Virginia ParaQuest - Voted "Best Drama-Free Paranormal Conference" by Attendees

Image via WikipediaThis past weekend, I was honored with an opportunity to speak at the Virginia ParaQuest conference in Lynchburg. Let's be honest - I'm not exactly honored to participate in every event that comes along. In fact, the majority of paranormal conferences fall somewhere between the categories of awkward and embarrassing. For a refreshing change, this event was quite the opposite.

Two local paranormal teams, Bedford Paranormal and Seven Hills Paranormal, partnered to plan and execute the events of the weekend. It's not everyday that you see teams in the same geographic area cooperating on anything, and that's a true shame. Territorial squabbles saturate the field of paranormal investigation, but I saw no sign of that during the two days of lectures, forums, and fun!

These teams performed as true professionals and put together an amazing array of speakers that included representatives from MUFON, Rhine Research Center, The Monroe Institute, and Sasquatch Watch of Virginia, as well as independent authors, teachers, and technical experts. The lecture and workshop schedule contained a feast of information for both the new and experienced paranormal enthusiast. Best of all, everyone there was completely open to sharing information and ideas and to discussing those ideas in a mature manner. I did not hear a single voice complaining about ANYTHING - everyone was raving about how much they were learning and how much fun they were having. I challenge you to find that at any other paranormal convention this year!

I do hope that the planners of Virginia ParaQuest know of the positive impact that their first conference had on both its attendees and participants. I'm sure that they've learned many things about the behind-the-scenes steps of constructing and event such as this, and that can only make planning for a future conference easier.

If you're tired of lackluster paranormal events that charge big bucks for a weekend of dull presentations, you should show your support for the ParaQuest teams and urge them to put together an encore event for next year! Drop them a line at the email links found at www.vaparaquest.com

Around the World in Ten Hours

The deadline for "Wicked Richmond" is looming and I'm backed up on research thanks to the most intense winter we've had here in Virginia for nearly 15 years. No worries, I'm set to explore the bowels of the State archives two days this week (thanks to a babysitter!) and will have this project back on course. Have I mentioned how much I love the State Library's archives? Maybe I'm more of a history nerd than I like to believe.

In a change of pace, I'm giving the history side of things a bit of a rest tonight in exchange for some talk about ghosts and discussion of paranormal investigating with Rusty O'Nhiall on his hit Australian radio program, Mysterious and Unexplained. If you're a beginner interested in getting out in the field to investigate on your own, if you wonder how I got my "accidental" start in this area, or if you'd just like to hear about some of my own encounters with things unseen or the encounters relayed to me about spirits here in Virginia, be sure to tune in tonight at 7 PM EST to the Para-X Radio Network!

A Great Day to be in Fredericksburg!

I don't even know where to begin with all of the fun I had visiting the Griffin Bookshop in Old Town Fredericksburg, Virginia. I was a bit shocked to find out when I arrived that Oktoberfest had taken over Caroline Street - but the festival really added to the excitement of the day. The sidewalks were filled with jubilant travelers, some from as far as England and Holland, and everyone wore a smile!

The folks who turned out for my reading were fantastic and had lots of really great questions. I found out afterward that one participant, Emma, even had the nearby museum she works for (Weems-Botts) close early just so she could attend. Talk about a compliment!



The book store was one of the coziest I've ever visited and had the BEST coffee! They must have gotten word of my love for Halloween because they had me set up for the signing in front of this gorgeous display:



For the last hour of the event, we took the fun outdoors and wrapped up the signing on the sidewalk to enjoy the best kind of Fall weather Virginia has to offer. Festival goers were stopping and chatting and sharing fantastic ghost stories from the Fredericksburg area. How often do I get the chance to sign books for folks in lederhosen? Not often enough!



Many thanks to the Griffin Bookshop for their warm hospitality. This was the perfect way to kick off an October FULL of ghostly events in my home state.

Get a FREE Copy of "Haunted Plantations of Virginia"

That's right - I'm going to give away my very own advance copy of Haunted Plantations of Virginia, personalized and autographed, to one lucky winner on July 1st, 2009. That's a FULL MONTH before you can buy them online and nearly SIX WEEKS before they hit bookstore shelves!

What do you need to do to be part of the contest? Simply write a short, sweet, and positive review of Haunted Battlefields: Virginia's Civil War Ghosts at Amazon.com. One reviewer will be selected at random (okay, their name will be pointed to by my three-year old...) and notified of their status through Amazon. Make sure your email on file there is current! The winner will have seven days to reply before defaulting and another winner is selected.

So far the list of reviewers is short - that means your chances are GREAT!

Review Haunted Battlefields now for a chance to win a FREE BOOK.