Always a fan of the “fringe experience,” Mr Belanger has turned that sense of wonder into his newest book, What It’s Like, a collection of a dozen true, extraordinary stories geared toward the pre-teen to early teen readers, published last month by Sterling Publishing.

The author of 12 books, including Picture Yourself Legend Tripping, Weird Massachusetts and the Encyclopedia of Haunted Places, Mr Belanger’s latest is his third book for younger readers and his first non-paranormal book. Or is it?

“It actually is pretty paranormal when you look at some of the things these people have done,” Mr Belanger said on Wednesday, March 30. “Climbing Mt Everest when you’ve lost both of your legs? Running 50 marathons in 50 days? So I guess the subject matter is not that far off my form,” he laughed.

What It’s Like presents the stories of 12 people who have survived incredible challenges, some self-imposed, many thrown into circumstances they could not foresee. Surfer Bethany Hamilton survived a shark attack in 2003, losing one arm, and going on to become world-class champion surfer. Phil Broscovak survived a lightning strike in 2005. Tami Ashcraft sailed through a hurricane that washed her fiancé overboard, on a voyage from Tahiti to San Diego, in 1983. She survived two months at sea, and remains an avid sailor. Lt Jeff Kraft is a firefighter who has saved people from burning infernos.

The stories are told in a first person, narrative style designed to engage the reader fully.

“The stories are experiential. It’s about the senses, the feelings, and anxieties these people had as they were going through these experiences,” Mr Belanger explained.

“I knew there were some things I wanted to write about,” he said, “like climbing Mt Everest, and flying into space. This book was a little selfish for me, I admit,” he said. “I’ve always been fascinated with space, so I really connected with astronaut Sandy Magnus, my first interview. She told me her story like it was the first time she had ever told anyone about her experiences. It was exciting. I would go up into space in a second if anyone asked me, so it was a little close to my heart,” said Mr Belanger.

Everyone has extraordinary experiences in their everyday lives, said Mr Belanger.

“Sometimes they are little things. Like, I’ve climbed Mt Washington, which was a big deal to me the first time. I was there when my daughter was born and that was an extraordinary experience,” he said. The stories in his recent book are things most people will probably never go through, said the author. “But when people read it, maybe they’ll think ‘I can push it, do a little more [when they attempt something difficult],” he said.

As he wrote the book, he saw the theme string together, Mr Belanger said. What he learned was about the incredible strength of the human spirit.

“Kids need to be reminded that the world is an amazing place. They need to hear that whatever hand you’re dealt, you can overcome and rise above, and get as far as you dream. Someone else out there has done it,” and What It’s Like is an avenue to show young people those situations that call for courage from ordinary people.

“Readers think that these people [in the stories] are super humans, and not to trivialize them at all, they are just like the rest of us — only really focused,” he said.

The survivor stories are exemplary of the amazing power of normal people in “paranormal” circumstances.

“It’s interesting how two people could go through one stimulus, and one will fall completely apart and the other will come out of it having learned and become a better person for it,” Mr Belanger said. “It’s about making a decision to survive and not quitting. Kids need to see that we can do whatever we set our minds to do.”

He sought out most of his interviewees after learning about them in the news, he said. “In general, these people made it so easy to write their stories. The passion and richness of their experiences comes through,” said Mr Belanger.

What It’s Like is aimed at a younger readership, but the recurring theme of human resiliency is appealing to all ages.

“I would hope anyone could find encouragement in these stories,” he said. “They are so positive.”

Writing for television’s Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures and the new Paranormal Channel, coming in June, along with a heavy travel schedule for lecturing is keeping Mr Belanger busy through the fall. He is also the host of the web talk show 30 Odd Minutes. But writing another paranormal title is not out of the question.

“There are always,” he said, “compelling stories that need to be told.”