Author Alex G. Paman Gives Us the Word on Asian Supernatural
By Ann Olson-Dupire, Staff Writer -
www.jazmaonline.comSenior Lead Investigator -
www.hpiparanormal.net Q. Tell me about yourself, where are you from?
A. I am originally from Quezon City in the Philippines, and I currently reside in Sacramento, California.
Q. What are some of your hobbies?
A. I am a graphic designer and illustrator. I’ve also been a freelance journalist for several Filipino-American publications. I enjoy practicing martial arts, staying fit, and researching world culture and cuisine.
Q. Where did you go to school?
A. While in the Philippines, I attended the University of Santo Tomas up to the second grade. This particular school had students from kindergarten all the way through college. Here in Sacramento, I attended Sacramento High School, Sac City Community College, and Sacramento State University. I earned an AA and a BA, respectively
Q. Why are you interested in the paranormal?
A. Mainly because I’m fascinated with the unknown. The paranormal touches upon events and reactions that, in most cases, can be explained rationally, but only in the comfort of a brightly lit room. But things aren’t so clear when one is alone in the dark, and our natural instincts of fear and survival take over. It’s also a curious study on how different cultures create, define, and adapt their belief systems to their environment.
Q. What role does your cultural background play in your writings?
A. I was first exposed to the supernatural specifically because of my cultural background. Filipinos are generally superstitious, and our houses in the city and in the province were said to be haunted. I’ve been hearing ghost stories my whole life.
Q. Tell me about your first book, Asian Supernatural.
A. It is a country-by-country encyclopedia of the various ghost, witch, and demon-types found throughout the Asian/Pacific cultural sphere. Not only does it give an overview of the supernatural phenomena there, it also has a cross-cultural appendix that lists all the similar ghost types that occur in the various countries listed.
Q. What inspired you to write it?
A. Ever since my college days, I’ve purchased every single book I could find that had a shred of information on Asian ghost beliefs, to use as a reference. Having never found one that listed all the Asian/Pacific ghost-types, I decided to write one myself using my collection.
Q. What is your favorite legend or story in this book?
A. I’m particularly pleased with the Philippines’ supernatural section. It is the first time the entire Filipino supernatural pantheon has been detailed in an American publication, and its’ pretty thorough.
Q. When will it become available?
A. It should be available in September.
Q. You have another book on its way?
A. Yes, it is a collection of eerie tales from both sides of my family that spans nearly a hundred years.
Q. What is the title?
A. Filipino Ghost Stories, from Tuttle Press.
Q. What it the subject matter in this next book?
A. It’s about the supernatural again, but specifically Filipino and specific to my family.
Q. When can we expect to see it?
A. It’s being edited now, and it should be available early next year.
Q. I am a Fortean Investigator, I investigate all things paranormal. What is your opinion UFOs, Bigfoot and other more well known creatures?
A. To be honest, I don’t know if they exist or not. Humanity as a species has a natural curiosity to discover, define, and then catalog what it doesn’t know. It’s arrogant to think that we know everything there is to know about the world. It would be great if these entities did exist, but people don’t stop to think what would happen when they finally do capture a Bigfoot or a Loch Ness Monster. It’s kind of like when Westerners first discovered mountain gorillas, okapis, or the Komodo dragon. Once the mystery has been taken away, then interest in these creatures becomes blasé. Researchers move on to the next puzzle.
Are there creatures and phenomena we’ve yet to discover or explain? Absolutely, without a doubt. Just imagine if aliens from a different planet really were among us right now! But it’s always good to approach this subject with a skeptical or scientific mind. There are way too many people who take advantage of false perception to make a profit, or to build themselves a career. It’s also important to note that just because we can’t explain something doesn’t necessarily mean that any explanation goes in defining it. Too many so-called “experts” justify their findings with this mindset, and it’s just plain silly.
Q. Have you had any paranormal experiences yourself?
A. I thought I saw an apparition once after spending a few hours doing watercolors inside a cemetery. I’ve had a few other minor experiences, but I think it was more of the anticipation of something happening that got me nervous.
Q. What are your favorite books, movies, TV shows?
A. I’m that cliché, eclectic-type person who likes different subjects across the spectrum. I’m a huge fan of world mythology and the works of Joseph Campbell. The music from the Pacific Moon record label out of Japan is also out of this world. I try to find common threads that link subjects to science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and gain interest from there. I’ll watch any movie or TV show done well in those genres. Family Guy totally rocks, too.
Q. What advice would you give to aspiring writers out there?
A. Write about a subject that you’re passionate about, and develop a thick skin when it comes to rejection letters. There is literally no formula for literary success, so just keep plugging away. There are many talented writers who have yet to be published, and there are many printed authors who aren’t very good. It pretty much depends on the market and your particular field of interest. The only thing you can control is yourself, and that means you have to be solid when it comes to grammar, punctuation, and storytelling. Being a good editor helps a lot, too.
For more information on Asian Supernatural by Alex G. Paman go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Asian-Supernatural-Alex-G-Paman/dp/156647924X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280463514&sr=1-1
Mon Sep 06, 2010 11:30 pm