We’re entering the bedroom of three school-aged boys, so a mask and a pair of gloves are a good idea.
Atticus Everheart shares a room with his two older brothers. So it’s not a big surprise that several of the lost socks under Atticus’s bed are two times too big for him. There’s also an empty potato chip bag, a soda can, a pair of red boxers (another article of his brother’s clothing), Legos, a magnifying glass, the fingerprint brush from his brother’s detective bag, his skateboard, and the backpack he never leaves home without. Atticus knows about the last two items. There’s also a family of dust bunnies that have been hiding from the vacuum for at least a year now.
A few blocks away, on Tepes Lane, you’ll find Dracul manor and Drago Dracul. Under his bed are empty blood bags, candy wrappers, rubber spiders, a comb, and a bow tie. There’s also a copy of Thirteen Ways to Blend in with Humans, a must-have book according to his grandfather. There is also the glow-bat stuffed animal his mom gave him when he was three and afraid of the dark (Drago will deny ever being scared of such things), and the mouse Drago believes he compelled to leave the manor. The mouse rather likes having the glow-bat there to keep him company.
What would we find under your bed? (Mine has a few dust bunnies—they’re not related to the ones under Atticus’s bed.)
What readers are saying!
"It's the perfect Halloween read as it presents creepy elements without being scary or dreary. I loved the characters and the mystery." - The Real Word to Sam
Atticus is a cute kid and the other supporting characters were interesting and funny. I could totally picture this as a movie!" - Goodreads Reviewer
Sometimes it takes an ordinary ten-year-old to save the day.
Book Blurb:
Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.
Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.
Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.
The birthday of my middle-grade action/advaenture Friends to the End is this month, and I thought it would be fun to re-share a bonus scenewritten from Morgan's POV. This scene shares with you what she found related to Grimace Grove Cemetery and Wayward Lane.
Happy reading!
FRIENDS TO THE END
by C.L. Colyer
Bonus scene from Morgan’s POV
Morgan grabbed a can of soda and headed to her dad’s study to use his laptop. If her brothers wouldn’t tell her more about the vanishing house, she’d search the internet. She sat in the big leather chair, pulled her auburn curls into a low ponytail, and typed ‘vanishing house + Wayward Lane’ into the browser. The top result led to a real estate company, but others caught her eye. She clicked on one of them. A post from a popular ghost-hunting TV show filled the screen. The opening hiss of the soda can pierced the silence in the study. Morgan took a sip before leaning forward to read the article.
What Lurks in the Dark on Wayward Lane?
About an hour outside of Chicago, tucked between the homes along Wayward Lane, is Grimace Grove Cemetery, one of Illinois’s most haunted graveyards. Visit one day and you may see white lights floating between the tombstones, while on another, hazy human-like figures standing by the fence. Listen closely and you may hear the whispers of people long dead. But the strange phenomenon doesn’t stop at the graveyard. Visitors to the area have reported other bizarre sightings, none of which can be explained by experts. Who and what might be the cause of these unexplained events? We took a closer look at the town's sordid past and recorded it below—you be the judge.
The gangsters who visited the town for rest and relaxation during prohibition were known to cause trouble—illegal trouble. Is the shadowy cigar-smoking man who has been spotted in the middle of the street one of the former gangsters? Witnesses describe him as a stout guy, wearing a suit and a bowler hat like the ones worn back in the 1920s. A woman even claims he called her the “bee’s knees” as his spectral form blinked in and out of view. Is he the ghost of Franky—on the lam—Hood? You tell me.
Equally as disturbing as the ghost of a gangster are the reports of a phantom Model A roadster that barrels past oncoming traffic, leaving in its wake the roar of men’s laughter and machine gunfire. My money is on these men being more of the mobsters who used to frequent the neighborhood.
Reports of a young woman dressed in fringe and pearls, dancing the Charleston in the middle of the road are common. Drivers who stopped to tell her to get off the road swear that she vanished into thin air when they rolled down their windows. Eyewitnesses later matched her image to photos of Mary Porter, a nineteen-year-old flapper who died in a car accident on that exact stretch of the road in April 1923. She had been on her way home from a popular speakeasy, where she worked as a flapper.
But perhaps the most intriguing of the legends surrounding Wayward Lane is that of the disappearing house. This ghost hunter hasn’t found proof that the house, which is often described as an old Victorian-styled home with a long front porch, ever existed on the physical plain. But locals insist this home, known for having housed a venerated Civil War hero, burned down in the 1870s and that it, along with his wife, refuse to let go.
