Ridgewood graduate writes novel
Writing is a form of therapy for Brad Latham, a 1971 graduate of Ridgewood High School who now lives in Springfield, Mass.
“Five years ago I was very sick,” he said. “I was on my death bed and watching life go by. I had multi system shutdown, but after many months in the hospital I am now swimming and walking. During that time I also saw myself writing as much as I could.”
Latham also started to feel like he was a ghost of his former self, a feeling which helped him write his new book, “Haunted Hotel.”
According to his press release, in the book you can read about the ghost of Latham and his old high school buddy. You can also read about his family as if they are make-believe characters. Many people in this book are from Coshocton County, including Brad’s brother who is developmentally stunted with seizures. Come spend time with his brother passing building blocks in the dwellings Brad now haunts. Ghosts and skeletons are hiding in the closets.
“It’s not your everyday ghost story,” Latham said. “It’s about single, married and divorced people who are scared of love and in all sorts of phases of it.”
“Haunted Hotel” is about 300 pages long and it took Latham a year to write it.
“It was very therapeutic during my process of getting better,” he said. “I also got to know people better and got closer to them while I was writing.”
Latham was very pleased when he found out the book was going to be published.
“When my publisher called and said they wanted to publish it I had a big smile on my face and still do,” he said.
The book retails for $21.95 plus tax and Latham will be in Coshocton this month to do a signing.
Book signing will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, at Medbery Marketplace in Roscoe Village and from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24, at the Unusual Junction on Route 36 between West Lafayette and Newcomerstown.
“My books are lot about my family and friends so it seemed fitting to start off in Coshocton,” Latham said.
He has written four books and hopes to do more.
“The first one was a slow process and the second one came a little quicker,” Latham said. “I like the fact that my instincts are at work when I’m writing. I let my fingers do the talking and just write until I can’t write any more.”
Copies of “Haunted Hotel” also will be available online at Amazon, www.donnaink.org, or at Barnes and Noble Bookstores. Latham just suggests calling ahead in case the store needs to order a copy.
“The book is really for everyone,” Latham said. “It’s about all of us being brothers and sisters no matter our race or walk of life.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Arts & Entertainment
