Thursday 22 November 2007

Strange Wisconsin review




I've just read Linda Godfrey's (see previous post) 'Strange Wisconsin' book, published by Trails Books, available here: http://www.amazon.com/Strange-Wisconsin-Linda-S-Godfrey/dp/1931599858/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195769628&sr=8-1 which she kindly sent me, and wow!, what a read. Whereas a majority of local books in the UK pertaining to towns, villages and counties are often presented as brief, vague pamphlet-affairs full of regurgitated info and barely scraping the surface of mystery, Linda's book is an impressive tour guide of every quirky landmark, oddball character, bizarre creature, peculiar event and bout of high strangeness to have ever been born in Wisconsin.


Presented by town alphabetically, and jam-packed with fine illustrations as well as all manner of colourful photographs, 'Strange Wisconsin' is a weird ride to the far side of surreal America, where you'll meet a freakshow of sinister beasts, from wolfmen, sea serpents, Wausau Whatzit's, Goatmen and Bigfoot, to incredible UFO encounters as well as trips to haunted locations such as bookstores, hospital's and motel's, visits from fairies, confrontations with demons, and trips to an array of wonderful, yet often far-out places where you'll see fantastic sculptures, flamboyant designs, and businesses that look as if they've been projected from the world of 'Twin Peaks'.


The book is an intriguing testament to so many mystical places and creative characters, that it makes the reader just want to pack up and head for one of those eerie retreats or step inside one of those quirky restaurants.


Of course, the book's finest ingredient is the coverage of those ghastly monsters from the closet, the local bogeymen said to prowl the backwoods and lonely roads, but this book offers something for everyone, and I heartily recommend it as your alternative ride to one of the United States strangest places.


Monday 19 November 2007

5-star review on Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/MONSTER-Z-PHENOMENA-Neil-Arnold/dp/1905723105/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195508188&sr=1-1

Thanks Linda!

Another 5-star review, this time from Linda Godfrey.



Wisconsin-based author Linda Godfrey reviewed my book on November 16th 2007, read what she had to say here:


Linda has written exhaustively over the years on all manner of strange creatures, from Bigfoot, to her specialist subject of Wolf-men, which often cross into 'zooform' territory in their weirdness.

'The Beast Of Bray Road' (Prairie Oak Press 2003) and 'Hunting The American Werewolf' (Trails Books 2006) are without doubt to of the finest zooform-related books out there, and I frequently thumb through them in search of inspiration as the night draws in.



All I can say is, thank you so much Linda for the support, friendship and kind words, and I suggest anyone with an interest not just in cryptozoology, but in reading in general, check out her books, plus her new one, 'Strange Wisconsin', which I'll be reviewing shortly here.


Thursday 8 November 2007

Rochester Chronicle

In the Autumn/Winter edition of local Rochester Chronicle, Neil's book was featured on page 3 with a large article.
'Monster!' also received Halloween publicity from the Medway Messenger.

Talks:
Author Neil Arnold spoke of the book whilst being part of the Halloween Blue Bell Hill annual ghost walk, alongside road ghost expert Sean Tudor
http://www.roadghosts.com/

Thursday 1 November 2007

The Legend Of Goatman


Neil has an article in the latest "Animals & Men" magazine (issue 41) available from the guys at: http://www.cfz.org.uk/ pertaining to a 'zooform' classic....that being the legend of the Goatman, a sinister, shadowy figure that has roamed the woodlands of the U.S.A. for decades.

Such a campfire critter has terrified teens, locals and folklore researchers for many, many years but as Neil explores in the article, such an entity may well be a sum of many confusing, and complex parts, having one foot maybe in the realm of urban legends, another limb in the world of Bigfoot, as well as fingers in many folkloric pies as such, creating in turn a nightmarish prowler of the backwoods.

However, Neil has also uncovered a treasure trove of similar beings from Europe and the rest of the world, strange horned man-beasts, hoofed humanoids and other Satyr-like spectres.