"Open with caution. You won't want to put this one down."
LaMoine MacLaughlin, President, Wisconsin Writers Association
"A twisting, thrilling mix of mystery, adventure and legendary treasure. ...a great fund raising idea for our lake associations. Wisconsin history buffs will find this book a treasure in itself. An exciting adventure for all ages.”
Waldo Asp, Northwest Waters President and AARP County Chairman
“Like a living history lesson, Brakken takes his readers on a ride down northern Wisconsin’s untamed Namakagon River, back when giant virgin forests lured heroic lumberjacks to seek their fortune. In scene after scene, the reader is surrounded by the beauty of pristine woods and lakes, rooting for the good guys to beat out the greedy ones, even learning step by step how to place the giant saw so the magnificent tree falls in just the right place.”
A.Y. Stratton, author of Buried Heart
To order DARK & THE TREASURE OF NAMAKAGON, see BadgerValley.com for order forms or online ordering.
Email: [email protected]
About DARK
Imagine you are a mind reader—a voyeur who can steal dreams. In DARK, you will immediately become “The Thief of Dreams,” allowing you to purloin well over 50 dreadful, occasionally humorous, and sometimes downright disturbing dreams, fantasies, nightmares of others. All are expressed as poetry and short stories, each designed to make you laugh or cringe or both.
For example, all four parts of “The Zombie Apocalypse” series drew that title from a recent admission by Google® that this was their most-searched term in June, 2012. Many believe the Z A will happen. Brakken explains, in his Z A series, that, thanks to recent scientific innovation, this idea, this threat, is, indeed, plausible. Those who initially thought this term laughable may find themselves reconsidering. As we all know, science can be wonderful—or terrible—depending on the final product.
Poems such as “In Gloomy Wood” and “The Parson Joshua Black” tell stories that will tingle the spine. Others like “Something in the Shadows” and “Bedtime Story” may lead to the bedroom light left on until morning. “Gramma’s Noggin” will elicit a laugh while helping readers pronounce Namakagon correctly. A sonnet, “The Count,” will beg readers for restraint regarding releasing evil upon the land.
Brakken included “Nevermore” a poetic tribute to Edgar Allen Poe, a favorite of many. “Nevermore” answers Poe’s question about the final resting place of the spirit of the deceased maiden in Poe’s, “The Raven.”
A number of poems, including “The Ballad of Ole Johnson” and “A Pinery Tale” found inspiration in actual deaths that occurred during northern Wisconsin’s 19th century timber harvest, giving them the western texture akin to the cowboy poetry of Baxter Black. Several mysterious excerpts from Brakken’s 19th century“lumberjack” era novel, THE TREASURE OF NAMAKAGON, complement the poems nicely. And, if dragons are to your liking, you’ll savor the author’s “Three Dragons” series.
Beware! Although this large collection of Brakken’s macabre writings will delightfully scare the reader and sometimes stimulate laughter, the author advises us that some of these works are utterly disturbing.
Perhaps that is why, for visual relief, the author included 53 darkly evocative engravings by master artists from ancient times. Gustave Dore and Albrecht Durer are among the artists who, long after their death, add mystery and macabre charm to Brakken’s work. Note that these images are not intended to illustrate the writings. Rather, they simply add to the enigmatic, bone-chilling nature of DARK.
THE AUTHOR ADVISED READING DARK IN ORDER AS PRESENTED.
Jumping ahead may spoil the twisting, turning plots of some sequential works.
Sneak peeks of both DARK and THE TREASURE OF NAMAKAGON are at BadgerValley.com.
Read what the DARK, DARKER & DARKEST critics say:
From the ghost of Mary Shelly, “James A. Brakken’s has created DARK, an eerie, often humorous assembly of tales and poems. DARK is a creature far more loveable than that of my dear Dr. Frankenstein. Why, it’s alive with fun!”
“Damnation! Brakken’s DARK is one helluva good read!” Ghost of John Milton, author of Paradise Lost
“Only since reading Brakken’s DARK collection, do I find myself wearing a wreath of garlic and carrying a crucifix on my travels—just in case!” The ghost of Bram Stoeker
From the Invisible Man, “Thankfully, I was able to see my way clear to getting a copy of DARK!
“DARK is a howling good read. One might say I simply devoured it!” The ghost of Larry Talbot, aka Wolf Man
From the ghost of the Mummy, “Curse upon mortals who have not read DARK. Yeeesh! Brakken’s writing really creeps me out, dude!”
“As I ponder, weary, in my chamber dreary, wouldst I be without James A. Brakken’s DARK book? Nevermore!” The ghost of Edgar Allen Poe
“Egad! Had a copy of James Brakken’s DARK been sequestered within the withering, musty walls of my seven-gabled house, its leaves would have had my characters drunk from its lively and various spirits!” The ghost of Nathanial Hawthorn
“Since reading DARK, the residents of Sleepy Hollow get little sleep.” The ghost of Washington Irving
Finally, from Satan, himself, “When I hear of a soul who does not have a copy of DARK, well, let’s just say it really burns me up!”
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