan. Horrigan has a vast history of paranormal exploration and is considered by many to be a leading popular historian and public speaker.

The Mass Monster Mash is a celebration of Northeastern legends and folklore, using lecture, film, exhibits and trivia dedicated to strange occurrences with a mission to entertain and captivate anyone who is looking for spirited pre-Halloween fun!

Doors open at 5:30 PM with the program beginning promptly at 6:00 PM and concluding by 10:30 PM.Also, this may be your only chance to pick up the "The Bridgewater Triangle" CD that was produced by Steve Russo and created by event producer John Horrigan, Chris Pittman and Christopher Balzano.

The Mass Monster Mash is accessible by public transportation. Admission is $25.00. Tickets are limited and will not be sold at the door.For more information: massmonstermash@hotmail.com or call 781-916-9223 or log on to http://www.massmonstermash.org/

Seeking the British Bigfoot

He's behind me, isn't he...?

Books! Books! Books!

Thanks to Loren Coleman for alerting us to this excellent selection of crypto-books available from the ever-reliable Arcturus Books. There's some great titles here that are certain to get snapped up quickly, so if you're interested in any of them, don't delay!

Bigfoot in British Columbia

From today's Anomalist:

Sasquatch Sightings Continue Throughout Northwest Houston-Today. Reports of Bigfoot sightings in British Columbia, Canada, are on the increase, and Brian Vike of Houston British Columbia Canada UFO Research has a quote we should note: "There seems to be a lot more bear sightings nearing hibernation and as the animals move down from the mountains, maybe something else large and hairy is moving too." Could the Canadian Sasquatch/Bigfoot be covering its tracks through the movement of the bear population?

Business As Usual Tomorrow

Today has been a day of magazine article deadlines - and it looks like continuing into the night! So, it will be business as normal from tomorrow.