I attended the Mal’s Pals charity fund raiser in Hudson, NH with my husband and our friends (and fellow researchers) Lesley Marden and Ghost hunting… the more it changes, the more it stays the same.  Well, that’s how it seemed on Saturday night.

I attended the Mal’s Pals charity fund raiser in Hudson, NH with my husband and our friends (and fellow researchers) Lesley Marden and Sean Paradis.  It was a paranormal-themed event, and the main speaker at the event was Kris Williams; I hadn’t seen her in over a year.

The event in Hudson, NH – Presentations and children

The fund raiser was tremendous fun.  The initial presentation was about the Bridgewater Triangle.  Unfortunately, it was mostly about police investigations into ritual abuse and violence at locations within that Massachusetts triangle.  I think it’s important to know some of the history of a site, as well as the risks when you visit it.  However, I didn’t think some of the explicit descriptions and some photos were appropriate for an audience that included children.

Generally, I don’t like the idea of bringing children under age 16 (or so) to investigations.  There are exceptions, of course, but I always want a parent or guardian to be on hand, to take responsibility for a minor who might become anxious or frightened.

This was a fund-raising event featuring a TV star, so I wasn’t surprised to see children and even toddlers in the audience.  However, when making a presentation to an audience that includes kids, I think it’s important to modify — on-the-fly, if necessary — to keep the information family-friendly.

And, unless it’s a ghost tour with over-the-top drama, just for fun, I’m not sure how many details we need to know about a paranormal location.  If I’ve been to a site more than a few times, or if it’s made a dramatic impression on me, I might want to know the full history.  Otherwise…? I’m not so sure.

Frankly, given its history and how much energy has been altered by visitors (observers) in recent years, I’m not interested in researching on-site at the Bridgewater Triangle.

I’m far more enthusiastic about the Bennington (VT) Triangle, which has been — so far — relatively overlooked by serious researchers.

Ghost hunters – The good

For 2012, I’ve committed to working on my research, writing books, and generally avoiding the spotlight.  So, I don’t attend many events.

This event gave me a chance to survey the kinds of people who are currently active in the field — at least in the New Hampshire area — as well as the questions they ask and the subjects they discuss.

Angel cloud photo by Hannah Clemens, MO.

Kris Williams’ talk — and the lengthy Q&A session that followed — impressed me.  She’s honest about what’s happened in her research.

I particularly enjoyed her behind-the-scenes stories, including the pranks the cast play on each other.  When a star talks informally and honestly about working on a TV show, it brings far more depth to the viewing experience.

From the unexplained figure in her hotel room to the hilarity of smelly cars, Kris’ stories kept the entire audience enthralled as we gasped, laughed, and applauded during her fascinating talk.

Kris was also very frank about what’s real on Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International, what’s staged, and especially what’s omitted.  I could have stood up and cheered when she described her very startling paranormal encounters, while explaining that we don’t know what those are.  So far, we can’t say that they’re all caused by ghosts… or anything else.

The encounters are real.  The phenomena are real.  The explanations for them… we’re not even close to proving what causes these strange experiences.

Kris might have gotten far more mileage out of claiming that everything on the show is ghostly.  She could have looked at the event as an “on stage” gig where she was playing a part.  She didn’t.

Instead, she was honest, entertaining, and connected with the audience with her insights and integrity.  In addition, she had volunteered to speak at this event, because it was a fund raiser for a good cause.

Kris Williams is remarkable. I wish all paranormal researchers could be as worthy of our trust and respect.

The bad

At the other end of the spectrum, I felt disappointed when I learned that someone with a poor reputation is still working in this field.

I recommend skipping the next section; it’s simply something I need to say, to be very clear about the problems of working in a field where expertise can be claimed without credentials.

This particular person was brought to my attention about three years ago.  It was a month after he began working at ghost-related events, when a parent complained about him touching her under-age daughter.

When I asked him about it, he said it was just an innocent hug.

Then he took inappropriate photos of a young man while they were alone in a rest room at another event.  The self-proclaimed “paranormal researcher” admitted that he took the X-rated photos, but said he took them “by accident.”

I’ve heard other, credible, damaging things about him over the past couple of years, yet — this weekend — it was confirmed that he’s still working in this field.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a unique story.  I’ve heard reports of inappropriate touching by two other men in this field, and both have been charged (and at least one convicted) of child molestation.

It’s a tawdry side of paranormal research, and I don’t like to talk about it.  However, I urge everyone to take my Scams and Con Artists article seriously.

I don’t think people like them are a worthy focus for you or me. Instead, put your time into genuine paranormal research.

Just watch out for the sleazes in this field.  They’re still a problem. The simplest solution is to avoid being alone with anyone — male or female, young or old — in settings where you could be at risk.

And, if someone is using me as a reference and I haven’t praised them here at HollowHill.com, ask me if you have any doubts.  I won’t confirm the identity of the the man I’ve described, but I will tell you whether or not I can recommend someone.

The wonderful!

Besides Kris’ great talk, I was especially pleased to see the large crowd who supported Mal’s Pals by attending this event.  I have no idea how many of them were interested in ghost hunting or paranormal research.

I spoke with several people at the event, and it was great to hear their comments and questions.

I feel badly about dedicating so little space in this article to these great people, but the most wonderful part of the evening was seeing the support for a worthy charity, and the continuing interest in this field.

If you were there, thank you!

So, I was disappointed and annoyed when I found one of my original stories on page 148 of the Everything Ghost Hunting Book.

It’s the Colby-Sawyer ghosts story, and it’s an entire section in Ms. Ellis’ book.

It’s written as if the author — [...]]]> Plagiarism disgusts me.  There’s no excuse for it.

So, I was disappointed and annoyed when I found one of my original stories on page 148 of the Everything Ghost Hunting Book.

It’s the Colby-Sawyer ghosts story, and it’s an entire section in Ms. Ellis’ book.

It’s written as if the author — Melissa Martin Ellis — had interviewed “the student” herself.

Well, Ms. Ellis might have gotten away with it, except for two things:

1. She quoted “the student” — and much of the story — word-for-word from one of my webpages that has been online since 2001.  (That can be documented via the Wayback Machine; Ms. Ellis’ book came out in August 2009.)
2. In addition… I’m the student.  That’s my story, from when I attended Colby-Sawyer College.   So, Ms. Ellis can’t claim that she acquired the story directly from the student who had the ghostly encounter.(A couple of my HollowHill.com stories were written in the third person, with a few facts altered, specifically to catch plagiarists.  That’s one of those stories, and it worked.)

I’m going to think about this copyright violation before I decide what to do.  I have already contacted an attorney.

For starters, I want to see if Ms. Ellis copied more than just that one story.   I may find other HollowHill.com stories in her book, and I may see stories from others’ websites, too.  (If you find additional copied — and uncredited — material in her book, please let me know.)

I keep saying that integrity and credibility are among our most valuable assets in this field.  When someone steals another researcher’s work and copyrighted articles, I have no respect for them, and you probably shouldn’t, either.

We have enough credibility issues in this field.  Plagiarism is unacceptable, and opens the door to even more criticism from people who doubt the integrity of our research.

Photo credits: Glasses with legal symbol – linusb4, Australia
Arrested icon, Michal Zacharzewski, Poland

Recently, a new problem has emerged, and it’s related to publishing.

This came to my attention a few months ago, when an associate mentioned that he’d paid someone to publish his book.  However, the book was [...]]]> Though scams and con artists are relatively rare in this field, they do exist.

Recently, a new problem has emerged, and it’s related to publishing.

This came to my attention a few months ago, when an associate mentioned that he’d paid someone to publish his book.  However, the book was never published and the associate never received a refund.

When I asked for more information and didn’t receive a reply, I assumed that everything had worked out.

Yesterday, when I was reviewing several new ghost-related books, I started noticing a pattern.  Some books had very negative reviews.  They referred to editing and proofreading issues, not necessarily the content of the books.

When I checked to see who’d published those books, all were published by one company. That company does not even have a website for its books.

Further research traced the publishing name back to the person who’d accepted money to publish a book… and then didn’t publish it.

Since I’ve worked with several publishers — as an author, an editor and an illustrator — here’s my advice.

Never pay anyone to publish your book

Regular publishers will not charge you anything to publish your book.  (That should be in neon lights.)

In fact, some publishers pay you an advance, anticipating how much you’ll earn from the book.  That helps cover your expenses while you’re completing the book.

A few publishers will charge you if they have to do extensive editing to make your book ready to publish.  Most good publishing houses — with full editorial staffs — don’t even ask for that.

(However, if your writing isn’t very good, you should probably expect a per-hour fee for professional editing and rewriting.)

If a publisher is paid by the author, that’s usually called vanity publishing. It’s been a long-term practice, dating back to the 19th century and perhaps earlier. I don’t recommend it.

Check their reviews at Amazon.com

Find other books from that publishing house.  Be sure they’re in your same field.  (A publisher with no ghost-related books may not know how to market your ghost-related books.  You’ll want to see at least two or three books in your field.)

Then, go to Amazon.com and read the reviews of those books.

First of all, be sure their books are at Amazon.com.  It’s America’s top online retailer.  If your book won’t be at Amazon.com — or it won’t be placed there, quickly — look for another publisher.

Then, read the reviews, especially the negative ones.  Look for anything that suggests cheap paper, shabby bindings, ugly bookcovers, poor editing, or too many proofreading errors.  (A few errors are unavoidable, even with a great publisher.)

In addition, be sure that the books earn good reviews for their content.  It’s not the end of the world if you’re published by a company that signs contracts with any (and every) author that approaches them… but it’s better to choose a publisher you’re proud of.

What rights do you give the publisher?

• Does the publisher own the copyrights to your book for a certain number of years?
• Can they sell the contract to another company?
• Can they let your book sit in their warehouse, and never see the light of day?
• Does your contract require you to publish all future books through that publisher, or at least offer them your future books?  (That’s called “first option” or “first refusal,” in some areas.)
• Do they control — or have an option for — the use of your pen name?  In other words, can they use your pen name for the work of other writers, to capitalize on your popularity?
• Can you veto an ugly cover or a significant change in the content of your book?  Are there specific terms for resolving that?

Those are just a few really important aspects of publishing contracts.  (Every published author has at least one horror story.  I have  couple of them, myself.)

Never sign a book contract unless you understand every section of it, and agree with it, to the letter.  Don’t trust what the editor or publisher says that the phrase means; get a second, independent opinion.

If you’re not sure about a publisher, check the Book Publishers section at Preditors & Editors.  (Also, if you were badly treated by a publishing house, report them — with documentation — to that website.)

How long will your book stay in print?

Some publishers’ books are like magazines; they’re only available in bookstores for a very brief time.  Harlequin books (romance novels) are a classic example of that.

However, if your book is published by a company that doesn’t keep books in print, your contract should allow you to place that book with another publisher as soon as the book is out of print.

Know when, and under what circumstances, you can take your book to another publisher.

Few authors get rich

If you’re hoping to become rich and famous from your books, think again.  You might achieve some level of fame; getting rich is another matter.

For some books, I’m paid a flat fee for my work.  That’s usually paid on a per-page basis. (After over 20 years as a published author, that’s usually a three-figure amount, per page.)

I’m paid an additional fee for illustrations that I provide.

Whether the book is a best-seller or fails miserably, I earn the same amount.  That’s the risk I take when I agree to that kind of contract.

Other publishers pay me a percentage of what my book earns; for a book that sells for about $15, I’m earning an average of less than 25 cents per book.

That’s not unusual in niche nonfiction, and that is the realm of ghost-related books.  In many cases, you won’t earn minimum wage from your books… not unless they’re best-sellers or keep selling for years & years.

If you’re looking for an alternative

I love some of the publishers I write for.  They’re fun companies with great editors, brilliant production teams, and excellent distribution.  I plan to continue writing for them, indefinitely.  (Well, those quarters add up eventually!)

However, I’ve also become an independent publisher, and I recommend that  as an alternative.

(That is, I’m not recommending my publishing house;  I’m suggesting that you consider starting your own. I am expanding to work with a few other authors, but that’s not the point of this article.)

Independent publishing

Thanks to resources such as LightningSource.com and CreateSpace.com, anyone can become an independent publisher.

