Books published by publisher Quarry Press

A collection of fifteen stories some well-known, some lesser known, and some brand new about West Virginia ghostly creatures. Beautifully illustrated with original paintings by Erin Turner, the stories are perfect for children s story time or a family campfire. Natives will recognize and enjoy tales of the state s most famous creatures and ghosts: the red-eyed Mothman, the green-cloaked Flatwoods Monster, and the unstoppable Greenbrier Ghost. Other stories focus on strange beings spotted the world over: aliens, the fabled Bigfoot, and UFO s. The Mountain State s seclusion has attracted stories about giant catfish, apple pickers, and mythic birds. Headless ghost, the ogua water monster, and haunted houses are also included. As home to a volatile and sometimes bloody history we ve been left with more than our share of disgruntled spirits.

Start with a neighborhood. Add residents: elderly men, young boys, a girl, a few cats, a dog–and an old woman who goes missing before we really get to know her. Add delectable food, snow, accidents and adventures and above all, add love, humor, compassion and understanding. Mix well and what you have is Missing: Mrs. Cornblossom, the new children’s book by Colleen Anderson of Charleston, WV.The story unfolds bit by bit, beginning with Mrs. Cornblossom leaving her beloved home and garden because, as she tells her neighbor’s cat, “I am going to die.” Where does she go? That question lingers throughout the story, weaving in and out of the activities of Toothbucket, her homely and homey neighbor, through the arrival of Inchbald who has bought Mrs. Cornblossom’s house, and the antics of Nell, Ed, and Caleb who are best friends and interact comfortably and companionably with their elderly and eccentric neighbors.What is compelling about the story is the ordinariness of life in Arlington Court after Mrs. Cornblossom’s disappearance. People do the same things they always did, even though one of them has gone missing. Anyone who has experienced the sudden loss of a friend or relative knows how surreal it seems that life should go on after such a stunning event, and yet it does, because it must. Pets must be fed, houses cleaned, mail picked up. Arlington Court goes on with these activities, but beneath the the daily routine the neighbors draw closer together as they puzzle over the unlikely disappearance of their friend. They are watchful of each other’s well-being. Everyone helps take care of Toothbucket when he is ill, and Inchbald provides wise listening while feeding his visitors well with fine cooking , music and the fine things of life. Even though they have lost a dear friend, the children in the story are safe in this nurturing neighborhood.A winter walk gone awry, journal entries that seem to emanate from a mysterious source, an unfulflled birthday wish, a strange cat that lives in an abandoned mansion and over it all the joy and peace of a community living in harmony combine in a story with surprises scattered throughout its 87 pages. Missing: Mrs. Cornblossom is a quick read, and yet it is a story that will not soon be forgotten, a tale whose grace and compassion echo in the heart long after the last page is turned. This might be classified as a children’s book, but readers of all ages, particularly those dealing with the loss of a loved one, will the quiet simplicity and peaceful joy of the story.Colleen Anderson is well known for her art, poetry, songwriting and singing performances, and her occasional essays on West Virginia Public Radio. She is the author of several books including the West Virginia One-Day Trip Book and is a frequent contributor to regional and national periodicals, and with this most recent publication can now add children’s author to her impressive resume.Copyright 2012 Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No republication or redistribution allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

Seventh grader Venola Mae Cutright always entertains with her wise and witty diary entries. In the fourth book in the Venola series, the saucy heroine resolutely becomes a vegetarian, accepts the pending birth of her sixth sibling, and learns about cancer with her 84-year-old friend Miss Wilma. Her initially rash swing to vegetarianism begins after she is grossed-out by seeing her own saliva cells under the microscope. Amid skepticism and discouragement, Venola embarks on an ambitious and thoughtful food journey. She educates herself about nutrition, creates adventurous menus, and learns to cook for her family, one that includes four ravenous big brothers. Her new-found vegetarian ideals even earn her the respect of her older sister, important at a time when Venola is facing not being the baby of the family any longer. She also sticks with friend Miss Wilma the hip old lady who lives above the funeral home as Miss Wilma is diagnosed and treated for breast cancer. Miss Wilma teaches her strength in the face of adversity, while also teaching her to sauté asparagus. As always, the two friends still enjoy making brownies together. If any of us would take a page from Venola s diary and approach problems with her gusto and humor, we d be all smiles! Dear Journal, If one more person mentions the word BABY to me, I might just explode. It s all I ve heard from my parents for the last few months. Ahhhh! I mean, there s other stuff going on in the world, right? So what s the big deal about another child in our already over-crowded clan? I keep praying, Please don t let it be a boy. Four brothers are enough! Well, I better get moving before my paper customers start complaining. Sincerely, Venola Mae Cutright

