That’s the working title for my third full-length novel. With The Telling scheduled for release in May 2012, I’ve been hard at work on another project. It’s a little different direction than some of my other stuff, a straight-up Urban Fantasy full of pulp, romance, ghouls, and metaphysical wrangling.
ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY: A paranormal investigator must free his dead girlfriend from the clutches of a brilliant occultist and prevent the completion of a massive ghost box, a conductor to the spirit world that will merge the here and the hereafter.
Here’s a synop…
THE GHOST BOX
Still reeling from the passing of his girlfriend ELLIE WELLS, paranormal reporter and bona fide skeptic REAGAN MOON is employed by a mysterious stranger to investigate the events surrounding Ellie’s death. When a blind medium seemingly contacts Ellie’s spirit, Reagan is warned about a “supernatural
cataclysm” about to be released upon the city. But when Reagan returns to find the medium murdered, he is entrapped in an unstoppable cycle of events. Apparently, throughout the city, psychics are turning up dead.
And Reagan Moon is the prime suspect.
As Reagan evades the police, his investigation leads him to rogue researcher and certified eccentric MAX McCANDLISH and his daughter REGALIA. The ex-Jesuit believes that he can slow the spread of evil on earth by housing occult arcana, cataloging it in a lead-lined underground warehouse he calls the Asylum. His acquisition of the world’s most renowned occult antiquities has left him scarred, wizened, and unpredictable. Yet Max eventually reveals to Reagan his most prized discovery—Rival’s Curtain, a crystalline visor that allows one to see into the spirit world.
When Reagan’s eyes are opened to the invisible world around him, not only is his skepticism dashed, his mission is made clear. For a vast confluence of disembodied spirits are being summoned downtown against their will, and one of them is Ellie. Reagan, Max, and Regalia trace this phenomenon to Spiraplex, a high-tech, futuristic pleasure center built by billionaire tycoon SOREN VOLDEN. Apparently, the magnate has more than money on his mind. Using technology and media, Volden is seeking to “transition” society to the dark side, to bridge the living and the dead. Spiraplex is actually a massive Ghost Box, a conductor to the afterlife. However, Max unknowingly possesses the one object to complete Volden’s masterpiece. And Soren Volden will go to any length to acquire it.
Not only must Reagan stop Soren Volden to free his girlfriend and the imprisoned spirits, he is forced to begin the most dangerous investigation of his life. Led by Max, Ellie and a cast of inter-dimensional characters, Reagan must infiltrate Volden’s headquarters and disarm The Ghost Box before it can be christened.
Until they learn that Soren Volden has contacted something far more sinister than dead people.
* * *
Think of it as a cross between Ghost and Ghost Busters, numinous noir, ghouls and gumshoes. As an added bonus, it’s my first attempt at first-person! Sure, there’s more to it than this. And the presentation will require some polishing. So, what do you think?
Nice!
and the news clipping means what?
Actually, the news clip is a story from a local paper that prompted the initial idea for The Ghost Box.
It’s not what I think… more of what I know- I know I won’t be able to wait for it! Definitely sounds like something I’d love to check out.
An urban fantasy written by a guy? Sold! 😛
Jim Butcher, Dresden Files. ‘Nuff said…
And, Mike…SOLD.
Great hook sentence! Sounds like something I’d like to read!
Sounds like a winner. Keep us posted on the progress.
This reminds me of an issue that I’ve always pondered about, but have never seen addressed openly in any forum: For some reason, I tend to find *all* synopses and “elevator pitches” flat and uninspiring, at best. Even for books I love.
If I read your book, Mike, I’d probably enjoy it. (Because I trust your professional skills, after reading The Resurrection). But I’ve gradually come to the conclusion that the true essence of a good, well-textured story cannot be captured in a sentence or a few paragraphs. Not in any way that speaks meaningfully to me.
To pull examples from the right margin of this webpage, if I judged solely by brief summary descriptions of Odd Thomas, Godric, or Watership Down, I probably wouldn’t have ever been intrigued enough to pick them up and read them. But all three of those books affected me deeply, in various ways, and belong on my list of all-time favorites.
Maybe this is just my own quirk on display. But I can’t help wondering if this is one (of many) explanations for why great books can be passed over by 35 publishers before being picked up and turned into raving bestsellers. If I was an overworked editor, judging only on the basis on “premise” and a brief synopsis, I probably would have rejected “Confederacy of Dunces,” too…
It’s a very reasonable point, Alan. I’m just not sure I agree entirely with it. A good pitch needs to give a feel for the story, which must start with generics and generalities. Is this a romance, an adventure, a futuristic thriller, etc.? The next step would be cursory plot elements: Teenage whiz unintentionally opens doorway into parallel world and frees his evil self; Separated at birth, Maddie and Margaret overcome immense odds to reunite before they are executed for the same crime; Paranormal reporter seeks to free dead girlfriend from mad occultist. But you’re right, no amount of pitches and synopses and tantalizing summations can perfectly encapsulate a story. Nor should it. My job is to try to get people reading. After that, it’s content, execution, and taste. Great point, Alan, I might expand on this in a future post.
Thanks, Mike. Again, it may be just me…but I can honestly say that I’ve never been “tantalized” by a pitch, synopses or summation. Ever. They just don’t do it for me. They are more likely to drive me away than to attract. I don’t rely on them as a reader, because I don’t want to miss a fantastic reading experience because of a snap decision based on very limited information.
Anyway, I had intended to say in my first comment: A Merry Christmas & blessings to you & all your readership!
The book sounds really neat!
And, hey! My latest WiP is 1st Person as well! Must be something in the water 🙂
Love the plot!
My interest is definitely piqued. ^_^
“The ex-Jesuit believes that he can slow the spread of evil on earth by housing occult arcana, cataloging it in a lead-lined underground warehouse he calls the Asylum.”
Reminds of the concept behind the Sy-Fy channel show “Warehouse 13.” Though I wouldn’t be surprised that some Christian/Christian group somewhere actually does this.
Ghost Box sounds great, Mike
Sounds like its got a 13 Ghosts scenario merged with Dresden files. I’m assuming its gonna be christian Spec-Fic- so it’ll be interesting in how you’ll unravel this premise.
Have you read any work by Neil Gaiman or Alan Moore. They’re primarily known for their contributions to the comics genre. I think you have an approach to the genre that falls in lines with them. This is a high compliment by the way.
I think that everything composed was very reasonable.
However, consider this, suppose you composed a catchier title?
I am not suggesting your content is not solid., but suppose you added a post
title that makes people want more? I mean Sneak Peek: ?The Ghost Box? is a little boring.
You ought to look at Yahoo’s home page and watch how they
create post titles to grab people interested. You might try adding
a video or a pic or two to get people excited about what you’ve got to say.
Just my opinion, it would bring your posts a little bit more interesting.