Introduction

"one magnificent read that will go on the keeper shelf." (myshelf.com) "dark, creepy, and quirky(Clubreading.com)" you are looking for something that beckons back to more traditional horror, but still has a fresh voice, pick up this book." (Booklore.co.uk) Go ghost hunting with a ghost. Have dinner with a demon. Explore the tomb of an undead pharaoh. Discover an alien horror lurking in the attic. 16 horror short stories and poems from the works of Julie Ann Dawson.

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Excerpt

Excerpted from September and Other Stories by Julie Ann Dawson. Copyright © 2005. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the novella SEPTEMBER

===========================

September 12, 1923

I turned from the chalkboard to see the dead man sitting in an empty desk in the middle of the classroom.

His hair was matted with sweat and blood. A jagged gash swept from where his left eye should have been to his lower right jaw. Two ribs were exposed by the slashes in his chest. A bloody crucifix portraying a silver Christ on a black cross hung around the bruised neck. He used his left hand to hold his lower intestine in place, less it spilt onto the floor.

I continued my lecture. It was not the first time a spirit had sought me out, though I must admit this was the first one to seek my counsel in such ill repair. I caught Sven taking notes. He must have noticed my eyes holding a little too long in the spot. The ghost was being patient, so there was no reason to hold up the class.

After about ten minutes, the ghost’s patience apparently ran out, because he stood and started to walk toward me.

"Could this wait until AFTER class?" I asked, not realizing I asked the question out loud.

The class grew quiet. Sven looked up from his notebook. The ghost rudely continued toward me, then at the last moment shifted left and began tracing a bloody finger on the chalkboard. I watch intently as the spirit completed its drawing.

The symbol of the Brotherhood of the Blade dripped across my chalkboard in the ghost’s blood. He turned a sorrowful glance to me, and then walked through the wall.

"Class dismissed."

I heard the confused voices of the students as they left the room, but paid them no mind. Sven slowly, cautiously approached. I traced the symbol in chalk so he could see it.

"Sven, be a dear and go fetch Professor Oliver."

"But…"

"NOW, Sven."

My sister Natalie arrived first. Apparently, Sven thought it prudent to let the family know about my little lapse. She entered the classroom as I was setting up my camera to photograph the symbol. Professor Oliver was not far behind, so I was spared my sister’s familial concern.

I bluntly relayed what I had seen. Sven took notes. Natalie shook her head. Professor Oliver, on the other hand, turned deathly white for about fifteen seconds. He quickly regained his composure, however, and told Natalie that it would be best to keep this between our little group.

"I have done some interesting reading concerning subliminal knowledge," he explained. "I believe what Natasha saw was no ghost, nor was it a figment of her imagination. It may be a subliminal clue. She has done extensive reading on the religions of the area. Perhaps her subliminal mind is just bringing forth information from the recesses of her memory and trying to present it to her conscious mind. This may prove very valuable indeed."

"So you mean Natasha is not ‘seeing’ ghosts, but her mind is processing lost information?" Natalie asked the question as if I wasn’t even in the room.

"From what I have read, it is becoming a popular theory."

Natalie left to return to her work. Sven left to go get the car. I leaned against my desk and sulked.

"What’s wrong?" asked Professor Oliver.

"You know perfectly well what is wrong."

"I presented a perfectly plausible theory---"

"I perfectly plausible lie."

"My dear---"

"You saw Tabitha the other night. You saw what until the other night only I could see."

He became quiet and turned his attention to the chalkboard. He placed his hands in his pockets and walked toward the board. He then addressed me with a slight turn of his head.

"I didn’t actually see her. I felt her there, but I didn’t see her. I can sense the touch of something on your chalkboard, but I do not see it. My gift is not as strong as yours."

"If you know what I saw, then why---"

"Natasha, there are only four types of people in the world. The first group believes that those of us so gifted are possessed and should be burned at the stake. The second group believes we are insane and must be cured. The third group refuses to accept anything but a rational explanation for the irrational and extraordinary." He turned to face me, his eyes radiating that same beautiful blue that I saw in the garden. "And then there are the precious few like us who know the truth."

"Ready to go?" asked Sven as he returned.

"Yes," I replied.

"I will see you both at the airport tomorrow afternoon?" Professor Oliver’s voice was nervous, as if he thought perhaps I would change my mind.

"You will see us both," I answered. view abbreviated excerpt only...

Discussion Questions

In the story "A Candle for Imbolc," what is the significance of the date? How does the date tie in to the story of the candles? And what symbolic significance do the candles have in relation to the date?

In the story "To Dine with a Demon," Hoshi compares mankind before the fall to fish in an aquarium. How does this assessment of humanity in the Garden of Eden compare to other judeo-christian literature? In terms of Hoshi's explanation of the Fall, is it possible to interpret the Fall of man as a positive thing? Why or why not?

In the novella September, all three of the Collins daughters are on the verge of building successful careers, yet their mother will only be happy when they marry and have children. How does the relationship between the sisters and their mother impact the story? How does this relationship mirror the general atmosphere of the women's movement in the 1920's?

Throughout the novella September and the short stories "A Candle for Imbolc" and "The Horror in the Attic," the sanity of the protagonist is an issue. In fact, up until the meeting with her psychologist, it is possible that the incidents in the stories have actually been delusions. How does the meeting with the psychologist change your understanding of the stories, if at all? And how does this scene play a role in the ending of the novella?

In the story "Bus 264," the protagonist's dialogue remains polite and friendly toward the girl sitting next to her on the bench. Yet her internal monologue screams the exact opposite of her statements. How does this difference between her internal thoughts and external communication impact the story?

Weblinks

»	Official Book Page Official page for the book, included links to other book reviews.
»	"A Candle For Imbolc" Read "A Candle for Imbolc," one of the 16 stories and poems in this debut collection. Also find reader reviews.
»	Compulsivereader.com Book review at compulsivereader.com
»	RPG Times review A review of the book by Karen Mizeri of RPG Times
»	Epinions.com Review Consumer review at Epinions.com
»	Myshelf.com Review Review of the book by Tangela Williams of Myshelf.com

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