Beyond Spirit Tailings: Montana's Mysteries, Ghosts, and Haunted Places

Montana is alive with things that go bump in the Big Sky night. A World War II serviceman who lingers in a Billings business, a dearly departed priest who still hitchhikes around Helena, and a Hamilton socialite who adorns her mansion with the scent of roses—these are a few of the creepy tales collected across the state in Beyond Spirit Tailings. Passed down through generations, these “spirit tailings” illustrate the subtle presence of the past in the everyday lives of modern Montanans. Richly embroidered with Montana’s unique historical legacy, these eerie and mysterious tales will leave you looking over your shoulder, sleeping with the lights on, and always craving more.In this new and exciting twist, Ellen’s ever-popular historical ghost stories found an enthusiastic reader in world-famous composer and musician Philip Aaberg. Inspired by her stories, he encouraged Ellen to produce an audio version of Beyond Spirit Tailings to which he could add his music. Often, the history we learn from textbooks seems impersonal and leaves us out of its inexorable and compelling flow. However, we all know that a sound or a smell can trigger vivid memories. Ellen and Philip’s spooky collaboration will evoke those places and images that make our imagination such a wonderful (and sometimes unearthly) destination.