Of course, there are issues that you may not want to deal with.  They include:

• Book design
• Editing
• Proofreading
• Preparing illustrations
• Cover design – graphics and text
• Marketing and distribution
• Promotion

However, as many other authors describe it, independent publishing means about 10x the income for about 4x the work.  From my experiences so far, that’s exactly right.

LightningSource.com

There are some up-front charges to set up a book with LightningSource.com, and several technicalities to work with, but your potential, long-term profits are best with them.

However, I don’t necessarily recommend them to anyone who’s new to writing and publishing. (Pros will be more comfortable with the financial risks as well as the extra work involved.)

CreateSpace.com

For many people, it’s better to start with CreateSpace.com, which is conveniently owned by Amazon.com.   Though you’ll be doing all the work yourself, your only up-front expense will be the wholesale cost of a proof copy of your book.

That’s usually less than $10 (including shipping). It’s required so you see what your book will look like before it’s sold to the public.

Skip the scams

As you can see, you have several options if you want to write a book.

None of them involve paying someone to publish your book, especially someone whose editorial staff (if there are any) don’t do a very good job.

• You can find a regular, mainstream publisher who handles books similar to yours.
• You may choose to become an independent publisher.
• You might work with a group of friends — each with their own publishing skills (cover design, editing, proofreading, etc.) — and help each other publish, independently.

And, though I do not recommend it, you can pay someone else to publish your book.  If you choose that route, be absolutely sure that you’re getting your money’s worth.

But frankly, I can’t think of any reason to pay someone else to publish your book for you.

If you have questions or comments, use the form below.  I’d like to know about your publishing experiences, and your questions about writing and publishing.

If you do enjoy Jane Austen’s books, and you have a rather dark sense of humor, this book might delight you, [...]]]> This isn’t about ghosts.  It’s a book I’ve enjoyed and friends might, too.  However, unless you’re familiar with Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice — and liked it — this review probably won’t interest you.

If you do enjoy Jane Austen’s books, and you have a rather dark sense of humor, this book might delight you, too.

The book is Dawn of the Dreadfuls, a prequel to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It is about zombies… animated bodies of people, who are rising from their coffins.

First, let me explain the context of my review.  If you know me in real life, you know two things:

1. I have a very odd sense of humor, and
2. Despite my interest in ghosts and related subjects, I don’t like anything creepy, gory, gruesome, violent or ghoulish.

Point #2 generally trumps any interest I’d have in most horror-related novels.  (However, I don’t think ghosts are “creepy.”)

Dawn of the Dreadfuls is an exception.  It’s the humor that won me over when I started reading this book.  The puns, the wit… they’re laugh-out-loud funny.

Make no mistake, this is a gruesome book in many ways.  That’s part of what makes it hilarious.  The contrasts with upper middle class propriety and manner… it’s absurdity at its best.

I haven’t read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, yet.  I am part of the way through Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters (by the same author) and it’s amusing.  The latter is the kind of book I’d read at the beach or by the swimming pool, but it’s not exactly a page-turner.  It’s simply ridiculous fun.

Dawn of the Dreadfuls is ridiculous. There’s no other word for it.  If you’re a fan of Jane Austen and/or have a background in Regency England’s manners and morals, you’ll either be outraged by this book or you’ll laugh out loud every two or three pages.  I don’t think there’s any middle-of-the-road with this.

The plot is fairly simple to start: Attending a funeral, the Bennet family witnesses a corpse rising from his coffin.  Mr. Bennet realizes that the zombies — or “dreadfuls” — are back.  He promptly converts Mrs. Bennet’s greenhouse to a dojo, and starts training his five daughters to fight zombies.

Meanwhile, there is the matter of romance, or at least marriage.  Jane, the oldest daughter, is being pursued by Lord Lumpley.  He’s interested because she looks like a good, docile young woman who’d stay out of his way once they’re married.

As you’d expect, this is not a courtship that will go well.

With that foundation, the story leaps from one preposterous scene to the next, and each successive problem (or the solution these people choose)  is more absurdly funny.

If your humor is like mine, and you’re a fan of Jane Austen and Regency England, I think you’ll love this book.

• Official website: Quirk Classic – Dawn of the Dreadfuls
• Dawn of the Dreadfuls at Amazon.com
• Quirk book contest/forum: Quirk Classics Contest

In general, the research community — beginners and pros — are bright, wonderful, interesting people.  Many of my closest friends are people I met through ghost hunting.

At every event I attend, I meet great researchers, and every one has an important question or [...]]]> Sometimes, being a paranormal researcher is tremendous fun.  Sometimes, it’s not.

In general, the research community — beginners and pros — are bright, wonderful, interesting people.  Many of my closest friends are people I met through ghost hunting.

At every event I attend, I meet great researchers, and every one has an important question or story to share.

However, when I see vandalism at cemeteries that weren’t visited until I mentioned them, or when people copy my articles without permission or even a link back to this site, I become frustrated.

(Though those incidents are rare, they seem to occur at all levels.)

It’s important to remember: The benefits of this work far outweigh the disappointments.

A couple of weeks ago, I stopped at Gilson Road Cemetery on my way back from Salem (MA).  I’d only planned to spend a few minutes there with one of my team members, taking photos of the gravestones, partly to document what’s changed since my pre-2003 photos.

While I was there, I was delighted to meet members of another paranormal research team.  In fact, I was tremendously impressed by their research, their professionalism, and their attitudes towards this work.

They’ve made time to do in-depth historical research, as well as on-site research, that I’d hoped to do before moving to Texas.  Seeing someone else carrying this research forward… well, it’s very satisfying.

Also, I receive emails daily from people who are asking interesting questions.  They’re talking about taking this research in new directions, and that may open new doors to discovery.   It’s clear that they’ve read all of my relevant articles, and used their imaginations to think of new, plausible approaches to learn more.

You’re an important member of the research community when you’re…

• Exploring haunted sites in increased depth,
• Working to preserve important historical (and haunted) locations,
• Sharing what you’ve learned with others who are serious about this work,
• Exploring innovative (and scientific) research techniques, or
• Conducting detailed historical research related to haunted sites.

Seeing so many people contributing important work to increase our understanding of ghosts and hauntings… that’s what makes my efforts worthwhile.

Thank you!  You are the future of ghost hunting!

Most shows don’t represent what ghost investigations are really like. Even the live/event shows are clearly staged and far more fast-paced than what goes [...]]]> I rarely watch ghost-related TV shows.  They’re entertainment. They’re produced, edited, and sometimes scripted to convey something about hauntings, in a way that will capture the viewers’ attention and (hopefully) loyalty.

Most shows don’t represent what ghost investigations are really like. Even the live/event shows are clearly staged and far more fast-paced than what goes on in real life.

Though I’ll watch those shows now & then, to see what results they’re getting with certain techniques and equipment — and to see why I’m receiving questions about one particular topic — I’m not a regular viewer.

GHOST HUNTERS: BETSY ROSS

I’ll confess that I’ve watched only about five episodes, total, of Ghost Hunters (starring the TAPS team)  from the research lead-in to the reveal.

I’ve seen clips from the shows, and of course commercials for them, more often.  (Generally, when someone asks me about a particular show, I watch a few clips on YouTube or a similar site.)

So, when I watched the Betsy Ross Ghost Hunters episode for the first time last night, I realized that my original Betsy Ross article (responding to emails) was off-base.  The flag issue didn’t seem to affect the investigation or its conclusions in any way at all.

My summary?  If anything, it looked like a hasty investigation. However, that’s the problem when you’re filming at TV show; you have to work with the production crew’s schedule, and — too often — someone else’s agenda.

I’m not sure that the house is profoundly haunted, but its history suggests enough likely residual energy to be interesting.

I think the Betsy Ross House is worth visiting multiple times, with more complete access to the site (such as the attic) to determine what’s going on.

In addition, I’d delve far more into the history of the building and its occupants.  But, if you’ve read my articles or met me in person, you know that I place a high priority on historical research. (I’ll add an article about the history of the Betsy Ross House, later.)

To answer the hoax questions: To me, it looked like a legitimate investigation.  I didn’t see anything that explained the flurry of questions I received when the show first aired.

