‘Tis the season for ghostly whisperings. It’s not uncommon to see numerous television programs on all things paranormal during Halloween, including various ghost hunters tromping through scary places for hours. I’m all for it, as I am truly a Halloween fan and armchair ghost hunter. With that in mind, and because I’ve always been fascinated in the paranormal, today I’m interviewing fellow Danger Zone Author (www.dangerzoneauthors.com) Marianne LaCroix and paranormal investigation team, ALPHA (Association For Locating Paranormal and Haunted Activity) of Florida. Read through this entire blog and be sure to comment. Mari will be offering a copy of MEN AFTER MIDNIGHT to one lucky winner.

First up, author Marianne LaCroix.

Denise: Welcome, Mari. It’s wonderful to have you here. You have an impressive array of novels. When did you set a goal to write for publication?

Mari: Thank you for inviting me. I’m honored. I dabbled in writing romance for years, but in 2003 I decided to write and try to get published. My first published book was LADY SHEBA, a campy—yet erotic and romantic—comic book adventure. The character of Lady Sheba was inspired by the Egyptian mythology of the goddess Bast, the cat goddess. Anyway, that’s where it started, writing a book I wanted to read. After LADY SHEBA I wrote several subgenres of erotic romance, but mainly focusing on erotic paranormal romance. I really hit it when DESCENDANTS OF DARKNESS began to be released in short story installments. I wrote them as a pass time, but then the series took off. They were packaged together in paperback and went on to be a Romantic Times Top Pick and Reviewer Choice finalist. At that point, there was no going back.

Denise: Do your books form with a character idea first or a plot idea first?

Mari: I’m more character focused in my writing, so I have to say character first. When ALPHA came in to do a Paranormal 411 workshop for my local RWA chapter, FPHRW, I was broadsided. Literally. We took the guys out to lunch that day before the workshops, and I was already formulating a book in my head. And yeah, it did start with character ideas—hot male paranormal investigators. And by unbelievable coincidence they bear uncanny resemblances and personalities to Ron and Scott. LOL Imagine that. But yeah, character first.

Denise: Here’s a cliché question for you. How does your imagination work? Do you have to plot a book ahead of time, or do you let it all hang loose and by-the-seat-of-your-pants when writing a book?

Mari: I noticed that if I plot too much before I sit down to write, the book doesn’t get written beyond the outline. So, I sit and let the story flow for a few chapters, then I go back and do some basic plotting. I don’t do many details, just the bare bones. So I am a mix of a pantser and a plotter.

Denise: When did you first become interested in the paranormal?

Mari: I was always reading books and watching movies with paranormal themes. The Mummy (Karloff) and Dracula (Lugosi) were two of my favorites. I loved the old Universal monster movies. As a kid I loved (and you’re going to laugh) The Ghost and Mr. Chicken and the Abbott and Costello’s The Time of Their Lives too. Can you tell I’m an old movie buff? Heh…but it took me years to get up the guts to go in Disney’s Haunted Mansion. That is until I was a teenager—and some hot Navy men tried to jump into my ride car when they saw I was by myself. I loved the ride after that. Hmm, hot guys and ghosts. Maybe I was on to something…

Denise: What is the most frightening paranormal experience you’ve had?

Mari: I don’t ever recall ever being frightened. I’ve had several experiences over the years. I’ve been visited by my grandfather I never knew when I shattered my left ankle. I had a metal plate, screws and pins surgically inserted, and I was in a lot of pain because of it. My first night home from the hospital, he came and massaged my throbbing ankle….through the cast. I knew it was him. I was comforted, not scared. I do notice that often I have an experience while half asleep. I am of the belief that the dream state is easier for those who passed to make contact. I recently had an experience at the Wakulla Springs Lodge during a writer retreat. Something woke me up. I didn’t see anything, I felt it there by the bed. I had a similar experience in my home when I was pregnant (and sick as a dog for the entire time). I actually saw something that time. I was alone in the house, so it wasn’t anyone to be easily explained away. I simply turned over and told it to go away. I wasn’t scared and I didn’t see it again.

Denise: When did you decide to join ALPHA?

Mari: I met Scott and Ron a few years ago while they were with another group. We kept in touch since then through their email announcements. Then Scott emailed me last year about the start of ALPHA Ghost Team. Immediately I was on board in support. They were the ghost guys to me from the beginning, so I didn’t think twice. Later we made some plans for a workshop presentation for the Tallahassee RWA chapter, FPHRW. They came in to do their Paranormal 411 presentation in April. After that I got chatty with the guys, and eventually, I asked to join the group. Hot guys and ghosts. See a pattern here?

Denise: Your first investigation with ALPHA is scheduled for February 2010. Tell us some of your feelings heading into this investigation.

Mari: I am so excited. I really want to be a part of things. I want to see the guys in action. They both love doing this, and that kind of passion is very contagious.

Denise: What will be your main function/job at the investigation?

