Citizens Bank Park, home of the Philadelphia Phillies. On a recent night, the concourse inside was crowded. It was difficult to navigate through the crowds. The smells of cheese steaks, popcorn, French fries, hotdogs, and pizza filled the air. Every few steps brought a new mouth-watering aroma. Anticipation was high. Would I have enough money to get one of everything? Could I eat one of everything and still have room for ice cream? Time would only tell. I had nine innings to indulge.

Zack Wheeler took the hill against the dreaded, arch rival Atlanta Braves for what would be six strong innings of work. The bullpen would do the rest. In person, the light show and ear-splitting music for closer Jhoan Duran's entrance was phenomenal. Believe it or not, I actually like flames and tarantulas. Thousands of cell-phone cameras flashed from the dark stadium's seats as Duran made his entrance from the bullpen. It seemed everybody wanted a memory of the moment. I wanted to know how did Duran find the mound in the dark. In the end, of course, the home team won. I didn't make it to the ice cream. I should have started the night with that delicacy. I'll know better next time.

I saw my first live Schwar bomb, a line drive homerun off the face of right field's second deck. The accompanying crack was heard throughout the park. The ball left the bat like a rocket and was gone in an instant. The giddy crowd screamed and applauded as Schwarber trotted around the bases.

What put the icing on the cake was that as we made our way outside after the game to our vehicles and the interminable exit from the parking lot, a gate rolled open to the preferred parking lot inside the stadium and everyone stopped to see what would happen. A hoard of Phillies employees rushed out to keep the crowd away from the driveway. City police stopped traffic on the street. Then a Ford 150 with oversized tires and an engine as loud as a rocket rolled out of the stadium. Someone shouted, "It's Harp!"

Visible inside the cab was Bryce Harper's profile, the close-cropped hair and beard. He guided the truck down the driveway and roared away. The crowd had one more cheer in it and saluted one of their favorites with a standing ovation. Well, they were already standing, but the cheers were genuine and loud. It was a great night!

Without a doubt, the Cryptid Collective is the jewel of the Susquehanna Mall in Selinsgrove, PA. It is everything wonderful and spooky. First of all, what makes it unique is a museum of spine-tingling artifacts, each with a delicious history, and even a vampire hanging from the ceiling. (Please see my Facebook and Instagram pages.) There are casts of Sasquatch tracks and things that might move on their own. Lions and tigers and bears! And creepy dolls. You get the idea. Everything goes "bump in the night." The Cryptid Collective is owned by Gwen Purcell and Stacey Leigh, two of the nicest people you will ever meet.

On a recent visit, the Cryptid Collective had T-shirts devoted to—among others—The Flatwoods Monster and Mothman, two of my favorites. Really! Who couldn't like monsters, especially ones that fly or hover. They even have cute Ts for kids that include Cosmic Pugs and a Space Kitten. The store has other great T-shirts and an extensive collection of books that range from fiction to the paranormal and Bigfoot. I have a trilogy of vampire novels and a volume of short horror stories for sale. My books sit shoulder-to-shoulder with others by my good friend Maxim W. Furek and Carter B. Buschardt and Timothy Denman.

Cryptid Collective even has a glossy magazine, "Strange Knocks Magazine," which is available through subscription or purchase in the store. It has wonderful artwork, compelling stories by notable writers, and keeps readers abreast of all kinds of things—product reviews, podcasts, haunted places you might want to visit, ghost tours, fiction, and much more. The magazine is published quarterly (the latest issue is available now) in both hard copy and digital format. I know once you pick up a copy you won't be able to put it down. That's how it works for me.

The nice thing about Cryptid Collective is that many things are hand-crafted by the owners. Stacey makes decorative wooden medallions with paranormal themes, and her husband Jason makes Bigfoot leather key chains, to name just a few of the items for sale. There are also meat sticks and barbecue sauce (both delicious), jewelry and all sorts of decorations in a creepy vein. Is it possible to give creepy presents for Halloween and Christmas? Of course it is! There are candles and various scents that will make you feel you are in the wilderness on a Bigfoot expedition with Bobo when you are actually in your recliner reading "Strange Knocks Magazine," dipping a Mythical Meats meat stick in some "Sossquatch" apple barbecue sauce. No better place to be. There are also a wide variety of Tarot cards for sale. There are even birthday and greeting cards just right for that creepy someone for whom it is difficult to find a gift. How about some creepy socks? Just the perfect addition to one's hosiery collection.

