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The Hay Bale
Contemporary Southern Gothic meets weird horror in this new novelette from Priscilla Bettis.
Professor Claire Davenport yearns to be a mother. After suffering four miscarriages, the university microbiologist tries and fails to qualify as an adoptive mother. Then Claire’s husband leaves.
Alone and emotionally wounded, Claire takes a summer sabbatical from her microbiology classes and escapes to rural Virginia to heal. There, she meets local farmers with strange agricultural practices.
Claire moves into the historic manor house she rented for the summer, and an abandoned child greets her. Is the child real, an answer to her prayers? Or is he a figment of her tormented emotions? Perhaps the tight-knit locals are playing a trick on the science lady from the city.
Whatever the boy’s origin, Claire is determined to find the truth, but the truth may be bloody.
Professor Claire Davenport yearns to be a mother. After suffering four miscarriages, the university microbiologist tries and fails to qualify as an adoptive mother. Then Claire’s husband leaves.
Alone and emotionally wounded, Claire takes a summer sabbatical from her microbiology classes and escapes to rural Virginia to heal. There, she meets local farmers with strange agricultural practices.
Claire moves into the historic manor house she rented for the summer, and an abandoned child greets her. Is the child real, an answer to her prayers? Or is he a figment of her tormented emotions? Perhaps the tight-knit locals are playing a trick on the science lady from the city.
Whatever the boy’s origin, Claire is determined to find the truth, but the truth may be bloody.
42 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2022
About the author
Priscilla Bettis
12 books83 followersPriscilla Bettis writes faith-based stories and poems. She's also an avid reader. Priscilla lives in small-town Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 6, 2022
Wow, for a 40 page book this one packed a punch!
Professor Claire Davenport has left the city behind after suffering 4 miscarriages and the dissolution of her marriage. She has found a rural manor in the Virginia countryside called, Smallclaw, to rent while she heals both mentally and emotionally.
Out in the field she finds a lone hay bale. It appears to be going to rot and the microbiologist in her feels it is best to warn the caretaker. This could potentially be a dangerous fungi. She is informed to keep far away from the hay bale.
While in the home she hears scratching in the walls and weeping in the night. Is this all in her imagination?
The summer solstice is tomorrow, the day of their town ritual is upon us, and only then will Claire have her answer.
I happened across a review for this book last week and thought it sounded interesting. Much to my delight it was available for free through Kindle Unlimited. I really liked Claire as a character which isn't easy to do in such a short story but Bettis nailed it here. My heart ached for her losses. As a reader we know that things are going to go from bad to worse but just how terrible does it get? You'll have to read this to find out. 4 stars!
Professor Claire Davenport has left the city behind after suffering 4 miscarriages and the dissolution of her marriage. She has found a rural manor in the Virginia countryside called, Smallclaw, to rent while she heals both mentally and emotionally.
Out in the field she finds a lone hay bale. It appears to be going to rot and the microbiologist in her feels it is best to warn the caretaker. This could potentially be a dangerous fungi. She is informed to keep far away from the hay bale.
While in the home she hears scratching in the walls and weeping in the night. Is this all in her imagination?
The summer solstice is tomorrow, the day of their town ritual is upon us, and only then will Claire have her answer.
I happened across a review for this book last week and thought it sounded interesting. Much to my delight it was available for free through Kindle Unlimited. I really liked Claire as a character which isn't easy to do in such a short story but Bettis nailed it here. My heart ached for her losses. As a reader we know that things are going to go from bad to worse but just how terrible does it get? You'll have to read this to find out. 4 stars!
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December 10, 2022I read this creepy little novelette in one sitting and very much enjoyed it, especially the folk-horror feel, which I think the author did so well. Some lovely snippets of detail throughout, for example: "Claire ignored the roof's sagging eave, how it dipped in the middle like the house was scowling." I love that image, and there are several others I could quote.
My favorite imagery was of the hay bale itself, and I think I read it at the right time of year as I have a field of hay bales outside my window right now.
Overall, a great folk-horror feel and an atmospheric read. A job well done!
