Lesser Cryptids of Greater Appalachia

An Folk Horror Anthology​​​

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Lesser Cryptids of Greater Appalachia includes fifteen regional tales of weird encounters in the remote and ancient mountains of Appalachia. Devil monkeys prowl the dark nights and a Sheepsquatch preys on the unsuspecting. And older, nameless creatures wait in the dark between stories, hungry for new legends to be born.

Each tale in this chilling collection breathes life into the cryptids, beasts, and terrors whispered about since the first cabins were built in these hills. The voices here are local, the fear is deep rooted – and once you’ve read their stories, you’ll never see the Appalachian region the same way again. 

 

Includes my short story "The Not Deer"​

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"Not deer" are a more recent "pop cryptid" unique to Appalachia, born not from centuries of mountain legends, but rather online word of mouth through platforms like Creepypasta and Tiktok. Although similar in appearance to white-tailed deer indigenous to the area, "not deer" are distinguished by their abnormally elongated legs, forward-facing eyes (unlike normal prey species), erratic movements, and bizarre ability to walk upright on their hind legs. Unlike a deer's natural aversion to humans, "not deer" are said to be fascinated with us -- in unnerving, predatory fashion. Some speculate that deer suffering from chronic wasting disease are the source of rumored "not deer" sightings, but others say the creatures are really shapeshifters in disguise. Whatever the truth may be, it remains irrefutable: "not deer" are a terrifying new breed of Appalachian folklore.

 

In "The Not Deer," an adolescent boy, still mourning his father's death by suicide, takes a fateful trip to the heart of the Appalachian Mountains with his mother and her new boyfriend. Here, the family's idyllic visit to the lush forests of North Carolina quickly turns into a nightmarish encounter with bizarre local wildlife.  

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​Available in Ebook and Paperback from Amazon​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​