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Scribbles and Scrawls: A Short Story Collection
Bethany Votaw gives you sixteen short stories featuring the darkness and the monsters surrounding us. Experience the uncomfortable realities lurking beneath the surface. Meet a devil at a coffee shop, discover what the Night Man is really after, and stumble upon strange creatures and events lurking just beneath the surface.
If you like supernatural horror, psychological thrills, and mind-bending twists, then you’ll love this debut short story collection by Bethany Votaw. Unlock Scribbles and Scrawls and begin the journey into madness.
If you like supernatural horror, psychological thrills, and mind-bending twists, then you’ll love this debut short story collection by Bethany Votaw. Unlock Scribbles and Scrawls and begin the journey into madness.
Unknown Binding
Published June 26, 2021
6 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Votaw
7 books27 followersBethany (Joy) Votaw started writing in college on little notecards in an effort to stay awake in chemistry. Now she writes short stories and thrillers under the Name Bethany Votaw and fluffy little rom-coms under the name Bethany Joy.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 5, 2021
I mean, I wrote it so... (also can I mark this read a hundred times???)
August 14, 2022
The author very nicely sent me a copy of this, as well as their release titled Tracker.
So I usually have some issues with or problems getting into anthologies or short story collections. I’m glad to say that this totally subverted my typical feelings about them entirely. It was refreshing, and spooky, and even the half-page stories were so good! The author gives us 16 stories in this collection. Like I said, some are half to one page, and others are quite longer for a short story. Each one tells a unique tale, and they all mix horror, thriller, and mystery. My very favorite is the first story, titled ‘My Brother’, which just absolutely threw me off (in a good, surprising way!).
I’m really impressed, especially with my struggle with short fiction, that the author was able to keep me hanging on with every page.
Personally a 5/5*. Absolutely worth your time, effort, or money to read!
So I usually have some issues with or problems getting into anthologies or short story collections. I’m glad to say that this totally subverted my typical feelings about them entirely. It was refreshing, and spooky, and even the half-page stories were so good! The author gives us 16 stories in this collection. Like I said, some are half to one page, and others are quite longer for a short story. Each one tells a unique tale, and they all mix horror, thriller, and mystery. My very favorite is the first story, titled ‘My Brother’, which just absolutely threw me off (in a good, surprising way!).
I’m really impressed, especially with my struggle with short fiction, that the author was able to keep me hanging on with every page.
Personally a 5/5*. Absolutely worth your time, effort, or money to read!
January 5, 2024
This incredible and uncomfortable book gave me “twilight zone” vibes and I absolutely loved it!! I adore all the creepy and eccentric short stories. I feel fine that I read it during the day… we’ll see how I feel when I go to bed tonight.
October 27, 2024
2.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
June 23, 2021
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
Pick up this book, don't hesitate. Bethany Votaw's writing has a way of really getting under your skin, she exploits your darkest fears and voices them in a way that leaves you nervous and creeped out. In particular, out of this collection, I loved 'The Night Man', 'The Sister', and 'Scribbles' all of these left an impression and made me want to reach for the light switch and my blanket. The tone is dark, foreboding and all the stories are so varied, some have a 'monster under the bed' vibe and some just leave you open mouth and gaping, making yourself what did I just read? All of them are amazing. As a debut collection, this is perfect and I cant wait to see what this author does next!
Pick up this book, don't hesitate. Bethany Votaw's writing has a way of really getting under your skin, she exploits your darkest fears and voices them in a way that leaves you nervous and creeped out. In particular, out of this collection, I loved 'The Night Man', 'The Sister', and 'Scribbles' all of these left an impression and made me want to reach for the light switch and my blanket. The tone is dark, foreboding and all the stories are so varied, some have a 'monster under the bed' vibe and some just leave you open mouth and gaping, making yourself what did I just read? All of them are amazing. As a debut collection, this is perfect and I cant wait to see what this author does next!
November 4, 2023
The author very nicely sent me a copy of this, as well as their release titled Tracker.
So I usually have some issues with or problems getting into anthologies or short story collections. I’m glad to say that this totally subverted my typical feelings about them entirely. It was refreshing, and spooky, and even the half-page stories were so good! The author gives us 16 stories in this collection. Like I said, some are half to one page, and others are quite longer for a short story. Each one tells a unique tale, and they all mix horror, thriller, and mystery. My very favorite is the first story, titled ‘My Brother’, which just absolutely threw me off (in a good, surprising way!).
I’m really impressed, especially with my struggle with short fiction, that the author was able to keep me hanging on with every page.
Personally a 5/5*. Absolutely worth your time, effort, or money to read!
So I usually have some issues with or problems getting into anthologies or short story collections. I’m glad to say that this totally subverted my typical feelings about them entirely. It was refreshing, and spooky, and even the half-page stories were so good! The author gives us 16 stories in this collection. Like I said, some are half to one page, and others are quite longer for a short story. Each one tells a unique tale, and they all mix horror, thriller, and mystery. My very favorite is the first story, titled ‘My Brother’, which just absolutely threw me off (in a good, surprising way!).
