May
Really great mix for me this month. “#Save Uptowner” was a collection of quotes from people associated with the tavern, explaining why the bar (over 130 years old) is an important institution to many, which appeared in Riverwest Currents. I also wrote a nice, breezy profile on Jessi Mechanic for M, which I think turned out well. I did a fun historical look at Robert Bloch (author of Psycho) who lived in Milwaukee as a young author, my second piece for Milwaukee Record. On the blog angle, I wrote my “Monster of the Month” column on one of my favorite experiences for my book Monster Hunters and I wrote a piece about frightening things that have happened to me out on in the field for this blog.
Next month, the word count will take a huge jump as June 1 is the official release date of Monster Hunters (available now: HERE).
I did quite a few promo interviews for the book on both local and paranormal themed podcasts, websites, print, and radio shows. I won’t list them all, but here’s a Q and A w/ Shepherd Express and a podcast interview with Milwaukee Record’s “On the Record” show.
12. “#Save Uptowner,” Riverwest Currents, May 2015. (page 2)
13. “Making Music in Brooklyn,” M Magazine, May 2015.(page 96)
14. “Bloch-buster: Milwaukee’s Connection to Psycho, H.P. Lovecraft, and Robert Bloch,” Milwaukee Record, May 6, 2015.
15. “Monster of the Month: Squishes (aka Michigan Bigfoot),” Forces of Geek, May 16.
16. “The Four Most Frightening Things That Have Happened to me While Working on Books,” teakrulos.com, May 26, 2015.
Total 2015 word count: 16, 080
The Four Most Frightening Things That Have Happened to me While Working on Books
(In Chronological Order) 1. The Pepper Spray Incident
That’s me in the background, keeping an eye on Phoenix Jones on the streets of Seattle. Photo by Lucien Knuteson.
Date: Oct. 9, 2011 Book and relevant chapter: Heroes in the Night, Chapter 13: “People Fighting and Superheroes and Pepper Spray and…I Don’t Know”
Oh boy. In 2011 I was starting to do a wrap on Heroes in the Night. I felt the book was lacking a good action sequence, and I sure did get that when I paid a visit to Real Life Superhero Phoenix Jones and his Rain City Superhero Movement. I joined Phoenix out on patrol for two nights. On the second night, we saw a fight break out in a parking lot underneath a freeway ramp. Phoenix broke it up by pepper spraying the combatants (Russians, it turned out) and all hell broke loose. In the terrifying 15 minutes or so that followed, Phoenix got hit over the head repeatedly with a high heel shoe, I was punched in the face by a pepper spray soaked Russian, an attempt was made to run us over with a SUV, and at one point I was certain the angry party was searching for a gun to shoot at us. The police showed up and placed Phoenix Jones under arrest and by the next day major news networks around the world had picked up on the story. As the squad car drove off with Phoenix Jones, I realized that my hands were shaking uncontrollably from the adrenaline overdose.
Here’s a photo of the Wall of Faces room I took in Bobby Mackey’s basement, where the strange incidents occurred.
2. Bobby Mackey’s Music World Date: Sept. 22-23, 2013 Book and relevant chapter: Monster Hunters, Chapter 14: “The Case of the Haunted Honky-Tonk”
This episode has a lot of back story to it. First there is the lore of the place itself (Bobby Mackey’s Music World in Wilder, Kentucky), which is long yarn to begin with. Like any good ghost story, I found the legend has been exaggerated and embellished over time, but some of the gruesome past is also based in fact. The next thing to consider is that the group I followed, the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee, had already done an eventful investigation at the location. I don’t want to spoil too much of the chapter, but one group member had an eerie encounter I witnessed where she had some sort of paralysis or possession and apparently experienced some temporary blindness. Added to the other frightening experiences the group had and the creepy atmosphere in general, it made for a strange and scary night.
