Geoff Holder
Encyclopedia
Geoff Holder is a British author. He has written twenty non-fiction
books on the paranormal
, as well as on unusual and unexplained events and objects. His works include The Jacobites and the Supernatural and 101 Things to Do with a Stone Circle, Scottish Bodysnatchers and nine titles in The Guide to the Mysterious... series, covering subjects throughout Britain.
His work encompasses folklore
, archaeology
, local history
, parapsychology
, ghost
s, Forteana, neo-antiquarian
ism, witchcraft
, gargoyle
s and graveyard
s.
He also actively participates to paranormal investigations as a member of The Ghost Club.
, Wales
in 1958, and grew up within the city, before later relocating to Perthshire
. Holder cites an interest in dinosaurs, dragons and all things mythological as an inspiration for his future career.
He spent three years studying with the Open University
, achieving qualifications in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Popular Culture. This was furthered by a degree in Film and Media studies at the University of Stirling
as a mature student, followed by a postgraduate diploma at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
, Dundee.
Whilst attending Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
, he recreated the story of the Garden of Eden on stop-motion film, using figurines from various sci-fi series to play the roles. The cast included He-Man as Jehovah, a Dalek as Samael, and dinosaurs in various supporting roles.
Holder worked as a scriptwriter and producer for production company Speakeasy Productions, in Stanley, Perthshire, writing and producing works including Scotland: The Mysterious Country, a documentary series for STV, and The Mary Millington Story, which aired on Channel 4
.
His early work included contributions to the Perthshire Advertiser
, submitting the weekly column Mysterious Perthshire. His other early journalistic work included pieces on travel and motorbike culture.
).
Since then he has written more than twenty books, including Paranormal Dundee, The Guide to Mysterious Skye & Lochalsh,, The Guide to Mysterious Glasgow and The Guide To The Mysterious Lake District.
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
books on the paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
, as well as on unusual and unexplained events and objects. His works include The Jacobites and the Supernatural and 101 Things to Do with a Stone Circle, Scottish Bodysnatchers and nine titles in The Guide to the Mysterious... series, covering subjects throughout Britain.
His work encompasses folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
, archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
, local history
Local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context and it often concentrates on the local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history...
, parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
, ghost
Ghost
In traditional belief and fiction, a ghost is the soul or spirit of a deceased person or animal that can appear, in visible form or other manifestation, to the living. Descriptions of the apparition of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to...
s, Forteana, neo-antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
ism, witchcraft
Witchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
, gargoyle
Gargoyle
In architecture, a gargoyle is a carved stone grotesque, usually made of granite, with a spout designed to convey water from a roof and away from the side of a building thereby preventing rainwater from running down masonry walls and eroding the mortar between...
s and graveyard
Graveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
s.
He also actively participates to paranormal investigations as a member of The Ghost Club.
Early life and education
Geoff Holder was born in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in 1958, and grew up within the city, before later relocating to Perthshire
Perthshire
Perthshire, officially the County of Perth , is a registration county in central Scotland. It extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, Rannoch Moor and Ben Lui in the west, and Aberfoyle in the south...
. Holder cites an interest in dinosaurs, dragons and all things mythological as an inspiration for his future career.
He spent three years studying with the Open University
Open University
The Open University is a distance learning and research university founded by Royal Charter in the United Kingdom...
, achieving qualifications in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Popular Culture. This was furthered by a degree in Film and Media studies at the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
as a mature student, followed by a postgraduate diploma at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design is an integral part of the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland. It is ranked as one of the top schools of art and design in the United Kingdom and has an outstanding reputation in both practice and research.-History:Attempts were made to...
, Dundee.
Whilst attending Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design
Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design is an integral part of the University of Dundee in Dundee, Scotland. It is ranked as one of the top schools of art and design in the United Kingdom and has an outstanding reputation in both practice and research.-History:Attempts were made to...
, he recreated the story of the Garden of Eden on stop-motion film, using figurines from various sci-fi series to play the roles. The cast included He-Man as Jehovah, a Dalek as Samael, and dinosaurs in various supporting roles.
Career
Throughout his working life, he held jobs including public footpath surveyor, coal shoveller, arts festival assistant, factory worker, fruit picker, civil servant and turkey slaughterhouse worker.Holder worked as a scriptwriter and producer for production company Speakeasy Productions, in Stanley, Perthshire, writing and producing works including Scotland: The Mysterious Country, a documentary series for STV, and The Mary Millington Story, which aired on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
.
His early work included contributions to the Perthshire Advertiser
Perthshire Advertiser
The Perthshire Advertiser is a tabloid newspaper published by Trinity Mirror Scotland in Perth, Scotland. The "PA", as it is commonly known, goes on sale twice a week: a Tuesday edition, and a bigger edition on a Friday...
, submitting the weekly column Mysterious Perthshire. His other early journalistic work included pieces on travel and motorbike culture.
Literary works
The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire was published in December 2006 by Tempus Publishing (now The History PressThe History Press
The History Press is one of the UK’s largest local and specialist history publishers, publishing approximately 500 books per year.Created in December 2007, The History Press has integrated core elements of the NPI Media Group within it, including all existing published titles, plus all the future...
).
Since then he has written more than twenty books, including Paranormal Dundee, The Guide to Mysterious Skye & Lochalsh,, The Guide to Mysterious Glasgow and The Guide To The Mysterious Lake District.