Ghost Investigator

2010-06-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

Still a few tickets left for my lecture and ghost hunt at the haunted Victorian house this Saturday night, beginning at 7pm. Participants get to hear about some of my scariest cases, a copy of one of my books, a ghost hunt, and their name in one of my upcoming books. For more info, go to: http://missfannys.com/events.asp

2010-03-16T19:36:00.000-07:00

Read about my latest appearance: http://www.ghosttrainadventure.com/

2010-03-16T07:23:00.000-07:00

Great Time at Ripley's! I want to thank everyone who came to the book signing Saturday at Ripley's Museum in St. Augustine, it was a blast. I LOVE St. Augustine and Ripley's is simply one of the coolest places on the planet. They have the BEST ghost tour so if you are anywhere in the area you must go. Thanks to the entire staff of the museum for being so accomodating, and special thanks to Ralf Ingwersen who made this possible (and took the picture).

2010-02-16T03:53:00.000-08:00

We had a great time Sunday night at the Patchett House and we thank everyone at the Walkill River School and everyone who attended for helping to make it a most unique Valentine's Day! And thanks to Don McGee who took the time to send the following comment:"My wife and I joined Michael and Linda at their presentation at the Patchett House Valentine's evening, and I have a major complaint: the evening ended much too soon! What a fun event, and we'll be looking for them again."

2010-02-10T05:15:00.000-08:00

Now Accepting Credit Cards
For those of you who don't use Paypal but would like the convenience of ordering with a credit card, I can now accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. And for a limited time, until Feb 19, any direct credit card orders will receive free shipping. That includes the new 10th anniversary book, the great new Ghost Investigator mugs, shirts, hats, whatever! Please email info@ghostinvestigator.com and we can get your order processed.

2010-01-06T09:07:00.000-08:00

Special Offers
Starting now until February 5, I'm offering free shipping on orders of the new book, Ghost Investigator, 10th Anniversary Special Edition: Favorite Haunts, which is 464 pages of my favorite cases from Volumes 1-9. If you don't have all nine volumes, this is a great way to get all the best and scariest stories, and if you know someone who doesn't have any of my books (I shudder to think there are such people!), this is the perfect gift to get them started. As always, I will be happy to autograph and inscribe the books. For each copy, just send Paypal to lindazim@optonline.net for $24.95, or a check or money order by snail mail to Linda Zimmermann, PO Box 192, Blooming Grove, NY 10914 . And if you order 3 or more copies, I will include a free Ghost Investigator baseball cap, while supplies last.

2009-12-28T11:54:00.000-08:00

NEW for 2010!!! Earlier this year I told Mike Worden that 2010 would be the 10th anniversary of my Ghost Investigator series, and he suggested I put together a "greatest hits" volume--a collection of my favorite cases from Volumes 1-9. I'm pleased to say that the book is going to press as I write this, and should be available mid-January 2010, so stay tuned!

2009-12-01T17:22:00.000-08:00

New Podcast

Last month I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Tony Tellado of Scifitalk. You can listen online or download the podcast of that interview at:
http://www.scifitalk.com/forum/topics/linda-zimmermann-ghost

2009-11-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

My New Favorite Haunt!

Just returned from a week in sunny Florida to cold and rainy New York. I had a great time, particularly in St. Augustine which is one of the most remarkable places I've ever visited. I give it 5 stars for history, and 5 ghosts for hauntings!

I stayed at the fabulous St. Francis Inn with their ghost, Lily, and have to say their wonderful hospitality, food, location, and parking make them THE place to stay in town.

And after almost 15 years of ghost hunting, I have a new favorite haunt: Ripley's Musuem, which has everything going for it in terms of paranormal enery. The castle-like structure was built on an old Spanish/British battlefield and burial ground, there were two murders in the building when it was a hotel, and the museum is now filled with instruments of torture and objects of death--does it get any better than that? And, they host THE BEST ghost train tour which gives you the use of a K2 meter and camera, and takes you through the old city, and then INSIDE the darkened museum for a real ghost hunt experience!

During the tour I got a bizarre photo I can't explain. I took 3 photos of the statue of St. Francis which is in a park across from the inn. Over the years people have had many strange things appear in their photos of this statue. I took 3 flash shots from the same spot. The first 2 came out fine, but the last one has a dark shadow in the center that appears to be blocking/absorbing the light. You can see the flash went off because it's illuminating the ground to the left and right, but not in front of me!

I highly recommend a trip to St. Augustine for the history, ghosts, food and weather. Can't wait to get back!!!

2009-10-30T07:44:00.001-07:00

Cover Girl!?
Well, as bizarre as it sounds, I'm on the cover of today's Times Herald Record. If you can't pick up a copy, you can read the text of the article on pages 4-5 here: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091030/BIZ/910299956

And don't forget to follow the link to the video of the ghost hunt.

2009-10-29T09:55:00.001-07:00

NEW VIDEO!
A couple of weeks ago we took a Times Herald Record reporter and camera man to the haunted Rusty Nail in Middletown (story in Ghost Investigator Volume 9). Check out the video they produced at: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091029/MEDIA0201/910299976

2009-10-28T10:40:00.000-07:00

AMAZING! On WOR with KRESKIN!

Last night (or was it this morning?) Mike and I braved the rain, fog, and the never-ending construction in lower Manhattan to go to the WOR studios to be on the Joey Reynolds show with none other than the Amazing Kreskin. I've always loved Kreskin, and what an absolute pleasure to finally meet him in person. And yes, he is just as nice and funny as he appears on television. We discussed ghost hunting, as well as the excellent cheesecake Joey made, and just how did they get that deck of cards in the bottle Kreskin is holding? In other words, it was a fun time, and we didn't even mind that it was 3am.

2009-10-27T05:38:00.000-07:00

In the Home Stretch...

My schedule has been crazy, but I've been having fun meeting and speaking with all the "regulars" to my lectures, as well as many new faces. There's one week left to catch one of my lectures or listen to me on the radio, just check my lectures and appearances page on http://www.ghostinvestigator.com/ for the latest updates. I particularly want to thank all the people who came out during the rain last Friday and Saturday at the Kingston Barnes & Noble and at Boscobel.

2009-10-12T05:45:00.000-07:00

Foliage Festival

Except for the early morning when the temperature felt more like it was going to be a Frost Festival, it was a great day in Port Jervis yesterday. I want to thank everyone who came by to see Mike and I. We heard some great stories and have some hot leads on a few more haunted sites we hope to investigate after the busy Halloween season. If you couldn't make it yesterday, there are still plenty of opportunities to come to one of our lectures or appearances. Check my lecture page for a complete listing, and for Mike's, go to www.paranormalpolice.com

2009-10-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

Back in the (Paranormal) Saddle Again

My busy ghost lecture season has officially begun and I'm very excited about sharing some of my best cases with everyone. There was a great group at The Columns in Milford, PA last Friday, and after the lecture the reenactors posing as local figures were excellent, especially for Madame Pierce who freaked me out with her realism. You really need to visit this museum. It was my first time at the Tuxedo Park Library, and their was a great audience who was very enthusiastic. Please check my lecture page for dates and times, and please stop by if you have a place you think we should investigate.

In addition to the new Ghost Investigator Volume 9, I have also been giving presentations on my tour book, Hudson Valley Haunts, featured in the latest edition of Chronogram magazine:

http://www.chronogram.com/issue/2009/10/Books/Short-Takes-October-2009

Last night I spent an hour in a cemetery (I know, so what's new?) on a photo shoot for a Times Herald Record article that will be out around Halloween. Tonight, I will be talking the reporter to the haunted train station in Middletown, so stay tuned for details on that. My list of new cases is already growing, so there's no doubt that I will have plenty of juicy tales to tell in Volume 10 next year!

2009-09-09T11:09:00.001-07:00

Ghost Chronicles Radio Show
It's short notice, but I'll be on The Ghost Chronicles radio show hosted by Ron Kolek and Maureen Wood, tonight at 7pm.
http://toginet.com/shows/ghostchronicles

2009-08-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Latest Interview

There's an excellent website specializing in hauntings of the Hudson Valley, and they just posted an interview in which I give some of my opinions on ghost hunting, among other things. Check it out at:

http://www.hauntedhudsonvalley.net/

2009-08-23T17:20:00.000-07:00

Heaven on Earth!

What does the Ghost Investigator do when when she isn't hunting apparitons? Well, if she is extremely lucky she goes to the 1969 Mets reception at Citifield on August 22, 2009. My husband, Bob, surprised me with tickets to the event, which was easily one of the best times of my life. You see, the '69 Mets season was the epitome of my sports fan experiences, and for those of you who know me, I LOVE sports.

Here I am with Mr. Met and the 1969 World Series Trophy (above). Below, I am next to Ron Swoboda, and I did shake the hand that made THE catch in the series.

In the presence of greatness: below are some of the Mets' pitching staff (l to r): Nolan Ryan, Tom Seaver, Gary Gentry, Jim McAndrew, Ron Taylor, and Jerry Koosman. I mean, Holy Crap, Ryan and Seaver together! Koosman stunned the crowd by revealing that the Cleon Jones shoe polish episode was actually the result of Gil Hodges telling Koosman to rub the ball on his shoe to get polish on it! It took 40 years for that confession.

Then I was lucky enough to have Kevin Burkhart allow me to ask the pitchers a question. I explained how the team had been such an inspiration to me (and still is!), and wondered whether for them the season was just fun while it lasted, or had it been a life-altering experience. At first there was silence and I said I guess I had stumped them. Then Seaver asked if I had an easier question, which got quite a laugh from the crowd. But then he went on to give a brilliant answer about the team's success giving him the opportunity to practice his craft for so many years. Then Gary Gentry responded that as a guy from Arizona, the overwhelming response of fans in New York was indeed life-altering.

Below is a photo of me asking the question, and Seaver looking at me answering. Come on, Tom Seaver talking to me! That last time he talked to me was 1970, but I'll save that story for another time. Needless to say, it was Mets heaven for me. What an Amazin' day!

2009-07-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

NEW BOOK!

Ghost Investigator Volume 9: Back from the Dead

The latest in the Ghost Investigator series will be available in about a week. I am very excited about this past year's cases as they have produced some of my most amazing evidence. I will have some photos, highlights, and ordering info posted on my website in a couple of weeks, but in the meantime you can pre-order an autographed copy of the book by sending a Paypal payment to lindazim@optonline for $14.95 + $3 shipping= $17.95, or sending a check or money order for $17.95 to: Book Orders, PO Box 192, Blooming Grove, NY 10914. If you have enjoyed past volumes, you will LOVE this one...but then, I may be a bit biased.

2009-07-16T17:01:00.000-07:00

40th Anniversary of Apollo 11

No, this doesn't have anything to do with ghosts, but it does have to do with my favorite subject, the space program. I wanted to share this coolest website, with a realtime CGI recreation of the entire mission, with all of the actual Apollo/Mission Control communications. Check it out: http://wechoosethemoon.org/
Can't wait til we get back to the moon, and then on to Mars!

2009-07-11T17:01:00.000-07:00

Update

As I sit here watching my Mets finally scoring some runs, I thought I would post a quick update as to what's been going on in the ghost investigating world. I'm almost finished with Volume 9, and it will have some of my best cases yet--they even gave me the creeps! It should be in print and available in early September, and I will be adding some highlights and tantalizing tidbits in the coming weeks. I also hope to get back to a place I wrote about in 1998, and have been waiting 11 years to return to do a full investigation. Stay tuned! Now back to my Mets...

2009-05-10T15:10:00.000-07:00

NEW EVENT: I will be speaking at the Millbrook Book Festival in Millbrook, NY on Saturday, May 16. I will be on a panel discussing various things to do in the Hudson Valley (guess what my topic is) at the Lyall Church from 11am to Noon. I have never taken part in one of these festivals, but it appears as if they have over 70 authors speaking and signing their books on just about every topic imaginable. For more info, go to: http://www.millbrookbookfestival.org/

Hope to see you there!

And don't forget my presentation on my new book, "Hudson Valley Haunts: Historic Driving Tours", at the West Nyack, NY library on May 20 at 7:30pm.

2009-04-24T06:59:00.000-07:00

The Forbidden Ghost Investigator

My friend and webmaster David Hamilton recently went to China, and made sure that Ghost Investigator was respresented. Here he is in the Forbidden City, which I bet has a few ghosts of its own. Thanks Dave! If anyone else has a photo of them wearing Ghost Investigator gear in some interesting local, send it and I may post it!

2009-04-02T13:35:00.000-07:00

I'll Be Back!

I'm very pleased to announce that I will be back on the lecture circuit starting Sunday, April 26 at 3pm at the Shadowlands Theater at 157 Canal Street in Ellenville, NY. I will be giving a presentation on my latest book, Hudson Valley Haunts: Historic Driving Tours, which contains historic haunted sites from Rockland County up to Saratoga. All of the sites are open to the public, so I think it would be a great summer vacation book for planning some fascinating day trips--or spending a week eating in haunted restaurants, sleeping in haunted hotels, and visiting haunted mansions, battlefields, etc. An added bonus of speaking at the Shadowlands is that it is an old haunted theater which I previously investigated and wrote about, so I'm hoping we will get some "special" visitors that day. After the lecture I'll be signing books and would love to hear from anyone who has a haunted site worth investigating. Hope to see you there!

