About The Author: Garcez's maternal Grandfather was a Mescalero Apache from southern New Mexico who had attended the Santa Fe Indian school in his youth. His paternal grandmother was Otomi Indian.
With this cultural background, Garcez had a traditional knowledge to be "cautious and respectful towards spirits, folk/ healers, witches and forces considered to be paranormal in origin."
Garcez currently lives and continues to write from his mountain top home in New Mexico. Garcez states, "The stories speak for themselves. Undoubtedly, some of them will arouse curiosity, speculation, fear, and even cause a few of you to probe further into the subject of the paranormal. I am content to leave you with more questions than answers. In future books I intend to survey other regions of the United States and compile a collection of similar stories. I have no idea where all this research of eye-witness accounts will lead. Frankly, like you, I am just along for the ride, and thus far it has been a ride of extraordinary wonder and unexpected amazement."
Evolution Of This Ghost Book Series:
Garcez first got his interest peaked in the tales of ghosts while employed as the Marketing Director of a Santa Fe Health Care Center. In a conversation over lunch, with the Director of Nurses, their talk soon turned to that of the facility's construction over the site of the original Santa Fe Penitentiary Graveyard. Local residents are well aware of the ghostly occurrences that both visitors and employees have experienced at the facility. Could these hauntings be attributed to the facility being built directly upon the old graveyard—Garcez wanted to know.
Using the local libraries he did find books on ghost towns and legends of New Mexico, but soon discovered that there were no books written specifically on first hand experiences with ghosts.
Juan Ramirez, Garcez's Maternal Grandfather
Maria C. R. Garcez Garcez's Paternal Grandmother
Thinking there must be newly published material, Garcez visited local bookstores and once again he was unable to locate true ghost stories. It was then that a local bookstore owner suggested, "Someone ought to write a book on the ghosts of New Mexico." Garcez set out to do just that.
Garcez began interviewing the night nurses about their experiences with ghosts in the building. He took it upon himself to research ghost stories of northern New Mexico going door to door interviewing residents of both Santa Fe and Taos, some who spoke only Spanish (Garcez is a fluent Spanish speaker), regarding their paranormal encounters.
Garcez's books represent a complex, meticulously crafted body of work. The research offers a comprehensive overview of our relationship with the afterlife, and equally celebrates it. Each book's content is very different from any book ever written on ghosts. Rather than stories handed down from one generation to another, the books are accounts from individuals who have had direct one on one encounters with spirits. These stories are organized by state, city and refer to specific, familiar locations. Each story explores a different aspect of encounters including disembodied voices, full-body apparitions, aromas, animal spirits, shadows, physical contact, even the demonic.
While assembling the research for his books, Garcez easily won the trust of fellow Native Americans, Hispanics, and locals. Garcez's personal literary sensitivities to nuances, cultural insights, and distinct stylistic writing adds to complete this process. The people he interviewed represented a cross-section of people including a New Mexico State Senator, sheriff, hospital administrator, business owners, restaurant managers, indian tribal chairmen, homemakers, and auto mechanics.
These books offer the reader a unique approach towards reflection and contemplation of the spiritual possibilities inherent in each of us. Garcez's focus and experience in the literary spiritualism genre gives his work grounds for recognition as a factual presenter of the after life phenomena.
As a recognized best selling author, winning New Mexico's 2008 Turquoise Book Award, Antonio R. Garcez presents within his books an exploration of the experiences, cultural influences, and beliefs of the unique population that live within the southwest region of the U.S.
Some time ago, Ted Turner Productions filmed a video, "Haunted" in which two of Garcez's stories were featured. He has also been featured on such television shows as, 'America's Most Scariest Places,' and regularly lectures throughout the country. In the immediate future are plans to develop books of ghost encounters in other popular states and major U.S. National Parks. Currently, television and film production programs are also being considered. Make no mistake, these books are unlike any others ever written!