The mystery surrounding the house and its occupants may never be solved. Are the locals correct in saying that this house is occupied by the ghost of its last resident? Did her unwavering belief that her husband would return from the war and her determination to be there when he did trap her and the house in a time loop? Romantic? Yes. True? I’ll let you be the judge.
No wonder Morgan’s brothers refused to talk about the house and why her parents had forbidden her to search for it. Clearly, they believed the stories––maybe even thought she’d be kidnapped or swept away by the ghosts that lived there. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Adults can be so gullible sometimes. She clicked back to the search results. The next blog post had similar information about Wayward Lane and Grimace Grove Cemetery. A chill went through her. It also confirmed what her brothers had warned her happened to anyone inside of the house when it vanished:
Rumors of people disappearing along with the house date back to the Civil War, when a soldier was last spotted entering that home and was never seen again. Others are believed to have met the same grim fate when they went to investigate decades later.
Every article, post, and newsletter Morgan read had a slightly different version of the legend, but the result was always the same. Wayward Lane was haunted. Decade after decade, dozens of people had witnessed things they couldn’t explain. Morgan let out a low whistle. Ghosts existed, and she lived within biking distance of the second most haunted location in Illinois.
She couldn't wait to tell Zach the exciting news.
📚 📚 📚
2021 Best Middle-Grade Finalist – N.N. Light Book Awards
“A compelling, gripping nail-biting page-turner. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting...dreading?... what happens next. I know you won’t be able to put the book down (I couldn’t).” ~ Allan Woodrow, bestselling author of over 30 books for children
“Friends to the End is a wonderful middle-grade paranormal mystery from start to finish ~ N.N. Light Book Heaven
The inspiration behind Grimace Grove Cemetery is loosely based on stories surrounding White Cemetery that I had heard as a teenager. Friends to the End is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
Hi! I'm so glad you stopped by! With the spooky season fast approaching, I thought it would be fun to share the soundtrack for Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter?! This is a collection of songs that popped into my head when I was writing this humous middle-grade novel. These songs also make a great playlist to listen to while reading the book. Enjoy!!
1) Monster Mash
2) Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon.
3) The Skeleton Dance
4) Superstition by Stevie Wonder
5) Funeral March of the Marionette by Charles Gounod
6) Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival
7) The Monsters Hop
8) Theme from ‘the Munsters’
8) Season of the Witch by Donovan
🦇 About the book 🦇
Title: Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor and Monster Hunter?
Author: C.L. Colyer
Cover artist: Diana Carlile
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genres: Middle grade, fantasy
Sometimes it takes an ordinary ten-year-old to save the day.
Book Blurb:
Nothing frightens Atticus Everheart more than monsters, thanks to his older brothers, who often threaten to feed him to the beastly creatures.
Fearing that’s what they will do if he doesn’t replace the book he accidentally ruined, he takes a job tutoring a boy in his neighborhood.
Although nervous about the job, Atticus soon discovers there’s a lot more in store for him than teaching. Never in a trillion years would he have imagined he’d be hiding from monsters, working with ghosts, or searching for werewolves and witches. He’s not brave, and he has no plans to change.
Until he’s forced to.
🦇 What readers have to say 🦇
5+-stars “If you love quirky fantasy adventures, you’ll want to read this book.” – N.N. Light Book Heaven
5-stars. “Atticus Everheart, Fifth Grade Tutor, and Monster Hunter? was a spooky and delightful read.” – Long and Short Reviews.
5-stars. “The atmosphere of this book is wonderful. I really loved discovering the world created by C.L.Colyer.” – A Blue Box Full of Books Goodreads
Today I have a bonus scene from my middle-grade action/adventure Friends to the End written from Morgan's POV. This scene shares with you what she found related to Grimace Grove Cemetery and Wayward Lane.
Happy reading!
FRIENDS TO THE END
by C.L. Colyer
Bonus scene from Morgan’s POV
Morgan grabbed a can of soda and headed to her dad’s study to use his laptop. If her brothers wouldn’t tell her more about the vanishing house, she’d search the internet. She sat in the big leather chair, pulled her auburn curls into a low ponytail, and typed ‘vanishing house + Wayward Lane’ into the browser. The top result led to a real estate company, but others caught her eye. She clicked on one of them. A post from a popular ghost-hunting TV show filled the screen. The opening hiss of the soda can pierced the silence in the study. Morgan took a sip before leaning forward to read the article.
What Lurks in the Dark on Wayward Lane?
