Just in time for Halloween, Waldoboro resident Greg Latimer published his second book of mysterious stories from the Midcoast region.
The book, “Ghosts of the Boothbay Region,” showcases a number of curious and eerie tales from various environs in Boothbay and Southport, in addition to photos of the region’s haunted locations.
Latimer’s work on the mysteries of the Boothbay Region is not his first endeavor exploring the unknown and unexplained. His first book, “Haunted Damariscotta” was published in 2014.
Before his first book appeared Latimer said he had been researching the book for years with intentions of self-publishing the work before he was contacted by the History Press.
“I started research for the first book around 15 years ago,” Latimer said.
Some of his research for “Haunted Damariscotta” helped Latimer’s wife, Sally Lobkowicz, start the Red Cloak History Tour in Damariscotta. The business has since expanded to add haunted tours in nine communities from Bath to Bar Harbor.
Latimer, a veteran investigative journalist and police evidence photographer, said he is adamant about the importance of truth, evidence, and corroboration, when exploring any mystery, especially those of a paranormal nature.
The author said collecting witnesses stories, attempts to corroborate the stories, and delving into a building or area’s history are all important parts of his research.
“I essentially took my skill set as an investigative reporter and applied them to paranormal subjects. I’ve found things I never expected to find,” Latimer said.
He added he doesn’t go in just looking for a story he looks for the truth. “You use everything you would use normally in proving or disapproving something,” Latimer said.
Research, interviews and first person investigations were all techniques used to compile the information that went into his two books. He noted he hopes to tell a story and have the readers decide for themselves through the information presented.
“It started out with a lot of historical research, then going to the sites, we tracked down witnesses, and we also engaged in our own paranormal exploration,” Latimer said.
One of the author’s favorite tools for paranormal exploration are electromagnetic field detectors. “These only do one thing and they do it well,” Latimer said.
The devices, about the size of a smart phone, were originally built for industrial use, measuring electromagnetic fields to see if electronic devices were creating an unhealthy work space.
Latimer said all living things give off an electromagnetic field, and when used in paranormal exploration, the device can find anomalies.
“If you have an electromagnetic field where one shouldn’t exist then you have an anomaly, something we can’t explain,” he said.
Electromagnetic field detectors are gauged for an ambient level of electromagnetic field activity. When that level is exceeded they start to record it and beep.
“If I find an electromagnetic field, for instance in a building that has no electricity, that is anomalous,” Latimer said.
He also said one way to distinguish anomalies from regular occurrences is level of fluctuations.
“Things that are anomalies fluctuate, things that aren’t don’t,” Latimer said.
In “Ghosts of the Boothbay Region” the chapters are modeled on telling the particular legend, going over the research, and making points on the plausibility of the specific incident or incidents.
Latimer said the accuracy of the stories published in his books is of great importance to him.
“The last thing I want to do is publish a story that is completely false,” Latimer said.
Despite the experience he has picked up over the years covering paranormal occurrences, Latimer does not consider himself an expert on the field. Rather he views it as a reporter handles a particular field they are assigned to.
“I’m a journalist covering the paranormal. I don’t pretend to be a paranormal expert,” Latimer said.
Having traveled extensively exploring a variety of strange events Latimer said some of the places where he encountered the most peculiar activity were the Boothbay Region, Virginia City, Nev. and St. Augustine, Fla.
“Where you have history you have haunts,” he said.
He emphasized he always takes a respectful approach when conducting his investigations, doing without the screaming and green-lit cameras of reality television shows.
Latimer has substantial background with the research techniques and investigative strategies he has used in completing both of his books.
The author started his writing career early in life working for a newspaper in California at the age of 16.
He was a full-time reporter/photographer for a newspaper in Los Angeles by the age of 18 and went on to work as an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Herald-Examiner.
His investigative experience at the Herald-Examiner helped land him a job as a police evidence photographer with law enforcement in Hermosa Beach, Calif.
The author is also the research director for MysteriousDestinationsMagazine.com, an online publication that explores mysteries in the United States and Caribbean.
In 2001 he was recognized by the New England Press Association with an award for investigative reporting.
Latimer said he plans to work on completing future books noting writing is important to him.
“The writing will continue to go on. It’s part of what I do,” Latimer said.
