In November of 2014, I had the honor of being invited by David Goudsward to submit a short story to an anthology called Snowbound with Zombies: Tales of the Supernatural Inspired by the Life and Work of John Greenleaf Whittier. Whittier, a poet and famous abolitionist (who was roughly a contemporary of Mark Twain), was most famous for his nostalgic poem Snowbound, but he had a darker side, too; it was this which Goudsward wanted to showcase. All proceeds will go to the 1727 Whittier Homestead in Haverhill, Massachusetts, where the poet spent his early years.

What was special about being part of a project like this was that each writer got to choose a tale or poem as inspiration for his work. I chose “Telling the Bees” and titled the story “Shreds of Black,” which refers to a specific line in the poem (it’s more than that, but I don’t really want to give any more spoilers). New England farms had a rich history with beehives, and along with that came much in the way of superstition and folklore (I’d elaborate here, but if you’ve interest, this paper is well-researched and gives much more detail; I highly recommend you take the time and read it). “Telling the Bees” was more than likely inspired by the hives on Whittier’s farm.

Here is the announced Table of Contents:

Foreword by Tim Coco
president of the Trustees of John Greenleaf Whittier Birthplace
~
Introduction by David Goudsward

“The Death of John Greenleaf Whittier” (Samuel T. Pickard)

“Devotion” (John M. McIlveen)

“The Lost Lapstone of Cobbler Keezar” (Peter Rawlik)

“The Scenic Route” (Stuart Conover)

“Depths of Dreams and Madness” (W.H. Pugmire)

“Snowblind” (Christopher Golden)

“The Autumn Years” (Scott T. Goudsward)

“The Fortune Teller” (Morven Westfield)

“The Cruise of the Mystery” (Celia Thaxter)

“Depths of Dreams and Madness” (W.H. Pugmire)

“The Haunting of Jemima Nash” (Roxanne Dent)

“Passport to Eternity” (Kenneth W. Faig, Jr.)

“Brick Wall” (Judi Calhoun)

“The Truth About Snow Angels” (Tracy Carbone)

“The Frequency of Apophenia” (K.H. Vaughan)

“The Horrible Harlequins” (Joseph A Citro)

“Shreds of Black” (Kristi Petersen Schoonover)

“Dangerous Regrets” (Karen Dent)

“Shipwreck Bridge” (Hannah Gonsman)

“Snowbound with Zombies” (David Bernard)

“Whose Dead Ship” (Michelle Souliere)

“The Coldest Room in the House” (Gregory L. Norris)

“The Haunted House” (John G. Whittier)
~
Afterword: “Whittier and the Supernatural Legends of New England” (Faye Ringel)

There are plans for an opening reception in September (I have more details than that, but until they are confirmed I’m not going to publish them), and my holiday chapbook mailing this year just might be a teaser for “Shreds of Black” accompanied by photos of the story’s settings.

You can learn more about Snowbound with Zombies here.

Below, some video of the old “hives” (probably used only for illustrative purposes, as school groups visit frequently).

Below, activity at the new beehives placed on the Whittier Birthplace Museum property; it’s my understanding they hope to get the small orchard producing again. These hives contain approximately 30,000 bees each, according to our guide. This footage was shot when Nathan and I visited the museum on May 16, 2015.