Mari: Officially I’m an ALPHA Tracker with the group, and not an investigator. My purpose is to help the team in whatever way I can. They’ll let me know what they need me to do on a site when the time comes. I’m anxious to experience an investigation first hand. The best part of ALPHA is the stress on the team. Several of us have our talents that we use to help out. Mine just happens to be a little business experience and advertising. I love doing what I can to help. Hmm, that reminds me, Ron owes me a lunch…

Denise: Many investigators have discovered their lives altered for both good and/or bad when they begin partaking in paranormal investigation. Do you plan any type of personal protection before you jump into your first investigation?

Mari: I sometimes wear a talisman, the Goetia Seal of Solomon, but more for the fact I think it looks cool than for any deeper belief of the protection from evil. I think the best bet of personal protection is to simply remember ghosts were once living people. I am a firm believer in the thought of treating people like you wish to be treated. You get back what you put in.

Thanks much Mari! Be sure to stop Mari’s website at www.mariannelacroix.com and read all her excerpts!

Second up, the investigative team of Ron Bordner and Scott Tepperman of ALPHA Ghost Team http://www.alphaghostteam.com/

Denise: Gentlemen, it’s an honor to have you participate in this interview for The Bradford Bunch. I know many readers here are excited to learn more about you. Your first anniversary as an organized paranormal investigation team was October 11, 2009. Has your experience as paranormal investigators been anything like you expected so far? What has surprised you the most about the experience?

Ron: Honestly, my experience as a paranormal investigator hasn’t been anything like I imagined it to be. Before I became an investigator I had several preconceived notions about the ghost hunting field in general (What was it all about? Why was it still being thought of as taboo?) It was only when I started to learn more about paranormal phenomena that the puzzle pieces of the “mystery” behind this field fell into play. The major surprises that I have experienced over the years have been many, but probably the single most important surprise was the reality of how much there is still left to learn about paranormal phenomena as a whole. This field is really 95% theory and 5% fact (in regards to proving the existence of spirits) so that was definitely an eye-opener for me personally.

Scott: Although ALPHA has just celebrated its one year anniversary, the core members of ALPHA have all been paranormally active for over five years in a previous group. As I became more and more involved with “ghost hunting”, I was disheartened to find a great deal of phonies and opportunists out to make a quick buck. Ron and I originally conceived ALPHA to help return legitimacy to the paranormal field which has recently been favoring sensationalism over substance.

Denise: Why are some of your team members called trackers and what is the difference between a tracker and an investigator?

Ron: The members of our “street team” are called the ALPHA TRACKERS. They are a separate entity from the ALPHA GHOST TEAM however; they play an intricate part in marketing the ALPHA name and getting the word out about our organization. The main difference between a tracker and an investigator is the fact that members of the ALPHA TRACKERS are strictly put into play as a tool to help ALPHA prosper and grow as a business. An investigator is a full –fledged member of the ALPHA GHOST TEAM and has received the necessary training to be a certified paranormal investigator.

Scott: We are a cohesive whole comprised of highly trained investigators and an effective “street team”. While there is a clear difference between members and “street team”, the success of ALPHA benefits equally from everyone’s contributions.

Denise: When new people approach you wanting to assist with investigations, what qualities do you look for in a tracker/investigator?

Ron: The main traits that we look for in a prospective investigator is that the member has to be dedicated 110% to the group, they have to very educated (must have a good mix of street & book smarts) and above all else, they have to be willing to breathe, eat, and be ALPHA at all times. This group is my passion and my life, and that mentally must be shared by all prospective members as well.

Scott: First and foremost, prospective members need to be of strong moral character. You can not decide to set precedent by not following your own rules. Second, you must want to join ALPHA for the right reasons – no hidden agendas. If someone is out for themselves, they are contradicting the “team” mentality that Ron and I have worked so hard to develop.

Denise: Do you believe interest in the paranormal has steadily increased over the last ten years? If so, why?

Ron: I believe that the interest in the paranormal has skyrocketed just in the past four years alone because of the various “ghost hunting” shows that are on network television. These shows have brought ghost hunting to the masses, and have stripped away the taboo labels that were placed on the ghost hunting field over the years. However, these shows have been a disservice to the field because they don’t represent the field in general. For example: If a member of the public watches one of these shows and perceives the investigators to be con artists, it gives the more legitimate ghost hunting groups (like ALPHA) a black eye because the public lumps us in the same category as the con artists because we are in the same field (ghost hunting) as they are.

Scott: Yes, because of “Ghost Hunters”.

Denise:  Does your investigation format differ from a group like TAPS?

Ron: Our investigative formats and techniques differ from TAPS greatly. First and foremost we don’t go into a location to strictly debunk paranormal claims ala TAPS. We simply go on location and log what we find. If we find paranormal activity then we document it, however if we are able to debunk any claims we do that as well. We really don’t have a strict mantra of proving or disproving paranormal phenomena. Also, our techniques differ from TAPS because we don’t believe in antagonizing the spirits or helping to stir up any latent negative energy that could still be remaining at a location. We believe that this behavior does nothing but breed unacceptable investigator attitudes and has the potential to ruin an investigation.

