Twilight Language: December 2010

The father of three missing boys in Michigan claims a mysterious organization

came on Thanksgiving Day and took his sons.

John Skelton, the father of three missing boys, said in a court hearing in Adrian, Michigan, on Thursday, December 16, 2010, that he gave his sons to someone from an organization who visited his home on Thanksgiving. But he wouldn't identify the group, reported the Associated Press and other media sources.

It was the first time Skelton had publicly discussed his sons since his arrest November 30, 2010, on parental kidnapping charges. The hearing was related to custody, not his criminal case. The boys ~ Andrew, 9, Alexander, 7, and Tanner, 5 ~ have not been seen since Thanksgiving when they were at their father's home in Morenci, on the Michigan-Ohio border.

Skelton, 39, told Judge Margaret Noe that he gave the kids to a "person in a van," The Daily Telegram reported on its website.

"I know the organization, but I didn't know the person," Skelton said.

"What organization?" Noe asked.

"I would rather not say at this time," Skelton replied.

Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks said he's heard similar references to what John Skelton said in court.

"I'm skeptical of what he's saying," Weeks told the Telegram. "We're not expecting a positive outcome."

In a written statement, Weeks said police have followed up on 900 tips, including some suspected sightings, but "we have been unable to confirm that any of them are the Skelton boys."

Skelton remains held on $30-million bond.

In Mysterious America, of course, I detail the reported use of "vans" in the child abduction cases labeled under the umbrella term "phantom clowns." Needless to say, these have been as elusive as Mr. Skelton's alleged child abduction organization may be to track down. But there is a hint of something sinister in this Michigan report. It is, indeed, intriguing that Morenci Police Chief Larry Weeks has heard reports of similar incidents. As we may reveal here soon, a nationwide series of bizarre child hanging cases seem to be related to a mysterious shadowy organization of pedophiles, related to Peter Pan, the Hook, and the the Lost Boys. More on that another time.

Name/location items on this case include:

One name in the mix here that might be the key is "Skelton." Were the Michigan boys "skeleton keys" in some ritualistic way?

Where are these three "lost boys"?

Morenci is a city in Lenawee County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,398 at the 2000 census. Lenawee is a Henry Schoolcraft neologism thought to be derived from a Native American word meaning "man"—from the Delaware leno or lenno or the Shawnee lenawai.

The newest Loren Coleman book cover, which is for True Giants: Is Gigantopithecus Still Alive?, looks like this. (The book is coauthored by Mark A. Hall.)

This book has produced the usual questions about "what number book" is this for Loren. Let's begin at the beginning. After discovering cryptozoology in March 1960, and spending years doing fieldwork, Loren Coleman at 20, wrote his first published article.

During the second half of 1975, Loren Coleman's first book was published by Warner Books, when he was 27. He was in the process, in August of that year, of moving from California to New England. He found the first copy of his first book on the shelves of a bookstore in the Midwest, even before he was able to receive a copy from his New York publisher.

Since then, Coleman has written, edited, and contributed to many other books, as primary author, coauthor, editor, or contributor. But how many books does this involve, in total? How many books has Coleman "written"? One can do a search on Google or Yahoo, and you will find the weaknesses of information overload and disorganization on the web revealed. You can discover all kinds of answers on the Internet to the question of "how many": seven, seventeen, and over thirty are the usual biographical and bibliographical talking points. But what is the number and names of Loren Coleman books, actually?

"How many" depends directly on how one wishes to count the many tomes, editions, revisions, series, and other products of Loren Coleman's book-length writings.

So, let's join in taking a literary journey. What follows is a comprehensive listing of the nonfiction books of cryptozoologist and social scientist Loren Coleman (not to be confused with the younger Loren L. Coleman who writes science fiction). Below you will discover, in chronological order from most recent to earliest, the authored and coauthored editions, and various other forms of contributions (shown in "quotation marks" after the book title) of Loren Coleman's output in book form.

Forthcoming.

Monsters of Massachusetts: Mysterious Creatures in the Bay State. NY: Stackpole, 2012?. Two other titles, unnamed, 2012? Bigfoot in Maine. NY: Pine Winds Press, 2011? (with Michelle Souliere). Mothman: Evil Incarnate. NY: Cosimo Books, 2011?

