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Events/Interviews

UPCOMING 2024


March 14, 2024: Author Spotlight, Harvard Extension Alumni Association, 7 pm (online)
May 10, 2024: Chapter & Verse, Loring Greenough House, Jamaica Plain, MA (in person)

To book Lesley for interviews or readings please write lesley.bannatyne@gmail.com.

Reading Grace in your book club? Lesley is happy to join you when you discuss the book - zoom or in real life.

Selected appearances

January 11, 2024: Arlington Author Salon, Kickstand Cafe, 7:30

March 20, 2022 Book Launch, Cambridge Brewing Company, Cambridge, MA

April 30, 2023, Private event, Newton, MA
June 11, 2023: Private event, Newton, MA
June 20, 2022 Writing Workshop, North Conway, NH
July 5, 2022 Book Club Event, Penn Yan, NY
July 13, 2022 Book Club Event, Fairfield, CT
July 27 and September 7, 2022: 4-6pm: Locally sourced, organically grown literature



Lesley Bannatyne and Denise Provost, Davis Square Farmer's Market, Somerville
READ THE STORY: Somerville Times: Writers run local literature stand at Davis Square Farmers Market

September 10, 2022
Lesley Bannatyne and Kate Chadbourne
Somerville Public Library, Free and open to all.



September 13, 2022 Book club, New York City
October 30, 2022: Chris Kimball's Milk Street Radio
October 28, 2022: The Why, Newsy (at 9:00)
October 2022: Our American Stories
March 11, 2023: Writer's Winter Market, 1-4 pm, Somerville, MA
w/Lloyd Schwartz, Denise Provost, Kevin M. McIntosh, Dave Ortega, Lesley Bannatyne

Television, Radio, Podcasts, Interviews

Television (selected)
Good Morning America, digital version 2021
NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt 2021
WGBH Curiosity Desk w/Edgar Herrick, Why do we carve pumpkins? 2021
Shock Docs: This is Halloween, Travel Channel 2020

This is Halloween, Travel Channel 2020

The Real Story of Halloween, History Channel 2010

Haunted History of Halloween, History Channel, 1997

Why Halloween Matters, CNN, 2020
WCCO-TV CBS, Minneapolis, 2020
TRT World Showcase, Istanbul (English language television) 2019
CNN Halloween broadcast, 10.31.17 (Halloween history)
Caravan to Midnight w/ John B Wells 10.26.17
30 Odd Minutes with Jeff Belanger. Episode 74.
History Channel: The Haunted History of Halloween (annual rotation)
History Channel: The Real Story of Halloween (annual rotation)
AHCTV: “America: Fact vs. Fiction”- How Halloween Has Changed (annual rotation)

Radio/Podcasts (selected)

The Why, Newsy 2022
MysteriousRadio.com 2022
ParanormalPerception 2022
Hauntopic.com 2022
Chitchat Cafe 2022
I've Got Questions w/Mike Simpson 2022
Anomicage 2022
Getting Schooled w/ Abby Hornacek 2021
Our American Stories, iheartradio, 2021
I Am Heretic podcast w/Douglas Little, 2021
Aspire with Osha: art, nature, humanity, WKSVY, 2021
Chasing Prophecy radio, New Orleans, 2020, 2022
Jay Talking, WBZ Boston 2019
Brian Lehrer show, WNYC 2019
Beyond Reality radio, 2018
Talk Radio, Howard Hughes Show, BBC, 2018
Harvard University: Lecture, 2018
Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, MA: Lecture, 2018
Strange Frequencies Radio 10.24.18
Keeping the Spirits Alive! 10.17.17
Caravan to Midnight w/John B. Wells, October 26, 2017
Hauntcast Radio: Episode 30: “Aural Fixation”
WGBH Radio: Haunting the Lynn Public Library, 2015
Iowa Public Radio: The Power of Costuming, 2015
Spirit Talk: Interview with Chris Fleming (Dead Famous)
Scary Visions: My Interview with the Halloween Goddess
Geekspeak radio interview
Talking Halloween with All Hallows Radio
WBGH The Callie Crossley Show: “Halloween’s Haunted History”

