| Relocating from Manhattan, teenage Aislyn must adjust to life near the abandoned West Mountain Sanitarium. One night, Aislyn joins new friends in the old ruins — and seems to return home with a different personality. Not long after Aislyn purchases a diary written almost a century ago by Bridget, a young patient recovering from tuberculosis on the sanitorium grounds, strange things begin to happen. Genre: Historical Mystery, Women’s Fiction (This is not horror or paranormal. Readers will have no trouble falling asleep after reading this!) Release Date: October, 2022 Click here to get your copy! |  |
Interview with Amy
1. What drew you to write in this particular genre?
To be honest, the original story I began writing while teaching online due to COVID-19 was a totally different genre, inspired by a virtual tour of an antique store and by local tuberculosis hospital ruins. The premise was a historical ghost story for middle grades and teens. I was having fun writing Voices in the Sanitarium that way until a Wednesday night Bible study prompted me to change the storyline. I began thinking of the ways children are steered in all different directions but toward God, and I decided I didn’t want to give young readers the wrong idea of what happens in the afterlife.
So then I scrapped most of what I had written and began again. I changed my audience somewhat and geared the novel more towards women in general. I can’t explain why without SPOILING some of the plot, but I changed the genre twice more before I ended up having only a month to write the novel in order to have time for the editing, revising, and formatting process. (while setting up my classroom in a new school.)
This was a hard novel to write because I got so personally attached to the real-life characters during 1931, and their families that still live in the area. I think that made me protective of those who live near the West Mountain Sanitarium, which in turn affected my plotline.
As I created Katherine, the mother and main narrator of the story, I had to delve into all the possibilities of what was happening to Aislyn, just as Katherine would have. What an eye-opener to all that can challenge our modern-day teens, especially those who haven’t been taught to lean on Jesus through hard times.
To be honest, the original story I began writing while teaching online due to COVID-19 was a totally different genre, inspired by a virtual tour of an antique store and by local tuberculosis hospital ruins. The premise was a historical ghost story for middle grades and teens. I was having fun writing Voices in the Sanitarium that way until a Wednesday night Bible study prompted me to change the storyline. I began thinking of the ways children are steered in all different directions but toward God, and I decided I didn’t want to give young readers the wrong idea of what happens in the afterlife.
So then I scrapped most of what I had written and began again. I changed my audience somewhat and geared the novel more towards women in general. I can’t explain why without SPOILING some of the plot, but I changed the genre twice more before I ended up having only a month to write the novel in order to have time for the editing, revising, and formatting process. (while setting up my classroom in a new school.)
This was a hard novel to write because I got so personally attached to the real-life characters during 1931, and their families that still live in the area. I think that made me protective of those who live near the West Mountain Sanitarium, which in turn affected my plotline.
As I created Katherine, the mother and main narrator of the story, I had to delve into all the possibilities of what was happening to Aislyn, just as Katherine would have. What an eye-opener to all that can challenge our modern-day teens, especially those who haven’t been taught to lean on Jesus through hard times.
2. Do you have a favorite character(s) in this book?
I became attached to many characters. However, I wanted to hit some of them over the head with a book or something that wouldn’t do permanent damage but might knock some sense into them. Ha ha!
I have to say the character I came to admire the most was probably Bart Gilroy, the real-life caretaker of the sanitarium grounds for fifty years. Ireland was still devastated by the effects of the Potato Famine and politics when Bart left for America at the turn of the century. He was brawny and witty and therefore obtained a job immediately with the railroad. However, he missed the rolling hills and farming, so every time he had a day off, he’d hike the mountains. He happened to be crossing over Bald Mount and into the Sanitarium potato fields one day and came upon a worker who had just had a minor accident. The man was having a bit of a tantrum over how much he hated farm work. The guy quit on the spot, and Bart immediately volunteered to take his place.
That began decades of Bart taking care of the property and the patients. I could go on and on about all he accomplished out of his love for people and farming. But two that I love most are how he sold surpluses of vegetables, hogs, and chickens to the county jail so he could buy more playground equipment for the sanitarium children, and how he gave up his own salary at times so that the superintendent would take on patients that she didn’t feel they had the funds to take in.
