Alaskan writer Michael Horton.
Michael Horton's 18th book, "The Vasty Deep," is available now.
As a veteran mental health and addictions counselor in Alaska, you would think Alaskan writer Michael Horton would focus his writing on his work experiences all across the state.
Yet the prolific writer has veered far afield to the realms of a series inspired by Biblical characters, a Star Wars themed science fiction series and yes, one novel of Bush teens dealing with life challenges.
What comes across in his writings is his close connection to the many people he counseled and his understanding of their problems that fuels his books with deeply human truths.
Calling spirits
In his 18th book, "The Vasty Deep," Horton follows a kind spirit who looks over a young boy growing up in a very troubled home.
From a Shakespeare quote from "King Henry IV"-Glendower: "I can call spirits from the vasty deep". Hotspur: "Why, so can I, or so can any man. But will they come when you do call for them?"
In placing this work in a genre, he said, it would fit into the genre of "modern fantasy" where the character of Jinin is "supernatural" in her powers, but the setting is modern day, gritty small city life with homelessness, poverty and crimes on the street.
"In the midst of all that, it is still upbeat and hopeful. It is also a platonic love story- something that young people have said that they want to see more of-rather than hot, steamy romances."
A waiting audience
"I think the audience will be the same young adult/adult people who like the Harry Potter books - another modern fantasy with 'Muggle life challenges' and the fantasy world of solving challenges through upbeat magic-never so dark as to offend the reader," he said.
And like any important book, there are lessons to be learned.
"The moral of the story is that, despite the pressures and confusion of the modern world, there is a place for innocence where it can ultimately prevail even where it appears that all hope is lost," he said. "In the battle against darkness, there will be a cost, but the fight for good is worth enjoining."
"The Vasty Deep" is available as a book or on Kindle at Amazon.
Audiobook to be released
One more new development, reports Horton: "I believe that the English-Scottish voice actor Grant Campbell will be turning my children's bedtime book, 'Original Animals' into an audiobook for broader distribution. He sent me a demo of one of the stories just this morning. It was amazing, and he has the perfect voice for it."
The book, available from Amazon, is full of bedtime stories Horton said are designed to help kids get to sleep to pleasant and educational fun, and to leave the adults with intriguing messages to ponder upon after the story time is over. "Encapsulated within the tales of the 'Original Animals' is how to deal with loss, an information-packed summary of 'the universe,' a story of addiction, lots of love, tears and laughter, and something for everyone."
Resource for Alaskan authors
Horton, who lives outside of Anchorage, said he and his wife are hoping to set up a related book business.
"After hearing from bookstores that they only buy from wholesalers, we have started our own wholesaling business, Alaska Good Books," he said. "We just got the business license and a website www.AlaskanGoodBooks.com is still in construction.
"Our idea was to allow Alaskan authors to advertise and sell their cheaper 'authors' copies through the site. In that way, Alaskan writers can get a little closer to the same playing field as established writers."
Authors' copies can usually be purchased online through Amazon and other places for $6 to $8 then a box can be shipped to the author at roughly $25 for 50 books, he said.
"We charge roughly the same $6 to $8 for the books, then $5.56 shipping for the first book and $1 per book after that (the actual cost of Media or Book Rate at the USPS). We give bookstores and libraries the exact same deal."
To discuss this, send him a quick note at AlaskanGoodBooks@outlook.com and he'll get right back to you.
"The idea is not for us to get wealthy," he says. "Most writers would rather have their books read than sitting and collecting dust on the off-chance someone will pick it up."
