Spring 2026
I’ve always loved cemeteries, and though that may sound morbid, my reasons go far beyond philosophical questions about life and death. I think about more than just the lives of those who once walked this earth; I wonder about the artists and stonecutters. Stonecutters play a significant role in Vermont’s history, and it doesn’t take more than a few strolls through an old cemetery to see why. How did they perfect their lettering using only hand tools long before machines made the work easier? How many painstaking hours did it take to etch a ship or an angel, and what do these choices reveal about the person buried beneath each stone?
Cemetery oddities fascinate me, too; stone steps that lead to a lonely plot perched atop a sunlit hill, or old family plots you chance upon while hiking in the woods. In the cool of September, I once saw headstones on the edges of a graveyard, toppled and so overgrown with weeds they were almost lost to humanity, reclaimed by time and soil. It’s been said that stones set apart or facing away from the other stones indicate that someone has been shunned for a taboo act. This is just a whispered tidbit of Vermont folklore, but the folklore itself is worth preserving. It tells a story, and whether that story is true or not, I’ve always loved how such stories add a touch of magic to every sprawling graveyard. Of course, I’m drawn to all the old Vermont ghost stories, some spooky, some bittersweet, that locals know and share about their own graveyards.
And yes, I have seen a gravestone engulfed by a living tree. It’s an image that inspired CARVED IN STONE, the first novel in my Nate Briggs mystery series. There’s something unsettling and symbolic about it: a crumbling stone, half-swallowed by a trunk, with its name and essence fading into gnarly bark and moss. Who lies beneath, and why did the caretakers let this happen? Sometimes imagination fills gaps where facts are silent. Just as that curious sight appeared before me, so did my story; growing, changing, and becoming a novel that was a fun ride during a hot, humid summer of writing on our front porch. I look forward to continuing this journey as I start the second book in the series. Here’s a brief look at the world I’m building:
CARVED IN STONE:
Parker’s Gore, Vermont, is a mountain town that wears its history in stone. Here, resilience runs deep, memories linger, and some secrets are best left undisturbed. When a devastating storm floods the local cemetery and isolates the town, it also uncovers hidden truths. Among the ancient gravestones, Marty Parker, a young, deaf and mute man, is found murdered. Gentle, kind, and curious, Marty was the last person anyone expected to make enemies.
Before his death, Marty sent a single, cryptic photograph of a headstone that initially seemed meaningless. What starts as a simple question quickly turns into a dangerous investigation. Nate Briggs, a Fish & Wildlife officer and part-time constable in Parker’s Gore, gets drawn into a case that could threaten the town’s strong independence. As Nate follows Marty’s final clue, he uncovers old alliances, hidden family secrets, and a community willing to do anything to protect its own.
With suspicion quickly falling on the wrong person and the community on edge, Nate must decide how far he’s willing to go for the truth, especially when it means revealing secrets that hit too close to home. CARVED IN STONE is the first novel in the Parker’s Gore Mystery Series: a gripping, atmospheric mystery filled with sharp observation and dark humor. Here, even the gravestones have stories to tell, and the past refuses to stay buried.
Amazon Link:
Carved In Stone – Kindle edition by Morris, S A. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.
