Back-Pocket Tales: Volume One — Small Towns, Strange Things is a collection of seven spooky, folklore-inspired short stories for middle grade readers ages 11–15.

Each story takes place in an ordinary small town where something unsettling hides just out of sight. A magician reaches too far into the spirit world. A junkyard whispers with voices that won’t stay buried. A desert prospector guards a dangerous secret, while a hidden river valley shelters magical creatures whose disguises are beginning to fail. Other tales follow a bride bound to a love that won’t die, a gravedigger who hears whispers he should never answer, and a frozen northern lake that keeps a chilling record of the living and the dead.

Designed for readers who enjoy creepy stories without graphic horror, these short tales deliver atmosphere, mystery, and suspense—perfect for independent reading, reluctant readers, or sharing aloud. Back-Pocket Tales offers gentle chills, strange discoveries, and unforgettable twists, making it an ideal choice for fans of spooky fiction, folklore, and eerie small-town mysteries.