Every Sunday, we turn the spotlight on some great creatives. This week, we have Ryan Sotelo!
Originally from Shickshinny, Ryan currently manages Barre-Bones Paranormal, a NEPA-based paranormal page that shares their findings on the history of hauntings in the area. Ryan is also a travel photographer and drone pilot.
The work that the Barre-Bones groups does can be summed up in 3 words: abandoned, haunted, and history. They showcase paranormal stories from NEPA while also giving insight into local history, legends, and lore. Recently, Ryan published a book,“The Curse of Centralia,” based on the group’s findings of the mysterious locale.
The stories featured in the book come from Ryan’s years of experience exploring the paranormal. While Barre-Bones Paranormal had a variety of stories to include (some which didn’t make the book), Ryan figured writing most of them down was a great start to document his journey. His love for photography and the paranormal complement each other, allowing him to fully flesh out the history of any area he travels to.
Ryan’s process typically begins by taking field notes on his phone and highlighting the main topics he would like to remember. Doing this makes it easier for him to compile stories and Facebook posts to share with the Barre-Bones Paranormal page.
The research the group does inspires Ryan the most. He enjoys the unorthodox nature of the field, especially dealing with stories that can’t be explained scientifically. This allows the group to collaborate with other paranormal enthusiasts.
“Too many people don’t live their dreams because they are too busy living with their fears,” reads a line from Ryan’s book. This strong quote explains what being creative means to him. He believes being creative is about using critiques to fuel your ambitions.
You can purchase “The Curse of Centralia” on Barnes and Noble and be sure to follow Barre-Bones Paranormal on Facebook.
✍️Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barreboness
📖 Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-curse-of-centralia-ryan-sotelo/1140441978
