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Fiction for Children
Raymond also enjoys writing fiction—mostly ghost stories and mystery novels for children. Over the years, he began by writing for his children, Anna, Sarah, and Luke, who loved scary stories. He often read these stories to them out on the porch in the evenings, just as his grandfather, an immigrant from Slovenia, told ghost stories from the old country to just about all the kids in the neighborhood many years ago. To date, Raymond has published through books of fiction: The Fresh Grave and Other Ghostly Stories, The Ghost of Honeymoon Creek, and Shadow Island: A Tale of Lake Superior. Writing the stories was great fun, and even more gratifying that children love the stories and novels. For more information and to read a story or sample chapter, check
out the website of Blue
Horse Books, an imprint of Midwest Traditions.
Word from the Publisher “These original ghost stories, linked by the characters of Hank and Clifford, reflect a common heritage of rural America—a land once roamed by Native American bands, now dotted with small farmhouses, old gristmills, run-down barns, and, of course, cemeteries. Hank and Clifford will foil grave robbers, meet a ghostly Civil War window, encounter a long-gone religious sect, and tiptoe through a deserted hotel.” Link to this website for the lead story of this collection: “Teenagers Hank Cantrell and his friend Cliff meet a ghostly
cast of characters in this collection of stories set in a small
Midwestern town. The motifs of the 10 tales are familiar—being
buried alive, sacred Indian burial grounds, inability to give
up a child, etc. Bial tells these stories in a straightforward
manner and often with a touch of humor. In each selection, Hank
becomes aware of cultural and moral values surrounding the ghosts
and periods of history. Cliff, on the other hand, provides the
comic relief while defending his cowardly attitude. The dialogue
is a strength of this book and moves the plots forward; description
is used to embellish the scenes and the two elements combine
well for silent reading…A worthy purchase…—School
Library Journal “Readers familiar with Bial’s The Fresh Grave (Face to Face, 1997), featuring the same two boys, will not be disappointed with this sequel. It’s a lively, entertaining, and energetic story. When a mysterious light suddenly appears in a deserted farmhouse on Old Man Crupp’s land, ghost-magnets Hank and Clifford investigate and become entangled in a case that ultimately leads to the discovery of a murder. They encounter not only a ghost, but also a shotgun-wielding landlord and a fierce-tempered bull named Lucifer that guards the nearby woods against trespassers. The interactions of the engaging, sympathetic characters create a well-balanced story. The friendship between teenager Hank and the elderly, ghostly Bonnie Hawkins is refreshing, and nicely juxtaposed against the close friendship Hank has with Clifford and also with Rosie, a romantic interest. Bonnie helps Hank discover the love and respect that he has for the land, and Hank helps her find inner peace when he solves the mystery surrounding her sister’s murder. Loose ends are wrapped up at the end; the ghosts can finally rest in peace, and Hank and Rosie’s friendship has become closer than ever. This page-turner will keep readers looking forward to the further exploits of these two ghost sleuths.”— School Library Journal “Fifteen-year-old Hank has grown up on a farm in western
Indiana, but he fears that his father will have to sell the land
before he’s old enough to farm it himself. Goaded by his
cowardly friend Clifford to investigate the strange light that
has been sighted on the old Hawkins place, Hank faces a crazy
bull and a strange old woman who appears to have some knowledge
of the past and of the future. His courage and loyalty pay off,
leaving Hank with a bright future ahead. Readers who enjoy ghost
stories will find the suspense satisfying and the main character
a sympathetic young hero. Though the writing has its share of
clichés and the ending is predictable, this novel is one
of the few to deal with characters growing up in contemporary
rural America. Hank and Clifford appeared in Bial’s book
of short stories, The Fresh Grave (1997). Illustrations have
been contributed by Anna Bial. Carolyn Phelan, Booklist, ALA 
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