Welcome to my website! Here's a brief introduction to some of my spooky books.
I'm in the rather slow process of building a new, improved and Very Spooky website. It can be accessed at chariscotter.com
Meanwhile, this older website may appear a little wonky, but I'm leaving it up until the other one is fully active. You should be able to find all the information you need here about my books and virtual school visits.
Thanks for visiting my website! Happy Reading!
Book Sales
If you'd like to send one of my books, personally inscribed, to a friend, I'll wrap it and send it with a card. Or if you just want a copy for yourself, I’ll be happy to send it to you.
Read all about my books here.
For book sales, contact me at chariscotter@gmail.com.
WHAT'S NEW AND SPOOKY?
Virtual School Visits with Charis Cotter
Read more here.
And the winner is ...
The Ghost Road!!!
Newfoundland and Labrador Book Award 2020
I'm absolutely thrilled to announce that The Ghost Road is this year's winner of the Bruneau Family Award for Children's/Young Adult Literature.
Watch the awards video here (includes a reading from the book).
What the jury said about The Ghost Road: "Charis Cotter’s eloquent, enchanting prose brings Newfoundland’s folklore and natural history alive — you can almost hear the voices of fairies dancing on the breeze intermingled with the smell of the saltwater and wildflowers."
Read the rest of the jury's comments here.
NEW BOOKS IN 2020
There is no dark like the Newfoundland dark.
And in the dark... are ghosts. This is a collection of ten spine-tingling Newfoundland ghost stories, including ghost ships, haunted houses, the Old Hag, death tokens and other strange phenomena from that very haunted island. Each story is given geographical and historical context, with a tribute to the original storyteller.
“… deliciously creepy! Settle in and prepare to meet all manner of apparitions, hags and restless spirits. Charis has a way of taking oft-heard tales and putting her own spin on them that gave this reader the impression that she is not only a great teller but also a great listener.” —Lana Shupe, Atlantic Book Reviews
Buy a copy here.
Screech! Ghost Stories from Old Newfoundland
Virtual Book Launch
Hosted by the Incandescent Vanessa Shields
Featuring:
A reading from Screech!
A chat with Genevieve Simms about her terrifying illustrations
Footsteps ...
Before Confederation. Before electricity. When Newfoundland was a lot darker at night than it is today ...
On a dark and stormy night, the neighbours gather in Bridie’s kitchen to tell stories. And then they hear the footsteps …
“… the tone, mood, and atmosphere of the story are scrumptiously spooky… a good old-fashioned ghost story sure to deliver spine tingles." —Kirkus
"With meticulous pacing, a richly atmospheric ambiance and details that perfectly capture the time and place, Cotter has crafted a chilling story." —Lisa Doucet, Atlantic Books Today
Footsteps in Bay de Verde
Virtual Book Launch
Featuring:
Charis Cotter telling the story
Charis and artist Jenny Dwyer discussing creativity, inspiration and the magic of storytelling through picture books.
Footsteps in Bay de Verde: Bookbit
Learn more about the background of Footsteps in Bay de Verde and see some of Jenny Dwyer's creepy illustrations in this short video.
The Tenacious Ghosts of Newfoundland
Ghost. That one word has a strange power. All I have to do is announce that I’m going to tell a ghost story and children sharpen to attention. Grownups too. It seems that we are all touched by ghosts, whether or not we believe in them.
I’m often asked why I write about ghosts. It’s not an easy answer. I am intrigued by the unseen, the uncanny, the unsettling possibility that there is more to life (and death) than meets the eye...
Read the full article here.
This article appeared in August 2020 in Lindsey Carmichael's blog about Canadian children's authors: Cantastic Authorpalooza.