I’m really impressed, especially with my struggle with short fiction, that the author was able to keep me hanging on with every page.
Personally a 5/5*. Absolutely worth your time, effort, or money to read!
June 25, 2021
* I received this arc in exchange for an honest review *
Bethany is the queen of short stories! This collection gripped me from the first story and had me right up until the very last word. My absolute favourite was A House By The Sea - that was the kind of story that made me sit back and stare at the pages for a few minutes after finishing, just to absorb the impact of it. I adored the ongoing imagery in this longer story, the build up, the tension, the confusion from the main character. For me, this collection was tied together with 3 themes: what it means to be a good person, what it means to be a bad person, and what it means to be human, living between the good and bad and how you process that as a family member, friend, sibling, etc. The collection is dark, thought-provoking and so entertaining. 100% recommend.
Bethany is the queen of short stories! This collection gripped me from the first story and had me right up until the very last word. My absolute favourite was A House By The Sea - that was the kind of story that made me sit back and stare at the pages for a few minutes after finishing, just to absorb the impact of it. I adored the ongoing imagery in this longer story, the build up, the tension, the confusion from the main character. For me, this collection was tied together with 3 themes: what it means to be a good person, what it means to be a bad person, and what it means to be human, living between the good and bad and how you process that as a family member, friend, sibling, etc. The collection is dark, thought-provoking and so entertaining. 100% recommend.
June 25, 2021
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and it was fantastic! The author curates a haunting, creepy, and dark atmosphere with each one of her tales inside this brilliant collection. The stories themselves vary in length, which I enjoyed as it gave each one a truly unique feeling. In addition, the author switches from 1st to 3rd person narrative, handling both with an ease and flair that make it a joy to read.
As for the favourites in the collection, in no particular order here are mine:
This Many
My Brother
Crows
Splitting Headache
I can't recommend this collection enough, my only advice would be to read in a well-lit room, because there are some dark and terrifying tales inside!
As for the favourites in the collection, in no particular order here are mine:
This Many
My Brother
Crows
Splitting Headache
I can't recommend this collection enough, my only advice would be to read in a well-lit room, because there are some dark and terrifying tales inside!
March 7, 2024
I enjoyed Scribbles and Scrawls because each of the 16 short stories left me wondering. All too often, I found that I had totally misidentified the bad guy. While I was enjoying the stories, I found that for me this was not a book to be read in one sitting. Instead, I had to pull away in order to digest what I had been reading. This built my curiosity when I picked the book up again.
If you like dark mysteries, get this book, you will not be disappointed.
If you like dark mysteries, get this book, you will not be disappointed.
June 22, 2021
I received this arc in exchange for an honest review and I was splendidly surprised.
This anthology is full of sinister tales from the macabre to the strange. Each one left me feeling a little on edge, but also quite satisfied (especially "The Sister"). I thoroughly enjoyed the flash fictions that were just long enough to induce a spine-tingling chill, but ended abruptly to keep the goosebumps lingering.
Nothing was cliche and there were no overused tropes. Every story was a fresh look through the eyes of the disturbed.
There were a couple typos and vague descriptions, but not enough to pull me from the experience or stop me from reading. There were also some incredible descriptions that had me looking over my own shoulder.
This anthology is full of sinister tales from the macabre to the strange. Each one left me feeling a little on edge, but also quite satisfied (especially "The Sister"). I thoroughly enjoyed the flash fictions that were just long enough to induce a spine-tingling chill, but ended abruptly to keep the goosebumps lingering.
Nothing was cliche and there were no overused tropes. Every story was a fresh look through the eyes of the disturbed.
There were a couple typos and vague descriptions, but not enough to pull me from the experience or stop me from reading. There were also some incredible descriptions that had me looking over my own shoulder.
July 22, 2021
Scribbles and Scrawls is a collection of short stories that will keep you thinking long after you’ve put the book down. Bethany has concentrated her ability to plant ominous seeds in the mind of the reader into sixteen snippets of story that evoke feelings of discomfort that shiver down the spine. Twisted imagery of situations and realities not far from our norm is the order of the day, each with their own unique corruptions leave a lasting impression and sow a taste for more of Bethany’s unique and engaging writing.
June 29, 2021
This collection of 16 short stories was a brilliant read. Though I found some to be a little uncomfortable and unnerving (that's the idea here!), it just shows the craft which has been put into each of them. They all vary in length and provide an array of different settings, some slightly more brutal than others. I look forward to seeing what the author gets up to next!
August 7, 2021
This book of twisted tales was fun to read! The Night Man was my favourite, a perfect blend of weird and mysterious. Some of the stories I wish were longer to explain more of the meaning of the piece, but if you're looking for a quick read that will make you think and leave you going whaaaat??? (in a good way) then this is the perfect choice!
October 24, 2022
good stories
It has good stories and the book is a great read. The stories are some scary and some strange. The best one is about the ghost
It has good stories and the book is a great read. The stories are some scary and some strange. The best one is about the ghost
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews