PARANORMAL UNCENSORED: A RAW LOOK AT LOUISIANA GHOST HUNTING

It appears that in this day and age, everyone is hopping aboard the paranormal bandwagon, looking at a way to make it big and make a few dollars. Sure, it would be quite nice to make some extra cash, yet I do have a legitimate reason for writing this book. Needless to say, I am one of the most passionate people when it comes to the field of the paranormal. I, like most paranormal addicts, spend many afternoons in the paranormal section of our local bookstore, flipping through the same books time and time again. Sure, many of the books are very good reads, yet after the first five, the titles just seem to get monotonous, all covering the same subject matter, never straying from the mainstream. Determined to look for different avenues in putting out an interesting, yet informative read, I had to look no further than ourselves. We are bombarded on a daily basis with “reality” television shows which, in all actuality, have as much reality as an honest politician. At any given time, there are at least five reality shows out there either pitting contestants against each other or putting “real people” in a house together, but the truth of the matter is, it’s all staged. Producers filter through thousands of applicants, purposely finding individuals with completely different personalities with one sole purpose: to watch them fight like cats and dogs. Even in regards to the media, things are often sugar-coated to portray things in a light that they feel appropriate. When I began to plan the layout for this book I debated on which route I should take. Sure, with the amount of experience I have in the paranormal I could produce a traditional book, covering some of the most interesting locations in Louisiana, while giving a crash course on investigating. Yet, as always, being the envelope-pusher that I am, the traditional just wasn’t going to cut it for me. My layout then shifted to taking the traditional and modifying things a little, allowing readers to get a closer look at some of the kooky individuals who can make up the hobby. Unfortunately, my job description on my income taxes says “Federal Correctional Officer”, not “Paranormal Investigator.” This is, and always will be, a hobby and a hobby is supposed to be fun. On many occasions, I have been accused of making a mockery of the hobby with immature antics and so forth, yet these accusations often come from those who simply think negative on a daily basis. Regardless, no one will be able to argue the truth and the truth is exactly what I will bring to you and believe it or not, when the smoke clears, you may actually get an awesome history lesson on one of the most intriguing states in the country when it comes to paranormal investigating. I wanted to create a book that was comprised of all the things I enjoyed from other books I had read, capturing the different interests of a broad range of people. This book will cover a wide array of subject matter such as rare Louisiana folk lore, a how-to in modern paranormal investigating, tours of some great haunted Louisiana locations, and an overall rough look at a hobby that is usually portrayed as a harmonious unit. Those of you who have watched a season or two of any given paranormal-related television show and feel that you want to try it for yourself; I will be quick to tell you that what you see on television is not how it is in reality. People just don’t realize the amount of drama and headache there is in the paranormal community. Sure, I may not be that old, but I have never, in all of my life, witnessed such dirty tactics, debauchery, lying, and fraud, until I joined a group. Hopefully, by reading this, the newcomers will learn from our mistakes and enjoy this field for the great hobby that it is, while keeping the veterans humble by reminding them of some of the stupid antics that goes on in a field that contain probably some of the most unique personalities in existence. To avoid any legal retribution on my already broke rear end, the actual names concerning these former associates have been changed and some specific identifying details have been omitted. What I will do is simply take you on a journey of what I have been through to get my group where we are today. Some of it is hilarious; some of it will relight a flame in my rear, making me madder than a dog passing tacks all over again. However, when the smoke clears, you will see how the tough times were, in fact, the fuel that caused me to be more determined than ever to see our group succeed in being the most reputable investigative group in Louisiana. -“Laissez Les Bons Temps Roulez” (Let the Good Times Roll.)