BOOKS & NEWS

Mar 16, 2022
4 min

Moby-Dick: A Mighty Book with a Still Mighty Following

by William Weger Herman Melville, on writing Moby-Dick or, The Whale, keenly observed that “to produce a mighty book, you must choose a...

Dec 28, 2021
4 min

The Shirley Jackson Revival: Come Along with Me

by William Weger Shirley Jackson has in recent years enjoyed a revival of sorts. Some might say she has become a literary pop icon. Her...

Dec 1, 2021
2 min

Still in Love with Scrooge

by William Weger “Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that." These rather grim words began A Christmas Carol...

Oct 25, 2021
13 min

Salem Manor

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a new short story about a haunted house and its reign of terror. Some houses...

Oct 21, 2021
15 min

The Secret Poe Society

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a new short story about the mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe. “The...

Oct 7, 2021
4 min

The Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe Still Haunts Us

by William Weger “The boundaries which divide Life from Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where...

Jun 9, 2021
1 min

10 Best First Lines in Novels

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover alone. But engaging opening lines can sure pull you in. Here are 10 of our favorites. Moby Dick...

May 25, 2021
1 min

Most Challenged Books List 2020

The American Library Association (ALA) released its annual list of the most challenged books of 2020. The ALA Office of Intellectual...

Apr 1, 2021
1 min

25th Anniversary of National Poetry Month

April 2021 marks the 25th Anniversary of National Poetry Month, which reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our...

Jan 19, 2021
1 min

Celebrating Our Fifth Anniversary!

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809. To celebrate Poe's birthday, Books & Bards, originally called Classic Booklovers, opened on...

Oct 17, 2020
14 min

When the Devil Writes

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a new short story with a spooky twist. Jack Fowler stared at the blank screen...

Oct 16, 2020
22 min

Deathsations: Halloween Fiction

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a spooky tale about a vampire that haunts a small rural town. A pale sun rose...

Oct 15, 2020
16 min

Halloween Fiction: Rat Trap

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a bloodcurdling tale about clever and terrifying rats that take over New York...

Oct 31, 2019
17 min

Halloween Fiction: Harper's Moon

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a new short story about the full moon and witches. Holly Cambridge sat on the...

Oct 19, 2019
20 min

Halloween Fiction: The Re-Animator Project

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a creepy zombie story. Dr. Raymond Wescott cleared his throat. He was about...

Oct 19, 2018
13 min

The Black Cat on Bleecher Street

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a new short story about the full moon and witches. I don’t have much time...

Oct 13, 2018
13 min

Halloween Fiction: The Mannequin Maker

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a bone-chilling short story about Jack the Ripper and his maker. The main...

Oct 5, 2018
12 min

Halloween Fiction: The Crimson Ripper

by Will Raven In the spirit of the Halloween season, here’s a spooky tale about a campus serial killer. “It appears The Crimson Ripper...

Feb 7, 2017
1 min

Charles Dicken's Birthday

Born on February 7, 1812, Charles Dickens was an English writer who crafted some of the world's most famous classics, including A Tale...