My favorite imagery was of the hay bale itself, and I think I read it at the right time of year as I have a field of hay bales outside my window right now.
Overall, a great folk-horror feel and an atmospheric read. A job well done!
February 25, 2022
Creepy and emotional horror tale
This is a fun story. Claire was a great character and it was easy to sympathize with her. Traumatized by multiple miscarriages and the dissolution of her marriage, I hoped that things would improve for her, even as she appeared to be entering dangerous territory.
Creepy rural communities are fertile ground for horror. I loved the folk horror feel to this setting, reminiscent of The Wicker Man.
Bettis’s writing is beautiful and evocative, effortlessly setting the scene and conjuring a world that I could see, touch and smell. I felt the heat of the hay field. I loved the description of flowers hanging near the house as girl’s braids, and little details like the names of the nail polish colours that Claire used really made the story for me.
I saw where the plot was headed from the start, but Bettis led me with such an assured hand that I found the journey absorbing and satisfying. I can’t wait to read more of her work.
This is a fun story. Claire was a great character and it was easy to sympathize with her. Traumatized by multiple miscarriages and the dissolution of her marriage, I hoped that things would improve for her, even as she appeared to be entering dangerous territory.
Creepy rural communities are fertile ground for horror. I loved the folk horror feel to this setting, reminiscent of The Wicker Man.
Bettis’s writing is beautiful and evocative, effortlessly setting the scene and conjuring a world that I could see, touch and smell. I felt the heat of the hay field. I loved the description of flowers hanging near the house as girl’s braids, and little details like the names of the nail polish colours that Claire used really made the story for me.
I saw where the plot was headed from the start, but Bettis led me with such an assured hand that I found the journey absorbing and satisfying. I can’t wait to read more of her work.
January 29, 2022
I knew that Priscilla was a writer from her comments on my YouTube channel, but I had no idea she was coming out with anything. I’m glad I decided to give this book a read.
Dr. Claire Davenport is going through a rough patch in her life, having suffered four miscarriages in a row and a bad break up. She then rents an old rural house in hopes to heal her wounds. What she gets instead is a nightmare.
The Hay Bale is a blend of folk horror, southern horror, and some weird horror. All of that in a 42 page short story. It’s a very quick read. And I think that readers of the above mentioned sub genres will enjoy The Hay Bale.
Dr. Claire Davenport is going through a rough patch in her life, having suffered four miscarriages in a row and a bad break up. She then rents an old rural house in hopes to heal her wounds. What she gets instead is a nightmare.
The Hay Bale is a blend of folk horror, southern horror, and some weird horror. All of that in a 42 page short story. It’s a very quick read. And I think that readers of the above mentioned sub genres will enjoy The Hay Bale.
February 16, 2022
This one set its hook in me quickly and held strong, pulling, dragging me thrashing through a short but deeply satisfying folk horror tale. The creepiness is layered and disturbing without relying too much on overly-gory details. This is definitely an author to keep an eye on.
January 18, 2022
One of my friends read this story and raved to me about it, so naturally I immediately purchased it on my Kindle to read!
My routine is to read a short story every morning to get my day started and this fit the bill nicely. It's around 43 pages and read REALLY fast. The author snagged my interest right away, as well as planting seeds of dread in me for what may be soon to come on the next page.
As someone who loves haunted houses, ghosts and unexplained phenomena, this one was right up my alley. I love when authors take mundane things (like a hay bale) and make them scary. Before I read this, I wouldn't have thought twice about a hay bale. After reading the story, you best believe I'll be going OUT OF MY WAY to avoid them. I don't care that it's fiction. I don't care that it isn't logical. All I care about is the author gave my imagination the fuel to help the narrative scare the daylights out of me.
Fantastic read, look forward to more from Priscilla!
My routine is to read a short story every morning to get my day started and this fit the bill nicely. It's around 43 pages and read REALLY fast. The author snagged my interest right away, as well as planting seeds of dread in me for what may be soon to come on the next page.
As someone who loves haunted houses, ghosts and unexplained phenomena, this one was right up my alley. I love when authors take mundane things (like a hay bale) and make them scary. Before I read this, I wouldn't have thought twice about a hay bale. After reading the story, you best believe I'll be going OUT OF MY WAY to avoid them. I don't care that it's fiction. I don't care that it isn't logical. All I care about is the author gave my imagination the fuel to help the narrative scare the daylights out of me.
Fantastic read, look forward to more from Priscilla!
May 25, 2023
Despite the short size this story is infused with enough pathos to make the horror aspects of the narrative stand out as meaningful moments. The themes of maternity and psychological instability (and its relation to the supernatural) are economically, but beautifully explored; the described mental processes that overpower Claire Davenport in her effort to escape her own mind were my favorite parts. All along this character felt like a real person, her wounds and memories exposed for us to see, her thoughts, and later actions, infected by her fears. Surprisingly however the other characters felt flat in comparison, they were presented with brief dialogues and later left underdeveloped, a certain amount of mystery is needed I'm sure, but I'd like to know more about those people, by the end of the story I did not really care about any of them besides Claire and the weird priest. To conclude I must say that I really really enjoyed the final act of this horror story, I simply cannot resist it was all so horrifically sweet! I'll make sure to read Bettis' book Dog Meat next!
January 12, 2022
Chilling… I won’t soon forget this one.
If you like Shirley Jackson, you need to read this story.
Bettis penned a horror tale with a creepy vibe unlike any I’ve experienced in years. But she went beyond that. She managed to hit all those unsettling atmospheric tones without sacrificing character development. Claire had lost babies she’d carried, babies she tried to adopt, and finally, lost her husband to a separation that the reader knows is final (though the protagonist can’t admit it). Her angst and desperation are palpable, visceral. I felt her pain with every word. Pick this damaged woman up out of a “normal” town and plunk her down in rural Virginia on an abandoned farm, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. This is where the author’s descriptions really shined. The discomfort and fear the townsfolk and the hay bale cause? I felt every bit of that, too. To my core.
How the character deals with her predicament is shocking. How the author crafted it was masterful. I highly recommend this work and look forward to reading more by this author.
If you like Shirley Jackson, you need to read this story.
Bettis penned a horror tale with a creepy vibe unlike any I’ve experienced in years. But she went beyond that. She managed to hit all those unsettling atmospheric tones without sacrificing character development. Claire had lost babies she’d carried, babies she tried to adopt, and finally, lost her husband to a separation that the reader knows is final (though the protagonist can’t admit it). Her angst and desperation are palpable, visceral. I felt her pain with every word. Pick this damaged woman up out of a “normal” town and plunk her down in rural Virginia on an abandoned farm, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster. This is where the author’s descriptions really shined. The discomfort and fear the townsfolk and the hay bale cause? I felt every bit of that, too. To my core.
How the character deals with her predicament is shocking. How the author crafted it was masterful. I highly recommend this work and look forward to reading more by this author.
January 14, 2022
I’ve been anxiously anticipating this novelette after reading the description on the author’s blog. Southern Gothic, weird horror, and a historic manor house? Everything about that calls out to the horror fan in me.
What’s so scary about a hay bale you ask? Plenty. To microbiologist Claire, it can be a breeding ground for fungus and disease. It may also hide something else. Reeling after suffering four miscarriages, failing to qualify as an adoptive mother, and separating from her husband, Claire takes a step back from her life and rents a house in a small town for the summer where she can begin to heal. That small town is filled with odd people, and she soon learns disturbing information about her new home. And that’s on top of the fact that it also seems to be inhabited by the ghost of a young boy.
Atmospheric, unsettling, and full of creepy imagery (I felt some Midsommar vibes), this horror novelette can be easily read in an hour and will stick with you long after finishing. I’m anxious to see what this author does next.
What’s so scary about a hay bale you ask? Plenty. To microbiologist Claire, it can be a breeding ground for fungus and disease. It may also hide something else. Reeling after suffering four miscarriages, failing to qualify as an adoptive mother, and separating from her husband, Claire takes a step back from her life and rents a house in a small town for the summer where she can begin to heal. That small town is filled with odd people, and she soon learns disturbing information about her new home. And that’s on top of the fact that it also seems to be inhabited by the ghost of a young boy.
Atmospheric, unsettling, and full of creepy imagery (I felt some Midsommar vibes), this horror novelette can be easily read in an hour and will stick with you long after finishing. I’m anxious to see what this author does next.
January 11, 2022
I know Priscilla Bettis from the YouTube community as a regularly commenter on videos, but this review is my honest opinion.
The novella The Hay Bale really impressed me. The ominous atmosphere and symbolic names of characters (such as the last name Graves) reminded me of Shirley Jackson and the short story “The Lottery” (which is high praise from me). I also felt some Charlotte Perkins-Gilman vibes.
Fans of horror short stories are sure to love this one; I highly recommend it.
The novella The Hay Bale really impressed me. The ominous atmosphere and symbolic names of characters (such as the last name Graves) reminded me of Shirley Jackson and the short story “The Lottery” (which is high praise from me). I also felt some Charlotte Perkins-Gilman vibes.
Fans of horror short stories are sure to love this one; I highly recommend it.
January 18, 2022
This novelette from Priscilla deserves a lot of love. Priscilla has been active on YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter as a supporter of reviewers and Indie Horror authors, so it was nice to be able to give something back to her, by buying her novelette and giving an honest review.
Which brings me to The Hay Bale. It’s a breeze at only 40 pages, and from the first page, Priscilla shows she’s got chops – the book is well written, there wasn’t an editing error in sight (that I could see, and I check all my books), and the voice was well measured, descriptive, informed and literary. In other words, the flow here was great, and the book was devoured in one sitting.
The story of a haunted farmhouse and a want-to-be mother’s loss, and consuming desire for children of her own, set the center stage for this southern gothic horror. There are elements in here that struck a chord with me – her miscarriages and the helpless desire to have a child played to my heart – I haven’t experienced that situation myself, but having two children, I can understand how that need could dominate a person's life, and how that craving would never be far from one’s thoughts.
The setup was well executed, the main characters' background, history, and present situation were well brought into the story, especially given the small page count, so I was invested in the story.
I wasn’t totally convinced with the logistics and reasoning behind the Hay Bale itself. There were elements to what happens there that were not illustrated or explained, the answers to some of my questions left to “weirdness” or “folklore” or “magic”, so don’t go into the story expecting a nerd’s breakdown of the supernatural elements contained within – Priscilla strays more toward the “unexplained stays unexplained” here, but it’s a small matter – the story here is actually a backdrop to Priscilla’s voice, and her entry into the Indie Horror community as an author. Not all horror has to have a rational or logical explanation - we are here to be horrified, right?
I liked this a lot, Priscilla. I think it gives us all a great taste of what is to come, Gothic and folk horror that puts you in the same genre room as Kevin Harrison, Beverley Lee, Catherine McCarthy & Tim McGregor. I’m here for your next one, though I hope you expand to a novella – this was just a taster and it was almost too little. I wanted a bigger bite. I hope you can cook us up some more.
The Hay Bale is a no-brainer purchase - retailing at less than a dollar, less than a Euro, and less than a pound, it's a quick-bite taster of great things to come. At that price, you can't get much better for your money
4 ⭐ ‘s out of 5, and congratulations on the publication!
Which brings me to The Hay Bale. It’s a breeze at only 40 pages, and from the first page, Priscilla shows she’s got chops – the book is well written, there wasn’t an editing error in sight (that I could see, and I check all my books), and the voice was well measured, descriptive, informed and literary. In other words, the flow here was great, and the book was devoured in one sitting.
The story of a haunted farmhouse and a want-to-be mother’s loss, and consuming desire for children of her own, set the center stage for this southern gothic horror. There are elements in here that struck a chord with me – her miscarriages and the helpless desire to have a child played to my heart – I haven’t experienced that situation myself, but having two children, I can understand how that need could dominate a person's life, and how that craving would never be far from one’s thoughts.
The setup was well executed, the main characters' background, history, and present situation were well brought into the story, especially given the small page count, so I was invested in the story.
I wasn’t totally convinced with the logistics and reasoning behind the Hay Bale itself. There were elements to what happens there that were not illustrated or explained, the answers to some of my questions left to “weirdness” or “folklore” or “magic”, so don’t go into the story expecting a nerd’s breakdown of the supernatural elements contained within – Priscilla strays more toward the “unexplained stays unexplained” here, but it’s a small matter – the story here is actually a backdrop to Priscilla’s voice, and her entry into the Indie Horror community as an author. Not all horror has to have a rational or logical explanation - we are here to be horrified, right?
I liked this a lot, Priscilla. I think it gives us all a great taste of what is to come, Gothic and folk horror that puts you in the same genre room as Kevin Harrison, Beverley Lee, Catherine McCarthy & Tim McGregor. I’m here for your next one, though I hope you expand to a novella – this was just a taster and it was almost too little. I wanted a bigger bite. I hope you can cook us up some more.
The Hay Bale is a no-brainer purchase - retailing at less than a dollar, less than a Euro, and less than a pound, it's a quick-bite taster of great things to come. At that price, you can't get much better for your money
4 ⭐ ‘s out of 5, and congratulations on the publication!
January 16, 2022
video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFvMi...
The Hay Bale is a haunting folk tale mixing the world of supernatural with the real life drama of a woman going to extreme lengths to become a mother. We meet Claire. Life hasn’t been too kind to Claire in her journey to have a kid. After several miscarriages and a rejection from the adoption agency, Claire finds herself separated from her husband Dan. She journeys to an Historic house in Virginia on sabbatical in hopes to recoup a little. In hopes to get right with everything before pursuing once again adoption.
Little did she know this “Manor” has a lot of history, and not the kind that leads to anything good. The history of this house, the farm and everything within the few miles has a stranglehold on the actions of the people, and it all seems to stem from this huge Hay Bale. One that Claire, being a microbiologist, feels is decayed and poisonous and dangerous.
Priscilla’s writing is sharp and precise. With a descriptive narrative, one can’t help but to have images of Folk Horror movies in your head while reading, like Midsommer, or Children of the Corn, or the beautiful scenery from Philip Ridley’s The Reflecting Skin.
It’s warm and inviting, while also giving you chills learning about the history of this house.
This all leads up to a visually scarring finale from this Hay Bale to the delight of the townsfolk. A gooey, messy finale. And by the way, the townsfolk all have forks, ready to dig in. Which totally brings us a WTF moment. The ending becomes an adrenaline rush for survival.
Bettis doesn’t disappoint in this compelling story. With smooth transitions and a welcoming prose, you are glued to every word while the story is being set. The inner dialogue Claire is having with separated husband Dan rivals that of King and other masters, making you question what is real and what isn’t. It plays as an inside look at the sanity, or lack there of, of a woman who just wants to be a mother.
The story is bold and direct. It’s harsh when it needs to be harsh. It’s loving when it needs to be loving. And I hope this is just a teaser of more things to come from Priscilla Bettis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFvMi...
The Hay Bale is a haunting folk tale mixing the world of supernatural with the real life drama of a woman going to extreme lengths to become a mother. We meet Claire. Life hasn’t been too kind to Claire in her journey to have a kid. After several miscarriages and a rejection from the adoption agency, Claire finds herself separated from her husband Dan. She journeys to an Historic house in Virginia on sabbatical in hopes to recoup a little. In hopes to get right with everything before pursuing once again adoption.
Little did she know this “Manor” has a lot of history, and not the kind that leads to anything good. The history of this house, the farm and everything within the few miles has a stranglehold on the actions of the people, and it all seems to stem from this huge Hay Bale. One that Claire, being a microbiologist, feels is decayed and poisonous and dangerous.
Priscilla’s writing is sharp and precise. With a descriptive narrative, one can’t help but to have images of Folk Horror movies in your head while reading, like Midsommer, or Children of the Corn, or the beautiful scenery from Philip Ridley’s The Reflecting Skin.
It’s warm and inviting, while also giving you chills learning about the history of this house.
This all leads up to a visually scarring finale from this Hay Bale to the delight of the townsfolk. A gooey, messy finale. And by the way, the townsfolk all have forks, ready to dig in. Which totally brings us a WTF moment. The ending becomes an adrenaline rush for survival.
Bettis doesn’t disappoint in this compelling story. With smooth transitions and a welcoming prose, you are glued to every word while the story is being set. The inner dialogue Claire is having with separated husband Dan rivals that of King and other masters, making you question what is real and what isn’t. It plays as an inside look at the sanity, or lack there of, of a woman who just wants to be a mother.
The story is bold and direct. It’s harsh when it needs to be harsh. It’s loving when it needs to be loving. And I hope this is just a teaser of more things to come from Priscilla Bettis.
January 21, 2022
A very creepy novelette for those readers who want to spend about 45 minutes holding their breath! After several miscarriages, Claire leaves the city to spend some time grieving and recovering in an old mansion in the countryside. Her husband has left her due to her obsession with having a baby, and she maintains an inner dialog with him as she settles into the run-down place. It isn’t long until she hears scratching in the walls and a child crying. And in the nearby field, she discovers a single, large hay bale with something dangerous growing inside it.
The story feels a lot like classic Stephen King horror. I don’t want to spoil the plot but will share that there are some strange people in these pages and some odd goings-on. Claire is a strong protagonist, fearless in her pursuit of answers as well as in doing what she thinks is right. The ending is unexpected and made me wonder about her as well as the small community of characters she interacts with. Highly recommended to horror fans looking for a quick read.
The story feels a lot like classic Stephen King horror. I don’t want to spoil the plot but will share that there are some strange people in these pages and some odd goings-on. Claire is a strong protagonist, fearless in her pursuit of answers as well as in doing what she thinks is right. The ending is unexpected and made me wonder about her as well as the small community of characters she interacts with. Highly recommended to horror fans looking for a quick read.
January 16, 2022
Wow this may be a short horror story but is absolutely packs an emotional punch! Claire has had several miscarriages, a failed adoption and now separated from her husband. She decides to go away for a bit to a secluded old home to regroup and take a break. She gets a bit more than she was hoping when she sees a single hay bale out in the field behind the house. I loved this story. The emotion is palpable on the page. I personally love folk horror and this story gave me that and more. Bettis crafted a wonderfully strange and unnerving story.
February 23, 2022
Wow this was a spectacular read. It’s hard to write a review because it’s so short but I’d like to say that when reading it, I don’t think I blinked the whole way through.
Short fiction is extremely hard to write because you’re not given much time to develop plot or characters but description and meaning in this piece runs deep.
Not only is this a great piece of southern gothic horror but a fine exploration into grief.
A superb debut by Priscilla Bettis and I can’t see what will come next from her. 5/5 stars
Short fiction is extremely hard to write because you’re not given much time to develop plot or characters but description and meaning in this piece runs deep.
Not only is this a great piece of southern gothic horror but a fine exploration into grief.
A superb debut by Priscilla Bettis and I can’t see what will come next from her. 5/5 stars
May 24, 2022
This story is so evocative in its setting. The ramshackle cottage, and fertile countryside. At once I thought this was a classic haunting ghost story, but soon things took a more sinister twist. I adored the ending, at which things got very bizarre and disturbing.
January 18, 2022
Haunting and Bizarre
I thoroughly enjoyed this short, foreboding tale. The writing is hypnotic, while the story itself is ominous and bleak. I hope to read more from Bettis in the future. Highly recommended!
I thoroughly enjoyed this short, foreboding tale. The writing is hypnotic, while the story itself is ominous and bleak. I hope to read more from Bettis in the future. Highly recommended!
May 2, 2022
Wow, this short story was highly enjoyable! Really creepy and jaw-droppingly messed up at points. Exactly what I want to see in a horror!
September 24, 2022
disgustingly good
January 26, 2022
The Hay Bale is one of the best horror short stories I’ve read in along time. It is clever and creepily disturbing with a climax that will have you wondering about it for a long time after you’ve finished reading the last page. For me, it was a bit reminiscent of Children of the Corn by Stephen King with it’s remote rural setting and deviant cult-like community beliefs and behaviours. The author created and maintained the same breath-holding tension.
Claire is a successful career microbiologist who has had four miscarriages and had to face the realisation that she cannot control her own biology. An unsuccessful attempt at adoption due to her unstable mental condition has led to the complete breakdown of her relationship. In an effort to pull herself together and get back on her feet, Claire has rented an old farmhouse in a remote location. She plans to rest and come to terms with her losses and future path.
Soon after her arrival, Claire starts to hear strange scratching sounds. She also meets the peculiar minister of the local church who warns her to keep away from a seemingly diseased hay bale. Are the two tied together, and if so, how?
The story is well written and fast paced with good tension throughout. If you like good horror and are not feint hearted, you will enjoy this dark short tale.
Claire is a successful career microbiologist who has had four miscarriages and had to face the realisation that she cannot control her own biology. An unsuccessful attempt at adoption due to her unstable mental condition has led to the complete breakdown of her relationship. In an effort to pull herself together and get back on her feet, Claire has rented an old farmhouse in a remote location. She plans to rest and come to terms with her losses and future path.
Soon after her arrival, Claire starts to hear strange scratching sounds. She also meets the peculiar minister of the local church who warns her to keep away from a seemingly diseased hay bale. Are the two tied together, and if so, how?
The story is well written and fast paced with good tension throughout. If you like good horror and are not feint hearted, you will enjoy this dark short tale.
January 2, 2023
Horror isn’t a genre I’ve read for a long time now but I used to love it. Some great reviews of The Hay Bale caught my attention recently and I decided to give it a try.
It’s a short read and so I was able to fit it in during a couple of spare hours I had, otherwise it would have taken its place near the bottom of a mountain of recommended books waiting for me.
The main character, Professor Claire Davenport, is an emotionally troubled woman. After several devastating miscarriages and the breakdown of her marriage, she travels to a remote farm in Virginia to lick her wounds. What she finds there had me on the edge of my seat from pretty much the opening page.
The Hay Bale has all you’d want from a much, much longer book. The troubled mind of the protagonist is convincingly portrayed and, as you’re seeing things from her perspective, there’s another layer of horror to add to the rising tension. The author does a wonderful job of creating those ‘Don’t go there!’ moments and I’m still thinking about the vivid and ingenious ending.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, and enjoy a well-written tale, this is one I’d definitely go for.
It’s a short read and so I was able to fit it in during a couple of spare hours I had, otherwise it would have taken its place near the bottom of a mountain of recommended books waiting for me.
The main character, Professor Claire Davenport, is an emotionally troubled woman. After several devastating miscarriages and the breakdown of her marriage, she travels to a remote farm in Virginia to lick her wounds. What she finds there had me on the edge of my seat from pretty much the opening page.
The Hay Bale has all you’d want from a much, much longer book. The troubled mind of the protagonist is convincingly portrayed and, as you’re seeing things from her perspective, there’s another layer of horror to add to the rising tension. The author does a wonderful job of creating those ‘Don’t go there!’ moments and I’m still thinking about the vivid and ingenious ending.
If you have a couple of hours to spare, and enjoy a well-written tale, this is one I’d definitely go for.
November 19, 2022
In Priscilla Bettis' novella, The Hay Bale (2022), Professor Claire Davenport seeks refuge and quiet for the summer after four miscarriages and a denied adoption application ended her marriage. She settles on a ramshackle urban home called Small Claw in a small town far from the hubbub of friends and family, hoping a few months alone will allow her to heal. The historic manor house seemed a perfect place to “lick her wounds, soothe her soul, and heal" though the oddity of a hay bale in the middle of the backyard confuses her. Neighbors tell her to stay away from it, but Claire can't, especially after the appearance of a homeless child who may or may not be real. And then there is the front door that opened by itself and the scratching sounds in the walls. It all comes to a head on the evening of the town's festival that--of course--takes place in her yard.
This is classified as a horror story, but it's unlike any other's I've read, and I never predicted the ending. If you like unusual stories that keep you guessing, you'll like this one.
This is classified as a horror story, but it's unlike any other's I've read, and I never predicted the ending. If you like unusual stories that keep you guessing, you'll like this one.
