This story began with the idea of boredom. Karl's boredom. Day after day, just guarding the Graf's castle. Who was Karl, anyway? Why was he bored? The story grew. It may seem an odd way to describe a story, but boredom can be fertile soil for the imagination, and sometimes the best ideas grow from that soil. This Karl realizes; as you'll discover if you read on. The book concludes with an additional short story, describing Christmas in Gruseltal. While an author endeavours to paint pictures with words, it should also be acknowledged that there are people out there who can paint pictures with, well, paint. One such person is Vita Vesligaj, and I am indebted to (and in awe of) her talents when applied to the characters in this novel. I have spent many happy hours exploring the environs of Gruseltal, meeting its inventive inhabitants, and discovering its history. Now it's your turn ...