Every New Jerseyan has heard the tale of the Jersey Devil. Known to lurk in the shadows of the Pine Barrens, the Jersey Devil is a mythical creature whose legend has been passed down to generations in the Garden State. If you’ve ever wondered how this creature came to be, you won’t want to miss the New Jersey State Library’s latest webinar, “How to Hunt the Jersey Devil.”
On Thursday, August 10th, you are invited to join the NJ State Library on a mission to discover the Jersey Devil. This engaging conversation will begin at noon on Zoom. If you want to join, the event is free to attend. That being said, advanced registration is required. If you plan on signing on, please enroll online here: RSVP – NJSL. The afternoon’s conversation will be led by Tony DiGerolamo, a New Jersey-based author, who will take you inside this fascinating folklore. By the end of the afternoon, guests will have a greater understanding of the myth of the Jersey Devil and several other legends of South Jersey folklore.
Where did the tale of the Jersey Devil originate? Some reports note that the Lenape people, an indigenous tribe local to the region, believed that the Pine Barrens were inhabited by a spirit called M’Sing, described as resembling a deer-like creature with leathery wings. Popular folklore also links the Jersey Devil to Jane Leeds, aka “Mother Leeds,” a mother of 12 who cursed her 13th-born. Stating that her 13th child was to be a “devil” upon their birth, the typically developing child rapidly transformed into the creature we now know as the Jersey Devil. Many tales allude to the origin of the Jersey Devil, but the outcome remains the same: the birth of New Jersey’s most-loved cryptid.
The leader of this seminar, Tony DiGerolamo, is a screenwriter, novelist, comic book writer, game designer, comedian, and actor. He is best known for his work on The Simpsons and Bart Simpson comic books. He has also been a writer for Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher, a scriptwriter for Space Ghost: Coast to Coast, and a blogger for Comedy Central’s Indecision website. He has written screenplays, including Mafioso: The Father, The Son starring Leo Rossi. He also authorizes two novels, Fixes in Overtime and The Undercover Dragon, available through Padwolf Publishing.
After publishing his comic books (Jersey Devil, The Travelers, and The Fix) with SJRP, he eventually got a publishing deal with Kenzer & Company. Kenzer published The Travelers. Tony also wrote Everknights (another Kenzer comic book), the Hacklopedia of Beasts Volumes 1 thru 8, and Slaughterhouse Indigo. He wrote a graphic novel adaption of Personal Reflections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain. He also contributes to Outlaw Territory, Volume 3 from Image Comics.
If you have any questions or want to know more before the event, please contact the New Jersey State Library at (609) 278-2640 for further details. No doubt a devilish afternoon of discovery; you won’t want to miss the chance to register for this upcoming discussion.