2009-02-19T09:44:00.000-08:00

Ready for Shipping

Hudson Valley Haunts: Historic Driving Tours has arrived! The book contains the fascinating stories and visitor information on haunted historic sites you can visit throughout the Hudson Valley. To order an autographed copy, you can use Paypal or regular mail. For Paypal, please send $20 to lindazim@optonline.net . For regular mail, please send a check or money order to Linda Zimmermann, PO Box 192, Blooming Grove, New York, 10914. Don't forget to let me know if you would like a special inscription (like Happy Birthday, Happy Ghost Hunting, etc.).

2009-02-09T11:35:00.000-08:00

New Book has Arrived!

I was very surprised and excited to just receive my author's copies of my new book "Hudson Valley Haunts" two months ahead of schedule! (When is anything ever ahead of schedule?) I'll take that as a good omen that the book will be a success.
Personally, I am delighted with the job Schiffer Publishing did with the layout and design, and I think both ghost and travel enthusiasts will get a kick out of exploring all the locations--or simply reading about them.
I will be ordering more books soon, so if you would like to get on an ordering list for an autographed copy please email me. The book is $16.99, and I would think a few dollars will cover media mail shipping. More details will follow, but I wanted to give everyone a heads up that it's now in print.
Of course, feel free to order from your local bookstore now. The ISBN is 9780764331732.

2009-01-25T11:07:00.000-08:00

Now appearing on Facebook...

Thanks to Tom Zimmermann, I now have a Facebook Fan page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Linda-Zimmermann/116636310250

Guess I have been in the Dark Ages (or at least in dark basements hunting ghosts), because Facebook is all new to me, so it will take a while for me to build up some content on the site, but please drop by and join my page!

2009-01-25T11:04:00.000-08:00

New Book Project, Looking for Suggestions

I am working on a new ghost book project that will include sites in all 50 states, and I would appreciate any suggestions. It will be written in the same style as the Hudson Valley book which is coming out in a few months (see Dec 22 blog entry). Each site needs 2 things : historic significance, and a ghost. For example, haunted battlefields, historic homes, hotels, etc. Many historic sites get very indignant when one mentions the "G-word", so I need places that are open and willing to talk about their ghost stories. I would love to receive your suggestions, and if you have any personal experiences with the sites, even better! Email me at lindazim@optonline.net Thanks!

2008-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

New Book Announcement!

I'm very excited to announce that I have a new book arriving in the spring of 2009. Hudson Valley Haunts: Historic Driving Tours looks at dozens of fascinating sites that you can visit, from Rockland County up to Saratoga Springs. For years people have been asking where they can go to experience a haunting, so here's the guide that explains the history of the location, the ghostly activity, and all the vistor information (directions, times, fees, etc.) you need. The book includes historic homes, hotels, battlefields, and restaurants, so you can plan an entire Haunted Hudson Valley vacation. Stay tuned for the release date (probably April) and the list of appearances and book signings throughout the Hudson Valley.

2008-12-08T06:48:00.000-08:00

On the DL

My apologies to everyone for not keeping up with the blog. As some of you know, life has thrown me a serious medical challenge and my sole focus has been on my health. I hope to get back on my feet in early 2009 and jump right back into investigations, so please keep sending those suggestions about haunted locations.

My warmest holiday wishes to everyone!

2008-08-27T08:07:00.000-07:00

NEW BOOK NOW AVAILABLE!

Time really flies when your hunting ghosts--I can't believe I'm already up to Volume 8 in the Ghost Investigator series. This book has two of my favorite cases, the amazing story of Fort Montgomery battlefield and the spine-tingling encounters at the Ulster County Jail. There are two haunted Bed & Breakfasts if you would like to spend the night with ghosts, and some wild stories involving private homes where the owners are fighting back against the negative entities. In other words, if you enjoy true, firsthand accounts (where there is actually evidence to back up the cases, unlike some shows that will remain nameless...) you will love this book.

Ordering info will be up on the website soon, but if you just can't wait drop me an email and I'll personally sign and send you a copy right away.

2008-06-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

COMING SOON!

For years people have been asking for Ghost Investigator shirts and hats, and I've finally found a company that was able to do a great job embroidering my logo. I will soon have embroidered hats and printed shirts (both long and short sleeve) for sale on my website. Stay tuned...

2008-06-16T05:07:00.000-07:00

Suicide House

In Ghost Investigator Volume 7 I wrote about a house where a man committed suicide, and I had some very unpleasant experiences (to put it mildly). One of this man's favorite spots to sit, when he was alive, was on a kitchen counter during family dinners on Sundays. I had set up a Tri-field meter on the counter on that spot, and aimed an infrared camcorder at it, and then left the room. When reviewing the tape later, I could hear the Tri-field going off, then a black spot raced across the field of view, from left to right just on the top edge of the bright area of light. The homeowners assured us that there were no bats or very large flying insects in the house and no windows were open, so what could it have been? (Winged insects and moths always show up a very bright white in infrared. This is the first time a moving spot has appeared so black.) Activity has picked up in this house recently--in the form of yet another different apparition--so stay tuned for a possible return investigation.

2008-05-14T16:11:00.000-07:00

Eastern State Penitentiary with Darkness Radio and TAPS

A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure again of speaking at the paranormal conference hosted by Darkness Radio and TAPS at Eastern State Penitentiary, and once again it was a great time.

Here I am with Jim and Kelly from Chattanooga as we await the bus to take us to prison for the night. We had some fascinating results with their K2 meter, getting direct responses to our questions. There were also a few pokes, some odd noises, and something moving in the shadows. All in all, an excellent night of ghost hunting. If you've never been to Eastern State, move it to the top of your "To Do" list.

One thing that surprised me was how "clean" the prison is now, compared to my first visit about seven years ago. (See Ghost Investigator Volume 2 for the story.) Back then, debris covered the floors and you needed sturdy hiking boots as you crunched over plaster, glass, and who knows what. For me, it did detract a bit from the spooky nature of the place, but as soon as activity picked I could have cared less how messy or clean things were. And as you can see, the cell blocks are still sufficiently spooky.

One last thing, you know you are in prison when you see a sign like this:

So if you've never been on one of these trips before, or listened to Darkness Radio (and shame on you if you haven't), check out their website: http://darknessradio.com/

Thanks again to Jim and Kelly, it was a lot of fun and best of luck with your future ghost hunting!

2008-04-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

Just got back from the first "Phenomecon" in Columbus, Indiana, and I had a great time. A few hundred ghost hunters and paranormal enthusiasts gathered at the historic--and haunted--Crump Theater and Ben Teague of Eerie Radio did a tremendous job of organizing the event.

May this be the first of many Phenomecons to come!

2008-04-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

The 7th annual
Pennsylvania Paranormal Conference
April 12, 2008 at the haunted Bube's Brewery- Mt. Joy, Pennsylvania

I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the 7th annual Pennsylvania Paranormal conference. Rick Fisher runs a great conference and if you've never attended one, make plans for next year. The setting is very cool--an old haunted brewery with underground caves that used to keep the beer cold and now make a truly unique setting for dinner. It reminded me of the dungeon at the Tower of London!

2007-11-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

Interesting Articles

Journalist Al Sacco sent me links to two articles he wrote, which have some good information on equipment for ghost hunting. Check them out at:
http://www.cio.com/article/149054/ and http://www.cio.com/article/149051

2007-11-02T05:59:00.000-07:00

Radio Show at Shanley Hotel

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wamc/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1175271

I recently accompanied Susan Barnett of WAMC Radio through the Shanley Hotel. You can listen to her broadcast by clicking on the link above.

2007-11-01T16:08:00.000-07:00

Ghost Hunt at the Shanley Hotel December 8th
I've survived another hectic October! I met a lot of great people at my lectures and heard a lot of facsinating stories--looks like there will be plenty of cases to investigate for next year's book, which will be Volume 8 already! (Here I am at the Barnes & Noble in Kingston, NY. Thanks to Barbara B. for the photo.)
But before I look too far ahead, there are still several lectures in November if you would like to come hear some highlights from Ghost Investigator Volume 7. Also on December 8, I will personally be conducting a ghost hunt at the very haunted Shanley Hotel. Space is limited and you must pre-register at: http://www.shanleyhotel.com/Events.html

2007-09-18T17:38:00.000-07:00

THE NEW BOOK IS HERE!

It's hard to believe that I'm already up to seven volumes of the Ghost Investigator series, but I guess time flies when you're hunting the dead.

Ghost Investigator Volume 7: Psychic Impressions has only been out a week, and already I'm getting some wonderful feedback, with readers saying that this is my best book yet. I credit that to the remarkable cases that have taken me deeper into the spiritual realm than ever before. Often it was frightening, sometimes heartbreaking, but always fascinating. I have tried to convey these personal experiences in a manner that lets you become part of the haunted experience.

To order an autographed copy hot off the presses, go to:
http://www.ghostinvestigator.com/Books/GhostBooks.htm

Ghost Investigator Volume 7: Psychic Impressions

The sixth sense plays an ever deeper role in the Ghost Investigator’s latest cases, which include three stories involving suicides (with two on the same street!), an old hotel where death came in many tragic forms, an abandoned asylum, a train station, a theater, a cemetery, and a restaurant where jealousy may have led to murder. There is also some amazing new information about a previous case where startling evidence was discovered in the attic.

Featured locations: The Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, NY, a former train station and the Shadowland Theater in Ellenville, NY, Letchworth Village in Rockland County, NY, and the Castle Tavern in Greenwood Lake, NY.

2007-07-20T06:05:00.000-07:00

Locked In!

There's nothing like getting more than you bargained for on a ghost hunt, even if that comes at the price of being terrified. Last night, Mike and I investigated the Ellenville train station and other buildings on the property. Barbara Bleitzhofer of Shanley's Hotel had told us about the place, and we thought there may be the spirits of a few old railroad employees still lingering, and hoped to get some shreds of paranormal evidence. We did not expect one of the most amazing nights of ghost hunting we have ever experienced.

While the full story will appear in the new Ghost Investigator Voulume 7 this fall, I just have to share some highlights. The train station is now a jewelry factory, and part of the former waiting room is a showroom. When Mike and I first entered the room something immediately caught my eye--a heavy chain bracelet hanging on a display stand was swinging back and forth!

It was the only thing moving, and once it stopped we tried to recreate the motion by jumping up and down, blowing on it, etc., but the only thing that could reproduce the way it was swinging was to actually physically push it. A short time later this incerdible phenomenon was repeated when a single earring among hundreds started swinging forwards and back. Very cool stuff!

While the station had amazing things happening it was all fairly benign. Not so in another building. As soon as we stepped inside it felt awful, like something was out to get us. I hate to tease everyone, but I won't go into the full details here. Suffice to say a lot of scary things went on, and we finally had enough and were quite anxious to leave. However, when I went to open the door to the outside, I found it was locked!

I admit I was really getting freaked out when I couldn't turn the deadbolt, and then Mike with all his strentgh couldn't get the door open either. Whatever this evil entity was, it had somehow managed to lock us in with it! I started banging on the glass and Mike was flashing his maglite so we could get the owner's attention outside, and when she came up to the door, she was able to easily pull it open without using her key!

Fortunately, even in our near-panicked states, Mike had the presence of mind to say that we should take a picture of the door when we were trapped inside, and my photo clearly shows the deadbolt in a locked position.

Words cannot describe the pyschological impact of getting locked inside a haunted site! Clearly, this is one of the most remarkable things that has ever happened in ten years of investigating.

2007-07-15T03:22:00.000-07:00

The Paracast

A lot of radio show hosts ask them same questions, "What's your scariest story?" That's fine, but for me it's nice to be able to dig a little deeper sometimes. David Biedny and Gene Steinberg of The Paracast did ask those deeper questions, and the result is two hours of thought-provoking discussions where I speculate and expound on life and death, good and evil, and how it all might relate to haunted activity.

The show is broadcast tonight on KLAV-AM 1230 in Las Vegas, 9-11pm EST, or you can download and listen anytime at www.theparacast.com

2007-07-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

Paranormal Police Gets New Headquarters!

I am very pleased to announce that my ghost hunting partner Michael Worden has a new web site: www.paranormalpolice.com . It just launched today so there isn't a lot of content yet, and it will be under construction for a while, but please continue to check back as he will be posting his appearances, latest investigation news, and most importantly, updates on the book he is currently writing.

Mike is a real police detective who knows how to conduct an effective investigation, and he brings years of experience with both the living and the dead to his work. He and I have shared many a frightening and fascinating case, and his technical skills and personal insights have always been very valuable assets.

Please check out his site and bookmark it, and drop him an email to let him know that you want to stay informed about all the latest developments at Paranormal Police Headquarters!

2007-07-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

SAVE ROLLING HILLS!!!

I received the follwing from Rolling Hills owner Lori Carlson. Please pass it along and help if you can. It would be a shame if they lost this place. The benefit will take place on July 14.

