About the Author- Jonathan Eizyk

Hello there, my name is Jonathan Eizyk, and I have a story to tell. Or better yet, a collection of stories. Many of them aren’t even mine. In fact, they belong to neighborhoods, families, long-demolished houses, forgotten cemeteries, newspaper margins, and people whose lives once brushed briefly against history before vanishing from view. I’m simply here to investigate those stories, preserve them, and (when the time is right) share them.

I like to think of myself as part historian, part folklorist, and part historic preservationist, with just a touch of the macabre- a man standing at the crossroads of history, folklore, and the paranormal. My passions lie at the intersection of history, storytelling, and ghost lore, which is why I’ve dedicated my work to uncovering and documenting historical hauntings. These are not stories invented for effect, but narratives rooted firmly in place- stories about real people, real moments, and real communities grappling with their own history, identity, and legacy.

Currently, I live and reside in the city of Brooklyn, a city I’ve come to love deeply for its unique and vibrant culture, rich and varied architectural styles, and layered past. There is something truly special about walking a New York City street and knowing that the ground beneath your feet has been occupied, reshaped, and continually evolving for centuries. Outside of writing, I work as a career federal civil servant and have proudly spent the past several years serving at a number of independent government agencies, including the Smithsonian Institution, the U.S. Park Police, the National Park Service, and AmeriCorps NCCC. My time at these institutions has only deepened my appreciation for history, geography, and cultural landscapes.

As far as my academic background is concerned, I am firmly rooted in research and analysis. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in History, graduating magna cum laude with minors in Geography and Middle Eastern and North African Studies, and later completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Mary Washington. Along the way, I’ve pursued extensive federal trainings and certifications. While these credentials may seem far removed from the stories I research and ultimately write, they’ve shaped how I approach my work: methodically, critically, and with respect for primary sources and corroborated evidence.

Beyond my professional and academic life, I’m an avid student of history, architecture, folklore, and urban legends- particularly the ways in which stories (whether true, embellished, or somewhere in between) continue to shape a community’s sense of identity. Over the past several years, I’ve spent countless hours researching archival records, newspapers, maps, and oral histories to reconstruct narratives that sit at the edges of official history. That research ultimately became my first book, The Ghosts of Kings and Queens, a collection of true ghost stories, legends, and haunted histories drawn from over 300 years of history in Brooklyn and Queens.

When it comes to writing, my philosophy is simple: write the book you want to read. I don’t believe artistic talent is something people are born with or barred from having. Everything can be learned. All it takes is consistency, repetition, and genuine interest. Writing doesn’t need to be intimidating or performative- it can simply be something done out of curiosity and love. I’ve found that by not tying my identity too tightly to being a “writer,” I’ve freed myself to write without pressure or anxiety. I do it because I enjoy the process, not because I feel obligated to produce. Simply put, I write because I enjoy uncovering interesting stories and because I believe some of them deserve not to be forgotten.

Looking ahead, I’m currently finalizing this- my second book- Leaving a Trace and Tracing What’s Left: The Lore, Legends, and Ghost Stories of Hessians in America, which is slated for release in December 2025- in anticipation of the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. The project explores Hessian soldiers- German auxiliaries who fought for the British- and the folklore, legends, and ghost stories that have grown around them for nearly two and a half centuries. It’s a continuation of the same work that drives everything I do: listening closely, digging carefully, and making sure the past- especially the strange, overlooked corners of it- isn’t forgotten.

If you’ve found your way here, chances are you’re curious about the past, too. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: history still has plenty of ghosts left- and they’re patient. All they need is someone willing to listen.