ARLYA

March 11, 2024

ARLYA

Jack Lowe-Carbell

GENRE: Thriller

Arlya, a small town in Southern Ontario, is rocked by a gruesome crime. Four friends must work together with Detective Dylan Grey to find a pattern, a bike, a clue, and a sister before it is repeated.

James and his three best friends, Owen, Tommy, and Mike, have just finished school for the summer. The plan is the same as every other year: they are going to build the biggest fort yet, deep in the Dhoon Woods. After stumbling across a tiny, seemingly unimportant wooden hut, a series of crimes take place and their plans change.

Arlya falls into itself. Doors are locked, curtains drawn, bikes are put away, strangers invade, and kids are off the street. In the first week of summer vacation, a dark and disturbing family history is uncovered; friends turn on each other; a storm rolls through town; and a monster is hiding just out of sight, smiling its toothy grin and crawling through the corn.

Enjoy an Excerpt:

One Friday night last summer, the four of them had left James’s house after his parents had gone to bed. They had biked around in the dark, briefly illuminated by the sparse streetlights looming over the side streets. Fog had drifted across the side roads; houses were barely visible through their covered lawns. Somehow, they wound their way to the bottom of Cemetery Hill.

“My grandpa is in there,” Tommy had said quietly.

They had looked out at the long blackness which rose menacingly above them. The trees at the top of the hill had been reaching toward the starry sky.

James had wanted to bike back. If he had left, the others would have surely followed suit. Mike had glanced at James waiting for his decision.

“My dad was supposed to be buried here,” Owen had said, his voice cracking, devoid of moisture.

The fog had continued to thicken around the four of them standing stagnant in the road, straddling their bikes.

About the Author:

Jack Lowe-Carbell is a 26-year-old writer living in Vancouver, BC. Arlya is his first novel, and it is based in his hometown, Ayr, ON. Thanks to his dad, who read him horror stories when he was far too young, Jack has always loved the genre. His next novel is a tale of horror based in Garibaldi Provincial Park.

Q&A With the Author:

What was your inspiration for writing this book?

I have always been a fan of the horror genre, and I mostly read horror when I fell in love with books. I knew I would want to write something with horror elements but before starting this book I had just read Mystery by Peter Straub. I was enthralled by his ability to piece together this puzzle he had made. So, I decided I wanted to try it. I visited my home town, Ayr, Ontario, and an idea hit me, from there it was just about how I would put it all together.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I would say writing the dialogue of the kids. It was very much a visit to my childhood and felt nostalgic in a manner I didn’t expect. I found myself tearing up, texting old friends, visiting old photos and posts on Facebook. Writing these characters and how they interacted was very special to me and something I will hold onto for the rest of my career.

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?

I am working on a horror story based in Vancouver and Garibaldi Provincial Park. It follows two people in a relationship, their struggle with grief and the presence of something sinister hiding in the woods. Something that they stumble across that may decide to follow them home.

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?

As of right now I am planning to enjoy the summer in Vancouver, it is my fourth summer here. Hiking with my partner, swimming in the ocean, and writing this next novel of mine. We plan on moving to Nelson next winter to ski, beyond that I hope to write and write and write, until that is the only thing I have to do. A long journey I know.

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?

Mostly my “fans" are my friends and family as of right now. So I would like this time to thank them. Each and everyone of them who read my novel, or purchased it. I have received so many kind messages and it has meant the world to me. I know it is hard to say thanks and get my gratitude across over text or messaging. I have found it very nerve-wracking to have people I care about read my stuff, so yeah, thank you everyone, you have continued to inspire me, and allow this strange brain of mine a little relief in carrying forward with this dream.

Thank you so much.