The Legendary Pine Barrens: New Tales From Old Haunts

by Paul Evans Pedersen Jr.

In this collection of “new tales from old haunts,” Paul Evans Pedersen Jr. delivers a literary feast for Pine Barrens enthusiasts and emerges as southern New Jersey’s most exciting new storyteller in decades. There’s something here for everyone—from offbeat explanations of natural phenomena, to unconventional takes on popular legends, to strange doings in mysterious towns and taverns. Throughout, you’ll be entertained by a rogue’s gallery of weird and colorful characters. These are not your traditional Pine Barrens legends. Pedersen’s 21 stories and three songs are inspired by South Jersey’s rich folklore and his love for the Pines, but only his remarkable imagination could have produced a work as fresh and original as The Legendary Pine Barrens.

Genres: Fiction, Short Stories, Ghost Stories

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2013

About the author

Born and raised in Southern New Jersey, Paul Evans Pedersen Jr. fell in love with the Pine Barrens on his first camping trip the Boy Scouts. Pedersen recalls another memorable camping trip, this one in 1966, when his Scout troop was terrorized by “a long blood-curdling scream the likes of which I’d never heard before and have yet to hear again.” The author believes the campsite had been visited by the legendary Jerse Devil, a view he says was shared by the scoutmaster as well as his fellow scouts. He credits the incident, along with his father’s scary bedtime stories, for inspiring the dark, mysterious, and often creepy themes that dominate his own inventive brand of storytelling.
Paul Evans Pedersen Jr. is an accomplished journalist, photographer, and musician and a multiple Grammy-nominated songwriter and recording artist. Seven of his songs, all sung by his wife, Cookie, appeared on the soundtrack of the 2012 movie "Breathless" with Val Kilmer and Ray Liotta. He has developed many of his short stories into screenplays.

Reviews

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Evans Pedersen Jr. was once a "(Pine Barrens) Diamond" in the rough. Now he shines like a gem among the best of the legendary folk tale spinners of South Jersey.

Whether you read it alone for enjoyment or read it to kids while sitting around a campfire, it will be a fun and entertaining experience.

Paul is a multi-talented individual. He plays the guitar and piano, writes music, tells great stories and makes some of the loveliest jewelry. He is destined to become well-known as a New Jersey Pine Barrens Celebrity.

We are anxious to have him participate in our annual Lines on the Pines event on Sunday, March 9, 2014 in Hammonton, NJ. He will be a huge hit if the first edition doesn't run out by then!!! The way sales are going it could easily happen!

[Liz Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was, a, highly, interesting book. Reading it as I live in the very southern part of New Jersey was cool to hear some folklore stories and phenomenons that I have heard of but most of them were odd ones I have not heard of.
Another cool thing was that there are songs written by the author in the book, and in the audio book version on BARD (Braille and audio reading download) he actually sings the songs and plays what I think was a fiddle.

[Michele Scamoffa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book, thoroughly. Could not put it down. Paul is a natural story-teller and could scare the "stripe off a skunk"! I will recommend this to all my friends and neighbors out here in the Wharton Tract! Great illustrations by Jodi. Oops, gotta go, here comes that bus!

[Michael Maciolek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid collection of short stories. Very readable, and the author does have a knack for story telling.

I particularly liked "The Deadbus" and The Secret of Salamander Pond. Think those were the best told stories of this collection.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an enjoyable read, especially growing up with stories of the Jersey Devil. I was able to even meet the author and have him sign my book. Great guy and great book!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun, often silly stories and songs from my favorite hiking haunt in NJ. Illustrated (one stunning one on pg 53.) If you know the area at all, you'll enjoy this.

[Reads At · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty enjoyable read. Different, creative takes on some old Pine Barren legends.

[Andy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun little short stories!

[Shelia Quattlebaum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t ask me why, but the first story I read from Paul Pedersen’s new book, “The Legendary Pine Barrens,” was about ‘ole Raymus O’Dell, an escaped slave from Georgia. When I finished this story I couldn’t wait to pick out the next one. I’ve known Paul for quite a few years, and he’s always left me scratching my head after hearing one of his tales, as he has shared quite a few with some of us songwriters through the years! Scratching my head meaning.. is this for real or this guy for real? (Laughing). Paul has put together quite a collection of very creative (and probably true) short stories that only HE can do. The stories of Pine Barrens makes me want to go to that part of the country and just look around. Or maybe not. I’m not sure I would want to run into “The Deadbus.” Kudos to the illustrator of the book also!

[Patrick Lawler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Paul Evans Pedersen Jr. has captured the local color of this New Jersey area to perfection. As a resident of New Jersey, I have had occasion to travel down some of the roads bordering on these pine barrens, and spoken to many of the people who live there. The line between fact and fiction is often blurred when it comes to someone recounting a story of gargoyle like creatures, or strange lights, or other otherworldly phenomenon. How much of it factual is anyone's guess, although it has been shown that there are strange magnetic fields there. I found this book to be fascinating and extremely well written, with excellent illustrations. As a member of the New Jersey Writers Society, I highly recommend this work and congratulate Mr. Pedersen on what is sure to be a best seller.

[Niffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book free through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

This was an enjoyable, easily read collection of "legends" based in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey. I suspect I would have enjoyed the stories more if I were familiar with the area and its history but I don'tbelieve my lack of knowledge should detract from the book rating. :)

A couple of the stories were a little far-fetched and a couple of the endings were a little abrupt. But overall a fun little book.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An outstanding crafting of tales from the NJ Pine Barrens.

Based on events or legends -interesting angles and new legends. Written in little vignettes that are perfect for telling around a campfire.

Paul has a great way of crafting a story and making it concise without losing any of the details. With great endings.

[Judith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this collection of short stories regarding many an urban legend regarding the Pine Barrens.

[Nicole Mccolgan-tiller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this collection if short stories. Being from Philadelphia, I recognized many of these places, which made it even more fun to read.

[Lmcelebre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome little book!