Old Edna Cornblossom is gone, and the whole neighborhood misses her. Welcome to Arlington Court, where a trio of ten-year-olds, two eccentric adults, and a mischievous calico cat discover that, together, they carry their friend s beloved memory forward in their own lives. Colleen Anderson has the rare gift of turning the everyday worked into something magical. Missing: Mrs. Cornblossom has a timeless feel. Written with a poet s eye and brimming with heart, readers of this story will be hooked from the very first page. Prepare to be utterly charmed by Inchbald, Toothbucket, Cocobean the cat and, of course, Mrs. Cornblossom. Sarah Sullivan, author of Passing the Music Down, an NCTE 2012 Notable Children s Book in the Language Arts First there was Wonderland, then Middle Earth, not long ago Hogwarts, and now Arlington Court. Colleen Anderson can imagine worlds we want to visit with the best of them, and in her tale of Toothbucket, Inchbald, and Cocobean the cat, we meet friends we want to keep for the rest of our lives. With the language of the poet and the narrative prowess of the storyteller, Anderson shows us that even in the most mundane places there is mystery; that the safest spaces can contain loss, but ultimately joy; and that we often forget to search for beauty where it is most profound in ourselves. Anita Skeen, Director, the RCAH Center for Poetry at Michigan State University and author of Never the Whole Story

Delightful children's story, with beautiful illustrations by award winning artist David Anderson. Cornelius Vulture, Refuse Disposal Officer, is an outcast and social misfit. To raise his popularity he persuades the other African animals to hold a football cup. The book has fact boxes about the animals featured in the story, so children and parents learn more about some of Africa's most fascinating - and endangered - animals.

In the evening, when the air cools and the sky turns pink, Mother Bird tucks her babies safely down into their nest... and tells them about a boy who lives in the house nearby. He plays games, takes baths, gets ready for bed, and struggles with his mother...just as the little birds do! Children will delight in seeing themselves from a bird s-eye view in this lushly illustrated bedtime story that s as rhythmic and gentle as a lullaby. A pleasant tuck-me-in. Bulletin of the Center for Children s Books The quietly appealing narrative and warm, richly hued illustrations are just right for bedtime. The Horn Book

With compelling illustrations by artist Susan Winget this marvelous gift book brings the immortal words of Francis Scott Key to life. This handsome volume includes full lyrics, a short history of The Star Spangled Banner and a mini-CD of a rivating version of the song sung by New York Firefighter Dennis Gonzales - one of the most popular renditions of this powerful song.

Seventh grader Venola Mae Cutright, the saucy heroine of the popular Venola series, entertains us again in Venola the Vegetarian. In the fourth book of the series, Venola is dealing with Miss Wilma s illness and the birth of a sixth sibling, when all of a sudden a simple science experiment makes her take a flying leap into vegetarianism. Discouraged and teased by family and friends, Venola perseveres, even creating a few converts. When one of these converts is the cafeteria lady who hasn t smiled in two years, the laughs begin. Stay tuned and find out how Venola fares in becoming a vegetarian in a world where hot dog eating contests are the norm. See whether she can stand up to her family at dinner, avoid detention while trading her dubious meatloaf on the school lunch black market, or survive a vegetarian pizza called Flame. Venola is as fresh, honest, funny, and endearing as ever.

Although the author is Norwegian, his quietly alarming novel is set in a generalized projection of a society disintegrating from the effects of industrial pollution and economic inadequacy. Air is unbreathable, water is undrinkable, all goods are in short supply, and all services are erratic. Nothing flourishes except bureaucracy, as a baffled government grinds out cradle-to-grave regulations that complicate a citizen's life without improving it in the least. Mr. Faldbakken's hero escapes from the mess with his wife and small son by fleeing to the vast dump that borders the city. There they find a few other refugees with whom, through ingenuity and a little violence, they construct the beginnings of a community. In one way the novel is a gruesome forecast of a world ending with a whimper under a pile of its own garbage. In ano