Connecticut minister Steve Burt's collection of dark fiction for young readers named one of five finalists (along with Harry Potter #5) for the horror genre's coveted Bram Stoker Award.
Once Rev. Steve Burt finishes writing his Sunday sermon, he sits down and writes scary stories for kids.
"It's fun," says Burt, a 25-year United Church of Christ minister. "I grew up on Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Weird Tales. The stuff I write is fun-scary, not give-you-nightmares scary. I do plenty of School Author Visits, and both kids and teachers love it."
Apparently so, because Burt's second collection, Even Odder: More Stories to Chill the Heart, has been named one of 5 finalists for the horror genre's coveted Bram Stoker Award, its answer to Hollywood's Oscars and the mystery genre's Edgars (after E.A. Poe). And Burt seems to be one of the country's fast-rising authors of dark fiction for youngsters.
"It's in the Young Readers category, up against Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, plus several other past Stoker winners, so I'm hopeful but not expecting to win."
But he could. He really could.
Consider that his first spooky collection, Odd Lot: Stories to Chill the Heart, won 9 awards including silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Awards for Best Mystery/Suspense Book, sole honorable mention at the ForeWord Awards for Best Y.A. Horror, and was the Writer's Digest runner-up for Best Genre Fiction Book. Six of its nine stories earned honorable mentions in Year's Best Fantasy & Horror. The book made the highly regarded Poisoned Pen List.
Yes, Burt could win the Stoker. But he'll have to wait to find out. The 12 category winners (novel, first novel, screenplay, nonfictin, et al) will be announced June 5 in NYC at the annual Stoker Awards Banquet.
His newest in the "Odd" series, Oddest Yet: Even More Stories to Chill the Heart, hits the shelves July 4.
Selkie's lonely heart has finally found a home with Aidan. But sometimes destiny compels us to love, and sometimes it forbids us...suspenseful, romantic, and spellbinding.
Bristlecone Magic is a YA Christian fantasy about family, friends, neighborliness, love, magic and yes, even tragedy. The story takes place in Clinton County in upstate New York.
There is more than one kind of Magic! Contact me if you'd like an au
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