Stories
about monsters, myths, and the hidden histories we keep.
Recent Books
Stories for Every Age, Wonder for Every Heart
From playful picture books to haunting tales and globetrotting mysteries, these are the stories that shape my bookshelf—and hopefully yours.
(Middle grade) Man Grooves: Flight of the Fenghuang is more than a globetrotting monster mystery—it’s a fun, heartfelt celebration of friendship, folklore, and the music that moves us.
Tiên is the only human in the Man Grooves, a folk band of monsters who travel the world playing gigs and getting into trouble. When someone—or something—steals a priceless necklace during a society party in Hong Kong, the police suspect the band. Now Tiên and his friends must prove their innocence to keep their next show in Ho Chi Minh City from slipping away.
Blending the spirit of fiddle tunes with the wonder of world mythology, this first adventure strikes a chord for readers of all ages. With humor, heart, and a few broken strings, Man Grooves reminds us that our differences don’t divide us—they’re the rhythm section of something greater.
From the artist of Big in Japan, Black Chaos Comes Again, and Marrow Man.
(Ages 4-8) Written by Keira E. Barnes when she was in the first grade, Korny the Caticorn is a delightful picture book about finding friendship and joy in our differences. Korny is a playful caticorn who longs to fit in with the unicorns down the road—but no matter how hard she tries, she just doesn’t play like a unicorn. After one too many mishaps, Korny sets out on a globe-trotting adventure to find another caticorn. Though she never does, she meets wonderful new friends on every continent who teach her fun new ways to play. When she finally returns home to Georgia, a little sad and still the only caticorn she knows, Korny gets the happiest surprise: all her friends from around the world come to visit, showing her that you don’t have to be the same to belong.
A heartwarming story that celebrates curiosity, resilience, and the magic of being uniquely yourself.
About the Author
Keira E. Barnes dreamed up Korny the Caticorn when she was just six years old. A spirited storyteller with a boundless imagination, Keira wrote this book in the first grade, turning her love of magical creatures and faraway places into a joyful tale of friendship. She lives in Knoxville with her family (and plenty of art supplies), always ready to create her next adventure.
(Teen and Adult) Black Land (Black Chaos Comes Again Book 1)
In the shadow of a bleak, half-forgotten countryside, Black Land spins a dark, hypnotic tale where horror and folklore collide. When a mysterious fog rolls over the land, long-buried terrors stir awake—monsters that may be more human than we dare admit.
Told through stark, haunting visuals and razor-edged prose, this first volume in the Black Chaos Comes Again series explores the primal fears and fragile hopes that bind us all. It’s a journey into the heart of darkness that asks: What do we become when the monsters are real, and they are us?
A chilling, atmospheric story perfect for fans of gothic horror, mythic dread, and tales that leave their claw marks on your soul.
Alan O.W. Barnes
Alan O.W. Barnes is a writer, illustrator, and composer who makes mythic stories about monsters — for middle-grade readers, teens, and adults, and for anyone who suspects folklore is how humans tell the truth about themselves.
His books include ManGrooves, a middle-grade mystery series about a folk band of monsters; Black Chaos Comes Again, a five-part YA supernatural horror series set in Mississippi; and Revolutionaries, an adult alt-history novel of Sally Hemings, Thomas Jefferson, and the dinosaurs that almost ended the eighteenth century. Fiachra's Almanac, his annual folk-horror project pairing twelve folklore essays with original videos and music, launches in October 2026.
Alongside his solo work, Alan performs as one half of BlackBerry Banshee, an Irish folk duo with his wife Kim, whose music threads through his books, podcasts, and videos. He co-hosts the Complex Creatures podcast with Rev. Dr. Jarrod Longbons.
Born in Damascus, Virginia and now based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Alan holds master's degrees in Music Composition (Belmont University) and Sequential Art (SCAD), and serves as Program Director of Visual Media Production & Design at Johnson University. He lives with Kim, their daughter Keira, and a seventeen-year-old cat named Savvy.
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