My Books Have Made the News!

I SHOULD CLARIFY—

the topics of my books have made the news, everything from bigfoot to spider colonies to coffins.

I have tried to convince myself that I don’t love bigfoot as much as I used to, at least not since hearing more recent dogman encounters.

However, I can’t help but engage when I see headlines like these.

‘VERY CREDIBLE’ BIGFOOT SIGHTING REPORTED IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA 

PURPORTED BIGFOOT VIDEO FROM COLORADO 

If you don’t have time to read the whole article from WTAJ, here are the highlights:

“He continued by saying what ‘shook’ him was the way the creature moved across the highway. Not quick or jerky like a sprinter, but fast and smooth, almost seeming to ‘glide’ across the lanes. It was said the figure crossed the highway in about three seconds.” —WTAJ

“In addition to the main witness, two others reported seeing something that day, too. One person claimed in his report, ‘I just want to add I know what I saw, but don’t know WHAT I saw. I’m an avid hunter with +50 years in the woods. This was not a bear.’” —WTAJ

Shocked? Me too, even more so when I discovered that this incident occurred just miles from my home. BIGFOOT IN MY OWN BACKYARD!

I’ve been preparing for this moment my whole life—preparing by staying indoors and reading about the sighting rather than going in search of the creature. I mean, y’all, if bigfeets wanted to be found, they would go to the farmer’s market.

Because bigfoot news is always BIG news, here’s another story about the elusive cryptid, all the way from England: TEENAGER HITS THE BIG SCREEN IN HUNT FOR BIGFOOT 

If these news articles piqued your interest in cryptids, consider reading It Came from the Trees from the safety of home. Guess what? If you really like reading the news, this cryptid camping tale is full of fictional news articles about the Beast of Backcountry.

IN OTHER ALARMING NEWS,

on the border of Albania and Greece scientists discovered arachnids cohabitating on a web larger than 1,000 square feet!

If you have arachnophobia, skip this link.

THIS CAVE HOLDS A SPIDER WEB ‘MEGACITY’ THE SIZE OF HALF A TENNIS COURT 

If you don’t have time to read the whole story, here are the highlights:

“The vast ‘megacity,’ spanning more than 1,040 square feet—nearly half the size of a tennis court—is home to about 111,000 spiders of the species Tegenaria domestica and Prinerigone vagans, according to a study by a separate group of researchers.” —Scientific American

“A genetic analysis showed that the cave-dwelling spiders are becoming distinct from populations of the same species that live outside, suggesting they are adapting to the underground environment.” —Scientific American

Adapting to an underground environment? Different from populations of the same species living above ground? I think I’ve heard this story before…

Oh.

I am not a bug person. In fact, I will die if a bug touches me. It’s true. However, I have learned to appreciate spiders after researching them for a book, and now I think of them as unpaid security guards for my home.

If you don’t like spiders enough to want an up-close look at a web almost as large as a tennis court, I have great news for you! You don’t have to travel all the way to the border of Albania and Greece to see thousands of spiders cohabitating. You can simply open a copy of Down Came the Spiders.

And remember, if you find a spider in your home, do not put it outside. House spiders are basically indoor cats, and you are not doing them a favor by putting them outdoors. Just relocate them to a safe place in your home. Out of sight, out of mind…and lurking.

FINALLY, GRAVEROBBING MIGHT SEEM LIKE A THING OF THE PAST—

when folks read by candlelight and wore entirely too many layers of clothing—but nope. Cemeteries are still being raided by thieves.

This bit of news isn’t about modern graverobbing, but it took me on a wild rollercoaster ride around the internet.

COFFIN TORPEDOES? SEE THE WILD IDEA 19TH-CENTURY INVENTORS HAD TO STOP GRAVE ROBBING 

According to Bethany Bruner’s article in The Columbus Dispatch, in 1878, Philip Clover, a Columbus-based inventor and artist, applied for a patent that would improve coffin torpedoes.

COFFIN TORPEDO. Yes, you read that correctly.

“Clover described the device as something an undertaker attached to a casket or to be hidden within the clothing of its occupant. The device would fire lead balls when discharged, according to the patent application.” —The Columbus Dispatch

From The Columbus Dispatch I made my way to Atlas Obscura.

VICTORIAN ‘COFFIN TORPEDOES’ BLASTED WOULD-BE BODY SNATCHERS 

Lucy Tiven covers Philip Clover’s invention and 19th century graverobbing in greater detail.

“On the night of January 17, 1881, a would-be body snatcher by the name of Dipper was killed by a blast in a Mount Vernon, Ohio cemetery. The attempted grave-robbery was a three-man operation, according to the Stark County Democrat. The explosion broke the leg of the second thief.” —Atlas Obscura

Tiven and scholars point out that coffin torpedoes probably weren’t mainstream or popular devices for preventing graverobbing, but now you have this strange, esoteric ice breaker to use at parties. You’ll be relegated to the wall in no time. Trust me.

Finally, Atlas Obscura led me to the Library of Congress, where I read from The Pittsburg Dispatch. The old paper had a round-up of “Rattle Brain Ideas,” including cemetery explosives. You can read and download the original 1890 newspaper here (the coffin torpedo is mentioned in the bottom left column).

Now that you’ve learned about coffin torpedoes and resurrection men, consider this contemporary tale about a vampiric ghost and graverobber getting their comeuppance. Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave is available wherever you buy or borrow books.

(If you need holiday gifts for young readers, contact Copper Dog Books to inquire about signed stock.)

I think this goes without saying, but if you rob a cemetery, may your entire line be cursed by the spirits of the bones at rest. Or cursed by the vampire of Highgate Cemetery.

Unfamiliar with the tale of the vampire of Highgate Cemetery? It’s actuALLY scary (and it partly inspired the story of Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave).