Click on the graphic below to read the June, 2023 Outskirts Press Author Spotlight about John's successes
"John Russell's
Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is an incredible supernatural journey that will mesmerize your soul." — Uri Geller – world-famous psychic, TV personality, author
"John's books provide a unique perspective on the psychic and paranormal realms. Fans of true ghost stories will be entertained by accounts ranging from UFO encounters to Guardian Angel guidance that proved to be life-saving." — George Noory, Host: Coast to Coast AM
"Well written! Easy reading. Fascinating lessons—listen to your intuition and lots of adventures are awaiting you." — Phyllis Galde, Publisher: FATE magazine
"Take a ride with John Russell, not only on his motorcycle but also through his experiences as a psychic with decades of experience.
Riding With Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is both entertaining and insightful with colorful stories about communication with the Other Side. Readers will delight in appreciating John's candidness about his adventures which makes this work a real page turner." — Mike Ricksecker, Author; Researcher; Filmmaker
"John writes like he interviews - warmly, engrossingly, credibly and fascinatingly...always recommended." — Howard Hughes, Host: The Unexplained (UK)
"From being frightened by his first ghostly apparition as a child to understanding fully the psychic ability that allowed it, John Russell has grown into his gifts. His writing takes you along on his beloved Melissa as he rides the roads of the United States to experience the history revealed through his paranormal journeys. They are many, they are interesting, they often give one pause. John is a wonderful writer who provides the reader their own vicarious paranormal experiences. These books are well written, and the stories stand on their own." — Kat Hobson, Host: FATE Magazine Radio
"John's books are riveting, and great for young people like me to
discover stories and accounts of eye-opening glimpses into paranormal realms. Whatever your age or beliefs, these books will open your mind to the realization that there is an unseen world all around us." — Cristina Gomez - KUNX Talk Radio, Host: Strange Paradigms
"
Riding With Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is a wholly readable and fascinating account of a unique protagonist with a gift and passion for the paranormal. The voice is conversational and engaging and the reader feels like they are sitting across the table enjoying compelling story after compelling story. The greatest strength is Russell's clear joy and passion in everything he is sharing, from supernatural adventures to motorcycling. I could see this book, and this compelling character, being adapted into a television series, it'd be like Unsolved Mysteries meets Knight Rider, but instead of Kit the car, you'd have Melissa the motorcycle!" — Judge, 29th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards
"In
Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead be prepared to go on fascinating adventures with motorcycling enthusiast John Russell, a man who has had hundreds of paranormal experiences which he shares a collection of here.
"John is able to make strong connections with those on the 'Other Side' which can make for some amazing tales! I like the historical bent in many of his stories and how he pulls lessons from these strange encounters.
Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is an entertaining read, which might just open you to new experiences -- those paranormal experiences that may be happening right around you if you have the eyes to see!" — Nonfiction Author's Association
"I continue to think that this is one of the most unique manuscripts I've run across. It's entertaining, it's fun...it's not like anything else out there...This is a work to be proud of..." — Andrew Gifford, Founder/Director, Santa Fe Writers Project
"I've written and produced for several paranormal TV shows, so I've come across all stripe of psychics and ghost hunters. The difference with this book is that it's not just a bunch of stories about a random spirit or the bogeyman. John connects the dots between what's happening on the Other Side, and on this mortal coil. He recognizes there is a point where the two connect and is deft in explaining the hows and whys to us all, through insightful, poignant, wise and engaging stories.
"Riding with Ghosts will help you understand there is no such thing as coincidence, but plenty of eye-opening evidence of connections. I highly recommend it." — Jim Mullen, multi-award-winning television producer/editor/writer (Jim was my producer for my TV pilot for The History Channel)
"John Russell—a biker who happens to be a gifted psychic—takes readers on a thrilling ride off the beaten path in this new motorcycle memoir. Fascinating and well written, these thought-provoking recollections of true experiences offer inspiration and entertainment for believers and non-believers alike." — Martha Lawrence, internationally known award winning author of
Pisces Rising; coauthor of
Trust Works!; Executive Editor, The Ken Blanchard Companies
"In his book,
Riding with Ghosts, Angels and the Spirits of the Dead, John Russell takes us on many road trips that are exciting, adventurous, entertaining, and often, scary. When he and his beloved motorcycle, 'Melissa,' hit the pavement, nothing short of extraordinary happens. Having experienced over 800 supernatural occurrences along the highways and byways of America, he shares his amazing adventures with us. Sprinkled with humor and quite a bit of philosophy, the book takes us along with John, to places we might not have dreamed of visiting, and opens up a world of new understanding.
