Folklore America

Discovering the Myths and Legends of a Nation
One State at a Time

About Folklore America

Folklore America is a project to create a comprehensive, fifty-volume set of books that delve into the various cryptid animals, ghostly apparitions, native legends, historical mysteries and strange places of each state. The aim is to preserve and honor the rich cultural heritage of these fascinating accounts. The focus will be on the origins, history, encounters, impact, legacy and conclusions to be drawn from each one as to why they persist into modern times.

Discover Folklore

Feel free to contact us if there are any other questions you may have.

How do you distinguish myth, legend & folklore?

Myth is the creation of a fictional story to explain natural phenomena, An example would be the ancient gods that controlled every aspect of life. A legend embellishes an actual event over time, such that it is only half-fiction. Folklore is the beliefs, customs, and oral traditions handed down between generations as part of the culture of a people or place.

What inspired you to write the series?

I spent decades researching, lecturing and investigating myths and legends, including the salvage of the Loch Ness minisub Viperfish and discovering a cache of confederate gold guarded by the Knights of the Golden Circle. I realized the fascination for me was in the people and places for which these beliefs and customs were a part of their culture.

How often will the books be released?

Because the books have been developing for some time, the goal is to release one book every week throughout 2025. They will first be released as print and eBooks, followed shortly thereafter with an audiobook release. We will also create a YouTube channel and create a podcast where we discuss the individual folklore accounts.

Would you consider the folklore of other countries?

We are already considering adding titles for nations outside of the United States. We will probably make them more regional for smaller countries, like Scandinavia or South America. Countries like Canada and Mexico would receive their own titles. Russia has also been one that we would find fascinating, as well as China. None would include anything political.

Author

Dallas Tanner has been involved in various aspects of researching and investigating myths and legends for over two decades. It began with writing a trilogy on cryptid animals, but he was drawn into the world of folklore come to life. From thunderbirds to Bigfoot, lake monsters and ghosts to historical mysteries. As a result, Dallas became an associate college professor with his books as required reading. He also lectured at major universities on the subject as well as hosted radio and television shows. This is a statue of the Altamaha-ha in the visitor center at Darien, Georgia, as sculpted by Rick Spears from Dallas Tanner's research and interviews.

These are the topics with 10 accounts in each book of the series

Unknown Animals

Animals considered out of place or time, unknown to science as mythical or legendary.

Ghostly Apparitions

Spirits or the place they haunt, linked to a tragedy or appearing to warn of danger.

Native Legends

The generational beliefs of Indigenous peoples adopted into local culture.

Historical Mysteries

Events from the past that have no conclusion or defy logical explanation.

Strange Places

Locations around which tales are told that do not fully explain their reputations.

These are the covers for all 50 books in the Folklore America series. Highlight one to see the status of its publication.