One Woman's Writing Retreat: Interview
Troy Taylor
Part II
Troy Taylor's Haunted Illinois
by Catherine Tudor
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Troy Taylor.
By Catherine Tudor
I
met Troy Taylor online while conducting research for one of my novels. Intrigued that we owned similar domain names, I introduced myself to the president of "The American Ghost Society" and asked if he would consider an interview.
A native of Illinois, Troy and his wife, Amy, own Riverboat Molly's Book Company. The author of numerous non-fiction works on haunting, including The Ghost Hunter's Guidebook, (which I found to be well researched and informative) he has been investigating the paranormal since 1992. Among his many other talents are: writing a newsletter, maintaining a Web site, publishing a print magazine, hosting tours and conferences, founding a new museum and creating The Haunted American Ghost Book Catalog. Troy has appeared in a segment on The Learning Channel's "Ghost Waters." What's uncanny is how well Troy Taylor manages his time. You can read more about him at his own Web site, Ghosts of the Prairie, but before you get lost exploring his extensive articles on the supernatural, don't forget to read our interviews and find out more about Troy Taylor's book company.
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CT: What types of activities do you offer through Riverboat Molly's Book Company?
We actually offer a lot of different events from the bookstore, in addition to our tours and haunted overnights, including our annual national conference, which features about six or so different authors to sign their books, speak and meet the public. We also offer small events with authors throughout the year, like our "Dead of Winter" event, which is held in February and our
"Evening with . . . " events, which we plan around a single author. Authors come, speak, offer whatever presentation they like, read from their books, sign copies of their work, whatever they want to do. It's a good way for people to meet and get involved with their favorite 'ghost' writers.
CT: For those who have never been to Illinois, how would you describe where you live and work in terms of climate, population, and cultural activities? What do you enjoy most about living there?
Illinois takes a lot of bad raps from people who assume that it's all nothing but cornfields and people from Chicago like to knock the lower three-quarters of the state in the same way. Truthfully, Illinois has much to offer. Yes, we have erratic weather, floods, tornadoes and lots and lots of corn but it's a wonderful state with a great history unlike anywhere else. That's probably what has kept me here my entire life. I have had many opportunities to live elsewhere and I travel widely all over the country but I have remained rooted in Illinois. I found that, when growing up, Illinois had a very rich history, which has always attracted me and I spend much of my time traveling to historical spots and seeking out-of-the-way places to visit, photograph and whenever possible, write about.
I grew up in central Illinois, which meant that I was exposed to the lore of Abraham Lincoln. Unlike most people I knew, I never tired of hearing about or visiting the sites connected to the former president--and am still not tired of it. Anything connected to Lincoln remains a real draw for me. Also, living in the Alton area, I have "discovered" the rich world of ancient Illinois. This area, running from about 100 miles south of St. Louis, up to where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi, was once the home of a prehistoric culture that left much in the way behind when it comes to earthen mounds, stone forts and mysterious petroglyphs. You can often find me seeking these places out, especially the unknown or hard to find ones, because I believe there are still sites out there waiting to be discovered. The great thing about such hunts is finding the obscure, out-of-the-way towns and diners. A friend of mine and I like to call them "Mom & Pop's Hole in the Wall eateries" and we are always on the hunt for the perfect burger and fries.
So, you can see that it's not all about ghosts for me. They are my livelihood and a constant source of fascination for me but so is the history. As no good ghost story can exist without the history behind it, you can see why my love of both is so important to me.
Read more about Riverboat Molly's Book Company and Haunted Illinois in our Literary Scenes Spotlight by Catherine Tudor.
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