I could go on ad infinitum; there is so much to see in Cryptid Collective. Go and see for yourself!

The store is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. However, it is open noon to 6 pm Wednesday and Thursday, 10 am to 8 pm Friday and Saturday, and 11 am to 5 pm on Sunday. Give them a follow on their Facebook or the Central PA Bigfoot Fest Website.

Magazine: Strange Knocks

I had the pleasure of being a part of three recent events at or near area libraries.

The first was as an attendee at the thirty-fifth annual luncheon to benefit the Back Mountain Memorial Library in Dallas, PA. Held at the Appletree Terrace at Newberry Estate, my good friend, paranormal author Maxim Furek was the guest speaker. Max always does a great job. You can't help leaving the venue without a chill running down your spine. It wasn't the air conditioning's thermostat setting but the expert way Max wove his tails of the paranormal. He is an expert on such topics as Bigfoot, UFOs, the Sheppton Mine Disaster, and the Smurl Haunting in West Pittston, the basis for the Conjuring movie franchise. Max is the author of books on all these topics and others. I recommend you buy a copy if you like to be thrilled.

The second event was at the Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library for its monthly readers club, of which I am a proud member. The guest speaker was J.A. Stein, another friend who discussed her latest novel Patch Town, the true story of coal region strife in the small town of Mary D, a place so small you might miss it if you blink while driving through town. Set during the Great Depression, the novel recounts the problems mining families faced when they challenged the power of large coal companies. This is a riveting book with true and fictional events, some of which affected her grandparents.

The author has previously tackled the issue of farm families selling off their land to developers in Last Farm. In addition, she has written a trilogy of medieval romance and action novels full of castles, jousting knights, and high intrigue. All are excellent reads I highly recommend.

The third event I attended was the May Day Metaphysical Market at the Pottsville Free Public Library, where writers and artists were given a cozy spot to sell their books and creations. It was a gas! I met so many nice people. The writer to my right was the brother of a girl with whom I graduated from high school. It's a small world.

In the meantime, J.A., fellow author Melissa Roos, and I will present "Behind the Books – Life as an Indie Author," at 5 pm on Monday, June 1, at the Orwigsburg Free Public Library, 216 West Independence Street, Orwigsburg. This will be an honest conversation about writing, publishing, and building a readership.

Melissa is an excellent writer of fiction blending romance and mystery. She is among my favorite authors. It's an honor to share the dais with these two fine writers.

By now, you might wonder what is the point of this blog other than plugging my friends? Well, none of these activities would be possible without our local libraries. I have never entered a library I haven't immediately felt at home in. If you haven't been in a library lately, they have more than books. There are clubs, game nights, puzzles, movies, and more. There are events for children and senior citizens. You can do serious research or just have fun with like-minded people who love books. There are newspapers and magazines to read, computers to search the internet, and so much more.

If you don't already have a library card, drop by your local library and get one. They are free. And of course, when your library asks for the occasional donation, be generous.

I know Halloween is over, but is it ever really over? I don't think so. Spooky movies—old and new—play almost every day on one or another channel. They are there at your demand. Therefore, I thought it might be a good time for some practical advice for the average Joe to avoid being cornered and abducted by vampires, werewolves, witches, zombies, you name it. They won't necessarily come from your television, but be near, waiting for a victim to pass by. Those creatures are always up to no good. You might be, too, if you put yourself in harm's way, where one or more are rumored to roam. The above necromancers would like nothing more than to drink your blood, infect you with zombie disease, change you into a fellow werewolf, or put a hex on you.

The following advice should not be taken lightly.

