New Publications of Mine

New "Animals and Men" issue was just released! Excellent articles and interesting ideas. I also had an article included in the issue, titled "Jumping to Conclusions: Could Kangaroos explain the American Dogman Phenomenon?" I was quite happy with how it turned out. Jon even included an accompanying comic strip. You can read it here.
The full table of contents is as follows:
2. Contents
3. Faculty
4. Editorial
9. Newsfile: New and Rediscovered
16. Newsfile: Chupacabras
19. Newsfile: Man Beasts
21. Newsfile: Mystery cats
23. Newsfile: Aquatic monsters
29. Newsfile Xtra (1): The Scottish “Polar Bears”
31. Newsfile Xtra (2): The Philippino“Polar Bears”
36. Watcher of the Skies by Corinna Downes
54. Phantom Black Dogs in the Netherlands by Loes Moddermann
65. Jumping to Conclusions: Could Kangaroos explain the American Dogman Phenomenon? by Colin Schneider
68. Phantom Kangaroos by Scott Kroll
78. Ape Canyon Feature Film seeks Financing by Harrison Demchick
71. Still on the Trail of the Tasmanian Wolf by Richard Freeman
81. Duties for Regional Representatives—A Discussion Document
82. Letters to the Editor
89. Reviews
92. Recent books from CFZ Press

Also, a new issue of the wonderful Cryptid Culture Magazine was released a couple days ago. I recieved mine in the mail and loved it. I had an article in there called "The Monsters of the Fay" about how cryptids and faerie lore could be connected. You can check it out here.

The full table of contents is as follows: 

6: Monsters of the Fay by Colin Schneider

9: The Water Hounds of Ireland by David Weatherly 

13: Dragon Puppet Theater by Jason Ropp

16: Clergy of the Deep: The Sea Monk and the Bishop Fish by John Meszaros

20: The Van Meter Visitor: A Case of High Strangeness by Kevin Nelson

26: A Brief History of SasWhat by Mark Matzke (I was recently featured on that excellent podcast which you can hear here.)

30: Cryptid Poetry by Richard Stevenson

33: Robroy Menzies, Crypto Artist by Robroy Menzies
41: Cryptozoologist: A Documentary
42: Water Monsters by Robert Robinson
46: Disney Cryptids by Scott C. Marlowe
55: The Green River Monster by Zach Bales

Both magazines are excellent and I would recommend them to anyone interested in cryptozoology or the weird. 

Book Update

I am changing my focus for my upcoming book. I decided instead of rewriting the same cases that everyone knows, I want to contribute something specific to the field.
Because of this, I have adjusted the focus of my book to looking at paranormal aspects of cryptids.

I have a great interest in the 'fringe' ideas about unknown animals. Here is the list of the chapters I will have as of right now:

• UFOs
• this will be to explore the idea of a connection between UFOs and cryptids; specifically Bigfoot, flying humanoids, and lake monsters
• Extraterrestrials
• this will be to explore the idea that some cryptids are extraterrestrial in nature: specifically Bigfoot and the chupacabra
• Lover's Lanes
• this will look at popular Lover's Lane cryptids such as Bigfoot, Goatman, Mothman, and Owlman
• Earth Energies
• this will explore the idea that cryptids have connections with 'earth energies' which would include subjects such as ley lines and powerful places (stone circles, graveyards, etc.)
• Psychic
• this will look at the idea that some cryptids have a psychic aspect such as Bigfoot, flying humanoids, and black dogs
• Fairies
• this will look at the possible connection between fairies and cryptids
• Tulpas
• this will look at the idea that cryptids are thought-forms created through the power of the mind
• Ultraterrestrials
• this will look at John Keel's idea of multi-dimensional beings (this chapter will also discuss the djinn)
• Where does this leave cryptozoology?
• this will discuss what will happen to cryptozoology if these creatures really aren't unknown animals

If you have any suggestions for inclusions in the book, let me know in the comments!

Fairies.... In Ohio?

Fairies have been getting increasing amounts of attention in the field of the unknown. More and more people are examining reports of fairies from around the world. I recently received two reports from someone I know. He would prefer to remain anonymous so I will refer to him only as "Paul".

Paul has been hunting almost all of his life, and he swears up and down that he has never seen anything like that since.

Paul's first encounter happened on April 19, 2010 at around 6 AM. He was turkey hunting in thick brush and since the sun had not come up, the area was cast with a greyish tint. He was facing a dirt road when he saw "Small white cat or cat-like mammal coming down [the road] toward me, followed by 2 small independent blue orbs of light." He described the orbs as "blue, about 3 ½ to 4 feet off the ground, moved in single file and followed the white creature," he also specified that the orbs moved independently of each other. The cat slowly turned down the road and walked away, the orbs followed.
Paul said that he felt that the area was protected. He even said that he, "shot 2 tom turkeys later that month. Both got back up and ran away. I have not experienced that since, I have killed a total of 15 turkeys in my hunting career and I have never had that happen."

His second story is even more strange.

On September 26, 2010, Paul was deer hunting in a tree stand, on a friend's property. He was surrounded by weeds and trees. Around 4:30 PM, he began to hear a strange buzzing sound near his head. After a split second, a large, brownish tan winged creature flew close in front of his face. He said it was larger than a Dobson fly or dragonfly. He described it as a small, 8 inch tall, humanoid with two sets of wings. He said the wings were moving extremely fast. The encounter lasted about five seconds and then the winged creature flew away into the woods. He got the impression that the creature did not want him to shoot anything and was protecting the area.
Paul said that the elderly woman who owned the property passed away later that year. In her will, she wanted her son to plant a ring of trees right in front of where the 'fairy' was seen by Paul. The son also, after being told about the encounter, said that there have been previous encounters and that he wasn't surprised, given his mother's enthusiasm for the Little People.

This is the sketch by "Paul" of the fairy creature he encountered in September of 2010

I think these two stories are very interesting. Paul is an experienced hunter and still says he has no idea as to what he encountered those two days.

Something I think is very interesting is that both sightings have the element of a sense of protection for the wilderness, which is commonplace in fairy lore. Also, note the face of the winged creature, it resembles that of a Grey alien. 

Interesting stories. Let me know what you think in the comments!