Dolly & Other Stories
by Peter N. Dudar

Something is wrong with my mommy ...

Ever since Daddy went away, she's been acting real funny. I think she's mad at me and I don't even know what I did wrong. She can be real scary sometimes. I don't like it when she yells at me...but when she starts talking to herself and breaking things, that's when I start to cry. I'm scared.

Daddy doesn't even care. He's so busy with Miss Darlene that he doesn't have time for me anymore. He keeps telling me that Miss Darlene is going to be my new mommy and we're all going to live Happily Ever After.

I don't believe him.
I'm really afraid.
I don't know what to do.
Then my Dolly, she says:
"Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."

Contains the novella "Dolly" and six bonus tales of terror from Bram Stoker Award® nominee Peter N. Dudar.

Praise for Dolly & Other Stories:

"The thing about these stories is they invoke a false sense of security. Familiar scenes, comfort zones. A mother and child, having coffee with a friend, conducting a garage sale. But for these characters nothing is safe or secure. I actually got chills while reading these. If well written horror is your thing, you'll love it."
— Marianne Halbert, author of Wake Up and Smell the Creepy

"Dolly and Other Stories is a fantastic book. I loved each tale and I loved the story behind the story. Wish more authors did this. I know sometimes people do not care about the thought process of writing or where the idea lives, but I do. It makes the story more personal and intimate, giving you a little glimpse into a somewhat twisted mind. For free.

"Dolly" is an eerie little piece and it reminded me of the X-Files episode Chinga, that Stephen King wrote about a doll, although the two are nothing alike. I know. Watch the episode, then read the story. You will make the connection. Great opener for the book and not what I expected. I love the whole slant of the story, the feeling of being jilted and the eeriness of the ending ... you have to read it.

"Closet Case" is horrific and spiritual or is it horrific and schizophrenic? Regardless the reader gets to decide. I think this may be my favourite in the bunch. Mathew is homeless and wants to stay with his sister for a while until he can figure out what to do. Needless to say, it doesn't turn out very well when Mathew discloses who he really is, and then she finds him doing THAT in the closet.

"Perversion and Channel 78" was creepy and funny, weird and I can totally relate to the main character and his fascination with finding a scrambled channel, not wanting to pay for it, but having to see what's behind all the pixelated and esoteric color splatter on the screen. Enticing, maddening and so rewarding when you catch a glimpse behind the colors.

"Unnatural Selection" was interesting in a biodiversity, gene splicing, sciency kind of way. I thought this one was really cool about kids turning into frogs. I wondered though, if they would carry a kid in their pocket then or would that be redundant? But I digress to raising sons ...

"The Garage Sale" was another one of my favourites. Loved this story about a garage sale and those strange people you meet on a regular basis, but it just gets really weird when they are standing in your front yard ... and they won't go away.

"Clown Smile" I found disturbing, embarrassing and totally entertaining, although I will be weirded out now forever. You will know why when you get there.

All in all a great collection of longer than average length short stories. Very well written and very well edited.
— Malina Roos