Scott: I believe that, at our core, TAPS and ALPHA were very similar before “network bosses” and others with vested interests imposed demands on TAPS in exchange for popularity, a TV show, etc. No disrespect to TAPS – it’s understandable. However, for TAPS to bring an industry to the forefront of public interest and pretty much spearhead it for a good five years, I believe that their recent questionable credibility has undoubtedly cast a dark shadow over the entire field.

Denise: Tell me about your scariest investigation or personal experience on an investigation? (No places or names required unless you want to reveal them.)

Ron: I personally haven’t had any “scary” moments on an investigation site. I’ve been unnerved plenty of times, but never really scared enough to leave a location. I been witness to people being grabbed by unseen entities, and I’ve seen objects move on their own, but nothing overtly scary enough to make me want to quit this field.

Scott: One of my first investigations was of the “Old Jail” in St. Augustine, FL. I was leaning on a table in general population and videotaping two of our then-members using a Ouija board. About a half hour into the Ouija session, I was physically grabbed on my right arm and pulled off the bench. We actually caught that incident with two different cameras. Wild stuff.

Denise: What is the difference between a ghost hunter and a paranormal investigator?

Ron: The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably in this field. You have some people who use the same term to describe the same thing i.e. ghost/spirit etc. However, my personal opinion is that a “ghost hunter” is someone who recreationally looks for spirit activity as a weekend hobby and has little to no formal training in the paranormal field. A “paranormal investigator” is someone who is dedicated 110% to their field (they’ve had years of field and book training) and regards themselves to be a professional in every aspect of the word.

Scott: “Ghost hunters” are nothing more than hobbyists running around cemeteries aimlessly taking pictures. “Paranormal investigators” are educated, trained and professional researchers who try to uncover unexplained phenomena in a responsible, thorough manner.

Denise: Many people say there’s no place for psychics in a scientific team. How do you feel about that?

Ron: I feel that in order to run the full gamut at an investigation site you have to implore the use of all the tools that you have at your disposal. Now, whether that is psychics, scientific tools, or skeptics you have to use all the ammo you have. I personally don’t have a problem with psychics on my team; however I cannot say that whatever information they would be channeling would be 100% accurate. In ALPHA we document everything and present it to the client, so if a psychic has information about a location we include it in our formal write up to the client, but we cannot call their “visions” to be hardcore evidence, thus we CANNOT stand by their personal conclusions.

Scott: I personally have problems with psychics due to their lack of credibility. Quite often, they are nothing more than swindlers who prey on weak and vulnerable clients who are desperate to find any solace for what they have experienced. However, since I do feel that it is important to get as many “takes” on an investigation as possible, I welcome the use of a well-established psychic/medium with good credentials and a proven track record as evidenced by their previous caseload.

Denise: One slightly controversial question. In the last several years there’s been an upsurge in claims that some hauntings are actually demonic in nature. How do you feel about this trend? Is it hysteria or is there something to it? Have you ever encountered what you believe was a non-human entity?

Ron: I personally haven’t been privy to the demonic possession trend that seems to be on the upsurge. I can only assume that the hysteria is feed by the constant labeling of “demonic” possession that you see on the ghost hunting television shows. It really seems that once these television shows took hold, the public was convinced their homes were haunted and haunted by a “demon” I’ve never personally encountered a demon/non human entity (or known of anyone that has) so I’m not totally convinced that the whole concept of “demons” actually does exist.

Scott: Again, demonic possessions are good TV fodder. While demonic forces are quite rare, they do exist. While I do believe that a person can be possessed, they are - in fact - just mentally disturbed people who have convinced themselves of being possessed. This is a legitimate phenomenon due to the fact that these people actually require some medical and/or psychological assistance.

Denise: Last but not least, what is your advice to those interested in getting into paranormal investigating and please tell us about the DVD you have coming out soon.

Ron: My advice to anyone who is interested in getting involved in the paranormal field/investigations is that don’t go into it half- hearted and to treat it with respect and professionalism because the amateurs always make the professionals look bad.

Scott: Our DVD is titled, “Dead Air [LIVE] From the Windsor Hotel”. This is our first foray into the home video market. We are quite excited about this project because we fully immerse the viewer into our world by explaining the “ins-and-outs” of paranormal investigation in real time while conducting an actual, thorough investigation of one of “America’s Top 10 Haunted Hotels”. We didn’t doctor anything on film – everything the viewer experiences is legitimate. We have just begun pre-production on the second and third installments.

That is what ALPHA is all about: Real. Raw. Paranormal.

Thank you so much Mari, Ron and Scott for taking time out of their busy schedules to chat with us. I very much appreciate it!