A close shot of the cover illustration of "The Haunted States of America" [illustrated by Solomon Hughes] depicts a four-eyed chimera appearing out of skull-filled fog.
A close shot of the cover illustration of "The Haunted States of America" [illustrated by Solomon Hughes] depicts a four-eyed chimera appearing out of skull-filled fog.
"Haunted States of America" is opened to the illustration for author William Mockry's award-winning story, "Midnight in the Garden of Eden." Ink artwork by illustrator Solomon Hughes depicts stone statues of Adam (holding a snake) and Even (holding an apple) come to life and clutching at the story's protagonist.

The Haunted States of America

"Midnight in the Garden of Eden"

Every state has its lore. Haunted buildings, spooky phenomena, unidentified creatures. The Haunted States of America pulls together local legends from all fifty states (plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico).

I’m proud to have contributed "Midnight in the Garden of Eden" to represent my adopted home state of Kansas. When I got word that they were looking for submissions, there was only one place I had in my heart to write about: The Garden of Eden.

The town of Lucas, Kansas, is home to this monument to eccentricity. A log cabin made of limestone, not wood. No two doors are the same size. The lawn is covered in concrete trees, people and animals. There’s a chair made of cow horns. And the architect’s rotting corpse is on display in a glass coffin, gathering mold. (And this is the stuff I didn't make up!)

I visited the house on three occasions while writing this story, taking notes and communicating with the wonderful staff who keep this local treasure alive.

Author William Mockry stands in front of the Garden of Eden house and grounds in Lucas, Kansas: the inspiration site for his award-winning story, "Midnight in the Garden of Eden." Overhead, a large wood-carded sign is suspended between two large trees (stone statues themselves); the sign reads "GARDEN of EDEN." Just behind the author is the gabled "cabin" house (itself carved of stone), and to either side are the stone statues of Adam (holding a snake) and Even (holding an apple), their hands joined overhead to form an archway.

Read about what happens on a moonless night when a mysterious dog shows up and leads an unwitting boy into the house… and just who are all those people on the lawn?

Check out The Haunted States of America (while also supporting your local bookstore)!

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The book "The Haunted States of America" is propped up, cover forward, on a cherry wood surface with various hardbound classic books behind. The cover depicts a four-eyed chimera appearing out of skull-filled fog above a fainter image of the Lincoln Memorial.
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