Possibly True Ghost Stories

Domoviye · Mar 22, 2011

I have lived in Nanjing, China for 4 years now, and I've collected several ghost stories in that time. These are supposedly true and come from various places and people around the city.
I would like to publish them as I believe they're fairly interesting. But when I look at most publishers of non-fiction ghost stories they seem to require ghost hunting experience, paranormal expertise and similar standards, which I do not have.
Does anyone know if there are publishers who would accept a book of possibly true ghost stories without the modern ghost hunting credentials, or should I just go with Kindle?
Thanks in advance.

Royal Mercury · Mar 22, 2011

I imagine that by playing up on the Chinese angle you can avoid having to be a board-certified paranormal specialist. I don't think you are trying to prove these are true, just reporting what you have been told.

It's the exotic spookiness and the creepiness that can be sold. Be a storyteller, no more no less. It could even be a spooky travel memoir.

Domoviye · Mar 22, 2011

I hadn't thought of putting it out as a travel memoir. That opens up more possibilities. Thanks.

dangerousbill · Mar 22, 2011

Domoviye said:
Does anyone know if there are publishers who would accept a book of possibly true ghost stories without the modern ghost hunting credentials, or should I just go with Kindle?
Thanks in advance.

As far as I know, there is no Ghost U, nor any official credentials. What there is, is reputation, and the best way to start building one is to go ahead with your plans to find a publisher. Ghosts are cool right now, judging by the amount of TV based on ghosthunting.

Don't forget to lead off with a book proposal in a reasonable format, so you can shop your plan around to different publishers.

I helped my wife publish a book in 1998 about our own adventures with ghosts in our house. (If they aren't real, neither is it true that they don't exist).

We ended up doing a lot of research on the history of our town, so that when it was finally published, most stores shelved it as 'local history'. We sold out the first printing.

FocusOnEnergy · Mar 22, 2011

I've got a book at home of ghost stories about the Great Lakes area, and that's all they are published as, ghost stories. If you wanted to take the Paranormal Investigator angle, you'd need to show some cred other than "dressed up as Peter Venkman for Halloween last year", and list all of your ghost hunting experience and equipment (including that unlicensed nuclear accelerator) but the fact that you lived in the specific area of China where you collected the ghost stories should be sufficient to establish your right to tell them.

I love ghost stories.

Focus

Domoviye · Mar 23, 2011

dangerousbill said:
As far as I know, there is no Ghost U, nor any official credentials. What there is, is reputation, and the best way to start building one is to go ahead with your plans to find a publisher. Ghosts are cool right now, judging by the amount of TV based on ghosthunting.

Don't forget to lead off with a book proposal in a reasonable format, so you can shop your plan around to different publishers.

I helped my wife publish a book in 1998 about our own adventures with ghosts in our house. (If they aren't real, neither is it true that they don't exist).

We ended up doing a lot of research on the history of our town, so that when it was finally published, most stores shelved it as 'local history'. We sold out the first printing.

There are somethings that make a person more legitimate as an investigator, but you're right about the lack of any set credentials.
I am looking around to find out exactly how to get the perfect book proposal, the threads here are great for that.
That book must have been interesting to prepare. can it still be found in bookstores, or is it out of print now?
Thanks for the reply.

FocusOnEnergy said:
I've got a book at home of ghost stories about the Great Lakes area, and that's all they are published as, ghost stories. If you wanted to take the Paranormal Investigator angle, you'd need to show some cred other than "dressed up as Peter Venkman for Halloween last year", and list all of your ghost hunting experience and equipment (including that unlicensed nuclear accelerator) but the fact that you lived in the specific area of China where you collected the ghost stories should be sufficient to establish your right to tell them.

I love ghost stories.

Focus

Don't worry the only credentials I'll admit to, deal with history, English and politics in that order.
I hope you're right, it was fun getting the stories, but it will be even more fun reading them in print.

Cheers

dangerousbill · Mar 23, 2011

Domoviye said:
I am looking around to find out exactly how to get the perfect book proposal, the threads here are great for that.
That book must have been interesting to prepare. can it still be found in bookstores, or is it out of print now?

The gold standard for book proposals is Larsen (Larson? Larsson?) 'How to Write A Book Proposal'. It's cheap and up to date.

My wife's book is available through Amazon, but I can't give the link without revealing my secret identity.

IDGS · Mar 23, 2011

Unless you're marketing yourself as a ghost-hunter, I don't think there's any need to have 'credibility' in the field, per say.

If you're just writing a book about stories told to you and your own experiences, then that's about all you need. The travel memoir would be cool too - use the real place names, if you get the permission to do so and people might actually visit them if it takes off.

Best of luck!

Royal Mercury · Mar 23, 2011

dangerousbill said:
The gold standard for book proposals is Larsen (Larson? Larsson?) 'How to Write A Book Proposal'. It's cheap and up to date.

It's Michael Larsen. Checked it out of the library. Glad I got the good one.

Rhoda Nightingale · Mar 24, 2011

I know next to nothing about non-fiction publishing, but I DO know ghost stories, true and fictional, so here's my two cents in that arena:

There is a continuing series here in Virginia called "The Ghosts of Virginia," and every year or so they come out with new, local folktales gathered from various places. Sometimes there's a regional theme, sometimes there's a theme of the type of hauntings, sometimes there's a theme of the timeline that the ghosts are allegedly from, like Civil War ghosts. Bottom line, there's no paranormal "expertise" involved. It's just interviews with people around the area and the stories they've heard and the experiences they've had.

Domoviye · Mar 24, 2011

dangerousbill said:
The gold standard for book proposals is Larsen (Larson? Larsson?) 'How to Write A Book Proposal'. It's cheap and up to date.

My wife's book is available through Amazon, but I can't give the link without revealing my secret identity.

Royal Mercury said:
It's Michael Larsen. Checked it out of the library. Glad I got the good one.

Thanks I'll go look for it.

IDGS said:
Unless you're marketing yourself as a ghost-hunter, I don't think there's any need to have 'credibility' in the field, per say.

If you're just writing a book about stories told to you and your own experiences, then that's about all you need. The travel memoir would be cool too - use the real place names, if you get the permission to do so and people might actually visit them if it takes off.

Best of luck!

I wasn't sure, most of the books I've seen that are similar to this, at least the bigger ones, seemed to involve people with some type of credentials. So I was curious.
I like the idea of putting it out as a travel memoir, so I think I'll try that.
Thanks.

Possibly True Ghost Stories

Domoviye

Busy, busy, busy

Royal Mercury

I think I am, therefore....

Domoviye

Busy, busy, busy

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

FocusOnEnergy

Empirical Storm Trooper

Domoviye

Busy, busy, busy

dangerousbill

Retired Illuminatus

IDGS

@LeaveItToIan

Royal Mercury

I think I am, therefore....

Rhoda Nightingale

Vampire Junkie

Domoviye

Busy, busy, busy