We've moved! Please visit the expanded blogsite for Mobile Ghosts, with new stories and more! www.mobileghosts.net
About Haunted Mobile
The New Book: Is this Mobile Ghosts 3? Well, no. Yes. Sort of. I tried to start MG3 in 2007, but there was illness in my family, and this became our priority for some time. By late December of 2008 I realized I had a powerful longing to return to the ghosts and their stories. Only the thought of having to go through the whole ordeal of publishing another book myself dimmed my enthusiasm, but I figured I would cross that bridge when I came to it. Then, in January of 2009, I was contacted by The History Press about taking over the publication of the Mobile Ghosts books, and future books, to add to their Haunted America line. The best haunted house stories from the Mobile Ghosts books were rolled into a new manuscript, edited so I could get them all in, and became Haunted Mobile: Apparitions of the Azalea City. If you've not read my first two books, it's all new to you. HM has one entirely new story, about the Mobile Carnival Museum, and updates on some of the old stories.
The New New Book: Oh yes, there is one. It is in progress. It will be up to the publisher to pick a title, so I just call it Four. I am also considering a true ghost tales book about the Katrina region, to follow Four.
Do you need stories for Four? Yes. (And the Katrina book!)
Do they need to be crazy scary? No. If you've read my work, you know that I use stories that range from very gentle and often poignant to some that are really active. I've got a story in the Four manuscript that features the freakiest thing I have ever written about. Had to work really hard to put the events into contact so y'all wouldn't write me and ask if I made it up when you read it.
If I want to contact you about a story, how do I do that? Please email me: elizabeth@mobileghosts.com or write me: Elizabeth Parker, 1060 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL 36604 and include a few details about your haunting. I must be able to talk to someone who has firsthand knowledge of the haunting, since my books are based on first hand accounts. It must be a true story. It can't be an old legend. I can't respond to inquiries that just say, "Please call me! I have a story for you!" or "I must talk to you! Please call me!" Take a few minutes and give me some info, if you please.
Do you use real names in your stories? At this point, if given permission I will use the real names of people in haunted public locations. Staff, volunteers, etc. I do not give more than the initials, or sometimes first names, of people in private homes anymore even if they do give me permission because "ghost hunting" is so popular now, I don't want my hauntees to be bothered by curiousity seekers. In the case of stories where I've interviewed several people, I will give them fictitious names because initials can get confusing. I never give addresses and I always indicate where names have been changed. I am very protective of my hauntees.
Why did you write these books? I am a ghost fan myself, and I got tired of waiting for someone to write about the ghosts of Mobile!
Are the stories true? The stories are presented to me as true, and I would not use a story that I did not personally believe. I never embellish, add or change any element of a story. I've endeavored to accurately and clearly write the stories as they were given to me, using my interview tapes, notes, and research where possible.
Are your boo ks suitable for young readers? I write with the awareness that my readers are of all ages, and the stories are not tarted up with gratuitous gory descriptions or fictionalized, scary elements. Comfortable reading for about third grade level and up. My favorite, and most sincerely appreciated, audience.
How many electrical devices have been sacrificed to the cause of documenting Mobile's ghosts? At least two cameras, three or four tape recorders, and seven computers. Yes, seven. All these things just fall to pieces, quit working, fry themselves, or go crazy without explanation. And believe me, two of the people in my house know a lot about computers, and they can't explain it. If lose another one, I'll probably have to use a legal pad and a pencil to finish Four.