John: Mike, how are you my friend?
Mike: Health-wise, not too good. I have a cardiac pacemaker fitted, and I also suffer from two
sleep disorders called narcolepsy and cataplexy. Things are pretty rough at the moment, but
I’m taking a positive attitude.
John: You’ve just seen the release of Paranormal South Tyneside...what’s the reaction
been like so far?
Mike: Its been good. I’ve been wanting to write a book like that for years - since the year
2000, in fact - but for one reason or another it never got off the ground. I’ve had some
favourable reviews and, to my knowledge, one “average” one.
John: So what’s next on the agenda?
Mike: Well, I’m in negotiations with a radio station at the moment for something really
exciting, although I can’t say too much about that at the moment. I’ve also got another
two books contracted to be released in 2010, and another seven in various stages of
completion.
John: Seven?
Mike: Yeah, its crazy. Actually, I have nearly fifty book projects on the go - some are
just a few lines hastily jotted down in a manuscript, others are well on the way to being
finished. Seven are currently being worked, whilst the rest are on hold till later.
John: That’s nuts!
Mike: You’re right. Recently I’ve been trying to combine some of the material together to
reduce the number of projects.
John: Is it working?
Mike: A little. For instance, I was working on two books - one concerned cryptozoology,
the other a specific case I was investigating. I managed to meld the two together into
one volume. I’m systematically whittling down the number of unfinished projects I’m
working on.
John: There’s a rumour that you’ve fallen out with some other ghost hunters for some
reason. What’s that all about?
Mike: Health-
I’m taking a positive attitude.
John: You’ve just seen the release of Paranormal South Tyneside...what’s the reaction
been like so far?
Mike: Its been good. I’ve been wanting to write a book like that for years -
John: So what’s next on the agenda?
Mike: Well, I’m in negotiations with a radio station at the moment for something really
exciting, although I can’t say too much about that at the moment. I’ve also got another
two books contracted to be released in 2010, and another seven in various stages of
completion.
John: Seven?
Mike: Yeah, its crazy. Actually, I have nearly fifty book projects on the go -
finished. Seven are currently being worked, whilst the rest are on hold till later.
John: That’s nuts!
Mike: You’re right. Recently I’ve been trying to combine some of the material together to
reduce the number of projects.
John: Is it working?
Mike: A little. For instance, I was working on two books -
one volume. I’m systematically whittling down the number of unfinished projects I’m
working on.
John: There’s a rumour that you’ve fallen out with some other ghost hunters for some
reason. What’s that all about?
Mike: That could be one of any number of things! Darren W. Ritson and I get slagged off in a
number of chat-rooms and on message boards on a regular basis, so maybe its something
to do with that.
John: Why do you think people do that?
Mike: Personally I think its just jealousy. I recently criticised amateur researchers who rely too
much on ghost-hunting equipment in the press, and that kicked off another spurt of ad
hominem attacks.
John: Why do you think there’s so much in-fighting and back-stabbing in the world of
paranormal research?
Mike: That’s a good question. There are a lot of good amateur researchers out there, but
there’s also a group who like to think of themselves as the Best of the Best. The truth is
that they’re just people who want to be a big fish in a small pond. They have delusions of
grandeur, and don’t like to share their supposed superstar status with anyone else. Hence,
they simply assassinate the characters of those they see as a threat.
John: Do you ever fancy writing fiction for a change?
Mike: Its funny you should ask that. I’ve had around ten short stories published, and I really
like writing fiction, but whenever I try to write a novel I just run out of steam, get bored with
it or don’t think its good enough to submit to a publisher. Recently, though, I purchased some
specialist software for writers of fiction and its increased my enthusiasm. I’ve started work on
a science fiction novel and I’ve got further with it than any other novel I’ve started. Whether
I’ll finish it or not I don’t know, but I’m going to try.
John: What’s it about?
Mike: Its about time travel, basically, and how a certain group of people misuse it - or attempt
to - for their own ends.
John: Have you read any good books recently?
Mike: I don’t often get the time to read now. At one time I used to read two books a week. Now
I’m lucky if I read two a year, other than when I’m reviewing books by other authors. I’m reading
an excellent book at the moment called The World’s Greatest Sea Mysteries by Michael and
Mollie Hardwick. The authors are both deceased now, sadly, but the book is superb. It was
published by Odhams in 1967, and it should be released again. Its filled with black and white
line drawings that just capture the mood of the stories.
John: Do you ever get the urge to set up another research society now you’ve left Twilight
Worlds, Avalon Skies and other groups?
Mike: No! Wash your mouth out!
John: Why?
Mike: That’s an easy one to answer. The trouble with groups and organisations is that they
inevitably suffer from personality clashes and political in-fighting. I can’t be bothered with all
that sort of stuff now. I’ll work with people on an individual basis, but I steadfastly refuse to
become involved with collectives as it just spells trouble.
John: Would anything ever change your stance on that?
Mike: Of course I’d never say never, if you know what I mean, but it’s unlikely. Recently, a
member of an organisation I used to be associated with said that it was “coming apart at the
seams”, and tentatively hinted that they wanted me to re-join it. I asked her to put it in writing
and spell out exactly what their terms were. I’m still waiting for an answer, but they’ll have to be
going some to convince me its worth it.
John: Do you think that your work will become more media-orientated in the future?
Mike: I can’t say for certain, but its likely. I’m being contacted by media organisations
constantly now who want me to get involved with projects large and small. I enjoy it, but I’m
picky about what I do. I won’t touch anything that seems to sensationalise paranormal
research. I accept that the media will always dramatise things to a degree just to make it
watchable, but there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
John: So you’re against using the paranormal as entertainment?
Mike: Not at all. I love science-fiction novels and movies, ghost-walks and all that sort of stuff.