Print/web (selected)

Milaukee Journal Sentinel, Full Moon on Halloween 10.26.20
Today.com, Halloween History for Kids 10.23.20
New York Times, 2019, Pop Culture Costumes
History.com, 2019 Costume Trends
atlas obscura, 2019, Scottish Singles Used to Spend Halloween Picking Kale
Readers Digest, 2019, Costumes
Time Magazine: Why We Carve Jack-o-lanterns
The Atlantic: Trick or Treating Isn't What It Used To Be
Global News Canada: Sexification of Halloween
Wall Street Journal: Saying Boo to Halloween
Wall Street Journal: How the Grinch Stole Halloween
Harvard Gazette: After Five Books...
Chicago Tribune: What do you say if your neighbor's decorations are too scary?
HuffPost Live: Halloween History
BBC News: The Translatlantic Halloween Divide
Time Magazine: The definitive history of sexy halloween costumes
National Geographic: Vintage Costumes
Houston Chronicle: Bring on the Halloween FantasySlate Magazine: When did Halloween gets so tawdry?

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Selected Appearances & Events

2020 -2021
[covid]

2018
Harvard University: Lecture, October 31
Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain, MA: Lecture, October 19

2017
CNN, Regional broadcasts, October 31
Dining With the Dead, Wyndham Inn, October 30

2016
October 30 2:00pm: Bedford Historical Society

2014
National Arts Club, NYC [author talk]
Morbid Anatomy Museum, Brooklyn NY [author talk]
New England Mobile Book Fair, Newton MA
Rodgers Library, Hudson, MA

2013
HauntCon, Dallas, TX
Tewksbury Public Library, MA [author talk]
Books and Boos, CT [author talk]
The Book Shop, MA [reading]
Bestsellers Cafe, MA [reading]
Writer's residency, University of Central Oklahoma

2012
Midwest Haunters Con, Columbus, OH
Newton Historical Society, Jackson Homestead
Annie's Bookshop, Worcester, MA
omerville Public Library. Somerville MA
leepy Hollow Cemetery, Sleepy Hollow, NY

2011
HauntCon, Louisville, KY [book signing]
National Haunters Converntion, Valley Forge, PA [talk]
leepy Hollow Cemetery, New York, 4:00 pm [talk]
Charlestown Public Library, Charlestown, MA 7:30 pm [talk]
Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Bellingham, MA, 12 noon-2pm [signing]
Haunted Overload, Lee NH, noon [book signing]
Inn Magnolia, Gloucester, MA, 7pm [reading and ghost exploration]
Barnes and Noble, Burlington, MA 3pm [discussion and signing]
Meisner Program on CFISFM ([interview]
Omen, Salem, MA [book signing]
Manchester By the Book, Manchester, MA, [reading and signing]
Somerville Halloween Fair [signing]
October 27: Gonson Society Lecture Series, CCAE, Cambridge, MA, noon [talk]
October 29: Haunted Overload, Lee, NH [book signing]

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The Way Back Machine


—>2010
Greenwich Village parade, 2008
Mammapalooza! Reading at Harvard Square Oktoberfest
Harvard Coop Bookstore, Harvard Square, Cambridge, MA: WITCHES' NIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN BOOK RELEASE PARTY, 2007
McIntyre and Moore Booksellers, Elm Street, Davis Square Somerville:
WITCHES NIGHT BEFORE HALLOWEEN READING AND GUINNESS RECORD BREAKING ATTEMPT (Number of Halloween Witches)
Wizard Rock Fest in Harvard Yard, Cambridge, MA
St. Louis Museum of Art
Global Halloween Convergence, New Orleans
Halloween Opera, Jim Thorpe, PA