Capturing the Spirit of the Paranormal: The Paranormal Review Photography Competition Shortlist Earlier this year I launched a competition to find the photograph that best captures the ‘spirit’ of the paranormal. The emphasis was on aesthetics rather than evidence, since the purpose was not to prove the paranormal in any way, but to represent it….
Paranormal Review 83
The Ghost Hunting Issue, Part 2 It was last year’s SPR conference that inspired my trip. Leeds, I thought, what’s near Leeds? Then I remembered: Pontefract. Pontefract is the home of what has become one of the most talked about cases in recent years: the so-called ‘Black Monk of Pontefract’ of 30 East Drive. It…
A Night with the Black Monk
Inside 30 East Drive, Home of the Black Monk of Pontefract At 2 a.m. the ghost hunters left. I was alone in the haunted house. After the demise of Borley Rectory, this was quite possibly the best contender for ‘The Most Haunted House in England’, at least according to the house’s website. And I was…
The Ghost Hunting Issue, Part 1
From spirit bottles to how to win the lottery, and, of course, ghost hunting, issue 82 of the Paranormal Review brings you the best writing and most interesting theories on parapsychological subjects. Paranormal Review, 82 (Spring 2017) EDITORIAL We begin this issue with the President of the SPR, Prof. John Poynton, continuing his exploration of…
Lucid in Leeds
The SPR’s 40th International Annual Conference at the University of Leeds, 2016 The intense white light suddenly changed to blue, orange, yellow, then back to white. ‘Are you sure this is just white light?’ I asked. ‘Yes, just white light,’ replied a calm voice with the hint of an Austrian accent. When the change came…
Photograph the Paranormal
Paranormal Review Photography Competition Shoot the Next Cover and Win a Camera from Olympus How to capture the paranormal? We have all seen photographs, from the Brown Lady of Raynham Hall to orbs, that claim to show evidence of a spirit world. But no matter how compelling the image, no photograph has convinced the earthly…
CFP: Death, Dying and Disposal 13
Death, Dying and Disposal 13 Ritual, Religion and Magic Conference 6th-10th September 2017 University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK In popular western culture the number 13 is often unlucky, evoking superstition, or witches. Yet there were 13 members of the last supper, Friday the 13 is lucky in Italy and in Judaism it is the…
Impossible Zoo Recommended on Reddit
The Impossible Zoo from booksuggestions If you like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, The Impossible Zoo may be for you. List of monsters and such from myth and legend.
Parapsychology Foundation Turns 65
I asked Lisette Coly, President of the Parapsychology Foundation, how they are celebrating their 65th anniversary: Lisette Coly: We are busy re-tooling and re-dedicating our programs in light of new technologies with the addition of new projects like the PF Youtube channel which will carry our Classic Perspective Lectures, Face to Face interviews and PF…
Something Impossible for Your Xmas Stocking
Here’s my Yule present for you: https://www.hobbiesontheweb.co.uk/cr107offer.html (Don’t worry about the weird ‘hobbiesontheweb’ website, this really is from my giant international mega-publishers. Valid until the 31st of December and Hurry! before someone tries charging over a £1000 for this one, too.)
Only £1,052.41
My book A Brief Guide to the Supernatural can be yours for only £1,052.41 + £2.80 UK delivery. Why pay the RRP of £8.99 when you can get it from AmysBookstoreUK for this amazing price? I’m not kidding, here’s the page on Amazon.co.uk. The good news is that you can get it used for £397.88….
Para What?
Is there such a thing as ‘parazoology’? We have cryptozoology, of course, but the subject of anomalous animals seems so much bigger than those that are merely ‘hidden’. I was inspired to develop this themed issue after working on my book The Impossible Zoo: An Encyclopedia of Fabulous Beasts and Mythical Monsters, released in September…
Parazoology
Parazoology in the new Paranormal Review. Plus articles on the SPR’s new home at 1 Vernon Mews and an insider’s inside look at the College of Psychic Studies. I’ve also arranged a special book offer for The Impossible Zoo and there’s a mini retrospective as I chalk up the tenth issue of the new-look Paranormal…
I finally get my A-Levels
My first book, Witchcraft Out of the Shadows, is cited in the 2016 edition of the A Level Sociology Student Book. Thanks to Jack Hunter for pointing this out. But, strangely, he found a different reference… Better just buy the book, then.
Conjuring Up Enfield
It was ‘we need the SPR!’ when The Enfield Haunting hit our screens last summer, but this year’s re-visit of the Enfield poltergeist case, The Conjuring 2, takes a very different approach. Focusing on the minimal (to be polite) investigation (to be generous) of Ed and Lorraine Warren, it tells quite another story; one that…
Book Covers Released
What does The Impossible Zoo look like? My editor at Robinson has sent me the final version of the covers for The Impossible Zoo. We’ve spent weeks discussing the theme and colours, and then had to shoe-horn all the important copy onto the back – and we’ve got a great quote from the amazing Lionel…
Little Horrors
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Anomalous Children and the Construction of Monstrosity, edited by Simon Bacon and Leo Ruickbie
Faustus
The Life and Times of a Renaissance Magician