Books with author B. L. Hoffman

Spencer Kane, a teenager on vacation with his family at Shadow Lake, Michigan, finds himself in the middle of peculiar, even paranormal situations that affect many of the lake residents. Spencer and his friends unknowingly cause the events to intensify and become more violent, bringing even more danger to those who haven't yet fled the lake in terror. Excerpt: The voice appeared to come from inside the tunnel. I slowly lowered myself down to the bend to get a better look. I didn’t hear anything. I called out “Is anyone down here? Do you need help?” I turned back to where the flashlight was aimed, and immediately saw two shining circles, resembling eyes glowing from the light, and looking in my direction. Before I could make another move, I heard. “Please help me.” “Who’s there? I asked again. As I watched the shiny spheres, they began moving closer and closer. I stared at them at first, not certain if the person in trouble was approaching me, or if I should be running for my life from something evil. As the eyes drew closer, I could now make out a figure. It looked strangely familiar. Then I realized the figure was the little girl I had seen in my nightmare. The same one who had disappeared in the lake and hasn't yet been found.

There once was a bachelor...an honest man, an artist struggling for love and success. He had a girlfriend. Sexy and manipulative, this woman enticed and diced his heart. But there was another woman, too. Not quite as pretty, nor half as mean, this sweet woman made him laugh. One cold morning, a tiny abandoned kitten appeared on his doorstep. Sure it would be temporary, the bachelor opened his door...and then slowly, his heart. Soon, his house was he home too. But the cat wasn't the only object growing in the bachelor's affections. Increasingly town between the two women, he didn't know which one he wanted more. For the cat, the choice was easy. Would the bachelor be wise enough to hear her--and the truth in his own heart?

This terrier-poodle, “Boo-Boo,” rides motorcycles, attempts waterskiing, and bites cars. Friends and family get visits from Boo-Boo, because this dog memorizes addresses. After strutting down Main Street and stopping traffic, Boo-Boo gets arrested. He dies on numerous adventures, but miraculously comes back to life. Laughter and love are inspired by this peppy pup! His owner, Lucy, learns to survive the demands of school, friends, and her family with the joy of her dear dog. Boo-Boo and Lucy share bike rides, late-night-storms, and snuggles of love. Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes challenge this dog and his owner by Pt. Betsie Lighthouse. Later, it’s a bloody ride in the snow, when this little canine demonstrates his deepest devotion to Lucy. Read and enjoy the tales of a tail-wagging terrier!

This is the first of the three small horror novels I wrote for my fifth grade classes. The story has to do with amazing creatures who move through walls, floors, ceilings - and solid matter - to feast. Shawna O'Conner discovers them in her bedroom and they follow her to school. As the story unfolds we discover that the creatures are escaping from a mysterious business that is new in town where Shawna's mother works -- although Shawna is initially unaware of this.Intense action and diabolical creatures that are amazingly nasty.Enjoy.

What scares you? Not something that causes minor discomfort, like an appointment at the dentist. No, I mean fear. The fear that freezes you in place unable to catch your breath. The fear that so paralyzes you that you are unable to move or even scream. What is it? Fingers closing around your neck while you sleep and steadily increasing the pressure until you gasp helplessly for air? Tentacles rising from blackened water to seek and drag you down? What is it? What scares you?____________________________________________________________My fifth grade class, several years ago, knew that I was an author (Challenge and Silent Screams of a Survivor - available at Amazon) and teased me every day for nearly three months to, "Write them something scary." This is the origin of the FEAR Series. There are three books in the series: The Night of the Creatures, The Haunting, and The Button Box. All have been written for an audience of people from grade 4 and up. (Nothing here that an adult would not find interesting) This story tells of a young girl who finds a special pin - a talisman - in her Great Grandmother's button box stored in the basement. The story tells of her learning of both the special powers of the talisman and her own mind. A lot of fun to read and scary. ________________________________________________________________Gentle Reader: You hold in your hands one of life's sweetest treats --finely-crafted terror. The horror story has a long and illustrious history; apparently we've always enjoyed being scared. I'll leave it to students of the mind to speculate why -- as a long-time admirer of the genre, I prefer to simply dive in and enjoy the experience. I invite you to join me; seldom does one encounter fear so delicious as that created by Bob Hoffman. So, dim all but your reading lamp, curl up in a comfy chair, and come along for a wonderful, suspense-filled ride. You won't be disappointed. And if it gets a little TOO scary, just keep telling yourself: “It's only a story, it's only a story . . . .” Isn't it? Linda Buthmann

"A remarkable accomplishment. . . . [This volume] has been and will continue to be a major force advancing freshwater fish parasitology."―Ernest H. Williams Jr., from the ForewordThis thoroughly revised and updated edition of a classic reference work is the definitive guide to the identification of the parasites of freshwater fishes of North America. The book provides information on public health concerns about fish parasites, the methods used to examine fish for parasites, and those parasites found only in very selective organs or tissues. It lists the known species of each genus, along with reference citations that enable readers to find literature pertinent to species identification, life cycles, and in some cases, control. In the heart of the book, each chapter opens with a description of a phylum and its relevant families and genera, followed by a species list for those genera. Drawings illustrate a representative of each genus, and are supplemented by photographic examples.Many new parasites of North American freshwater fishes have been discovered since the publication of the first edition thirty years ago. For this new edition, the author has added new species accounts and revised the taxonomy, expanded descriptions and discussion of the most important fish parasites, provided a glossary to aid nonspecialists, and updated the reference list through 1992. The volume features twice as many illustrations as the first edition, including the addition of 33 color photographs.

This terrier-poodle, “Boo-Boo,” rides motorcycles, attempts waterskiing, and bites cars. Friends and family get visits from Boo-Boo, because this dog memorizes addresses. After strutting down Main Street and stopping traffic, Boo-Boo gets arrested. He dies on numerous adventures, but miraculously comes back to life. Laughter and love are inspired by this peppy pup!His owner, Lucy, learns to survive the demands of school, friends, and her family with the joy of her dear dog. Boo-Boo and Lucy share bike rides, late-night-storms, and snuggles of love. Lake Michigan and the Sleeping Bear Dunes challenge this dog and his owner by Pt. Betsie Lighthouse. Later, it’s a bloody ride in the snow, when this little canine demonstrates his deepest devotion to Lucy. Read and enjoy the tales of a tail-wagging terrier!

Dear God: Butch died this morning. He's on his way to Heaven. I'm sending this picture so you'll know him when you see him. Butch is on the right. I'm on the left, . I know you're real busy, but I hope you'll have time to play with him. He loves to swim, play ball, and chase squirrels. Are there squirrels in Heaven? Give him a big hug for me! Thankx - and have a nice day! Love, Bobby