Book excerpt: Twelve Strokes of Midnight is a collection of short stories, one story per clock strike, culminating upon the final stroke/story for the ultimate sacrifice of the witching hour. A young boy will discover the hidden powers of a simple clockwork toy and its horrifying truth; a young couple learn the horrible truth of their new home?s spare room; and a mother reveals what lengths she will take to love her daughter from beyond the grave. The author has written these stories in Australian language.