Lectures, Workshops, and Discussions, oh my!

Poltergeists - Not Just Hollywood Hype

It's that time of year again. No, not tax time - Summer and Fall event planning time! While I am still sticking to my "less is more" philosophy that I discussed earlier in the year, I will be visiting a select few libraries, museums, schools, and conventions later in 2011. Because these appearances are decidedly few and far between, I've beefed up all of my talks to deliver quality over quantity. Each is a fun, informative, multi-media presentation that gets people talking, but more importantly - gets them thinking.

I have a handful of openings left in the late summer and a couple of dates still available in October. If you know of an organization or event looking for an awesome presentation, send them my way!

Talks for 2011 include:

PARANORMAL 

Civil War Ghosts - Learn about battlefield haunts of the Southeast, including many lesser-known but intense paranormal hotspots. Find out how to investigate these locations safely and legally while capturing great results. (1 hour)

Poltergeists - This lecture provides a comprehensive look back at the history and study of poltergeist activity. A special focus on the Enfield Poltergeist and the tragic case of Tina Resch offer attendees examples of ongoing scientific research of kinetic haunts. (1 hour)

Capturing and Analyzing EVP - Discover the methods used to elicit messages from the spirit world and how to capture those messages with various audio recording devices. Identify false positives, learn the varying classifications of electronic voice phenomena, and hear real examples of EVP from paranormal field investigations. The workshop demonstrates use of the software program Audacity and its value to the researcher in analyzing recorded audio data. (1 hour)

Haunted Henrico - (see HISTORY below)

SPIRITUALITY

Rootwork in America - This lecture illustrates the history and practice of Hoodoo, a folk religion unique to the United States. Learn how Hoodoo differs from Voodoo and why the two are often confused. A spotlight on rootwork in pop culture offers attendees a glimpse of how this mysterious tradition has influenced and infiltrated American life. (45 minutes)

HISTORY

Elizabeth Van Lew : The Witch of Church Hill - A discussion of the life of Elizabeth Van Lew, the Richmond woman whose clever espionage helped to end the American Civil War. Learn how Van Lew was socially ahead of her time and why her prominent family was forever ostracized by Virginia society. (45 minutes)

Unruly Women of Virginia - Virginia women have been going against the grain and making history for four centuries. This lecture highlights the historic contributions of Lady Anne Skipwith, the Randolph women, the Carter women, Elizabeth Van Lew, Maggie L. Walker, and more. (1 hour)

Haunted Henrico - To celebrate Henrico's 400th Anniversary, this lecture presents the history and haunts of several of the county's most notable locations including battlefields, taverns, homes, and more. (1 hour)

Something Wicked This Way Comes...

That's right, it's finally here! Wicked Richmond is hot-off-the-presses and makes its local debut this weekend, October 9th & 10th, at the Richmond Folk Festival. Come by Tredegar Ironworks (at the heart of the festival) between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM on either Saturday or Sunday and say hello and pick up an autographed copy for yourself or a friend!

If you're not in the Richmond area but would still like to check out the salacious stories and scandals of the city's past, you can grab a copy now at Amazon or add it to your holiday Wish-List.

Tick, Tock!

Great news - Wicked Richmond is currently going through the editorial steps and is rapidly approaching publication! I feel like a kid at Christmas, too excited to sleep and waiting for the news of the book's official release date.

To keep you in as much suspense as I am, here are a few of the juicy bits of history included in the final cut:

• William Byrd III and his Lottery
• The fall of the Randolph Family
• Pirates at the Penitentiary
• The Espionage of Elizabeth Van Lew
• Richmond's Boy Gangs
• The Murder of Lillian Madison
• Henry Beattie and Beulah Binford
• The Tri-State Gang Takes Richmond
• MORE!

You can be certain that I'll keep you posted on any and all release information as I receive it. The publisher is already hard at work putting together the marketing schedule for Wicked Richmond and tour dates for signings and author appearances. If you'd like me to present a talk about the city's scandalous history somewhere near you, please request a visit at BookTour.com so that I may try and accommodate it!

Keeping in Touch

Long time, no see! I have been busy with lots of white-glove research for Wicked Richmond, which seems to be the project that never ends. Each time I delve into a juicy story or scandal from the city's past, another seems to crop up. Now I'm left with the difficult job of sorting which are the cream of the crop and are worthy of making it into the final cut of the manuscript. I'm certainly not complaining!

I never thought when I took on this book that so many things would slow me down, most certainly not the death of someone close to me. I feel that in wrapping up this eighteen months of work, maybe a bit more, that I'm closing a sad chapter of my life. My hope is that the eventual publication of the words I've amassed during that time will rise up and thrive, like some sort of literary Phoenix from the ashes.

Rest assured, I am NOT becoming a recluse or a hermit with only my research as company! I'm back in action and ready to tackle the next project. First on my list? Twenty-two more (that's right - in addition to the dozens already conducted) paranormal field investigations for the current ghost books in the works. This is going to be my BIGGEST and BEST book on Virginia haunts yet - stay tuned for developments!

Take care,
Beth

Pirates!

Ahoy!

Yesterday was fantastically productive when it came to research. I'm going to keep that momentum going today by turning over more stones involving the case of three pirates that were tried and ultimately executed here in Richmond. That's right - pirates.

No, Richmond isn't really near the coast (2-hours drive in moderate traffic) but we are the seat of the Federal Court for this district. The band of pirates in question sailed from Havana to New York and left a slew of bodies and carnage in their wake. How they ended up here is a story just begging to be told - but not here! Come on now, I can't reveal everything before the book's release.

So, that's today. I might even make it out later to photograph a couple of sites that have refused paranormal investigations, but whose stories are far too good to omit, for the upcoming ghost book. If I do, I'll be sure to share!

Murder Most Foul

19 blows to the head. Ouch.

I'm spending today reviewing the trial documentation of a particularly grisly murder case that dates back to 1852. The defendants were swiftly tried and executed for the hatchet killings of a couple and their 9-month old child, their motives still unknown.

This sort of work really wears me down emotionally (hmm, can't imagine why?) and makes the writing stage very difficult. Don't get me wrong, the research is like watching a historical episode of "Law and Order", but the gravity of it hits when you stop and digest the fact that none of the grisly details are fiction.

Maybe next time I'll propose a book on carnivals or amazing stories of survival instead!