Cloverlick Holler

The ground remembers... the dirt is alive, too. In the deep, sun-drenched valley of Cloverlick, Kentucky, summer days belong entirely to the kids running wild by the creek. From the freezing mountain swimming holes to the straight gravel paths lined with wild touch-me-nots, the holler feels like a hidden fortress shielded by the ancient canopy of Black Mountain.

But when the sun dips behind the ridge, the friendly green woods turn into a thick wall of ink, and the deep lore of the mountains comes alive.

Tucked safely under heavy quilts in a back bedroom, the cousins listen as Mamaw Anna Ruth passes down the true history of the ridge—tales of wild black bears, haunted family homesteads, and a terrifying, woman-like screaming echoing high up in the yellow poplars. The wilderness feels closer than ever, but nothing can prepare the children for when the scratching sounds move directly onto their own window screen.

Crafting a beautiful bridge between sweet family heritage and spine-chilling Appalachian folklore, A Screaming in the Poplars is an exclusive prequel companion short story to Leisha McKnight’s acclaimed Clover Lick Holler series. Discover the childhood memories and haunting local legends where the magic first began.