My novella—Attachment—is being released today and I want to celebrate by hopping on the bike and getting lost in that state of mind motorcyclists live for, that feeling of freedom, that fusion of excitement and tranquility. However, it’s freezing in the small, western Pennsylvania town where I am currently holed up and my bike is in storage until April.

So…the next best thing to an open-ended bike ride—believe it or not—is an open-ended hike and this time of year is as good as any to go. There is no shortage of woods and trials around here to lose myself in. I choose one that travels along what used to be the old Allegheny Valley Railroad founded in the 1850s. The train tracks are long gone, but the hiking trail follows its course alongside the Redbank Creek, featuring several tunnels and winding thorough 41 miles of forest, small towns, and villages in Armstrong, Clarion, and Jefferson counties.

I love the tunnels. They have this mysterious attraction. Especially when, like today, I am approaching one I’ve never been through before. I don’t know how long it is, what kind of shape it is in, or how far I will have to brave the darkness before seeing the light at the other end. Stepping inside, I can’t help but wonder what I’d do if I came upon something lurking inside…like a wounded, wild animal or a madman hiding out from the world.

This actually reminds me of the feeling I had when I sat down to write Attachment. The story of a man becoming possessed and steadily taken over by an angry disembodied spirit had been in my mind since the fall of 2012, but I avoided writing it. I told myself it was because the supernatural genre wasn’t my thing, that the tale would too long for a short story and too short for a novel, but the real reason I avoided it is because I know how deep I go into whatever world I write about and this one had the potential to be very dark.

I had almost forgotten about it when I started having nightmares a year ago. I could see the character of Paul very clearly in those creepy dreams. I don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say he is not the kind of guy…or rather ghost…that is easily ignored. I knew I had to write the story then just like I have to walk through this dark tunnel now.

I barely slept during the time I wrote the early drafts and there were times when I felt like I do today as I get to that point in the middle of the tunnel where the light behind me disappears and I have yet to see any light at the other end.

But, as is often the case in life, I have found that if I keep moving forward, the light will appear and the story will unfold as it is supposed to.

After about 3 1/2 hours of walking, I am glad to see a little town ahead. Something tells me there is a hot meal and a cold beer or two in my future.

PS If you’re interested, you can read the first chapter of Attachment at daviddrayer.com for free. The digital version of it is currently on sale at Amazon for only .99 cents. Enjoy!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01BJUCIUE