What I don’t like is entertainment that’s dressed up as serious research.
John: Can you give me some examples?
Mike: Sure. There are some TV programmes that do that. Some are fine, but others are just
awful. I worry that the public are virtually being force-fed with entertainment dressed up as
serious research in some shows.
John: Do you think it should be stopped?
Mike: No, definitely not!
John: Huh?
Mike: Look, I’m a great believer in free speech, provided that people don’t abuse it and
make scurrilous attacks upon others. I have the right to criticise things, but that doesn’t
mean I have the right to stop them. As a society we’re simply too molly-coddled. The
government is constantly trying to “protect” us from things, when really they should be
educating people to make responsible decisions in their lives. For instance, I know that some
people want to see Tarot reading banned because they believe all Tarot readers are
charlatans.
To my mind, if someone consults a medium and has a crap reading, then they shouldn’t have
gone for the reading in the first place without checking up the bona fides of the reader,
should they?
Life is all about learning lessons. If you consult a medium, shell out £20 or whatever and then
feel you’ve been cheated, then draw a line in the sand and move on. Next time, choose a better
medium. You made a bad choice, so live with it.
John: But don’t you think that charlatans in any walk of life should be banned?
Mike: Normally, yes, but how do you work out which mediums or Tarot readers are genuine and
which ones are fakes? Its an extremely subjective area. How do you determine whether they
really are getting in touch with your dead relatives and seeing the future, or just making the
whole thing up?
John: Good point. What does the rest of today hold for you, then?
Mike: I’ve some blogs to write and a book manuscript to finish off.
John: Thanks for that, then, Mike.
Mike: My pleasure.
number of chat-
John: Why do you think people do that?
Mike: Personally I think its just jealousy. I recently criticised amateur researchers who rely too
much on ghost-
hominem attacks.
John: Why do you think there’s so much in-
Mike: That’s a good question. There are a lot of good amateur researchers out there, but
there’s also a group who like to think of themselves as the Best of the Best. The truth is
that they’re just people who want to be a big fish in a small pond. They have delusions of
grandeur, and don’t like to share their supposed superstar status with anyone else. Hence,
they simply assassinate the characters of those they see as a threat.
John: Do you ever fancy writing fiction for a change?
Mike: Its funny you should ask that. I’ve had around ten short stories published, and I really
like writing fiction, but whenever I try to write a novel I just run out of steam, get bored with
it or don’t think its good enough to submit to a publisher. Recently, though, I purchased some
specialist software for writers of fiction and its increased my enthusiasm. I’ve started work on
a science fiction novel and I’ve got further with it than any other novel I’ve started. Whether
I’ll finish it or not I don’t know, but I’m going to try.
John: What’s it about?
Mike: Its about time travel, basically, and how a certain group of people misuse it -
John: Have you read any good books recently?
Mike: I don’t often get the time to read now. At one time I used to read two books a week. Now
I’m lucky if I read two a year, other than when I’m reviewing books by other authors. I’m reading
an excellent book at the moment called The World’s Greatest Sea Mysteries by Michael and
Mollie Hardwick. The authors are both deceased now, sadly, but the book is superb. It was
published by Odhams in 1967, and it should be released again. Its filled with black and white
line drawings that just capture the mood of the stories.
John: Do you ever get the urge to set up another research society now you’ve left Twilight
Worlds, Avalon Skies and other groups?
Mike: No! Wash your mouth out!
John: Why?
Mike: That’s an easy one to answer. The trouble with groups and organisations is that they
inevitably suffer from personality clashes and political in-
become involved with collectives as it just spells trouble.
John: Would anything ever change your stance on that?
Mike: Of course I’d never say never, if you know what I mean, but it’s unlikely. Recently, a
member of an organisation I used to be associated with said that it was “coming apart at the
seams”, and tentatively hinted that they wanted me to re-
going some to convince me its worth it.
John: Do you think that your work will become more media-
Mike: I can’t say for certain, but its likely. I’m being contacted by media organisations
constantly now who want me to get involved with projects large and small. I enjoy it, but I’m
picky about what I do. I won’t touch anything that seems to sensationalise paranormal
research. I accept that the media will always dramatise things to a degree just to make it
watchable, but there’s a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
John: So you’re against using the paranormal as entertainment?
Mike: Not at all. I love science-
John: Can you give me some examples?
Mike: Sure. There are some TV programmes that do that. Some are fine, but others are just
awful. I worry that the public are virtually being force-
John: Do you think it should be stopped?
Mike: No, definitely not!
John: Huh?
Mike: Look, I’m a great believer in free speech, provided that people don’t abuse it and
make scurrilous attacks upon others. I have the right to criticise things, but that doesn’t
mean I have the right to stop them. As a society we’re simply too molly-
educating people to make responsible decisions in their lives. For instance, I know that some
people want to see Tarot reading banned because they believe all Tarot readers are
charlatans.
To my mind, if someone consults a medium and has a crap reading, then they shouldn’t have
gone for the reading in the first place without checking up the bona fides of the reader,
should they?
Life is all about learning lessons. If you consult a medium, shell out £20 or whatever and then
feel you’ve been cheated, then draw a line in the sand and move on. Next time, choose a better
medium. You made a bad choice, so live with it.
John: But don’t you think that charlatans in any walk of life should be banned?
Mike: Normally, yes, but how do you work out which mediums or Tarot readers are genuine and
which ones are fakes? Its an extremely subjective area. How do you determine whether they
really are getting in touch with your dead relatives and seeing the future, or just making the
whole thing up?
John: Good point. What does the rest of today hold for you, then?
Mike: I’ve some blogs to write and a book manuscript to finish off.
John: Thanks for that, then, Mike.
Mike: My pleasure.
by John Cooper
