The Skeleton Flute
Middle Grade Horror
When Sam Windsor’s parents let him and his siblings, Grayson and Addie, skip school to go to the beach, the plan seems too good to be true. It turns out that feeling was right because that evening Sam’s parents drop the news that shatters Sam’s world: they’re separating, and his dad is moving out.
More than anything, Sam wants his parents to stay together. So when a strange man offers Sam a flute made of bone and tells him that playing it can grant him his greatest desire, Sam is desperate enough to try, no matter how creepy or absurd the stranger’s gift seems. And surprisingly, the wish Sam made on the skeleton flute comes true. The next day, his parents are happily in love, with no plans for his dad to leave. But there’s a major problem. Addie and Grayson have disappeared as if they never existed.
His siblings’ absence isn’t the only thing that changed. Sam’s best friend is suddenly hanging out with a different crowd, and everything in Sam’s life is slightly off. Caught in a web of unintended consequences, Sam must try to get his old life back, despite the challenges that are waiting for him if he succeeds. And that means uncovering the mystery behind the strange man’s identity–and the skeleton flute.
“For readers who enjoy descriptive fantasy with a touch of horror…”
– School Library Journal
“…a fascinating page-turner populated by empathetic characters. Approachable dialogue and fast-paced fun…”
– Publisher’s Weekly
“The story offers emotional honesty while keeping the suspense believable. The cast of supporting characters is authentic with depth and purpose and the action is well-paced. Author Damara Allen has re-imagined a Pied Piper–like historical fantasy that examines the historical ties that bind people to their actions and consequences, coming to a believable and satisfying conclusion. A story that’s a cut above, The Skeleton Flute will find many fans.”
– Booklist
About Damara
Born and raised in snowy Central New York, Damara lives with her immeasurably supportive (and patient) husband, her 14-year-old daughter, 4 cats, and a dog. When she’s not writing or vacuuming up cat hair, she enjoys watching horror movies, Halloween, crafting, and traveling. Damara has been writing for most of her life, starting with illustrated stories as a kid, graduating to fanfic when she was a little older, to full-blown novels as a teenager and young adult.
Her dreams of becoming a published author were pushed to the side for career and family, but she rediscovered her love of writing during the pandemic, when she wrote her first "real" novel for her daughter. After some encouragement from family and friends, she decided to pursue traditional publishing, and landed an agent, Emily S. Keyes of the Keyes Agency, LLC.