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Sign up here for the 'Interview with the Taphophile' group list. Meet others with the same cemetery interests as you and keep up-to-date on happenings with TheCemeteryClub.com. You'll stay informed about Epitaphs Magazine.
About TheCemeteryClub.com
TheCemeteryClub.com celebrates the art and history of cemeteries across the country and even the world. TheCemeteryClub.com recognizes the importance of education and cemetery preservation. This site is also the online homebase for Epitaphs Magazine and the non-fiction book, "Cemetery Walk," by Minda Powers-Douglas.
While TheCemeteryClub.com is not necessarily a club per se, it is a place where people with interests in cemeteries can come together. Thanks for visiting! Please join our Yahoo Group list to become part of our community.
Recent site updates:
Home, Catalog (4-27-08); Editing Services (4-26-08); Magazine, Chat & Virtual Book Launch (4-21-08)
Need Editing Services? They're Here!
Do you have a project that needs to be edited? Do you love to write but hate worrying about grammar? Then I'm your man! .... Er, woman!
I'm restarting my editing business to help others in need. Check out my new web page to learn more about the services I offer and why I'm the person who should help you with your pet project.
http://www.TheCemeteryClub.com/editing.html
Virtual Book Launch was Way Cool
My brand new book "Life in Parts: An Interpretation from the Cemetery" is AVAILABLE NOW! It's a book of my gravestone photography with special inspirational quotations as well as original prose by me. It's a project I've been working on between other projects and with little ado. I'm excited to share it with you.
Special thanks to everyone who attended the virtual book launch Sunday, April 20. It was a great time! If you missed it but would still like to see what it was all about, you can check out the chat/launch page. The book is also available for sale there, too.
Click HERE to learn more about the book and to purchase it
Buy Hand-made Gravestone Rubbing Cakes at Great Prices
Hand-made gravestone rubbing wax cakes are now available from TheCemeteryClub.com. They are made specially by Minda for her fellow taphophiles! At only $2 a piece, these are a steal. Check out the catalog page for details
here.
Changes Coming for Epitaphs Magazine Ordering
Since a number of people have had trouble ordering directly from Lulu.com, I'm changing how orders are placed for Epitaphs Magazine. Now all sales will be made directly through me to insure that you receive the best service. More details are available on the EM page.
http://www.thecemeteryclub.com/magazine.html
Send in Your Submissions for Epitaphs Magazine
Submissions are being accepted for the Spring issue of Epitaphs Magazine through April 11. Cemetery articles, photography, interviews, book reviews, etc., are sought for this and other upcoming issues. We are currently seeking strange and unusual tombstone photos. If you have any, send them in!
Cemetery Photo Book Coming Soon
I'm currently at work on a photography book of cemetery images. It's going to be very cool and will be out before "Ghost Walk." Stay tuned!
Taphophile University
Ever wish there was a college for taphophiles? Well, now there is! Sort of. At Taphophile University, we consider all cemetery lovers alumni! Show your college "spirit" and cheer on the Fighting Epitaphs! Buy your Taphophile University stuff here:
http://www.cafepress.com/taphophileu
Minda Announces Start of New Book
That's right. After a two-year book hiatus, I've started working on my next book on haunted cemeteries. This book combines my love of cemeteries and my interest in ghost stories.
And I need your help! If you have had any personal experiences with the paranormal in a cemetery, I want to hear from you. It doesn't matter if you are a professional or amateur ghost hunter or investigator, or if you are just an average person who has had an extraordinary experience, I want to hear from you!
If you have experiences you'd like to share, e-mail me "Haunted Experience" in the subject line at:
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com
Epitaphs Magazine is Now Available! Find Out Who Was Named Taphophile of the Year 2007!
Issue #6 is ready for purchase at Lulu.com. You won't want to miss this awesome issue, because it's filled with more great articles, gorgeous photos ... and the special announcement of Taphophile of the Year 2007!
Issue #6 features: - Taphophile of the Year - Dusty Smith Honorary mention - Beth Santore
- An interview with photographer John Thomas Grant - White bronze monuments - Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis - Find A Grave - A history lesson on coffins - And much more!
Minda's Latest
I've become an ordained minister! Yes, it seems pretty wacky, but since I've been wanting to become a celebrant for a few years, it made sense for me to pursue. Celebrant training hasn't been in the cards for me (I was going to train in 2006 but then found out I was pregnant, and my priorities shifted).
I've developed a website explaining all about the services I'm offering. Stop by sometime!
Only a Few Copies Left of EM Issue #4
If you don't have your copy of Epitaphs Magazine #4, you'd better hurry because there are only 10 left. Order yours today before they are all gone!
Viewpoints Needed for Epitaphs Magazine
I am looking for differing viewpoints on topics for upcoming issues of the magazine. If you would like to share your opinions on the following topics (or others), send an e-mail to the address below:
- In Favor of Cremation/Against Cremation - Traditional Cemeteries/Ecological Cemeteries - Technological Cemeteries/Traditional Cemeteries
I'm looking for differing viewpoints on these topics and more. Send an e-mail first to make sure a topic is not already taken.
Epitaphs Magazine #5 is Now Available!
Subscribers: Read a Special Message Here
It's here! Issue #5 of Epitaphs Magazine! Things are a little different this time--the magazine is now available through
Lulu.com
. You can purchase either a print copy (in full COLOR or BLACK & WHITE!) or an electronic copy (PDF).
For details on the contents of the new issue as well as information for subscribers, go to
the Epitaphs Magazine page.
New Year, Time to Make a Difference
Being an active participant in the world around me has been a big part of my life for many years. It started when I was in college and first began feeling my way around the causes that meant something to me. Then I took matters into my own hands by creating the Girls Make a Difference workshop and then by writing "Cemetery Walk," creating this site and starting Epitaphs Magazine. My cemetery writing is something I do not just because I love them; it is a way I can help people understand and appreciate their importance. Thus, it is very important to me to encourage others to make a difference to the world, too. With this in mind, I have added a section called "Make a Difference" on the Links page. Check it out and make a positive change in the world!
Links
The Chat Room
If you've wanted to have a real-time chat with fellow cemetery lovers but haven't seen a taphophile chat room you could jump into, now you have a place to go! Feel free to chat amongst yourselves or talk part in special chats with Epitaphs Magazine editor Minda Powers-Douglas. You can chat on this site
here
or at Chatango on this page:
http://thecemeteryclub.chatango.com/
'Cemetery Travels, part 1' - Video
I edited my first video piece in a long time last night, in order to reacclimate myself with the process (usually my partner in crime Tim does all that fancy stuff!). It's just a short piece with stills, but the cemeteries are nice. Enjoy!
Cemetery Fiction Added to Site
I just added a new page to the site that features cemetery-related short fiction. Short short fiction is preferred.
I've posted a story I recently wrote, which I'm planning to include in a book of short fiction. I hope you take the chance to read it and let me know what you think. I've recently taken the plunge back into fiction, which I haven't done for a long, long time. I hope you like it. Check it out at
Cemetery Fiction
TheCemeteryClub Now Features Videos
A new feature on TheCemeteryClub.com is a video page. You can now watch cemetery videos created by taphophiles like you. More videos were added 9/13/07.
Plus, if you have a cemetery video you have created, you can place it on
YouTube.com
and send the link to
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com.
Then can post it on this site.
How to Post Photos
It's easy to submit your photos to TheCemeteryClub.com for our Photos sections (organized by U.S. region or international). Just visit Slide.com to get started. If you're not familiar with Slide.com, you must check them out. It's a site that allows you to create slide shows with your photos for free. They also offer image hosting, guestbooks and a bunch of ways to play with your photos and video clips. Plus, it's easy to use.
Submit your photos for the photo pages as slide shows. Just go to Slide.com and set up your slide show (it's super easy). Then e-mail the code to me at minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com, and I'll post it on my site.
Just make sure your slide shows are created by regions (Midwest, Northeast, South, West Coast, International). Also explain your pics in the cutline area. You can see samples of slide shows here: Photos - Vintage Postcards
(1 more added 12/5/07)
Photos - International
(1 more added 12/5/07)
Cemetery Walk
Take a Virtual Tour of Cemetery of Pere-Lachaise
Have you ever wanted to tour the famed Pere-Lachaise Cemetery but haven't made it to France yet? Here's your chance!
http://www.pere-lachaise.com/perelachaise.php?lang=en
Gravestone Symbols Section
Thanks to intern extraordinaire Dusty Smith-Bearden, we now have a section on the site dedicated to Gravestone Symbols. I have most of the list posted, but there is still more to come. Check it out!
Gravestone Symbols
Wanted: Online Interns
TheCemeteryClub.com is seeking interns to assist with various duties. Internship terms are three months and may consist of approximately 5 hours per week with a totally flexible schedule. Work at your own pace!
Intern duties may include: - Researching cemetery sites - Interviewing subjects for magazine articles - Photography - Writing articles - Seeking advertisers - Internet searches
TheCemeteryClub.com internships are non-paying but are great opportunities for building up resumes or for the taphophile who just can't get enough of cemeteries.
No experience is necessary, but if you have writing, photography, PhotoShop experience, etc., you will be set up in the area that suits you best. Interns can be located anywhere in the U.S. and beyond. As long as you have Internet access, you can be an intern!
Submit Your News and Events
Do you have a cemetery event coming up you'd like to promote? Has your favorite cemetery made the news? Send your submissions for our News & Events page to
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com
. Or better yet, place an ad on our site!
Magick Mind Radio Show Featuring Minda
If you missed Minda's appearance on Magick Mind Radio, you can still listen to it on the archives page of the site. Check out Minda, Dusty and Ed as they talk about cemeteries and the paranormal!
