As part of our Haunted October events at Wandering Educators, we've got several interviews coming up with authors of books about Haunted Travels and ghost stories. To kick off this month's articles, we'll start with an incredible book and website, Haunted Travels of Michigan. Written by Kathleen Tedsen and Beverlee Rydel, and published by Thunder Bay Press, this book and site provide an interactive experience that sent chills down my spine. When you read the book, you get a secret password for each location. After you read the chapter, then head to the website, enter the secret password, and prepare for a chilling experience. Photos, video, and audio recordings complete each haunted location. Truly, this book and site will change your mind about hauntings.

I recently had the good fortune to sit down and talk with Bev and Kat, about their work in haunted Michigan. Here's what they had to say...

Kat and Bev

WE: Please tell us about your book and website, Haunted Travels of Michigan...

HM: We want the book to be different than other paranormal books. It's not just a series of retold ghost stories and urban legends. It tells the full story behind each location. A considerable amount of time was spent on researching the people and places in our book to make sure our facts were accurate. The book then takes the reader on an actual ghost hunt where we recount what happened during the investigation. Our related Web site gives a full dimensional aspect to the stories in the book. It allows the reader to see and hear segments of the investigation so they can get a true sense of what happened. They can then make their own decision as to whether or not the location is haunted. It takes them on a virtual ghost hunt.

WE: How did you get interested in the paranormal?

HM: Both of us have had an interest in the paranormal for many years, sort of a natural curiosity. We write the book series, The Michigan Vacation Guide, and have done so since 1992. Traveling through the state, over the years, we have learned of many supposedly haunted places from our innkeepers and resort owners. This made us even more curious. What ultimately drove us to write this book was a photograph I (Bev) had taken at a historic Detroit restaurant (Story #1 in our book) in Detroit. It appeared to be a Vortex (explained in our book.) A professional photographic analyst could not find an alternative explanation for this anomaly. This was the catalyst, which motivated us to write this book.

Haunted Fort

WE: I imagine that the research for your book and website was quite extensive - did you find new and surprising things?

HM: First thing we discovered was how incredibly difficult it was to do research, especially going back over 100 years. We discovered birth and census records could even be in error. Even finding knowledgeable and reliable historians is extremely difficult. One of the biggest surprises during our research was discovering a probable murder at a pre-Civil War fort. Another shocking discovery was learning that the woman in Story 9, who supposedly hung herself at that location, died from natural causes at another location, the Pantlind Hotel, now the Amway Grand Plaza. We learned that the old portion of the Amway is said to be haunted by a former female resident.

WE: How do you find houses/inns with paranormal activities? Is there a broader network that you can educate us about?

HM:  Many of these locations have been given to us by property owners from our "Michigan Vacation Guide" book series. Additional referrals have come from several of the paranormal groups we work or communicate with. Other locations have been found through the Internet and library research. The paranormal community, or network is huge and has an enormous presence on the Web and Internet radio sites.

Vortex

WE: You have so much evidence on your site of paranormal activity. What do you tell people that are still skeptical?

HM: We don't expect to change the views of every skeptic. We only hope to open their minds to the broader belief that a phenomenon exists in this world that cannot be explained. Whether it's ghosts, another dimension or something completely natural not yet discovered, there is something out there.

Enlarged Vortex

WE: Is there anything else you'd like to share with us?

HM:  We couldn't have done this without the committed paranormal groups that allowed us to work with them during these investigations. It has been an amazing experience for us opening our skeptical minds to many possibilities. We are very excited at the response to our book and public events.

WE: Thanks so much, Bev and Kat! I appreciate you sharing with us! Your book and website are great treasures - I've been lost in them for hours, just learning.

For more information on the book and upcoming events, please see: www.hauntedtravelsMI.com

***UPCOMING EVENTS***

Please check the website for an updated list of events! http://www.hauntedtravelsmi.com/

Welcome to our haunted world!

Haunted Travels of Michigan

Check out our Amazon Listmania:  Amazon Listmania for Haunted October Books reviewed on Wandering Educators