Welcome to The Kid’s Korner.
I decided to do this feature as I have so many great children’s books to share. From picture books, to books for beginning readers, to middle graders, I have plenty of fun ones.
Today I’m sharing a couple of spooky fun children’s books and an interview with Author Terri Bertha!
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Interview with Author Terri Bertha
Where did the idea for Spooky Twisties come from?
I started Spooky Twisties with one story about a group of kids that go out to play their annual game of ghosts in the graveyard. After reading it to critique groups and others, I was encouraged to write more. The ideas for the other stories come from everywhere, as I observe people and kids, listen to conversations and think of weird “what if” scenarios to what I notice around me.
Did you create any of your characters based on someone you know?
No, not really, but my characters are a mishmash (composite) of people’s personalities I’ve met or observed.
Do you have a writing routine and where do you do most of your writing?
I normally like to write early morning at home, when my mind is fresh. Very rarely would you find me up late at night writing. It just doesn’t flow then.
What kind of books did you enjoy as a young reader?
During grade school summers, I enjoyed making trips to the local library for Agatha Christie books, loving her mystery plot twists, and the book “To Kill A Mockingbird”. Along with Christie’s books, I was also attracted to scary psychological thriller TV shows such as The Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, and The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Older, I enjoyed Edgar Allen Poe, James Patterson and Stephen King.
And five fun shorts:
Favorite movie? It’s a Wonderful Life
Dog or cat person? Dog (especially the Labrador retriever), but have owned both dogs and cats. We have a 5 year old fox red lab named Dexter.
Favorite beverage? A nice glass of dry red wine or a good strong cup of coffee
Cake or pie? Definitely pie. Always requested a lemon meringue pie for my birthday instead of cake. Also enjoy coconut cream and apple.
Any Phobias? I don’t do well with heights, and I like to have my “space” around me standing in lines at the grocery store or movies.
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Spooky Twisties I
13 Tales Of Terror
by Terri Bertha
Genre: Middle Grade / YA / Supernatural
My Review
I flew through this collection. I’m a fan of short stories and children’s scary books. Some of these were quite short. Some were longer. They go from creepy to kind of dark. Nothing so dark I wouldn’t recommend to young readers.
The author had a great idea when she had the characters enter into each others stories. The cast seems normal enough. A group of neighborhood kids hang out together. Do what kids do. Then there’s those ones that make you pause. Something isn’t quite right about them.
I grew up on a dead end street. All of us kids hung out together. Got into trouble together. But never did we have anything happen like what happens to these kids. Good thing too, or I’d need some professional help. LOL Seriously though, you might think there’s no way these kids could handle what goes down, but kids can surprise you. I believe they accept the strange and scary much better than us adults.
On a lighter note, the author dribbles in some fun dialogue and humorous scenes. The character’s feel genuine as kids say and do the funniest things.
Spooky Twisties is the perfect title for this book full of unexpected and surprising endings. Several of them had me sitting back thinking I never saw that coming.
I’d recommend this to young readers and adults. Fans who enjoy tales similar to R. L. Stine’s Goosebump books will get a kick out of these.
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Synopsis
Lindsay, Nick, Chris, Amy, and Paul are just a few of the kids in the neighborhood that enjoy each other’s company, hanging out together. From the usual antics that preteens enjoy, like playing in the graveyard, trick or treating, and celebrating birthdays, the kids find themselves in some unique situations that lead to unexpected ending twists.
Spooky Twisties I offers 13 tales of terror that will grab you from the start, and leave you with chilling surprise endings.
Adventures are speckled with humorous dialogue to frightening calls for help in working through their series of unusual encounters. Even though the chapters have individual story lines, many are intertwined with characters that are not so likable. For instance, Creepy Guy and Dan the Security Guard seem to have a ‘fixation’ for Lindsay and Amy who are best friends. Then there is old Mrs. Miller who appears to have lived on the street forever, but has found a secret to anti-aging. ‘Easter eggs’ or ‘hidden references’ mesh, and just when you think you’re headed towards a ‘fairy-tale’ ending, a strange unforeseen chilling conclusion occurs leaving the reader saying, “I didn’t see that happening!”
No happily ever after endings here.
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Spooky Twisties II
13 Tales Of Terror
by Terri Bertha
Genre: Middle Grade / YA / Supernatural
My Review
I really enjoyed the first Spooky Twisties collection and had even more fun with this next batch. It’s one weird thing after another with a humorous twist thrown in. Think Sand Lot with a spooky twist. Things that go bump in the night instead of a huge dog chasing you.
The author is up to her usual antics. The character’s are interwoven into each other’s stories. They have to deal with some strange goings on. And the endings are never what you expect.
And the book cover. How could young horror fans resist. As a young girl I spent hours in the library looking for covers like this. Then I’d race home and lose myself in the creepiness. Couldn’t resist them then and still can’t now.
I had such a blast with these stories. And I’d be hard pressed to pick a favorite. They were suspenseful with just the right amount of spooky for the younger reader. Made me wish my son was still little so we could read them together. I did the next best thing. I had him read them after I was finished and we compared our favorites. It made me want to read them all again.
Creative. Spooky. Humorous. Unpredictable. Perfect ingredients for fun.
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Synopsis
What happens when your average suburban town becomes a nexus of the paranormal and occult and no one told you about it?
Spooky Twisties II is the second book in the Spooky Twisties Series offering 13 standalone yet interconnected ‘scary’ short stories continuing the supernatural adventures of Amy, Nick, Chris, Lindsay and their friends.
Follow the horror and humor as the kids encounter and work through more unexplainable weird events in what was once an ideal normal community. From deciphering an old map and learning about an old town rumor, finding a briefcase of money, babysitting a small boy who has some strange habits, and being revisited by ‘old friend’, lead the tweens into some bizarre, creepy dilemmas. The kids also learn that magic sets and items bought from the town psychic have greater powers than what they originally imagined.
‘Easter eggs’ or ‘hidden references’ tie these tales together along with ‘twisted’ endings, leaving the reader saying, “I didn’t think that was going to happen!”
Don’t be afraid, as I’ll hold your hand and together we’ll re-enter their Spooky world, with a Twist!
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Author Terra Bertha
Terri has lived her entire life in the rolling hills and three rivers of western Pennsylvania and the majority of her working years as a Systems Engineer for a large corporation. When her sons were born, she took a hiatus from work, and tutored math and reading while being a substitute teacher in local schools. She returned to the workforce and retired a few years ago.
Besides writing, Terri enjoys watercolor painting, sketching, puzzles, exercising, and golf.
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For a list of my reviews go HERE.
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