Pat Fitzhugh

~ An extension of every glass of iced tea sipped on a lazy summer’s day, propped against life’s most inevitable and unfortunate truths. ~ Hailing from the land of moonshine and grits, Pat Fitzhugh is best known for his books about the history, legends, and lore of the American South. From Louisiana's eerie swamps to Virginia's misty mountains, Fitzhugh’s writing embodies the passions, fears, and tragedies of a region rich in folklore and shrouded in mystery. His reverence for the past and his keen interest in the supernatural are strikingly evident in his writing, which not only tingles the spine but exudes a profound sense of history and place. "I take yarns of history, legends, and tragedies, and weave them into stories that not only entertain, but provide a glimpse into the region’s people and past. Injecting culture and history into ghost stories evokes a sense of realism that makes them even more terrifying." — Pat Fitzhugh Pat Fitzhugh was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and split his childhood between Humphreys County, Tennessee, and Nashville's "west side," where he attended David Lipscomb Elementary and Middle School and Hillwood High School. He became interested in ghost stories early on, and was seriously researching the paranormal by age 13. His early influences included the local horror show, "Creature Feature," and a host of old, late-night British ghost movies. At age 14, he became interested in Tennessee's "Bell Witch" legend, the first of many cases he would go on to research. In his adult life, Fitzhugh has researched and explored haunted locations all across America, and he conducts more than thirty paranormal investigations each year. In the spring of 2013, Fitzhugh penned the foreword to "The Legend of Stuckey’s Bridge," Lori Crane’s gripping account of Mississippi’s most haunted bridge. The book became an Amazon bestseller. Fitzhugh's invitation to write the foreword stemmed from the success of his 2009 title, "Ghostly Cries From Dixie" (Armand Press), a chilling concoction of weird and ghostly tales from the American South. In 2004, he contributed to "Weird U.S." (Sterling), a travel guide to America’s local legends and best kept secrets. A year earlier, he wrote the foreword to "Our Family Trouble," a partial reprint of Martin Ingram’s nineteenth-century account of Tennessee’s “Bell Witch” legend. In the fall of 2000, Fitzhugh released "The Bell Witch: The Full Account" (Armand Press), a historical and journalistic analysis of America’s most terrifying ghost story. The book garnered rave reviews from well-respected ghost researchers around the globe and twice appeared on the State of Tennessee’s suggested teen summer reading list. Updated editions of "The Full Account" were published in 2003 and 2012. In 1999, he wrote a condensed version of the legend, entitled "The Bell Witch Haunting." In the years since its release, two movies have used its title. Over his career, thus far, Pat Fitzhugh has written more than fifty short stories, articles, and books about ghosts and life in the South. His articles have appeared in major newspapers and leading magazines such as Woman's World, Esquire, and The Journal of Southern Folklore. Fitzhugh's writing and intense paranormal adventures have landed him several radio, television, and movie roles. His most recent work is on A&E's hit TV series, "Cursed." His other film credits include "Night Visitors" (Learning Channel), "Liars & Legends" (Turner South), and "The Most Terrifying Places in America 2" (Travel Channel). In 2006, he appeared in the motion picture DVD, "An American Haunting," starring Sissy Spacek and Donald Sutherland. He has also appeared on Halloween specials televised by the BBC and CNN. His radio credits include appearances on Coast to Coast AM, The Lou Gentile Show, Ground Zero, and The John Boy and Billy Show. As of 2015, Fitzhugh is preparing for two upcoming TV roles and working on an updated version of "The Bell Witch: The Full Account." A sequel to his 2009 title, "Ghostly Cries From Dixie," is slated for publication in 2016. Also in the works are "The Outlaws and Ghosts of the Natchez Trace," and his memoir of growing up on Kentucky Lake in rural western Tennessee, "From Turkey Creek - A Memoir." An early reviewer had this to say about Fitzhugh’s upcoming memoir: "Often hysterically funny, sometimes wrenching, Fitzhugh’s straight-shooting memoir is laced with fine storytelling, sharp wit, and acute observations of life in rural Tennessee." A sought-after paranormal researcher and public speaker, Fitzhugh has lectured at bookstores, paranormal conferences, theaters, and universities across the United States. When he is not writing scary books or chasing ghosts, he enjoys photography, eating Southern cuisine, making his guitars scream, and fishing at Turkey Creek.