PRESS RELEASE Of interest to editors and journalists covering: Entertainment, General Editorial, Holiday Features, Dotcom, IL Business The Journals of Father Nick Thomas Web Site Launches in Time for Christmas Offering Original Christmas Ghost Stories to Enliven the Holiday Spirit CHICAGO, IL - December 8, 2003 /Send2Press Newswire/ -- Chicago-based writer and storyteller Kevin Frantz announced today the launch of his unique website, The Journals of Father Nick Thomas (www.fathernickthomas.com), that publishes original Christmas ghost stories for all ages. "At one time, it was commonplace to tell ghost stories while sitting around the fireplace on Christmas Eve, even if the stories didn't revolve around Christmas," says Frantz. By offering a series of such stories, he is attempting to breathe new life into a largely bygone tradition and recapture "one of the truly great joys of the season." "Christmas ghosts have been a part of the holiday tradition for centuries," Frantz points out. You can find many fine examples of these stories from writers like Hans Christian Anderson and Nathaniel Hawthorne to Scrooge's scary poltergeists in perennial favorite, A Christmas Carol. Christmas ghost stories have also been a source of superstitions related to good health and luck. It was believed that, at midnight on Christmas Eve, the front door should be opened to let out any evil spirits. A lighted candle was then placed in the window. If it remained lit throughout the night, the residents would have good luck that year; if it went out, they would experience bad luck. Another hoary chestnut claimed that children born on Christmas Day would never be troubled by ghosts, drown or be hanged. Frantz started off writing Christmas stories (which can be found in the archives of the web site) but decided it would be more interesting if he could add an element of horror. To enhance the sinister atmosphere of the stories, they are narrated by a character named Father Nick Thomas. Father Nick, an 88-year-old priest, appears as a cloaked, almost ghostly, presence on the web site. (Pictures on the web site are available for use in publications.) The Christmas stories are based on his journals and are updated each month. The stories are short so that they can be easily printed out and read around the Christmas tree. The site has a section called "Nick Thomas Presents...." where authors can submit their own original ghost stories for publication. Writers receive $25 for each story that is selected for the site. There is also the Nick Thomas Foggy Night Award, a writing award given on Halloween for the best story published in the Nick Thomas Presents series. The winning entry receives $250. Visitors to The Journals of Father Nick Thomas web site can access Father Nick's Roundtable, a forum where members can exchange ideas, stories and messages about the site. The site also includes helpful links to related information that ranges from sources for storytellers, sites about exorcism and myths and legends, to ghost hunter stories and Gothic tales. More information: http://www.fathernickthomas.com Media Contact Kevin Frantz of Memories Productions Inc. +1-630-305-9626 kevinjamez@hotmail.com # # # [ source of news = Memories Productions Inc. ] ref: http://www.send2press.com/2archive/2003/pr_03_1209-fathernick.txt --------------------------------------------------------------------------- *Important Note to Media: to reach the organization releasing this news, please contact: kevinjamez@hotmail.com If used for publication, please send specimen copy. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- S2P-NS/0c/ IL / Chicago, Illinois / Copr. (c) 2003 Send2Press. (AB) This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(TM), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com .