“DATE: AUGUST 25, 2010

FROM: KRISTINE ASHTON-MAGNUSON

AUTHOR RICK FLORINO CONTINUES
DOLOR NOVELLA SERIES WITH

Dolor: Arielle │Book III

OUT SEPTEMBER 27

Sam’s wife Arielle just left him, but that’s the least of his problems…

After sitting through three meetings in his downtown Dolor law office,
strange things begin happening to this lawyer.
One of Sam’s clients nearly bleeds to death
in some sort of ritual right before his eyes,
however the evil doesn’t let up…

Author Rick Florino continues his Dolor mystery/horror novella series with Dolor: Arielle│Book III, out September 27 via New American Deities. Arielle–the third in a series of ten stories about the creepy town of Dolor–will be available for only 99 cents on September 27, 28 and 29 at www.BookOfDolor.com. From September 30 through October 31, 2010, Arielle can be purchased for the discounted price of $3.99. As an introduction to the Dolor story, a free download of Lila and Chrissy, the first two books in the series, is available at www.bookofdolor.com/signup.html and hard copies of the books can be purchased for just $4.99 each.

Florino–author of Dolor: Lila | Book I, Dolor: Chrissy | Book II, Do The Devil’s Work For Him, founder of Ruin Magazine and Editor-In-Chief of ARTISTdirect.com–offers his thoughts on Arielle: “Arielle represents everything that I always wanted this series to be. The mystery behind Dolor begins to unravel further within the landscape of a very dark and twisted story. The narrative itself examines so much in short space—from the breakdown of a marriage to the breakdown of a mind. Then there’s a deeper and more demonic aspect to Arielle as well that’s reminiscent of ’60s and ’70s horror, yet the characters all come to life vibrantly. Fans of the series will get to learn a little bit more about Caleb Taylor, and they’ll also get a closer look at what’s really happening underneath the surface of this town. Arielle also features a musical aspect that will come into play much more as the series progresses. In some ways, Arielle closes out the trilogy that is the first three books. However, it also leaves everything open for the next seven to come. This is a very special book, and newcomers and previous visitors to Dolor will be equally possessed by it…I still am.”
Florino moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of working in the entertainment industry after graduating from Boston University Magna Cum Laude at 19 years old. He began his career at New Line Cinema and freelancing for magazines such as Metal Edge, AMP and Lollipop. Constantly writing, he cultivated a unique style that was clever, vivid and highly eloquent. That style would fuel his 2006 creation, the bi-monthly hard rock publication Ruin Magazine. In 2007, Rick became an editor for ARTISTdirect.com, where he conducts interviews with A-list film and music talent for exclusive features. His words have also appeared in publications including Inked Magazine, BPM Magazine, Revolver, Kerrang!, Hit Parader, LAX Magazine, Shockhound.com, Craveonline.com, Bloody-Disgusting.com and many more.

His first book, Do The Devil’s Work For Him, was released in June 2009. In support of the book, Rick was featured on No Good TV with members of Guns N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver, System of a Down and Devildriver discussing the text. He was also featured on FOX News. He released the first book of the Dolor series, Lila, in October of 2009 and followed with Dolor: Chrissy in February 2010.
Here’s a sample of the critical praise for Dolor: Chrissy and Dolor: Lila:

“Rick Florino is a writer that can be compared to Stephen King…He was put on this earth to tell stories and that is exactly what he is doing.”
–Dana Feldman, Examiner.com, March 13, 2010
“A unique blend of macabre writing and graphic horror imagery. An addictive story line leaving you anxious for more to come.”
–Raphael Shlosman, VampireFreaks.com, January 21, 2010
“…when I see an indie book series out, like this Dolor, I stand up and take notice…This second book in the Dolor series is not only a fun read, but its a fantastic and twisted look into an entirely new world! I highly recommend it.”
–Matt MacNabb, BookLegion.com, February 17, 2010
“No sophomore slump with Dolor: Chrissy | Book II…heavy horror elements are involved–heavier than those that came into play in Lila…the steps he’s taking with this ambitious project are sure-footed.”
–Rod Lott, Bookgasm.com, February 24, 2010
“…a gritty series of illustrated novellas about tragic characters, fantasy, and horror…Rick Florino’s ability to write tight convincing dialogue, plot, and intrigue is exceptional…This is not your typical graphic novel or horror novella, the Dolor series drags a reader in from the first page and tells a full story in limited time.”
–Jessica Bohatch-Easton, MetalExiles.com, March 2010

