Explore More with Amelia #1: Summer 2022

Welcome to my updated Newsletter format, introducing highlights from my recent adventures and projects, stories about cool people, places, and things to explore, and, as always, my upcoming appearances! I started a new job with the Lincoln Park Conservancy in March and am so glad to be living the nonprofit work life again! I also had surgery in May and am grateful to be in recovery. The list of places to watch The R.I.P. Files continues to grow, this time adding CONtv, Dish Network, FuboTV, Google Play, SmartTV, and Twitch. I have a new Contact Form and Subscribe button on my sidebar, so please subscribe by email and write to me any time! Thank you and Happy Hauntings!

~Amelia

Explore More...

Having a spooky good time at
The Haunted Galena Conference.

Galena, Illinois! Founded in 1826, Galena was named after rich lead deposits in the area and was a hub for the lead mining industry during the first part of the 19th century. Located along the bustling Mississippi and Galena Rivers, it was once a contender with Chicago to be Illinois' biggest city and was home to Union General and 18th U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant. Today, Galena is one of the most haunted, romantic, and underrated small towns in the U.S., and is an Illinois hidden gem for foodies, history buffs, nature nuts, paranormal enthusiasts, and winery lovers. I happen to be all of the above and, therefore, Galena is one of my favorite places. I had the joy of being a guest at The Haunted Galena Conference in April and Jonathan and I had a blast. I recommend taking a ghost tour with The Haunted Galena Tour Company for an excellent overview of Galena's ghostly history. Haunted highlights are the DeSoto House Hotel and Dowling House in town, as well as the outlying (and on private property) Ably House in nearby Council Hill.

Spring and Summer Poetry Series Recap

Part of the apparitions project involved sharing poetry and photography from other talented writers and artists, in celebration of the book's publication and this incredible year of poetry. The entire series can be accessed under the Guest Posts label, beginning with Michelle Biller's "Buteo," and concluding with "Selected Photography," by Karl K, Wendy Moxley Roe, and John B. Stephens. I'm grateful to all contributors for sharing their wonderful work and look forward to highlighting more creators in the future, capping off the summer with a Poetry Workshop and with another short poetry series coming this fall.

New Release: apparitions

From Highland Park Poetry Press, 2022

$12.00 Paperback on Amazon

Amazon Best Seller in: Poetry by Women

apparitions explores the cycles of anxiety and depression, from the isolation of trauma and despair to the hope found in connection, reconciliation, redemption, and resiliency. Poet and storyteller Amelia Cotter invites readers to walk the liminal spaces between alienation and belonging, darkness and light, and the earthly and otherworldly in this lovingly curated collection of micro- and prose poetry, including haiku and haibun.

New Item: Abramelin Consecrating Solid Perfume and Anointing Balm

Abramelin Consecrating Solid Perfume and Anointing Balm … $18.00

Each attractively packaged kit comes with one fragrance tin and corresponding affirmation card. Use our Friends & Family coupon code FFD15 for a 15% discount off your entire order from my online Store any time!

Fragrance: Herbaceous, penetrating, warm, and spicy-sweet with a honeyed finish.

Ingredients: Organic Beeswax, Organic Olive Oil, Myrrh Essential Oil, Galangal Essential Oil, Cannabis Essential Oil, and Cinnamon Bark Essential Oil.

Upcoming Appearances

Personal Pans

June 22, 2022

Poetry Workshop at Cuddle Bunny

Summer 2022

Milwaukee Paranormal Conference at Alverno College in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

October 15, 2022

Spooky Stories at Cuddle Bunny

Fall 2022

Guest Post: Selected Photography, by Karl K, Wendy Moxley Roe, and John B. Stephens

Note from Amelia: An early part of the apparitions project involved collecting the poetry and photography of other talented writers and artists to share as part of a greater anthology. This component of the project didn't quite come together for many reasons, but I wanted to share the finest work Jonathan and I received as part of our celebration of the book's publication and this incredible year of poetry. I've shared this spring and summer series alphabetically by last name, concluding with the beautiful and haunting photography of friends and fellow Fortean enthusiasts Karl K, Wendy Moxley Roe, and John B. Stephens. Their portraits below highlight some of Chicago's most haunted places, including Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, Graceland Cemetery, and the Congress Plaza Hotel. I'm grateful to all contributors for sharing their wonderful work and look forward to highlighting more creators in the future, with another short poetry series coming this fall:

Bachelors Grove Cemetery in Midlothian, Illinois.
Photo by Karl K.

Graceland Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo by Wendy Moxley Rowe.

Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago, Illinois.
Photo by John B. Stephens.

"Bachelors Grove Cemetery," copyright 2022 Karl K; "Graceland Cemetery," copyright 2022 Wendy Moxley Rowe; and "Congress Plaza Hotel," copyright 2022 John B. Stephens

Guest Post: Ghosts in the Machine, by Jenene Ravesloot

Note from Amelia: An early part of the apparitions project involved collecting the poetry and photography of other talented writers and artists to share as part of a greater anthology. This component of the project didn't quite come together for many reasons, but I wanted to share the finest work Jonathan and I received as part of our celebration of the book's publication and this incredible year of poetry. I'm sharing this spring and summer series alphabetically by last name. Today's layered, personal haibun, "Ghosts in the Machine," was written by Chicago poet Jenene Ravesloot, one my poetry collaborators and mentors:

Ghosts in the Machine

12/01/2016 PROCEDURE: CT Chest WO Contrast.
LUNGS/CENTRAL AIRWAYS: There is a 1.1 cm right upper lobe spiculated nodule corresponding to the abnormal chest x-ray. There are small satellite nodules adjacent to it.
CONCLUSIONS: 1.1 cm right upper lobe nodule with adjacent satellite lesions. Differential diagnosis includes lung cancer or an active granulomatous process. Recommend a PET scan.

breathing in and out
breathing in and out and in
practicing Zen breath

12/23/2016 PROCEDURE: PET/CT Skull to Thigh.
IMPRESSION: The F-18 FDG PET/CT study demonstrates metabolic activity in the 1cm right upper lobe pulmonary nodule, which is indeterminate for malignancy. If there is a strong clinical suspicion that this could represent an early malignancy, tissue sampling is suggested. Alternatively, follow-up PET/CT imaging in 6 months to one year is suggested to assess for any change in size or metabolic activity. There is no abnormal metabolic activity identified elsewhere in the chest, abdomen, or pelvis.

a small gift from you
a glass globe of swirling snow
many emotions

6/1/2017 PROCEDURE: CT Chest WO Contrast.
CONCLUSIONS: A 15 mm right upper lobe ground-glass nodule is stable from 12/1/2016. Given the size and morphology, this likely represents low-grade lung cancer. Multiple additional ground-glass and solid nodules measuring up to 4 mm are stable.

unable to sleep
the sound of a car alarm
this watchful waiting

11/27/2017 CT Chest WO Contrast.
CONCLUSIONS: A right upper lobe sub-solid nodule measures 18mm compared to 17 mm on 12/1/2016. Given the morphology, this is suspicious for low-grade lung cancer. The differential includes focal fibrosis. Multiple additional ground-glass and solid nodules measuring up to 4 mm are stable.

the final report
surgery recommended
lung cancer likely

"Ghosts in the Machine," copyright 2022 Jenene Ravesloot