Some Nightmares Are Real: The Haunting Truth Behind Alabama's Supernatural Tales

Southern writer and folklorist Kelly Kazek's collection of eerie and enigmatic Alabama ghost stories

Dark secrets lurk beneath the sleepy surface of Alabama. Ghosts and grisly creatures haunt the towns and forests. In the great Southern ghost-story tradition, famed Alabama storyteller Kelly Kazek weaves a gothic tapestry of ten stories drawn from real people and legendary creatures, cursed places, and harrowing events.

Each story or legend takes readers to a different place in Alabama. Read about the bestial Wolf Woman who terrified Mobilians in the haunted old port city. In the northern city of Huntsville, visit the Dead Children's Playground in gloomy Maple Hill Cemetery. In Jacksonville, feel the cold grip of the Old Mill Witch, rumored to protect the workers at the rickety cotton yarn mill. Hear about the mysterious green light that drifts along the Alabama River in the Black Belt hamlet of Gee's Bend and learn about the role the Gee's Bend Ferry played in the Civil Rights Movement.

Unlike most ghost-story collections, Some Nightmares Are Real includes an appendix of facts, historical resources, and information about how to visit the locations. These contemporary stories embrace a beloved Southern folkloric tradition for a new generation of young readers. The tales will terrify and ensnare ghost-story lovers of all ages. So settle in, pull the covers up tight, and maybe turn on the light, because the truth is: Some Nightmares Are Real.

Kelly Kazek is an award-winning journalist, humor columnist, and author who writes about Southern culture. She has written books for children and adults, including Y is For Y'all: A Book of Southern ABCs, Southern Thesaurus: For When You're Plumb Out of Things to Sayand A Guide to the South's Quirkiest Roadside Attractions. She lives near Huntsville, Alabama.

Sarah Cotton is a Louisiana native and former student at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts. She graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design with a BFA and an MFA.