Never, never go upstairs inside an abandoned house or building, unless you have a parachute. It's not easy to get out upper floor windows, and more than likely, your way up is probably the only way down. The other thing is the parachute won't open in time to break your fall. Dittos for basements, unless you plan to dig your way out. Not recommended. If steps creak, either going up or down, stay off them. They may fail at any moment, and you will plunge into an abandoned dungeon. Perhaps a lethal trap, one designed by Vincent Price. Even if it's not a trap, the noise you make will alert other worldly entities nearby. Needless to say, don't go anywhere that is not well lit. If the place you are about to explore looks creepy, it probably is. If the place has no electricity, get out fast! There is a reason old, creepy places don't have electricity.

And don't look for secret passages. If you happen to find one, stay out. Secret doors have a tendency to creep open without warning and close and lock suddenly with you inside. There is a reason they are called "secret." You don't belong inside. Even as an escape route, secret passages should be avoided. The entire structure should be bypassed.

Think of all the movies you watched and novels you read. How many times does your stomach get queasy or your heart flutter when a character tiptoes up or down a winding staircase or inadvertently presses a hidden button to release the catch on a hidden door? Then why be tempted to tiptoe up or down or follow a passage hidden inside a wall?

Another thing. Don't pick up anything with the intent of taking it home. That ring, bracelet or necklace, that first edition copy of a book you've always wanted in your collection might be cursed. Or it might have an entity attached to it that will haunt you after you get home. I'm told on good advice that such entities are difficult to get rid of. They might like your place. They might even like you and decide to hang around for a hundred years or so and keep you close.

I have some exciting news (for me, at least) in my inaugural blog. It's one thing to write a novel, let alone a trilogy of connected novels. What is just as daunting is selling books, after they have been edited, formatted, fancied up with some slick cover art, and published. It's also a hoot to keep such things as character and place names correct as you move from volume to volume. My editor Gail Delaney keeps me on the right track.

Cudos also to my son Spencer and my daughter-in-law Jennifer for completing the artwork and sizing the front and back covers, as well as the all-important spine, to fit the publisher's requirements for the book's printed size. It's not an easy task and it's beyond my technical skills. The last time I felt comfortable moving around the inner workings of a computer was a lifetime ago with Windows 3.1, which I imagine many younger people have never heard of. It would be like using a Guttenberg printing press in modern times. Although some might believe I'm old enough, I can't do that, either.

In addition, my daughter Meredith has been a tireless champion of my fiction, finding bookstores and signings to recommend. Which brings me to this blog's purpose. Since publishing After Dark and its following volumes, Before Dawn and The Reluctant Vampire, I have met many wonderful people--book buyers, book signing organizers, and bookstore owners. All were kind and generous.

Therefore, the After Dark Series is available at a number of fine retailers. Please visit them and purchase something, if not one of my books, then another to your liking.

Haunt Coffee Paranormal Coffee Shop and Bookstore
720 Wilkes-Barre Twp. Blvd, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
I have photos of this wonderful shop on my Facebook page and Instagram site, including a reel on Instagram. Not only do they have fantastic coffee and pastries, but they also sell jewelry, T-shirts, and, of course, books. Everything is creepy, just as you might expect. In addition, they have regular theme nights, throughout the month, including true crime, unsolved mysteries, cold cases, and book signings. It's not far off I-81.

The Schuylkill County Historical Society
305 North Centre Street, Pottsville
A great place to trace your family's roots and learn about the past. They have regular presentations by local historians about things long ago. They also have a wonderful bookstore with titles by local authors.

Otto's Bookstore
127 West 4th St., Williamsport
A fabulous place for books. They have regular events and signings. Lots of parking across the street. Unique T-shirts, jewelry, and artwork are available. I had the honor of having a book signing there recently.

Bookshelf Shenanigans
2 North Market St., Elizabethtown
Has books and unique items by local artists.

Amazon
A website with which most are familiar. Kindle versions of all books are available.

Ingram Spark
Another publisher that deals with bookstores, libraries, etc., but not the general public.

I'm sure other stores will be added in the future. Stay tuned.

Welcome to my new official website! I'm thrilled to finally have a dedicated space where I can connect with readers, share updates about my work, and dive deeper into the dark worlds I create.

This site will serve as your gateway into the After Dark universe and beyond. Here you'll find the latest news about upcoming releases, behind-the-scenes insights into my writing process, and exclusive content you won't find anywhere else.

Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for joining me on this journey into the shadows.