Taphophile (noun - Taphophilia)

Also sometimes called a “tombstone tourist”, a taphophile is defined as an individual who has a passion for and enjoyment of cemeteries, epitaphs, gravestone rubbing, photography, art, and history of deaths.

 

My interest in cemeteries and the paranormal began early in my childhood. If I wasn't listening to local legends of a ghostly Woman in White who haunted the nearby cemetery, I was probably reading Goosebumps or watching A Haunting or Ghost Hunters. As a child, I remember begging my mom for money to buy a toy voice recorder which I used to host burst-EVP sessions alone in my room, mimicking what I watched the pro's do on TV.

 

I began ghost hunting more legitimately in 2016 after seeing what modern paranormal content became - demons, possession, and unduly fear-based stories. Honesty, empathy, and excitement were lacking in a lot of paranormal story telling, so I do my best to bring these to the table. I emphasize the element of wonder that I feel within these subjects, and inspire others to feel curious and at-ease when they find themselves face-to-face with the unexplained.

 

As of 2020 (when lock-downs were enforced) I found myself absorbed in my love of cemeteries once again, and have since married my two passions - ghosts and gravestones. In 2020 I co-created and co-hosted on the Ghouls Trip paranormal blog turned podcast (50,000 total listens) and currently produce, edit, and host a new podcast The Taphophile Diaries. I have writings that have been featured in multiple publications of The Feminine Macabre by Amanda R. Woomer covering a variety of topics: scientific theories on the paranormal, the history of vampire lore, and dissecting "Woman in White" legends. On occasion, I submit smaller writings and my own paranormal encounters to zines, including volumes #18 and #19 of the Ghostwatch Zine and a poem featured in issue #6 of the Myth & Lore zine.