About an hour outside of Chicago, tucked between the homes along Wayward Lane, is Grimace Grove Cemetery, one of Illinois’s most haunted graveyards. Visit one day and you may see white lights floating between the tombstones, while on another, hazy human-like figures standing by the fence. Listen closely and you may hear the whispers of people long dead. But the strange phenomenon doesn’t stop at the graveyard. Visitors to the area have reported other bizarre sightings, none of which can be explained by experts. Who and what might be the cause of these unexplained events? We took a closer look at the town's sordid past and recorded it below—you be the judge.
The gangsters who visited the town for rest and relaxation during prohibition were known to cause trouble—illegal trouble. Is the shadowy cigar-smoking man who has been spotted in the middle of the street one of the former gangsters? Witnesses describe him as a stout guy, wearing a suit and a bowler hat like the ones worn back in the 1920s. A woman even claims he called her the “bee’s knees” as his spectral form blinked in and out of view. Is he the ghost of Franky—on the lam—Hood? You tell me.
Equally as disturbing as the ghost of a gangster are the reports of a phantom Model A roadster that barrels past oncoming traffic, leaving in its wake the roar of men’s laughter and machine gunfire. My money is on these men being more of the mobsters who used to frequent the neighborhood.
Reports of a young woman dressed in fringe and pearls, dancing the Charleston in the middle of the road are common. Drivers who stopped to tell her to get off the road swear that she vanished into thin air when they rolled down their windows. Eyewitnesses later matched her image to photos of Mary Porter, a nineteen-year-old flapper who died in a car accident on that exact stretch of the road in April 1923. She had been on her way home from a popular speakeasy, where she worked as a flapper.
But perhaps the most intriguing of the legends surrounding Wayward Lane is that of the disappearing house. This ghost hunter hasn’t found proof that the house, which is often described as an old Victorian-styled home with a long front porch, ever existed on the physical plain. But locals insist this home, known for having housed a venerated Civil War hero, burned down in the 1870s and that it, along with his wife, refuse to let go.
The mystery surrounding the house and its occupants may never be solved. Are the locals correct in saying that this house is occupied by the ghost of its last resident? Did her unwavering belief that her husband would return from the war and her determination to be there when he did trap her and the house in a time loop? Romantic? Yes. True? I’ll let you be the judge.
No wonder Morgan’s brothers refused to talk about the house and why her parents had forbidden her to search for it. Clearly, they believed the stories––maybe even thought she’d be kidnapped or swept away by the ghosts that lived there. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Adults can be so gullible sometimes. She clicked back to the search results. The next blog post had similar information about Wayward Lane and Grimace Grove Cemetery. A chill went through her. It also confirmed what her brothers had warned her happened to anyone inside of the house when it vanished:
Rumors of people disappearing along with the house date back to the Civil War, when a soldier was last spotted entering that home and was never seen again. Others are believed to have met the same grim fate when they went to investigate decades later.
Every article, post, and newsletter Morgan read had a slightly different version of the legend, but the result was always the same. Wayward Lane was haunted. Decade after decade, dozens of people had witnessed things they couldn’t explain. Morgan let out a low whistle. Ghosts existed, and she lived within biking distance of the second most haunted location in Illinois.
She couldn’t wait to tell Zach the exciting news.
📚 📚 📚
2021 Best Middle-Grade Finalist – N.N. Light Book Awards
“A compelling, gripping nail-biting page-turner. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting...dreading?... what happens next. I know you won’t be able to put the book down (I couldn’t).” ~ Allan Woodrow, bestselling author of over 30 books for children
“Friends to the End is a wonderful middle-grade paranormal mystery from start to finish ~ N.N. Light Book Heaven
The inspiration behind Grimace Grove Cemetery is loosely based on stories surrounding White Cemetery that I had heard as a teenager. Friends to the End is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of my imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.
I teamed up with award-winning authors to bring you a book fair geared toward young readers and to adults who are kids at heart. I have to admit, my go to genre when I need something light and fun and sometimes even a little spooky is middle-grade. So I'm excited to be a part of this book fair.
And be sure to check out my books while you're there!
Friends to the End
Genre: MG Ghost Story, Coming of Age
Reluctant Reader Approved!
“A compelling, gripping nail-biting page-turner. You’ll be on the edge of your seat waiting...dreading?... what happens next. I know you won’t be able to put the book down (I couldn’t).” ~ Allan Woodrow, bestselling author of over 30 books for children.
I'm thrilled to have Debra Daugherty with me today for a round of speed questions and to tell you about her picture book THE MEMORY JAR. This wonderful picture book with it's heartwarming story and adorable illustrations helps children not only understand dementia, but provides a positive project that can help a loved one.
