We Are Providence: Tales of Horror from the Ocean State

by Christa Carmen (Editor), L.E. Daniels (Editor), Faye Ringel

Come. Take our hands. The twilight is dimming, but the moon is bright enough to see by, and it’s the perfect night to go for a walk. We’ll stroll through a cemetery in Exeter to where police officers are dispatched every Halloween and where a one-hundred-fifty-year-old vampire-girl is said to still roam. We’ll wander the wharfs in Jamestown, but mind your footing; the sea is home to all manner of creatures just waiting to break the surface after a thousand-year sleep. And keep an eye on the Romanesque Revival windows of the mansions along Newport’s Cliff Walk; you might catch a glimpse of a silhouette with no earthly reason for being there. In Providence, we’ll stalk the shadowy streets along with the ghosts of transcendentalist poets and jilted lovers, but don’t be surprised to discover that the monsters of Lovecraft’s fiction are not, in fact, the product of his imagination. The capital city has secrets and those secrets have tentacles. And teeth.

Welcome to Rhode Island, home of the weird, the hometown horror, the haunted, the hunted. Home of the Gothic and of horror with history. We promise there’s something here for everyone, whether visiting or already one with the region’s countless legends. Rhode Island is the smallest state but the biggest house of horrors...

And the door is open.

Genres: Horror, Short Stories

290 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 20, 2022

About the author

Christa Carmen is the Bram Stoker Award-winning and two-time Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author of The Daughters of Block Island, Beneath the Poet's House, and the forthcoming How to Fake a Haunting, as well as the Indie Horror Book Award-winning Something Borrowed, Something Blood-Soaked, the Bram Stoker Award-nominated "Through the Looking Glass and Straight into Hell" (Orphans of Bliss: Tales of Addiction Horror), and co-editor of the Aurealis Award-nominated We Are Providence and the Australiasian Shadow Award-nominated Monsters in the Mills. She lives in Rhode Island, and has a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MA from Boston College, and an MFA from the University of Southern Maine.

When she’s not writing, she keeps chickens; uses a Ouija board to ghost-hug her dear, departed beagle; and sets out on adventures with her husband, daughter, and bloodhound–golden retriever mix. Most of her work comes from gazing upon the ghosts of the past or else into the dark corners of nature, those places where whorls of bark become owl eyes, and deer step through tunnels of hanging leaves and creeping briars only to disappear. Visit her at www.christacarmen.com.

Reviews

[Badseedgirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for the 2022 Halloween Challenge: Graveyard: There was a graveyard on the cover and Testing a Horrible Superstition and Mary's Mama's Heart were set (for the most part) in cemeteries.

When I picked up this book, it was on the recommendation of one of the authors on the HA discussion pages. I think it was Jason Parent, If it was, thank you so much for the recommendation. If you did not recommend it, I still thought your story might have been my favorite one in the book.
I thought all the stories were going to be set in or around Providence, and for the most part they were, but not all by a long shot. All the stories were well written and I enjoyed them all. I have many new authors to add to my list.

