New Mexico is a land of shadow and mystery. From the old coal mines near Raton and the isolation of Isleta Pueblo to the peaks of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and beyond, ghouls and spirits lie in wait. Witches transform into vampire bats, werewolves howl and the undead rise with the light of the moon. La Llorona walks the banks of rivers and roads, her legendary and mournful cries terrifying any who cross her path. They are stories passed down by the fearless Comancheros, devoted Franciscan monks, fierce ciboleros and others to the present day as warnings of the evil in the world. In a captivating exploration of New Mexico's most fearful tales, Ray John de Aragon recounts stories from the state's rich and spine-chilling cultural folklore.
Ray John de Aragon was born in Las Vegas, New Mexico. He has always enjoyed listening to the older members of his community tell about ghosts they claimed they heard or saw. In college, he studied "‹ education"‹ "‹and went on to earn advanced degrees in American studies with an emphasis on Spanish history, customs and language of New Mexico"‹, including folklore"‹. The author's interest was in preserving the oral "ghost" history of the region and passing this on to future generations.