Perfect Pairing Reading Guide for October

Paranormal Literature 

Enter the shadowy realm of paranormal literature. Every flicker of candlelight and creak of the floorboards hints at something just beyond the veil. This curated collection brings together chilling tales, atmospheric reads, and thought-provoking discussions that explore the uncanny, the unseen, and the unexplainable.

From haunted mansions shrouded in fog to forgotten towns where time stands still, these stories descend into the mysteries of life, death, and everything that lingers in between. Each book beckons you to explore what is truly real, whether it's the silent sorrow of a ghost, the secrets murmured by a cursed item, or an ancient town's agreement with darkness.

Paired with gothic-inspired recipes, and drinks that are both cozy and chilling, this guide invites you to savor the supernatural. Whether you're a longtime fan of the genre or just beginning to explore the unknown, prepare to be captivated, unsettled, and utterly spellbound.

Grave Birds

by Dana Elmendorf

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires meets Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil in this twisty, fresh take on a Southern gothic that follows a mysterious, charming bachelor as he makes his way into a small town, bringing a plague and the devil with him, from GMA Buzz Pick author Dana Elmendorf.

Grave birds haunt the cemeteries of Hawthorne, South Carolina, where Spanish moss drips from the trees and Southern charm is imbued with lies. Hollis Sutherland never knew these unique birds existed, not until she died and was brought back to life. The ghostly birds are manifestations of the dead's unfinished business, and they know Hollis and her uncanny gift can set them free.

When a mysterious, charming bachelor wanders into the small town, bizarre events begin to plague its wealthiest citizens--blood drips from dogwood blossoms, flocks of birds crash into houses, fire tornadoes descend from the sky. Hollis knows these are the omens her grandfather warned about, announcing the devil's return. But despite Cain Landry's eerie presence and the plague that has followed him, his handsome face and wicked charm win over the townsfolk. Even Hollis falls under his spell as they grow closer.

That is, until lies about the town's past start to surface. The grave birds begin to show Hollis the dead's ugly deeds from some twenty-five years ago and the horrible things some people did to gain their wealth. Hollis can't decide if Cain is some immortal hand of God, there to expose their sins. Or if he's a devil there to ruin them all. Either way, she's determined to save her town and the people in it, whatever it takes.

Discussion Questions for Grave Birds

• What is the connection between Grave Birds and the events of the novel?
• What “southern gothic” elements were featured in this book? Did they add or take away from the overall plot? Could they have been stronger?

Grave Birds FooD Pairing

Is the quickest way to a ghost's heart still his stomach? Fans of haunted houses and historical recipes will both love this cookbook. Here are a few recipes that will bring a bit of the paranormal to your home - minus the actual ghosts. 

Food to Die for: Recipes and Stories from America's Most Legendary Haunted Places 

by Amy Bruni - Julie Tremaine

Discover tantalizing recipes, spine-tingling stories, and historic photos from the most notoriously haunted locations across America in this fun and fascinating cookbook. Paranormal investigator and Kindred Spirits co-host Amy Bruni leads you through eerie hotels, haunted homes, hellish hospitals, and spooky ghost towns, giving you stories and a recipe from each place.

Whether you're in the mood for Lizzie Borden's meatloaf or want to serve up spooky prison stories along with sugar cookies from Alcatraz, Food to Die For is your guide to ghoulish gastronomy.

One of America's favorite ghost hunters, Amy Bruni takes you to mysterious hotels, eerie ghost towns, and possessed pubs in this delightfully sinister collection of stories and recipes. Each of the nearly 60 locations in Food to Die For includes:

• Vintage photographs and charmingly creepy stories rooted in history
• A noteworthy recipe associated with the people or place
• Full-color, captivating, and hauntingly styled food photos to inspire a killer kitchen experience

Enjoy creepy recipes like:

• Southern Fried Chicken from the Missouri State Penitentiary
• Sheboygan Asylum Caesar Salad
• Cornbread inspired by the Villisca Axe Murder House
• Absinthe Frappé from the Old Absinthe House
• Ernest Hemingway's Bloody Mary from Hemingway Home & Museum
• Vegetable Soup from Waverly Hills Sanatorium

This terrifyingly tasty cookbook will bewitch anyone who:

• Has a taste for the paranormal and a hunger to try new foods
• Loves history, travel, and culinary curiosities
• Enjoys entertaining guests in unique and memorable ways
• Would get goosebumps making a recipe written 300 years ago

History buffs, thrill-seekers, and foodies will all get shivers seeing the past come to life with every enchanted recipe and delicious tale from Food to Die For.

South Carolina Shrimp and Grits

If there is one dish that screams “South Carolina” it’s a classic shrimp and grits. Here is delicious version straight from the lowcountry by Butter Be Ready.

Ingredients

Instructions

Step 1. Bring water, chicken broth, and salt to boil in a large saucepan on medium heat.

Step 2. Gradually whisk in grits a little at a time to avoid clumping. Reduce head to low and cover the saucepan. Slowly cook and simmer for 30 mins, whisking occasionally. If grits begin to look stiff, add a splash of water.

Step 3. Remove grits from heat and stir in butter, half and half, ½ cup of cheddar cheese, and white pepper. Taste grits and add more cheese and salt to taste. Keep grits warm on lowest setting while cooking shrimp gravy. Add water if grits start to stiffen.

Step 4. Add shrimp and creole cajun seasoning and white pepper to a large bowl. Fully coat and set aside to marinate for 30 mins.

Step 5. Melt two tablespoons of butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Working in batches, add the shrimp in a single layer and saute for 1-2 mins until opaque. Flip and cook on the other side for 1 minute. 

Step 6. Transfer shrimp to a clean plate and repeat the process until all shrimp are cooked.

Step 7. Add the andouille sausage into the skillet and cook until golden brown and slightly crisp, about 2-3 minutes. Add sausage to  plate with shrimp.

Step 8. Add remaining butter to skillet. When hot, add the peppers, onions, and celery. Saute until tender. 4-5 minutes. Stir in the garlic for 1 min. Sprinkle in flour and mix, tossing wll to cook out the flour, about 1 min.

Step 9. Gradually stir in chicken broth until fully combine. Let broth simmer for 1 min until flour has dissipated. Add heavy cream and cook, stirring until the gravy is smooth and thick, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 10. Add shrimp and andouille back into skillet and toss well to coat. Cook for another 1-2 minutes. Add parsley. 

Step 11. Divide grits into bowls and top with the shrimp gravy.

Grave Birds Drink Pairing

Sweet-O

South Carolina is known for it’s love of sweet tea. So, naturally, a popular drink in SC is a gin and sweet tea Southern cocktail. 

Ingredients 

1.5 fl oz Vodka - preferred brand

3 oz of iced sweet tea

Ice

Instructions

Step 1. Combine vodka and sweet tea in a glass over ice.

Step 2. Garnish with a lemon slice and enjoy.

Grave Birds non-alcoholic Drink Pairing

Southern Sweet Tea

In 1995, Sweet Tea was officially designated the state hospitality beverage. It has since become a cultural icon and a symbol for, not just South Carolina, but many Southern states. It might not seem hard to make sweet tea, but just in case you have a South Carolinian coming to visit, here is a recipe to make sure it tastes just right. 

Ingredients

3 large tea bags

2 cups of sugar

1 gallon of water

¼ teaspoon of baking soda

Instructions

Step 1. Boil ½ gallon of the water on the stove in a pot. Once water comes to a rolling boil, pour into one gallon pitcher.

Step 2. Add 3 large tea bags and ¼ teaspoon of baking soda to the pitcher, make sure the bags are submerged.

Step 3. Let the tea bags steep for 15 minutes, then remove the tea bags - do not squish them before removing

Step 4. Add sugar and stir

Step 5. Add the other ½ gallon of cold water to the pitcher and stir again.

Step 6. Chill completely in the fridge for several hours before serving over ice.  

Your Guide to Southern Monsters

Whether it’s ghosts, vampires, or other paranormal creatures, these supernatural stories started somewhere. For those living in the American South, it isn’t unheard of to run into something strange in the night. This guide to Southern monsters should help you stay clear of the biggest threats, or at least help you identify anything creepy you might come across. 

Monsters of the South: Stories of Swamp Creatures, Aliens, and Other Legendary Beasts

by Jessica Freeburg - Natalie Fowler

Read 26 chilling stories, from two paranormal investigators, about reportedly true encounters with monsters in the South and Southeast.

A mysterious winged creature descends upon a community, leaving behind a horrific disaster and whispers of a deadly omen. A family's peaceful night becomes a nightmare when their home is attacked by otherworldly beings. In the dead of night, a man is visited by a monstrous half-dragon, half-bird beast. The South's history includes several unimaginable encounters with legendary creatures. This collection of "ghost stories" presents the creepiest, most surprising tales of monsters in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Authors Jessica Freeburg and Natalie Fowler are active paranormal investigators with a shared fascination for things that go bump in the night. The professional writers spent countless hours combing the region for the strangest and scariest run-ins with the unexplained.

Horror fans and history buffs will delight in these 26 terrifying tales. They're based on reportedly true accounts, proving that the Southern USA is the setting for some of the most unsettling monster tales ever told. The short stories are ideal for quick reading, and they are sure to captivate even the most reluctant of readers. Share them with friends around a campfire, or try them alone at home--if you dare.

When Book Club Meets the Paranormal

From one Southern gothic to another. It seems that no matter what part of the south you find yourself in, a strange, but charming man moving into the neighborhood isn’t a good thing. At the very least, you should keep an eye out for any strange happenings and keep an eye on your new neighbor.  

The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires

by Grady Hendrix

"This funny and fresh take on a classic tale manages to comment on gender roles, racial disparities, and white privilege all while creeping me all the way out. So good."--Zakiya Dalila Harris, author of The Other Black Girl

Steel Magnolias meets Dracula in this New York Times best-selling horror novel about a women's book club that must do battle with a mysterious newcomer to their small Southern town.

Bonus features: 

• Reading group guide for book clubs 
• Hand-drawn map of Mt. Pleasant 
• Annotated true-crime reading list by Grady Hendrix 
• And more!

Patricia Campbell's life has never felt smaller. Her husband is a workaholic, her teenage kids have their own lives, her senile mother-in-law needs constant care, and she's always a step behind on her endless to-do list. The only thing keeping her sane is her book club, a close-knit group of Charleston women united by their love of true crime. At these meetings they're as likely to talk about the Manson family as they are about their own families.

One evening after book club, Patricia is viciously attacked by an elderly neighbor, bringing the neighbor's handsome nephew, James Harris, into her life. James is well traveled and well read, and he makes Patricia feel things she hasn't felt in years. But when children on the other side of town go missing, their deaths written off by local police, Patricia has reason to believe James Harris is more of a Bundy than a Brad Pitt. The real problem? James is a monster of a different kind--and Patricia has already invited him in.

Little by little, James will insinuate himself into Patricia's life and try to take everything she took for granted--including the book club--but she won't surrender without a fight in this blood-soaked tale of neighborly kindness gone wrong.