Shannon Legro has started 2020 with a Bigfoot-sized bang. Legro,along with author Geoff Michael Hopf, have launched Beyond The Fray publishing, as well as its first release “ Beyond The Fray: Bigfoot.” Legro, host of the popular paranormal podcast/radio program Into The Fray, has also been enlisted as part of the Small Town Monsters team, which promises a busy slate in 2020 that includes “On the Trail Of UFOs". The Beyond The Fray imprint’s first release “Beyond The Fray:Bigfoot” focuses on Legro’s years of documenting tales of the elusive cryptid.
Shannon Legro (representing a Punk rock and UFOs tank top) and the Small Town Monsters crew ready for a busy 2020. (Shannon Legro.)
“This book is comprised solely of personal encounters shared with me through interviews on Into The Fray,” said Legro.” . Along with several shared for the first time anywhere, for inclusion within the book. There are no embellishments; just these people's (sometimes life-changing) stories formatted to be digested easily in written form.”
As Into the Fray grew in popularity, Legro saw an opportunity to expand to print to tell these extraordinary stories.
“Geoff and I want to encourage both new and established authors to come to a publishing house that caters specifically to the paranormal and true crime genres,” said :egro.” A place where authors who pen such books can come without fear of ridicule. It is certainly a logical expansion, as both spoken stories and the written word go hand-in-hand. Plus, any authors who come under the BTF umbrella have a wonderful, built-in platform to help their works along. “
Legro’s inclusion to Small Town Monsters was a welcome one. Her years of research, expertise, and perspective assisted to beef up Seth Breedlove’s already entertaining team. Legro was a part of the “On The Trail Of Bigfoot” series, and has been a part of the in-progress investigation of “On The Trail Of UFOs.”
Shannon Legro’s first book is available now. (Handout)
“ I've learned that working with people get along with, (and) truly care about, and share the same passions with, go more than just a long way...it's everything,” said Legro on the experience.” These are some of the hardest working people in the field of independent cryptid/para films, and I'm blessed to be a part. Also, seeing what a film turns into for the final cut when you've been there for the raw, behind the scenes workings of various camera shots, interviews, and b-roll coming together. Spectacular seeing it as a finished product. “
As Into the Fray has been a long-time outlet for people to voice these stories of high strangeness, Legro now has Beyond The Fray to continue lending a voice to the weird.
“Giving people a voice who have experienced something often life-altering, is the entire reason I started iTF,” Legro said. “Having kept my own paranormal encounter shelved for so long, I identify with those that have felt unable to speak of their events even to close family members. Many listeners of iTF would rather hear just about the size and behavior of say, a Bigfoot in a sighting. While this is certainly valuable information to gather, what gets lost is, what it did to the person that saw it. Do they still lose sleep over it? Did they stop going in the woods? The human side of these stories is just as fascinating and important as the event itself. “
-By MIKE DAMANTE