Sunday, October 9, 2011

GHOST FILES: A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

GIVEAWAY ENDED
GHOST FILES
The Collected Cases from Ghost Hunting and Seeking Spirits  
BY JASON HAWES and GRANT WILSON
with MICHAEL JAN FRIEDMAN

ABOUT THE BOOK:
FINALLY IN ONE BONE-CHILLING VOLUME, TV'S GHOST HUNTERS SHARE ALL OF THEIR CREEPY TRUE STORIES OF UNEXPLAINED PHENOMENA!

What did a paranormal investigation uncover at the Stanley Hotel in Colorado, the hotel built in 1903 that inspired Stephen King's The Shining?  

What is the chilling history behind the Rolling Hills Asylum in Batavia, New York? 

What happened when a man was overcome by an evil entity as Jason and Grant surveyed his home?  

How can a Connecticut woman seem to exist in two places at once? 

In this hair-raising omnibus, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, founders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.), reveal the memorable and spine-tingling cases featured in their smash-hit collections, Ghost Hunting and Seeking Spirits. From their never-seen-on-television adventures as budding paranormal investigators to the behind-the-scenes accounts of heart-pounding supernatural encounters featured on their popular show, these fascinating and frightening real life tales will keep you up at night!

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson head up TAPS, The Atlantic Paranormal Society. Built on Jason and Grant's interest in getting to the bottom of everyday, paranormal occurrences, TAPS is an eclectic but unified bunch. Jason and Grant are plumbers by trade, and their TAPS colleagues are in similarly ordinary professions: factory worker, office manager, teacher. TAPS has developed an impressive reputation for helping people with "unusual domestic problems." It has been more than a decade since Jason and Grant first met, and since then TAPS has grown in size and scope to become one of the most respected paranormal-investigation groups in America. It now has branches across the United States and affiliates in 12 other countries. Jason, TAPS' founder, is in his mid-30s and the father of three girls and twin sons. He enjoys spending quality time with his children, deep-sea fishing and writing screenplays. Grant, the father of three young boys, enjoys whipping up a mean Italian dish, writing songs on the piano and guitar and penning a series of high-fantasy novels.

MY THOUGHTS/REVIEW:
In GHOST FILES, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, the founders of The Atlantic Paranormal Society (T.A.P.S.), have compiled an anthology filled with the unforgettable and chilling cases which were previously in their former collections of GHOST HUNTING and SEEKING SPIRITS. The collection takes readers from the early days before they had a television show up to some of the segments from their current shows. I will admit up front that I do not watch the show and am somewhat skeptical about the supernatural accounts that people make. However, I have enough personal history that can’t be explained to make me think that some of what they reveal might be quite possible. Whether you are a follower, believer, or neither, you will find the book to be enjoyable to read.

Hawes and Wilson tell very short stories; just a few pages each, about previous cases. If you are looking for explanations to logically explain how these experiences came about, you won’t find them. Instead, you will read some fascinating tales and with them being so short, you can read a few and put the book down and come back to it. For some of you, it may be a page turner as you get into it and want to read more and more that they have witnessed. For me, a few stories at a time sufficed and I believe the book contains well over one hundred stories so it lasted a while.

They also included an easy to read glossary for those of us not familiar with some of the words and terms used, as well as color pictures for visual effects.  The stories are varied and also include information about T.A.P.S., their television show, and how they go about investigating occurrences. They don’t shy away from revealing reports that wind up being explained by something simple and not paranormal. I found their honesty refreshing. I especially found the parts about Poltergeists to be interesting (OK, I liked the original movie a lot). I found out the word Poltergeist came from Germany and is a word meaning noisy spirits, with citings going as far back as ancient Greece and Rome. Often they will center on a female in her teens, who is not really aware that she is in control of the energy around her.

They also write about “imaginary friends” which I have heard about kids having for years. But their explanation goes into how these invisible pals come to children because these young people are open to accepting them. It seemed to make sense to me in that part.

