I don’t know if I can classify Aaron Sagers, editor of TAPS Paramagazine, as my friend. He’s shaping up to be more of a mentor. Not only did he hook me up with my sweet Kris Williams interview, he helped me get an article published in this month’s issue of TAPS Paramagazine. It’s called Green Grinning Ghosts: Where to Scare Up Spirits on St. Patrick’s Day.
GETTING INTO THE SPIRIT OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Aaron approached me with the idea of a paranormal St. Patrick’s Day-themed article a few months back. I told him that last year I wrote about Six of the Best Places to Get Paranormal on St. Patty’s Day and I could work on a variation of that.
He said, “Go for it.”
I did, and with a few suggestions from him tweaked it into the article that appears in the TAPS Paramagazine’s March/April issue.
I wish I could post it here, because I love, love, LOVE what Aaron’s designer, Susanne, did with it. (She has this big green map with lines leading from points on it to the pictures and descriptions of the haunted pubs I wrote about. It looks super slick.) Of course, if you want to check it out, you can purchase individual copies online or at your local Borders.
RESEARCHING FOR THE ARTICLE
I acquired a lot of great leads from HARO about haunted pubs to include in the article. However, due to space constraints not all of them could be included.
Among my faves that were included were the George & Dragon in Phoenix, AZ (an old haunt of mine, in fact), Casey Moore’s Oyster House in Tempe, AZ, the Jolly Pumpkin in Traverse City, MI, the Hibernian Irish Pub in Raleigh, NC, and the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium where I currently reside in Nashville, TN.
Haunted bars that ended up not being included but that sounded lively included the Iron Horse Tavern in Norcross, GA (which I learned about via a tip from Sally Toole of Norcross Ghost Tours), and Cuffs in Boston’s Back Bay Hotel. (Cuffs is actually not haunted, but the hotel was once the Boston Police Department Headquarters and the bar is where criminals were booked –including the infamous Boston Strangler! An interesting bit of macabre history.)
Also, my research educated me about some neat things, like Spooked in Seattle’s Haunted Pub Tour, the Chicago Bar Project’s Haunted Chicago Bars page, and the Fells Point Haunted Pub Walk offered by Baltimore Ghost Tours. (For those who want to guarantee seeing spirits –even if it is only by virtue of drinking them!)
HELP FROM FELLOW PARANORMAL BLOGGERS
I also feel it’s important to note that I got help from Julie from Above the Norm and Steve from Ghost Eyes. I knew it was likely they had pictures of a couple of the bars I was writing about. (George & Dragon in Julie’s case and Moon River Brewing Company in Steve’s case.)
They did. I asked if they would be okay sending them to me. They didn’t even hesitate.
There’s a lot of talk all the time about how many conflicts there are within the paranormal community, but guess what? I continue to see all the people willing to support one another. Even though their pictures ended up not being used, I was super grateful they were ready to help out like that.
HAPPY ST. PATTY’S DAY
Whether you celebrate by eating corned beef and cabbage, drinking green beer, visiting a haunted pub, watching Destination Truth, or some combo thereof, Haunt Jaunts wishes you a fun and safe St. Patrick’s Day!
And be sure to check out the March/April issue of the magazine. Don’t make me sick my leprechaun on you!
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
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Happy St. Patricks day to you Court.
Nooo, seriously? You got published @ TAPS Magazine? Whoh!
Congratulations Courtney, you’re getting famous! Now I want to see your article in Fortean Times!
The luck of the Irish and a whole lot of talent! Wahoo! Congrats!
You are famous!!!! I can’t believe it. I’m going to be telling people that I knew you when. Congrats!
Oh wow! Thanks for all the nice comments everybody. To me it’s a big deal, but let’s not get carried away. I’m FAR from famous but it is very thrilling to have a piece in there!
Oh, and you can get copies online or Borders. THANKS for the support and sharing the excitement with me!
That is just super cool! Congrats my dear!!! So going to go find a copy!! I am just soooo happy for you!!
Cheers!
Courtney, think positive and stay focused – you can’t achieve success overnight, but if you will continue job well done like you have been doing so far, your paranormal travel book will be a bestseller on Amazon!
I RECORED LEMP HOUSE THAT WAS ON TV. IT WAS ON THE GREEN CHANLE. IF YOU ALL HAVE DISH NETWORK. IT WAS ON YESTER DAY.
Chris and Brenda, you ladies are the best. Simply THE best!
Nathan, keeping positive because you told me to do so and you never steer me wrong!!!!
Andy, NEAT! I’ll have to see if I can find it. I think we get the Green channel. I’ll see if they’re going to replay the Lemp Mansion at all. Thanks for the FYI. 😉
IT WAS ON DRUING DAY TIME. IT WAS ON ITHNK 2;00PM.?FOR GHOST LAB. ORINALAIR DATE WAS 12-29-2009. EPISODE 6.
GHOST LAB IS ON FRIDAY.?
Oh, that’s why I missed it. I’ll have to look that back up. Thanks Andy!
So…weekly trips to Barnes & Noble, still waiting for this issue to arrive. This is the one kinda annoying thing about TAPS Paramag, it’s called the March/April edition, but I won’t be able to find it in my local bookstore until March is long gone and April is over or almost over as well. But I want it NOW dangit! LOL
Hey, you should grab an extra copy and include it in your next giveaway – you can personally autograph it for the winner. 😉
LOL, Kimberley! Yeah, that’s no fun waiting. I am going to go check the Borders by me tomorrow.
And that’s not a half bad idea…Thanks for giving it to me. I just may do that!
I do have a half good idea every so often. LOL
Thanks for mentioning Spooked in Seattle. If you are ever in Seattle we’d love to take you on one of our tours.
Be safe out there
You’re welcome. Hope one day to get back up to Seattle. If I do, I’ll be sure to look you all up. 😉
Congratulation 😉