New Article on Brown Mountain Lights

The Blue Ridge Country Magazine’s 30th Anniversary Issue (Vol. XXXI, No. 7/8, July/August, 2018) contains an article on the Brown Mountain Lights by Linda Shockley, who wrote the magazine’s first article on the Lights in 1995.  Shockley interviewed Ed Speer, author of the recent book on the Lights.  She also presented some newer research on the famous mystery.  You can find the magazine online at:  BlueRidgeCountryMagazine.com. 

Radio Interview Feb 16, 2018

Don’t miss my upcoming live radio interview on WNCW 88.7 FM Spindale’s NPR station on Friday February 16, 2018.  I will be discussing my new book on the Brown Mountain Lights for the final 10 minutes of Morning Edition (8:50-9:00am). On every Friday, WNCW supplements part of the regular daily NPR syndicated program Morning Edition with local news and events of interest.  I’m very excited!  Should be fun.

New book explains the legend of the Brown Mountain lights

Find out what the legend is all about, when it actually started, and how it has changed over time.  This book is the result of a three-year investigation by a team of outdoor specialists; it’s the largest and most comprehensive investigation ever undertaken on the phenomenon.  See photos of thousands of actual identified lights, both manmade and natural (including some never-before mentioned natural lights).  The book reveals what was learned from studying hundreds of thousands of time-lapse photos taken by two full-time nightly cameras overlooking Brown Mountain and Linville Gorge; as well as the results of multiple staged light tests.  The book includes a detailed yearly timeline of the legend, an annotated chronological list of more than 325 published and unpublished documents about the lights, review of the largest and most important stories/myths about the lights, scientific review of possible light sources, and informative  panoramic images from the most popular viewing sites with landmarks clearly labeled.

This exhaustive and objective investigation concludes that the legend of the Brown Mountain lights  is a collection of constructed mysteries based on mistaken identifications, unreliable anecdotal stories, unsupported beliefs, unquestioned misinformation, and unchallenged wishful or magical thinking—-in other words, it all comes down to human nature.  This book has already become the standard reference manual for anyone interested in North Carolina’s most famous ghost story, the Brown Mountain lights.

The book is published by MacFarland Books of North Wilkesboro, NC and is available for purchase at all major book sellers, including online retailers like Amazon, Target, Books-a-Million, & Barnes & Noble.  It is also available as an ebook at Google Books (Google Play).

Listen to The Mind’s Eye radio program interview with author Ed Speer about the Brown Mountain Lights.  Originally aired October 22, 2017.  The 40-minute interview can be found online at: www.themindseyemedia.com

 Go to the Archives page and search for the interview.  

The Mind’s Eye host Brian Turnof and Speer discuss the history and causes of the mystery lights. An in-depth, informative, and well-balanced discussion of the legend.

Book Signing Meet-And-Greet the author of the latest book

Join me and buy a signed copy of my new BML book at Refinery13 (13 North Main St, Marion, NC) 5:30-8:00 pm on Thursday Nov 16.  I’d love to hear your stories of mystery lights!  Hope to see you there.

Brown Mountain Lights book now available!

The Brown Mountain Lights book is finally available from the publisher!  www.mcfarlandbooks.com/book-2.php?id=978-1-4766-6676-1

Advanced orders shipped out Friday and at least some were delivered to customers today.  Hopefully it will soon be available at online book sellers.

Advance ordering of the book is now available!

My Brown Mountain Lights book is finally available for advance ordering!  The publisher has set the publication date as Fall/Winter 2016 and has started taking advance orders at:  www.mcfarlandpub.com.  $35.  Just search their website for Brown Mountain Lights   800-253-2187

 ISBN: 978-1-4766-6676-1

I can't wait for the actual publication date!  This has been a long time coming.  3 years of field research, 1 year to write the book, and 1 year to get it published.  But the wait will soon be over!