3. Isabella Date: July 10-11, 2014 Book and relevant chapter: Monster Hunters, Chapter 9: “Squishes”
My second strange night while working on Monster Hunters happened while I was camping out with Jim Sherman of the Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO) at a farm in central Michigan named “Isabella.” The couple who owned the farm had a number of weird experiences and had contacted BFRO. Jim had been out there to investigate and recorded some strange vocalizations. I wasn’t sure what to think. The last night of the trip I was scared out of my wits by a bloodcurdling screech outside of my tent. I slowly unzipped the tent door, certain I would be face-to-face with an aggressive Bigfoot. Later analysis of the screech (caught on Jim’s audio recorder) determined it was an angry coyote, but I didn’t know that at the time. To make the night even weirder, Jim and I observed an odd light bouncing around the night sky. What was it? I don’t know, but it was quite unlike anything I had seen before.
4. Crashing the Phantom Patriot’s ATV
The ATV shortly before I crashed it.
Date: May 22, 2015 Book and relevant chapter: Yet to be titled future book
Wow, where to begin on this one. Richard McCaslin aka the Phantom Patriot is a Real Life Superhero, conspiracy theorist, former stuntman, felon, comic book artist, political protestor, and guerrilla filmmaker. I’ve been in contact with him for almost 5 years and have slowly been working on a book about his life and the people, sub-cultures, and conspiracy theories his life has intersected with. I knew I needed to get down to his home environment (Pahrump, Nevada) to get some material, so I recently went down to visit him. While I was there, he asked if I would act in a short superheroes vs. conspiracy film he was writing and directing. Sure, I said. One of the scenes called for me driving his ATV down a desert embankment, and although my first take went smoothly, on the second take I hit a rut and crashed the ATV. I thought for sure I had broken my leg and maybe fractured several other body parts, but after slowly moving around, I found I was still in one piece. That was pretty frightening, but hey, I lived to see another day, right?
Loren Coleman Reviews Monster Hunters!
Here’s a photo I took of Loren at the International Cryptozoology Museum, which appears in the color photo section of the book.
When I began work on Monster Hunters, I had a few ideas of people I’d like to meet and write about. My two major ideas were, man, I got to meet a group of local ghost hunters and follow them around. My other idea was, man, I got to meet the zen grandmaster of cryptozoology. Party A ended up being the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee. I found Party B in Loren Coleman, who has actively been pursuing cryptozoology since the 60s and is the founder of the International Cryptozoology Museum.
Visiting his museum while working on the book was a fantastic experience and he humored me by allowing me to interview him as I wandered around taking in the collection of unique artifacts.
Monster Hunters has begun to circulate and Loren got a copy this last week. He wrote a review on his website and I am extremely flattered and honored by it. He says I write with “humor, sensitivity, and insight,” but the best compliment by far is that he says: “Krulos’ first chapter will be mandatory reading for every new staff, and current & future docents/ volunteers at our museum, now.”
That is just about the coolest thing I’ve ever heard. I’m also pleased to say that arrangements are being made so copies of the book will be available at the International Cryptozoology Museum’s gift shop, so buy a copy when you stop in.
A huge thank you to Loren and the ICM staff!
Loren’s review is here: www.cryptozoonews.com/tea-review/
ICM website: cryptozoologymuseum.com/
Monster Hunters ordering info: www.chicagoreviewpress.com/monster-hunters-products-9781613749814.php
April
I had three published pieces this month, one on Milwaukee singer Jeannine Rivers, another on the local comedy scene, and the Monster of the Month column. I got a couple more in the bag for next month already for Riverwest Currents, Milwaukee Record, and M, and there will maybe be one or two more.
9. “The Jazz Singer,” April 2015, M magazine. (page 86 )
10. “Ha ha ha! Milwaukee’s Underground Comedy Gets Last Laugh With Do-it-Yourself Approach,” April 9-15, Shepherd Express.
11. “Monster of the Month: Pepie, the Lake Monster of Lake Pepin,” April 10, Forces of Geek.
Total 2015 word count: 11,128
Monster Hunters, Second Review: Library Journal
Melvil Dewey is way into it.