Finally, some advice is given on how to prove what you have seen or encountered. Surprisingly, right up front they suggest you shouldn’t automatically believe in it being ghosts because doubting will lead you to examining it more and getting to the truth. They also give practical advice such as having 2 or more witnesses and trying to get it on film.

For me, as I said, this was an entertaining book and did make me think a lot about the topic. I am not sure it made me a believer but it did make me less skeptical and perhaps that is a start. We shall see with Halloween around the corner that there will surely be plenty of things going on to think about like the book suggests. I think if you are a fan of the television show, you would really enjoy this book but if not, you might just find it to be as I did…interesting and fun!

GIVEAWAY

THANKS TO MELISSA AND THE GOOD 
FOLKS AT SIMON & SCHUSTER, I HAVE
TWO COPIES OF GHOST FILES TO GIVE
AWAY TO TWO LUCKY READERS OF MY BLOG
JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN!
 
--U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY
--NO P. O. BOXES
---INCLUDE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS
IN CASE YOU WIN!
--ALL COMMENTS MUST BE SEPARATE TO
 

COUNT AS MORE THAN ONE!

HOW TO ENTER:


+1 ENTRY: COMMENT ON WHAT YOU THOUGHT ABOUT WHAT YOU READ ABOVE ABOUT GHOST FILES  THAT MADE YOU WANT TO WIN THIS BOOK, AND DON'T FORGET YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS

+1 MORE ENTRY: BLOG AND/OR TWEET ABOUT THIS GIVEAWAY AND COME BACK HERE AND LEAVE ME YOUR LINK

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ANY EXPERIENCE YOU MAY HAVE HAD WITH A GHOSTLY FIGURE OR SIMILAR "BEING"

+1 MORE ENTRY: COMMENT ON ONE WAY THAT YOU FOLLOW MY BLOG. IF YOU FOLLOW MORE THAN ONE WAY, YOU MAY COMMENT SEPARATELY ON EACH TO RECEIVE EXTRA ENTRIES
GIVEAWAY ENDS AT
6 PM, EST, OCTOBER 30
GOOD LUCK
 

59 comments:

Ricki said...

I have been to the Stanley Hotel, so I would love to learn more about it.
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

Ricki said...

My college was very haunted. I did see our theatre ghost 3 times and heard my name whispered in the middle of the night one night and I was the only one in my dorm room.
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

Ricki said...

GFC - rickimc
rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

petite said...

This book sounds compelling and special. Many thanks. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

I am an e-mail subscriber. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

petite said...

During a performance at an old opera house in an old mining town, I saw an apparition in a loge, no longer used, a man dressed in clothing of that era enjoying the performance.. Rather interesting. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Margay Leah Justice said...

Ghost Hunters is one of my favorite shows, so I would love, love, love to have this book to read about the stories.

margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Margay Leah Justice said...

I am a GFC follower.

margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Margay Leah Justice said...

I have had many experiences in my life, so it's hard to choose just one! Probably the most compelling is how a musical toy my daughter had suddenly started playing music (it was broken and hadn't played music for awhile)the day my father died. That night, I saw him standing in my bedroom and the two things that make this stand out are 1)I live in Massachusetts and he was in Virginia (which would have made it difficult in itself) and 2)this occurred after he was dead.


Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Margay Leah Justice said...

Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Margay/status/123083223046684672


Margay1122ATaolDOTcom

Anonymous said...

sorry about previous delete - should have proofread first.
I follow GFC
jgoffice(at)cox (dot)net

Anonymous said...

I do watch Ghost Hunters on Wednesday night, but very few people know that. I like how they try to debunk the claim first before trying to prove it.

jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

When my husband and I were walking up the stairs in the fort at Dry Tortugas National Park we heard this loud sigh and moan. It was so eerie that we both froze and got goose bumps. My husband ran up the stairs, but there was no one around. It totally freaked my husband.

jgoffice(at)cox(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I absolutely LOVE Ghost Hunters!! I would love to own this book to read but also just to have because it has to do with the show..

lovestoread0708 AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/#!/trishalynn0708/status/123108383237746688

tweeted.. =)

lovestoread0708 AT yahoo DOTcom

Anonymous said...

My ghost story, it didn't happen to me, but 2 members of my family.. When I was growing up and my brother still admits to this day it was true.. my brother always said that he would see a man upstairs in our house. He talked about it a lot and of course we kind of just brushed it off.. Well, my family home, my husband and I just recently purchased it from my parents who wanted to get a smaller house since they are getting on with their age.. We have been here for about a month but about the 4th day we were moving stuff in my youngest son came downstairs screaming and was so scared he was shaking and he vomited... After we got him calmed down he said that he seen a man in the closet upstairs.. We were still moving in and the closet he said he seen the man in, there wasn't anything in that closet or that room yet.. To this day he won't go into that closet or anywhere near it and he still brings it up.. And it's funny because my youngest son reminds me so much of my oldest brother who said that he seen the ghost that it's just really strange to me....

lovestoread0708 AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog GFT..

lovestoread0708 AT yahoo DOT com

Linda Kish said...

I would, as you did, find it interesting and fun reading.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

My mom always swore she saw my sister after she passed away. I had dreams of sitting at the table having full conversations with her but not seeing her other than in dreams.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am an email subscriber

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 October facebook
1
lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

+5 October facebook
2
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Linda Kish said...

+5 October facebook
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Shooting Stars Mag said...

my sister loves this show, and I do enjoy it myself here and there. I like your review. I personally do believe in ghosts or spirits or whatnot, but I do think it's good to be skeptical too.

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Shooting Stars Mag said...

i follow you via gfc

lauren51990 at aol dot com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I'd love this for a friend of mine who is crazy about this show.

frellathon(at)gmail(dot0com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I haven't had any personal ghost experiences but my dad has twice

frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

Jessica ( frellathon ) said...

I follow GFC - Jessica ( frellathon )

frellathon(at)gmail(dot)com

Karen B said...

No experiences with ghosts but lots with ESP. A favorite show and now a book to go with it - yea!
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...

+5 OCTOBER FACEBOOK bonus entry #1.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Karen B said...

+5 OCTOBER FACEBOOK bonus entry #3.
kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

lag123 said...

I would like to read this book, to know more about unexplained occurences.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/lag32583/status/123356154364575745

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

My neice had an imaginary friend when she was little and talked about him all the time. One day, while visiting her grandmother, she saw a picture of her grandfather who died long before she was born. She became very excited and she said "Grannie, you have a picture of my friend!"

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

Email subscriber.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I subscribe via google reader.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I follow via GFC

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I follow via networked blogs.

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I follow via twitter. @lag32583

lag110 at mchsi dot com

lag123 said...

I follow via FB: Lisa Holmes Garrett

lag110 at mchsi dot com

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Unknown said...

I would love to read this book. I believe in ghosts. I think it sounds kind of scarey. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

scottsgal said...

I'd love this! Ghost Hunters is one of our favorite shows. Love when they do the old prisons and mental hospitals - so much action

msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

my boss lived in a haunted house - had some of the coolest stuff happen especially during a remodeling

msboatgal at aol.com

mamabunny13 said...

I think it would be cool to be able to communicate with ghosts!
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

debbie said...

I actually had to move from an apartment I once lived in. There were strange noises, and it even scared my next door neighbor, who was a tough senior citizen. She had to have her son (who was a convicted felon, and really tough) stay with her. One time I talked to him, and his face was as white as a ghost. He said something was in my apartment and it was terrible. Both of us moved out of there. I will never forget it.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a email subscriber.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I am a gfc follower
debbie
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

debbie said...

I would love to hear more about the stanley hotel. I just saw the manager and the hotel on a show. I would love to read this book.
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

If this is like the Shining it will be good

pattifritz2000 at yahoo dot com
thanks bunches

Misusedinnocence said...

I love watching the Ghost shows! This sounds wonderful! I'd love to read it.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

Misusedinnocence said...

My dorm room was haunted. A man had killed himself there back when it was a christian mens college. Used to absolutely torment me.

misusedinnocence@aol.com

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