Michigan Author, Michael Lindley Pens On Past Horton Creek, sequel to “super summer read”, The Seasons of the EmmaLee.

“It is nearly unheard of for a first time author’s book to sell this well in such a short period of time.”

                                                     Debra Lambers –Michigan bookstore owner

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan  January 20, 2008 – Michael Lindley’s new novel, On Past Horton Creek, follows up on his successful and still widely read debut novel, The Seasons of the EmmaLee, both stories of families and relationships challenged by class and racial barriers as well as past tragedies, set in the idyllic resort community of Charlevoix in northern Michigan in the 1940’s and ‘50’s as well as present day.

With The Seasons of the EmmaLee, Lindley established himself as a promising new voice in fiction with a story that drew strong reviews and wide readership.  EmmaLee was named a “super summer read” by Traverse magazine, a “book of the month” by a prominent West Michigan book retailer, River Bank Books and was a bestseller for the season at several bookstores across Michigan.  Lifestyle magazine Michigan Blue editor Lisa Jensen wrote, “Emmalee reads elegantly and is artfully crafted.”

Lindley’s new sequel, On Past Horton Creek, continues the saga of the McKendry’s, the Compton’s and George Hansen, now in the 1950’s, as well as the love affair of Alex Clark and Sally Thomason and the return of the magnificent cruising yacht, the EmmaLee, in present day.

On Past Horton Creek is the tale of two parallel stories, bridging time and a vast cultural divide.  In the early 1950’s, a scandalous assault late one night in the dunes along the beach sets off a series of events that pits lawyer George Hansen, defending a local Native American boy, against the elite summer residents of Charlevoix, Michigan.  At the same time, Jonathan McKendry, now married to physician Emily Compton McKendry, finds himself desperately struggling to save his wife and a young family from a wretched and murderous father.

In the modern day story, George Hansen looks down from his passing into the next world to see the events that develop in the search for his killer, as well as the challenges faced by the Clark family as Alex Clark tries to save his business empire and his marriage, and daughter Megan lets her infatuation for a young local boy alienate the summer families that she thought were her friends.  Connor Harris also returns to create new problems with plans to develop an unpopular and ecologically disastrous real estate development on the lake.

Praise for The Seasons of the EmmaLee

“… a super summer read.”

Traverse Magazine

“… our book of the month and top seller for the season.”

Debra Lambers, The Book Nook

“…EmmaLee reads elegantly and is artfully crafted.”

Lisa Jensen, Editor

Michigan Blue Magazine

Lindley traveled extensively in the past year for book signings and visiting library and private book groups that had selected The Seasons of the EmmaLee as their monthly read.  “I had a wonderful time meeting with people who had read EmmaLee, sharing their thoughts on the story and love for the northern Michigan area,” Lindley said. 

Bookstore owner Debra Lambers, when asked about the success of Lindley’s first book said, “Sales of The Seasons of the EmmaLee have been through the roof with close to 200 copies sold through last year’s summer season,” said Lambers.  “It is nearly unheard of for a first time author’s book to sell this well in such a short period of time.”

Michael Lindley’s writing career spans short stories and magazine features as well as the release of this second novel.  His short story, Back to the River, was published by the literary outdoor magazine Sporting Tales that has also featured the work of Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway.  Lindley lives with his family in Ada, Michigan and balances his time with occasional days on the trout waters of Michigan and the salt flats of Florida with a fly rod in hand.

     On Past Horton Creek                    The Seasons of the EmmaLee

ISBN 978-0-9794670-1-1                       ISBN 978-0-9794670-0-4

Trade Paperback                                   Trade Paperback

300 pages                                             278 pages

$16.99                                                  $16.99

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