Jim Marrs' Above Top Secret

Some time ago, I contributed a significant body of data to Jim Marrs' new book, Above Top Secret. I'm pleased to say the book is now available, and definitely one to read if you're into conspiracy research in areas such as 9/11; the JFK assassination; Roswell; Chemtrails; the UFO Drones; the Federal Reserve; the Moon-Landings; 2012; and much more.

Loch Ness & Darklore II

Last year, I wrote a chapter on UFOs for the first volume of an ambitious and exciting project that was the brainchild of Greg Taylor of the Daily Grail.

It was called Darklore.

Well, I'm very pleased to say that Darklore Volume II has just been published; and, as with the initial volume, it's packed with fascinating material and contributions from a wide variety of writers, authors and researchers.

Here's Greg to tell you more:

"Darklore is a journal of exceptional observations, hidden history, the paranormal and esoteric science. Bringing together some of the top researchers and writers on topics from outside of mainstream science and history, Darklore will challenge your preconceptions by revealing the strange dimensions veiled by consensus reality.

"Featuring contributions from Stephen E. Braude Ph.D, Nick Redfern, Jon Downes, Blair Blake, Theo Paijmans, Michael Tymn, Greg Taylor and many others, Volume 2 of Darklore offers only the best writing and research from the most respected individuals in their fields.

"In Darklore Volume 2 you'll find discussions of subjects such as the occult underpinnings of modern rock music, the origins of the Illuminati, hallucinogens and witchcraft, DMT and the occult, and much more.

"Find out more about the book - including free sample articles - at the Darklore website: darklore.dailygrail.com"

As for my own particular contribution, it focuses on that most mysterious of all locales: Loch Ness, Scotland. But the story has a twist to it.

Rather than dwell solely upon the world's most famous monster, Nessie, I have highlighted the illuminating fact that the beast is merely one of many mysteries that dominate the loch and its immediate surroundings.

For example, in my chapter, titled What Lies Beneath..., you will find reams of data on (a) the Great-Beast of Boleskine House (Aleister Crowley, in other words, who had a home at Loch Ness and who got up to all sorts of antics while in-residence); (b) sightings of strange creatures in the loch that specifically fall outside of the standard long-necked and humped-variety; (c) shape-shifters and warlocks in the area; (d) UFOs seen soaring over, and Men in Black roaming around, Loch Ness; (e) eye-opening synchronicities; (f) exorcisms; (g) repeated examples of cameras mysteriously jamming when the monster surfaces from the dark waters; (h) encounters at the loch with big-cats; and (i) even reports of creatures that sound very much like the fairy folk of old English folklore and legend.

In other words, and as I point out in the paper, the Loch Ness Monster is merely one of many Fortean puzzles present at that huge body of dark water.

And, of course, this raises an intriguing question: with so much high-strangeness afoot at Loch Ness, does this mean that the monster itself is not what many assume it to be - namely, a flesh-and-blood beast of undetermined origins and type?

As I note, yes, that may very well indeed be the case.

The whole affair of the Loch Ness Monster is not just strange. In many respects, it's just too strange...

Bigfoot & The Media

Last week, I was interviewed by the British Sunday Mercury newspaper about the many and varied stories pertaining to (and sightings of) Bigfoot-like creatures in the woods of the Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, England.

Having grown up there, I can say for certain that the whole area is rich in Bigfoot reports. But, I'm convinced the creature is not all it seems to be - or maybe it's more than it seems to be!

As I told the media:

"I think the Cannock Chase Bigfoot has paranormal origins and is linked with the large amount of paranormal activity in the area. If this creature was flesh-and-blood, there would have to be more than one to ensure reproduction. If there was a colony of them on the Chase, we would be seeing massive evidence of them feeding on the local animal population. But the amount of deer kills that have taken place are not anywhere near enough to feed a colony of these creatures."

And that's the problem with not just the Cannock Chase Bigfoot, but the larger issue of Bigfoot in Britain in general. There are numerous reports; but a distinct lack of the type evidence for their existence that typifies (for example) the eating-habits, reproduction, habitat etc. of the Mountain Gorilla.

The British Bigfoot looks like a large ape; but has a far more phantom-like nature to it.

Here's the link to the full article.

KAPS Paranormal Radio

It's a while away yet; but I thought I'd let you know now about an upcoming radio show I'll be doing. It's KAPS Paranormal Radio (see http://www.para-x.com/), and the subject matter will be my expeditions to Puerto Rico in search of the Chupacabras. The show will air on November 30 at 9.30 p.m. Eastern Time. I'll remind you closer to the date, too.

