Piedmont Phantoms collects ghost stories from the populous central region of North Carolina as part of the Haunted North Carolina series. This book includes stories told around campfires, in grandma's attic, and on nighttime drives on the backroads of the Piedmont. There is a story for each county in the Piedmont, forty in all, including tales of ghosts, witches, demons, spook lights, unidentified flying objects, unexplained phenomena, and more.
"Capitol Haunts," the Wake County story, tells of strange doings at the State Capitol--an unoccupied elevator moving from floor to floor, an unseen hand touching a security guard, the sounds of books falling off shelves and barrels rolling down stairs. "Ghostly Legacy of the Swamp Fox," the Robeson County story, introduces the spirits of the traitor who betrayed Revolutionary War general Francis Marion and the Highland Scot girl who made him do it. "The Hunter at the Zoo," the Randolph County story, describes the ghost of the Confederate recruiter who once hunted human prey at what is now North Carolina Zoological Park.
Piedmont Phantoms contains a new foreword by Scott Mason, WRAL's "Tar Heel Traveler" and author of three North Carolina guidebooks. Other books in the Haunted North Carolina series feature tales of the mountains, Haints of the Hills, and tales of the coast, Seaside Spectres.
Barefoot, Daniel W.: - Daniel Barefoot, former member of the North Carolina Assembly, historian, folklorist, and magician, is the perfect guide to the diverse supernatural history of the state. He is the author of twelve books, including Haunted Halls of Ivy: Ghosts of Southern Colleges and Universities, Hark the Sound of Tar Heel Voices, and Spirits of '76. From 1998 until 2002, Barefoot served three terms in the North Carolina House of Representatives, representing the 44th district. He has served as the city attorney for Lincolnton, North Carolina. He is a frequent speaker to cultural, civic, and church groups throughout the Southeast.
Mason, Scott: - Scott Mason has 35 years of experience in television, and since 2007 he has been WRAL's "Tar Heel Traveler," a segment in which Mason takes viewers around the state to meet the locals, sample the fare, and explore North Carolina's fascinating history and culture. His more than 100 journalism awards include 14 regional Emmys and three National Edward R. Murrow awards, one of broadcasting's highest honors. He has twice been named North Carolina Television Reporter of the Year. His books include Tar Heel Traveler Eats: Food Journeys Across North Carolina and Tar Heel Traveler: Journeys Across North Carolina, a new edition of which will be issued in May 2019.