2010.

True Giants: Is Gigantopithecus Still Alive? NY: Anomalist Books, 2010. (with Mark A. Hall).

Monsters of New Jersey: Mysterious Creatures in the Garden State. NY: Stackpole, 2010. (with Bruce Hallenbeck).

2009.

An Illustrated Guide to The Lost Symbol. "Secret of the Pods" and "The Double-Headed Phoenix." NY: Pocket Books/Simon and Schuster. John Weber, Patrick Huyghe, and Michael Bober, eds.

2008.

Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life. "Introduction." Ivan T. Sanderson. New York: Cosimo Classics, 2008 edition. Loren Coleman Presents.

Mythical Monsters. "Introduction." New York: Cosimo Classics, 2008 edition. Charles Gould. Loren Coleman Presents.

The Book of Werewolves. "Introduction." New York: Cosimo Classics, 2008 edition. Sabrine Baring-Gould. Loren Coleman Presents.

Curiosities of Natural History: Third Series. "Introduction." New York: Cosimo Classics, 2008 edition. Francis T. Buckland. Loren Coleman Presents.

Thunderbirds: America's Living Legends of Giant Birds. "Introduction." New York: Cosimo Classics, 2008 edition. Mark A. Hall. Loren Coleman Presents. HB edition.

The Dragon in China and Japan. "Introduction." New York: Cosimo Classics, 2008 edition. Marinus Willem De Visser. Loren Coleman Presents.

Beasts!: A Pictorial Schedule of Traditional Hidden Creatures (Book Two). "Mainstreaming Cryptozoology." Seattle: Fantagraphics Books, 2008. Jacob Covey, ed.

Ghosts of the Bridgewater Triangle. "Introduction." Atglen, PA: Schiffer, 2008. Christopher Balzano.

2007.

Weird Virginia: Your Travel Guide to Virginia's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets. NY: Sterling, 2007. (with Jeff Bahr and Troy Taylor).

The Great Sea Serpent. "Introduction." Antoon Cornelis Oudemans. NY: Cosimo Classics, 2007 edition. Loren Coleman Presents.

The Romance of Natural History. "Introduction." New York: Cosimo Classics, 2007 edition. Philip Henry Gosse. Loren Coleman Presents.

Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation's Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures. NY: Paraview Pocket - Simon and Schuster, 2007.

How do books change over time? The Paraview Pocket - Simon and Schuster edition (seen directly above) of Mysterious America appeared in 2007 and is a good case to examine.

Since first appearing in 1983, the entire original book has been rewritten, internally, often. New chapters have been added, some retained but expanded, and the actual text has been changed by 50%.

In the 1983 edition, for example, the two mystery cat chapters totaled just 23 pages. In the 2007 edition, there are now over 60 pages of text in those two cryptid feline chapters alone, plus the new detailed listings of Eastern and Western North American mystery cat sightings as appendices. In the 1983 volume, there was no index, and in 2007, you'll find about 275 people (from Arment to Zarzynski), places (from Abington, IN to Yakin County, SC), cryptids and other items in small print over the eight pages of the new index.

Down through the years, the 1983, 1989, 2001, and 2007 editions appear to be different books because they actually are, inside and out, with new covers and greatly changed contents, even though various publishers kept the essence of the best-selling classic title in intact for identification and marketing reasons.

2006.

The Unidentified/Creatures of the Outer Edge: The Early Works of Jerome Clark and Loren Coleman. NY: Anomalist Books, 2006. (with Jerome Clark).

The Field Guide to Bigfoot and Other Mystery Primates. NY: Anomalist Books, 2006. (with Patrick Huyghe).

The Yowie: In Search of Australia's Bigfoot "Introduction." NY: Anomalist Books, 2006. Tony Healy and Paul Cropper.

Cryptozoology: Out of Time Place Scale "Introduction." Philadelphia: JSpringer, 2006. Raechell Smith and Mark Bessire, eds.

Strange Guests "Foreword." NY: Anomalist Books, 2006. Brad Steiger.

Bigfoot Casebook Updated: Sightings And Encounters from 1818 to 2004 "Foreword." NY: Stackpole, 2006. Janet and Colin Bord.

Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures "Introduction." Louisville: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. Benjamin Radford and Joe Nickell.

The Greenhaven Encyclopedias Of Paranormal Phenomena. "Cryptozoology." New York: Greenhaven Press, 2006. Patricia D. Netzley.

2005.

Weird Ohio. NY: Barnes and Noble, 2005. (with James Willis and Andrew Henderson).

2004.

The Copycat Effect. New York: Paraview Pocket-Simon and Schuster, 2004.

Mysterious America: The Revised Edition. NY: Paraview, HB 2004.

Thunderbirds: America's Living Legends of Giant Birds "Introduction." NY: Paraview/Cosimo Classics, 2004. Mark A. Hall.

Alexis Rockman. "Cryptozoology." Rome: Monacelli, 2004. Alexis Rockman, ed.

2003.

The Field Guide to Lake Monsters, Sea Serpents and Other Mystery Denizens of the Deep. NY: Tarcher-Penguin, 2003. (with Patrick Huyghe).

Bigfoot!: The True Story of Apes in America. NY: Paraview Pocket-Simon and Schuster, 2003.

The Beast of Bray Road "Preface." Eau Claire, WI: Unexplained Research, 2003. Linda Godfrey.

Track of the Bigfoot "Foreword." Greenville, NC: Booklocker, 2003. Dallas L. Tanner.

Baseball and American Culture: Across the Diamond. "Boys of Summer, Suicides of Winter: An Introduction to Baseball Suicides." NY: Haworth Press, 2003. Edward J. Reilly, ed.

2002.

Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology. Fresno: Craven Street/Linden Press, 2002.

Mothman and Other Curious Encounters. NY: Paraview, 2002. Produced in conjunction with Sony/Screen Gems and their film The Mothman Prophecies, in a mutual publicity/marketing campaign.

Shadow of the Thunderbird "Foreword." Greenville, NC: Trilogus Books, 2002. Dallas L. Tanner.

The Hunt for the Buru "Introduction." Fresno: Linden Books, 2002. Ralph Izzard.

Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology. "Introduction: If We Don't Search, We Shall Never Discover." Chicago: ABC-Clio, 2002. George M. Eberhart.

2001.

Mysterious America: The Revised Edition. NY: Paraview, 2001.

Preventing Youth Suicide Through Gatekeeper Training Augusta, ME: State of Maine, 2001. (with Susan O'Halloran).

1999.

Cryptozoology A to Z: The Encyclopedia of Loch Monsters, Sasquatch, Chupacabras, and Other Authentic Mysteries of Nature. NY: Simon and Schuster, 1999. (with Jerome Clark). Chosen for 2001 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults List by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) and American Library Association (ALA). Bestselling cryptozoology book of all time for all titles, all authors.

The Field Guide to Bigfoot, Yeti and Other Mystery Primates Worldwide. NY: HarperCollins, 1999. (with Patrick Huyghe).

1998.

Preventing Youth Suicide Through Gatekeeper Training (1998, rev. 2003) Augusta: Medical Care Development and Maine Children's Cabinet (with Susan O'Halloran).

1996.

Contemporary Legend: A Reader. New York: Garland, 1996. "Alligators in the Sewers." Gillian Bennett and Paul Smith, eds.

Creating Kinship. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1996. (with Sharon Kaplan Roszia and Annette Baran).

Child Maltreatment and Abuse Investigations for Law Enforcement Officers. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1996. (with Kris Sahanhik, Mary Colombo, and Carol Boggis).

Child Maltreatment and Abuse Investigations for Tribal Law Enforcement Officers Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1996. (with Kris Sahanhik, Mary Colombo, and Carol Boggis).

1994.

Myth or Real Collector Cards. Chicago: America Realist Company, 1994. (with Jerry D. Coleman).

Working With Rural Youth. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1994. (with Dan Porter and Diane Elze).

1993.

