Asylum Lake

So, I'll admit, I haven't been one to read local authors or even buy from local independent book stores. I take the easy way, click my mouse, scroll, click, and I've bought it from Amazon! A guilty thought is easily brushed aside. Why get your panties in a bunch? It's one book.

Then Borders, a national, yes national, book store chain went out of business. I have a friend who lost her job. Hmmmm..did I play a part in that? Well, not directly, right? ..Right? I can't quite convince myself. How far does the domino effect go? There's no real way to trace it.

I could go on about supporting local business. But I should get back on track.

Through my writer's group, I came across a former member's (R.A. Evans) book, Asylum Lake . I recognized that name, and was instantly intrigued. I used to go jogging at that lake when I lived nearby! I zapped an email and he confirmed that, yes, it was inspired by THE Asylum Lake, and the nearby state hospital. I was giddy!

I bought a copy from a local bookstore (Schuler's) which happened to offer $1 shipping if I bought online. I was pumped! None of this, your-total-reaches-$24.75-and-if-you-add-another-item-you-get-free-amazon-shipping!-- sometimes I really wonder how much money I've lost that way. Don't get me wrong. I love Amazon. It's one of those how-did-people-survive-without-cellphones type of things. But this was eye opening. Maybe Schuler's can compete, and has a fighting chance!

After two book hang overs (AKA staying up too late the night before and needing lots of coffee at work), I was finished. 200 or so pages in 2 days. I was mesmerized, and shocked. I don't read horror or watch horror movies. I tend towards historical fiction/romance/drama/comedy. Now maybe I was biased and wanted to like another beginner writer's (first?) published work. Maybe I was seduced by all of the local references and inside (Michigan) jokes, such as the losing Lions history. Maybe it helped that it had mystery... But it also takes a lot to grab me, especially when it's not a genre I'm not typically drawn to, and I think that has merit.

It was refreshing! Stepping out of my comfort zone in more ways than one.

I'm including the Schuler's link. I'm not including the Amazon link (although you could easily look it up) because that would just seem wrong after what I just said.

http://www.schulerbooks.com/product/asylum-lake

And the author's website.

http://www.asylumlake.com/index2.html