Originally Posted October 7, 2014 By Burl Barer Author Burl Barer discusses his first meeting with the conman/counterfeiter that led to the writing of MAN OVERBOARD: The Counterfeit Resurrection of Phil Champagne I wasn't the first author to approach Mr. Champagne about a book, and the fact that he hadn't said "yes" to any of them encouraged rather than discouraged me. I fired up my Volvo 1800E, aimed it at Spokane, and passed through security … [Read more...]
[Re-Post] Burl Barer Tells Another Wild Harold Stegeman Story
I was cleaning the garage today, and I found a CD with no label, no nothing. You know, the kind you use to make your own music mixes. I popped it into my cd player, and there was not a single note of music – but there was Secret Service Special Agent Lyle Workman having a conversation with me, over twenty years ago, in which he tells me ANOTHER wild Harold Stegeman story. I recognized Lyle’s voice right away, but it took me a few minutes to grasp … [Read more...]
[Re-Post] Who is the Real Harold Richard Stegeman? Or is it Phil Champagne? Read More in Burl Barer’s MAN OVERBOARD.
Originally posted in 2015 By Burl Barer Phil Champagne, the main character in MAN OVERBOARD, is every bit the rascal at eighty-four years of age as he was when he died in 1982-of course, Phil didn't know he was dead until he read it in the newspaper. Those of you who were born in the '80s or later probably can't imagine it being so easy to make fake driver's licenses with press-on letters you buy at the stationary store, but back in the "old … [Read more...]
[Updated Bio] Meet True Crime Author, Journalist, and Murder Investigation Expert Frank Girardot
FRANK GIRARDOT (born January 1961) is an American author, journalist, victim advocate, and radio host. He is best known for his biography of serial imposter Christian Gerhartsreiter, which will be updated and released by WildBlue Press in 2023 under the title BECOMING CLARK ROCKEFELLER. He is the former editor and columnist for the San Gabriel Valley News Group. Girardot got his start in journalism as a copyboy at the Los Angeles … [Read more...]
[Re-Post] Burl Barer Tells Readers About the Unique Collaboration That Made BETRAYAL IN BLUE
While I've collaborated on writing projects previously, BETRAYAL IN BLUE was a unique experience because not only would this be written with Frank C. Girardot with whom I have an established professional relationship, but also Ken Eurell who is a primary character in the story of police corruption in the NYPD. I knew Ken was a strong personality, and a man who had been through things most of us cannot even begin to imagine. I also knew from … [Read more...]
[Re-Post] In Love With a Dead Man? The True Love Story in Burl Barer’s MAN OVERBOARD
Originally posted June 29, 2015 by Burl Barer Barb Fraley fell in love with Harold Stegeman, who treated her like a queen, provided for her six kids, and built her a new home and her own restaurant. The restaurant went bust, the couple went broke, and then one day at a pancake house, Barb was arrested for passing a counterfeit $100 bill. The next thing she knew, Harold was arrested. Then she discovered that Harold wasn't really Harold-he … [Read more...]
Announcing the Audiobook Edition of Burl Barer’s and Fred Wolfson’s SECRETS OF A HOLLYWOOD PRIVATE EYE, Narrated by Tom Lennon!
Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey into the world of Hollywood's dark secrets and intriguing mysteries? We are thrilled to announce the highly anticipated audiobook edition of SECRETS OF A HOLLYWOOD PRIVATE EYE by Fred Wolfson, where award-winning narrator Tom Lennon brings these thrilling stories to life. Join Fred Wolfson, renowned private investigator, and international hero in the fight against terrorism and human … [Read more...]
From Burl Barer with Punch Stanmirovic—STEALING MANHATTAN: The Untold Story of America’s Billion Dollar Gem Heist Masterminds
True crime author, Burl Barer, has always possessed that all-important knack for seeking out hidden truth and finding it. And with Stealing Manhattan, a book that details, as the author proclaims, a "mega-heist" that involved the taking of "over one billion dollars in diamonds, gold, precious gems, and negotiable currency" that has gone unsolved to this very day. Of course, those who pulled off this caper, were professionals who knew … [Read more...]
SECRETS OF A HOLLYWOOD PRIVATE EYE: A Rollicking No-Holds Barred Expose Of Tinsel Town by Fred Wolfson and Burl Barer
Famous Rock Stars, TV Celebrities, Stone Cold Conmen, A Daring Rescue of Kidnapped Kids, And More! Ready to uncover the truth behind Hollywood's elite? SECRETS OF A HOLLYWOOD PRIVATE EYE is your ultimate source for the juiciest stories, scandals, and gossip from Tinsel Town. Join private investigator Fred Wolfson on thrilling adventures from the glitz and glamour of Bel Air and Beverly Hills to the gritty streets of Hollywood Boulevard. … [Read more...]
Author and Artist Punch Stanimirovic
The artist known as Punch first gained fame as the world's greatest safe cracker who could punch open a safe in under sixteen seconds. He was also a master forger, vandal "aerosol artist" whose legendary street art inspired Sean Sullivan, aka Layercakeny, and the youngest and highest-ranking member of what the FBI first termed the YACS, now known as the Pink Panthers. He served sixteen years in prison, where his artistic talent made him an … [Read more...]