Quest for the Unknown, Vol. 10, Man and Beast. "Yeti: The Abominable Snowman," and "Yeren: The Chinese Wildman," London: Reader's Digest, 1993. Peter Brookesmith, ed.

1991.

Elder Fire Safety for the 90s Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1991. (with Kathryn Buxton). Winner of the 1992 Simmons School of Social Work Alumni Recognition Award.

1990.

Adoption and the Sexually Abused Child. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1990. (editor, with Joan McNamara and John McNamara).

[Most important creation this year: Caleb is born on February 3, 1990.]

1989.

Tom Slick and the Search for the Yeti. Boston: Faber and Faber, 1989.

Mysterious America. Boston: Faber and Faber. New red cover edition, 1989.

Curious Encounters: Phantom Trains, Spooky Spots and Other Mysterious Wonders. Boston: Faber and Faber. 1989 Edition.

1988.

Working with Older Adoptees. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1988. (with Karen Tilbor, Helaine Hornby and Carol Boggis).

Working with Older Adoptees: A Sourcebook of Innovative Models. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1988. (with Karen Tilbor, Helanie Hornby, and Carol Boggis).

1987.

Suicide Clusters. Boston: Faber and Faber, 1987. Psychotherapy and Social Science Book of the Month Club Selection, August 1987.

Unattended Children. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1987. (with Susan Partridge and Roy Partridge).

Teen Suicide: Coded Cries for Help. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1987. (with Sally Brown, Robert Schroff, Carol Boggis and Anne Bernard).

Teen Suicide in Foster Care: Coded Cries for Help - Training Manual for Suicide Prevention. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1987. (with Sally Brown, Robert Schroff, Carol Boggis and Anne Bernard).

SOS - Runaways and Teen Suicides: Coded Cries for Help - Training Manual for Suicide Prevention (1987) Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1987. (with Sally Brown, Robert Schroff, Carol Boggis and Anne Bernard).

1985/1986.

Curious Encounters: Phantom Trains, Spooky Spots and Other Mysterious Wonders. Boston: Faber and Faber, 1985. 2nd Edition, 1986. Cover of the Year Award, State of Massachusetts Book Design Assn., 1985.

[Most important creation this year: Malcolm is born on February 11, 1986.]

1984.

The Sasquatch and Other Unknown Hominoids "From Atshen to Giants," (with Mark A. Hall) and "The Occurrence of Wild Apes in North America." Calgary: University of Calgary, 1984. Vladimir Markotic and Grover Krantz (eds.)

The Book of Lists #3. "Nine Large Animals Discovered by Western Science Since 1900," and "Eight Worst Monster Hoaxes." New York: William Morrow, 1984. Anne Wallace, David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace (eds.)

Working Together: Community Involvement in Maine's Foster Care Case Review. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1984. (with Barbara Sparks).

Working Together: Community Involvement in Maine's Foster Care Case Review - A Training Curriculum. Portland: University of Southern Maine, 1984. (with Barbara Sparks).

Adolescent Stabilization Project. Portland, ME: University of Southern Maine, 1984.

1983.

Mysterious America. Boston: Faber & Faber, 1983.

Fate Editors' The World's Strangest Stories. "Phantom Clowns," and "Kangaroos From Nowhere." Chicago: Clark Publishing, 1983. Fate Editors.

1980.

Creatures of the Goblin World. New Clark Publishing (Fate Magazine) edition, 1980. (with Jerome Clark).

1981.

The Peoples Almanac #3. New York: William Morrow, 1981. "Alligators in The Sewers," David Wallechinsky and Irving Wallace, eds.

1978.

Creatures of the Outer Edge: What Lies Behind the Bigfoot Mystery? NY: Warner Books, 1978. (with Jerome Clark).

1975.

The Unidentified: Notes Toward Solving the UFO Mystery. NY: Warner Books, 1975. (with Jerome Clark).

1972.

Le livre de l'inexplicable by Jacques Bergier. Paris: Editions Albine Michel, 1972. "Some Bigfoot Traditions of the North American Tribes," (with Mark A. Hall).

[Most important creation in 1969: Desmond is born on February 4, 1969.]