[Brennan LaFaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhode Island is an oft-overlooked hotbed of horror, steeped in Lovecraft lore and a focal point of the New England vampire craze. What a prescient choice, then, to begin the anthology with an introduction to the state’s horror-soaked history, penned by Faye Ringel, who also contributes a story later in the volume. Then come the stories, each contributed by a member of the Horror Writers Association Rhode Island Chapter.
Some of the stories have roots in Rhode Island, but take the terror in new directions, such as John Lynch’s “Blood in the Sand” —a military horror story dedicated to the RI men and women who have fought overseas and one of the strongest tales I’ve read from this author so far. Co-editor Christa Carmen contributes a novella-length work called “Testing a Horrible Superstition”, a poignant piece about a mother-daughter relationship and the first story to focus in on the vampire epidemic of the 1800s. As a side note, anyone who enjoyed Paul Tremblay’s recent book, The Pallbearers Club, and wants to dig a little deeper, will find a lot to like in this anthology.
Victoria Dalpe’s “The Hidden Heart” captures the spirit and the essence of Providence while co-editor’s L.E. Daniels’ “Spectacle Cove” revels in its gothic setting and poetic language, a beautiful backdrop to a chill-inducing story. Paul Magnan’s “Soul Parasite” punches in a short space, wasting no time in setting up the pins and knocking them down, a definite stand-out in the book.
Sprinkled throughout are poems by Mary Robles, acting almost as guided interludes, taking the reader by the hand and showing the sights and sounds that line Rhode Island’s shadows. Curtis M. Lawson’s “Unsuccessful Coping Mechanisms for Grieving Lost Lovers” burns slow and doesn’t skimp on the creeps, prompting the reader to wonder who lived in my house/apartment before I did, and what kind of trinkets did they leave behind? Bringing up the rear, Aron Beauregard’s “The Salt Man of South Kingston” follows the historical homages to Rhode Island with an urban legend for the next generation, an insidious monster that preys on those lost in the snow. While not as extreme as some of Beauregard’s work, this one will still make the reader grimace.
Also containing stories by Joshua Rex, Jason Parent, Mr. Michael Squid, Barry Lee Dejasu, H.Y. Hsu, K.H. Vaughan, and Steven Belanger, We Are Providence is a diverse showcase for just how big the stories from the smallest state can be. Come explore the city, comb the graveyards, and dip your toes into the icy ocean. There are so many thrills and chills these Rhode Island authors are dying to introduce you to.

[Geneve Flynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Providence: an influence that is not human in origin and that shapes events that befall us.
We are Providence is a brilliant collection shaped by forces both human and inhuman. The twenty-two stories and poems draw inspiration from the weird and the horrific, the haunting and the bizarre; they also clearly ring with a New England sense of place, history, and people.
The tendrils of the region’s colonial past, Atlantic coastline, and immigrant identity wind through many of the works. L.E. Daniels’ strange and beautiful story “Spectacle Cove,” which explores family and the colonizer mindset, and K.H. Vaughan’s “Ghost Catch” evoke the heaving gray waters of Narragansett Bay and reference the area’s maritime roots.
Historical brushes with fear and superstition also bleed into several of the tales. “A Providence Thing” by Jason Parent is a delight that alludes to Rhode Island’s most famous literary son: H.P. Lovecraft. That each character is named after members of the chapter makes for a fun read; a gruesome cameo from Uncle Steve (aka Stephen King) elevates it to something sublime. Christa Carmen’s wrenching tale “Testing a Horrible Superstition,” which spoke so earnestly to the weird little girl in me, and Faye Ringel’s “Mary’s Mama’s Heart,” a story with the most captivating voice, recall the legend of Mercy Brown, Rhode Island’s tragic vampire.
“The Scariest Story” by Josh Rex, which calls to mind Stephen King’s “The Body” in its tale of four young men and a ritual that gives their stalled lives meaning, as well as “The Hidden Heart” by Victoria Dalpe, “Alex’s Tree” by Mr. Michael Squid, and Curtis M. Lawson’s “Unsuccessful Coping Mechanisms for Grieving Lost Lovers,” an unsettling meditation on grief and haunting, play with themes of loss and being lost.
There were many stellar tales and poems in the collection, and each deserves a read and a shiver.
The final story, “The Salt Man of South Kingstown” by Aron Beauregard, plays with the time-honoured tradition of an urban legend retelling. Creepy, horrifying, and with terrific momentum, it more than earns its place as the closer of this excellent anthology.
We Are Providence embodies the unique, dark heart of Rhode Island and showcases of some of her best horror talents. Read the collection and allow yourself to be influenced by forces both human and inhuman. Highly recommended.

[Elizabeth Devecchi · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are Providence is a collection of tales that reaches out its skeletal hand to pull its readers through a series of shadowy, twisted paths, subjecting them to emotions spanning from fear and sorrow to rage and elation.
This book truly does have something for every reader, from every background. RI natives, residents, expats, and tourists alike will delight at the mention of familiar locations, and shiver at glimpses of another, darker, side to these places they only thought they knew. While those unfamiliar with the Ocean State will be treated to a sort of backdoor tour along the shadowy streets and meadows of this historically haunted little state, lead by a team of talented horror writers, privy to some of its darker secrets.

[Alexander Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was browsing for books recently and stumbled upon this book. An anthology from the smallest state. I don't know anything about Rhode Island, but I know that this cover is strikingly beautiful, and that is one way to earn my money.

