Influenced by Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Alfred Hitchcock, O Henry, Stephen King (former neighbor), M.R. James, H.P. Lovecraft, Andre Norton.

Winner of Bram Stoker Award for Young Readers(tied Clive Barker 2004, runner-up to Harry Potter 2003), 3 Ray Bradbury Awards, the Benjamin Franklin Award(mystery/suspense). Also ForeWord Honorable Mention for Best Horror Book, Writer's Digest Honorable Mention for Best Inspirational Book, finalist for Audio Fiction Book of the Year, 7 honorable mentions in Year's Best Fantasy & Horror, Readers' Choice Award from The Storyteller Magazine, Editor's Choice Award from My Legacy Magazine, Chicken Soup for the Soul contributing author, Readers' Choice Award from Poetic Eloquence, Best Horror Story from Beyond the Moon magazine, Best Short Fiction Award from Ebbing Tide.

June 25, 2005 tied Clive Barker for the world's top horror prize, the Bram Stoker Award (for young adults). Was runner-up to Harry Potter for it in 2004.