The Names That Were Buried

Some names are forgotten. Others are buried on purpose.Marcus Jefferson thought uncovering the hidden past of Freedman's Grove was the end of the work. He was wrong.Across the South, entire families have vanished from history-no records, no graves, no trace of who they were. Only silence.Marcus is a memory worker, gifted with the ability to uncover what the land refuses to forget. Through his drawings and his hands, forgotten places begin to speak. But this time, the land is not revealing places.It is revealing people.Fragments of names begin to surface-half-heard, incomplete, broken across towns, churches, and abandoned cemeteries. With the help of archivist Naomi Brooks and genealogist Dr. Lila Carter, Marcus uncovers a chilling truth: identities were not lost by accident. They were deliberately erased.Scattered.Buried.Protected by a system designed to ensure that the past could never be fully reclaimed.As Marcus follows the fragments deeper into the hidden layers of history, he encounters forces determined to keep those names buried-including Daniel Bishop, a man tied to the very structure that erased them.But the land remembers.And memory has a way of rising.In this haunting and atmospheric continuation of the Memory Worker Series, The Names That Were Buried explores ancestral memory, generational trauma, and the quiet resilience of those who refuse to be forgotten.Perfect for readers of African American cozy horror, Southern Gothic fiction, and stories rooted in history, memory, and spiritual inheritance, this novel delivers a powerful, emotional journey in which the past is never truly gone-it is waiting to be remembered. Albert Scales, PhD, DBA, is an African American author of cozy horror, Black Southern Gothic fiction, and culturally rooted storytelling that explores memory, ancestry, and the unseen. His work blends supernatural elements with African American history, family legacy, and community life, creating atmospheric stories where the past is never truly gone.Raised in Essex County, New Jersey, with family roots in the Carolinas, Albert draws on generational memory, cultural identity, and lived experience to craft stories that center place, spirit, and emotional truth. His writing is known for its slow-burning tension, haunting settings, and deeply human characters.He is the author of the Haunts of Willow's Crossing series and the Ashwater Trilogy, both of which feature cozy horror and paranormal fiction from an African American perspective. These stories focus on ancestral memory, haunted homes, spiritual inheritance, and the ways history lingers in everyday life.Albert is also the creator of the Brave on the Inside children's book series, which supports emotional growth, self-confidence, and social-emotional learning (SEL) through relatable storytelling centered on a young Black girl's journey to find her voice.His books are ideal for readers who enjoy cozy horror, Black horror, Southern Gothic fiction, paranormal mystery, and character-driven stories rooted in culture, healing, and generational truth.