On February 6, 2021, Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler launched his new book Ghost Lake. Since then, this collection of interconnected horror, urban fantasy and thriller stories has become one of Kegedonce Press’s most acclaimed titles.
Its first accolade was as a finalist for the Eric Hoffer Da Vinci Eye Award in Book Design. The Eric Hoffer Awards also gave it an Honourable Mention in its commercial fiction category.
Then came the Indigenous Voices Awards in June, and we were absolutely thrilled when Ghost Lake won the IVA for Published Fiction in English!
In the summer, Ghost Lake was also shortlisted for the First Nations Communities Read competition.
It has also been a busy year for Nathan. From appearances at the FOLD Festival, the Black Museum, and the Naked Heart Festival (among others) to articles and interviews for Open Book, All Lit Up, and Rrampt, both Nathan and Ghost Lake have received a lot of attention! Nathan has also been teaching Writing Horror at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.
What an exciting year it has been!
For anyone just now encountering Ghost Lake, allow us to reprint here, for your reading pleasure, the comments from the jurors of the Erik Hoffer and Indigenous Voices Awards!
US Review of Books: judges’ remarks for the Eric Hoffer Award.
“This is a one way trip to true horror with a mystery needing to be solved. Following different characters and stories uncovers mystery, passion, vengeance, and a take on mother nature itself. There are thirteen stories in total, each with relatable characters with diverse goals and challenges. Yet, in Ojibwe, the land remembers it all. Adler has skills in storytelling that change the game, which tips the scale on how horror feels with page-gripping suspense and a good measure of problem solving until the very end.”
IVA Juror’s Comments:
“We love these stories! Interconnected horror stories based on traditional Anishinaabeg stories all set on an eerie reserve aptly named Ghost Lake? Yes please. Every story surprises. An absolute page-turner, deeply engaging horror stories that leave you breathless. The sheer breadth and range of what Adler has accomplished here is impressive.”
Our congratulations to Nathan Niigan Noodin Adler
on this fantastic collection of short stories!
Ghost Lake is the companion volume to Wrist, the Indigenous horror novel that Nathan published with Kegedonce Press in 2016. The two books share some of the same settings and characters.