For Immediate Release:

A group of concerned citizens who have dubbed themselves The Rolling Hills Preservation Society have announced their plans to host a benefit that will take place on July 14th at The Days Inn in Batavia NY. The property known as Rolling Hills was, in its past, the old Genesee County home as well as a tuberculosis center, orphanage, carriage house, and tavern among other things, dating back to the late 1790s. Because of recent events including unforeseen expenses to keep the facility open for visitors, it has become necessary to raise money to pay back taxes and other financial obligations. The benefit is for that purpose. Several local and regional bands, performing a variety of styles, will provide music for the event. There will also be raffle baskets, silent auction and split club tickets as well as an opportunity to donate directly to the cause. All proceeds will go to fund the preservation of Rolling Hills. A donation of $12.00 per person will be expected, and the doors will open at 4:00 pm. For more information please contact: Kirk McWhorter at mcrecord@rochester.rr.com

Visit the Rolling Hills Ghost Hunts Website for more information and to view other Events scheduled to help this cause. www.RollingHills-GhostHunt.com.

2007-06-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

Darkness Radio: Paranormal Lock Down at Eastern State Penitentiary

First the sad news: Just two days after my last blog, my wonderful dog Shadow took a sudden turn for the worse and we lost him. I miss him and my other dog every day (more like twenty times a day), and I want to thank everyone for their kind messages of encouragement and hope.

Life goes on, like it or not, and I did just have a great time in Philadelphia this weekend at the Paranormal Lock Down Retreat hosted by DarknessRadio.com. Host Dave Schrader and crew put on a super event and everyone was having a really good time. I would recommend checking out some of their other events at www.darknessradio.com/TRIPS

Meanwhile back at the Shanley Hotel in Napanoch, NY, you may all be interested to know that they will be opening as Bed & Breakfast very soon, so you might want to make those reservations now. We will also be doing some ghost hunts, so stay tuned to my website, or contact Barbara at shanleyhotelbarb@yahoo.com . The last lecture/ghost hunt night was a rousing success, and the lucky ghost hunt winners had quite an evening (the story will be in the next book).

As for the new book, I am currently working on some very interesting cases, so Volume 7 promises to be spine-tingling from cover to cover. The book should be available by late September.

Also, I'm ironing out some details for our own paranormal seminar at a local haunted location that I have written about, but I'll have to keep you in suspense a little while longer until it's all confirmed. The day will feature Mike Worden's Ghost Hunting 101, Lisa Ann's psychic talents, and my ghost hunting adventures. By the way, Lisa Ann's book is now available, so please go to http://www.spiritquesthealingcenter.com/ to order your autographed copy.

Finally, I had the pleasure of taping another episode for Eerie Radio. Not sure when it will be available, but if you missed my first appearance you can check out Episode 4 at http://www.eerieradio.com/

2007-05-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

Chance to Win a Ghost Hunt!

Life has been a challenge since my last blog. My beautiful husky passed away, and my courageous dog Shadow once again went to death's door, but has once again beaten all the odds. He's quite an inspiration.

In addition, just about everything I own broke or went temporarily haywire, so I am looking forward to the day where I can say everything is okay (but I will whisper it just to be on the safe side...).

One good thing was the night at Shanley's Hotel on April 27. There was a full house, and Mike started off with a great lecture on "Ghost Hunting 101," then after a break for some delicious cookies, I presented stories of some of my most intriguing cases. And the best part is that we will be doing it all again on June 8, with a special bonus: Ten lucky attendees will win a free ghost hunt, to be conducted in the hotel immediately after the lectures. This will be your chance to experience firsthand some of the many active spirits that haunt Shanley's hotel. (I would recommend comfortable shoes, and don't wear your best clothes as we will be getting into some tight places in the basement and sections of the hotel that have not been renovated.)

Space is limited, so contact Barbara Bleitzhofer at shanleyhotelbarb@yahoo.com, and visit their new website at www.shanleyhotel.com .

2007-02-19T07:53:00.000-08:00

Special Presentation in a very Haunted Location!

For all of you who have asked where you can go to experience a real haunted house, here's a unique opportunity. On Friday, April 27th at 7pm, I will be giving a lecture (with photos) on some of my best cases at the very haunted Shanley's Hotel in Napanoch, New York. My ghost hunting partner, Mike, will also be making a special presentation on "Ghost Hunting Tech and Techniques" to introduce everyone to all the gear and gadgets, and how to conduct an effective investigation.

Shanley's Hotel has a long colorful history as a popular spot for tourists since the mid-1800s. It also served as a bootlegger's hideout during prohibition, and a brothel during the 20th century. It has been the scene of murders, accidental deaths, and enough tragedies to provide very fertile grounds for ghosts. Current owners, Sal and Cindy, have been transforming the dilapidated structure into a beautiful bed and breakfast, scheduled to open this fall.

Mike and I conducted an investigation of the old hotel last year, and it was one of the most intense experiences we've ever had. There are so many different personalities there, many of which really affected us personally. There are bedrooms that make you feel completely disoriented, a hidden room in the basement that gives you a terrible sense of panic, and I swear in the brothel it's like another dimension, where the floor seems to shift right under your feet. Many figures have been witnessed, as well as footsteps, voices...I could go on and on. Suffice to say, this is one the most haunted places I have ever been.

So, if you want to learn how to conduct a ghost hunt and hear about some fascinating and frightening investigations of haunted places in the Hudson Valley--while having some delightful refreshments--all in a very, very haunted old hotel, then please consider attending the special presentation on April 27th. Seating will be limited and reservations are required. Admission is $20. For more information and to make a reservation, please contact Barbara Bleitzhofer at 845-647-2787, or email shanleyhotelbarb@yahoo.com

Barbara has been working on the restoration with Sal and Cindy, and she has had many paranormal experiences at Shanley's. She has also been conducting research on the history of the place, and will be available that night with a display of photos and newspaper clippings that shed light on the lives of the spirits that now walk the halls of the old hotel.

Don't miss this unique opportunity! It promises to be a night you won't soon forget...

2007-02-07T14:49:00.000-08:00

Psychic Impressions

Well, it was quite a day. Early this morning in this incessant bitter cold I headed out to pick up psychic Lisa Ann. I have worked with her before on a couple of cases, and was so impressed I wanted to see what she would find at "Grandma's House" in Port Jervis, NY. This is a case I have written about for several years, and investigated many times with my ghost hunting partner Mike. As activity had been picking up of late, it seemed to be a good time for a fresh perspective.

Lisa Ann once again hit on all the major paranormal themes of this house--the emotions, the cast of spiritual characters. Also, as a previous psychic had felt, she sensed that there exists what is known as a spiritual vortex that acts like a portal between worlds, through which many entities come and go. Great stuff for a ghost investigator, not so good for the living who have to put up with all the activity!

The next stop was Mike's house in Port Jervis. Lisa Ann did not sense anything negative, but did get several distinct impressions of former occupants--more residual feelings than active spitual energy, though. She provided some very interesting info, which hopefully can someday be confirmed through research on the early owners of the old house.

Although not wanting to impose upon her time much longer, I did want to drive by the house we had investigated last year, where I had a very close and unpleasant encounter with a suicide victim, and a dark, shadowy figure. The owners were not at home, so Mike just pulled over on the side of the road in front of the house. Nothing like a drive-by psychic reading...

