The wait is finally over – Paranormal Wales, the latest must-read from Mark Rees, is here!
Released on Sunday, 15 March 2020, this hauntingly beautiful full-colour book delves into the eerie world of ghosts, myths, and legends from across Wales. You can grab your copy now from all good bookshops and discover the hidden corners of one of the most haunted countries on Earth.
What’s Paranormal Wales about?
Whether you’re a folklore enthusiast, a history buff, or someone who enjoys a good ghost story, Paranormal Wales has something for everyone. Packed with evocative illustrations and gripping storytelling, it’s perfect for curling up with on a dark, stormy night.
Where to get your copy
You can find Paranormal Wales in bookshops across the UK or order it online. If you’re curious to know more about the stories in the book or have questions about Mark’s other projects, feel free to get in touch. He’s always happy to share his love of Welsh folklore and its paranormal underbelly!
Interview with Mark Rees: Paranormal Wales
Ahead of its release, Mark sat down with journalist Jenny White for an interview in the Western Mail. Here’s a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the inspiration behind the book and what makes Wales such fertile ground for ghostly tales:
What inspired this book and, more broadly, what has inspired your fascination with the paranormal stories of Wales?
I’ve been fascinated with ghost stories for as long as I can remember, but I have no idea when and why it started. Maybe it was during my school trips to Llangrannog which, as anyone who was in Welsh language education will know, is incredibly haunted by a certain Black Nun!
Wherever the fascination came from, I’ve wanted to write a book about Wales’ “most haunted” places for a very long time, but I was never interested in just rehashing what was already out there. This is why my previous books on the subject have looked at obscure long-lost stories, not well-known stories.
It was only last year that inspiration struck and I decided to combine what are, to my mind, two very different types of ghost stories into a single book. The first are those more rooted in folklore, which have been passed down for generations and involve suits of armour clanking around old Gothic mansions. The second are the modern-day accounts, such as those seen on the ghost hunting TV shows, which are trying to prove the existence of life after death using scientific methods, rather than just spooking people.
My aim with this book was to look at both side-by-side and to see if there were any connections between the historical tales and more recent sightings.
Tell me a bit about the research process for the book. Did you make any interesting discoveries along the way?
The research process involved a lot of reading, a lot of interviewing and, where possible, going out, rolling up my sleeves, and doing some ghost hunting of my own. I made lots of interesting discoveries along the way, the best of which were those that added new details to already well-known tales.
For example, the story of the White Lady in Oystermouth Castle is a popular ghost story in Swansea, but when you actually go back and dig out the original accounts from the nineteenth century you discover some interesting new facts, as well as a few contradictions.
What are your favourite places, and favourite stories in the book – and why?
My favourite place would probably be the Prince of Wales pub in Kenfig. Besides the fact that it’s just a wonderful pub which serves wonderful food, it also has some incredible stories attached to it which, as far as I know, have been overlooked by other ghost books. It’s always nice to be able to put something new into the world.
Another favourite is Craig-y-Nos Castle because it combines ghost stories with another of my other big passions in life, opera. It is said to be haunted by its former owner, the superstar soprano Adelina Patti, and some claim to have heard her singing there. I also heard of a nice ghost story involving opera at the Wales Millennium Centre but, sadly, I was unable to find out any more information about it and couldn’t include it in the book. If anyone knows anything please let me know!
Want to know more?
From the casual reader to producers and creatives looking for inspiration, the book also opens a window into the rich cultural tapestry of Wales. Its tales are ripe for adaptation, offering settings and stories that feel both timeless and uniquely Welsh. Got a question? Get in touch!
Check out Mark’s other books here, including Ghosts of Wales: Accounts from the Victorian Archives.