Where grief clings like moss and the dead still whisper… the stories never rest. Angels, Oaks and Iron Gates is Volume One of The Cemetery Diaries, a chilling collection of 14 original fictional ghost stories inspired by forgotten cemeteries, Southern folklore, and the lingering presence of things best left buried. Told through the voice of a man who’s witnessed more than he can explain, each story unfolds like a quiet confession, part memory, part myth. These aren’t true stories… but they feel like they could be. Inside this volume: • 14 original short stories rooted in haunted cemetery lore • A bonus tale previewing The Cemetery Diaries, Volume Two • Quiet horror and reflective supernatural fiction with a Southern Gothic feel Perfect for readers who love atmospheric ghost stories, whispered Southern legends, and eerie tales told as if they just might be true . Start reading tonight...and leave the gate open behind you. The Cemetery Diaries began with a simple thought. What if the man walking the rows of old headstones could hear more than the wind? What if every weathered marker had a story, and what if someone was there to listen? Angels, Oaks, and Iron Gates is a work of fiction, but it is rooted in places I have walked and feelings I have known. Many of these stories were inspired by visits to real cemeteries across the South and Midwest. Some were born from local folklore. Others came from quiet moments when the world seemed still enough to hear the past. This volume marks the beginning of a fictional series that blends ghost stories, Southern Gothic atmosphere, and emotional truth. The stories may be made up, but the feelings they explore—grief, guilt, wonder, fear—are very real. I hope these tales give you something to think about after the last page. Thank you for reading and for stepping through the gates with me. Bud Steed Bud Steed is an author of supernatural fiction and historical paranormal nonfiction. His work blends folklore, place-based storytelling, and reflective horror inspired by real locations across the American South and Midwest. He is the creator of The Cemetery Diaries , a fictional series of ghost stories told through the voice of a man who listens to the dead and walks among their memories. His writing draws heavily from the tone and structure of Southern Gothic literature, with stories that explore grief, guilt, and the quiet moments that linger after loss. Bud has also written extensively on haunted history, lost legends, and regional folklore. His nonfiction books have been selected for inclusion in the Library of Congress and have appeared in media coverage for their cultural and historical value. He lives in the Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri with his wife Jennifer, their four children, and two loyal pit bulls named Dixie and Clyde.