Book Recommendations at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference 2016

September 19, 2016September 21, 2016 / milwaukeeparacon / Leave a comment

A guide to some titles conference director Tea Krulos has on his shopping list

Hey, Tea here! One thing that really makes me happy about the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference is that it’s also a literary event. As an author myself, I love to geek out about books. We have a lot of talented writers in a variety of genres this year. There’s too many good titles available to even list them all, but I thought I’d give you a rundown of stuff I’d definitely like to see on my bookshelf. A lot of these titles have 2016 release dates and a few are hot off the press just in time for the con!

Remember, the holidays are happening very shortly after the con, so get some shopping done on our vendor floor– a signed book, original art, and the many other unique items on our vendor floor make great gifts! Check out the amazing vendor line up here: milwaukeeparacon.com/activities

Books I want to pick up from Guest Speakers (and all of these speakers will have a table on the vendor floor):

Iceman 1. Neanderthal: the Strange Saga of the Minnesota Iceman, by Bernard Heuvelmans, afterword by Loren Coleman

Our guest speaker Loren Coleman has written dozens of books on cryptozoology and all of them are recommended. His reference book Cryptozoology A-Z was a huge help while I worked on my own book Monster Hunters. Loren will have copies of Neanderthal, written by pioneering Belgian cryptozoologist Bernard Heuvelmans, recently translated and published with a new afterword by Coleman. It ties in directly with his Milwaukee Paranormal Conference presentation: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/07/11/guest-speaker-loren-coleman

chadlewis 2. Lake Monsters of Wisconsin, by Chad Lewis

Another brand new title that fits directly into an author talk. Chad Lewis is giving a presentation of Lake Monster sightings in Wisconsin, and what better way to supplement his talk than with this book!

More info on his presentation: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/05/04/guest-speaker-chad-lewis

9780399176241 3. Monster Among Us, by Linda S. Godfrey

This brand new book from Linda has an October release date. Linda has written a lot of paranormal classics, including ones of specific interest to Wisconsinites. American Monsters, Real Wolfman, Weird Wisconsin, and The Beast of Bray Road: Tailing Wisconsin’s Werewolf being just a few examples. We gave Linda the “Wisconsin Researcher of the Year” award last year based on her work as a writer, so obviously we’re always excited by a new book from her and her presentation ties directly into the book.

More info on her presentation: milwaukeeparacon.com/tag/linda-s-godfrey

goatman-front-web 4. Goatman: Flesh or Folklore? by J.Nathan Couch

I’ve already actually got this one on my shelf, but you might not. J. Nathan had a well received talk on Goatman last year, and for an encore we’ll talk about old Goaty on the “Wisconsin’s Wildest Urban Legends” panel.

Panel info here: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/07/15/panel-discussion-wisconsins-wildest-urban-legends

roswell 5. The Children of Roswell by Donald R. Schmitt and Thomas J. Carey

This new book by Donald R. Schmitt (and co-author Thomas Carey) came out earlier this year and is based on interviews with the children of Roswell witnesses, a follow up to the author’s previous titles like Witness to Roswell. Schmitt is participating in “The Roswell Debate” but we’re not showing favoritism here– his debate rival Mark O’Connell has a book coming out in 2017 that we’re also excited to see.

More on the Roswell Debate: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/06/03/the-roswell-debate

chase 6. Admissible: The Field Manual for Investigating UFOs, Paranormal Activity, and Strange Creatures by Chase Kloetzke and Richard Dolan

This manual covers methods for investigating pretty much everything discussed at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference and is co-authored by our guest speaker Chase Kloetzke. Hey, and a quick update on Chase– she is flying into Milwaukee directly from a case she is investigating in an undisclosed location in Peru!

More info on Chase: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/07/25/guest-speaker-chase-kloetzke

61YG8qt42DL._SX345_BO1,204,203,200_ 7. Haunted Bachelors Grove by Ursula Bielski

This brand new book by Ursula is part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Haunted America” series, and examines a location Ursula has been researching and investigating for decades– Bachelors Grove cemetery, located outside of Chicago. I’ve had a chance to visit that location during the Chicago Dark Shores Ghost Con, so I’m excited to see this.

More info on Ursula: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/08/31/guest-speaker-ursula-bielski

Book covers 8. Murder & Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois by Kathi Kresol

We’re so glad to have Kathi, proprietor of Haunted Rockford, up here for our “Haunted Road Trip” panel and to check out her research into classic crime stories.

More info on the panel: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/08/08/panel-discussionhaunted-road-trip

sanjay 9. Tales of the Night Watchman by Sanjay R. Singhal

Last but not least, our panel moderator Sanjay (“Searching for Wisconsin’s Sasquatch”) has a new book out collecting short stories of supernatural themed fiction! We know Sanjay has been on some real life hair raising expeditions, which we’re sure he must have tapped into for some of these stories.