The second review for Monster Hunters is from trade publication Library Journal, founded in 1876 by Melvil “I Invented the Dewey Decimal System” Dewey and has “the highest circulation of any librarianship journal,” according to Wikipedia. Thanks for the recommendation!
Library Journal—May 1, 2015
If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to enter the world of ghost hunters, ufologists, cryptozoologists, and demon hunters, Krulos’s ( Heroes in the Night) new book provides an introduction to a number of the unusual and fascinating people who work in these fields. In almost every chapter, the author introduces someone in a unique field starting with Loren Coleman, who founded the International Cryptozoology Museum. Looking at these areas of expertise through the eyes of those devoted to them offers a different perspective to this narrative, allowing it to be more personal than others about these subjects. For instance, hearing that “Bigfooters often possess a seething hatred for one another” is both funny and telling. While Krulos writes with some humor, he also shows a keen interest into these various subjects and has a strong respect for those who are consistently searching for answers. VERDICT: This work is bound to be fascinating to those already interested in these fields and even to readers who are seeking an easy way to learn about people who work in these specialized areas. Recommended for public libraries.
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I’m also glad to say that website Cult of Weird did a Q and A with me about Monster Hunters. Cult of Weird is a website specializing in news of the macabre, creepy, unusual, spooky, and just plain weird, so I fit right in. They are also one of the fine media sponsors of the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference.
You can find the interview here: http://www.cultofweird.com/books/monster-hunters-tea-krulos/
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Monster Hunters on Goodreads:www.goodreads.com/book/show/23398567-monster-hunters
On Amazon: LINK
On Chicago Review Press’s website: www.chicagoreviewpress.com/monster-hunters-products-9781613749814.php
Ripon College
That’s me telling Ripon College students about Mexico City’s social luchador activist Super Barrio. Photo by Wendy Schreier.
I was honored to be a guest speaker at Ripon College (in Ripon, WI), a small town college near Fon Du Lac, and the place where Harrison Ford first took an acting class. Professor Marc Eaton teaches a “Sociology of the Paranormal” class there, and decided to take a few days discussing Real Life Superheroes in addition to ghosts, UFOs, ESP, and cryptozoology.
The class was assigned to read some chapters of my book, Heroes in the Night, and last Friday they were paid a visit by The Watchman, a RLSH and star of some of the selected material they read. I drove up this morning with Wendy and ran through my RLSH slideshow, talked briefly on my upcoming book Monster Hunters and the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference, and answered a few questions. No one fell asleep!
The Watchman with students of the “Sociology and the Paranormal” class.
Afterward, I joined Marc and three students for coffee at the campus Starbucks and talked more on the book and one of the class assignments, which was creating a superhero persona.
This is the second time (that I know of) that Heroes in the Night has been part of class curriculum. Madeline Smith teaches a module class titled “Vigilante Nation: Vigilantism and Violence in American History and Culture” through the University of Hull in Yorkshire, England. The class featured reading an interview Smith conducted with me, as well as reading from the book for a section of the class on RLSH.
I certainly hope this continues and that more classes take time to read the book. If any teachers or administrators are interested, feel free to contact me!
Heroes in the Night is still available here:www.chicagoreviewpress.com/heroes-in-the-night-products-9781613747759.php
You can pre-order Monster Hunters here: www.chicagoreviewpress.com/monster-hunters-products-9781613749814.php?page_id=21
Monster Hunters, First Review: Booklist
Booklist is a publication of book reviews produced by the American Library Association “and is widely viewed as offering the most reliable reviews to help libraries decide what to buy and to help library patrons and students decide what to read, view, or listen to,” according to their website.
Well then, thanks for giving this nice review of Monster Hunters!
