Monthly Archives: August 2017

Interview with Paranormal Investigator, Paula Westbrook

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Today I’m welcoming paranormal investigator, Paula Westbrook. Thank you, Paula for stopping by!

 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

I’m from Shreveport Louisiana. I now live in Picayune, MS with my husband David, and my son Joseph. I have a paranormal team named SPARS. And I am the Event Coordinator of the Gulf Coast ParaCon. I have a love of history, and the paranormal.

 

 

Why the paranormal? 

As with many people, it started at a young age. As a child we lived in many active locations. And it seemed these spirits would seek me out, or I was the only one that seemed aware of them. This terrified me, especially would seem to seek me out to torment me. It became normal for me to experience it. Slowly I became used to it. I quit
letting them get to me. And by the time I was about 10 I was searching for them on my terms. This was a way to gain power over my fears.

 

 

How did your team, Southern Paranormal and Anomaly Research Society (SPARS) get started and what kind of places do you investigate? 

I am the original founder of this group. I founded SPARS in 2006. I had groups before. But I was newly divorced and new to the area, and I felt this was a way to meet like minded people. We investigate residential, businesses, and historic locations. We are here to help anyone who needs our help. I also do cleansings. And of course, we never charge.

 

 

You’re the Event Coordinator who’s preparing the upcoming paranormal event, The Gulf Coast ParaCon in Biloxi, Mississippi. Share with us all the exciting details: dates of the event, who the guest speakers will be, where everyone can purchase tickets, and even about the paranormal investigation that will take place at the Beauvoir House. 

One of my favorite places on the Gulf Coast is Beauvoir, (The Last Home of Jefferson Davis). We came together with Beauvoir and created a fundraiser for the restoration and preservation of this beautiful property. My team and I are bringing in Speakers ,
Paranormal Investigators from all over the country . And from different areas of the field so that we can bring education of the paranormal to the public. We have Keith Age from Louisville, Kentucky. He has been in the field for 30 plus years and has been seen on SYFY, “Children of the Grave”, and “Death Tunnel” just to mention a few documentaries of the paranormal. He is also the founder of the largest Paranormal Group in the country, The Louisville Ghost Hunting Society. James Annito, the founder of Dominion Ministries will be here to talk about Demonology. Kevin Betzer, and Randy Hardy as seen on the t.v. show, “Deep South Paranormal” on SYFY. Ayne Pustanio, Author of Haunted New Orleans and a specialist in the Occult. Mary Milam, better known as “Bloody Mary”, a Voodoo Priestess from New Orleans. Seasoned Paranormal Investigators, Gavin Kelly, Sasha Klanott, and Bernadine LaBlanc.

We’ll start off Friday night with the Meet and Greet. We’ll have the speakers and the team members of SPARS there so you can meet us all and get to know us. We’ll have Food and Cash Bar, and I forgot to mention it’s a Costume party. We will also have a D.J. there. It’s always my favorite part of the weekend. Then, on Sat, the 23rd from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 P.M., we will have the speaker lectures at the Presidential Library along with Vendors and people will also be there to do Psychic readings. Then at 8:00 p.m. Sat. night, we will be doing a Paranormal Investigation of the entire 52 acre property of Beauvoir. This also includes the Museum, the house, and the cottages.

 

 

Tell us about the history of the Beauvoir House and why is it haunted?

Beauvoir was the last home of Confederate President, Jefferson Davis, and after the death of President Davis, it was handed down to his daughter then to his Widow. Varena Davis, his widow, left it to the current owners of Beauvoir, The Mississippi Division of Confederate Veterans. They in turn turned it into a retirement home for Confederate Veterans and their wives, and widows. Many people lived and died on this property. To many of these people, this was their last home. And their spirits still roam this property today, as with any hospital or retirement home.

 

 

What kind of ghostly experiences have people had at this historical location? 

