Tommy’s 13th birthday should be one of the best days of his life—but instead of celebrating with his friends in Kansas City, his parents drag him on a trip to spend the day with his grandparents in the sleepy town of Mt. Hope, Kansas. Tommy isn’t thrilled. He’s spent plenty of time there growing up, but it’s always felt like a boring, quiet place…until now. Something’s different about this trip. As Tommy and his family arrive in Mt. Hope, strange things begin happening. Frightening experiences and eerie sightings make Tommy question everything he thought he knew about the town. As the days pass, the town’s peaceful façade crumbles, revealing something much darker beneath the surface. Could there be monsters lurking in the shadows of this small town? As his birthday draws closer, Tommy finds himself caught in a nightmarish mystery that forces him to confront his deepest fears. He must uncover the terrifying truth before it’s too late, but the answers he seeks may lead him into a world of creatures and horrors beyond imagination. Perfect for fans of middle-grade horror, spooky adventures, and spine-chilling mysteries, Scareville is an unmissable series that will keep young readers on the edge of their seats. If you enjoy Goosebumps, you’ll love this new tale of supernatural suspense and creepy small-town secrets. Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive! "My daughter makes me hold her hand as we enter Scareville together. John Ward delivers the scares and the memories." — Nick Roberts, author of Mean Spirited and The Exorcist's House "It stands as a worthy successor to Goosebumps, offering a fresh take on the genre while retaining the spooky charm that has captivated young readers for years." — Scary AF Entertainment "A real page turner! I truly enjoyed this book and I am way past the target audience age (59, pushing 60). I thought it was great. I seriously couldn't put it down. It's a fast read, very engaging. I think any age would enjoy it. Just creepy enough and not too scary. Though I would love to see it brought to the big screen." — Sara Stoner "I really enjoyed this book, so much that I didn't want to put it down. This is the kind of book that you can see it being made into a movie or a mini-series. Great read for both adults and young adults alike!!! I look forward to the next book that John Ward writes!!!" — Barb Young "This is dubbed "The Next Goosebumps".. myself as a 90s baby and a lover of Goosebumps... can verify that this is absolutely brilliant and is the next goosebumps!" — Megan Lee Wintrip "John Ward is the master of scare! This is a must read series! I can't wait for the next book!" — Elizabeth Cox I grew up in the small town of Norton, Ohio. I never really fit in with any particular group of kids. I was picked on quite a bit. It's never easy growing up and dealing with the stressful situations that many young people have to go through. Looking back now, it's much easier for me to say that it's okay to be different. For any of my young readers out there that are dealing with bullying, just understand that things do get better one day. You are allowed to be different. You are allowed to be interested in unique things. That's what makes you uniquely you. Recently, I was able to reflect on how much I enjoyed writing at a young age. I had suppressed working on my passion for a long time. I came to the realization that writing horror stories was a huge piece of the puzzle that had been missing in my life. This is what I need to do.I grew up loving all things horror, so naturally that is where my imagination can truly be happy, run wild, and have fun. At the present day, I live in Canton, Ohio with my wonderful dog, Bo. I investigate the paranormal in my free time as a hobby and when I am not writing. What makes me different is that I don't just love horror...I live horror.