GHOST HUNTERS: STAR ISLAND AND KIMBALL CASTLE

Watching these two shows, I’m glad they’re braving the elements and not me. Cold and/or rainy weather…?  I prefer to stay indoors where it’s warm & dry.

That said, I liked seeing the TAPS team use a level on the “haunted” stairs at Star Island; for over 10 years, I’ve been recommending a carpenter’s level to check several phenomena, including:

• Stairs with a high level of accidents (check each tread)
• Rooms in which people feel disoriented (check the floor)
• Doors that seem to swing open and/or closed on their own
• Windows that swing open or closed on their own

I thought the EVP was startling, as well.  (From my experience, it was almost predictable after Jason’s “creepy baby” comment.  Say something thoughtless in a haunted location — even if it’s funny — and some spirits are likely to object.)

The provoking… well, in a recent podcast, I’ve explained why I don’t like provoking.  Of course, since I don’t usually watch the show, I was chagrined to see Jason and Grant use provoking as a technique.  But… well, it’s a TV show. They’ve always been polite when I’ve been around them, and no two investigators will agree 100% on any research techniques.

The Kimball Castle segment intrigued me.  The castle has a certain “Fall of the House of Usher” quality that makes it a great place to visit.  I’ll probably check it out myself, since it’s within driving distance of my home.

EXTREME PARANORMAL

I watched Extreme Paranormal and winced.  My initial reaction was irritation.  What they’re doing is often silly, and sometimes dangerous.

However, when I thought about it later, I realized that it’s a new show and I think it’s supposed to be campy.  They just haven’t pushed it quite far enough for that to be obvious.

It looks like they’re selectively mixing fact and fiction to create a juicy ghost story, and a show that’s a can’t-look-away train wreck.  (If anyone thinks that “blood rituals” or burying someone alive in a coffin are part of ghost hunting… they’re not.  I generally object to summoning circles, as well.)

To get an idea of the fact/fiction balance, I researched the history of one of their investigation sites.  To read about it, see Bonito City – The Real Story.

DESTINATION TRUTH

Though I’ve seen just a couple of episodes of Destination Truth, I liked it.  Oh, it doesn’t accurately portray serious ghost investigations, but I don’t think it’s really a “ghost” show.

I like Destination Truth because they’re doing something different, and there’s an appealing informality.  I’m also amused by the suspenseful moments, which are likely to be very non-paranormal (for example, the quicksand) and add to the realism of the show.

I’ve always been fascinated with the King Tut legends, so I especially liked that episode.  The doll island one was downright creepy; from my experience, dolls often contain residual energy, and a few are the homes of spirits.

The Romanian episode provided some great scenery; I’d like to take photos there, and I’d like to see what Barry Fitzgerald‘s pictures would look like, as well.

I’m not sure that I’ll continue to watch Destination Truth. As I’ve said, I don’t watch much TV.  It will probably depend on what they’re investigating that night, and how quickly this becomes a formula-style show.

In general, I check ghost-related shows about once every six months.   I don’t want to be totally out-of-touch with what’s popular.  However, I’m so involved in my own research and writing, I generally don’t have time for anything else.

That said, if I had more time, I’d probably watch more of these shows… just for fun.

In my previous book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, I described two major paranormal patterns connecting almost all hauntings in downtown Austin.  With that information, ghost [...]]]> Patterns emerge when I study profoundly haunted (or “active”) areas. They help me identify overlooked ghosts and paranormal phenomena.

In my previous book, The Ghosts of Austin, Texas, I described two major paranormal patterns connecting almost all hauntings in downtown Austin.  With that information, ghost hunters can find dozens of unreported and overlooked  hauntings to investigate.

In haunted Salem, Massachusetts, different eerie patterns are emerging. I’m calling one of them “The Judges Line.” It seems to be a ley line.

Ley lines are lines or paths that connect sites with unusual energy. They could be major churches or temples, sites of violence and tragedy, or have some other unusual connection.

Some speculate that spiritual energy flows along those paths, and the energy was there even before the church was built or the violence occurred. In fact, that energy may magnify the emotions or affect the thinking of people when they are on or near a ley line.

