America's Supernatural Secrets

While many of our culture's ideas about vampires originated in Eastern Europe, the United States is home to its own terrifying true tales of voracious vampires and bloodsucking beasts. Traveling from the coasts of New England to the swamps of Louisiana and to the dramatic deserts of the Southwest, this book uncovers the hidden history of vampires in America. Readers will enjoy learning about the natural phenomena underlying local vampire legends, as well as exploring images of the vampire in American popular culture.

The very real origins of zombies and the very unreal legends that have developed since are explored in this exciting volume. Among the legends, the earliest New Orleans voodoo priestess and the Night of the Living Dead are brought forth. Readers and zombie enthusiasts alike can explore some of the most exciting legends that the living dead have to offer. Book Review: Zombies in America"Student researchers may find this volume helpful. Readers with an interest in the topic will devour it."-Hilary Welliver, Ludington Library

In 1692 in Colonial America, a frightening and unforgettable event took place: the Salem Witch Trials. Since then, people have been captivated by the idea of witches living among us, casting spells, and causing mischief. Some of those very real legends and how they have evolved into what we know of witches today, including Harry Potter and the Wizard of Oz, are explored in this exciting volume.

Legends of werewolves come from American Indian legends. They derive from stories of strange wolf-like creature sightings, and people who are simply misunderstood. This fascinating book explores some of these legends and how they have developed into the werewolf tales of today. The final chapter explores popular werewolves, including Lon Chaney, Jr.'s The Werewolf and Jacob Black in the popular Twilight series.

Thrilling, and possibly true, tales including haunted hotels and ghostly sightings are recounted in this terrifying volume. The author allows readers to imagine the possibility of the existence of ghosts while explaining how these phenomena can occur without the help of the supernatural world. The final chapter is filled with information about how ghostly tales are still relevant in pop culture and entertainment today.