Website Review: American Hauntings by Author...

Troy Taylor is not only a prolific writer of ghost stories but a master of niche marketing. Among other things, the Decatur, Illinois man leads speedily sold-out ghost tours, appears on television, sends out a packed weekly newsletter which generally includes a lengthy ghost story, and he maintains an information-packed website, American Hauntings at www.prairieghosts.com.

At the core of his accomplishments, Taylor, 42, has written more than 40 books of ghost stories, including "Wierd Illinois", a book on the St Louis exorcism that inspired his favorite movie, The Exorcist, and the forthcoming book, "Sex and the Supernatural."

He is apparently tireless. Nothing less could explain his output.

American Hauntings, formerly Ghosts of the Prairie, offers Troy's latest titles as well as a schedule of events, but also lots of stories about hauntings. You can even sign up for a free newsletter which includes not only scheduled events but in almost all issues, a complete, true ghost story. You needn't buy anything to benefit from the rich storehouse of material he has archived on his site and on his newsletter.

You'll discover that Taylor likes to provide the context through a recounting of the history that explains the likely origins of the haunting. He has said on numerous occasions that he's telling history disguised as ghost stories. (But what a way to tell a story, right?)

You can read about a ghost story a few miles from my home in Nashville, Illinois, at the Okawville Original Springs Hotel. The website contains a long detailed article on the history of the hotel and the mineral springs heyday in Okawville, as well as the hauntings.

There's an Illinois grouping with links on the opening page to accounts of Resurrection Mary, perhaps America's and certainly Chicago's most famous ghost story, of the Murder Castle of H.H. Holmes, of the hauntings connected to the infamous Valentine's Day Massacre, and more.

Other links will take you to pages with summaries of ghost stories from neighboring states such as Indiana, Missouri, and Kentucky, the latter home to the Bell Witch story which was the basis of the recent film, An American Haunting as well as of a recent Troy Taylor book.

Ghost stories from throughout the United States are represented with reports on the Winchester Mystery House in California, the Old Western Burial Ground of Baltimore, The Mothman of West Virginia, Summerwind in Wisconsin, and back to California for the story of haunted Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary.

There are even some debunking stories about such famous spots as the Louisiana Myrtles Plantation, subject of numerous TV shows.

Look for write-ups on how to determine if your house is haunted, details on the American Ghost Society established by Taylor, the problems with "orbs" accepted as indications of a spiritual presence, what to do if your house is haunted, along with Troy's recommendations for ghost hunting equipment.

There's an incredible amount of material at this website and hundreds of links to other similar sites. There's easily as much material on the website as in one of Troy's popular books. It's a worthy resource for anyone wanting to dip into ghost lore for the first time as well as for any long-time aficionado.