The Schoharie
by Diane M. Johnson
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Pub Date 05 Oct 2017 | Archive Date 22 Apr 2018
BookBaby, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles
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Description
Aaron Bonner, a volunteer firefighter of Native American descent, tries to convince the sheriff of the town of Fort Hunter that a vengeful Indian spirit is the reason for the increasing havoc that takes place after a massive Thruway bridge collapses from the flooding of the nearby Schoharie Creek. The sheriff, Ben Harrigan, has his own problems, one of which is Aaron who is dating his daughter while seeming to have a mental breakdown, just like his father did when he had tried to sabotage the construction of the same bridge thirty years ago... In April of 1987, the NYS 1-90 Thruway suffered a bridge collapse due to unprecedented flooding of The Schoharie Creek in rural Central New York. Several lives were lost. This is a fictional story that was inspired by those events but do not depict the actual people or actual events. I dedicate this book to the real heroes; police, firefighters and volunteers, and to the families of the victims of the 1987 collapse as well as to the people of Central New York who make it a unique place to live.
A Note From the Publisher
Also available as an ebook for $3.99.
Advance Praise
"A crisply written, creepy novel about unnatural disasters, THE SCHOHARIE offers up shocking twists and terrifying scenes that will satisfy any horror fan." -IndieReader Rating - 4.1
"As a Dedication at the beginning of this horror novel states, THE SCHOHARIE is based on true events - the 1987 collapse of a bridge on the I-90 Thruway in rural New York, as a result of unprecedented flooding of the Schoharie Creek. Author Diane M. Johnson has taken that event and transformed it into a haunting horror novel, populated with believable characters and an eerie atmosphere, complete with near-constant rain.
The reader must second-guess which visions and fears endured by the characters are old-timer suspicions or manifestations of mental illness, and which represent actual hauntings or sorcery. Throughout its pages, this story features intense violence and sickness experienced by both people and animals, including car crashes, drownings, gunshots, dismemberment and an aggressive strain of flu. The brutality is handled starkly and straightforwardly, and the disasters can be shocking and upsetting.
THE SCHOHARIE is crisply written, with a momentum that builds as the bridge collapse and flooding threaten the lives and sanity of the main characters. The main figure, Aaron, is particularly complex, yet sympathetic. The author describes his inner life with empathy as he confronts his past and his personal demons, while working out the puzzle of the horrors that have gripped his hometown. He is not perfect, but the reader naturally roots for him to succeed."
~Jennifer Dixonfor IndieReader
Marketing Plan
Diane is a native of Central New York now living in Southern California where she reads for various screenwriting competitions. This is her first novel, originally written as a script.
Diane is a native of Central New York now living in Southern California where she reads for various screenwriting competitions. This is her first novel, originally written as a script.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781543907674 |
| PRICE | $14.03 (USD) |
| PAGES | 254 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Robert F, Reviewer
After reading a few of the previous reviews on this book, I wasn't sure what I was getting into. comments about the editing style where it was difficult to follow who was talking, bad spelling, etc., made me cringe. As an editor, that's a big deal for me. But I have to say, unless this copy was re-edited, I didn't think the issues were any worse than any other commercially produced book I have read.
Now for the story. Wow! I absolutely loved it! The Schoharie follows the doomed history of a highway bridge built over the Schoharie Creek, and the interrelated consequences of ancient Iroquois Indian mysticism. After 30 years, the bridge collapses after torrential rain swells the normally meager creek into a raging torrent. Aaron Bonner has a dark history. His father worked on the original bridge construction but somehow lost his mind and sabotaged the bridge, did other unimaginably evil things (don't want to give away too much) and eventually killed himself. Now, after a near-death experience, Aaron can hear the dead calling for him. Is he going crazy like his father before him? Here begins the dark history of the Schoharie. Is he really crazy? Is there some other dark power at play?
I felt this story was very well written. The characters were very well developed an quite likeable. You feel for Aaron, as he struggles with the notion that he is crazy like his dad. You also empathise with the backstory of Joe, Aaron's father, as he struggles with the same fears. Diane Johnson manages to explore humanity's evil, as well as show the selfless power of humanity, in the way the community pitched in to help in the rescue efforts after the bridge collapses, and the elder members of the Indian community coming together to reveal and help resolve the dark spirit issues Aaron is battling against.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable and engaging read. I'll definitely be looking out for more of Johnson's work.
Reviewer 469691
I found this to be an original and well written story of a group of men in upstate New York who have been struggling with the aftereffects of a bridge built in their community thirty years earlier. There is a good deal of Iroquois mysticism along with a happy balance of romance and fisticuffs. The characters were realistic and I found myself hoping the story would go on longer, even though the primary problems were addressed. I think this would make a great movie or short series on Netflix. I strongly recommend to anyone looking for something just a tad different but really, really good.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a review copy. This is my honest opinion.
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