More on Sanjay’s panel: milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/08/02/panel-discussion-searching-for-wisconsins-sasquatch/

And here’s some titles by authors you’ll find out on our vendor floor:

10. Black Bells by Dawn Napier

We’re glad to have Dawn on the floor (Sunday only). She writes fantasy/ horror and all her titles sound great, but this one caught my attention for some reason I can’t quite place my finger on. Books do that sometimes.

11. Monsters Around the Campfire by Donovan Scherer

We got to meet Donovan at the Milwaukee Comic Con at Serb Hall a couple months ago and he had a great set up! Donovan writes and illustrates books aimed mostly at children (most with a spooky theme, of course). I’m going to pick this one up for my nephew.

Adventures in Death & Romance (1) 12. Adventures in Death and Romance: Vrykolakas Tales by Monette Bebow-Reinhard

We got a couple signed copies of this book here at MKE Paranormal Central Station, which will be given away as prizes during the con. The book follows the adventures of vampire Arabus Drake and his encounters with the Turk army, pirates, Tories, a vindictive lawman and a wily ghost who stands between him and a woman he thinks can finally love him.

FirstContact_w10063_med 13. First Contact by Kat Green

Written by authors Kat de Falla and Rachel Green (aka Kat Green) this book is about a real estate agent dealing with the paranormal. Put a SOLD sign on that!

Krampus-510x728 14. The Krampus and the Old, Dark Christmas: Roots and Rebirth of the Folkloric Devil by Al Ridenour

This book is coming out shortly before the conference and it looks beautiful (in a hideous Krampus kind of way). I was going to say it would be a great Christmas gift, but of course St. Nick’s Day might be better.

Publisher Feral House is a sponsor of our appearance by Minnesota Krampus. Stop by their presentation for a chance to win a free copy of the book! Publisher Feral House also has a table on the vendor floor.
More Minnesota Krampus presentation info:

milwaukeeparacon.com/2016/06/26/guest-speaker-minnesota-krampus/

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Vendors of the Week 26-39: Guest Speakers

September 9, 2016 / milwaukeeparacon / Leave a comment

The Scene on the 2015 MPC vendor floor last year. It was busy! This year we will have 50 tables spread through the UWM Ballroom East.

Time is flying! We’re going to move ahead a few spaces today by mentioning tables on our vendor floor that will be used by people who are also guest speakers at the conference. If you click on their names, it’ll take you to a web entry that will give you more information.

Stop by their tables, get a book signed, talk to them about their podcasts or radio shows, ask your most burning questions, and talk to them about all the other cool stuff they’re involved with.

26. Author and researcher Chad Lewis (Sunday only)

27. Author and researcher Linda S. Godfrey

28. Researcher Mike Hoke and researcher and author J.Nathan Couch

29. Author, researchers, ufologists Nick Roesler and Chase Kloetzke

30. Author and researcher Donald R. Schmitt

31. Researcher and tour host Allison Jornlin of Milwaukee Ghosts- Tours and Investigations

32. Researcher, author, tour host Ursula Bielski of Chicago Hauntings

33. Krampus group Minnesota Krampus

34. Inventor and star of Ghosts of Shepherdstown Elizabeth Saint

35. Sanjay R. Singhal, author and host of Beyond the Forest Radio

36. Mike Huberty and Wendy Staats and See You on the Other Side podcast/ Madison Ghost Tours

37. Author and researcher Loren Coleman of the International Cryptozoology Museum (Saturday only)

38. Celeste Contreras, founder of Dia de los Muertos Milwaukee (Saturday only)

39. Deadgar’s Dark Coffin Classics, hosts of our Ghost Story Open Mic!

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Support all of our awesome programming by pre-ordering tickets and merch on our Indiegogo page. Just 2 DAYS LEFT in the campaign! igg.me/at/milwaukeeparacon

Guest Speaker: Chad Lewis

May 4, 2016May 5, 2016 / milwaukeeparacon / 1 Comment

Presentation: “Sea Serpents of Wisconsin: Monsters in the Lakes, Rivers, and Streams,” Sunday, Wisconsin Room

For over two decades Chad Lewis has traveled the back roads of the world in search of the strange and unusual. From tracking vampires in Transylvania and searching for the elusive monster of Loch Ness to trailing the dangerous Tata Duende through remote villages of Belize and searching for ghosts in Ireland’s haunted castles, Chad has scoured the earth in search of the paranormal.

Chad has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s A Haunting, William Shatner’s Weird or What, ABC’s Scariest Places on Earth, and Monsters and Mysteries in America, along with being a frequent contributor on Ripley’s Believe it or Not Radio. With a Masters Degree in Psychology, Chad has authored over 20 books on the supernatural, and extensively lectures on his fascinating findings. The more bizarre the legend, the more likely it is that you will find Chad there.

Website: www.unexplainedresearch.com

Buy Milwaukee Paranormal Conference tickets here: milwaukeeparacon.brownpapertickets.com

Venue, First Speakers Announced! Tickets on Sale!

January 1, 2016March 4, 2016 / milwaukeeparacon / Leave a comment

Here is our latest exciting information for the 2016 Milwaukee Paranormal Conference, October 14-16 (we are listing this as a three day event now as we will have a pre-con party on the 14th!)

VENUE

After much searching and inquiry, we’re happy to announce our venue: the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Union, 2200 E. Kenwood Blvd., located on Milwaukee’s East Side.

SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENTS

lorencoleman

We’re pleased to announce that our keynote speaker on the topic of cryptozoology this year is Loren Coleman. Loren is often referred to as the world’s leading expert on the topic of cryptozoology, a field he has pursued passionately since the 1960s. He has authored dozens of books on the topic, appears frequently on programs like Unsolved Mysteries, and is the founder and director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. We are honored to be able to bring Loren to speak in Milwaukee for the first time.

We have many other speakers confirmed and are in talks with others. For now, we’ll list just a small sampling and will announce more speakers in a couple weeks.

Chad Lewis, researcher, author, and lecturer on topics of the strange and unusual. He’ll be giving our first talk on Sea Serpents and Lake Monsters!

Mary Marshall, paranormal studies teacher, founder and director of The Paranormal MD.

Allison Jornlin, Milwaukee ghostlorist. She’ll be returning with a talk titled “Milwaukee Forteana, vol. II.”

Celesté Contreras, organizer, Día de los Muertos Milwaukee.

Summerwind Restoration Society

Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee

Panels
Haunted Road Trip: October is a great month to get a tank of gas and take a short road trip to check out some haunted locations in the Midwest. You get can some good tips on haunted hotspots open to the public from our panel of ghost guide experts– Mike Hoke (Cedarburg Ghost & Dark History Walking Tours), Lisa Van Buskirk (Madison Ghost Tour), and Kathi Kresol (Haunted Rockford, author of Murder & Mayhem in Rockford, Illinois). Moderator: Mike Huberty (Minneapolis Ghost Tour, See You On The Other Side podcast).

Searching for Wisconsin’s Sasquatch: Does Bigfoot roam throughout the Northwoods, in Kettle Moraine State Forest and other locations? Our panel says yes! Hear from people who have actually spent time out in the field looking for the elusive cryptid. Panelists include author and researcher Linda S. Godfrey, Jay Bachochin (WPI Hunts the Truth), and Jen and Larry Dopke (Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization, Wisconsin). Moderator: Sanjay R. Singhal, RA (Beyond the Forest Radio).

Much more to follow soon!

TICKET INFORMATION

We were able to host a free event last year, but with significantly higher venue and guest speaker fees, we need your support and we need to sell tickets. We have kept our prices as low as possible to make it an affordable experience for everyone. You can buy tickets via the site Brown Paper Tickets. There are service fees, but the online tickets will still be $5-$10 cheaper than buying them at the door.

We may have a participating store in Milwaukee sell tickets in the near future. Here are your ticket options:

1-Day Pass: Will get you into the conference for either Saturday or Sunday. $10.

2-Day Pass: Both conference days, just $15.

2-Day Super Pass (limited to 250): Both conference days, as well as admission to our Ghost Story Open Mic event and our Saturday night Masquerade Ball. $25.

VIP Pass (limited to 100…get ’em while they last!): Full access. Includes a special VIP dinner party the evening of Friday, October 14 with some of our conference guests. We are working on details of the dinner, but it will be in Milwaukee and we will have vegetarian and vegan options. Also, a special cloth tote bag screened with our logo that includes your program and swag. Free entry to the con, Ghost Story Open Mic, Masquerade Ball, (and possibly screening session.) $75.

A la carte: If you are solely interested in our activities like the Ghost Story Open Mic, Masquerade Ball, and screening session, we will have a la carte tickets to those events added soon.

All tickets available here: milwaukeeparacon.brownpapertickets.com

You will be able to pick up your passes at the con at will call by showing an ID.

Vendors: We had originally posted a deal that was supposed to be good through today ($60 one day/ $75 two days) but because it took time to confirm venue, that is extended through March.

Volunteers: We have a fantastic list of volunteers already, but definitely could use more.

Sponsors: We have a lot of great sponsorship opportunities available. Ask us for more info!

Vendors, volunteers, and sponsors can contact us at: milwaukeeparacon@gmail.com

Here is our Facebook event page: www.facebook.com/events/423586874516004/