Shenandoah Valley Takes a Fantastical Turn in New Anthology

From ghost trains rolling past familiar tracks to trolls hiding beneath Luray Caverns, a new book is giving the Shenandoah Valley a magical makeover.

“Shenandoah Fantastic: Mystic Whispers from the Valley’s Vales,” released February 3 by Whitaker Lyon Press, brings together 24 short stories set in real locations stretching from Winchester to Lexington. Edited by James Blakey and Catherine Simpson, the anthology blends fantasy, science fiction, and light horror with the everyday landmarks Valley residents know well.

The result is a collection that feels both familiar and wonderfully strange.

Readers will find space aliens visiting Route 11 Potato Chips, time travelers wandering through Staunton’s American Shakespeare Center, and unexpected happenings at places many locals pass every day. The settings are real. The twists are not.

Three contributors hail from the Northern Shenandoah Valley.

Winchester resident Matthew J. Turner, a high school history teacher, contributed “Marigolds in the Mesozoic.” His story follows a special forces team that stumbles upon very real dinosaurs at Dinosaur Land.

“My main inspiration was a mix of Predator and an unused idea for another story of mine—of special forces that deal with the supernatural,” Turner said. “I wanted these macho but kinda dumb guys to run and gun through this crazy mess and to both seem like experts but also a bit like screwups.”

Also from Winchester, Carol Steele offers “Old Yeller Ain’t No Dog,” featuring a gleaming 1957 yellow Cadillac Eldorado with a terrifying secret. In her tale, the classic car becomes something far more dangerous than it appears.

“Old Yeller is a car I’ve always wanted; not only for its classic appearance, but for its ability to remain pristine,” Steele said.

Then there is “The Whitetail Whatchamacallit” by Griff Thomas, another Winchester writer. His story follows two friends who turn a clever invention designed to help deer cross busy Valley roads into a thriving business.

“If you drive in Virginia for 50 years, you have a 50% chance of hitting a deer,” Thomas said. “I don’t like those odds and needed a practical solution.”

While the stories range from humorous to eerie, they share one thing in common: a deep connection to place. Instead of imaginary kingdoms or distant planets, the anthology keeps its feet planted firmly in Shenandoah Valley soil.

The collection also celebrates a growing creative community in the region. By weaving supernatural elements into real landscapes, the book invites readers to see familiar roads, caverns, and downtown streets with fresh eyes.

The anthology is available online through major retailers, including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Locally, readers can find copies at Blue Plate Books in Winchester, Parentheses Books in Harrisonburg, and Stone Soup Books in Waynesboro.

Upcoming book signings give readers a chance to meet contributors and editors. An author event is scheduled for noon on Sunday, February 22, at Winchester Book Gallery. Another signing will take place at noon on Sunday, March 1, at Valerie Hill Winery in Stephens City.

For longtime Valley residents, the book offers a fun twist on places they thought they knew. For newcomers, it provides a creative introduction to the region’s landmarks and culture.

After all, who’s to say there isn’t something mysterious hiding beneath the surface of a quiet Valley town?

Sometimes, all it takes is a little imagination.