When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits [Hardcover]

Mary Ann Winkowski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 22, 2007

Lights flicker on and off for no good reason. You feel drained and inexplicably irritable. Your four-year-old is scared to enter her bedroom.
Tell these things to Mary Ann Winkowski, and she'll tell you that you have a ghost.
A happily married, devout Catholic, suburban mother and full-time paranormal investigator, Mary Ann Winkowski has been able to see earthbound spirits, spirits that are trapped on earth and haven't "crossed over," since she was a little girl. Mary Ann works with these spirits to help them make peace with what keeps them here - whether it be people they can't let go of or homes they love.
In WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK, Mary Ann will tell the amazing story of growing up with this gift, and will share tips on how to recognize when you're not alone, and what to do if you are in the presence of a ghost.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One part spooky, one part inspirational and all-around fascinating, it makes for a spine-tingling read." --Bookpage

"She clarifies the very notion of ghosts and enables readers to explore this subject without the oversimplification or sensationalism often attributed to ghosts in movies." --Library Journal Reviews

"Her neighborly, conversational presentation of a subject that has been shrouded in mystery and controvery for centuries make for an enjoyable and refreshing look at the subject of the afterlife." --The Roanoke Times

"A how-to book for all of us who are fascinated by the unknown... I found it compelling and enlightening." --Chattanooga Times Free Press

"WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK lends an interesting perspective on our popular concept of ghost stories."--The Daily Record --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

About the Author

Mary Ann Winkowski is the paranormal consultant for CBS's Ghost Whisperer and writes a column for CBS.com where she receives over 1000 emails weekly. She has appeared on several talk shows to discuss her paranormal expertise, including The Insider and Entertainment Tonight, is often the featured guest on radio call-in shows, and books speaking engagements across the country. Her personal web site averages two million hits a month.

Mary Ann is a mother and wife, currently living in Ohio.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1st ed edition (October 22, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446581186
• ISBN-13: 978-0446581189
• Product Dimensions: 6.2 x 1 x 9.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,878 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
was born in Cleveland, Ohio and has been communicating with earthbound spirits for most of her life. Her earliest memories involve speaking with the spirits of the deceased as if they were living people and helping these entities cross over into the White Light. Over the course of her work as a paranormal investigator, Mary Ann's reputation
Mary Ann Winkowski has spread around the world. She has long been a consultant to the CBS hit television show "Ghost Whisperer," has appeared on numerous national and local TV and radio news programs and is a much in-demand speaker. She has two-grown daughters and lives with her husband, Ted, in the Cleveland area.

Mary Ann has offered her abilities to those in need across the United States and in far away places such as St. Lucia, and Scotland. She is contacted regularly by Federal agencies and local police precincts investigating cold cases and other unsolved crimes. In addition to private consultations that have taken her into the homes of everyone from high profile celebrities to prominent businessmen, she is contacted by businesses, hospitals, clergy and various organizations, including major-league sports franchises who need her help.

In her first book WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits (Grand Central Publishing, October 2007) Mary Ann shares a lifetime's worth of information about the spirit world and reveals her often surprising interactions with memorable ghosts. In the fall of 2009, THE BOOK OF ILLUMINATION, the first novel in Mary Ann's Ghost File paranormal mystery series, co-written with Maureen Foley, was published by Three Rivers Press of The Crown Publishing Group. The follow-up title, THE ICE CRADLE was published October 2010. In September of 2011 Mary Ann will release her newest work, Beyond Delicious (Clerisy Press). It contains recipes that Mary Ann has gotten from earthbound spirits that she has encountered. Each recipe has the story of the earthbound spirit and why it was so important for that spirit to pass it along before they crossed over.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 68 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking, October 21, 2007

By 

Paul Coleman "psych/author at paul-coleman.com" (Wappingers Falls, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits (Hardcover)

Many books on the subject of ghosts are either silly and trite or leave the reader with many unanswered questions. This book is different--and better. Mary Ann Winkowski claims to see ghosts (earthbound spirits) and is able to speak to them. If you accept that premise then the book's content is fascinating and answers many questions. Readers can and should be skeptical about such claims but if one reads the book with an open and curious mind it will be an enjoyable and enlightening read. It certainly makes you think. What happens to us after we die is always a compelling topic. "When Ghosts Speak" approaches the topic with ideas many people have not fully considered before. If you enjoy an easy, page-turning read about a topic that has always fascinated humankind, you will not be disappointed reading this book.

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeds My Boggle Threshold, January 12, 2008

By 

Michael E. Tymn (Kailua, Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits (Hardcover)

I believe in a spirit world. I believe spirits can communicate through certain people called mediums. I believe Mary Ann Winkowski, the author of this book, is a medium. What I have a hard time believing, however, is that she is as good as the stories in this book suggest. She seems to get names, personal information, and even computer passwords from the spirits without too much difficulty.

I have a pretty high boggle threshold, but this book exceeded it and left me shaking my head and wondering if she embellished some of the stories. It may be that she just mentioned the best cases and made no mention of her failures, but I remain skeptical. It would have really helped my skepticism if she had included an appendix of some kind with testimonials from the various police departments and other agencies or persons she states have been clients.

Most clairvoyant and clairaudient mediums, including James Van Praagh, who wrote the Foreword to the book, struggle to get names and they just get bits and pieces of information, often through symbols. But it is as if Mrs. Winkowski is sitting there talking to them over a cup of coffee, jotting down their verbatim words. She does state that she communicates only with earthbound spirits, i.e., those who have not yet gone into the light, while mediums like Van Praagh, John Edward, Lisa Williams and others known to the public apparently communicate with those who have gone into the light. Perhaps the vibrational level for earthbound spirits is closer to ours and that makes it easier to get information. I have done much study and reading in the area of mediumship and don't recall coming across this division before, i.e., those who can receive communication only from earthbound spirits and those who receive communication only from spirits who have gone into the light. It was a very interesting and educational read for me.

I don't rate a book down just because it exceeds my boggle threshold. It gave me much to think about and ponder on. I look forward to hearing more about Mary Ann Winkowski, but do hope she will offer some testimonials in a future book.

39 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars On par...., November 12, 2007

By 

Sandy Rhoad "Insatiable reader" (Branchville, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: When Ghosts Speak: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits (Hardcover)

This book is fairly interesting with facts I had not read before. I purchased it because the author is connected with the Ghost Whisperer program and I am a devout fan. I am fascinated that Mrs. W, John Edward and Lisa Williams all perceive spirits in a different way. I wish I had the ability === so I read. The one "off-putting" item about the author is that she has a web site where she sells her quince seed protectors. You cannot purchase the seeds in bulk but must pay $40 for a small silver charm with one quince seed inside. I am dubious about individuals who sell their charms at such a high price to readers and such a profit for themselves. I've seen small silver charms for one third the amount and surely a quince seed (which she claims can only be purchased from her relatives in Italy) cannot come so dear. The book was interesting and I am not sorry I purchased it - but hold off in buying her trinkets -- and ALWAYS keep an open mind.