“…strange, dark and witty…I couldn’t put it down and when I was done; I wanted nothing more than to have the next installment in my hands…”
–Sarah Boger, BandVibe.com, February 20, 2010

“Lila makes for a damn good read. It’s creepy in spots, and madly melancholy in plenty of others. Rick Florino clearly understands the sensitivity behind the content, and manages to siphon frightening reality from the idea…outstanding piece of fiction.”
–Matt Molgaard, Fangoria.com, November 16, 2009

“Horror fiction has put a few cities on the map: Castle Rock, Serenity Falls, Orangefield. Add Dolor to that list…It’s easy to get caught up in Florino’s tale, not only because it adheres to storytelling brevity, but also because it has a rock ‘n’ roll sensibility to it, dishing out details of drugs, sex and violence.”
–Rod Lott, Bookgasm.com, November 2009

“A heartbreaking, horrifying and honest examination of a damaged psyche, true violence, drug addiction and love unreturned…a horror masterpiece…”
–LAX Magazine, Winter 2009

“If the rest of the volumes are even half as good as Lila, we’re in for a huge treat…A great start to what appears to be an even greater series…”
–BC, Bloody-Disgusting.com, December 5, 2009

Dolor: Arielle │Book III…How much farther will you fall?
About Dolor
Dolor is a creepy little town that you won’t be able to leave. It’s the kind of place you can’t forget. It’s the kind of place where anything can happen. It’s the kind of place where evil doesn’t just die. It’s the kind of place that nightmares are born to live forever…

In October 2009, Rick Florino opened up Dolor to the “real” world with his first novella Dolor: Lila | Book I. At the beginning of Lila, FBI Agent Jeffries goes to Dolor to investigate a fire. The town’s been burned to the ground. One lone house stands—charred to Hell on the outside, but fine on the inside. Within those walls, Jeffries finds ten small diaries. Each diary is written by a different denizen of Dolor, delving into some sort of darkness. The first diary is Lila | Book I.

Enter the world of Rick Florino’s Dolor, you’ll never be the same. Then succumb to the tales of Chrissy, Arielle, Decker, Cassie, Olivia, Orestes, Lucia, Sage and Helen. Nightmares are guaranteed.
www.BookOfDolor.com”

One of the hardest working guys I know not only promotes several record companies and a number of artists but he also works for a very cool business, TheLiveLine.com. This company allows fans to call a number and listen to a recorded message left by an actual famous artist of their choice to see what the latest thing going on in their lives is. Not only that, but a fan can also receive a text by the artist of what they’re into or what they’re about to get into. To make it sweeter, sometimes the artist will answer the phone and talk to you if they’re super cool and not super busy. Want to know who some of these artists are? Scott Ian (Anthrax), Dez Fafara (DevilDriver), Burton C Bell (Fear Factory), Maria Brink (In This Moment), and many more.

Not only do they have an amazingly simple and effective idea for promoting businesses, their idea behind fan-to-artist mobile phone interaction is cool and unique which will probably be as important as society has made Twitter. Their press release sounds mighty inviting: “The website allows our talent to create AudioBlogs, and anyone can call them at a number we assign them for FREE. This itself is cool to be able to hear their actual voice, and interact with fans. Fans can even leave voice messages for the Artists, and you never know, the artist may just answer the phone and start talking to you! Every time an artist updates their AudioBlog, a text alert goes out.

Try it for yourself, and give Maria Brink a call for FREE: (877) 306-2742. Who is Maria Brink? The delicious singer of “In This Moment” who also was featured in Playboy.

TheLiveLine.com has an updated version which will go live very soon and you don’t want to miss out on this huge ordeal. You can see a glimpse now at http://www.theliveline.com

What interested me equally was a section they have called “Purgatory.” This is a cool concept where unknown artists get a chance to score a spot with the big boys on the site. Basically, an unknown artist tries to gain 1,000 fans. Until they do they stay in “purgatory” but once they get that number of fans they achieve a spot with the already-knowns. So, to get a bit more understanding here is an interview with someone who knows all about TheLiveLine.com, Scott Holmen.

THE INTERVIEW

Daniel/AR: The idea behind theliveline.com is very cool. It’s been tested for a couple years if my information is correct. What prompted the idea and how did it get moving so fast and successfully?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We were aware that the technology was available but mostly being applied to retail marketing. We approached our parent company with the idea of using their existing technology and applying it to the entertainment industry.

Daniel/AR: Tell me a typical scenario how a fan could benefit from joining.

Scott/TheLiveLine: In addition to getting updates from Artists IN THE ARTISTS’ OWN VOICE, fans on TheLiveLine have access to exclusive contests, promotions, alerts and access to our “Talent Family”.

Daniel/AR: What is the cost to join?

Scott/TheLiveLine: It is absolutely FREE to be a fan or an artist on TheLiveLine.

Daniel/AR: Tell me a typical scenario of how a business could benefit from this. Let’s say the name of the business was Envy Anna Jones or Eggshell White Castle.

Scott/TheLiveLine: The businesses that are coming alongside TheLiveLine see the value of several components that we produce. A business is able to access fans, via their mobile device, which is the most immediate and relevant way to reach their targeted demographic today. We are able to serve highly targeted text, voice and web communications on behalf of these businesses.

Daniel/AR: How would you compare this to Twitter which is what I thought of initially?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We are different than twitter in that we have incorporated an Audio component in TheLiveLine. On twitter, you can’t be too sure who is tweeting on behalf of an artist. Frequently, an administrator is generating the tweets. With TheLiveLine, you are HEARING your favorite artists voice SECONDS after they record their AudioBlog and are provided with a way to engage in 2-way communication with them.

Daniel/AR: When theliveline.com is complete what are all the great things one can expect from visiting it and being a member?

Scott/TheLiveLine: As we continue to build out TheLiveLine we expect to facilitate event based mobile experiences where we are at shows allowing fans to engage with the artists via picture 2 screen text to screen, voting, and providing mobile deals on merch, concessions, etc.
We will be able to provide fans and brands with highly relevant information that they will want based on some of the information that they request. For example, a metal fan will request and get information around metal music, metal merch, metal events, etc.

Daniel/AR: Your “purgatory” is a very cool idea. To what extent will theliveline.com go to make sure these artists get known?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We are huge proponents of the “up & comers”. We have already used our resources to book shows for some of these smaller bands. We truly believe that as Artists see a company in this “Dog Eat Dog” world that you so accurately describe come along side of them and help them with publicity, brand building, management, and bringing them into our network within the entertainment business they will reciprocate by providing TheLiveLine with new content, traffic and otherwise reciprocating. Scratching each others backs if you will.

Daniel/AR: Anything else you’d like to have everyone know?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We would love fan feedback on our TheLiveLine. We would love to know other bands that you would like to connect with through TheLiveLine. This site is meant to cater to the fans so I would hope that they would be generous in letting us know what they want. We will do everything we can to make this site the ultimate site for engaging with artists and gathering information about entertainment.

Daniel/AR: Even though this isn’t an artist interview I’ll throw you a famous question curve ball just the same. If theliveline.com dominated all businesses and could change the way people paid for services what would the change be, would Bill Gates care at all and would it affect the afterlife in any way?

Wow. That is a big question!

1. Ultimately , payment for services would be made by brands that see the tremendous return on getting targeted, relevant information in front of fans on TheLiveLine. This way, fans are only present with information/advertising that they would want to see and advertisers see a high rate of return on their advertising dollars because of this.

2. I hope that Bill Gates would care. If TheLiveLine is “dominating all businesses” we would likely come up on his radar in a meaningful way.

3. As to the afterlife, one can only hope that energy put forth in this life affects the afterlife but I am hardly in a position to speak to these mysteries with any definitive conviction. For now I’ll just trust that if we “do good then good will follow us”.

Daniel/AR: Thank you very much for talking a bit about this amazing concept. Being one for the major and not-so-major artists together in one place is worth telling people about. I wish you all the best.

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

Thanks to a supporting cast by Shout! Radio Services and Daniels Doorstep I have an opportunity to give you exposure unlike any other. It’s a package that consists of a high definition video posted on YouTube for your portfolio, an interview like you see me post on this site (which will be posted on as many sites as I can including DanielDoorstep.com, this site, and Louisville Mojo), the opportunity for you to sell your merchandise to the public, and at times mention on local public broadcasting stations, and sometimes being aired live on Acoustic Alternative radio (for musicians). There is a lot more to it than that and you can find information here at AllForOnePromotions.com.