Almost immediately, Lisa Ann described a negative male entity that appears on the front porch, which is exactly what people have seen.

Then she blew our minds by describing another male spirit, wondering out loud if he had committed suicide. Fortunately, I was sitting behind her so she couldn't see my amazed expression. However, a moment later when she said, "I think he shot himself," I couldn't contain myself any longer. She nailed it, once again.

You know, good pyschics are about as hard to find as honest politicians. I am always reluctant to endorse anyone in these matters as my reputation is on the line, as well. However, I am pleased to be able to recommend Lisa Ann without hesitation for personal readings or other matters of a psychic or healing nature. You can check out her website and email her at www.spiritquesthealingcenter.com

I am also pleased to announce that Mike, Lisa Ann, and I are considering holding a ghost/paranormal conference somewhere in the Hudson Valley this fall. I will certainly post info as it becomes available, so if you are interested please check back in a couple of months. And check back sooner than that for other updates. I have quite a few investigations to schedule in the coming months, and I'll continue to post some tantalizing tidbits of evidence...

2007-01-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

The Evil That Men Do

If you read Ghost Investigator Volume 6: Dark Shadows, you are familiar with the incredible picture featured in the story The Evil That Men Do. For those of you who haven't yet picked up a copy of the book (and I just can't imagine why!), I've decided to post the picture here.

First, a little background on this house: A woman who was renting this house in Pomona, NY contacted me because a lot of strange and unpleasant things were occurring. There were classic signs of a haunting, but there were also signs that something here was evil.

On my first investigation there, while sitting in the living room I saw a dark figure or shadow move from right to left on the other side of the room. I quickly took some infrared photos, and the figure that appeared in one of them took my breath away. All things considered, this was the best photo I had ever taken on a ghost investigation.

This first photo was taken in daylight, so you can see the position of everything, and also see that there's no hanging plants, coat racks or anything else that could have been misconstrued as a figure.

Now, here's the infrared photo taken just seconds after I saw the moving figure. Note the black human form that shouldn't be there. I was the only one in the room--or so I thought!

Please let me know what you think of this image. I know it still gives me chills every time I look at it!

2007-01-25T12:56:00.000-08:00

New Year's Update

The holidays have come and gone, and winter has unfortunately settled in. The weather here in New York had been wonderfully mild until recently, and I was able to go kayaking until last week when the local lake froze. Oh well, the cold weather has kept me indoors, and kept me busy working on the new book and this year's schedule. I already have several amazing cases I'm working on, but more on that in another blog.
Please check the lecture page of my website for updates. I am already scheduled for 2 new paranormal conventions (meaning ones I haven't attended before), both in upstate New York. The Supernatural Summit will be April 13-15 in Batavia http://www.supernaturalsummit.com/ , and the East Coast Paranormal Conference is May 26-27 in Rochester http://www.eastcoastghostconference.com/ and I really look forward to meeting all you fellow ghost hunters.

2006-10-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

The Paracast

October always seems to be a bit of a blur, but the best I can tell it's been about a dozen lectures since my last post. There's still a few to go, but the really hectic part has passed. I've met a lot of great people, and have received a lot of excellent leads on haunted locations, so I want to thank everyone who has come out to hear about this past years' investigations.

And if you weren't able to attend any of the lectures, you will have the opportunity to hear about some of them in the comfort of your own computer chair. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of taping an episode of the Paracast with Gene Steinberg and David Biedny. It's always refreshing to be asked intelligent, thought-provoking questions. Of course, whether or not I responded with intelligent and thought-provoking answers will be up to you to decide!

The episode will we available to listen to and download on November 5 at www.theparacast.com, or on the radio at KLAV-AM 1230 in Las Vegas, Sunday nights from 11:00 PM until 1:00 AM.

And rest assured everyone, I will be working on a lot of new cases of the restless dead, and in the coming weeks and months I will keep you posted. Until then Happy Halloween!

2006-10-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

New England Ghost Conference

This past weekend I had the pleasure of speaking at the New England Ghost Conference held in Leicester, MA. Mike and I met some great people, and I always enjoy hearing from other researchers in the field.

From left to right are: Michael Sinclair, founder and president of Orion Paranormal (the host of this event) www.ORIONParanormal.com , yours truly, Derek Bartlett, Founder of Cape and Islands Paranormal Research Society, http://www.caiprs.com/, and Gary McKinstry, Medium & Host of American Paranormal Network, http://www.garymckinstry.com/ .

Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to do some investigations together next spring. And I urge everyone who has an interest in ghost hunting to get out to some lectures and conferences. It's a wonderful opportunity to network, learn and have a good time with people who have the same interests. Remember, we are not alone...

2006-10-09T05:28:00.000-07:00

Be Careful What You Ask For

This year's book is barely a few weeks old, my busy lecture season is just getting into full swing, and already I have a new investigation worth writing about. This is actually a case Mike told about over a year ago and I had been anxiously awaiting a chance to personally investigate it. For better or for worse, this turned out to be a perfect example of being careful what you ask for...

This case involves one of the most common catalysts for a haunting--a suicide. This one was particularly tragic, as it was a man who by all accounts was a wonderful husband, father and friend, but had been cruelly suffering from a brain tumor and ended it all by shooting himself. There does come a point where life is just not worth living.

When a new family moved into this house several years ago, the children did not know anything about the suicide, so when the 4-year old boy started talking about seeing a man with a gun, and even knew the man's name, his parent's knew this was not a coincidence.

When Bob, Mike and I arrived one Friday night, we set up equipment throughout the house and quietly waited. There were one or two odd sounds, but nothing definitive. Towards the end of the evening, Mike and I went upstairs to the spot of the suicide, and I got the bright idea to sit on the exact spot and see if I could connect.

Well, not much happened for a few minutes, then I felt cold air swirling around me. Next, in my head I kept hearing the tune of an old religious hymn, to which I only knew the first line. It kept repeating, and I felt that this was an attempt to communicate some message. Then the psychic dam burst and I was flooded with heart-wrenching emotions. I compleltly broke down as I felt the suffering, remorse and guilt of a man who believed what he was about to do was terribly wrong, but also knowing that he couldn't stand it anymore and had to pull that trigger...

Let me tell you, this was one of the most traumatic moments of my life, and it wasn't even my life! The awful feelings passed as suddenly as they came, but I sat there in a daze for several minutes. Both Bob and Mike urged me to get off of that spot and get downstairs, and I agreed, but I could hardly move. Mike helped me to my feet, and I held on to Bob as I went down the stairs. When we got to the first floor by the front door, I thought I was okay and I let go of Bob. The next thing I knew everything seemed to spin and get fuzzy and I hit the floor.

