Under the Tracks

The Douglas Town Chronicles #1

by Ginger G. Howard

A ghost story, inspired by true events. On her tenth birthday, Gwen sees what she believes is a lost boy in the forest below an old Victorian house - a child desperate for help. When the search comes up empty, and no child was ever reported missing, her parents and the authorities think it is just her imagination. Four years later, in the summer of 1982, she embarks upon a quest to find the answer to her only did she see a ghost? Gwen convinces five of her friends to join her for an adventurous day hiking up the forested hillside to explore the abandoned house. One day to try to solve the mystery, and prove to everyone that she'd told the truth. The day of youthful abandon tests the strength of their resolve, when what they encounter, within the crumbling walls, is more than they could have imagined. Their shocking discovery changes their perceptions of reality, the course of their relationships, and darkens the history of their sleepy town of Douglas forever.

224 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2022

About the author

I started submitting poetry to national contests while in high school, with several honorable mentions and inclusions in anthologies published for libraries. During this time, I started writing short stories, and completed my first novel “Beyond the Horizon”. I attended San Diego State University with a major in Comparative Literature - my hope to make a career out of writing. A talent for singing and my penchant for poetry segued into a musical collaboration wherein I met my husband. We later formed a band called Saratoga Park and recorded a couple of CD's. During this time, I submitted that first novel to a YA Scholastic Book contest, with no glory so I set it aside and didn’t pursue it further. For fun, after we had our first son, I wrote a children's novel, that my graphic artist husband illustrated, entitled "French Fries in the Fountain”. Fast forward through jobs that paid the bills and raising two boys, to this last decade where I found myself knee deep in genealogical research. I pursued writing again by way of a blog called Ancestral Tides, where I published my findings through historical narratives. This passionate endeavor led me to the discovery of a family trauma that really touched me. In regards to sharing this story somehow, the Covid-19 quarantine had me asking myself, “If not NOW, when?” That, combined with some fascinating local historical finds, spurred me on to write the ghost story, "Under the Tracks" - the first novel in The Douglas Town Chronicles. Since then I’ve published two more in the series. While I hammer away on book four, my co-worker Mae, a 5 yr. old Yorkie mix, is in charge of promotion and advertising. She does her best to keep up with social media, but because she is willing to work for squeaky toys, she is also easily distracted.

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a great fun read and reminiscent of a simpler and younger time. The young characters are typically silly, emotional, lovestruck and prone to making questionable decisions. Just a really good, enjoyable read.

My thanks to the author, Ginger W. Howard, and the publisher, Gemini Pacific Publishing, for my electronic copy of this novel. I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book of three in this series. I picked this up because i wanted something lighter after reading more intense horror. This is a quick, cozy haunting/mystery story involving teens in the 80s (all things I love).

If you like IT, Stranger Things, or Darcy Coates (for cozy haunting stories) then this series might be for you.

[Keegan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this in a local Little Free Library. Cute, easy to read ghost story by a new author! Perfect for the spooky season. Hope to grab the sequel to find out how it ends!

[April Tolliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read

I won this ebook in a Goodreads drawing. I liked it overall but i wished that there had been more resolution to the story line. It felt very abrupt at the end