Böcker av Edward Karshner

To write or to write, the author dilemma of 2020. Certainly, life has become stranger than fiction, so eleven Appalachian authors gathered their courage and dug deep to present a flowing anthology of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry inspired by Covid-19 or rewritten during the pandemic. Here reside near-autobiographical tales of hardscrabble mountain education, plus familial and societal laments. Even a dragon hides amidst the pages. It''s a well-knit, often emotional read of reflection, eyeing our present, and looking ahead. All is not lost. No, some things have merely been Shelved.

Thirteen plus one short tales by nine different Appalachian authors, an uprooting of tradition with another just for fun. A strong mix of history, speculation, and, perhaps, a wee bit of fear. These hills are listenin', child, so come sit a spell. You'll hear tales you ain't before; dark yahoos, wishes gone wrong, veil walkers, and someone's head might well roll. Ain't nothin' really, just a few new stories you can take back to the holler and share with you and yours. Maybe they'll shiver. Maybe you will too. And maybe, just maybe, you'll hug someone tight when things get scary enough. This is an anthology of nontraditional Appalachian ghost tales. It's not that we don't like the classics. Rather, we're ready for something new.By order of appearance:Part One: Short doesn't mean necessarily sweet."Messages" by Deborah Marshall"Miss Vera" by Brenda M. G'Fellers"Can Johnny Come Home with Us?" by Rebecca Lynn"Strays" by Brenda M. G'Fellers"A Visit from a Peculiar Entity" by Jeanne G'FellersPart Two: Here's to sad songs, rabid beasts, and things best left unseen."Singin' Sally" by Sarah Elizabeth"Survival" by Brenda M. G'Fellers"Born with a Veil" by Jules Corriere"The Neighbors are Fantastic" by Jeanne G'Fellers"Pieces and Parts" by Anne G'Fellers-Mason"As Light Fades" by Kristin PearsonPart Three: Pull up a chair… if you ain't too scared."Great Uncle's Rocking Chair" by Jeanne G'Fellers"Causing a Scene" by Anne G'Fellers-Mason"The Salt Creek Valley Monkey Dog" by Edward Karshner