The Watchmen of Dalton Manor was the first of Jen’s Stories to be published. For 20 years she casually wrote the story of the Dalton Manor before having an opportunity during the Covid pandemic to sit down and put it all together.

It all started when she bought the Dalton House. It was an old Victorian house in a small country town that called to her. “I remember the day I saw the ad in the local newspaper.” She told me. “It was long before the internet and the local paper had the real estate section on the back page. The moment my eyes landed on the picture I felt tingles all through me.” Jen said in an interview. She and her family lived in the house for just over 7 years before moving back to her home state of Colorado.

The Watchmen of Dalton Manor is a blend of real events and the creative imagination of J. R. Black. “ The moment I bought the house I was given a history book on it, I knew it was going to be a special part of my life. In the book, I was able to be creative and bring in a bit of my own life and a bit of fiction and blend them.”

For those of you who were left craving a second book of The Watchmen of Dalton Manor, you are in luck. J.R. Black tells us she has been working on a 2nd volume. We will learn more about the house and Hannah and the witch who cursed the land, she tells us not to worry, this one will not take 20 years to finish.

Ghost of Central City

For many years Jen lived in Central City Colorado. From the moment she walked into the small mountain town Jen felt as if she had found her true home. Central City was born as a product of Gold Fever, miners rushed in to find as much treasure as possible. The harsh mountain terrain, wildlife, and weather conditions made survival a treasured thing in its own right. John Gregory found gold in the creek that now bears his name on May 6th, 1859. Within a year an estimated 100,000 people rushed to the hills for gold. Many of them died from accidents, infections, weather, animal attacks as well as murder. As towns popped up throughout the area and more people came to live in the rough conditions, even more lives were lost. Central City became known as the Richest Square Mile on Earth. Rich in Gold, as well as in Spirits.

Jen started volunteering for the Gilpin County Historical Society in 2007. Over the years she has been a tour guide and docent for the museums ( there are several in Central City), an actor/spirit in the annual Creepy Crawl & Cemetary Crawls, the prostitute shot on Main Street by the Wild Bunch during Wild West re-enactments, entertained the crowds during Lou Bunch Days as a Sporting House Girl as well as bartended at the historic Gold Coin Saloon. Central City is her favorite place to be.

Some might say every building in Central City Colorado is haunted. Jen will agree with that. She has many stories of Ghosts of Central City that she shares with you in her books. Some of these stories are personal experiences that she has had over the years, as well as stories handed down by locals and retold from the barstools at the Gold Coin.

Seamus the Famous

Seamus is an energetic and silly Irish Setter who has inspired J.R. Black to create a series of children's books. His first book, Seamus the Famous was written as a present for Jen’s Grandchildren. Seamus has so many silly antics and adventures that a second book, Seamus Goes to School will soon be available.

Ghost Tours

Jen is available on a limited basis for guided ghost tours of Central City Colorado.

What does this include

1) Guided tour of Bald Mountain and Nevadaville Cemeteries located in Gilpin County Colorado. Both Cemeteries are in remote locations and the terrain is uneven and rocky. Please wear appropriate shoes and a jacket, even in the summer. This is not a tour that is ADA-compliant. However, we can accommodate a video of the tour for those who cannot physically walk to the tour.

2) Parking is available at each location in dirt parking lots.

3) Tours are conducted in the dark, please bring a flashlight.

4) All guests are joining at their own risk. We are going into a cemetery at night, in the dark, in the mountains. There are many dangers that we might encounter, please know you will be asked to sign a release before going on the tour.

More details and schedule coming soon!

I have reserved space in 2024 for a booth at the annual Lou Bunch Day and Tommy knockers Bazar. I will have copies of my books as well as other fun items for sale.