As if there wasn't enough going on, just a moment before I went down Mike saw a dark figure looking through the glass of the front door. It was there for a second or two, then turned away and disappeared. This was not the first time a dark figure has been seen on the property, and it added an ominous note to an already very stressful situation.

This is definitely not the end of this story, there are too many unresolved issues. We will be back. It's a week later and I'm feeling okay now, but I know the memory of those feelings will never leave me.

2006-09-15T07:17:00.000-07:00

Ghost Investigator Volume 6: Dark Shadows

2006-09-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Ghosts of Rockland: The Collected Stories Edition

2006-09-15T06:47:00.000-07:00

Ghost Investigator

It has been a very hectic past few months, with more writing deadlines than I care to remember, but the new ghost book is now available. In fact, I have two new ghost books--Ghost Investigator Volume 6: Dark Shadows, and Ghosts of Rockland County: The Collected Stories Edition.
Volume 6: Dark Shadows has my latest New York cases, from the Rollings Hills Asylum in Bethany, to McGarrah's Inn in Monroe, and the historic Gomez Mill House in Marlboro. There are also cases involving private homes, one of which just might have produced the most amazing ghost photo I've ever taken. It still gives me chills every time I look at the dark shadowy figure (hence the book's subtitle) I captured in an infrared photo. This is no fuzzy, misty shape--this is a solid, well-defined figure. Of course, I could just post the picture on my website, but then you might not bother buy the book! (Yes, blatant commercialism has even crept into ghost hunting, but hey, I have to find some way to pay for all the gas to get to these haunted locations...)
When I decided to call this volume Dark Shadows, I was thinking just about this photograph, but the more I thought about it, I realized that I had encountered dark figures at two other sites this past year. That is a definite escalation in haunted activity for me, as actual physical manifestations are quite rare. Maybe I just got lucky with these cases, or maybe the spirit world is raising the bar. I can't wait to see what's in store for future ghost investigations!
In any event, Dark Shadows does contain some of my most in-depth descriptions of real ghost hunts, and if you're into this sort of thing I guarantee it won't disappoint you.
As for Ghosts of Rockland County: The Collected Stories Edition, this is a book that I can truly say was the result of "popular demand." My very first ghost book was the small, stapled-cover Ghosts of Rockland that was published ten years ago. I was very apprehensive about writing a local ghost book--I mean, who would really be interested? When the first printing sold out in two weeks I realized this was the start of a beautiful relationship--me and the restless dead. Okay, it's not really beautiful, but it has been a fascinating journey.
I quickly expanded my ghost hunting territory to the entire Hudson Valley, and called my next three books Haunted Hudson Valley Volume 1,2 and 3. Things continued to escalate, and I adopted the title of Ghost Investigator and began traveling farther and farther to haunted locations throughout the northeast. However, the local interest never waned, and people continued to ask me to write another Ghosts of Rockland County. So, in my spare time (in other words, when I skipped meals and gave up sleep), I collected all of the Rockland stories from the past ten years and put them together in this new book. If you have all my other books, you do have these stories, but if you don't, or you know of any ghost enthusiasts in the area, then this is what you've been looking for--back by popular demand!
It's hard to believe that summer is already gone, and I most likely will go kicking and screaming into winter once again. In the meantime, however, is this season called fall, which contains this holiday known as Halloween, which brings out thoughts of ghosts, which brings the Ghost Investigator out onto the lecture circuit once again. And the season starts early this year, with my first lecture on September 23 at the Berkshire Paranormal Conference hosted by the New England Ghost Project: www.neghostproject.com . I spoke there last year and it's a great conference, so if you're in a spooky mood come on by.
Please check my schedule for other appearances http://ghostinvestigator.com/Lectures/Lectures.htm and come by to hear of my latest haunted adventures, and see that great photo of the dark figure!

2006-04-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

A Night in Rolling Hills Asylum

On the afternoon of April 20, 2006, fellow Ghost Investigator Mike Worden, his brother Scott, friend Marge and I packed his SUV full of equipment and headed for Batavia, New York--through 300 miles of rolling farmland, an occasional city and a whole lot of nothing. Our destination was the former Rolling Hills Asylum, now owned and operated by Jeff and Lori Carlson as the Rolling Hills Country Mall. For almost two centuries, the complex of buildings housed the poor, orphans, drunks, TB patients, unwed mothers and the criminally insane--often in the same rooms, or even sharing the same beds!

This place beheld untold misery, and over one thousand deaths had been recorded within these walls. It certainly sounded like a prime location for ghosts, but could we find any proof for the claims of haunted activity?

First off, before you get all excited about "orbs" surrounding the building, the air was thick with bugs and dust, so that is what is being reflected by this flash picture I took just after we arrived. Our first surprise was the sheer size of the place. It doesn't appear very big from the outside, but the inside is a confusing maze of over 65,000 square feet of tunnels, hallways, rooms, ramps and endless staircases. We dropped all of our gear at "base camp" (the cafe), and were given an excellent tour of the building by Kirk, a member of the Rolling Hills Ghost Hunting Society.

To use Lori and Kirk's own words, the season's ghost hunting had been "dead" so far, but even as the tour was beginning strange sounds and passing shadows promised a very active night. (This wasn't the first time Mike and I had heard, "Things were very quiet until you got here!" I guess we just have a knack for stirring up things.)

A lot transpired over the next several hours, which will all get their proper treatment in my next ghost book, but I have to share one amazing encounter. When we reached the east wing of the second floor, we all felt an uncomfortable feeling. Marge didn't want any part of that area and decided to sit out that part of the investigation back at base camp. As Mike, Scott and I proceeded down the long corridor, I commented that it felt like we were walking into a gunfight. The atmosphere of confrontation was thick in the air.

What was also in the air were sounds, like banging and tapping, coming from the far end in the solarium. However, when we reached the solarium there was silence...but only for a moment. The sounds then started up again behind us, where we had just been. Following the sounds, we headed back down the corridor in the near-total darkness.

About halfway back, I was maybe 10 or 15 feet ahead of Mike and Scott when I encountered what I can best describe as an extremely threatening male presence--one that had a very nasty and old habit of targeting women. In a move unprecedented in my ghost hunting career, I suddenly felt the urgent need to get bewteen Mike and Scott, that I would be protected in the middle of their male energy. "Must be in the middle," I repeated over and over in my head.

Saying nothing to the two men about what I was doing or why, just as I stepped between them Mike came out with these remarkable words, "Have you ever heard of Monkey in the Middle?" He went on to describe the feeling that we were being manipulated into this position--the position of being in the middle of some very hostile male energies. Scott had been thinking the same thing.

I took a brief moment to voice my amazement at his choice of words, told them what I had just experienced and then moved quickly to get out of that wing. I have encountered many things that felt threatening, but this was personal and specific. These entities hated women, and I did not like the feeling.

