Tag Archives: Bigfoot

The Paranormal Ranger: Book Review

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The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator’s Search For The Unexplained, by Stanley Milford, Jr.

I read this book on a recent work trip to Ireland, as it seemed like an interesting take on the “supernatural memoir” subgenre that I rather enjoy on occasion. Upon due consideration, I think the best way of phrasing my reaction to the book is that I really enjoyed most of what was there, but I missed what wasn’t.

Let me be clear: It’s a really interesting book. Milford does an excellent job of framing his professional experience in terms of his Indigenous heritage and upbringing, and how an early encounter with what he identified as a skinwalker was foundational in his later professional life. Even more interesting was the way he outlined his approach to the paranormal aspects of his job once he became one of the elite Navajo Rangers. Milford’s logic was that it didn’t matter if someone was reporting a Bigfoot sighting or a possible case of witchcraft, they deserved respect and for their story to be heard, with a serious investigation of the story even if it turned out to be nothing, or a hoax. That won him a lot of points with me, and I particularly enjoyed those chapters where he went into detail on specific cases. And the way he interacted with the person who had made the report was equally as interesting as the followup investigation. Of particular note was one story of investigating the case of a woman who thought that witchcraft was being used against her at her isolated hogan. No spoilers, but both the approach and the resolution demonstrate what an excellent officer Milford was and what a great storyteller he is.

My main issue, honestly, is that the book wrapped up far too quickly. Milford did a great job of setting the stage for his role as the “paranormal ranger”, and I was excited by the possibility of what kind of stories he’d bring his thoughtful perspective to. But there were relatively few cases discussed, and I was left wanting more. Then on the back end there was a brief summary hypothesis of his theory of the paranormal, and a quick nod to his post-Navajo Ranger exploits on the UFO/paranormal convention circuit.

Do I regret having read it? Absolutely not. There’s a lot of food for thought in there, and the stories Milford does tell are engaging. I just wanted more of them.

Call it maybe 7/10, and particularly recommended to folks who want a more grounded take on some of the spooky stuff.

 

 

Five For Writing – Gary Frank

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Gary Frank is a man of many talents. Hailing from the horror hotbed of New Jersey, he is not only a talented author but also a skilled songwriter and musician. Recently he burst back onto the literary scene with a gripping tale of terror, The Thing In The Woods.  Want to know more? Keep reading….

 

1-Of all the classic literary conflicts, surely Man Vs. Bigfoot is one of the most primal. What inspired you to write about it?

We have the main character, Rich, who, like most of us, works 9-5 and has the usual adult responsibilities. He gets juxtaposed against Bigfoot who has none of these, a being that Rich sees as free to just live and survive in the wild. It’s appealing to him. The question I examine is who is the real monster in this story. Bigfoot’s just trying to survive, and here come these humans, messing things up.

2-How has your writing evolved over the years from Forever Will You Suffer to The Thing In the Woods?

Forever Will You Suffer I refer to my B-Movie horror novel. It’s a roller coaster ride of craziness in a good way. With The Thing in the Woods, the relationships between the four characters and their story arc, takes precedence over the monster. My writing is less about the thing and more about the people having to overcome the thing.

3-What about living in New Jersey inspires you to write horror?

There’s a lot of weird that goes on in the Garden State, from the former Essex County Hospital, which was reported to be haunted, to the Pine Barrens and the Jersey Devil, to the ghosts in Cape May. It seems a prime place to set more weird stories, especially an urban legend like Bigfoot. There is a national organization that does Bigfoot research missions, and one of their locations is northern New Jersey.

4-You are also a musician and songwriter. What’s the process for writing music like as opposed to writing fiction?

Writing songs and the accompanying music is more immediate. Lyrics kind of flow from one line to the next and there’s a poetic element there that seeks to rhyme. With stories, there isn’t that urgency. It’s more of a marathon than a sprint, which leaves me more space to unfold a story. Songs tend to be more like moments in time, like a photograph.

5-What would you do if you actually ran into a Bigfoot?

Fleeing in fear is high on the list, right after soiling myself. I’d like to think I’d be amazed and remember to take clear photographs. But I doubt I’d be so brave!

Necrocasticon

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I had a great time talking with the guys over at the Necrocasticon. We talked horror, video games, World of Darkness…and Bigfoot.

For those of you who are unaware, I am cheerfully obsessed with Bigfoot, and the possibility thereof, to the point of having attended the North Georgia Bigfoot Conference in 2019. Needless to say, this did not go well – from a VIP party that was lacking any of the VIPs or any semblance of a party to an appearance by North Georgia’s only Bigfoot-themed teenaged band to the rantings of a self-proclaimed demon hunter who wanted the world to know that Mothman, in his words, was “pure evil.” Why he was ranting about Mothman at a Bigfoot conference is beyond me, but there you have it.

Anyway, the highlight – or lowlight – of the weekend was not the talk from the lady who claimed that Bigfoots (Bigfeet?) came from flying saucers, nor the guy who claimed the government was hunting Bigfoots from black helicopters, nor the woman who said she communicated psychically with Bigfoots and let her kids and grandkids play with the Sasquatches out on the back 40. No, it was the Bigfoot expedition Sunday.

And if you listen in, you can hear all about how Jeff Strand and I went Bigfoot hunting in North Georgia.