Spooky Stories & Fall Reads: Discover Books by Dorrance Authors
Written by Zane Troxell, with book descriptions by the Dorrance Editorial Team.
It’s almost Halloween! Whether you’re searching for tales of heroic witches, inexplicable mysteries, or lovable black cats, Dorrance has the right titles to spook and charm you this Halloween season.
Our selections below include a wide variety of themes and genres, so just about anyone can find their next autumn read. Fall is a season of slowing down and bundling up, and we highly recommend the works of our talented authors to fully immerse yourself in this cozy time of year.
Let us know what you think! If any of these books cast a particularly potent spell on you, send a starred and/or written review to us at marketing@dorrancepublishing.com.
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1. The Witch Cat
Author: Ann M. Willett
A magical tale, wonderfully illustrated and sure to inspire nostalgic memories of Halloweens past.
Retail price: Paperback: $25.00; Hardcover: $40.00; eBook $25.00
About the Book: This contemporary tale is set in New England. A spell bound cat takes one on a Halloween odyssey of tricks and treats for imaginations of all ages. Snippets of humor and history appear for those who seek them. The magical eve ends with questions and a clue, or is it? That’s for you to decide!
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
2. The Damned Son and the Witch’s Necklace
Author: Cris Dixon
Five-Star Review – Anonymous: “Fantastic read; the imagination and the way the author describes the scenes has the reader captivated”
Retail price: Paperback: $14.00; eBook: $9.00
About the Book: After a tragic accident claims his father’s life, teenage witch Allen Good is forced to return to Salem, Massachusetts, to live with his estranged mother. Salem’s eerie charm hides dangerous secrets, and Allen soon discovers that his mother’s most formidable rival, an ancient and vengeful witch, has escaped her magical prison.
As the days count down to the Halloween Ball, Allen finds himself caught in a whirlwind of magical intrigue, family betrayals, and the power of friendship. Allen must uncover the strength within himself to face the dark forces threatening Salem.
But as the line between ally and enemy blurs, will Allen and his friends find a way to stop the witch’s sinister plans, or will Salem pay the ultimate price?
Perfect for fans of dark fantasy, this spellbinding tale weaves magic, danger, and heart into a gripping adventure.
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
3. Color by Murder
Author: Anabel Wallace
Detectives investigate a murder at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University. Perfect for mystery and dark academia fans.
Retail price: Paperback: $20.00; eBook: $15.00
About the Book: On the Carnegie Mellon University campus, detectives Alex Waters and Arnold Ross investigate the mysterious death of a local student who had been reported missing a week before his death. As tensions and animosity between the detectives and their suspects grow, so does the body count. With everyone a suspect and a killer in their midst, the detectives battle to find and stop the killer before the next strike. This book is meant to be exciting and thrilling to the readers.
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
4. Monsters’ Night Off
Author: Bill Meadows
Breakdancing vampires, goal-scoring zombies, wave-surfing yetis, and other terrifying and terrific sights!
Retail price: Paperback: $19.00; eBook: $14.00
About the Book: A worried boy named Benny imagines monsters to be everywhere, while his mother explains that such creatures are not “working” on a holiday called Monsters’ Night Off.
Monsters’ Night Off is a delightful tale for little ones who may be afraid of monsters under their beds or hiding in their closets.
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
5. Mystery in the Hill
Author: Aaron Qualio
Five-Star Review – coreystags: “Great book – Suspenseful book. Couldn’t put it down once I started!”
Retail price: Paperback: $14.00; eBook: $9.00
About the Book: A small Wisconsin town is shaken to its core when four high school boys stumble upon an unexpected discovery. As past and present secrets are exposed, more unsolved mysteries are revealed, leading to more danger than anyone could have ever imagined.
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
6. The Adventures of Boogaloo the Magical Black Cat
Author: Donnie E. Price
Five-Star Review – G. Kriston: “Lovely story and illustrations! My kids enjoy Boogaloo immensely! Very charming and creative. I’ll be looking out for any of Mr. Price’s future works.”
Retail price: Paperback: $18.00; eBook: $13.00
About the Book: Boogaloo is a good cat. Her owner, Dee, is a good witch that pretends to be evil. Long ago, a spell was placed on their town to keep Santa away.
The Adventures of Boogaloo the Magical Black Cat is about Boogaloo’s sneaky plan to break the spell and bring holiday joy and Santa to her town. Will Boogaloo succeed? Can her efforts teach the evil witches it’s better to be good in the world?
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
7. Legends of Spook Hollow
Author: Mary L. Shofkom
This collection of creepy accounts is sure to satisfy those looking for an extra scare this Halloween season.
Retail price: Paperback: $13.00; eBook: $8.00
About the Book: Spook Hollow runs its unexplainable horror through an eight-mile, sharply cut valley. The lay of the land leaves an unwelcome sense of a mortal fright to any who dare challenge its existence. Charlie, also known as Gramps, lives right near Spook Hollow and witnesses first-hand the horrors the hollow has to offer.
Full of trepidation and intrigue, Legends of Spook Hollow contains family legends founded around a campfire of people never to be the same after experiencing the monstrosities of Spook Hollow.
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
Cozy Thanksgiving Stories
With November right around the corner, we also wanted to feature some wholesome Thanksgiving tales published by Dorrance Publishing. These children’s books are sure to bring some much-needed warmth as the days grow shorter and chillier.
1. Am I a Turkey?
Author: Carmen Jewell (illustrated by Emma Kelley)
A heartwarming, turkey-themed story about family and belonging.
Retail price: Paperback: $20.00; Hardcover: $24.00; eBook: $15.00
About the Book: Am I a Turkey? shows us that even though we might not be who we think we are, we can still grow up in a loving family and community.
Based on a true event that happened at the author’s home, this is the story of a rooster that hatches under a turkey. Because birds imprint with the one who nurtures them, the rooster thinks the turkey is its mother.
As an adopted child herself, the author can relate to being loved by parents who were not her biological parents. She wrote this story to remind readers that love comes in all shapes, sizes, and colors!
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
2. Lady’s Thanksgiving
Author: Pamela Jeter & Jeffrey Still
A true story about a family, their dog, and an especially unforgettable Thanksgiving!
Retail price: Paperback: $23.00; eBook: $18.00
About the Book: Lady, the family’s Belgian Sheppard, has the house to herself for the holiday – and the Thanksgiving feast is all laid out! What’s a dog to do?
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
3. Turkey on a Trampoline
Author: Kane M. Rusler (illustrated by Michaeltwins)
You see turkeys just about everywhere during Thanksgiving, but have you ever seen one on a trampoline?
Retail price: Hardcover: $33.00; eBook: $28.00
About the Book: A playful rhyming delight, Turkey on a Trampoline is a quirky, fast read that creates quite an image of a turkey and his friends enjoying a day of fun together bouncing on a trampoline.
Shop This Book at the Dorrance Bookstore
Discover More Books & Start Your Publishing Journey
Explore more books published by Dorrance and support independent authors at bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com.
Have a book idea of your own? We’d love to hear from you! Contact us today at 1-800-695-9599 or contact@dorrancepublishing.com to learn more about how we can help you become a published author.
From all of us at Dorrance Publishing, we wish you a Happy Halloween and a wonderful Thanksgiving season filled with great stories, cozy moments, and plenty of reasons to celebrate!