Not just another night in Belfast: Above, the Wild Safari company’s Megatherium, the Giant Ground Sloth, is the 4.5 inch replica that David Oren used to ask the people of the Amazon about what they were seeing in the jungle. Mr. Orrin Harding, at my talk, showed a special interest in the model, and the irony of his name and Dr. Oren’s was not lost on him.

Belfast is a city in Waldo County, Maine, with a population of 6,381 (2000 census). So close to the ocean, located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River on Penobscot Bay, you can throw pebbles at the nearby Sea Serpents. Belfast is the county seat of Waldo County and the countywide sightings of “black panthers” are noteworthy, silently appreciated and known as factual by the locals.

Last evening I was in Belfast, eating a light dinner at Darby’s before my talk and noticing how very quiet and empty the streets were. How and why would I expect anyone to be at the library tonight, a Monday night?

When I arrived at the Belfast Free Library (after finding it, as it was hidden and shrouded behind the workers’ roof repair outfitting), I asked the librarian Jane Thompson how many people was she realistically expecting. She happily told me that probably about 15 people would show up, her special reading group and perhaps a couple others. She was delighted with that total, so I was okay if that was her goal.

But when adults (not kids) started arriving a half-hour early to get a seat and soon some young people showed up, she knew something different was happening.

More and more people poured in to the rather long function room.

The turnout actually (according to the librarian) was well over 75 people, and maybe 100 as my talk began at 6:00 pm, in the moderately sized room at the Belfast Free Library. Where did the people all come from? One person was from Massachusetts. Most people were from Midcoast Maine. Even Cryptomundo readers were represented with “Maine Crypto” showing up (a very well-spoken, attractive young woman).

There was standing room only at the back and people were trying to squeeze in at the back doors.

At the end of my talk at 7:00 pm, I was mobbed by over 35 people, for another 30 minutes, for autographs and for picture-taking, as well as to answer more questions.

I sure had fun, and people liked the Nessie, Bigfoot, Giant Ground Sloth, and Yeti replicas, plus Abominable Snowman and Sasquatch footprint molds.

I don’t know what it will be like at the Portland Public Library at noontime (no kids probably), but I just heard that 150 to 175 people can fit nicely into their Rines Auditorium.

Come say hi to me if you are there for my talk about cryptids.

In the run-up, here’s another local herald of what’s on tap tomorrow. Of course, however, don’t believe everything you read as I don’t read from my books. I “live” my experiences with the audience, via slides and stories! And I do answer lots and lots of questions.

The Phoenix
Tuesday, March 04, 2008

COOL EVENT: BIGFOOT AND OTHER MYSTERY CREATURES by Deirdre Fulton

Portlander Loren Coleman, the author of these books and many others, will read at the Portland Public Library tomorrow [March 5, 2008, noontime] as part of the Brownbag Lecture Series.

If you’ve got a desire to know more about mystery beasts such as the Abominable Snowman, Bigfoot, Yeti, Chupacabras, and Loch Ness Monster (and who doesn’t, really?), there’s no one better to learn from than Coleman, who is widely considered to be the world’s leading cryptozoology guru.

See you there!

Perhaps I’ll bring some different replicas?