People in Strange Sciences Series: Loren Coleman

Born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1947 - raised in Decatur Illinois, American Loren Coleman studies the weird and strange. Aided in his research of cryptozoology by formal studies in anthropology and zoology, Coleman also has schooling in psychiatric social work and is a writer on paranormal and cryptozoological phenomena.

Labeled a "Fortean," Coleman's viewpoints do tend toward the open-minded where paranormal phenomena and strange life forms are concerned.

Other topics Coleman writes on are folklore, popular culture and animal mysteries - in addition to articles and books on cryptozoology and related topics. Considered one of the more reputable scholars in the field of strange sciences and Fortean topics, Coleman was even a publicity consultant on the 2002 film, The Mothman Prophecies, based loosely on John Keel's book of the same name.

Coleman is a consultant and researcher on such things as cryptozoological and strange animal sightings, trace evidence and is considered a sort of specialist on Native peoples' traditions concerning Sasquatch/Windigo or Bigfoot legends and sightings. This author has written on the strange creature called "Yeti," and about fellow cryptid researcher and Fortean, Tom Slick in a book called, "Tom Slick and the Search for Yeti." Coleman added another work to his list with a 2002 book called, "Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology." This second piece of work outlines details on Tom Slick's "adventures" into cryptozoology, science, art, politics and his involvement with both the CIA and Howard Hughes.

In 2003, Loren Coleman put his International Cryptozoology Museum out for the public to view and enjoy. The website connected with this special Museum in Portland, Maine U.S.A. is located here: http://www.cryptozoologymuseum.com/

Loren Coleman also shares an internet address and writes articles at the cryptomundo site. Found here: http://www.cryptomundo.com/ On this site/blog, Coleman co-authors with fellow Forteans, fellow researchers and authors, Craig Wollheater, John Kirk, Rick Noll.

Aside from his work in the strange sciences fields, Coleman also actively participates in the social sciences fields. A particularly important concern Coleman appears to have is the problem of teen/youth murder-suicides. For this reason, Coleman is actively involved in using his masters of social work degree to act as a consultant for Maine's "Youth Suicide Program." A particular concern that main workers, Coleman included, are keeping their eyes on are the issues of influence of media coverage on these same youth groups as well as 'clusters' of youth groups who are at risk for murder-suicides. Coleman has been so concerned about these issues that he wrote the book, "The Copycat Effect."

Details on "The Copycat Effect" can be found on Loren Coleman's personal website: http://www.lorencoleman.com/copycateffect/

According to details on Mr. Coleman's own website, he has been working in the mental health field a good, long time - since 1967, has authored, co-authored or edited over 25 books (including "Suicide Clusters" as well as "The Copycat Effect" and others), and he's appeared on The Larry King Show (to discuss 'suicide' topic and books)... Coleman has also done research work on the suicides of baseball players, including Angels pitcher named Donnie Moore. For this work, Coleman has been interviewed by The New York Times, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News - and has been on television's ESPN SportsCenter (1989) and ESPN Classics (2001). He's discussed various topics such as mass suicides and murder, topics of Heaven's Gate, Waco, Hemingway, Columbine, Dawson College and other school and celebrity shootings. He's been a highly esteemed consultant in this field of mental health and research in both the U.S.A. and Canada - providing assistance in helping people learn more about suicide clusters, school violence and mass suicides since the 1980's. It is believed that he has helped train over 10,000 professionals and paraprofessionals in Maine on these matters in the past decade.

Obviously, Coleman's contributions to certain mental health feilds are at least as important as his contributions to Fortean circles of knowledge and experience.