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IMPRINTED: A True New England Ghost Story
In January 1978, when I was in second grade, my family moved from Georgia to an old farmhouse in the middle of Connecticut, in a small colonial town with a flagpole at its center.
There were five of us, along with a dog and a cat, and life felt pretty good back then. My mother made holidays special, my father was always working, and my sisters filled the rooms with music and laughter. Becky, the oldest, was funny and goofy and always made time for me. I was the youngest. I thought families stayed that way forever.
The farmhouse was built in 1847. Up the hill stood an enormous three story red barn. Beyond it were woods and fields that seemed to go on forever. To a kid from Georgia, it felt like another world. There were snowstorms, old stone walls, sledding hills, and summer nights. For a while, the strange things happening around us were easy enough to live with.
Then tragedy came to our family.
After that, the darkness seemed to creep closer.
The house changed. Or maybe I did. What I had once sensed from a distance seemed to notice me back. I was still a boy, trying to understand what had happened to my family while learning how to live in a place where I was becoming certain we were not alone.
Years passed. I grew up and left the town behind.
But whatever had noticed me there didn’t stay behind.
For more than forty years, I kept most of what happened in that house to myself.
IMPRINTED is that story.
There were five of us, along with a dog and a cat, and life felt pretty good back then. My mother made holidays special, my father was always working, and my sisters filled the rooms with music and laughter. Becky, the oldest, was funny and goofy and always made time for me. I was the youngest. I thought families stayed that way forever.
The farmhouse was built in 1847. Up the hill stood an enormous three story red barn. Beyond it were woods and fields that seemed to go on forever. To a kid from Georgia, it felt like another world. There were snowstorms, old stone walls, sledding hills, and summer nights. For a while, the strange things happening around us were easy enough to live with.
Then tragedy came to our family.
After that, the darkness seemed to creep closer.
The house changed. Or maybe I did. What I had once sensed from a distance seemed to notice me back. I was still a boy, trying to understand what had happened to my family while learning how to live in a place where I was becoming certain we were not alone.
Years passed. I grew up and left the town behind.
But whatever had noticed me there didn’t stay behind.
For more than forty years, I kept most of what happened in that house to myself.
IMPRINTED is that story.
104 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 13, 2026
This is a beautifully written memoir, properly spooky, just in time for Halloween. It will give you shivers. I was a sleepwalker too as a kid and a young adult, so I understand how creepy it is to wake up and wonder how you got there. I don't think I could have handled a ghost on top of that.
It is also sweet and funny and sad. The description of his grief at the loss of his sister, even at a 30+ year remove, was poignant and fresh and immediate. It took my breath away. Also I could see the idyllic New England life he evinced so convincingly.
All that having been said, I have so many questions! Why didn't he ever tell his parents? I can understand not wanting to burden them after Becky died, but why not before? Who is this ghost and what is its story? (It seems it wasn't attached to the house and grounds, but to Sam himself. I'm glad it wasn't bent on doing him harm. It makes me so curious.) Did anyone else in the family ever see the ghost? What did the psychic say to his mom about Becky??? (this is the most burning question to me!) Has anyone else who's lived in the house experienced the attic ghost? So. Many. Questions.
I suppose if he had wrapped everything up with a tidy bow, it wouldn't be memoir, but fiction. Somehow, it's spookier not knowing. Still, the questions remain.
It is also sweet and funny and sad. The description of his grief at the loss of his sister, even at a 30+ year remove, was poignant and fresh and immediate. It took my breath away. Also I could see the idyllic New England life he evinced so convincingly.
All that having been said, I have so many questions! Why didn't he ever tell his parents? I can understand not wanting to burden them after Becky died, but why not before? Who is this ghost and what is its story? (It seems it wasn't attached to the house and grounds, but to Sam himself. I'm glad it wasn't bent on doing him harm. It makes me so curious.) Did anyone else in the family ever see the ghost? What did the psychic say to his mom about Becky??? (this is the most burning question to me!) Has anyone else who's lived in the house experienced the attic ghost? So. Many. Questions.
I suppose if he had wrapped everything up with a tidy bow, it wouldn't be memoir, but fiction. Somehow, it's spookier not knowing. Still, the questions remain.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2026
Imprinted: A True New England Ghost Story
Wonderfully written and easy to read. I never put the book down. I just kept reading, which is a really good sign because I often get bored, but I never did. I would have loved to have found out who or what the shadow was and where the woman that came to the porch was and where did she come from and where did she go. Maybe if there is a second book, the readers will be able to find out more. Did Jill or Sam's Dad ever have any of the same occurrences or feelings and what happened to the man who worked in the barn. I am sorry to hear about Sam's sister, but also so very happy to know her name sake is alive and living her best life. Maybe one day Sam will go back to Newtown and find his old home and tell the readers more...perhaps any history he may have found out about the old home, the hidden room, or just what happened in the barn. Did the neighbors ever tell his family any stories? As a reader and lover of true stories and haunted ones at that it intrigues me! I hope Tyler talks Sam into writing a sequel! This one was great, now I want answers. 😁
Wonderfully written and easy to read. I never put the book down. I just kept reading, which is a really good sign because I often get bored, but I never did. I would have loved to have found out who or what the shadow was and where the woman that came to the porch was and where did she come from and where did she go. Maybe if there is a second book, the readers will be able to find out more. Did Jill or Sam's Dad ever have any of the same occurrences or feelings and what happened to the man who worked in the barn. I am sorry to hear about Sam's sister, but also so very happy to know her name sake is alive and living her best life. Maybe one day Sam will go back to Newtown and find his old home and tell the readers more...perhaps any history he may have found out about the old home, the hidden room, or just what happened in the barn. Did the neighbors ever tell his family any stories? As a reader and lover of true stories and haunted ones at that it intrigues me! I hope Tyler talks Sam into writing a sequel! This one was great, now I want answers. 😁
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews