Written by Andrew K. Arnett

The book signing event for The Crowley Conspiracy (published by Alien Buddha Press) in Philadelphia was epic. Turnout was prodigious and media descended on us like vultures sniffing fresh carrion. All the stars aligned, just as our astrologer predicted. Scorpio, with benevolent rays beaming down from Mars and Pluto, put the icing on the cake. To top it all off, it was Halloween.

Thrillerdelphia is the name of the new horror bookshop that opened up on October 31st in Manayunk, a quaint neighborhood in Philadelphia. Thrillerdelphia is Philadelphia’s first horror bookstore selling horror, thriller and true crime books. On their website, they offer “Blood-red recs, unhinged staff picks, cozy chairs, and way too many opinions. We do signings, book clubs, and ‘you have to read this’ energy.”

Photo and caption from The Philadelphia Inquirer article “Thrillerdelphia, a horror bookstore, opens in Manayunk in time for Halloween.”

Anthony Long and his wife Tina are the proprietors of said establishment. It was Anthony who summoned me down to this breakfast nook of the world to ply my books to a crowd foaming at the mouth for tales of evil and wickedness. And who is more evil than Aleister Crowley, ie. ‘the Wickedest Man In the World?’ Customers crammed into the small space with walls painted black and freshly stained dark walnut floors. They purchased armloads of books and they were hungry for more.  The Crowley Conspiracy sold out. An impressive opening day in anyone’s book. 

Hank Flynn, television reporter on FOX29 Philadelphia, showed up at the store to cover the grand opening for the morning show Good Day. After speaking with Tina and Anthony, he came over to my book signing table. “Guys, Andrew Arnett is here and he’s written The Crowley Conspiracy,” Hank announced on live TV. “That would have taken some research Andrew. Thank you for joining us. Brooklyn native Andrew Arnett. Tell us a little about what you’ve discovered about Aleister Crowley. He’s a figure from history and in rock and roll we continue to talk about in depth. What have you discovered?”

Andrew K. Arnett appears on Good Day Live. View here.

“I’m a journalist,” I said, “and I’m also a paranormal researcher with the Brooklyn Paranormal Society with Anthony for the past ten years. Every time we did some research, the name Aleister Crowley kept popping up. He’s at the center of the web of all these conspiracies.”

“He continues to be here, in the west,” Hank said. “People continue to go to him, for what? Inspiration?”

“He’s behind alien contact,” I said. “UFOs, NASA, Hollywood elites love him, rock and roll stars write songs about him.”

After the interview, Hank and I chatted. He confessed that he could do an hour’s interview with me alone on the subject. I signed and gave him a copy of my book. Hank clutched the book to his breast with one hand and held the other up over his head in the ubiquitous ‘devil’s horn’ position. He hummed a soft tune to himself which I instantly recognized as being the melody to Gwar’s ‘Immortal Corrupter.’ It was a poignant moment in the midst of all the hoopla. It made my heart swell with pride knowing I was able to touch someone’s life in some very real and meaningful way.

If you want to purchase The Crowley Conspiracy go straight to Amazon and do so. If you want to visit Thrillerdelphia, go here.

Andrew K. Arnett is the author of the book The Crowley Conspiracy available on Amazon.