"It's hard to be a naysayer after reading this book, because the author gives us no reason to doubt his experiences. From strange clouds that seem to only hover over just his bike, and no one else's, to owls and Indian spirits guiding his path, each story begs us to continue to read another, and another.
"From beginning to end,
Riding with Ghosts..., is fun, enlightening and informative. The sage in John Russell shows himself, as he gently shares his views of not only his experiences, but the world and its people. It is an interesting read, and one which you will not soon forget." — Adrian Calabrese, Ph.D., author of
How to Get Everything You Ever Wanted; 10 Spiritual Steps to a Magical Life; Sacred Signs
"NPR is doing a segment on ghost stories and other phenomena...I thought of your book immediately. Your stories are much more authentic and interesting than what they presented." — Kenneth L. Decroo, Ph.D., author of
Almost Human; Becoming Human; and
More Than Human
"Fascinating and engrossing; well written, entertaining, and thought-provoking. This delightful paranormal read will keep you turning the pages until the very end, at which time you will be asking for more." — Jeanne S., The Alaskan Gypsy
"John Russell's
Riding with Ghosts, Angels and the Spirits of the Dead is an amusing conglomeration of paranormal experiences that leave the reader wanting more in the end. John has a unique ability to artfully describe his many mystical observations in an intriguing and captivating style. I highly recommend this book." — Ryan Lindsay, The Ryan Lindsay Show
"
Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is amazing.
A Knock in the Attic is fantastic as well. John's books are impossible to put down. I've read so many paranormal books and John's are now at the top of my list of favs. I will definitely be reading them again and again; they are that good." — Shelley Spann Glenney
"For years, I have read books of this type, and I truly loved this one! I read it from cover to cover in one sitting and highly recommend it. This book ranks up there as not only believable but informative as well." — J.L. Wolford on BookBub
"Intriguing, entertaining, and persuasive. John is a great writer. This is an enjoyable read, captivating from the start to the very end...a wide array of paranormal experiences with a great range of intensity locks in the reader for the entire experience." — Johannes Schwarz
"I love
Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead. There is nothing similar compared to anything I've read before...your book is so genuine and real. I was completely immersed in your book, especially when you talked about your friends and riding experiences...Your book changed my perceptions about what the supernatural, a psychic, and a biker really is." — Shan Su
"I enjoyed every story...I was reminded of the
Celestine Prophecy, and by the end I decided your book was ultimately more enjoyable for me. Thanks, John. Your amazing command of the language and your excellent maneuvering of the art of composition astound me in this day and age when there is no appreciation for the written word." — Barbara Montgomery
"You have such a unique story and angle, and your writing is very entertaining..." — A.G.
EDITORIAL REVIEWS
"In this entertaining debut autobiography, Russell ('I've been a professional psychic for over 45 years and a biker for over 50') shares his curious experiences with what he calls the Other Side and his love for stumbling onto those experiences while riding his motorcycle, Melissa. He describes overwhelming urges to travel for unknown reasons, resulting in new and unexpected discoveries upon arrival, and instances in which friends and pets who have passed away are still present. From irregular movements of vegetation to paranormal battle reenactments and a spirit who saved his life when he was overheated, Russell excitedly recounts his experiences.
"He also unabashedly admits there are a lot of things he doesn't know, such as the purpose and meaning behind his specific experiences, and relays the frustrations of having too many unanswered questions and being unable to direct his interactions with the supernatural. Though some will question the validity or explain away his encounters, readers will be charmed by his freewheeling prose ('I...look up...expecting to see a whirling mass of tornadic doom—Damn it...I'm too young to die!—and instead I'm greeted by the sight of a shiny metallic looking disc...I literally perform a cartoon-style eye rub').
"His affection for things natural and supernatural—he calls a particular branch 'my old friend' and dedicates the book to 'my guys on the Other Side'—and his gratitude for these experiences are infectious. Russell brings his treks to life with vibrant immediacy. His unadulterated joy and way with words yield an entertaining and meaningful account." — BookLife (by Publishers Weekly)
"Russell offers stories and insights from his experiences as a fun-loving, motorcycle-riding medium.