I became attached to many characters. However, I wanted to hit some of them over the head with a book or something that wouldn’t do permanent damage but might knock some sense into them. Ha ha!
I have to say the character I came to admire the most was probably Bart Gilroy, the real-life caretaker of the sanitarium grounds for fifty years. Ireland was still devastated by the effects of the Potato Famine and politics when Bart left for America at the turn of the century. He was brawny and witty and therefore obtained a job immediately with the railroad. However, he missed the rolling hills and farming, so every time he had a day off, he’d hike the mountains. He happened to be crossing over Bald Mount and into the Sanitarium potato fields one day and came upon a worker who had just had a minor accident. The man was having a bit of a tantrum over how much he hated farm work. The guy quit on the spot, and Bart immediately volunteered to take his place.
That began decades of Bart taking care of the property and the patients. I could go on and on about all he accomplished out of his love for people and farming. But two that I love most are how he sold surpluses of vegetables, hogs, and chickens to the county jail so he could buy more playground equipment for the sanitarium children, and how he gave up his own salary at times so that the superintendent would take on patients that she didn’t feel they had the funds to take in.
3. What do you hope your readers will take away with them when they read this book?
Characters are complicated. So are we! We have health issues passed down through our genetic code. We have family challenges, belief systems, and circumstances throughout our lives that build who we become. I hope readers take the time to analyze who they are and who they want to be after reading the novel. As my pastor has said many times, life’s challenges can make us better or bitter. I hope to always choose better.
I think I have a particular message for mothers as well. I hope Voices reminds us not to be complacent. To be discerning of the directions we are steering our children. To be on our knees in prayer – especially for our teens. That time between childhood and adulthood can be so painful, for both parents and their children.
Lastly, Voices became very much for Irish folks. I married into an Irish family, and now have three children of my own who have Irish genes. Those genes can be tricky, and through elements of Irish culture, it can become even trickier. I started the novel during the COVID pandemic, and I noticed almost an epidemic of suicide and self-harm among young Irish immigrants in large cities in the US. That played a part in my research for the novel. Why had that group in particular been hit so hard during the isolation of the pandemic? No need to worry, readers, no suicide attempts are made during Voices, but Aislyn’s father does mention some of his theories as to why the Irish are statistically more prone to struggle with certain psychiatric disabilities. Perhaps acknowledging a possible predisposition in any ethnic group can lead to making proactive choices that promote health.
Characters are complicated. So are we! We have health issues passed down through our genetic code. We have family challenges, belief systems, and circumstances throughout our lives that build who we become. I hope readers take the time to analyze who they are and who they want to be after reading the novel. As my pastor has said many times, life’s challenges can make us better or bitter. I hope to always choose better.
I think I have a particular message for mothers as well. I hope Voices reminds us not to be complacent. To be discerning of the directions we are steering our children. To be on our knees in prayer – especially for our teens. That time between childhood and adulthood can be so painful, for both parents and their children.
Lastly, Voices became very much for Irish folks. I married into an Irish family, and now have three children of my own who have Irish genes. Those genes can be tricky, and through elements of Irish culture, it can become even trickier. I started the novel during the COVID pandemic, and I noticed almost an epidemic of suicide and self-harm among young Irish immigrants in large cities in the US. That played a part in my research for the novel. Why had that group in particular been hit so hard during the isolation of the pandemic? No need to worry, readers, no suicide attempts are made during Voices, but Aislyn’s father does mention some of his theories as to why the Irish are statistically more prone to struggle with certain psychiatric disabilities. Perhaps acknowledging a possible predisposition in any ethnic group can lead to making proactive choices that promote health.
4. Tell us something funny, sad, embarrassing, whatever, that happened involving this book.
I was encouraged by Scranton locals to do a presale on Amazon, which is essentially a contract stating a book will be publication-ready by a certain date. There was great interest in the West Mountain Sanitarium by Westsiders in particular. Many had relatives who had spent time at the tuberculosis hospital. Others had partied in the ruins when they were in high school. And many are interested in urban decay, especially when there are rumors of ruins being haunted.