Later when I mentioned to Lori that I had an unpleasant encounter in that wing, she said that they believe that area contains the angry spirits of two men who, "Hate women." Unfortunately, that wasn't news to me!

The investigation went on into the wee hours, and then Mike actually drove all the way home. I don't do sleep deprivation well and was something of a zombie the next day. The day after that I came down with a nasty upper respiratory illness I'm still fighting, so I haven't been able to go through all the video and audio yet.

Even if there isn't any photographic evidence, we did record plenty of inexplicable noises, and the confrontation in the east wing of the second floor personally convinced me that at least some of the inmates have not yet left the building. But why take my word for it when you can spend the night in the ayslum. Whether you have a ghost hunting group or want to take part in a public event, you can experience the mysteries of this place firsthand:http://www.rollinghills-ghosthunt.com/

Just be prepared...

2006-04-25T06:16:00.000-07:00

Creepy Canada Update

The new season of Creepy Canada begins May 5. Check out their website for show schedules and descriptions. Looks like my segments will be appearing in episodes 6 and 9.
http://www.creepy.tv/index.html

2006-04-11T06:09:00.000-07:00

GHOST Magazine Interview

Check out the Winter 2005 issue of GHOST Magazine, which features an interview with yours truly, the Ghost Investigator, Linda Zimmermann. To order a copy, click on the following link: http://www.ghostmag.com/print.htm

The interview took place about six months ago and I don't remember what I said, and I haven't read the article yet, so hopefully it's good!

2006-01-11T10:57:00.000-08:00

This morning when I was walking my dogs I was wearing my "Creepy Canada" hat. No, I don't have anything against Canada, it's the name of a popular ghost program on Canadian television. Last October I shot an episode for their third season, and here I am at the end of a long day of ghost hunting with two of my new Canadian friends. I know they do look a bit strange, but I just figured they were French Canadians. (Okay, so they were just masks they were going to use for another show about aliens, but I thought it made for a great picture.)

The investigation that night took place at the infamous Cemetery Gate House (see Ghost Investigator Volume 3) in Wappinger Falls, NY, which of course, is not in Canada. The show's producers decided to branch out this season and go south of the border for some good Creepy American hauntings. I really didn't know if anything would happen with an entire TV crew surrounding me at every step, but we actually had some clearly paranormal activity, such as banging noises in the garage--not to mention someone, or some thing, touching my shoulder. Ever since the owner brought home those cemetery gates, the place has been a Grand Central Station for ghosts, and apparently those ghosts aren't shy about being on television.

I also taped a segment with the crew the next day at the mysterious stone chambers in Putnam County, NY. The chambers were reputedly built in very ancient times by the Celts, and appear to have an unusual energy to them. Whoever built them somehow knew about the electromagnetic fields of the earth, so they weren't ignorant stone age brutes looking for a roof over their heads.

Anyway, the point is that as I was wearing my Creepy Canada hat this morning, I remembered that the new season was scheduled to begin soon. I haven't seen the show I'm in yet, so I hope it all came out all right. If you live in Canada, check out the show's website ( www.creepycanada.com) for local listings. If you're in the U.S. you're probably out of luck, but email the show and see if they plan to air it here, which would make sense since they are about American hauntings.

Here I am measuring the bizarre EM field that seems to be concentrated between the gates like some energetic funnel leading onto the property--but I guess that's what you get placing a portal between the living and the dead at the end of your driveway!

I have to say the crew and director were all very nice and I had a lot of fun working with them. I hope "Creepy Canada" continues to be a success, and I would be happy to do more investigations with them in the future.

2006-01-03T07:15:00.000-08:00

So how did the ghost hunt with the girlscouts go? Actually, surprisingly well. I had not expected much to happen with such a large group (about 30 people all together), but I had some very intersting EMF readings, particularly in the 18th century part of the basement when I asked if any spirits wanted to make their presence known and as if in direct response my Trifield meter spiked. There was also what clearly sounded like a deep sigh from a man, and the two men present at the time hadn't made a sound.

Pictured here is the merit badge that was given to all the brave girls who attended. Considering we were all in the dark in a 200-year-old haunted house with strange things going on, and not one girl left (there was some screaming, but no one chickened out), I think they all earned this patch.

I will be returning this winter to conduct a more controlled investigation, perhaps spending the night. I will, of course, keep you posted. I have reviewed the digital photos and didn't see anything unusual, but I have yet to review all of the infrared video, for which I have to thank my volunteer cameraman, John. I also I have to thank Claude Horstmann, president of the Cornerstone Masonic Historical Society, who has led the crusade to preserve the building and create a museum.

And to the Monroe troops #524, 489 and 169, thanks for a very interesting evening, and happy ghost hunting!

(The foyer of McGarrah's Inn with some of our group the night of December 29, 2005.)

2005-12-29T07:32:00.000-08:00

The hectic Christmas season is finally winding down, which means the ghost hunting season will be going into full swing. I've started contacting some of the people who have credible stories and will be arranging investigations as soon as next week.
One story involves bizarre activity in a house in Middletown, NY, where an older, skeptical couple will now have to question their lifelong skepticism in the face of such things as objects moving and walls turning black. (Several people have been consulted about the walls, such as a plumbing/heating man and a mold expert, and no rational explanation can be found.)
Another case in Monroe, NY is a fascinating example of how renovating a house can completely alter paranormal activity--but I won't tell you how right now, as that would spoil the story! (Hey, I can't give away all my best material in a blog!)
Suffice to say I will have plenty of juicy hauntings for Ghost Investigator Volume 6.
Tonight I will be conducting the investigation of an historic 18th century structure with a local girl scout troop--should be interesting! After I recover from that, I'l let you all know how it went...

2005-12-13T05:30:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my first blog! For several years I have had requests for more current updates on my investigations and books, and I think this is the best forum for those updates. If you have found your way here, you probably know that I have been personally investigating haunted locations for almost ten years, and I write about those cases in my Ghost Investigator series of books. You can see some highlights, excerpts and photos at www.ghostinvestigator.com.

I will shortly begin several new investigations, and also revisit some older cases that warrant further investigation. I will post updates and photos as I get them. While the rapidly approaching holiday season will be filled with family and friends, I'm not neglecting the dead--I have an investigation scheduled for the 29th at a 200-year-old former inn and Masonic metting house in southern NY state. I'm sure this night will prove to be very interesting, as I will be joined by about 30 Girlscouts who want to earn their paranormal merit badges! Life is truly stranger than fiction...at least mine is!

I am always looking for credible haunted locations to investigate, so please contact me with your stories and suggestions, and I'm very much looking forward to sharing all manner of ghostly info with all of you in the future.

2005-12-13T05:27:00.000-08:00

Ghost Investigator Linda Zimmermann