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...]
Have You Heard? WildBlue Press Books are Trending!
At WildBlue Press, we take pride in bringing you riveting true crime narratives. THE DELPHI MURDERS: The Quest To Find 'The Man On The Bridge' by Nic Edwards and Brian Whitney and GRIM PARADISE: The Cold Case Search for the Mackinac Island Killer by Rod Sadler have been recognized as trending interests. What's more, they've earned a coveted spot on curated indie content lists on both Goodreads and Bookshop.org! Dive into the excitement … [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...]
Author Rod Sadler Unravels the Frances Lacey Cold Case Murder
I was told by a detective that if I had a name, they'd listen. I had a name, and I gave them every bit of information I had while detailing why I felt the person might be someone they should look at. That's the last I heard, and I understand why. Even after sixty years, the murder of Frances Lacey remains unsolved. It's a cold case, and while it's inactive, it's still considered an open case. After thirty years in law enforcement, I never had … [Read more...]
Author Dan Lawton Discusses the Universal Themes Present in ABOVE THE GROUND
I think Kevin Barry Artt's story is universal in its themes-An innocent caught up in a meat grinder, escape from oppression, David against Goliath. But, as an American, I had to learn the history from scratch to tell the story right. I grew up a white kid in suburban southern California, not a Black kid from South Central who had to worry about the LAPD. Police, courts, and laws were respected by everyone we knew. If there'd been a story … [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...]
Susan Hall’s THE WORLD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SERIAL KILLERS Volume 4 (T–Z) is now Available as an Audiobook, Narrated by Angela L. Claxton!
The World Encyclopedia of Serial Killers is the most comprehensive set of its kind. Crafted and curated by Susan Hall, this four-volume compendium boasts an impressive collection of over 1600 entries, chronicling the dark histories of serial killers from around the globe. Listen Now! Volume One: A-D | Volume Two: E-L | Volume Three: M-S | Volume Four: T-Z Defined by the FBI as a person who murders three or more people over a period of time with … [Read more...]