Crypto at Beyond Reality

I'll be speaking on my cryptozoological research and books at a gig being organized next year by the people at TAPS and Beyond Reality. The gig will be held at The Mount Washington Hotel, New Hampshire from April 24 to April 27.

As the official website of the event states about this particularly atmospheric location:

"Featured in Season 4 of Ghost Hunters, the Mount Washington Hotel is a stunning building set amongst the beautiful backdrop of New Hampshire's Bretton Woods. Built in 1902 and mostly known for its elegant atmosphere and Spanish Renaissance Revival architecture, this historical hotel seems to have something else up its sleeve. From the ghost of a Princess who supposedly writes on walls, to mysterious sounds of babies crying, to a malevolent woman said to haunt room 206, local legends and lore abound here."

For all the details of location, speakers, schedules, dates, accommodation and more, click right here!

The conference has an excellent line-up, including Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson, Steve Gonsalves, Dave Tango, Kris Williams, Kristyn Gartland, Amy Bruni, Mike Brody, Tiffany Johnson, Adam Blai, Jeff Belanger and Scotty Roberts.

Closer to the date, I'll remind you of all the details. Looks to be a great event!

Paracon III

I've just been booked to speak at the Texas-based Jefferson Paracon III Conference, which will be held on Saturday, March 21 of next year. I'll be giving an overview of the world of cryptozoology, with an emphasis on my own investigations into such beasts as the Chupacabras, Bigfoot, Big-Cats, and much more. Here's all the details of the event, the speakers, the location and much more. Hope you can make it along!

The Monster Man

I do quite a bit of writing (such as introductions, etc) for Timothy Green Beckley's Global Communications publishing company. And, right now, Tim has just published a new title that will appeal to anyone with an interest in weird creatures, monsters and more.

Titled Andrew Crosse: Mad Scientist - Diary of a Monster Maker!, it tells the fascinating story of a man, a monster, a famous novel, and much, much more.

I have written the Introduction to the book, and here's Tim to tell you more:

He was known as "The Thunder And Lightning Man. . ."

Was Andrew Crosse (1784-1855) a real life Dr Frankenstein?Did he create the building blocks of life in his laboratory? Or was he delusional? Or perhaps even a total fraud?

His contemporaries in the scientific community were puzzsled by the very nature of his experiments. And while the eye does not deceive, they were unable to duplicate his findings and reproduce under controlled conditions the striking life forms that were plainly visible and clearly moving around Crosse's laboratory table.

To the farmers living in the area surrounding Crosse's palatial Fyne Court, he quickly became recognized as a heretic dabbling in dark areas that led him to be on the receiving end of a significant number of irate letters from God-fearing folk who summarily and loudly accused him of blasphemy, or even trying to replace their God as the ultimate creator.

The contentions of the nearby country folk were only compounded by Andrew Crosse's ability to seemingly capture bolts of lightning and direct them through a mile long coil of copper wire that was suspended from poles and trees all around his estate. Events reached a boiling point when Crosse started to receive anonymous death threats. There were those who firmly blamed him for a failure in the year's wheat-crop; and there was even a demand that an exorcism of the whole area be undertaken in the surrounding green hills.

Here, in his own words, Andrew Crosse describes in great detail his life and times and the experiments that caused such a gret controversy in his day -- and continue to frighten and bewilder us even now! In a breathtaking update paranormalist Nick Redfern takes us behind the scenes and actually describes Crosse's relationship with the creator of the Frankenstein novel, Mary Shelley.

Weird '09

It's a while away yet, but I'll be speaking at the Weird '09 gig in Warminster, Wiltshire, England on the weekend of August 28/29 of next year. Here's the details. If you want to go, book your tickets early! I'll be speaking about my book, On the Trail of the Saucer Spies.

Paranormal Magazine: The Latest

The new issue of Britain's Paranormal magazine includes a lengthy article from me (titled Our Own Creation?) on why I believe that at least some of the strange creatures (Bigfoot, werewolves, and lake-monsters in particular) in our midst may very well be Tulpas, rather than flesh-and-blood animals.

Also in the same issue, you'll find a good review of Jon Downes' Island of Paradise book; which tells the story of the expedition that me and Jon went on to Puerto Rico in 2004, in search of the Chupacabras.

Paranormal is an excellent magazine that - with editor Richard Holland - is going from strength to strength. Give them your support: you won't be disappointed!