After the sudden death of her mother, Alyssa Ward returns to the rural home she fled years ago. The property is quiet, untouched, and eerily preserved, except for the massive oak tree towering behind the house. Once a place of childhood comfort, the tree now radiates a strange, oppressive presence. At night, Alyssa hears whispers drifting from its roots, and shadows gather beneath its branches long after the sun has set. As she sorts through her mother’s belongings, Alyssa uncovers journals detailing a family curse tied to the oak. Generations of Wards have been haunted by a spirit bound to the tree a spirit that chooses one family member to “keep” beneath its roots. Soon Alyssa begins experiencing visions of a young girl calling her name, begging to be freed. The more Alyssa investigates, the more the boundary between the living and the dead unravels. When the spirit beneath the oak reveals its true identity, someone Alyssa once knew and unknowingly abandoned, she must confront buried memories and a supernatural force determined to claim her as its next offering. To break the curse, Alyssa must face the darkness beneath the oak… before it drags her down into the earth forever.
About the Author and Screenwriter
Vanessa M. Chattman was born on September 5th, 1970, in Newark, NJ. Her family moved to East Orange, NJ a few years later. She graduated from Clifford J. Scott High School in 1989. She joined the United States Army in 1990 served on Active Duty for four years and ten months. She deployed to Desert Storm in 1990, and she received an Honorable Discharge from the UNITED STATES ACTIVE ARMY in 1995. and attended Vincennes University In 1993, then years later received her associate's degree in applied science in 2003. In November 1997, she was accepted into the International Poetry Hall of Fame. Her membership with The Writer’s Digest Book Club was active in1997. Her poems have been published in three different anthologies. The poem “My House” has been published in “The Poetic Voices of America Anthology.” The second poem titled “The Celebration” has been published in the “Beginnings” anthology. The poem titled “People” has been published by The National Library of Poetry and has received The Editor’s Choice Award. The Play titled, “Street Gigs”, and the Screenplay titled, “ZEROX CODES” were written in 2008. She is a former UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVISTS and completed her Army Reserves Duty for 10 years from 2008 to 2018. and has an associate’s degree. She received a certificate from The Writers Guild of America, West Inc. for The Black Sea of Roses Screenplay in 2020. Her membership with Film Freeway is still active but during Her Film Freeway membership from 2020 to 2024 included receiving 12 best horror screenplay awards, 5 screenplay award trophies and a best horror screenplay award from Luminary Independent Film Fiesta in 2024. Her First Horror Novel “The Black Sea of Roses: (Book 1) was published on October 17th, 2019, by Amnet Systems, A Book Publishing Company owned by Anazon.com. Her second Novel “The Black Sea of Roses: A Novel (The Antique shop, Book 2) was published on April 30th, 2021, by The Book Baby Publishing Company. She has authored 12 individual poetry books called "THE POETRY SERIES" beginning with the first poetry book titled, "THE RIVER VINE" on July 26th, 2013, and finally she published the last single poetry book titled, "THE BLACK SEA OF ROSES" book on August 2nd, 2016. Years later all 12 poetry books were published as one poetry book titled “The Poetry Series” on July 4th, 2020, by The Dorrance Publishing Company. On Mar 13, 2020, The Black Sea Of Roses (Book 1) by Vanessa M Chattman Audiobook. Narrated by Adriel Brandt. Produced by E-Audio Productions. Trailer music e-Audio productions. Trailer Voice Over Ken Marsiglia is available on YouTube. Her Fantasy Novel, "SPELLMARKED" was published on August 25th, 2025, by Barnes & Noble Press, other formats are also available on Amazon, Google Play Books, Apple Books, Barnes and Noble, and the audiobook formats for The Black Sea of Roses horror novels and the fantasy novel, "SPELLMARKED" are also available om Spotify, and Audible.
BENEATH THE OAK SUPERNATURAL HORROR NOVEL written by Vanessa M. Chattman was published on Amazon on February 17th, 2026
BENEATH THE OAK SUPERNATURAL HORROR NOVEL written by Vanessa M. Chattman was published on Barnes & Noble Press on February 17th, 2026
THE SLEEPWALKING WHISPERS HORROR NOVEL by Vanessa M. Chattman
was Published by Barnes & Noble Press on November 17th, 2025
The Sleepwalking Whispers Horror Novel by Vanessa M. Chattman was published on November 18th, 2025, on Amazon
The Issue Wire Press Release Titled, “Author Vanessa M. Chattman Unleashes New Supernatural Horror Novel "The Sleepwalking Whispers” Now Available on Amazon was published on December 23rd, 2025
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1FWRpbSAlhLN3cUjlJrN8H?si=76d7beb98f2a48ed
Amazon.com: The Sleepwalking Whispers: A Novel: 9798275073928: Chattman, Vanessa M.: Books
The Sleepwalking Whispers: A Novel by Vanessa M. Chattman | eBook | Barnes & Noble®
Amazon.com: BENEATH THE OAK: A NOVEL: 9798248707652: Chattman, Vanessa M.: Books
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3QpJkquoSmsxj5c3g46wBr?si=13f5cd0b4ee547ad
BENEATH THE OAK: A NOVEL by Vanessa M. Chattman | eBook | Barnes & Noble®