To be compJerry R. Hale is a native of Halifax County North Carolina and a 1966 graduate of Enfield High School. He is retired and currently lives in Nevada. The author’s interest in writing fiction began in high school but was put on hold for many years. During his professional career Jerry used his writing skills o publish numerous articles for professional journals. His formal education includes a BA degree in Clinical Psycholoy from Chapman University, MA degrees in Education and Human Resource development from George Washington University and Post Graduate School in Management at Georgia State University. His professional career includes twenty-five years in the US Army, Combat Engineers; college professor; and business owner. Currently Jerry devotes his time to participating in the Senior Olympics shooting sports; to his collection of British sports cars; and to writing stories in the Southern Gothic style. His stories about North Carolina farm like, small southern towns, ghosts, witches and haints draw heavily from his experiences and the people he knew while growing up in Halifax County North Carolina. Authors that have influenced his writing style include Hemmingway, Steinbeck, Faulkner, Welty, Tennessee Williams, Harper Lee, Frank Yerby and Thad Stem. His current book, “The 13-Bidges Road Ghost Stories: An Anthology of Southern Gothic Tales of Ghosts, Witches & Haints” is currently available on Amazon. His companion volume “Origins of Carolina Folk Tales,” will be available in October 2026. A full-length novel about Robert, a young boy growing up on his father’s tobacco farm in Halifax County North Carolina will be available for pre-order in January 2027. A second anthology of folk tales, “The Tobacco Barn Tales” will be available in November 2026.leted later.