Between July 2023 and April 2024, I wrote my first book. I didn’t set out to write this book, it found me. Much of my life happens that way and yet I continue to be skeptical of “magic” or “manifestation”. Maybe that is a personality flaw. Anyway, I wanted to tell you the story behind this book and why it is important to embrace your journey and whatever life throws at you. 

I believe it was 2017, while assisting my paranormal group with an investigation event, that I met a very chatty blonde chick. She was cute, friendly, and trying to get a tour guide position with the team. I will admit that I judged her quickly and tried to avoid her as much as possible but somehow she ended up with me and a friend in the basement of the location. 

During a previous investigation, I had a bad encounter with something in the basement and wanted to see if I could speak with that individual. The three of us went downstairs and started a quick EVP session which led to the sound of footsteps pacing and the blonde hiding her face in fear on my friend’s shoulder. After saying my piece, we returned upstairs where the blonde looked at me with curiosity and said “I have never seen anyone do conflict resolution with a ghost.” I explained that since I regularly visit the location, I didn’t want to continue to have problems so it was best to address the issue with the person so we could both move forward. This was a new concept for her and one I like to believe stuck with her after. 

Of course, she ultimately began working with the team and my opinion of her started to soften. She was smart and determined. In 2018, she parted ways with the team to start a haunted tourism business in downtown St. Louis, Haunted STL. As the type of person who didn’t like to say no to opportunities, I assisted her with a couple of investigations and soon found myself on the outs with my team. Later that year, I took on the position of Lead Investigator for the Haunted STL research and investigation team.  This opportunity opened up doors with the pagan community and I found myself having conversations that I had never anticipated along with being allowed to do experiments that had often been considered “off limits.” I also took over the responsibility for running our social media and we quickly became known for our interesting look at the history of downtown St. Louis. 

Ultimately, the Covid-19 pandemic would hurt tourism and the Haunted STL storefront closed soon after. That doesn’t mean that the perky blonde gave up on tours but it changed the way she did things. I moved on to a team that was focused on regular investigations and she went back to her previous career while also leading tours on the weekend. We kept in regular contact with her occasionally calling to say, “hey, I’ve got something I need your help with.”  

She moved into an apartment in the old St. Louis City Hospital and asked “do you want to come over and explore the tunnels?” As always, I said “yes”. She also met a guy who did aquamation who wanted to open up a new location. The location happened to be the first crematorium in St. Louis and the 6th modern crematory in the United States. Her call to me consisted of “do you want to come check it out?” And I responded with a hearty, “of course!” Then she decided to become a funeral director so she could work at the old crematorium. This was quickly followed by her certification as a Death Midwife (yes that is a thing). 

Meanwhile, I went about my regular life. Working, investigating, and writing this blog. I also started a side business making fun paranormal themed jewelry and began attending various events in the area.

In June 2022, my blonde friend showed up at the STL Pagan Picnic where I am vending and says, “hey Jen, would you be interested in talking at the first festival in St. Louis focused on death?” Another “yes” and I soon found myself to be the first person to ever speak to a group about paranormal investigation on the grounds of St. Louis’ historic Bellefonteaine Cemetery. I approached the topic from a historical standpoint, focusing on how grief, combined with the changing social and scientific climate, opened the door for exploring what might come next. There were concerns expressed by the cemetery board of directors, but she had my back. I actually gave the talk again the following year to an even larger crowd!  

In December 2022, my friend received an email through the Haunted STL account asking if we would be interested in writing a “Haunted St. Louis” book. She called me over for a conversation and we sat next to a Christmas tree inside the Hillcrest Abbey Columbarium discussing the possibilities.

Ultimately, she decided she would write the book based on her tours and I would do the first review/edit. By June 2023, she was ready to throw in the towel. She was too busy and hadn’t written a word. In July, I took over the project and began the process of learning bits and pieces of over 250 years of St. Louis history.  In addition, I had to learn how to write a book. 

My friend and I always had two simple goals when we worked in the paranormal: 

1. Always tell the truth.
2. Treat the dead with dignity. 

So, for this book, it was important to not turn the people into “scary stories” but instead to allow the reader to learn about the rich history of the city and the people who made it special. The haunting claims are added to the end of each historical account, but the primary goal was to embrace the history. It is important to recognize that paranormal investigation isn’t just about finding answers to what happens after death but connecting to the past. We keep history alive by speaking the names of the dead and we give them a little bit of justice by telling their truth. My hope was to do some of this work in the book. As a non-native St. Louisan, it was an uphill climb to learn everything I needed to know but by the end my friend (a native to the city) labeled me an honorary native St. Louisan.  

The night before the official book release, she came over with a bottle of champagne and we sat on my front porch reflecting on this journey. Of course, she offered me another opportunity and I will very likely take it. She asked me about my next project, and she got excited as I explained what I had in mind. She is now the Events and Volunteer Coordinator at Bellefonteaine Cemetery and while she pondered the tour possibilities, she also recognized the hurdles to having my ideas welcomed. That’s ok. It will take me longer to complete this project, if ever. I have learned that if something is meant for me, it will come to me whether I am ready or not. Plus, stress makes me sick so I have also learned that slow and steady will eventually win the race.

Along the way, I have had the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people engaged in preserving the history of St. Louis. Their excitement for old books, newspapers, and maps helped keep me going. I also had a group of friends at my back who believed in what I was doing and my ability to do it well. A few of them form the foundation of my new paranormal research team, Curiosity Paranormal Research. In addition, writing this book has opened up an opportunity to teach a university course next year that helps students think about themselves within their community (St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and the scientific community). Once again, I wasn’t looking to do these things, they just came to me. (Manifestation?)

The book I wrote isn’t perfect, but I think it accomplished my goals: tell the truth and treat the dead with dignity. I am very lucky to have found people who believe in me. I am not an outgoing or extroverted person. I am happy to spend hours alone reading or researching. I understand my limits and try my best to be honest in everything I do. Wonderful people have found me and occasionally ask me to do interesting things. I try to say “yes” whenever I can. Inside my book, I acknowledge these people and specifically my perky blonde friend, Lacey Reinhardt, the lady who “drags me into situations I wasn’t planning to get myself into.”

Again, thank you! 

Until next time, stay open to the possibilities and Happy Hunting!