Booklist—May 15, 2015
The most important thing you need to know about this book is that it doesn’t take a stance on the existence of UFOs, lake monsters, the chupacabra, ghosts, or Bigfoot. Proving or disproving that these phenomena exist or don’t isn’t his mission. His plan is simply to follow the investigators, or “monster hunters,” as he calls them, along with some skeptics, to see what makes them tick, to find out why they believe so passionately in what they are doing. Krulos introduces us to some pretty interesting people: the curator of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine; the founder of the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee; a noted skeptical investigator; and many others. The author treats his subjects with respect and courtesy (even when there are opportunities to ridicule or dismiss them); his approach seems to be not that these are wacky people with weird beliefs, but that these are ordinary people with beliefs most of us don’t understand—all of which adds up to an informative book for skeptics and believers alike.
— David Pitt
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Monster Hunters on Goodreads:www.goodreads.com/book/show/23398567-monster-hunters
On Amazon: LINK
On Chicago Review Press’s website: www.chicagoreviewpress.com/monster-hunters-products-9781613749814.php
March
Some random but really cool pieces this month. The March issue of Fortean Times is the third I’ve contributed, too, and they did a fantastic job with a three page spread on Alexandra Holzer, daughter and protege of the famous “ghost hunter” Dr. Hans Holzer. I started a new short column for Forces of Geek, spotlighting a different cryptozoological mystery animal titled “Monster of the Month.” Last, I randomly ran into a story of my friend Emily and her daughter being two generations of Rocky Horror performers, which made for a nice “Off the Cuff” Q and A for the Shepherd Express. I have at least three articles lined up for April that I know of.
6. “The Ghost Hunter’s Daughter,” March 2015, Fortean Times.
7. Monster of the Month, “The Goatman,” March 11, ForcesOfGeek.com.
8. Off the Cuff, “Let’s do the Timewarp Again,” March 17, Shepherd Express.
Total 2015 word count: 9,041
Advance Praise for Monster Hunters!
One thing publishers like to seek out is “endorsements” or “blurbs,” eye-catching short statements from people that might be familiar to the book’s intended audience. My book Monster Hunters got a couple of these from two interesting and cool guys, who took a moment from their busy schedules for me. Thanks!
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“Everyone has their own idea of what a ghost or Bigfoot may look like, but what about those that dedicate themselves to the pursuit of these stories? Krulos strikes out in the dark, expertly shining a flashlight not on legends or creatures of folklore, but on the very human individuals who seek their own personal truths.” —Aaron Sagers, Travel Channel host, ParanormalPopCulture.com founder, Blastr.com Editor At Large
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“Tea Krulos’s Monster Hunters is not your average ‘seen-it-all-before’ study of Sasquatch, aliens, and creepy critters. It’s an eye-opening, witty, and insightful look at the people who have dedicated their lives to solving some of the world’s biggest mysteries. In many ways, the characters Krulos crosses paths with are as unique and fascinating as the ‘things’ they seek!” —Nick Redfern, author of Monster Diary and Monster Files
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Monster Hunters is available for pre-order on Amazon: LINK
Or, buy a copy in person at the Milwaukee Paranormal Conference: www.milwaukeeparacon.com
You can add it to your “to-read” list on Goodreads here: www.goodreads.com/book/show/23398567-monster-hunters
February
Space Heater: I followed this All Messed Up band for a Feb. article for Milwaukee Record. Photo by Wendy Schreier.
Continuing on with keeping track of what I write this year. I had two published pieces in February. It was a short month and I was again keeping busy with things behind the scenes, like Milwaukee Paranormal Conference and promotion of my new book Monster Hunters.
The two things I did get out were great– one was my first piece for Milwaukee Record. Those guys are great and have a good thing going. It’s an entertaining site and I had been kind of waiting for a story to come along that would be appropriate for the site to pitch them. I got more than I bargained for exploring the story of All Messed Up. The other piece was a story for my own blog. I’m not counting recap/ promo things I write on this blog (or for Milwaukee Paranormal Conference or Ballyhoo’s blogs) as part as my official word count, but something like “Darling” definitely will count as a published work and not a promo blurb.
4.”Messed Up: The Short, Troubled History of Space Heater,” Feb. 10, Milwaukee Record.
5. “Darling,” Feb. 27, teakrulos.com.
Total 2015 word count: 6,257
teakrulos.com 