I’m also using my html coding experience to come up with a list of artists in the Louisville area. I have realized that I cannot search one spot and find all the artists that exist in this city. So anyone who is in a band, who paints, who is a comedian, etc. send me your name and what you do and a link so I can get a public directory for this city.

I hope to be able to start one of these conventions really soon but I need the cities support. I am going this alone as far as paying for the initial costs, doing the recruiting, doing the physical work and most of the advertising and it’s very difficult but my passion and desire to be a good samaritan and help others drives me forward. Hopefully, this will work. I have seen no one go to this extent. I can’t thank Shout Radio enough for their support. Here’s to everyone who has an art and skill to make the world a better place!

Sincerely,
Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

One for all,

Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

Wake up Louisville! Our AA meetings need to offer more free childcare
written by Angeline D for Examiner.com (Louisville)

Most serious about his/her recovery make a valiant effort to attend as many AA meetings as possible each week. What keeps many, at least in our city, from achieving the much advised “ninety meetings in ninety days” a great deal of the time is the fact that they simply have no one to watch their kids as most simply can not afford childcare and not all have friends/family to turn to for help.

There are only two meetings out of over four hundred in Louisville which offer childcare (only one of which is free; the other charges four dollars per child!). This fact is appalling, as the vast majority of “newcomers” are impoverished single parents! Now, some might say, “well, why don’t they just take the kids?”. How many of you have tried to pacify antsy youngsters while squirming nervously as some kind stranger attempts to help? Were you able to relax and focus on the message of the meeting? Didn’t think so!

Wake up Louisville! Recovery itself is enough of a struggle–and in this arena the service work we’re all suggested to engage in is clearly lacking. Until this problem is solved we can stop scratching our heads about the lack of success in the program so many experience in our city. We blame the disease and say relapse is common. It is more than that, and it’s time we do something about it.

Angelina D writes for the parenting section of the Examiner as Louisville’s “Parenting in Recovery” expert. For more of Angelina D’s journalistic skills visit Examiner.com. She gets paid when you click on her page so if you just want to be a good samaritan, please check it out. Tell her The Hit Man sent ya!

I am delighted to bring you the third investigation I’ve ever been on that I am allowed to share with the public…

THE BAXTER AVENUE MORGUE — Louisville, KY on Tuesday, June 23, 2009

SYNOPSIS – My brother and I were invited to investigate the Baxter Avenue Morgue with professional Investigators, LPI. The attraction of this desolate place
is the fact that it is engulfed in mystery. Each owner of the place has gone missing and is still nowhere to be found. The history of this place was destroyed in the great flood. The Baxter Avenue Morgue never kept their records anywhere other than their own building. The only history comes from the few documents they found on the rafters and in the mud and also from those who still live that were around that area. However, memories to lapse over time so it adds to the mystery. Once in a whilte a document will be found but it is rare. LPI hopes to find answers by talking to the ghosts that are trapped in the remains of the building.

There was so much activity here that a documentary on the place is being filmed as we speak. Or actually, as I type and you read. If ever you wanted to see objects move, apparitions, orbs, and vocal responses this is the place.

THE HISTORY – The Baxter Avenue Morgue used to be a laundry facility for hospitals, area hotels, and restaurants before it ever became a Morgue. Inside this place there are rooms that seem to have been built for no apparent reason. There are rooms with no windows and no doors, including the famous door to nowhere inside the Yellow Room which psychics and mediums warn to never open. Currently, the Baxter Avenue Morgue is a Halloween attraction but don’t let that fool you. Nothing can compare to what really goes on there.

Here is an excerpt from what LPI found out about the place…
“The history of the morgue is one of mystery. The original owner disappeared, his son tool over. After a few years the son’s wife and daughter disappeared. Then he himself.
During this time the story goes that grave robberies increased. Strange smells and sounds were coming from the morgue. And the number of missing people increased.”

