Bookstore hosts an evening of Spooky Tales original stories
Oct. 1, 2022 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
Spooky Tales storytelling event debuts at Bridgeside Books on Oct. 15. Photo courtesy Bridgeside Books
Eighteen years after Mark Nash conceived Vermont Stage’s Winter Tales held in Burlington, his niece Jenna Danyew has created an event to put Waterbury on Vermont’s autumn storytelling map.
Spooky Tales at Bridgeside Books where Danyew works is inspired by the Winter Tales performances that she attended growing up. Presented as evening of Vermont’s scariest original stories, Spooky Tales debuts on Oct. 15, at 7 p.m.
Featured as actors and hosts are Mark Nash and Kathryn Blume.
The groundwork for Spooky Tales was laid in the spring with an open call for original stories and the goal of presenting them during the autumn/Halloween season. Dozens of stories were submitted to Bridgeside Books, Danyew said.
The chosen selections featured on the program will include stories by several local writers, both published and unpublished authors. The stories range from a bike riding gang of kids discovering monsters in Waterbury, to a zombie encounter inspired by the real stories of a local gravedigger, to literary explorations of grief turning a woman into a werewolf.
Danyew has worked with the writers to curate a show meant to delight and frighten all ages.
Hosting the event is Bridgeside Books where programming aims to feature the talent of local writers and welcome audiences into the store’s space. Recent community events included Drag Queen Story Hour and the One Town, One Book reading initiative.
Doors open at 6 p.m. with stories beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets: $12 per person at BridgesideBooks.com or at the bookshop, 29 Stowe St.