Loren Coleman — author of Mothman and Other Curious Encounters, from Cosimo imprint Paraview, and Mysterious America: The Ultimate Guide to the Nation’s Weirdest Wonders, Strangest Spots, and Creepiest Creatures, from Paraview Pocket Books — was recently noted for his culture contributions to the city of Portland, Maine:

At last night’s Portland Phoenix annual “Best of Portland” Red Carpet VIP Dinner and Awards Party, the International Cryptozoology Museum won, in its first year of operation, as this year’s “Best of Portland” winner for “Best Museum.” In a night filled with surprises, where the awards to be announced were picked randomly out of a presentation box, the “Best Museum” award came first. I found myself having to break the ice by going up to receive my plaque at the start of the evening, not even knowing if an acceptance speech was part of what was expected. (They were not, thus making the event of scores of awards go by, thankfully, “quickly,” between 7 and 10 p.m.)

Incredibly, against five listed and previously nominated choices, minutes later, it was announced that I ran away with the write-in victory, as the 2010 “Best of Portland” award-winner for “Best Author.” The host, the Portland Phoenix managing editor, yelled out to the audience that I was the author of not 17 books, but 30 books. So much for my low profile in Portland for all these years, in this, my 50th year of cryptozoology!

Cosimo congratulates Coleman on his awards.

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