EQUIPMENT USED — EVP, Night vision camera, Digital camera, Infared camera, Ghost Box, Digital thermometer gun

MY FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE –

It all started at 11:00 pm. The night had a clear sky with a glistening moon that painted adequate light onto one of the creepiest alleys you can imagine. As my Intrepid’s wheels crushed the sparce gravel on its slow approach to a make-believe parking spot lined up with other investigator cars we had the feeling that we were in for a rare treat. As we exited the vehicle an explosion of mystery encompassed the humid air. Were we going to be grabbed, touched, squeezed, pushed, and freaked out like others who had visited? Were we going to witness apparitions, orbs, voices, clanging, banging, growls, or yells like others? Were we going to run out screaming and pleading for sanity like others? Were our pants going to be soiled?

The history of Baxter Avenue Morgue is almost as elusive as Atlantis, or a fair online gaming match. You can find bits and pieces but nothing major. The first owner went missing before it was a morgue. The second owner went missing after it became the morgue. Since the archives of this morgue was kept there, 99% of them went missing after the great flood. The only pieces of information about the place is a few sparce newspaper articles, an accident report of the second owner and memories of residents who lived there during the time it was still populated.

In the last few years the Baxter Avenue Morgue was turned into a haunted attraction for Halloween. Personally, I wonder what the spirits that are reported to still be there feel about that. If it were me, I’d try to recreate a 1930’s atmosphere to see if that would make them feel more at home since there are indications that the last memories of those that worked there were of the thirties. Hmm…

As we entered the famous “Yellow Room” we were introduced to the team, LPI (Louisville Paranormal Investigators)

TEAM MEMBERS / TITLE / VERY BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
Henry Newton — Founder –
Carolyn Craft — Founder –
Leah Kirschner — Investigator
Kathy Ritchie — Investigator
Teresa McCammon — Investigator
Adina Corba — Investigator-in-training
Alisha Grubs — Investigator-in-training
David Coleman –Investigator-in-training
Jessica Jamison — Investigator-in-training

Because of their pleasantly surprising friendliness, sincerety, passion, and compassion I felt like they were part of the family. Combine that with their personal experiences, professional paranormal experiences, and a multitude of proof that “unexplainable things” happen regularly, it is easy to see why they were picked to film a documentary of the place with a heavy emphasis on “the Mysterious Door”. I don’t know about you but if a team can be picked over nationally known TAPS then the team has got to be doing something right. That, or there’s no pay involed. Just kidding. They do have what it takes, I can vouch for that.

Next we were informed of a few freakish stories that they have experienced with others there. One was about a younger guy who was investigating with them who got his head squeezed by something no one could see. There was an EVP that caught the words of a young girl saying “Daddy, why’d you do that?” Also, we were told of someone who worked as a character in the haunted house one Halloween who was picked up inches off the ground and thrown into the refrigerator prop, as told by five eye witnesses. A pair of stories were even told of the “doll room” that is one of the prop rooms for the haunted house. In that room an investigator received contact by a doll hanging from a string that twisted in a circular pattern as he asked questions. In that same room one of the dolls from the shelf flew about six feet onto the floor at someone’s feet when provoking the spirits. To turn up the freak factor a bit more, we had also just watched a clip from LPI’s Baxter Avenue Morgue video archives of a chair being forcefully knocked over by something that we could not see. Another time, in the same area where the chair was knocked over, a pair of paranormal investigators sat and awaited contact from spirits. After minutes the one who negatively communicated to the spirits was knocked out of his chair.

If your pants are still clean, let’s continue. Next up, we followed Henry on a tour while the rest of the team set up somewhere else in the buildling to record some documentary footage. Every area we treaded had an old, antique smell. It was very dusty and there was light in most areas but each area was not completely lit up, which added to the isolation factor. There was an old, wet wood smell that accompanied the air and some rooms felt cooler than others. Some props for Halloween were ready to go for this year’s fright fest that also helped the mind draw fear induced conclusions. I mean, an indoor cemetery? A room of freaky dolls? Real coffins that survived the flood? It’s a wonder there wasn’t a Charmin dispenser nearby for the easily frightened.

The first room we were introduced to was also the one with the most paranormal activity. The stories two paragraphs ago, except for the doll room stories, happened in this room known as the Guerney Room. As Henry talked to us about what happened on several investigations here the already still air began to cause my ears to pop. In fact, several rooms made me feel like there was a raise in pressure that neither TJ nor Henry felt. Interesting eh?

