Novella Deal: Asylum by Sarah Hans

Our fourth novella deal is with Sarah Hans for her story Asylum. Editor R.J. Joseph says, “Hans created a lead character in Ashleigh who leapt off the page in the first few lines. Her authorial voice cannot be denied and it was the authenticity and palpable longing this voice perpetuated that had me in its grip from beginning to end.”

About Asylum

All Ashleigh wanted was some semblance of a home where she and her found, misfit family could be together and rid themselves of the drug addiction that kept their fairy tale life from becoming reality. She thought the abandoned asylum at the top of the mountain would be the perfect castle where they could start their road to recovery. Ashleigh could not have known the structure harbored a darkness that would only usher in nightmares rather than a happily ever after for any of them. This book explores the repetition of negative life cycles and darkness that not only attracts more deeply rooted shadows, but also can never be truly escaped.

About the Novella Line

The Selected Papers from the Consortium for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena (CSAP) is a line of novellas curated by editor/academic R.J. Joseph. She serves both as editor for the line and also imaginary “Crypt-Keeper,” introducing each tale as a found document and part of the fictional journal produced by the CSAP society. The first book in the series, Bleak Houses, will be released on August 3rd and contains two novellas from Kate Maruyama. We have also announced Errant Roots from Sonora Taylor and 12 Hours from L. Marie Wood and Hollow Tongue by Eden Royce.

About the Author

Sarah Hans is an award-winning writer, editor, and teacher whose stories have appeared in more than 40 publications, including Apex Magazine and Pseudopod. She’s also the author of several books, including the horror novel Entomophobia and the children’s picture book Goodnight Halloween. You can find her on Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok under the handle @witchwithabook, where she loves to talk about what she’s reading. She lives in Ohio with her partner, the best stepkids in the galaxy, and a small circus of pets.