BSCTC students explore Kentucky’s paranormal stories with local authors

Published on Oct 23, 2026

Big Sandy Community and Technical College students got a closer look at Kentucky’s paranormal stories Monday, Oct. 19, during a special presentation at the college’s Pikeville Campus.

Marie Mitchell and Mason Smith, authors of Paranormal Kentucky: An Uncommon Wealth of Close Encounters with Aliens, Ghosts, and Cryptids, met with students in the campus student lounge to share stories and discuss the research behind their book, published by the University Press of Kentucky in 2025.

The former journalists and retired educators at Eastern Kentucky University discussed their experiences traveling into the field and speaking with people who have encountered paranormal phenomena.

The presentation gave Big Sandy students an opportunity to learn about Kentucky’s lesser-known stories and the research involved in documenting the state’s paranormal history.

Students interested in reading Paranormal Kentucky can check out a copy from the campus library.