"Monsters of the Deep," a Good Review!

 My 2021 book, Monsters of the Deep gets a good review...

Here's the link...

Monsters of the Deep: My New Book, August 4

On August 4, my new book, Monsters of the Deep, will be published. If you're a fan of Cryptozoology, check it out!

And here's the info from the publisher, Visible Ink Press:

A deep dive into the undersea netherworld of sea serpents, lake monsters, surviving dinosaurs, genetically altered mutants, and legendary aquatic creatures.

  Water takes up 70 percent of Earth’s surface, with countless lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, seas and oceans covering much of the land, but what lurks beneath the water? For centuries, sightings have been made of huge, marauding monsters swimming the world’s oceans and lakes. They include Scotland’s legendary Loch Ness Monster; the United States’ equivalent, Champ, of Lake Champlain; and Canada’s long-necked denizen of the deep known as Ogopogo. These, and many more, famous monsters of the world below us also include giant squid, massive octopi, and even the fabled Kraken and the fabled mermaids of millennia long-gone. Possibly, too, there survive populations of marine reptiles that were assumed to have gone extinct millions of years ago, in the Jurassic period, such as the plesiosaur.

Whether scaly or slithery, massive prehistoric dinosaurs or mutant serpents, Monsters of the Deep catalogs nearly 100 accounts of eels, alligators, reptiles, giant squids, snakes, worms, deadly fish, and cold-blooded creatures of all manner and ilk. It reveals the astonishing extent to which lake monsters and sea serpents have surfaced throughout history to terrify, perplex, and amaze those who have crossed paths with these monsters of the unknown.

Master storyteller, established author, and respected expert on the unexplained and paranormal Nick Redfern sifts through the historical record, first-person accounts, and unearthed government files on lake monsters and sea serpents to tell of encounters with a variety of beasts, including ...

Cheever Felch’s 19th-century account of the massive Gloucester, New England, Sea Serpent

The brontosaurus-like Mokele-Mbembe of the Congo

The supernatural Bunyip, a monster that lurks within the creeks, lagoons, and swamps of Australia that has been known to the Aboriginal people for centuries

The disputed claims of Teddy May, former Commissioner of Sewers in New York, of alligators roaming the sewers of the city

The monster-sized fish in the River Nene, in the Fens, Cambridgeshire, England

Modern mutants genetically altered by pollution

And many more!
This richly researched reference overflows with fascinating information to make you think about―and reconsider―dipping your toes into water. With more than 120 photos and graphics, this tome is nicely illustrated. Monsters of the Deep also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness.

Monsters of the Deep: Coming This Year

 Coming this year...

And here's the info on the book from the publisher, Visible Ink Press:

A deep dive into the undersea netherworld of sea serpents, lake monsters, surviving dinosaurs, genetically altered mutants, and legendary aquatic creatures.

The ocean alone takes up 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, with countless lakes, rivers, ponds, and streams covering much of the land, but what lurks beneath the water? For centuries, sightings have been made of huge, marauding monsters swimming the world’s oceans and lakes. They include Scotland’s legendary Loch Ness Monster; the United States’ equivalent, Champ, of Lake Champlain; and Canada’s long-necked denizen of the deep known as Ogopogo. These, and many more, famous monsters of the world below us also include giant squid, massive octopi, and even the legendary Kraken and the fabled mermaids of millennia long-gone. Possibly, too, there survive populations of marine reptiles that were assumed to have gone extinct millions of years ago, in the Jurassic period, such as the plesiosaur. Plus, unfortunate modern mutants who’ve had their genes altered by pollution lurk in the depths like horrors from an old sci-fi movie.

Whether scaly or slithery, massive prehistoric dinosaurs or mutant serpents, Monsters of the Deep catalogs nearly 100 accounts of eels, alligators, reptiles, giant squids, snakes, worms, deadly fish, and cold-blooded creatures of all manner and ilk. It reveals the astonishing extent to which lake monsters and sea serpents have surfaced throughout history to terrify, perplex, and amaze those who have crossed paths with monsters of the unknown.

Master storyteller, established author, and respected expert on the unexplained and paranormal Nick Redfern sifts through the historical record, first-person accounts, and unearthed government files on lake monsters and sea serpents to tell of encounters with a variety of beasts, including ...

• Cheever Felch’s 19th-century account of the massive Gloucester, New England, Sea Serpent
• The deadly and dangerous Mokele-Mbembe of the Congo Basin, which resembles a brontosaurus
• The supernatural Bunyip, a monster that lurks within the creeks, lagoons, and swamps of Australia that has been known to the Aboriginal people for centuries
• The Loch Ness Monster-like creature, Caddy, that lives in Cadboro Bay, British Columbia, Canada
• The disputed claims of Teddy May, former Commissioner of Sewers in New York, about the veracity of alligators roaming the sewers of the city
• The monster-sized fish in the River Nene, in the Fens, Cambridgeshire, England

This richly researched reference overflows with fascinating information to make you think about―and reconsider―dipping your toes into water. With more than 120 photos and graphics, this tome is nicely illustrated. Monsters of the Deep also includes a helpful bibliography and an extensive index, adding to its usefulness. It is a fascinating guide to ocean monsters, sea creatures, surviving dinosaurs, and genetically altered mutants from an established author and respected expert on the unexplained and paranormal.

A Bunch of New Articles From Me

1. Mistaking a regular animal for something weird.

2.  The creepiest creature of the woods.

3. The Thylacine: not as extinct as you might think.

4. The Chupacabra: how far back do the stories go?

5. The "blood-sucking" aspect of the Chupacabra controversy.

6. UFOs: A Russian story.

7. Are lake monsters actually giant eels?

8. A monstrous 50th anniversary on the horizon.

9. A "leaked' document and a disturbing agenda.

10. The growing phenomenon of surveillance by drones.

More Articles

I've been on the road quite a bit for the last few weeks, but now I'm finally getting back to the blog. And, here's a few new articles:

1. Strange Tales of the Black Eyed Children.

2. Weirdness and UFO Whistleblowers.

3. Paranormal Lake Monsters.

10 Recent Articles From Me...

1. A strange saga of the Loch Ness Monster and magic...

2. And a follow-up article on supernatural lake-monsters...

3. The controversy surrounding the Chupacabra...

4. Shape-shifting creatures...

5. When George Adamski got hoaxed...

6. Flying Saucers and Uranium poisoning...

7. Taking a look at the Yeti...

8.  Brad Steiger and the Trickster phenomenon...

9. Men in ape-suits...

10. The future of Cryptozoology...

Do Lake Monsters Migrate?

That's the controversial question I ask in a new article at Mysterious Universe. Here's how it begins:

"Just a couple of days ago, while I was being interviewed on the radio on the subject of Cryptozoology, a caller to the show asked an interesting and controversial question: do lake-monsters migrate? Well, I can say for sure I have never been asked that question before! Personally, I have grave doubts that the many and various lake-monsters of our world are flesh-and-blood animals. I am far more inclined to go down a paranormal path. But, to stay on track with the theme of the question, although I certainly do not think that lake-monsters “migrate,” there’s no doubt that there are significant numbers of reports of such creatures seen out of the water and on the land.

"July 22, 1933 was the day that Mr. and Mrs. George Spicer had an encounter with a strange creature at Loch Ness, Scotland. It was close to 4:00 p.m. when the Spicers crossed paths something extremely weird – and, from their perspective, terrifying. As the pair drove along the road that links Foyers and Dores, Mrs. Spicer let out a loud scream. Around 600 feet ahead was a large animal which surfaced out of the bushes that dominated the roadside. At first, all that could be seen was what looked like a large trunk. As they got closer, however, the situation quickly changed. George Spicer described the animal as being hideous, an absolute affront against nature. What particularly struck Spicer – and which provoked his comments – was the way the thing moved. It did not do so like any normal animal. Rather, it lumbered across the road. in a series of odd jerks and coils; something which, for Spicer and his wife, was reminiscent of a massive worm. It was quickly lost to sight."

The Problems With Lake Monsters

That's the subject of another new article from me, which deals with some of the stranger aspects of lake-monsters.

Here's how it starts:

"F.W. 'Ted' Holiday was the author of three notable books. We begin with 1968’s The Great Orm of Loch Ness. It was followed, in 1973, by The Dragon and the Disc. And, finally, there was The Goblin Universe. The latter was published in 1986, seven years after his death. Holiday had a deep interest in accounts of lake-monsters, and particularly so the creatures of Loch Ness. Holiday wrote other books, too, but the three above are the ones of particular relevance to this article.