Next we walked to a room with very solid, sturdy walls that was about 8 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet long. The entrance to the room had a groove at the top where it very realistically looked like a very heavy door could be slid down and locked. This small, claustraphobic room with two foldable metal chairs (nothing else could really fit) gave the impression that it was, at one time, an Incenerary room. The idea that it was used to burn bodies for cremation purposes seemed to be a popular one. The room, like every other place, had an odor of unkept antique furniture, crayons, human skin and ashes. Since LPI had never investigated that room Henry felt it would be a cool experience for TJ and I to witness a ghost box firsthand. So that’s exactly what happened next.

As Henry went to his wife to get the ghost box TJ and I stepped back into the Gourney Room, turned on the EVP and asked questions. I, in my own polite way, was fishing around for a unique way to ask questions. Sadly, no response. Therefore, I felt compelled to tell any spirits that were around a very corny ghost joke. If you click on the EVP sound file, you will hear it. It is super corny though so here’s your warning. The idea was to see if a spirit had a sense of humor. Hey, I’ve never seen any other investigator test that theory. Let me also say that later we reviewed the photos and one in this room had a few orbs in it and what might be a face. After no apparent success with the EVP Henry saved the spirits from my sense of humor by showing us the ghost box. I’ll note here that we didn’t find any communication on the EVP but LPI had a different story.

For those of you who don’t know what a Ghost Box is or don’t understand what you have read I will give you my interpretation of a Ghost Box. This device rapidly scans for AM and FM radio stations, or frequencies. It does this in rapid succession leaving barely a second between each radio station. It’s kind of like pushing each button on your car radio for the programmed stations as fast as you can but this device does it automatically. The way I understand the process is that when you ask a question to any spirits that are around they are able to answer you via this device. My logic tells me that the spirit will pick up and words or parts of words to answer your question depending on what is on each station. The closest example I can think of is if you’ve seen the Transformers Movie. In that movie Bumblebee communicates with Sam through his radio because his translator is broken.

Henry and I put our EVPs down next to the Ghost Box and asked questions to the spirits, if there were any. You can hear that EVP by clicking on the sound file. During this time Henry explained to me that, in the past, he got what he believed to be spirits call his name over and over several times. He also picked up cuss words being said. Those were the basis of a few of his questions. He also told me that he believes that the spirits have memories only of their lives and the year they passed away. In this case, he asked questions that, if answered, would relate to the year they passed such as the 1930’s, which is the common belief of when the majority of spirits their passed. I asked a question about who won the Wolrd Series although none of us knew exactly when that was a huge deal in America. The three of us talked about that for a brief moment and, I crap you not, the Ghost Box uttered quite distinctively the word “baseball”. Not much more was gained from that so we went on next to the “doll room”.

The “doll room” was a prop room. There was a bed with an average comfort that looked like a young 7 year old girl would have on her bed. From the ceiling dolls were hung be strings and on the wall that went into the other room was a 5 shelf metal bookcase with dolls all over it. Now, when you see movies with dolls in it and all their eyes are open it is a very spooky feeling. Was an eye going to pop out at us? Were we going to hear crying? Were heads going to turn 360 degrees and spew on us? Thankfully, they didn’t. When we asked questions in this room, keeping the story from the experience from earlier in this article in mind, nothing happened. So, off we went through the rest of the available morgue.

As we walked down one of the hallways Henry told us of a disturbing story. On one particular investigation he had a camera set up in the Rooster Room (I forget the real name of it but it had a rooster or chicken on the door). From outside in the hallway someone yelled with fright because she saw a pair of legs, from the kneecap down, run from one side of the hall into the other side. Luckily, the legs ran into the room that Henry and his camera was in. The camera caught a photo of an apparition that belonged to those legs. You can see this picture on their website. It’s creepy.

Once inside this room Henry told us what it was for. However, the pressure in my ears kept me from hearing and understanding it. I nodded my head, like any respectful person would, and followed him to the indoor cemetery room. I must note here that once back in the hallway I felt like I should snap a photo. Later on I found that one lonely orb was floating around the hallway. No legs or apparition was apparent.

