Haint Country: Dark Folktales from the Hills and Hollers

by Matthew R. Sparks (Editor), Olivia Sizemore (Co Author And Illustrator), Jordan Lovejoy (foreword)

The hills of the Appalachia region hold secrets—dark, deep, varied, and mysterious. These secrets are often told in the form of eerie, thrilling, and creepy folk tales that reveal strange sightings, curious oddities, and commonly serve as cautionary tales for eager and curious ears. These spine-tingling stories have been told and retold by family members, neighbors, and "hillfolk" for generations.

Haint Dark Folktales from the Hills and Hollers is a collection of weird, otherworldly, and supernatural phenomenon in Eastern Kentucky—tales that have been recorded and documented for the first time. Collected and adapted by Matthew Sparks and Olivia Sizemore, the anthology explores stories of ghosts or "haints," strange creatures or "boogers," haunted locations or "stained earth," uncanny happenings or "high strangeness," and humorous Appalachian ghost stories. Contemporary yarns of black panthers, demons, and sightings of ghostly coal miners are narrated in the first person, reflecting the style and dialect of the collected oral history. Though comprised of a mixture of claimed accounts and fabricated lore, the locations and people woven throughout are very real.

Complemented with evocative watercolor illustrations by Olivia Sizemore (who was inspired by the work of Stephen Gammell) and a compendium that provides additional context, Haint Country is a thrilling and bone-chilling excursion to the spooky corner of Appalachia.

Genres: Horror, History

213 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Brooklyn Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it so much! Very happy to have read this book in the story tellers voices. I really appreciate the leavin off of g’s at the endin of words and ‘ye’ instead of you, etc. You can really read the Appalachian dialect lol. If I could change anything, I just wish each story told where the story was coming from. It was much cooler to read a story & say omg I’ve been there or I’ve heard this one. But overall loved it, I hope there’s a part two!

[Rick Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun read. Picture Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark but historically accurate for adults. The folklore of the Appalachians are fascinating, and this book with its anecdotes and artwork breathes new life into its illustrious history. A book you can reference time and again.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m biased because this is my home and Matt, Olivia and many contributors are people I have known for a very long time. No matter how close to the source I am, I love hearing stories from my mountains, the lore we carry, and the ability to share it with those who may not be as familiar with the Appalachians or the way we operate.

I am always thrilled to hear a ghost story, folk lore, and especially specific to Kentucky. I am even more over the moon when it’s local to my own holler. The Bailey Branch and Second Fork mentions opened up a conversation with my dad and grandpa to pinpoint exact locations. Y’all better believe I’ll be right there the next time I’m back in. I’ll definitely be making my way to the Browning Cemetery behind my house as well as the other 2 in Bailey Branch to scan and scour for Ms. Hanner Browning (I know it’s pronounced by the old folk as Hanner, but Hannah is more than likely her name, if you believe in her existence or not).

The way this was written, with how personable and close our storytellers were, I felt like I was on the porch with them or at a friend’s grandma’s living room floor while everyone shares their tale after a big supper. It’s comforting in a way I’ve not had something be in a long time, especially since I’ve been away from home for so long.

[Chelsea · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 rounded down.

you know me, you know how much I love Appalachian Culture and Appalachia as a whole. A collection of stories from right here in East Kentucky from the previous flood relief efforts hit as we’re here picking up the pieces from the 25 flood.

The anthropological look at home in the beginning hooked me. Most of these stories are centered in Leslie County, but that’s just fine. There’s a variety of tales told in mostly Appalachian dialect and sound just like my Mamaw would have told them. Like I might be telling them. Only one kind of drug on but that’s okay, there were a dozen more that didn’t.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sigh......I really really wanted to enjoy this. These stories are literally from my back yard. But while I was expecting some deeper lore stories I found myself reading mostly stories that probably "happened" while the tellers were 3 sheets to the wind running amok along 4 wheeler trails.

There were a few of interest... for instance the Hurricane Mine Disaster ....I know there are more stories about that site that could have been included.

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cool read :) interesting insight into Kentucky folklore, life and culture, I loved it!

[Tammy Warren · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this. I wanted spooky. I didn't get that.

[Ella Brush · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most entertaining, well-written Appalachian folktales book I've ever read!

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun, but I wish it was a bit more informational or history based. I enjoyed the stories but felt like they were just responses to a prompt dropped into the pages.

[Paul Long · Rating 3 out of 5]

An eclectic, sometimes delightful, and occasionally funny collection of tales told mostly in the mountains of southeastern Kentucky, the heart of Appalachian Kentucky