There is something special about stories told in the oral tradition. A freshness in the approach. An immediate intimacy that the written word can sometimes leave behind. The stories in this volume were first written down, of course, but the writers knew they would be presenting them aloud, and as a result, they each reflect the relationship with an audience they were entertaining.
In the spring of 2016, Chris Thomson of the McConnell library, approached Third Person Press about whether we’d be interested in looking at this collection. At the time we were technically open only to novel submissions, but when we heard who had authored these stories we were definitely interested in reading them. It took very little time for us to know that this was an unusually clever, cohesive, and unique set of stories—ones that celebrate not only Christmas and ghosts, but also literature, illustrious writers, libraries, history, books, humour and word play. How could we resist?
We had great fun pulling it together, and see Christmas Stalkings becoming a classic, not only to Cape Bretoners, but also to those who have yet to fully discover the prodigious talent that thrives on this Island.
A spirited toast to the authors for sharing their creativity with the rest of us and to the dedicated staff at the McConnell Memorial Library, Sydney, Nova Scotia, and all of the libraries in the regional district, for bringing out some of the best in Cape Breton writing. And, as they were meant to be told stories, we suggest that they—perhaps during the season of Advent—be read aloud.
Nancy, Sherry and Julie, Editors
Northside, Cape Breton
2016
About Third Person Press
Since its founding in 2007, Cape Breton writers, Julie A. Serroul, Sherry D. Ramsey and Nancy SM Waldman have published seven volumes of high-quality fiction by local and regional authors.
This small, independent press specializes in speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy, horror and the other sub-genres that fall into the “unreal-fiction” category. The work—calling for, reading, evaluating, and responding to submissions; advising, editing, revising, proofreading, type-setting, illustrating, designing, formatting print and e-books; publicizing, launching and promoting the products—is accomplished part-time by these three busy women. It is definitely a labour of love.
Close to forty talented writers have had their work published by Third Person Press and many more have been given advice and encouragement for their writing. The press has now turned its attention to novels by writers from Atlantic Canada. The first one, Rise of the Mudmen, will be published in 2017.
Stay in touch:
website: http://www.thirdpersonpress.com
email: [email protected]
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thirdpersonpress/
Twitter: @3rdpersonpress
The Books
The Speculative Elements Series—Four Volumes
Undercurrents: Stories that ripple and swell with the unusual: fiddle-playing ghosts, malevolent cats, urbane vampires, and ordinary folks who have drifted into realms of the extraordinary
Airborne: Stories that breathe unexpected possibilities into the atmosphere that surrounds and fills us. Take flight with these tales, explore what is always elusive: microscopic particles, airwaves, wind, space, sound and spirit.
Unearthed: Stories that explore the ends of Earth and beyond, these stories offer tales from the depth of darkness: zombies, vampires, murky unknowable worlds, underground prisons, malevolent spirits—to the lightest heights: earthen magic, little people, and buried treasure!
Flashpoint: Stories that singe! High-temperature tales that go from warmth to hearth to heat all the way to combustion and beyond!
Grey Area, 13 Ghost Stories:
Because Life & Death isn’t always Black & White
To Unimagined Shores, the collected works of Sherry D. Ramsey:
“...filled with vibrant characters, good writing, and thrum with humanity, even when there aren’t many actual humans in the story. Fans of speculative fiction should definitely check out To Unimagined Shores.” —Mark A. Rayner, author of The Amadeus Net
Christmas Stalkings, Ten Tales of Literary Spirits: If it’s true that great authors never die, do they become ghostwriters? Four talented writers explore this cultural conundrum in frightfully amusing and spirited tales originally written as oral entertainment for Gaudy Night fundraising celebrations.
All books available both in print and ebook formats
at major online retailers as well as through
thirdpersonpress.com
Coming in 2017 from Third Person Press
Rise of the Mudmen
By James FW Thompson
“I’m glad you woke me up,” his dad said, his features softening, but still holding onto a trace of seriousness. “I had a bad dream.”
After a few seconds, Alex asked “About what?”
“I don’t really know.”
“Oh.” That answer was somehow disappointing. Alex had almost hoped that his father had the same dream he did; if it scared his dad, then it was all right for him to be scared of it too.
“Just...,” his dad continued, “bad stuff. There’s...there’s a lot happening, you know? In the world? Stuff falling apart.”
Alex, Nicole, David, and Kaitlyn are about to have their world torn apart.
Something bad is happening, but even the adults don’t seem to know what it is—or if they do, they’re not saying. When that something reaches the small island of Cape Breton, it’s too late to do anything but run and hide. Fourteen-year-old Alex and a group of kids thrown together by the havoc must survive a nightmare place of missing parents, a school in flames, and neighborhoods overrun by the bloodthirsty creatures they call “mudmen.”
As they struggle to create a safe haven, defend themselves, and learn to take care of each other, they discover that there’s more than one kind of enemy...and that sometimes the worst ones come from within.
If you liked Stranger Things, Stand By Me, and The Goonies you’ll love this fast-paced adventure set in the 1980s. It will keep you turning pages from start to finish.
James FW Thompson is a Cape Breton playwright, writer, artist, actor, teacher, mentor, and new father.
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