Kaitlyn: So Mike, how’s it hanging?

Mike: Pretty damn good at the moment.

Kaitlyn: Last time we talked about spiritual stuff. Can we
talk about the paranormal this time?

Mike: You can talk about whatever you want.

Kaitlyn: How did you first get into studying the paranormal?
Did you see a ghost, or whatever?

Mike: Not exactly. When I was 11 years of age, my mum and dad
took my brother and I on holiday to Chichester in Sussex. One day we
passed an old, second-hand book shop and we went inside for a browse.
In a box I saw a battered paperback called Flying Saucers From Outer
Space by Major Donald E. Keyhoe. I read the book in a few days, and I
was hooked. I knew then that the universe was a far stranger place than
we normally envisaged.

Kaitlyn: Do you still have the book?

Mike: Yes indeedy.

Kaitlyn: A guy in LA told me that cryptozoology is your favourite
paranormal subject. Why is that?

Mike: Its not true. Cryptozoology is one of my favourite subjects, but not
the favourite. I don’t really have a favourite discipline - I just have
favourite stories, whether they’re about ghosts, mystery animals, UFOs, or
whatever.

Kaitlyn: Do you get tired of listening to sceptics?

Mike: I don’t mind what I call healthy sceptics, that is, those who really
have an open mind and are prepared to listen. I have a hard time with
rabid sceptics though; those who you know from the outset are not going
to believe no matter what evidence you show them. The truth is that rabid
sceptics are frightened to admit that there are things in this universe
that we just don’t understand and cannot as yet explain. It
pains me to say it, but rabid sceptics are just cowards.

Kaitlyn Niemeier