Q: Angela, thanks so much for agreeing to do this interview. Here at LipstickMystic.com, we talk a lot about paranormal or mystical experiences, and I know that my readers will be fascinated by your book. In the introduction, you mention how you attended mediumship classes with your daughter. In these classes, you and Ali learned the basics of communicating with people who have passed on. Was there one specific incident in your life that stirred an interest in this subject matter? What sparked your curiosity?

A: I've always experienced odd things in my life that nobody could explain and that I certainly didn't feel comfortable talking about. Perhaps the two most startling events for me were when I saw, in my mind, a vision of a dead little girl who was missing in our town back then. I saw her lying by a large pipe. The next day, they found her, dead near a large pipe. The pipe they showed on TV was the same one I saw in my mind.

In February of 2003, I was watching footage of the anticipated space shuttle landing on Fox News. I used to work in aerospace, so shuttle landings just aren't that exciting for me. A voice said, quite clearly in my left ear, "It's going to crash." I was stunned and upset by my imagination making me hear something that horrible. We turned off the TV and went downstairs for breakfast. A few minutes later, my husband turned on the TV in the dining room and then yelled, "The space shuttle blew up!" I was very upset after that. That was the incident that made me start researching paranormal communication.

Q: What was the mediumship class like? What was the background of the teachers, and what were the other students like? I guess I'm wondering if most of them were there because they were interested in contacting a specific loved one who had died, or were they more focused on just developing their psychic abilities in general?

A: The teacher in the class is the president of one of our local spiritualist churches. None of the students in the class was a professional medium, per se. They were simply regular people like me who were interested in learning how to contact people who have died as well as angels and guides.

Q: You mention that you've done a lot of research on your own over the years, studying different religions, philosophies, and metaphysical ideas. Is there any one branch of study that you were especially drawn to?

A: It took me a while, and quite a lot of personal deprogramming, to undo what organized religion had done to me. Being a good Christian girl, I believed everything the preacher told me. Once I matured, however, I started questioning some of those things. One thing that really made me start asking questions was the fact that every religion thinks that only their members will go to heaven. Do the church leaders really believe that or is it simply a way to control their members, making people think they'll go to hell if they don't attend church and contribute to the weekly offering?

There are far too many religions in the world and no religion is 100% right about what they teach.

Another thing I realized, after having children, is that God states he loves us more than we can even imagine. I can't imagine a love stronger than that which I have for my children. If God loves me more than that, how could he ever shun me or send me to "hell" for doing something (or not doing something) that my religion taught me to do? I don't believe a loving God would send any of his beloved children away no matter what they do. None of that hellfire and brimstone stuff made sense to me once I experienced a parent's love for children.

So, to answer your question, I wasn't drawn to any one religion. Spiritualism is perhaps the least restrictive religion, in my opinion. They don't say they're right and somebody else is wrong. They preach love and acceptance and they encourage free thought and skepticism. If I were to attend church each week (I don't because I'm very disenchanted with organized religion), I would attend a Spiritualist church.

Q: One thing I love about your book is how you include photographs of some of the loved ones who are mentioned in the stories. So, for instance, when Renie (Szilak) Burghardt writes of having a vision of the Hungarian mother she never knew in story number 12, you can see a photograph of her mom as a young woman on the cover. Including these photos was a lovely touch. It made the stories vivid to me. I noticed you also include several pictures of animals. Did a lot of people send you stories and photos about their pets? And didn't you have an experience with a ghost cat in your own home? What was that like?

A: I did have quite a few animal stories come in. I've experienced visits from our dog, Baysha. She came to visit shortly after she died on the night that Max (our toddler) choked on a tortilla chip. He was fine and Baysha's visit that night was a real shocker, but also quite comforting.

Q: Many of the stories in your book moved me to tears. When people experience personal confirmation that our spirits do live on after physical death, it can be an intense and transformational experience. How do you feel that your own experiences with mediumship have changed you? Have they brought you any sense of healing around your own father's early death? Do you find yourself connecting with him in your meditations and prayers?

A: I was raised to fear hell and death. I truly believed as a child that you had to be perfect and you had to live your life just the right way or you'd burn in hell forever. Now, what kind of twisted thing is this to teach our children? I spent many nights as a child terrified of going to hell for childish things I'd done. It still angers me that my minister contributed to that fear.

Meditation and communicating with the other side, including my father, has brought me peace that I never imagined I'd find. I no longer fear death. I know when I die my dad will be right there waiting to show me the way to the other side. I also have three grandmothers who are always near me, whispering and nudging me to do the right thing. They also enjoy the triumphs in my life and they're very proud of me. Everyone has loved ones in spirit around them. And, if you can connect with them, the unconditional love you feel radiating from them is like nothing I can describe. . .almost as though you’re an infant and the people around you are loving, cuddling and caring for you because they cherish you so.

