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Summer Solstice
Der Sommer der Toten - bk1496; Bastei Lübbe Verlag; Michael T. Hinkemeyer; pocket_book; 1978
- GenresHorror
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1976
50 people want to read
About the author
Michael T. Hinkemeyer
9 books6 followersAlso used the pseudonym of Vanessa Royall. and Jan Lara
Michael Hinkemeyer was born on Oct. 18, 1940, in St. Cloud, Minn., to Ralph Hinkemeyer and the former Melania Kuhn, and grew up on a 200-acre farm in nearby St. Augusta, where he worked the fields with a team of Belgian draft horses and later a tractor. He attended a one-room schoolhouse with no plumbing, which has since become a museum.
After graduating with a degree in history from Saint John’s University in Minnesota in 1962, Mr. Hinkemeyer served in the Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon discharge, he earned a master’s degree in teaching history, and then a doctorate in education from Northwestern University in Illinois.
He met Arlene Dingilian, the woman who would become his wife of 52 years, while at Northwestern. In 1971, he was hired as an assistant professor at Queens College, and the couple moved to New York City.
Throughout his life, Mr. Hinkemeyer was eager to become a professional novelist. He read the works of classic American writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and was inspired by “Forever Amber,” a historical romance by Kathleen Winsor.
He started writing poetry and short stories, and then graduated to writing novels. In 1974, he sold his first book, “Dark Below,” a suspense novel, to Fawcett Books, without the help of an agent.
Two years later, he left teaching to write full time. He and his wife moved to Manhasset, where they brought up two children.
Mr. Hinkemeyer published 21 novels, including seven historical romances written under the pen name Vanessa Royall. Two of his favorite novels were “The Fields of Eden” and “A Time to Reap,” murder mysteries featuring a small-town Minnesota sheriff named Emil Whippletree.
His novels have been translated into nine languages, and in 2014 Diversion Books republished his historical romances as e-books. There is a library of his manuscripts and papers at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Mr. Hinkemeyer, who lived year round in East Hampton since 1996, was a docent at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in Springs for more than 10 years. He was widely read in history, followed national politics closely, and had a prodigious memory.
He died of cardiopulmonary arrest on November 28, 2019. He was 79 at the time of his death and had been in declining health for more than a year.
Michael Hinkemeyer was born on Oct. 18, 1940, in St. Cloud, Minn., to Ralph Hinkemeyer and the former Melania Kuhn, and grew up on a 200-acre farm in nearby St. Augusta, where he worked the fields with a team of Belgian draft horses and later a tractor. He attended a one-room schoolhouse with no plumbing, which has since become a museum.
After graduating with a degree in history from Saint John’s University in Minnesota in 1962, Mr. Hinkemeyer served in the Army and was stationed in Germany. Upon discharge, he earned a master’s degree in teaching history, and then a doctorate in education from Northwestern University in Illinois.
He met Arlene Dingilian, the woman who would become his wife of 52 years, while at Northwestern. In 1971, he was hired as an assistant professor at Queens College, and the couple moved to New York City.
Throughout his life, Mr. Hinkemeyer was eager to become a professional novelist. He read the works of classic American writers such as Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and was inspired by “Forever Amber,” a historical romance by Kathleen Winsor.
He started writing poetry and short stories, and then graduated to writing novels. In 1974, he sold his first book, “Dark Below,” a suspense novel, to Fawcett Books, without the help of an agent.
Two years later, he left teaching to write full time. He and his wife moved to Manhasset, where they brought up two children.
Mr. Hinkemeyer published 21 novels, including seven historical romances written under the pen name Vanessa Royall. Two of his favorite novels were “The Fields of Eden” and “A Time to Reap,” murder mysteries featuring a small-town Minnesota sheriff named Emil Whippletree.
His novels have been translated into nine languages, and in 2014 Diversion Books republished his historical romances as e-books. There is a library of his manuscripts and papers at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota.
Mr. Hinkemeyer, who lived year round in East Hampton since 1996, was a docent at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in Springs for more than 10 years. He was widely read in history, followed national politics closely, and had a prodigious memory.
He died of cardiopulmonary arrest on November 28, 2019. He was 79 at the time of his death and had been in declining health for more than a year.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 14, 2013
This is a standard horror story. Katie's mother has a stroke, which means she has to go back to the small town that she grew up in. Once back, she realises that everyone is acting pretty strange. They all seem too happy to see her and why don't they treat her best friend in the same way? Her father also acts strangely, locking her out of the basement and allowing the local, irreverant doctor to minister to her mother. And if that wasn't enough, the town priest seems determined to uphold the pagan festival of the summer solstice.
This is quite a compelling read. As it says on the back, you do guess what is going on quite early, but how the story gets there and what will happen when it does, keeps you turning the pages. The endig was very good, even if it does gross you out a bit. But it wouldn't be horror if it didn't do that.
This is quite a compelling read. As it says on the back, you do guess what is going on quite early, but how the story gets there and what will happen when it does, keeps you turning the pages. The endig was very good, even if it does gross you out a bit. But it wouldn't be horror if it didn't do that.
July 20, 2010
This is extremely creepy.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews