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The Haunted Skies project
Project Haunted Skies is an ongoing unique series of books documenting, on a daily basis, historical reports of British UFO activity between 1940 and the present date by retired West Midlands Police CID Officer John Hanson and his partner, Dawn Holloway, from their home in Alvechurch, Worcestershire. John, born in Didcot, Berkshire, in 1945, was previously sceptical of the existence of UFOs, but became interested in conducting his own research after his son, Christopher - then a Police Constable in the same Force - witnessed a UFO over a Birmingham suburb, in January 1995. John was shocked to find out just how prolific UFO activity had been during the mid to latter part of the 20th Century, and that there was a vast difference between UFO annual statistics declassified by the Government pertaining to reported UFO activity and what had actually taken place. John felt these sighting reports should not be allowed to slip away into obscurity, as they formed part of our British social history. Flying Saucer Review John and Dawn met Gordon Creighton head of Flying Saucer review and showed him their files, he was sufficiently impressed to invite them to be Consultants for the Magazine which they still continue to regard as a privilege. John met Dawn Holloway, born in 1954, during a lecture given at Redditch College, Worcestershire, in 1995, and she agreed to assist him with writing the books. Little did they realise that the actual publication of the books would not come to fruition for another 15 years! The couple approached a number of mainstream publishers and literary agents, hoping that they might be interested in publishing their work. This was done by the traditional method of submitting a synopsis and specimen chapters to a number of literary agents and mainstream publishers. Unfortunately the work was rejected on the grounds that books on British UFOs would not be financially viable, and the couple was advised that they needed to attract the American market. They refused to give up and, through the assistance of BUFORA President Mr. Lionel Beer, were eventually introduced to Jonathan Downes, of CFZ Publications, based in Devon, who agreed to publish their work. Rather naively the couple thought the work would be completed in 4-6Volumes! Unfortunately as the years slipped away, following publication of Volumes 1-6, the couple found the process of putting the books together - following a long journey from the Midlands to Devon, sometimes once or twice a month, at considerable expense, rather than using the facilities of the email service - taking its toll both on their finances and health.

Written works through CFZ Publications Haunted Skies Volume 1 (1940-1959) CFZ Publications 2010 -ISBN: 978-1905723461 Foreword by Tim Good Haunted Skies Volume 2 (1960-1965) CFZ Publications 2010 - ISBN: 978-1905723478 Foreword by Jenny Randles Haunted Skies Volume 3 (1966-1967) CFZ Publications 2010 - ISBN: 978-1905723485 Foreword by Nick Redfern Haunted Skies Volume 4 (1968-1971) CFZ Publications 2010 – ISBN: 978-1905723492: Foreword by Philip Mantle Haunted Skies Volume 5 (1960-1965) CFZ Press 2010   ISBN: 978-1905723508 Foreword by Matt Lyons Haunted Skies Volume 6 (1960-1965) CFZ Press 2010  ISBN: 978-1905723898 Foreword by Kevin Goodman Written work through Haunted Skies Publications In 2010, they launched their own books under the banner of Haunted Skies Publishing, and decided to make some drastic changes, which included increasing pagination of the book, while still keeping the same price. They also decided to enlist the support of Coventry-based veteran UFO enthusiast Bob Tibbitts, who was able to assist them with typesetting of the new books. Now much larger In 2013, Haunted Skies, Volume 7 (1978-1979) ISBN: 978-0957494404 was published with a foreword by David Bryant. Now in Colour In late October 2013, Haunted Skies, Volume 8 (1980), 2010 - ISBN: 978-0957494411 with a foreword by Philip Mantle, was published. This was the beginning of a new era for the couple, as the books were now in colour and over 500 pages in length. In November 2013, Haunted Skies, Volume 9 (1981-1986), 2010 - ISBN: 978-0957494428, with a foreword by Nick Redfern, was completed.

Current work: December 2013 -Volume 10 is being prepared and will cover the years 1987-1988