Appalachian Book of the Dead
by Dale Neal
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Pub Date Sep 09 2019 | Archive Date Sep 09 2019
Southern Fried Karma | SFK Press
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Description
Angel Garcia Jones left a trail of murders before disappearing into the deep woods of Yonah, North Carolina. Believed dead even though his body was never found, he still haunts the residents.
Cal and Joy McAlister are new arrivals from Chicago. A retired commodity trader, self-sober alcoholic, and heart attack survivor, Cal finds himself growing restless. His wife, Joy, a physical therapist turned potter, wants to reshape her life and marriage. The caretaker of a girl’s summer camp, Doyle Smathers, becomes their handyman, fetching Cal a batch of fake moonshine and building Joy a kiln. He’s also caring for a new guest, Ainsley Morse, the camp owner’s granddaughter, who’s detoxing herself with Buddhist meditation while living alone in a yurt.
Angel’s energy drives these four people together and apart in unexpected ways.
Advance Praise
“Neal is a masterful novelist: he makes it look so easy.” -- Lewis Buzbee, author of The Yellow Lighted Bookstore
"It is time for readers everywhere to acknowledge what we in Western North Carolina already know: Dale Neal is simply one of the most natural storytellers writing novels today. In his newest, The Appalachian Book of the Dead, he smoothly, vividly unfolds the dramas in the lives of characters who hope to reinvent themselves, to reckon with the ghosts of their former lives, to move, at last, through the in-between condition in order to know how to truly be themselves. At each turn in the tense and engaging plot, the reader shares in the characters’ surprising discoveries; in each dimension of their complex tragedies, lively comedy is given its due. Neal has woven genuine wisdom into the rich thematic elements here that effectively, unselfconsciously echo the instructions in The Tibetan Book of the Dead and the meditations of the Stoic, Marcus Aurelius. Readers who appreciate attentive and accurate evocations of the natural world and of rural life, will find themselves compelled to tell others about the memorable fictional community of Yonah, North Carolina." -- Kevin McIlvoy, At the Gate of All Wonder (novel, Tupelo Press, 2018), 57 Octaves Below Middle C (collection, Four Way Books, 2017).
Marketing Plan
2019 SIBA
Discovery Show
Online and social media networking
Full-scale blog review tour
Consumer and trade advertising
Targeted email marketing
Book trailer
2019 SIBA
Discovery Show
Online and social media networking
Full-scale blog review tour
Consumer and trade advertising
Targeted email marketing
Book trailer
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781970137897 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Literary R, Reviewer
After reviewing 700+ books over the last year, at times I’m inured to any but the most bracing covers, titles and plots. I must admit the author won me with all three, starting with that stunning cover.
I did some backstory research as well and found this additional description — “A Southern Buddhist Thriller” — and info on the publisher, Southern Fried Karma, which offers a refund on books readers can’t readily 4- or 5 star.
Now, I knew I’d discovered a literary feast as tasty as the pile of bacon, creamy grits, and sweet tea my husband and I dug into on our honeymoon breakfast in Boone, North Carolina. I’m a mountain gal at heart anyway. So we’re simpatico on matters of place even before I open to page one.
And what a story! Described as “a metaphysical thriller, a meditation on recovery and reincarnation, marriage and betrayal, death and rebirth, an exploration of how our fears give flesh to our hungry ghosts,” APPALACHIAN BOOK OF THE DEAD captivates with poetic writing, a gripping story line, compelling characters, atmosphere for days, and just plain great Southern literary goodness. 5/5
Pub Date 09 Sep 2019.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.
#AppalachianBookOfTheDead #NetGalley
Heather B, Reviewer
Appalachian Book of the Dead is a excellent thriller that has me from the first chapter. Great writing and well developed characters. I would love to read more from this author.
Pamela J, Reviewer
I read this at our cabin in the woods this weekend and it was the perfect read: spooky, atmospheric and well-written. All of the characters were well-drawn, although not all were at all likeable. And it had the chill of a good ghost story, without being horrifying and filled with gore. Neal did a great job of describing the beauty and eeriness of the Appalachian mountains.
Rachel D, Reviewer
Thanks to Netgalley for an Arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this story. I loved how you felt an unknowing dread the entire time. Not knowing how things were going to turn. This is a supernatural thriller that just blew me away. The ending was fantastic. I will definitely be reading more by Mr. Gale and recommending this book to everyone I know.
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