As one of the leading authorities on Halloween, Lesley Bannatyne supplied the
Halloween article found in World Book Encyclopedia and is Halloween
advisor to the Vampire Empire.
Bannatyne has shared her knowledge of the holiday on television specials for
Nickelodeon and the History Channel (“The Haunted History of Halloween”). She
has contributed to such publications as the Boston Globe, and Christian
Science Monitor. Her diverse speaking venues range from the Halloween
Convergence in New Orleans to the St. Louis Art Museum.
Bannatyne was born and raised in Connecticut. After high school, she
continued her education by attending Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts.
She graduated as both a Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. During this time she
loved the theatre and even wrote an original musical. She is cofounder of the Studebaker Theater
(1978) and Invisible Cities Group (1990).
Bannatyne worked for many years as a freelance writer and journalist. During
her research on Halloween, she became an active member of a pagan organization
in order to better understand the customs, history, and celebrations.
Lesley Bannatyne, named one of “Boston's 100 Interesting Women” by Boston
Women's Journal, is the communication coordinator for the music department
at Harvard University. She resides in Somerville, Massachusetts, with her
husband, Gary Duehr, and daughter, Maggie Bay.