TWELVE TANTALIZINGLY TWISTED TALES
by
David C. Hughes
Genre: Children's / Horror (ages 8-11)
Publisher: Progressive Rising Phoenix Press
Date of Publication: July 29, 2016
Number of Pages: 176
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Who can pass up a scary tale or a spooky ghost story, especially right before bed on a stormy night after eating a sloppy bean burrito? From possessed bunny slippers to a house guarding an ancient secret, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales features a dozen short stories sure to raise a few goosebumps, conjure a giggle . . . and make you think twice before disobeying your mom the next time she asks you to clean the shower stall.
PRAISE FOR TWELVE TANTALIZINGLY TWISTED TALES . . .
“This book is ‘Twilight Zone’ for kids.” –Don Winn, founder of Cardboard Box Adventures Publishing and author of the Sir Kaye book series
“Each story is a pleasure!” —Linda LaRue Austin, writer, historian, and author of Midnight Amethyst
“David Hughes is a modern-day weaver of tales much like the classic Grimm brothers. Each story awakens the imagination and questions what we commonly refer to as reality, while entertaining and delighting the senses.” –Jan Sikes, author of Flowers and Stone and other biographical fiction
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* or Signed Copies from Progressive Rising Phoenix Press *
* Amazon * Barnes & Noble *
* or Signed Copies from Progressive Rising Phoenix Press *
HALL WAYS REVIEW: Reading this book took me back to the days of scouring the Scholastic Books order form for the spookiest books and then gobbling them up as soon as they were in my hands -- always with a friend or two ready to borrow them. Oh, the power of having the cool, spooky book. Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales is that kind of book. Kids are going to rip through it, share it with friends, and want to talk about the awesome, super-creepy stories nestled between the covers.
Author David Hughes delivers a wide variety of chills (some more lighthearted than others) in a variety of settings (some much darker than others). There are monsters of the fangs and claw type, but also there are monsters of a much more subtle type where the writing wraps around readers and pulls them in close enough to feel placed within the story. Hughes weaves in folk lore and fairy tales, and at times the action is fairly intense. While there is a great deal of fantasy, the scary realities of real life are sprinkled throughout the stories and include everything from references to domestic violence, divorce, and the Holocaust to the pressure of making the cut for admission into school, bullying, and revenge. Parents will appreciate that the author also sneaks in some good life lessons without forcing them on the readers.
Many of the main characters are in the fourth or fifth grade range, and that's probably about right for the reading audience. Sensitive readers could find some of the stories pretty frightening, but for the most part, it's the readers' own experiences and knowledge that determine the scare factor. For example, one of my favorite stories is Clarice, and the black dog in the story is unsettling to me for an entirely different reason than it is for my ten-year-old niece who read the book. (straight through, one sitting, never looked up. . . though I saw her squirming a few times.)
For kids who like the creepy factor with a side order of silly, and for parents who like to keep it clean, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales is a great choice.
Author David Hughes delivers a wide variety of chills (some more lighthearted than others) in a variety of settings (some much darker than others). There are monsters of the fangs and claw type, but also there are monsters of a much more subtle type where the writing wraps around readers and pulls them in close enough to feel placed within the story. Hughes weaves in folk lore and fairy tales, and at times the action is fairly intense. While there is a great deal of fantasy, the scary realities of real life are sprinkled throughout the stories and include everything from references to domestic violence, divorce, and the Holocaust to the pressure of making the cut for admission into school, bullying, and revenge. Parents will appreciate that the author also sneaks in some good life lessons without forcing them on the readers.
Many of the main characters are in the fourth or fifth grade range, and that's probably about right for the reading audience. Sensitive readers could find some of the stories pretty frightening, but for the most part, it's the readers' own experiences and knowledge that determine the scare factor. For example, one of my favorite stories is Clarice, and the black dog in the story is unsettling to me for an entirely different reason than it is for my ten-year-old niece who read the book. (straight through, one sitting, never looked up. . . though I saw her squirming a few times.)
For kids who like the creepy factor with a side order of silly, and for parents who like to keep it clean, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales is a great choice.
David C. Hughes defies the premise that engineers can’t write. With almost four decades of writing experience, he left his full-time corporate job in 2013 to launch his writing career. He has a passion for writing and for other writers, and loves to “talk shop” with anyone who will listen.
A former youth leader and deacon, David’s life is resolutely defined by his pursuit of God, and his desire is to convey God’s love, joy, grace, and healing through his testimony. His blog site, “David C. Hughes, Writer,” broadcasts his latest take on what it means to be a Christ-centered man, husband, father, son, brother, and friend in these exciting and challenging times. His God-ordained book, The Epiphany of Joy, and his picture book, Melted Clowns, both won the Texas Association of Authors 2015 Best Book Award. He is also the author of 10 Little Hiccups/10 pequeños hipos, a bilingual counting book.
In July 2016, Progressive Rising Phoenix Press released his latest book, Twelve Tantalizingly Twisted Tales, a collection of a dozen spooky stories aimed at 8 to 14 year olds.
Originally from the town of Maine, New York, David now lives in Granbury, Texas with the loves of his life: his wife, Mary, and his daughter, Hannah. At last count he also has two dogs, a handful of fish, six chickens, and countless geckos.
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10/21
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