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originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: KKLOCO
Of all paranormal subject this is the one that sends shivers up my spine the most.
I really believe and have read some outrageously scary stories.
originally posted by: KKLOCO
I will say that John Keel definitely muddied the waters with his Mothman Prophecies book.
"Gray's mischievous wit baffled and enraged them. At times it baffled me, too. This towering bear of a man was very hard to 'read." -John Keel, The Mothman Prophecies
Keel and Barker now toyed with collaboration on a Mothman book. Barker, who had done little firsthand research, accepted Keel's offer to share notes. Barker then wrote rough chapters, which he sent to me. After my favorable review, he sent his thanks and added, "I have deliberately stuck in fictional chapters based roughly on cases I had heard about. Throughout the fictional chapters is an undertone which explains the sightings from a psychological viewpoint, though this is never stated"
(Barker and Sherwood 1968).
(bolding mine)
Keel recalled this episode in one of his first messages to me in early 2001: Barker's books had been laced with fiction, he said. He'd been appalled by Barker's proposed chapter about him and his rewritten version probably was the finished book's only honest segment. He'd written The Mothman Prophecies to clear the record (Keel 2001).
it was Gray Barker who really screwed it up. Keel wrote The Mothman Prophecies to compete with (read: counter) Barker's book, The Silver Bridge (and, of course, he wanted to, you know, sell a book... can we blame him?).
I went so far as to move to West Virginia "undercover" for a while a couple years ago to get the real scoop.
originally posted by: wavelength
a reply to: KKLOCO
You're welcome! Gray Barker was indeed a strange character. Here's another interesting piece on him if you're interested:
The Hur Herald on Gray Barker
And hey, a thread about it isn't a bad idea.
When I get some decent time, I will write one up. I've been a busy bee lately (and very exhausted).
I did most of this between 2019 and 2023, and I've spent significant time in several obscure areas of West Virginia mentioned in the book.
originally posted by: wavelength
a reply to: KKLOCO
The Cryptozoology forum seems ideal for a discussion about anything Mothman-related, at least in my opinion.
Ps. Thanks for bringing this whole thing up! It's been a while since I've talked about this stuff.
originally posted by: wavelength
a reply to: KKLOCO
You're welcome! Gray Barker was indeed a strange character. Here's another interesting piece on him if you're interested:
The Hur Herald on Gray Barker
And hey, a thread about it isn't a bad idea.
When I get some decent time, I will write one up. I've been a busy bee lately (and very exhausted).
I did most of this between 2019 and 2023, and I've spent significant time in several obscure areas of West Virginia mentioned in the book.