The stories inside are not hamstrung by Rhode Island being a common thread, many of them are very different, and run a wide variety of sub genres within horror. There was also some poetry in here, which I appreciated. It was a nice change of pace.

Standout stories in my opinion, include

Testing A Horrible Superstition by Christa Carmen
Blood in the Sand by John Lynch
The Hidden Heart by Victoria Dalpe
Unsuccessful Coping Mechanisms for Grieving Lost Lovers by Curtis M. Lawson
The Salt Man of South Kingstown by Aron Beauregard

Highly recommend this anthology, it's one of the best I've read in a long time.

[Charmaine Clancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great anthology of short stories and even poems. All with a central location (Rhode Island) and all with elements of horror. My favourite was Spectacle Cove by L E Daniels.

*Read on Kindle

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

These horrors vary from science-fiction to supernatural, from prose to poetry. A casual read with different genre and style to satisfy readers.

The 20 short stories are:
- The Scariest Story - Joshua Rex
- Blood in the Sand - John Lynch
- Testing a Horrible Superstition - Christa Carmen
- Who Lives in the Shunned House - Mary Robles
- A Providence Thing - Jason Parent
- The Hidden Heart - Victoria Dalpe
- Spectacle Cove - L.E. Daniels
- Long Live the River - Mary Robles
- Alex's Tree - Mr. Michael Squid
- Soul Parasite - Paul Magnon
- Close Behind - Barry Lee Dejasu
- A Possession - H.Y. Hsu
- Ghosts of Waterfire - Mary Robles
- Mary's Mama's Heart - Faye Ringel
- Ghost Catch - K.H. Vaughan
- Rhyme of Tides - Mary Robles
- Poe's Black Feather - Mary Robles
- Unsuccessful Coping Mechanisms for Grieving Lost Lovers - Curtis M. Lawson
- Wanted Dead or Alive 2025 - Steven E. Belanger
- The Salt Man of South Kingstown - Aron Beauregard

My favourites are Alex's Tree and Ghosts of Waterfire. They are both easy to read and follow and Alex's Tree has potential to be expanded upon.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to StoryOrigin and author.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not meant for me, someone from the South. It's not poorly written or anything, but a lot of the stories didn't jive with me. I think if you're from the East Coast or more familiar with the area you'll be more into it. I skipped about the half the stories but there were a few good ones in there, mostly written by the more experienced authors.

[Steven Belanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of course I’m biased, being one of the included authors, but this really is a cool read. If you like short horror fiction, give this one a try—and though the writers are all Rhode Islanders, you don’t have to be.

Inside you’ll see a young girl haunted by the her present school-age tormentors and the spirit of RI’s last “vampire.” You’ll hear ghostly stories told around a campfire—and maybe heard by one, too. You’ll be on the ground with soldiers facing other soldiers—and a monster or two. There’s even a poem or two that will bring you back to the wistful innocence of your youth.

And there are plenty more. Check this one out.

[Conor McMann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, quick, and a bit thin. Many of the stories have a “campfire tale” sense about them, meaning they are simple and superficially spooky but don’t really manage much in the way of immersion or world building. Feels fairly amateurish as a collection, both in concepts and in prose, though perhaps that’s a bit of the point.

Regardless it was a fun little distraction to read in bits and pieces and I liked the dedication to New England as a setting and inspiration, even if it did feel a little same-y after a bit. There are some standouts. “Spectacle Cove” is quite well written. “The Hidden Heart” was conceptually cool as hell, and I liked the setup and tone of “Mary’s Mama’s Heart.”

And a spooky summer to all.

[Emma Rennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a great book of short stories jam-packed with so many different takes on horror. From vampires to warzones to the supernatural, and I loved that they all revolve around the same location. I read it because I love the work of L E Daniels, but have discovered a whole load of other writers I’ll be looking out for now too!

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great set of stories based on Rhode Island. Truly original setting and I really enjoyed most of these although they seemed a lot more creepier than horror. Still overall a really enjoyable read.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

What's not to love when every story and poem is set in Rhode Island? The poems are just lovely. Several of the stories had me thinking of them for days later. A great compilation and a must have for fans of the genre.