As passionate horror fans and new Florida residents, Amanda Rosenblatt and her husband, Brad Acevedo, attended the 2019 Halloween event at Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail in Plant City. Impressed with its creative storylines, detailed sets, and welcoming atmosphere; they instantly fell in love with the attraction and its unique seasonal celebrations.
During the 2021 Valentine’s-themed event Amanda realized that, while the attraction’s storylines were full of fascinating characters with complex histories, very few people understood the depth and motivations behind these creepy plots. Existing fans, attraction newcomers, and horror novel readers alike would benefit from a central place to learn about the origins and backstories of Sir Henry’s most iconic creations. So, with the support of Zach Glaros (founder and manager of Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail) and written contributions from her husband, Amanda authored an anthology tribute to this beloved Central Floridian, independent haunt. The finished book, Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales will debut on September 1st.
More About Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
Located just off of I-4 in Plant City, Sir Henry’s is an annual Halloween event featuring three haunted trails with unique storylines and characters. In addition to the trails, guests can enjoy a laser tag game, escape room, or large common area with vendors and live entertainment. Sir Henry’s also offers other seasonal celebrations, such as the family-friendly Christmas Trail and a Valentine’s haunted event known as Love’s Revenge.
If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you know that I am a big Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail fan, having attended both the 2019 and 2020 Halloween events, last year’s The Christmas Trail, and the 2021 Love’s Revenge. I enjoy the original plots, unique outdoor environments, and attention to detail. As a loyal devotee, I cannot wait to read Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales and learn more about these characters that I so deeply enjoy.
Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales: Coming September 1st
Meticulously researched for period authenticity, Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales travels back to the early 1900s and beyond to tell the origin stories and histories of some of the haunt’s most beloved and recognizable characters. Structured as an anthology of short stories, the featured tales include Sir Henry, Pyrum, Vex, Kane, Poppy, and more. While many of the book’s details have yet to be revealed, we know that Amanda used a combination of the haunt’s existing narratives and her own imagination to create the vivid backgrounds found within its pages. With this book, Amanda hopes to create a newfound appreciation and empathy for Sir Henry, his band of misfits, and the the torrid events that have made them into the figures local haunt fans adore.
But what if I haven’t been to Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail?
Even if you haven’t experienced the Sir Henry’s haunt, you can still enjoy these creepy tales! While the stories are based on characters found at the haunted attraction, the book is written as a standalone work – making it an enjoyable read for longtime fans and newcomers to the attraction.
Additionally, the novel is designed to be accessible and friendly to a wide range of existing and potential horror readers. Described as “Goosebumps-adjacent,” the book features relatively large print, maintains fairly clean language, and avoids sexual situations. While almost any spooky novel will include some level of violence and gore, this book is instead focused on the creepy stories and themes – allowing younger and more sensitive readers to enjoy the read along with seasoned horror fans.
You can hear a short preview of the book (and see some shots from the actual Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail) in the video below:
How can I get a copy of Sir Henry’s Haunted Tales?
Starting September 1st, you can order your print copy on Amazon.com! Stay tuned to the Sir Henry’s website for more information.
More about Author Amanda Rosenblatt and Contributor Brad Acevedo
While relatively new to Florida residency, Amanda and Brad are not new to the spooky-obsessed community. After meeting at a San Diego Comic-Con, this couple has become a joint force for horror writing, artwork, and a fascinating form of social activism.
Amanda Rosenblatt
As a death positivity advocate, Amanda is passionate about natural burial, end of life education, and removing the stigma surrounding humans’ natural curiosity about death and dying. As she was telling me about this interest, she made sure to mention the Heartwood Preserve in Trinity, Florida. This organization provides green burial options, memorial services, secular meditation, and even open discussion “Death Cafes.” The land also acts as a nature sanctuary offering educational sessions about the local ecosystems and wildlife.
In addition to her dedication surrounding death positivity, Amanda is a talented artist and voice actor. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram for updates about the book and more of her creative works and activities.
Brad Acevedo
Brad Acevedo, also a horror author, has published multiple short stories in spooky anthologies ranging from Into The Deep (a multi-author collaboration featuring scary stories about the ocean) to one of his solo works Suffer The Children. In this trilogy of tales (each featuring a different holiday), find out how festive nightmares can threaten childhood innocence. This book is currently available on Amazon (and Amanda designed the cover)! Follow Brad on Instagram and Twitter for more updates!