Well, I never expected the year of the presale to have so many ups and downs. I ended up staying with my grammy during sacred nights of her saying farewell in hospice. I wrote a novel for the Whispers in Wyoming series while she slept. I published a fantasy for middle grades that year, and wrote another novel for the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings series, A Dark Lustre. I also took my first trip to the UK, with Pepper Basham and Laura Frantz’s Lasses in Hats Tour – and ended up being “trapped” in Edinburgh for an extra ten days because I came down with COVID and couldn’t get back into the United States. (I use the word trapped lightly because it was a beautiful place to be ill.) In the meantime, I was also teaching 5th grade, parenting, and wife-ing.
The weeks until Voices had to be ready to go live were dwindling, and I was still dealing with COVID brain fog. My recall and vocabulary were not up to par, plus there were roadblocks in my research. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get the novel written in time and was considering the alternatives when I decided to call my parents to vent. Well, my dad listened to me whine a bit and then prayed with me over the phone. Within a couple of hours after that prayer, it was as though the plotline straightened itself out – an ending I had never considered “came out of nowhere” and a man from West Mountain I had been trying to reach finally contacted me and was able to give me the information I was missing regarding the West Mountain Sanitarium. I am so grateful for that lesson in the value of prayer and the necessity of asking God to steer my pen.
Not everyone will like the genre, the ending, or even the style of writing I used for Voices in the Sanitarium, but I have no doubt that there is a reason why this novel is out in the world.
I was encouraged by Scranton locals to do a presale on Amazon, which is essentially a contract stating a book will be publication-ready by a certain date. There was great interest in the West Mountain Sanitarium by Westsiders in particular. Many had relatives who had spent time at the tuberculosis hospital. Others had partied in the ruins when they were in high school. And many are interested in urban decay, especially when there are rumors of ruins being haunted.
Well, I never expected the year of the presale to have so many ups and downs. I ended up staying with my grammy during sacred nights of her saying farewell in hospice. I wrote a novel for the Whispers in Wyoming series while she slept. I published a fantasy for middle grades that year, and wrote another novel for the Thanksgiving Books and Blessings series, A Dark Lustre. I also took my first trip to the UK, with Pepper Basham and Laura Frantz’s Lasses in Hats Tour – and ended up being “trapped” in Edinburgh for an extra ten days because I came down with COVID and couldn’t get back into the United States. (I use the word trapped lightly because it was a beautiful place to be ill.) In the meantime, I was also teaching 5th grade, parenting, and wife-ing.
The weeks until Voices had to be ready to go live were dwindling, and I was still dealing with COVID brain fog. My recall and vocabulary were not up to par, plus there were roadblocks in my research. I didn’t know if I was going to be able to get the novel written in time and was considering the alternatives when I decided to call my parents to vent. Well, my dad listened to me whine a bit and then prayed with me over the phone. Within a couple of hours after that prayer, it was as though the plotline straightened itself out – an ending I had never considered “came out of nowhere” and a man from West Mountain I had been trying to reach finally contacted me and was able to give me the information I was missing regarding the West Mountain Sanitarium. I am so grateful for that lesson in the value of prayer and the necessity of asking God to steer my pen.
Not everyone will like the genre, the ending, or even the style of writing I used for Voices in the Sanitarium, but I have no doubt that there is a reason why this novel is out in the world.
5. Share with us a thought, Bible verse, or whatever is on your mind/heart.
There is an epidemic of depression and anxiety amongst our young people today. It breaks my heart to see students in 5th grade already grappling with identity crises and self-hatred. Youth group leaders in churches report that teens fight heavy and dark spiritual battles in percentages they never dealt with before. Our youth seem more fragile and less resilient than ever before.
As men and women of faith, we need to acknowledge and develop an understanding of mental health – and the biological, spiritual, and social components of these challenges. Just like in every other area of life, the TRUTH sets us free. There is healing in investigation, discussion, and confession.
There are key verses that help keep my own mind on the right path, and I love to share these and others with children in my family and when teaching children’s church. 2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:6-8, Proverbs 3:5,6, and James 1:2-5.
There is an epidemic of depression and anxiety amongst our young people today. It breaks my heart to see students in 5th grade already grappling with identity crises and self-hatred. Youth group leaders in churches report that teens fight heavy and dark spiritual battles in percentages they never dealt with before. Our youth seem more fragile and less resilient than ever before.
As men and women of faith, we need to acknowledge and develop an understanding of mental health – and the biological, spiritual, and social components of these challenges. Just like in every other area of life, the TRUTH sets us free. There is healing in investigation, discussion, and confession.
