The Boughs Withered

<p><strong><em>The Boughs Withered</em></strong> is the debut collection from accomplished Irish author Maura McHugh. It includes twenty tales - four of them original to the volume - which represent the best strange visions from an award-winning writer of fiction non-fiction comic books and plays. Among the featured stories is "Bone Mother" which was adapted into the award-winning stop-motion animated short film by See Creature in Canada.</p><p>In her horror and dark fantasy stories Maura McHugh explores her love of the uncanny delves into the eerie past and evokes weird landscapes that might just co-exist with our own.</p><p>"These stories [are] made to last reaching deep into myth-pools for eternal primal treasures."<em> - Kim Newman</em></p><p>“Maura McHugh’s gloriously twisted tale-spinning imagination entwines and embraces the reader like dark ivy.” <em>– Ian R. MacLeod</em></p><p>“Hauntings dark pacts and ancient gods are brought into the here and now by Maura McHugh’s peculiar magic.” <em>– Priya Sharma</em></p><p>"Maura McHugh’s stories are hugely enjoyable. Her insight and compassion combined with a fresh engaging voice  make her monsters marvels and myths stand out in a crowded field." <em>– Lisa Tuttle</em></p><p>Contents:<br />1. Introduction by Kim Newman<br />2. Vic<br />3. Who Hears Our Cries in Forgotten Tongues?<br />4. The Boughs Withered When I Told Them My Dreams<br />5. The Light at the Centre<br />6. A Rebellious House<br />7. Beautiful Calamity<br />8. Home<br />9. Moments on the Cliff<br />10. The Gift of the Sea<br />11. Suspension<br />12. The Tamga<br />13. Spooky Girl<br />14. The Hanging Tree<br />15. The Diet<br />16. Involuntary Muscle<br />17. Family<br />18. Wake the Dead<br />19. Y<br />20. Bone Mother<br />21. Water<br />22. Author’s Afterword</p>