Prairie Den: Literary Scenes

Troy Taylor is a successful author and book publisher. Having lived in Illinois all his life, he has carved out his own rare niche by combining his knowledge of the area with his passion for journalism, history, and ghost hunting. Whitechapel Productions Press is one of America's only publishers of books on ghosts and hauntings. In the History and Hauntings Book Company catalog, you will find more than 800 titles on the topic of ghosts, historical hauntings, the supernatural, and related regional information from all over the country.

The Ghosts of the Prairie site is extensively researched and deserves a bookmark. You can get lost for days reading all the fascinating articles and following the site's many suggested links. For instance, at the virtual Haunted Museum, which is a feature of Ghosts of the Prairie, you can learn about the history of Spiritualism, find out how to conduct a séance, or marvel at how charlatans tricked their clients during the 1800s. Complete with articles and historical photos, the museum is a fascinating and educational albeit revealing glimpse into the past.

Troy also conducts tours throughout the state. In 2004, he was awarded the Outstanding Festival Award for the Advancement and Development of Tourism by the Alton Regional Convention and Tourism Bureau for promoting the region with the History and Hauntings Tours.

An authority on the supernatural who is respected both by his peers and by the media, Troy has been interviewed for radio and television broadcasts about the supernatural, including appearances in documentaries such as AMERICA’S MOST HAUNTED, BEYOND HUMAN SENSES, GHOST WATERS, NIGHT VISITORS, and GHOSTS OF MIDDLE AMERICA. He's appeared in a TV series including MYSTERIOUS WORLDS and MOSTLY TRUE STORIES, and in the independent film, THE ST. FRANCISVILLE EXPERIMENT.

Ever heard of the American Ghost Society? Troy and his wife Amy, founded the network of ghost hunters with more than 600 active members in the United States and Canada. The group offers the public plenty of opportunities to spend the night in an alleged haunted place. They also organize an annual Halloween festival in Illinois that features workshops and lectures from prominent authors and speakers. The Halloween event usually books so fast, you have to buy tickets months in advance. In 2004, there are plans underway to hold a public Houdini Séance in Decatur, Illinois at the Lincoln Square Theater, where Houdini once played.

Troy is currently working on a tour guide called WEIRD ILLINOIS to be published by Barnes and Noble Press to follow his other book, HAUNTED ILLINOIS. This author already has a long list of titles connected with his name. Wonder how he does it all? Learn more about Troy Taylor, the author, in our interview, then visit his site. If you are planning a trip to the state, or live nearby and enjoy the supernatural, look for Riverboat Molly's Book Company. Peruse the Ghosts of the Prairie site and sign up for the free newsletter which will keep you up to date on all their books, articles, and events.

Follow our links below to discover many hot spots (or should that be cold spots?) in haunted Illinois.

Catherine Tudor founded One Woman's Writing Retreat in 1996 in order to create a network for writers at all stages in their careers. She is the managing editor and webmaster of One Woman's Writing Retreat. Read more about her here.