Epitaphs Magazine #4 is Still Available
Epitaphs Magazine #4 has been mailed out to subscribers and those who have pre-ordered. If you haven't received yours yet, e-mail me to let me know.
If you would like to order a copy, do so now as supplies are limited. And once they are gone, they will be gone. U.S. buyers send $10 and international buyers send $14 for the issue via
PayPal.com
to minda@thecemeteryclub.com
If you order more than one magazine, though, the total shipping cost will be $2 for up to 4 magazines.
Single issue U.S. $10 Single issue international $14
Advertise with Us
If you have a product, service or business you'd like to promote to a cemetery-loving audience, you should advertise with TheCemeteryClub.com! Our website is gaining more and more visitors, and it's perfect for reaching people interested in the following areas:
- cemetery preservation - geneaology - cemetery-related goods (from industry to novelty) - authors - artists and photographers - and more!
'Cemetery Walk' Receives Favorable International Reviews
Minda's book "Cemetery Walk" received favorable reviews in two international publications: the March-April 2006 issue of International Cemetery & Funeral Management and the March 2006 issue of The British Columbia Genealogist.
The International Cemetery & Funeral Management, which is published by the International Cemetery and Funeral Association (ICFA), notes that "Cemetery Walk" is "a pleasant and amusing book, a great way to divert the idle moment for anybody who likes cemeteries. It would make a fine addition to the bookstore of a historic cemetery or site, any place where the ardent cemetery fan is likely to lurk after that graveyard statue tour or tombstone-viewing expedition." The article also mentions Epitaphs Magazine. You can visit the IFCA's website at
www.icfa.org
.
The British Columbia Genealogist, which is published by the British Columbia Genealogy Society, says the book is "a very personal, sometimes even quirky, introduction to cemetery history and lore and to ideas about death as expressed in art and burial practices. Little is excluded--she discusses post-mortem photography, Victorian cemetery art, modern green burials and the paranormal, for example." You can visit the Society's website at
www.bcgs.ca.
Does Your Site Have What It Takes?
Do you have a cemetery or cemetery-related website? Do you work countless hours on it, adding new photos and tons of information? Don't you wish someone would recognize all your hard work and your fantastic site? Now your wish can come true!
Submit your website's URL for review, and you just may be awarded our coveted "Outstanding Cemetery Site Award." Send an e-mail with your URL to
poetrychick_99@yahoo.com.
Submissions for Epitaphs Magazine Accepted on an On-going Basis
Submissions are being accepted for future issues of EM. General submissions are accepted at any time. For more information, e-mail the editor at
minda.epitaphsmag@gmail.com
Buy Your Copy of "Cemetery Walk" Now
Minda Powers-Douglas' book "Cemetery Walk" is available through Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble.com and other fine stores. You can also buy it from the publisher, AuthorHouse.com.
If you stop by your local bookstore, and "Cemetery Walk" is not on their shelves, please ask them to order it so it is available to local taphophiles. You can also request that they have the author in-store for a book signing and presentation!
have paid their respects at TheCemeteryClub.com since 5/29/04
Support this site with your generous donation. Any amount helps TheCemeteryClub.com stay "alive."
Wanted: Cemetery Books to Review
Have you written a book on cemeteries or one that has a cemetery theme? If so, we want to review it! Themes can include but are not limited to: cemetery research or information, genealogy, funerary, cemetery art/symbolism, architecture, celebrity gravesites, grief assistance, etc. Non-fiction books are preferred, but fiction may be accepted if you send an e-mail query first.
Send a copy of your book to:
Epitaphs Magazine Online PO Box 1163 Moline, IL 61266-1163
Send a self-addressed postage-paid envelope with your book plus a cover letter. Books without postage-paid return envelopes will not be returned.
Now available from AuthorHouse.com, Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, Borders (Davenport, Iowa), Erzulie's Authentic Voudou (New Orleans) and other fine booksellers.
'Gravestone Artwear' is Here!
You can now buy 'Gravestone Artwear' items through TheCemeteryClub.com. Items for sale currently include Gravestone Rubbing Kits and extra accessories, and all-natural herbal Tombstone Soaps. Items coming soon include: T-shirts (with real, historic gravestone rubbing designs), velvet bags, and more.
TheCemeteryClub.com Catalog
Favorite Quote
"Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them." -- Unknown
My brand new book "Life in Parts: An Interpretation from the Cemetery" is AVAILABLE NOW! It's a book of my gravestone photography with special inspirational quotations as well as original prose by me. It's a project I've been working on between other projects and with little ado. I'm excited to share it with you.
Ever wish there was a college for taphophiles? Well, now there is! Sort of. At Taphophile University, we consider all cemetery lovers alumni! Show your college "spirit" and cheer on the Fighting Epitaphs! Buy your Taphophile University stuff here:
