Antonio R. Garcez has embarked on a journey of the spiritual and supernatural that has led him down a remarkable path. Each of his best selling books, New Mexico Ghost Stories, Arizona Ghost Stories, American Indian Ghost Stories of the Southwest, Ghost Stories of California’s Gold Rush Country and Yosemite National Park, and Colorado Ghost Stories are comprised from personal stories directly transcribed from an interview format of residents who have experienced first-hand encounters with ghosts. His personal favorite, American Indian Ghost Stories of The Southwest, is the first book written and published by a Native American featuring personal ghost encounters, as experienced by Native American people. Garcez, who was once the Marketing Director of, a Health Care Center in Santa Fe, first got his interest peaked in the tales of ghosts while speaking about hospice patients with the facility Director of Nurses over lunch. Their talk soon turned to that of the Health Care
Center, where they were working — a facility which was, at the time of their discussion, only five years old and built on the site of the original Santa Fe Penitentiary Graveyard. The Penitentiary existed when it was not uncommon for local outlaws to be hung for their crimes. During that time in New Mexican history, it was common for cattle rustlers and horse thieves to also be “put to justice.” Eventually the Penitentiary was relocated to the southern portion of the city. Local Santa Fe 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. Garcez, who was raised in a home with strong traditional ties to the spiritual world, began talking to the night nurses about their experiences with ghost in the building. He then took it upon himself to research ghost stories of New Mexico. 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 specificly on GHOSTS. Thinking there must be newly published material, he visited local bookstores. Once again he was unable to locate material on GHOSTS. It was then that a local bookstore owner suggested that, “Someone ought to write a book on the ghosts of New Mexico.” Garcez set out to do just that.
Garcez went door to door interviewing residents of both Santa Fe and Taos, some who spoke only Spanish (Antonio is a fluent Spanish speaker), regarding their experiences with ghosts. 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.” While assembling the research for his books, Garcez easily won the trust of Native Americans, Hispanics, and locals. The people he interviewed represented a cross-section of people including nurses, janitors, administrators, laborers and everyday people. Garcez also interviewed New Mexico State Senator Mary Jane Garcia, who provided him with her personal experiences with several ghosts in her home village of Dona Ana. Some time ago, Ted Turner Productions filmed a video, “Haunted” in which two of Garcez’s books were featured. He has also been featured on such television shows as, ‘America’s Most Scariest Places’, and regularly lectures throughout the country at universities and conferences. 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. Garcez currently lives and continues to write from his home in New Mexico.
The author 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.”
Garcez went door to door interviewing residents of both Santa Fe and Taos, some who spoke only Spanish (Antonio is a fluent Spanish speaker), regarding their experiences with ghosts. 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.” While assembling the research for his books, Garcez easily won the trust of Native Americans, Hispanics, and locals. The people he interviewed represented a cross-section of people including nurses, janitors, administrators, laborers and everyday people. Garcez also interviewed New Mexico State Senator Mary Jane Garcia, who provided him with her personal experiences with several ghosts in her home village of Dona Ana. Some time ago, Ted Turner Productions filmed a video, “Haunted” in which two of Garcez’s books were featured. He has also been featured on such television shows as, ‘America’s Most Scariest Places’, and regularly lectures throughout the country at universities and conferences. 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. Garcez currently lives and continues to write from his home in New Mexico.