A New Chapter, and a Happy Coincidence

Tagging along with my wife on a less-than-24-hour, overnight, business trip this week to historic Lewisburg, in eastern West Virginia, proved both fun and fruitful. Lewisburg has long been known for its artistic renaissance. Downtown Washington Street, perpendicular to the main traffic flow, is the hub of incredible eateries, baked treats, coffee, breweries, art, and music. The famous General Lewis Inn hovers just above. Walking along the sidewalk gives you the vibe you feel when you’re in say, Asheville, North Carolina, or on Olde Main Street in our own Saint Albans, WV.

I waited outside A New Chapter Bookstore, its return clock and store hours both declaring an 11 a.m. opening. I was armed with my three novels for potential consignment, with additional copies in the truck. I had a pleasant conversation with a local lady, a transplant from North Carolina, as we passed the time enjoying the March sunshine. I assumed a minor calamity of sorts could be the delay. Sure enough when the young co-owner, Shaye, arrived a few minutes later, her beautiful 4-year-old Golden Retriever, Harper, in tow after a “rabbit chase” on her outlying farmland, the mystery was solved. The proclaimed “Employee of the Month” needed a break after her hunt. The coincidence that Harper and my third novel’s heroine share the same name is a positive omen to me.

I’m happy to say that Diagram of Death: A Detective Harper Stowe Mystery; The Lost Lantern; and The Long Shadow of Hope have a new home. The trio is displayed and for sale at A New Chapter Bookstore, 922 Washington St., Lewisburg, WV. Finding readership is a chip-away proposition for Indy writers, but each time I receive positive feedback from an entertained reader it gives me motivation, as I now plug away at the daunting task of a fourth offering.

If you’re looking for a great beach read, The Lost Lantern and Diagram of Death take place in Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head, respectively, and are available at:

Amazon.com: Andrew Spradling: books, biography, latest update

Thanks for reading! A.S.