Once inside the indoor cemetery we saw props of tombstones, coffins, and minor decorations. I do not recall if the cobwebs were the fake ones or not. This room, like the others had a dirt floor and same unique odor but had much less light then the other rooms, which isn’t saying a lot. Henry showed us the real coffins that miraculously survived the flood. Talk about old. He also told us that this room is where some of the only pieces of history of the Baxter Avenue Morgue was found, that being pages of the archives that stuck to the wooden beams. Also inside this room was a real cemetery, very small, and just recently a headlight that was tested for authenticity was found in it. The results from the forensics dated the headlight to back in the 30’s.

This indoor cemetery is where TJ’s excitement was the second greatest (the fist greatest is about to come.) He called out to spirits like crazy wanting to see something. I suppose it’s because this room is where Henry said “shadow people” had been reported. TJ really wanted to see one but I wondered, can you really see a shadow person in the dark? Just a joke, because there was faint light in the room.

After a while of nothing really happening we went to join the others in the “Yellow Room” to be part of the documentary. Inside this room an infared camera was positioned to point at the main entrance into the room, Leah had her digital camera in the ready, Kathy had a night vision camera scanning the room at her own will, Dave had a digital thermometer gun pointed at the main entrance to identify any sudden temperature drops, Henry had an EVP placed on the table by Carolyn who asked the questions while keeping the Ghost Box on, TJ had my digital camera and I had my EVP on the table close to the one Henry had. There was one other EVP in the room on a shelf next to where I sat which was beside the “Mysterious Door” so I was a little more apprehensive than I should have been. After all, this door to nowhere was the same one warned by psychics and mediums not to ever open. Can I get a big “gulp” on that?

We were inside this room for at least an hour. The only thing that we collectively encountered that was “unexplainable” was at one point a question was asked “can you make a sound for us?” or something of that nature. From outside the doorway on the side there was a sound of heavy boots delibrately walking through the dirt. 2 members and TJ jumped up and went to check it out. Pictures were taken but I’m not sure if an EVP went along. Once they returned they had found nothing. The pictures TJ took showed nothing. So who knows?

Henry told us that usually the most activity in the place was between 11pm and 1am, in his experience. So we wrapped up around 1:30 am and had conversations. This is where I found out that Henry used to work in Missing Persons. That’s all he could say about it. It was the first time in my life I met someone who could honestly say “If I told you, I’d have to kill you” and mean it. So, I told him “nevermind.”

Henry did tell me that his job in missing persons really pointed to substantial situations that would make anyone believe in the supernatural and extra terrestrial. One of his own experiences in the house he lives in is what got him into studying the afterlife and possibility of spirits existing. He said that in his house his refrigerator bulb would go out at random. No big deal right? Even when he replaced it, it would go out. Still not much there. Once or twice a month, for no reason, the dream catcher on his wall above his bed would start to slam itself against the wall. Ok, maybe something there. The kicker was that every night he felt something get in his bed and lay with him. He felt the weight shift, the bounce of the mattress, the crinkling of the covers, and the movement of the mattress. He said this happened so much that he was aggravated. He told whatever it was that he had to get up in the morning and needed his sleep. The spirit still kept it up. Finally, he said that he opened the front door to his house and told the spirit that it was not welcome any more. He told it to stop and it didn’t so he kicked it out basically. He said that after he did that all those unexplainable things had stopped. I believe that because in my reading of metaphysical books a common belief was that a spirit must listen and obey you. If you have a spook in your house, in most cases if you tell it to leave and go as far as opening your front door and letting it know it must leave and is not welcome it will leave.

After conversing with the group we made our goodbyes. We were excited to be given an open invitation and if our financial situation gets better we want to attend their paranormal course. For a cheap $20 you can take a class with them that covers the ins and outs of an investigation. This is a 6 week course and $20 each class and even covers your own paranormal investigation at the Baxter Avenue Morgue. “Well Mr. Danny, why can’t you afford that?” Well, as any entertainer can tell you we don’t eat Ramen noodles for our health. We do it because it’s all we can afford.

In conclusion of my first Baxter Avenue Morgue investigation I can honestly say that the allure of the place is the most appealing I’ve read to date. The activity there, although limited on my first trip, was enough to make me want to go back and experience what others have. I believe that if a solid, polite approach was made and enough experience was gathered one could find out who the spirits are, what they need to go into the light (if that’s possible) and what truly happened to the missing owners of the place.

Until we hunt again,

Daniel C. Morrison