We have seen soldiers, and shadow people, and even a ghost dog. We hear voices, lights come on by themselves. People have experienced someone coming up
and whispering in their ear. Doors open and close. Strange balls of light have been seen on the property. Apparitions, as solid as you and I, of Jefferson Davis have been seen. Many have thought he was a reenactor only to find out that there were no
reenactors there. Many brides have captured a picture of Winnie Davis standing in the window of her room. She usually shows up right before a wedding. She was the only child of the Davis’ to live on the property. She never married and died in her 30’s.

 

 

Where can paranormal enthusiasts find updates about The Gulf Coast ParaCon? 

Our Facebook page, SPARS paranormal. That’s where we have our discussions and answer questions.

 

 

*** Here’s some more exciting news I’d like to add for all of my special readers.***

I, Sheila Renee Parker, will also be at the Gulf Coast Paracon as a vendor! I am extremely happy to be a part of this awesome event! And we hope to see you all there!

Paula Westbrook has extended a very gracious opportunity for you all. Every week until the time of the Paracon, Paula will be giving away 2 General Admission tickets!

Each week I will conduct a drawing for the two lucky winners. All anyone has to do is send in your name to Contact Sheila Renee Parker. Entries for the first drawing must be submitted before the deadline date and time of Wednesday, August 30th at 11 p.m. Eastern time. The winners will be notified the following day.

 

 

Anything else you’d like to share, Paula? 

Starting in Jan. – August, once a month we do an event called Meet the Spirits
where we allow the public to come in and be a ghost hunter. Go to our F.B. Page for these dates or to our website www.sparsparanormal.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“The Apparition”

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The mysterious world of the unknown has always fascinated me.The exploration of the various topics is something that I will continue to research for as long as I live. However using caution, I will remain strong, courageous and show absolutely no fear. I’m often asked if I’m frightened by the paranormal. Honestly, I used to be, especially when I was a kid. My lack of understanding was basis for that. ‘Tis the reason for me eventually facing my fears and overcoming them. I do believe in respect by showing it and giving it to the spirit realm. I never provoke, nor display any form of agitation towards them. For me, it’s all about respecting both, the living and the dead…. and everything in between.

 

By doing so, I truly feel at peace as I openly express my curiosity for the supernatural by being an author and also an artist. My expression isn’t only conveyed through words, but through other artistic media as well. There’s such passion in one’s creativity.

 

The below image is a watercolor that I painted. Then, I added some digital effects to give it more color, making the painting more vibrant.

I’ve titled it, “The Apparition”.

Prints are available at…. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-apparition-sheila-renee-parker.html

 

*** (A little side note here…. lol… I finally got on Instagram! Would love to see ya there!!! @sheilareneeparker.) ***

 

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram: @sheilareneeparker

 

 

“The Apparition” ~ by Sheila Renee Parker. Prints available @… https://fineartamerica.com/featured/the-apparition-sheila-renee-parker.html)

 

 

 

Interview with actor, Robert John Burke

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Today I’m welcoming actor, Robert John Burke. Thank you, Bobby for stopping by!

 

 

Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I am frighteningly ordinary.

 

 

How did you get into the career of acting?

I got into acting through an experimental acting class in my high school. It also offered an internship with the professional equity acting company. Then it was onto college, where I attended the acting conservatory at SUNY purchase.

 

 

In one of your earlier films, you played the role of the well-known character of Alex Murphy in RoboCop 3. What was it like playing the part of a cyborg?

It was very daunting playing RoboCop three. I thought Peter Weller did such an amazing job that it should have been left alone. No Peter no sequel. I was resistant for about eight months and then I finally acquiesced. The physical demands of the role were great. It involved movement training with a man named Moni Yakin, who had also worked with Peter. He is a teacher at the Juilliard school and he’s amazing. I think if I did anything at all right in that role, I owe it to him.

 

 

In the horror film titled, Thinner, (that was based on Stephen King’s novel) you portrayed the main character of Billy Halleck. Tell us about that and did you encounter any challenges in playing such a diverse role?

Thinner was the ultimate role for me to play. Getting to hide under five hours of make up should excite any actor. But the schedule was pretty grueling. I would get in the make up chair at 2 o’clock in the morning to be ready to start shooting at 7 AM. Then shoot to about 10 PM in the evening.

