Exerpt from “Will O’ the Wisp”

“Some things in life but few can see;

Some things in life we must let be.”

OTISFIELD — A local author and a painter have collaborated to publish a book of of spooky rhymes just in time for Halloween.

“Night Full Frightful: A Collection of Spooky Rhymes” is written Henry H. Hamilton III of Otisfield and illustrated by painter Patricia E. Chandler of Norway.

Hamilton said the idea for the book stemmed from his stint as superintendent with the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray. He was asked by The Friends of Maine Wildlife Park to tell scary children’s stories at a Halloween event in 2004.

When he couldn’t find any scary children’s stories that he liked, he put pen to paper and wrote his own. Hamilton has written stories, including children’s stories, broadcast over WLRH Public Radio in Alabama. He said that effort was such fun he decided to write a scary storybook of original poetry for children.

The book is described as a collection of visual rhymes featuring goblins, ghosts and gremlins, werewolves and sea dragons. The stories are told through poems.

Hamilton said the book is written for the youthful imaginations of all ages. The poems include the whimsical “Will o’ the Wisp” for younger readers and “The Song of Lorelei” will appeal to older children and teenagers. Other poems include “The Werewolf Morphing Moon” and “Ben Bishop,” “Sally’s Spooks,” “Jenny & Ginger” and “Seaside Surprise.” 

Hamilton is a hobby farmer in Otisfield, a retired international humanitarian aid and development worker.

Chandler is a painter, art instructor, portrait artist and illustrator who holds a bachelor of fine arts degree in illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design, and an master of fine arts degree in painting and printmaking from the Rochester Institute of Technology. They collaborated this past year to produce the book, which was published by Pat Gott Publishing of Norway.

ldixon@sunjournal.com

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