 "Holiday’s early work and research at Loch Ness led him to conclude that whatever the creatures were, they were flesh and blood in nature. As the years progressed, however, Holiday’s views changed. And they changed radically. Strange synchronicities at Loch Ness, a chilling encounter with a Man in Black, rumors of a dragon-worshiping cult in the area, seances at the loch, and much more had a major effect on Holiday. Indeed, The Great Orm of Loch Ness and The Goblin Universe could not have been further apart, in terms of theories, concepts and ideas. The former was the kind of Cryptozoology championed by Bernard Heuvelmans. The latter was full-on John Keel."

Unity Fest - Bigfoot, Chupacabra, Lake Monsters and More

Yesterday, I was filmed with friend Buffy Clary, at my apartment, to promote the upcoming Philosophenomena Unity Fest at Glen Rose, Texas, on Saturday, March 21.

I'll be speaking on Texas's many and varied weird creatures, including Bigfoot, lake-monsters, the Chupacabra, and the eerie Goat-Man.

And Buffy will be there focusing all things of a psychic nature, including giving readings.

If you are in Glen Rose on March 21, come along!

You can find all about the event right here.

Our speakers:
Healer Daryl Sprout
Journalist/author Jim Marrs
Psychic medium Dakota Lawrence
Author Lyle Blackburn
Author Nick Redfern
Author Daniel Jones
Psychic Buffy Clary
Author Brandy Herr
Psychic Morrighan Lynne
Author Jeff Mudgett
Paranormal investigator Tonya King
DAPS Reiki Master Krista Brill
Author Jen Devillier
Author Dennis Waller
Pagan speaker Maeven Eller-Five
Cryptohulk Jeff Stewart
Author Linda Anthony Hill
Shamanic healer Cindy Clark Heald

Our Emcee's:
Chris Medina and Paranormal koolaid
Crypto enthusiast Bryan Impey
Para investigator Shane Hobbs

Entertainment: Avalouna belly dance

Our Sponsors:
Buffy Clary
Amy Unger Lewis
DAPS
Cindy Clark Heald
Morrighan Lynne
Pete Stagman
ParaHunter

Our Charity Auctioneer:
Destiny Mcguire

Lake Monsters Or Giant Eels?

My latest Mysterious Universe article focuses on the theory that at least some so-called "lake-monsters" may actually be giant eels. It starts like this:

"When it comes to the matter of lake monsters, two things can be said with a high degree of certainty: (a) sightings have been reported from pretty much all around the world; and (b) the theories for what they may be are as many as they are varied. Ogopogo, Champ, Morag, and the monsters of Loch Ness, Scotland have all captured the collective imagination of the public and the media, as well as the attention of cryptozoologists, the scientific community, and monster-hunters. But, if lake monsters really do exist – and I think they do – then what are they? That’s a good question…

"Certainly, and beyond any shadow of doubt (and particularly so when it comes to the matter of what lurks within Loch Ness) the most popular theory is that the creatures are plesiosaurs: marine reptiles that lived from the Triassic Period, thrived in the Jurassic Period, and finally met their demise at the end of the Cretaceous Period. If such beasts did survive extinction, such a discovery would not just be amazing – it would be beyond amazing!" (END OF EXTRACT)

The giant eel theory is one that has interested me for a long time and you can find other material on this very subject from me in my 2012 book Monster Diary (which includes an entire chapter on the subject, titled "The Great Eel Hunt"). The photo below relates to the story in the book.

Also check out this 2012 article from me (also at Mysterious Universe), one (from 2008) at my now-closed down blog, There's Something in the Woods, and a second one at the same blog, this one from 2007.

Lake Monsters: The Issue of Bodies

"Just the other night, while I was promoting my new Monster Files book, the host of the relevant radio show asked me why, if lake monsters are real, don’t we ever find hard and undeniable evidence of their existence? He was, of course, talking about a living specimen or a corpse. Okay, it’s a fair question, and many might take the view that the lack of a creature – alive or dead – is suggestive of the whole thing being nothing more than folklore, mythology, legend, hoaxing and misidentification. Right? Wrong.

"There are many reasons why, even in lakes close to highly populated areas, we might never find hard evidence of the existence of such creatures. Let us focus primarily on the world’s most famous lake monsters of all, the Nessies of Scotland’s Loch Ness."

The above-quote is taken from my latest Mysterious Universe article, which you can find right here...