Haunting Lessons

by Patrick Barb

Following his young son's death from cancer, a father shares the methods he used to teach his son how to return as a ghost. Waiting to see if his teaching took hold, the father must learn to live with the results of his actions during his child's final moments.

This chapbook features five full-page illustrations by Caitlin Marceau. The first 100 copies are hand-signed and numbered by the author.

12 pages, Saddle-stitched

Published July 18, 2023

About the author

Patrick Barb is an author of weird, dark, and spooky tales, currently living (and trying not to freeze to death) in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His published works include the dark fiction collections The Children’s Horror and Pre-Approved for Haunting, the novellas Gargantuana's Ghost, Turn, and JK-LOL, as well as the novelette Helicopter Parenting in the Age of Drone Warfare. He is the editor and publisher of the anthology And One Day We Will Die: Strange Stories Inspired by the Music of Neutral Milk Hotel. His forthcoming works include the Killer VHS novella Night of the Witch-Hunter from Shortwave Publishing and his debut sci-fi/horror novel Abducted from Dark Matter Ink. His 2023 short story "The Scare Groom" was selected for Best Horror of the Year Volume 16. Visit him at patrickbarb.com.

Reviews

[Mother Suspiria]

HAUNTING LESSONS will haunt you. Patrick Barb has created a tragic little tale that packs a powerful punch of pathos and pain within its spare but extremely effective/affecting prose. Caitlin Marceau's illustrations are the perfect compliment to this poignant, unique, memorable story.

[David Swisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gut wrenching heartache of a story.

[Amanda Esthelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so damn sad and so damn good

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true gem of a story, hits hard with no apologies. Delivers exactly what it says: a father coaching his seven year old son to be a ghost in the afterlife and haunt him, the boy dying from cancer. Subtle and emotionally far more intense than I expected.

[J.V. Gachs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely heartbreaking 💔

[Lolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just broke my heart. I’ve been crying the whole time whilst reading it. I can’t rate it yet, I’m too emotional and have to let it settle before I can determine that. I will say this though, Barb is clearly an extremely talented storyteller.

ETA: 5 star rating.

[Scott Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

10/10 No notes.

[Aaron Esthelm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Heartbreaking and really captures a parents attempts to hold onto their children when they should be letting them live.