January 12, 2022
Although this is a short read, it packs a punch. Compelling, descriptive, and unusual, it sucks the reader in from page one and doesn’t let go until the unsettling and unexpected climax. Microbiologist Claire is suffering after failing to qualify as an adoptive parent and the desertion of her husband when she takes a sabbatical to a backwoods rural town. She moves into an old manor home called “Smallclaw” (cue eerie music) and soon finds herself drawn into a bizarre agriculture celebration with the local community.
This is not a work of gory horror, but rather a story that creeps and slithers like a snake, eliciting goose bumps and building suspense with each scene. The author makes excellent use of imagery to convey broader ideas throughout, and the conclusion is one that sticks with the reader. Creepy and visual, I loved every moment of this peculiar gem.
This is not a work of gory horror, but rather a story that creeps and slithers like a snake, eliciting goose bumps and building suspense with each scene. The author makes excellent use of imagery to convey broader ideas throughout, and the conclusion is one that sticks with the reader. Creepy and visual, I loved every moment of this peculiar gem.
February 7, 2022
I know Priscilla Bettis through blogging, so when I heard she was releasing her first book, I had to get myself a copy. The Hay Bale is a quick read, and it’s one that hooks you in from the very beginning. Her use of imagery places you beside the main character, Claire, so that when we reach the final scenes, we are in suspense and horrified in equal measure.
The ending I suspected, but the events leading up to that conclusion was altogether creepy and disturbing thanks to the peculiar quirks of the local townspeople. This story packed an emotional punch and stayed with me long after I had finished reading. Highly recommended for horror fans. I look forward to reading more from Priscilla.
The ending I suspected, but the events leading up to that conclusion was altogether creepy and disturbing thanks to the peculiar quirks of the local townspeople. This story packed an emotional punch and stayed with me long after I had finished reading. Highly recommended for horror fans. I look forward to reading more from Priscilla.
January 14, 2022
Reeling from a succession of miscarriages, college professor Claire, whose anguish is mocked by her dismissive husband, retreats to an idyllic, historic home in the country. Hoping to heal from her grief and achieve peace, she is instead drawn into the smoldering brutality of a slave-owning past. Riddled with anxiety, Clare descends into a living nightmare of cruel, cult-like villagers and a child crying for rescue. Will the waif bring her deliverance or fuel her sharp, jagged, unrelenting sorrow. Bettis weaves an expressive tale, leaving the reader guessing, "What's real?" and "What's not?" with the ultimate realization that grief requires no justification.
February 18, 2022
Was Fascinated Throughout the Story
I loved this fast read. It was full of mystery and suspense. Was she crazy? Was she really experiencing paranormal activity at the place she stayed at? Did that horrible ritual really happen in that farm town 200 years ago? All those questions motivated me to keep reading. I was satisfied with the ending and enjoyed the creepiness of some of the characters.
I loved this fast read. It was full of mystery and suspense. Was she crazy? Was she really experiencing paranormal activity at the place she stayed at? Did that horrible ritual really happen in that farm town 200 years ago? All those questions motivated me to keep reading. I was satisfied with the ending and enjoyed the creepiness of some of the characters.
January 11, 2022
I'm not much for horror, but a novelette that promises mystery and suspense--I'm interested. This story captured my attention within the first few paragraphs. Bettis knows how to weave intrigue into the simplest of settings and build her story on haunting questions. Well-written and well-paced, this is a winner you won't want to miss. 5-stars!
January 12, 2022
The Hay Bale is a studiously well crafted short novel. The author lives up to the claims of weirdness, in the best way. Creepy and goosebumpily, I recommend it for horror fans.
January 19, 2022
Wow, an interesting plot and well-written. It reminded me of the Children of Corn by Stephen King.
I look forward to reading more books from this author’s pen.
I look forward to reading more books from this author’s pen.
November 11, 2022
Short but sweet
A short ghost story that has slightly wicker man vibs to it, with a local community hiding a deep dark secret
A short ghost story that has slightly wicker man vibs to it, with a local community hiding a deep dark secret
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