Product Description

An American Haunting, Scott A. Johnson’s delightfully frightening debut novel, rips away the boundaries between real-life and fiction in its truth-based, spine-tingling exploration of evil.

Making one last attempt to build a financially stable life for his family, Gabriel Rosewood borrows money from his parents to buy a quaint, fixer-upper in the historic district of San Marcos — never imagining the beautiful old building harbors a deadly evil.

At once touching and terrifying, the tale of the house and its occupants remains profoundly moving as an examination of one family’s struggle to connect while bursting the seams of the horror genre with its authentic characterization, surreal descriptions and complex plot progression.

The first few pages trigger an explosion of terror that continues to exude energy for the length of the book, delving into the supernatural forces that have ruled the house since its construction and the town’s dogged determination to hide the truth.

The plot centers on the self-doubting Gabriel and his dangerous attempt to protect his loved ones and prove his worth as a father and husband. These motivations lead Gabe away from his skepticism and into the thick of evil.

The endearing characters range from Lizzy, Gabriel’s lonely and left-out ten-year-old daughter, to Trish, his warm, loving wife, and include such oddballs as the cranky and reluctant guardian of the San Marcos Historical Society, a professor studying paranormal psychology, and a gifted self-sacrificing medium.

In the tradition of Stephen King’s The Shining, An American Haunting is a nail-biting and insightful Texas horror story sure to leave horror fans deeply affected by its curious message of fear and hope.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1002088 in Books
• Published on: 2004-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 300 pages

About the Author
Scott A. Johnson was born and raised in the swampland coastal town of Lake Jackson, Texas, which is rife with folklore and ghost stories that greatly influenced him as a child. While most children were content to watch cartoons on Saturday mornings, Scott watched Chiller Theater with his brother, reveling in the performances of Vincent Price, Bela Lugosi and Borris Karloff.

In junior high school, he discovered a deep love for the written word when he was introduced to Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. He excelled in his English classes all through high school, though he did not begin writing fiction until he reached college.

Scott attended Texas State University-San Marcos — then Southwest Texas State University — and received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication-Advertising. He decided he loved the school and took a full-time position, working as a Media Technician for the Department of English. It was at this time that he was exposed to many great authors, both faculty and visiting.

Scott’s short stories have been published in several magazines, including The Corpse Magazine, Alien Skin Magazine and All Hallows. He also writes a column, "Cold Spots," for the Horror Channel Web site.

Scott lives in San Marcos with his wife, Tabatha, and his two daughters, Anna and Zoe. He continues to work in the Department of English at Texas State University-San Marcos.