WESTFIELD-Share a cold winter’s night with local authors as tales of yuletide ghosts unfolds on Dec. 17 at Blue Umbrella Books on Main Street.
“This is our second Ghost Stories Live! event with author Russell Atwood and we’re hoping to make a tradition of it,” said Jessica Martin, owner of Blue Umbrella Books, adding that a book release for Ghost Stories Live! Anthology #2, Yuletide Edition, is also part of the festivities.
Author Russell Atwood and Pugsley, the Fiendly Ghost, will host a Ghost Stories Live! Yuletide Show Dec. 17 in downtown Westfield.
Atwood, a mystery writer who recently returned to Westfield after living more than 20 years in New York City, will be joined by SidMarty Lovecraft puppet “Pugsley,” the Fiendly Ghost, for the entertaining program that is appropriate for all ages.
Atwood noted that the evening begins at 5 p.m. with “vintage versions” of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, originally published in 1843, and The Signal-Man, published in 1866.
While everyone is familiar with the tale of old miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation after visitations by the ghost of his former business partner and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come in A Christmas Carol, The Signal-Man takes listeners on a journey along a railway where a ghost has been haunting the signal-man whose job it is to control the movements of passing trains. On three occasions, the signal-man receives warnings of danger before a terrible accident occurs. As the story unfolds, a practical-minded narrator meets the railway worker and at first doubts the tales of supernatural visions until a strange event makes him a believer.
Also beginning at 5 p.m., glassblowing artist Hugh Naggar of Crystal Creations will be creating ghostly Christmas ornaments as well as other holiday figurines for purchase.
The Live! show gets underway at 7 p.m. with readings by Ghost Stories Live! cast members and authors Susan Buffum, Justin Baillargeon, and Arthur Pero, as well as “other special guests” according to Atwood, reading both new original ghost stories and classic tales by J. S. Lefanu and M. R. James. Additionally, the reading of “The Furnished Room” by O. Henry is a highlight of the evening. The tale, first published in 1906, takes listeners into a dingy world where a desperate man searches for his strayed lover.
Atwood and Pugsley round out the evening by sharing true ghost stories and also will invite audience members to share their true experiences during an open mic segment.
Martin noted that since the open mic time was well received during the first Ghost Stories Live! program during the Halloween season, she wanted to resurrect that feature for the holiday program.
“Audience members are welcome to contribute their own encounters with the supernatural during the open mic,” said Martin.
There is no fee for this special evening which is planned from 5 to 9 p.m.
For more information, call (413) 579-5383 or visit www.blueumbrellabooks.com.
