Author Sam Baltrusis unleashes Haunted Boston Harbor

Join "Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City" author Sam Baltrusis at his last signing of the season at the Boston Book Festival. He will be lurking 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at the History Press booth. He's dying to see you.

Next stop? Author Sam Baltrusis announced plans to pen his fourth book, "Haunted Boston Harbor: Ghosts & Legends of the Hub's Waterfront."

While hashing out the new book, he unveiled his third ghost tour cruising around Boston Harbor one last time, Thursday, Oct. 30.

Explore the ghostly secrets of Boston Harbor on a Halloween-themed, narrated boat experience leaving Rowes Wharf based on the research from "Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City" author Sam Baltrusis.

There are ghosts lurking in the waters near the Boston's historic seaport and inhabiting the handful of secluded islands scattered throughout the Harbor. Over the past four centuries, the spooky islands dotting Boston Harbor have had booty-seeking pirates, prisoners confined, and thousands felled by war and disease. Yes, the aftermath may have left the surrounding Boston Harbor waters brimming with restless spirits.

Travel back through history to learn about the Harbor's ghastly tales of murder and uncover the truth behind some the island's more infamous ghosts including Georges Island's Lady in Black.The two-hour boat tours leave one last time, Thursday, Oct. 30, promptly at 7 p.m. and reservations are required. Cash bar and ghostly theatrics. Geared for adults.

Special thanks to Mass Bay Lines for hosting our Haunted Boston Harbor cruise.The team from Paranormal Xpeditions will produce a Steampunk-inspired Pretty Paranormal fashion show to top off the spooktacular evening. On, Thursday, Oct. 30, Rainbow Frite, a trailblazer in the subversive drag-turned-dark world, will be the ship's ghostly greeter and will put a spell on you with a macabre performance on the second deck. Join us  ... if you dare.

'Ghosts of Salem' author heads to Wicked Good Books on Oct. 7

Heading to Salem for Haunted Happenings? Wicked Good Books, located at 215 Essex Street, is hosting "Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City" author Sam Baltrusis on Tuesday, Oct. 7 from 7-9 p.m.

  
Books are literally flying off the shelves of this new kid on the block. Salem-based lawyer Denise Kent opened Wicked Good Books in the spot formerly occupied by Derby Square Bookstore's mile-high stacks. When she started renovations last June, the skeptic was approached by locals asking: Is this the haunted bookstore? Kent reached out to New England Ghost Project investigator Ron Kolek who searched for paranormal activity in the mysterious tunnels beneath the shop uncovered during renovations.

Kent says the Ghost Project team did pick up on a benign presence: "We did have the crew of Ghost Chronicles Radio come in, including two psychics and an investigator," Kent says. "One of the psychics, Maureen Wood, did pick up on a presence, a benign one."

It's possible that the original bookstore owner may have made postmortem return. "I wonder if it’s the original bookstore owner? The Munroe family owned the bookstore for 39 years before we bought it," says Kent, adding that she placed the children's section in the same spot as the original owner.  

"One of our employees did indeed get 'creeped out' while working a recent Sunday night, and considered bringing her dog with her for her next shift," Kent continues.

Yep, the bookstore may have a few ghostly skeletons from Salem's wicked past lingering in the tunnel beneath the Essex Street haunt. 

Learn about Salem's haunted history from the "Ghosts of Boston: Haunts of the Hub" author on Tuesday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. ... if you dare.  
 

'Ghosts of Salem' book signings through Halloween 2014

'Ghosts of Salem' events 2014:

There are several "Ghosts of Salem: Haunts of the Witch City" book signings and events in the works scheduled for September-October 2014. Here are a few highlights:

* Book launch 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at Salem's Old Town Hall, 32 Derby Square in Salem.

* 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25 at the Harvard COOP, 1400 Massachusetts Ave. in Harvard Square.

* 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, October 7 at Wicked Good Books in Salem, 215 Essex St.


* 3 p.m. Saturday, October 18 at Barnes & Noble at Northshore Mall, 210 Andover St. Peabody, Massachusetts.

* 3 p.m. Saturday, October 25 at the History Press booth at the Boston Book Festival in Boston's Back Bay.