A published writer and accomplished photographer, Bud Steed, author of the Haunted Natchez Trace, Haunted Mississippi Gulf Coast, Haunted Baton Rouge and two new series, America's Ghosts and America's Lost Treasures, devotes his time between writing, photography and historical research into potentially haunted sites and lost legends. A self-described "history geek", his focus on the history of the allegedly haunted areas and the personal histories of those who lived and died there, has enabled him to gain a unique perspective into the reported hauntings of some of the historical sites and areas that he has investigated and written about. In addition, his research skills have proven useful in tracking down and trying to prove the facts behind local, regional and national legends which has led to the book Lost Treasures of the Ozarks. A naturally inquisitive person, his combination of historical research and the collecting of folk stories related to hauntings and lost legends, have resulted in three of his books being accepted to, and included in, the Library of Congress. Bud has been researching and investigating the paranormal for nearly 30 years and is the current Co-Director and Investigation Manager for The Ozarks Paranormal Society (TOPS) and the co-founder of Lost Legends Research and Investigation. In 2011 Bud assisted TOPS with the investigation of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield and the historic Ray House. This was the first time that a paranormal investigation team had been issued a federal permit to legally access the battlefield and historical buildings for the purpose of an overnight investigation. The investigation produced interesting results and captured the attention of the Travel Channel who filmed a second investigation for their series, Legends of the Ozarks; the second investigation produced even more startling evidence of hauntings at Wilson's Creek. In addition to appearing at book signings, events and lectures, Bud has been seen on the Travel Channel's Legends of the Ozarks show and has recently participated in several other film projects, one concerning the Natchez Trace and the other the Mark Twain National Forest; both are scheduled to air on the Travel Channel in 2016. Bud is a 5th generation Freemason and member of Ash Grove Lodge #100 AF&AM. He currently resides in Southwest Missouri with his wife, four children and two Pitbull's named Dixie and Clyde.