"The author writes that he's been a psychic for more than 45 years, and that he's had more than 800 paranormal experiences during that time. His account of these brushes with the beyond range from the uncanny to the heartwarming, and according to Russell, they've given him unique insight into the world of the supernatural. Over the course of 15 chapters, he takes readers through some of these incredible encounters and relates the lessons he's learned from them. All but one of the chapters are dedicated to a specific paranormal experience, and the book jumps between different points in Russell's spiritual journey. They include the story of how 'the Other Side' enabled Russell to find closure regarding a personal obsession; the discovery of Abraham Lincoln's hearse; and mysterious graves in Banana, Florida. There's even a surreal tale about how he believes that the Other Side answered his curiosity about crop circles through a series of signs. Among the most entertaining accounts in this memoir is of Russell's first encounter with UFOs, about which the then 20-something psychic was initially skeptical. Overall, the author presents an accessible page-turner, written in a lively but matter-of-fact tone. There are heartfelt and inspiring stories about visitations from the spirits of deceased pets and about entities from beyond offering protection in times of danger, and they strike the reassuring notes that fans of supernatural stories will appreciate. However, Russell's work is neither solemn nor preachy. Instead, he maintains a lighthearted tone throughout, offering many funny moments. Moreover, he embraces the confusion and chaos of the supernatural, never suggesting that he has answers to every question.
"Devout spiritualists and supernatural curiosity seekers will both enjoy this memoir." —
KIRKUS REVIEWS
"Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is a work of non-fiction in the spiritual, supernatural, and life experience sub-genres, and was penned by author John Russell. An extraordinary and intriguing work, the book explains the pursuits of the author in relation to his psychic and paranormal talents and is written for adult audiences owing to the use of some explicit language on occasion. Working as a professional psychic, we journey with Russell on his motorcycle as he rides from tale to tale, offering historical and contemporary paranormal experiences or, as the author himself puts it, some really entertaining ghost stories which also happen to be true.
"Whether you fully believe in paranormal phenomena or not, author John Russell delivers a superbly well-penned and highly engaging collection of tales to enjoy. The series of stories and essays are all episodic in nature, meaning that you can turn to any story in any order and really enjoy it as a capsule of intrigue, humor, darkness, and discovery. What won me over time and again was the spirit of the author himself, whose nature is easy-going and enthusiastic in his pursuit and depiction of his many different experiences. This makes the book a true winner on every page for its writing style alone. Overall, I would highly recommend
Riding with Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead to all readers who enjoy exploring the true-life paranormal experiences of others and take an interest in the psychic profession." — 5 Star Review by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Summary
Riding With Ghosts, Angels, and the Spirits of the Dead is a memoir by John Russell. He has been a professional psychic for over 45 years, and a biker for over 50; he's also an ordained minister. In this book, he shared many stories of psychic and paranormal adventures that are truly unique in the realm of spiritual literature.
Review
"I fell in love with the way this book was written! Considering the gravity of situations and paranormal occurrences, the author's narrative was very entertaining! I think contrary to the author's belief that he might be perceived as tetched in the head, I don't think that at all. If anything, he is gifted and courageous for accepting his gifts. I would've been dead of a heart attack, or would've been in an asylum if I had acquired psychic abilities like he did, so I am so glad I didn't. But I admire how he's full of optimism, and how much connected he is with nature, animals, and otherworldly beings.
"I love everything about this book. My most favorite parts are the ones with his best friend Bill because they are hilarious. I love how Bill accepts John as he is, but doesn't want anything to do with anything paranormal. I was teary-eyed because those moments cracked me up a lot. I can very much relate with Bill! My closest college friend, whom I shared a room with when we were reviewing for the board exam in Manila, has psychic abilities. She can see dead people, or predict when someone's about to call, and knows a lot about mystical beings other than ghosts. I was always scared out of my wits whenever she told me about a presence in the room, then I would act like I didn't hear anything. My favorite niece and his brother (my nephew), also have what they refer to as 'third eye' and I remember how much that creeped me out way back when we all lived together in the same house.
"This book is definitely 5 out of 5 stars! It's a huge affirmation to this mysterious world that we live in, and a complete verification that there are more to this world that only those who believe will ever know. I highly recommend this to ALL readers who believe in the paranormal." — Shey Saints Reviews
