Young adult horror master JC Bratton takes us on a dark journey where urban legends and childhood nightmares come to life. Perfect for reading around a campfire, Things That Go Bump in the Night, Volume One, is the complete collection in JC's "Urban Legends" series: a set of dialogue-driven, bite-sized tales that will keep readers guessing and wanting more.
This collection from young adult horror author Bratton, the start of a series called Urban Legends, abounds with nods to classic horror and campfire lore, with tales touching on Bloody Mary and “the witching hour,” victims who look almost exactly the same, creepy intersections between the waking and dream worlds, and that feeling that “It’s been so cold in the house, as if there was something there.” Bratton spices these quartet of stories with elements from distant cultures and entwines the narratives with care, crafting a one-book metaverse of interwoven horrors that manages to feel fresh and modern, despite its comforting—or is that chilling?— familiarity. Each story is a disquieting bite, but the book is an eerie and satisfying feast. Young readers will quickly come to sympathize and identify with the characters, as the narratives unfold with the shivery urgency of stories whispered by kids at slumber parties: shortly after their graduation, Jamie Patterson and her high school sweetheart Mark, the protagonists of the previously published first entry, have a jolting encounter with what might be the ghost of missing freshman Mary Montgomery—a possible visitation that definitely causes an all-too-real car crash that left Jamie in a walking boot. Stuck missing a family vacation to Hawaii, Jamie seems to see the ghost again on her doorbell camera.
Another character, Alex, is lonely and reeling after the loss of her father and a sudden divorce. She finds the perfect man at last…buried in the same mausoleum building as her dad. But she can see him in her dreams, which become an unsafe hunting ground for a demon who causes parasomnia, flickering still-life images that can be captured with new technology. These brisk, chatty stories strike a perfect balance between the serious and scary with welcome moments of levity. Age appropriate yet always compelling, this collection will allow young readers to cut their teeth on horror stories.
Takeaway: These memorable YA horror stories stir real shivers.
Comparable Titles: Calvin Demmer’s Dark Celebrations, Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories You Can Tell in the Dark.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
"Bratton’s prose is conversational and breezy, moving the narratives quickly from scene to scene. The book lives up to its urban-legends theme with the stories capturing the unsettling familiarity of tales passed through multiple tellers. Fans of quick, efficient thrills will likely enjoy Bratton’s collection and will anticipate the promise of future volumes to come."
"From start to finish, Bratton’s collection brims with slow-building tension, compelling the reader to turn the pages. The overlapping plot points and subtle easter eggs give this writer’s spooky universe a continuity that carries readers eagerly from one story to the next. Overall, this collection of Bratton’s stories is entertaining and fast-moving, with each story having an eerie, evocative payoff, making for a particularly strong work of psychological horror."
Growing up loving horror and mystery tales, JC Bratton writes short stories that pay homage to the Point Horror novels she would read as a kid: stories such as Slumber Party by Christopher Pike and Twisted by RL Stine. Some of her biggest influences are Alfred Hitchcock, Lois Duncan, Stephen King, and Richard Matheson. She lives in San Jose, California with her husband, stepsons, and cats.
Tell us about your book.
JC Bratton’s Things That Go Bump in the Night, Volume One (Urban Legends) is a series of 4 campfire-like short stories that are fast and quicken the pulse. They are meant for a young adult crowd who appreciate ghost stories blended with a bit of sci-fi/fantasy.
The stories are largely dialogue-driven, so I am purposefully doing more “telling” rather than “showing.” It works for the way my stories are designed. You’ll notice that all the stories are intertwined, each giving you hints of what’s to come.
“Who’s Back at the Door?,” the last story in the book, is meant to be the direct sequel to “Who’s at the Door?” (the first story). However, you had to have read all the other stories to truly appreciate it. I built a universe of characters, and they finally get to meet up and attempt to silence the main villain (Bloody Mary) for good!
Why did you want to write a book?
I’ve been self-publishing since 2017. Growing up, I was a journalism student, so I always enjoyed writing; however, I wrote quick stories. I don’t think I’ll ever be a 1,000+ page novelist, like Stephen King. I don’t think I have the patience for that (and, I do have a day job!). So, I enjoy writing short stories and easy-to-digest blog pieces or magazine articles.
Why did you choose to self-publish?
It’s a quick way to get your stories out there for the public to enjoy! It also removes the “middle man” – you get complete freedom to be creative, take risks, etc. without having to worry about the interests of the publishing house or literary agency.
What tools or companies did you use, and what experience did you have?
I use Vellum; it’s been a great tool! I keep using it because it’s been a great experience; it helps me format ebooks and print publications very easily. I also use Amazon exclusively. Their KDP format has been very user-friendly, and it also allows my stories to be distributed globally.
Would you self-publish again?
Yep, that’s all I do!
What do you think are the main pitfalls for indie writers?
It’s tough because you have to market yourself. Be patient and persistent. Don’t give up your day job…yet (i.e., Netflix movie deal!).
What tips can you give other authors looking to self-publish?
Beta test your product first…but don’t just have your friends/family read your stories. Go on Fiverr or Upwork and find unbiased beta readers who will give you honest feedback. It’s critical.
What was your steepest learning curve during the publishing process?
There are a lot of things to think about. Do you only have an ebook? Do you have an audiobook? How much should you charge? It’s rewarding in that no one can block you, but you have to compete with the large publishing firms. I guess it’s best to keep your expectations low…and do this because YOU love it.
Who are your biggest writing inspirations and why?
I have always been a fan of flash fiction and short terror tales such as Slumber Party by Christopher Pike and Twisted by R.L. Stine. My biggest influence, however, is Richard Matheson. The pace and supernatural elements in my stories come from some of Matheson’s tales. For example, “Parasomnia” draws some of its romantic elements from Matheson’s Bid Time Return (aka Somewhere in Time). In addition, “Dollhouse” took some of its charm from Matheson’s Zuni Warrior doll from Trilogy of Terror.
I am a huge fan of J-Horror. I gave Bloody Mary an East-Meets-West twist, bringing in the legend of Hanako-San, the little girl who was murdered in a bathroom, and mixing it with a bit of Samara from The Ring.
Lastly, you’ll notice that within my stories the characters listen to a radio show/podcast called Things That Go Bump in the Night. It’s based on Coast the Coast AM, a radio show and podcast that I have listened to for years. The host in my universe is Pete Williams from the high desert in Nevada; he’s a lot like Art Bell and George Noory. I also have a podcast called Things That Go Bump in the Night – it’s a way to make my fiction become fact. I guess you can say that I am also “Pete Williams.”
What’s next for you as an author?
I plan to write some more short stories. It will be another volume in the Things That Go Bump in the Night series. The first story will be called “IT Knows,” a cyber/AI terror tale that will involve many of the people from Who’s at the Door? and “The Renter,” a “loosely based on a true story” ghost story.
