The Tales of Eribacoa Island
Author
Altagracia Jimenez, Kayla M
Advisor
Collins, LorettaType
ThesisDegree Level
M.A.Date
2023-01-04Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The Tales of Eribacoa Island is a collection of children’s short horror fiction about a group of kids and their spooky encounters within a mystical island. It includes elements of various genres, such as speculative fiction, mystery, the supernatural, and horror. This wide-ranging catalog of stories allows my work to develop without being restrained to a single genre. My work is influenced by a series of authors who were instrumental to my world-building of Eribacoa island. Author R. L. Stine served as a guide for the horror genre aimed at children. My study of his action scenes, supernatural elements, and humor was instrumental in the creation of my characters. Reading Anica Mrose Rissi assisted me with the structure of the collection and provided me with insight into the short story format. Examining the works of Breanne Mc Ivor, Carlos Hernandez, and Xavier Navarro Aquino was crucial for the integration of Caribbean elements and the development of the setting of my island setting. By observing their techniques and those by additional authors, I was able to create a modern twist on Caribbean folkloric characters. The following themes are explored within my collection: how secrets affect a household; the lengths the characters will take to save their loved ones; people’s connection with the spiritual world; nature as a powerful but healing source, and the hardships of growing up.