As I map important sites related to the judicial side of the Salem Witch Trials, those sites closely follow a line.  Oddly, that line also indicates where modern-day Salem judges have purchased homes.  (The number of judges’  homes on the line is why I’m calling it “The Judges Line.”)

This line extends directly to haunted Gallows Hill Park, the most likely site of the hangings during the Salem Witch Trials.

If you’re looking for paranormal phenomena and eerie ghost stories, investigate sites along this line. Some of Salem’s most dramatic hauntings and fascinating paranormal activity occur within the yellow band on the map below.

Here is my preliminary, hand drawn map:

Here are my notes related to the numbers.

1. Chestnut Street (represented by a black line) – Many modern-day judges and elected officials choose this street for their homes.

2. Judge Corwin’s home, also known as “Witch House” since he condemned so many witches during the Salem Witch Trials.  It’s a prominent site in haunted Salem, and the house is open to the public.

3. Judge Hathorne’s home, also associated with the Salem Witch Trials. (Nathaniel Hawthorne changed the spelling of his own name to avoid any association with this ancestor.)

4. Sheriff George Corwin’s home – George Corwin was the son of the judge (#2) and benefited by seizing the property of convicted and admitted witches.

5. The home of Samuel Shattuck, a dyer whose testimony helped convict Bridget Bishop, one of the first Witch Trial victims.

6. The home of Massachusetts Bay Colony’s Governor Simon Bradstreet (1603 – 1697).

7. John Higginson Jr. lived here. He was the local magistrate. The Hawthorne Hotel was later built on this property.  It’s one of haunted Salem’s favorite hotels; ask for a haunted room if you’re there to investigate.

8. Jacob Manning, a blacksmith, forged the shackles worn by many Witch Trial victims.

9. Thomas Beadle’s tavern, where Witch Trial inquests were held.

A. The home of Bridget Bishop, a Witch Trial victim who may be among the ghosts at the Lyceum Restaurant, now on that site.  The Lyceum is a popular and delightful place to dine, and they’re happy to talk about their famous ghosts.

B. Ann Pudeator, a Witch Trial victim whose specter was seen walking along Salem Common, even before her execution.  (I think this may be the location of the haunted Inn on Washington Square.)

C. The home of John and Mary English, one of the wealthiest families in Colonial Salem. They were accused but escaped to New York.

D. Alice Parker’s home, owned by John and Mary English. Ms. Parker was accused of witchcraft and put to death.

The slightly triangular area near sites 7 and B represents Salem Common.

Gallows Hill Park is indicated on the far left side of the map. The “Judges Line” — generally indicated in yellow — points directly to it.

Though Gallows Hill Park features a playground and soccer field, it’s also the most likely location of the gallows where the Witch Trial victims were executed.  According to some records, many of the “witches” were also buried there, in shallow and unmarked graves.

The small green areas near sites 6, 7 and 8 represent sites with paranormal activity or they are scenes of violence in the 19th and 20th century… or both.  These include the delightful Enchanted Fairy Cottage, as well as the Remember Salem shop, where you can take one of Salem’s best ghost tours with the Salem Night Tour.

To get an idea of how narrow the Judges Line is, in relation to Salem in general, here’s a larger map.  The Judges Line is indicated in red.

As I continue my research, I’m finding even more sites that will be represented with red dots. All of them are along the Judges Line.

That is the pattern that I mentioned during the February 28, 2009 show on Darkness Radio.  (I was Dave Schrader‘s guest, along with friend and Salem Witch, Christian Day of Hex and the Festival of the Dead.)

In addition, a second pattern has emerged.  It’s an odd connection among sites outside of Salem and within the city.  As I applied that pattern to more recent history, I was able to predict where the Boston Strangler killed Evelyn Corbin, even before I confirmed the address with old newspaper records.  So, it’s another chilling pattern.

For more information about my research in Salem, Massachusetts, see:

• My Ghosts of Salem diary, http://www.GhostsSalem.com/diary/
• My upcoming book, The Ghosts of Salem, Massachusetts (I’m completing this in 2010).
• Reports and recordings from GhoStock, the April 2009 celebrity paranormal event in Salem. I was among the guest speakers.

Also look for my how-to information about finding paranormal patterns in your area.   My book, Paranormal Patterns, is currently in production.