I was really excited when I first heard about this book. Souls Chapel is a local spot with generations of lore to be told around the campfire. An old church, a grave yard, stories of satanic rituals, orbs on cameras, a fire, and all kinds of bumps in the night have given this little spot in the woods in small town Kentucky it own unique local legend. So when a local writer, Steven Dowell published a paranormal fiction based the legend, I jumped at the chance to dive in and share a piece of Kentucky culture.
To top off this book having been written by a local writer, the book was also published by a local publishing company. Just so happens that Maple House Publishing, the publishers of this book, is also locally owned and operated. As a matter of fact, Maple Hill Publishing is owned by Steven Dowell himself.
Let me take a moment to say that I know the rap that Indie books and self-published books get. You hear that they aren't edited, they're poorly formatted, and in some cases written by someone with little to no talent. This is the moment I'd like to say that's not the case here. Unfortunately, I can't say that. I have honestly struggled with what to do with the book since I started page two. I was so looking forward to a good old fashion bone chilling suspense story. What I got was scary alright. Only what was terrifying was that this book could make it out in the world without a good edit. Even more terrifying is the fact that the author of this book let his own work come out of the publishing process seemingly untouched by the the mighty sword of an editor.
Sound intriguing? Other than the standard legends of the old place, this has nothing to do with the actually story you'll get. The story centers around the main character, Mr. Powell and his daughter who he has recently regained custody of. Throughout the book he refers to his daughter as "Baby". Yes, I understand it is meant as a term of endearment but it comes a cross as whiny and wishy washy. Yes, I said wishy washy. You never get the feeling of any strength from this character. It feels like one big "Woe is me" moment after the next. While the book is just roughly 250, I found it to be agonizing to shift through the pages. When he wasn't calling out to his "baby", he was saying a whole lot of nothing with a whole lot of words that are in desperate need of both cutting and condensing. While the ending wasn't necessarily predictable, by the time I got to it, I was rooting for the bad guys. The ending was meant to be some what of a cliff hanger but it appears both physically on the page and figuratively as if the story was left unfinished. It just hangs there. Taunting you.
This wasn't my first bad read. I'm sure it won't be the last either. What really disturbs me about this book is that the editing process was obviously ignored. Commas ran a muck, words are out of sequence, and blabbering sentences run on. Maple Hill Publishing, the other baby in Mr. Dowell's life, didn't even take the time or care to treat his own creation with respect or the attention a raw novel so desperately needs. I found myself asking would I have any confidence in dropping of a manuscript I spent many hours, days, nights, even months pouring myself into only to have Maple Hill ignore one of the most important processes in the book publishing process. It's unsettling to know that many indie book publishers and authors who choose self-publishing have to work doubly hard to live down reputations that books like this give to the market.
I found both the book, whose story line lacked personality to carry it with or without the editing process, and the services (or non-services as it may be) of Maple Hill Publishing lacked professionalism or even spirit. I sincerely hope that Mr. Dowell and his partners at Maple Hill Publishing will take a step back, reassess it's policies and procedures, and find a more professional approach to the world of literature they have jumped into feet first with.
Let me take a moment to say that I know the rap that Indie books and self-published books get. You hear that they aren't edited, they're poorly formatted, and in some cases written by someone with little to no talent. This is the moment I'd like to say that's not the case here. Unfortunately, I can't say that. I have honestly struggled with what to do with the book since I started page two. I was so looking forward to a good old fashion bone chilling suspense story. What I got was scary alright. Only what was terrifying was that this book could make it out in the world without a good edit. Even more terrifying is the fact that the author of this book let his own work come out of the publishing process seemingly untouched by the the mighty sword of an editor.
In the remote hills of Pulaski County, Kentucky is a place so evil, that many would be terrified to find themselves anywhere near its proximity. To this day there are strange occurences there. Reports of glowing eyes behind broken tombstones, voices warning of impending dangers, feelings of intense evil, visions of an innocent little girl dressed in white and even being attacked by dagger like fingers still occur there to this day. There are those who would deny the Legend that is said to have took place there well over 100 years ago is true. Still, there are those that claim they know the Legend is very real and they have risked their very souls to prove it. For those whose eyes have seen, whose ears have heard and whose hearts have felt the evil that lurks there have been thoroughly convinced of the Legend's authenticity, and they would tell you that belief may well be the reason they still exist today! By the time this book has finished with you, you will question everything you thought you knew about good and evil and you will be terrified to think about what terrible hidden secrets may lie within your own family history! Now, the time has come for you to learn of the Legend already known the world over..... IF YOU DARE!!!
Sound intriguing? Other than the standard legends of the old place, this has nothing to do with the actually story you'll get. The story centers around the main character, Mr. Powell and his daughter who he has recently regained custody of. Throughout the book he refers to his daughter as "Baby". Yes, I understand it is meant as a term of endearment but it comes a cross as whiny and wishy washy. Yes, I said wishy washy. You never get the feeling of any strength from this character. It feels like one big "Woe is me" moment after the next. While the book is just roughly 250, I found it to be agonizing to shift through the pages. When he wasn't calling out to his "baby", he was saying a whole lot of nothing with a whole lot of words that are in desperate need of both cutting and condensing. While the ending wasn't necessarily predictable, by the time I got to it, I was rooting for the bad guys. The ending was meant to be some what of a cliff hanger but it appears both physically on the page and figuratively as if the story was left unfinished. It just hangs there. Taunting you.
This wasn't my first bad read. I'm sure it won't be the last either. What really disturbs me about this book is that the editing process was obviously ignored. Commas ran a muck, words are out of sequence, and blabbering sentences run on. Maple Hill Publishing, the other baby in Mr. Dowell's life, didn't even take the time or care to treat his own creation with respect or the attention a raw novel so desperately needs. I found myself asking would I have any confidence in dropping of a manuscript I spent many hours, days, nights, even months pouring myself into only to have Maple Hill ignore one of the most important processes in the book publishing process. It's unsettling to know that many indie book publishers and authors who choose self-publishing have to work doubly hard to live down reputations that books like this give to the market.
I found both the book, whose story line lacked personality to carry it with or without the editing process, and the services (or non-services as it may be) of Maple Hill Publishing lacked professionalism or even spirit. I sincerely hope that Mr. Dowell and his partners at Maple Hill Publishing will take a step back, reassess it's policies and procedures, and find a more professional approach to the world of literature they have jumped into feet first with.
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