Q: What are your thoughts on some of the famous mediums who are frequently seen on TV these days? I'm thinking of people like John Edward, Sylvia Browne, and James Van Praagh.

A: Oh boy. Gotta love this controversial question!

I, personally, think John Edward is the real thing. Some of the signs he gets are just too unique to be anything else. I've watched dozens of his shows and while some things are general in nature, many things are too detailed to dismiss as coincidence. I don't like Sylvia Browne. I read one of her books one time and her guide (who allegedly wrote that part) wrote some things that I personally don't agree with. I don't like her presence on TV. She seems to put herself above the rest of us and it's hard to find a personal connection when someone does that. And what is it with those 2-inch long fake fingernails? Makes me think she's a witch. Hey, you asked for my personal opinion. She's turned her "gift" into tapes, shows, books and even personal products. What next? A Sylvia Browne doll? I'm sure she's helped some people, but I question her intentions in the field. . . help people or capitalize?

I've read a book by James Van Praagh (and I liked it), but I've never seen him in action so I can't really give an opinion on him.

Q: I agree with you about John Edward. To me, he seems to have a lot of heart. And James Van Praagh appears to be a teddy bear from what little I’ve seen of him working with people on TV. But Sylvia – yeah, she can be so cold with people. One time, I saw her give a reading to a man who was very distraught about two sick loved ones his life. He asked Sylvia if either one of them was going to die in the near future. Sylvia just coldly said, “Grandmother yes, mother no.” And the man sort of sat down in shock. In my opinion, you don’t just announce life-altering predictions in such an arrogant way. It just doesn’t seem responsible to me.

In your book, you talk about how anyone can develop their psychic abilities. It just takes time and patience. Is there any one book, technique, or "tip" that you can share on how best to awaken these dormant talents? I realize that everyone's journey will be different, but maybe there's one main thing that has helped you to access these abilities.

A: Meditation is the key. A friend of mine (perhaps the first person I ever met who was a medium but not a practicing one) said the other side is right there, in front of you. But there's a fuzzy, transparent curtain there so you can't see through. If you meditate, you can eliminate the extraneous noise from your mind (kids, dinner, job, etc.) and relax and focus on seeing through that curtain. It really works!

Q: You write that your own house in Maine appears to be inhabited by several spirits who don't seem to want to leave. Do you think of these more as spirit companions to your family rather than "ghosts" who are "stuck?" What's the difference between a "ghost" and a "spirit," do you think?

A: I'm not sure I believe in ghosts. I know ghosts are spirits and perhaps they're spirits who just don't want to leave. I believe all spirits are completely free to do and go as they please - free will still exists in the afterlife.

We have a spirit named Jonathan living here. We rarely see him, perhaps every couple of months or so, but he keeps hanging around. We've all seen him except my husband Richard. Just this year my son Zach, a highly skeptical, mathematical 17-year-old, saw him for the first time, and he's seen him 3 times now. Each time he sees Jonathan, he starts stuttering and talking fast, telling me exactly what he saw. It's quite endearing to watch his eyes opening to the spirit world. Seeing truly is believing. The last time he saw Jonathan, he was hiding under the desk in Ali's room, which is a favorite hide-and-seek hiding place for the children. I surmised Jonathan was playing with Zach and that, the next time he sees Jonathan, he needs to acknowledge him instead of running away.

I once saw Jonathan when he peeked his head around the shower curtain. Another time, I looked up and he was leaning against our bedroom doorway.

Ali sees him all the time, more than anyone. She sees him so much that she doesn't even talk about all the sightings anymore.

We don't know who Jonathan is, only that he appears to be a boy of about 12 years old with dark brown hair.

Our dog, Baysha has been here a few times and I've seen a man here that I couldn't identify. You see spirits when you're relaxed and not concentrating on anything (like spontaneous meditation). I see spirit lights frequently, but only when I'm daydreaming and in my own little world. When I see one, I'm quickly pulled awake and then I can't see them anymore.

Q. This is so interesting, to hear your first person stories. I think it’s great when people can open up and talk about these experiences. Is there a place on your website where people can go and share their own personal mystical stories?

A. Yes, you can join our forum at: http://www.SpiritStories.com

Q: Thanks so much for spending some time with us today. Your book seems to be a real labor of love, a creation from the heart, and thank you for putting it together! I wish you the best of luck with assembling the second edition. I know I, for one, can't wait to read the stories in the next book. When do you expect to have the second one out?

A: The second edition should be out by the end of this year. I am also collecting stories about amateur and professional mediums for a series of stories on how they discovered and have used their gifts.

To order Real Stories of Spirit Communication, click here: http://www.spiritstories.com

Angela Hoy is the publisher of SpiritStories.com, writers’ website WritersWeekly.com and publishing company Booklocker.com. You can see all of her non-fiction titles at: http://www.AngelaHoy.com