I was a little disappointed with the way the film turned out. There were lots of different directions that people were pulling it in. Although I must say, quite a few people really enjoyed that film. Meeting Stephen King was a complete thrill.

 

 

Your other on-screen accomplishments include Limitless, 2 Guns, Safe and Dust Devil, just to name a few. Aside from your films, you’re also on the t.v. series: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Allegiance, Banshee, Nurse Jackie, Army Wives, and Rescue Me… (the impressive list goes on)… How do you maintain such a balanced schedule?

On paper it can look like I’m doing a lot of different projects. The reality is that I lead a very balanced life. There were times when I was doing two and three television shows at a time. But somehow it was always manageable. And to tell you the truth, it keeps things interesting that are a hell of a lot of fun.

 

 

Is there any one role that you find in particular to be your absolute favorite?

People ask you what’s the most fun or is there any one role that you find to be your favorite. I think there are several for different reasons. I’ve met a lot of really amazing people on all the productions I’ve been on. Got to travel to exotic and beautiful places. The work I’m most proud of is probably the work that the least amount of people have seen. Films like First Love Last Rites, The Unbelievable Truth, and No Such Thing, are among my favorites.

 

 

Aside from being an actor, you’re also a NY State Certified Firefighter. You helped with the rescue efforts during 9/11, mind telling everyone about that? 

My best friend was in FDNY, captain named Patrick J. Brown. He fell on 9/11/01. Because all of Long Island New York is voluntary fire service, I decided to join my local department and dedicate my service to his memory. It’s been 16 years. I think I missed my True calling.

 

 

What’s next for Robert John Burke?

I’ve taken some time off recently but I’m also developing several projects and working hard on them.

 

 

Where can fans follow you and your work?

I don’t really have a website or anything like that. Sometimes I’ll post pictures of a particular project I’m working on on social media. Certain shows I’ve been on, particularly SVU have legions of very loyal enthusiastic fans. So I treat them with great respect and try and post stuff that keeps them in the loop.

 

 

Any positive words of advice you’d like to share?

I rarely give advice. But I do make suggestions. I suggest people remember to be kind to each other. And I say remember because people forget. I have a coffee mug that says “be kind” on it. It reminds me because I don’t ever want to forget to extend even the smallest gesture to another person that could mean a great deal to that person at that moment. If we take care of the little stuff, the big stuff takes care of itself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Embrace the Dark, but live the Light.”

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“I love the Light as much as I love the Dark. It’s such a beautiful balance.”

~ Sheila Renee Parker

 

 

I openly embrace both, the Light and the Dark, and that’s with life in general. The reason for this, I truly believe, is that by doing so it helps me to better understand things, to open my perspective of my surroundings. To have one without the other is irrational. The balance becomes heavily outweighed. There can’t be Light without Dark, nor Dark without Light.

Now, that doesn’t mean that I condone violence or hatred of any kind. Absolutely not! I live by the Rede, “An it harm none, do what ye will.” And I am a huge believer in Karma. But what I am referring to when I say that I embrace the Dark as much as I do the Light, is that we all have our moments. We’re not always going to have the perfect life. However, I do believe that life is what we make it. We’re occasionally all going to have that “off-beat” moment when we may feel like “blah”, and that’s perfectly o.k. Life’s not always going to be peachy keen and we need to accept those “Dark” times. Embrace them for they are the moments that help us to become stronger and appreciate the “Light” moments all the more. Even the darkest of moments can’t survive when the tiniest of light exists. There is a radiant spark within us all. Let it light the way to empowerment!

Be proud of who you are and love the individual you’ve become. You are worthy of what you deserve. We all harness the power to achieve greatness. Dream. Believe. Achieve!

Love & Light! ~ Sheila

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter: @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook: Sheila Renee Parker – Author

 

 

“Yin & Yang’s Convergence”. Watercolor by Sheila Renee Parker (Prints available at: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/yin-and-yangs-convergence-sheila-renee-parker.html)