What's Lurking in PA on any given Dark Haunted Day....

Kasey Cox

What is it about Halloween and ghost stories that turns us all into kids? Just looking at the covers of local author William Robertson’s two spooky story collections makes me want to grin like a jack o’lantern and cackle like a witch. Lurking in Pennsylvania features a cover photo of two fawns in a patch of trees – a photo that was probably high in the “awwwww….” factor (as in, “awww, aren’t they sweet?) before the addition of a demonic glow in the eyes of the Bambi twins. (This is probably a much more accurate portrayal, many gardeners will be happy to let you know.)

Robertson’s newest collection, Dark Haunted Day, displays another familiar northern Pennsylvania scene, that of the weathered farmhouse surrounded by stark trees. This cover is in black and white, as are the rest of the photos scattered throughout the book to accompany various stories. Not that it would matter much if the photos were in color, because for many months of the year, and at several times of the day, this is the way our landscapes look. In both his introduction and with the tone of his stories, this Potter County author speaks to the way the atmosphere affects those of us who call this area home. The author remarks that although this climate causes bouts of depression in some people, for him it has inspired the creative spark that allows him to present us with stories, poems and pictures that bring that childlike pleasure in scaring yourself.

Indeed, as I read through the offerings of these two books, I connected most with the stories about kids. The very first one I read was “Rescue at the Devil’s Den”, which combines Robertson’s two greatest strengths – his knowledge about the Pennsylvania Civil War unit known as the Bucktails, and his writing for children. Bill Robertson marches with the local re-enactment unit of the Bucktails, and has penned five wonderful books on the subject. With co-author David Rimer, Robertson writes about the experiences the young men of northern Pennsylvania had while fighting with the Bucktails. Obviously, Robertson draws on these writings, and adds a supernatural twist in creating some of his horror stories. The Boy Scout who is stranded up in Devil’s Den on a tour of the Gettysburg Battlefield makes out far better in his encounter with the spirit of a soldier than does the photographer who hasn’t been paying child support in the appropriately titled, “Bad Things Happen to Bad Men.”

Another thrill came from hearing Rob Kathcart give an animated reading of “Mrs. Babcock’s ABC’s” to a young audience who shrieked in delight as second-grader Perry finds at the truth about his “evil” teacher and principal. And children as well as adults should enjoy the fact that in many stories, ghosts get their revenge on people who deserve it – hunters who needlessly and brutally kill over their legal limit of deer; a home repairman taking advantage of an old widow; the editor of a magazine who enjoys sending rejection letters. Although occasionally Robertson’s dialogue or style is a little stilted, these two books on the whole offer countless nuggets of enjoyment. I encourage Gazette readers who are looking to share a thrill: support a local author, turn off the lights and read aloud by firelight what’s Lurking in Pennsylvania on any given Dark Haunted Day.