First, let's get to know Debra with a speed round of questions!
Good guys or bad guys? Good guys
Good girls or bad girls? Good girls
Morning or night? Night
Favorite food? Pizza
Favorite beverage? Raspberry tea
Coffee or tea? tea
eBook, paperback, or audiobook? paperback
Plotter or Pantster? Pantster
Favorite season? Fall
Dogs or cats? Dogs
Favorite holiday? Christmas
Favorite movie? Romancing the Stone
Ironman or Superman? Superman
Wonder Woman or Top Model? Wonder Woman
Night on the town or cozy evening in? Cozy evening in
Favorite book? Pride and Prejudice
Favorite fictional world? Medieval England
Last book read? The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Black or white? White
Stilettos or flipflops or sneakers? Sneakers
Favorite song? The Wind Beneath My Wings
Chicken or steak? Chicken
Cake, cookies, or pie? cookies
Favorite junk food? Kettle corn
Favorite thing to do to relax? Watch a movie
Paranormal or Historical? Historical
Favorite TV show? Call the Midwife
Hot or cold? Hot
Favorite vacation? London
Beach or mountains? Beach
About the book
THE MEMORY JAR
Author: Debra Daugherty
Genre: Picture Book
When Amelia learns Grammy has dementia, she wants to help her remember the special events in her life, but how?
Blurb:
Amelia's grandmother doesn't remember her because she has dementia, but Amelia is determined to find a way to help. She knows that if she can get her grandmother to talk about the stories she told Amelia over the years, then it will help bring the memories back and make all of them happy. Amelia comes up with a clever plan to assist her grandmother...but will it be enough?
About the author: Central Illinois author, Debra Daugherty, enjoys eating cold pizza for breakfast and watching PBS mysteries. She’s a huge fan of London, but her travels are now closer to home. Debra wrote THE MEMORY JAR as a tribute to a beloved aunt who had Alzheimer’s. Debra’s excited to announce she has a contract with Young Dragons Press for two more picture books, GRANDPA’S BARN and HEART OF STONE. A fun fact: Debra has kissed the Blarney Stone, but admits she has always had the gift of gab.
I am thrilled to be hosting a spot
on the THE GOLDEN FROG GAMES by Claribel A. Ortega Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out
my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
Get ready for more magic, mayhem, and
monstruos! From Claribel A. Ortega, author of Frizzy and Ghost Squad, comes the
sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling and #1 Indie bestselling
Witchlings.
Every four years, the Twelve Towns
gather for a legendary magical tournament--the Golden Frog Games.
With Ravenskill hosting this year's
games, all eyes are on Seven Salazar, Valley Pepperhorn and Thorn Laroux: the
most famous Spares in the Twelve Towns. Thorn is ready to compete as a fashion
champion, but when a forbidden hex is used to turn her fellow champions to
stone, suspicion lands on the Witchlings.
As the Witchlings attempt to unravel
the mystery of the stonifications, future Uncle Seven is harboring a dangerous
secret: While she's supposed to be able to communicate with animals, the voices
she hears most clearly belong to monstruos, and one spine-chilling voice is the
loudest of all.
Can Seven fix her broken magic and
find out who is stonifying the champions . . . before Thorn becomes the next
victim?
I'm about halfway through this enchanting and imaginative middle-grade novel. It has such a fun tone, with likable characters I'd love to be friends with. There's mystery, danger, magic, and champions turned to stone! I always enjoy stories where the underdogs save the day. I'm rooting for Seven and her friends to unravel who is behind this mystery, and I'm so very curious to learn more about the monstrous.
I haven't read the first book in the Witchling series, and while it took me a little bit to learn all the characters, there is enough backstory for a reader to thoroughly enjoy this book without reading the first. But do yourself a favor, and grab Witchlings book one first, so that you or the young reader in your life can spend even more time in this magical world.
About Claribel A. Ortega:
Claribel A. Ortega, New York
Times bestselling author of Ghost Squad, Witchlings, and Frizzy (Pura
Belpre Award-winner), is a former reporter who writes middle grade and young
adult fantasy inspired by her Dominican heritage. When she's not busy turning
her obsession with eighties pop culture, magic, and video games into books,
she's cohosting her podcasts Write or Die and Bad Author Book Club
and helping authors navigate publishing with her consulting business, GIFGRRL.
Claribel has been featured on BuzzFeed, NPR, Good Morning America, and
Deadline. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok at
@Claribel_Ortega and on her website at claribelortega.com.