Newcomerstown Public Library helps local author
Newcomerstown Library staff Cody Addy, left, and Brei Fechuch, right, with local author David Walker. When Walker needed help with his recent book, the Newcomerstown Public Library was there to assist.
Modern library services cover so much more than books, and for David Walker, it was these extra services that were instrumental in helping him publish his second nonfiction book, “Supernatural Cryptids: Return of the Nephilim.”
The book contains research by Walker and stories from others including Richard M’Candlish, Kain Michael, Joedy Cook, Linda Sigman and Matt Emch. It has information on Bigfoot, Dogman, Lizard Man, Momo, UFOs, shape-shifters, Mothman and more.
Walker recently moved to Uhrichsville, but at the time he was putting the book together, he lived outside of Newcomerstown and had unreliable internet service. The solution was a visit to the Newcomerstown Public Library for help.
Walker had done most of his research, but the library staff was happy to help in other ways.
“I would help him often whenever he was having trouble with formatting and stuff like that in his documents. I would try and help him fix any little hiccups he found,” said Brei Fechuch, youth department manager.
They also helped with getting attachments sent to Walker’s publisher and gave him advice on the best ways to save files and retrieve them again.
Walker is grateful for their help, and his book is now for sale. He did donate a copy of “Supernatural Cryptids: Return of the Nephilim” to the library. It is available on Amazon and other online sites including Walmart and Barnes & Noble.
Walker became interested in cryptid creatures at the age of 11 when he and a friend said they had an encounter with a Bigfoot, just 3 miles south of Newcomerstown.
“It was 1972, and we had just got out of school,” Walker said.
The boys started out with a campfire and snacks. Then they decided to hike up a hill and camp out overnight.
“It was a long way to carry our stuff, but we knew that you could see for miles up there,” Walker said.
Around midnight the boys went into their tent.
“At about 1:15 we were ready to fall asleep, and we started hearing some sticks snapping around the tent,” Walker said.
The boys didn’t think anything of the sounds at first, but then it sounded like someone was walking around their tent. Walker’s first thought was his friend’s brother had decided to scare them.
“We heard this thing breathing heavy,” Walker said. “I didn’t know what Bigfoot was back in the day. We were looking at each other in fear.”
Walker said a few seconds later, something hit his friend on the head through the tent and him also. Walker said he was then sure it was his friend’s brother, so he decided to make a move.
“I rolled out of the tent. I jumped up and put my hands up there, like I’m a Mon spirit,” Walker said, adding his friend stayed in the tent. “I’m facing this thing, whatever it is out there, and I looked straight ahead, and all I could see was this black fur.”
There is much more to the story, and later his friend’s father said he had seen the creature before.
“I know what I saw,” Walker said.
Walker said he also had other encounters later in life. His books cover many stories and theories about cryptids.
After the publication of his first book, “The Ohio Monster: My personal encounters with Bigfoot,” Walker was invited to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to tell his story for a documentary on the existence of Bigfoot, which aired on The Travel Channel. In the documentary two young boys portrayed Walker and his friend.
You don’t have to be writing a book to get help at your local library. Sometimes the staff may not know the exact answer, but they can help.
“A lot of things anymore can be found on YouTube,” said Cody Addy, executive director at the Newcomerstown Public Library.
The staff is ready for anything.
“If we don’t know the answer, it’s just connecting them to figure out where they need to find the answer,” Fechuch said. “You never know the questions you’re going to get.”
The library is able to provide assistance on research, scanning, how to send documents and more. They also can send a fax. Patrons are now able to set their documents to print at the library in advance using a new system called Princh, which holds them for three days for pickup.
In addition to its other services, the library is offering its summer program, “Color Our World,” with art-themed activities.
The library is located at 123 E. Main St. in Newcomerstown. Visit www.nctlib.org.