Beware of the Kelpie...

My new Creature of the Month article for New Page Books' blog focuses on a paranormal beast that many assume is one of centuries past, rather than the present. That may not be the case, however...

Welcome to the dark world of the Kelpie...

And here's an extract from the article:

"Paul Bell was a keen fisherman who I met back in early 2001 and who had a remarkable story to relate of truly monstrous proportions. And when I say 'remarkable,' I’m not exaggerating. His summer 1976 encounter, on a pleasant and picturesque stretch of English canal, involved not just one breed of bizarre beast but two.

"The further I dug into the story, however, the more and more convinced I became that the diabolical monsters were actually one and the same - albeit in an acutely strange fashion. If that all sounds very odd, well, it is! Bear with me, however, and all will soon become clear."

Bettie Page: The Secret File...

At DFWNites (which, I should stress, is an adult site) you can find a new article from me on what the world of officialdom secretly knew and thought about Bettie Page. And if you don't know who Bettie was, shame on you!

Paranormal Black Cats

Over at Mysterious Universe, there's a new article from me that focuses on the possibility that at least some of the so-called British "Alien Big Cats" (or ABCs) may have paranormal, rather than purely physical, origins.

A large black cat seen at an ancient historical site, a second encountered while the witness was in a distinctly altered state, and a third seen racing across a road: what do they all have in common?

I'll tell you: all three animals vanished from sight. And, by that, I mean literally vanished from sight.

How do we deal with such cases? Well, those whose minds are closed or already made up, deny such tales and suggest the witnesses were mistaken, hoaxers or fantasists.

Too bad: the fact is that there are more than a few such reports on record. And, ignoring them - or writing them off as nonsense - is both pointless and stupid (and it makes the person denying the stories both pointless and stupid, too).

Praise for the Hairy Man - Review

 

My latest article for Mysterious Universe is a review of a new Bigfoot-themed book. It starts like this...

"Praise for the Hairy Man: The Secret Life of Bigfoot, is the new book from Andy Colvin and Jeffery Pritchett. As many readers of Mysterious Universe will know, Andy is the author of the acclaimed series, The Mothman’s Photographer (volumes 1 to 3) and both The Mothman Speaks and The Mothman Shrieks. Jeffery, meanwhile, is the brains behind The Church of Mabus radio show. As for their combined, new piece of work – the aforementioned Praise for the Hairy Man - if you’re into all-things cryptozoological and Bigfoot-themed, well, you won’t want to miss this one!

"Now, whether or not you will agree with the thoughts, ideas and conclusions of our authors (as well as the observations of the people they interview), it’s an undeniable fact that Praise for the Hairy Man is a book that deserves your attention."

Alien Big Cats in the UK

Although dozens of reports surface every year of so-called "Alien Big Cats" (or ABCs) in the UK, far less well known are the much older reports. And it's that latter point which the subject of my new Mysterious Universe article...

Researching the British Bigfoot

My new Mysterious Universe article is on how I got involved in investigating the strange subject of the "British Bigfoot." It starts like this...

"A couple of nights ago, I was interviewed on a Canadian radio show about my book Wildman! The Monstrous and Mysterious Saga of the British Bigfoot. To date, it’s the only full-length study of the under-appreciated (and seldom highlighted) issue of Bigfoot-type reports in the United Kingdom. One of the questions was focused on how I got interested in the strange subject of the 'British Bigfoot' in the first place. And here’s the answer…

"In 1984 I began working as a van-driver and forklift driver for a company in England’s West Midlands that sold paint and wallpaper. It was a job I held until the 1990s. Practically every day, my long and winding route took me to the large and sprawling Staffordshre woodland known as the Cannock Chase."

UFOs & Life After Death

That's the subject of my new Mysterious Universe article, which covers such issues as the "UFO Disclosure" movement, the recycling of souls, out of body experiences, and the likelihood that the so-called "Grays" are deeply linked to the world of the afterlife...

The Cotswolds Werewolf

If you're a fan of Sherlock Holmes and werewolves, there's the perfect item for you: the new book from Peter K. Andersson, The Cotswolds Werewolf and Other Stories of Sherlock Holmes.

 

And here's the info on the book:

 

"Someone is killing sheep in the Cotswolds. Or something. As Holmes and Watson arrive in the tranquility of a little village of shepherds and farmers to enjoy a few restful days in the idyllic countryside, strange things start to occur. While Holmes locks himself in his hotel room, consumed by depression, Watson is left to explore the surroundings on his own, acquainting himself with both the local shepherding community, the eccentric vicar, and the local folklore concerning a mysterious werewolf. It isn't long before the murderer directs his attention to other prey than sheep, and Holmes is forced out of his ennui into a world of fog-enshrouded moors, wild men, pitchforks and a big bad wolf. This volume also includes four shorter stories in the vein of Conan Doyle: 'The Adventure of the Velvet Lampshade', 'The Adventure of the Missing Mudlark', 'The Adventure of the Forking Paths', and 'The Adventure of the One-Armed Pugilist.'"

Half-Human, Hoax, or Something Else?

Dr. Karl Shuker digs deep into a controversial story and an equally controversial photograph...

Return of the Mothman

If you're into crypto-fiction and Mothman, there's a new novel you might want to read...

The Top Secrets of the Ancient Past...

Ever wondered what the CIA knows about Noah's Ark? Or why the very same agency had a connection to the Dead Sea Scrolls? At least some of the answers are in my latest Mysterious Universe article...

A UFO "Near Miss"

That's the subject of my new Mysterious Universe feature, which focuses on a still-unresolved, two-decades-old incident from the UK...

Howard Hughes & Flying Saucers

My new Mysterious Universe article is on the UFO connection to Howard (brilliant but nutty as a fruitcake) Hughes. It all starts like this...

"There can be absolutely no doubt that one of the most enigmatic, mysterious and powerful figures of the 20th century was Howard Hughes. Born on Christmas Eve in 1905, in Humble, Texas, Hughes displayed a brilliant flair for aviation and new and novel aircraft designs – to the extent that in 1932 he created the Hughes Aircraft Company, which was noted for its work in the fields of aircraft, missiles, and NASA’s space-probes.

"Despite his brilliance, Hughes was plagued by psychological conditions that blighted his life, including obsessive-compulsive disorder – something which played a major role in his descent into a definitive “reclusive eccentric” state. And then there were Hughes’ ties to the secret world of U.S. Intelligence and…the UFO phenomenon."

A Werewolf at Point Pleasant???

A strange creature seen at Point Pleasant, West Virginia...but it's not Mothman...

Animals & Men Issue 51

Just a couple of days ago, I received a copy of the new issue (No. 51) of the Center for Fortean Zoology's in-house magazine Animals & Men. As always it's an excellent issue, and professionally published, with a full-color, glossy, card cover and dozens of interior, color photos too.

Highlights of the new issue (which runs to 50 pages) include:

1. A round-up of cryptozoological news;
2. An article on the recent CFZ expedition to Tasmania, in search of surviving Thylacines;
3. A feature on the latest CFZ quest to find the Orang Pendek of Sumatra;
4. A review of the CFZ's latest Weird Weekend conference;
5. Various book reviews;
6. And Corinna Downes' Watcher of the Skies column.

If all of that has got you interested in subscribing to the magazine, contact the editor (and CFZ head-honcho) Jon Downes right here.

The MIB: A New Article

An interesting new article on the Men in Black, Gray Barker and Albert Bender...

Mysterious Universe - 2

And here's how my second Mysterious Universe article of today begins...

"Imagine the scene: it’s late one cold, dark, winter’s eve in a little old hamlet in central England. You’re walking home, along a winding, tree-shrouded old road with only the light of an eerie full moon to illuminate your path. But, as you continue on your trek to your centuries-old cottage, you begin to feel uneasy.

"For reasons that you are unable to fathom, as the icy wind sends a deep chill through your body, you develop the distinct feeling that you are not alone. Rather, you sense that you are being watched and followed by something terrible, something malignant, something nightmarish, and something as ancient as it is mysterious."

The subject? Britain's ghostly, blazing-eyed, phantom black dogs...

Mysterious Universe - 1

Well, there are 2 new Mysterious Universe articles from me today. Or, rather, one is an article and the other is a review.

As for the latter, it's a review of the new book from Brad Steiger and his wife, Sherry Hansen Steiger. Its title: Real Encounters, Different Dimensions, and Otherworldly Beings.

It begins...

"As you’ll know, every so often I’ll review here, at Mysterious Universe, a new book. And it’s that time again. Today, it’s Real Encounters, Different Dimensions, and Otherworldly Beings by Brad Steiger and his wife, Sherry Hansen Steiger. Neither Brad nor Sherry need introductions. But they are going to get them anyway!

"Brad has now penned somewhere close to 200 books, on all manner of paranormal topics, including UFOs, life after death, and zombies. Sherry has authored/co-authored more than 40 books, including the best-selling Miracles series. And, I’m pleased to say, that even with so many titles under their belts, the dynamic duo continue to put out quality material."

CFZ-USA Blog

If you're into Cryptozoology, check out the relatively new blog of the United States' office of the British-based Center for Fortean Zoology (created by my good mate, Jon Downes).

The new US blog is run by Michael Newton and you can find it right here...