Murder, Mayhem and Supernatural Chills: Family-Time Activity for Seattle Authors

Seattle mother and son writing team releases their debut novel of supernatural suspense, "Pickering's Lane". Available June, 2002 in bookstores nationwide.

Take a zany red-headed grandmother who taunts Secret Service agents at Area 51 for a chuckle, throw in a creepy-cute farmhouse at the end of a lonely stretch of country road, mix well and serve to a mother and son with a shared passion for the written word and you might come up with something like "Pickering's Lane", a captivating new supernatural thriller published nationally in May, 2002 by IUniverse.

"Pickering's Lane" is the end result of a unique collaboration between mother and son writing team Cindy Aitchison and Jeremy Pack. The story, inspired by an urban-legend from the small-town where they grew up, follows the exploits of a quirky but gifted psychic named DianaMarie as she pits herself against an ancient evil to save the life of a blind, seven-year old boy. It combines elements of Native American mythology with modern metaphysics to create a twisting yarn of otherworldly suspense in which richly imagined characters develop a greater understanding of the deeper mysteries that are at work in their lives.
"Believe it or not," says Pack, "'Pickering's Lane' was literally sparked by a rusting street-sign at the end of a dirt road in the middle of nowhere." A visit to their hometown inspired the two to join forces and resulted in a sporadic seven-year odyssey to create the convoluted tale of a woman's battle against a ruthless and invisible nemesis. Says Aitchison,"We're both perfectionists so the book went through several rewrites. I still have reams of paper boxed up in my closet. We'd have a hell of a bonfire if I could bring myself to part with them."

While the theme of "Pickering's Lane" is decidedly dark, it certainly has its lighter moments. The duo's madcap heroine, DianaMarie is a saucy psychic who was inspired by the family matriarch. "My grandmother is absolutely priceless," says Pack. "She is, without a doubt, the inspiration for DianaMarie. You haven't lived until you've watched her in action with her menagerie of charms and amulets at a Bingo parlor."

IUniverse, Inc., nationally published "Pickering's Lane" in trade paperback format in May 2002 but Pack and Aitchison are adamant that the journey is just beginning. "Pickering's Lane was really a springboard to a much larger story," Aitchison says. "It was DianaMarie's chance to get her feet wet and she has a long way to go as a character, she's got a lot to learn. She'll be back in prime form in 2003."

"Pickering's Lane" can be purchased online at major retailers including Barnes&Noble (www.bn.com), Amazon (www.amazon.com) and Booksamillion (www.booksamillion.com) or directly from the publisher, IUniverse (www.iuniverse.com).

For additional information or a sample copy, contact:

Jeremy Pack or Cindy Aitchison
TheWoodsAreWaiting.com
4205 Auburn Way South, Ste. 100
Auburn, WA 98092
Cell: (253) 569-7330
Telephone: (253) 804-8039
Media@thewoodsarewaiting.com
www.thewoodsarewaiting.com

"Pickering's Lane" by Jeremy J. Pack and Cynthia G. Aitchison
Category: Suspense
ISBN: 0-595-22982-4
Publication Date: May 2002
Format: 6x9 Quality Trade Paperback

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