There are key verses that help keep my own mind on the right path, and I love to share these and others with children in my family and when teaching children’s church. 2 Timothy 1:7, Philippians 4:6-8, Proverbs 3:5,6, and James 1:2-5.
More from Amy
Mam’s Apple Cinnamon Scones with Maple Cinnamon Glaze
These are the scones Katherine’s mother makes the morning their new friend Cadence comes for an Irish tea. This time of fellowship marks a turning point in the plot of Voices in the Sanitorium.
The dough:
2 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick of softened butter
1 diced small apple
3/4 cup cinnamon chips (optional)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup applesauce
2 3/4 cups flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 stick of softened butter
1 diced small apple
3/4 cup cinnamon chips (optional)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup applesauce
For best results, follow the steps below. However, if you are as busy as Katherine is with
four children and a thriving Irish textile business, you can just melt the butter in the
microwave and throw all the ingredients together at once, and these scones will still be delicious.
four children and a thriving Irish textile business, you can just melt the butter in the
microwave and throw all the ingredients together at once, and these scones will still be delicious.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.
- Mix in the butter just until the mixture is crumbly
- Stir in the chopped apple and cinnamon chips.
- Mix the eggs, vanilla, and applesauce in another bowl, then add these to the dry ingredients.
- Make sure you have parchment paper or have floured your baking sheet.
- Drop scoops of the dough onto the baking sheet. (about ¼ cup scoops)
- Bake for 20 minutes at 425 degrees or until golden brown
Notes:
If pressed for time, Mam just makes drop scones. When guests are coming, she forms the dough into a circle about ¾ inch high, cuts the dough into pie pieces on the parchment paper, then gently pulls the pieces apart and uses her fingers to form them into perfect isosceles triangles.
Sometimes Mam puts the dough into the freezer after forming it on the baking pan. She says freezing dough for a half hour makes them softer. Katherine has never noticed a difference.
If pressed for time, Mam just makes drop scones. When guests are coming, she forms the dough into a circle about ¾ inch high, cuts the dough into pie pieces on the parchment paper, then gently pulls the pieces apart and uses her fingers to form them into perfect isosceles triangles.
Sometimes Mam puts the dough into the freezer after forming it on the baking pan. She says freezing dough for a half hour makes them softer. Katherine has never noticed a difference.
Glaze:
1 ½ cup powdered sugar,
1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons melted butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 ½ Tablespoons maple syrup
1 ½ cup powdered sugar,
1⁄2 teaspoon cinnamon
3 tablespoons melted butter
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
4 ½ Tablespoons maple syrup
If the glaze needs to be thickened, add more powdered sugar. If it is too thick, add more syrup, cream, or milk. You can put it in the microwave for about fifteen seconds if it starts to get firm while you wait for the scones to come out of the oven.
 Amy Walsh | Amy Walsh writes historical and contemporary romance, mysteries, speculative fiction, and women’s fiction. She is a 5th-grade writing teacher in an urban public school. Amy and her husband, Patrick, have three children. Amy considers herself greatly blessed in the roles God has given her as an earthling, including aspiring wordsmith, teacher of youngsters, nature appreciator, tea aficionado, avid dessert fan, book fanatic, lover of family and friends, and Christ follower. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Amy is giving away the grand prize package
of $40 Amazon card, a hardcover copy of the book,
and historical memorabilia related to the West Mountain Sanitarium in 1931!!
of $40 Amazon card, a hardcover copy of the book,
and historical memorabilia related to the West Mountain Sanitarium in 1931!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 17
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 18
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 19 (Author Interview)
Avid Reader Nurse, October 19
Texas Book-aholic, October 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 22
Connie’s History Classroom, October 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24
Denise L. Barela, October 25
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 26
Blogging With Carol, October 27
For Him and My Family, October 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 29 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, October 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 30
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 18
Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, October 19 (Author Interview)
Avid Reader Nurse, October 19
Texas Book-aholic, October 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 21
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 22
Connie’s History Classroom, October 23
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 24
Denise L. Barela, October 25
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 26
Blogging With Carol, October 27
For Him and My Family, October 28
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 29 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, October 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 30
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