Natalie Anna Jacobsen's debut novel, GHOST TRAIN, a Japanese Folk-Horror, also a YA Historical Fiction / Dark Fantasy, is now available to order anywhere books are sold.
By: Natalie Jacobsen
Summer of 1877 Kyoto is about to come to life—as is a demon.
The season of GHOST TRAIN has begun. And now GHOST TRAIN is on bookshelves everywhere—get your copy now!
Are you an avid reader of Folk Horror, Historical Fiction, or Dark Fantasy? Then GHOST TRAIN is for you. Set in 19th Century Japan, GHOST TRAIN explores the ramifications of a country rapidly Westernizing after being isolated and closed to the world for nearly 300 years.
If you are a fan of the hit TV show SHOGUN, nominated for a historic 25 Emmy's, you may be interested to hear that GHOST TRAIN is set 270+ years after Season 1 of SHOGUN. If you've read a great deal of WWII books on Japan, or modern Japanese books, including Tokyo Vice or Tokyo Noir by journalist Jake Adelstein, then GHOST TRAIN will showcase the roots planted during the Meiji "Restoration" Era that led to their decisions and evolution in the 20th and 21st centuries.
GHOST TRAIN is positioned right in the middle of these two pivotal eras, during the transition period that changed course of Japan's history forever; ultimately ushering in a modern Japan that we recognize today. It is told through the eyes of a young woman who has the most to lose: as the tectonic plates within Japanese society change under a new Emperor, women stand the most to lose, as Westernization leads to Japan stripping women of many of their once-guaranteed rights. As a young woman from a samurai family, she is left destitute when the Emperor removes the status privileges of their class, forcing her to salvage her life and, for the first time in generations of women in her family, find work.
The novel explores how misinformation, rumors, and misunderstandings lead to the creation of ghost stories, and answers how legends—urban and real—are born. It's a coming-of-age story set against a backdrop of tumultuous, but exciting, events transforming a country. Everyone is shedding their skin and finding out who they are in the face of chaos and fear. New technologies bring consequences, and old traditions are shaken until they threaten to fall, and expose the demons lurking in the cracks of the new Empire.
Where to order GHOST TRAIN:
Or at your favorite bookstore! You can put in a request to any bookstore with the ISBN: 978-1-59079-564-4
Short synopsis
It’s 1877 Kyoto, and Maru Hosokawa is thrust into Emperor Meiji’s “new Japan.” During the Restoration Era, trains, electricity, and telephones are introduced—but with them come plagues, misinformation, and demons.
Maru’s father, a retired samurai, left home to become a merchant, leaving her to face consequences of a rapidly-changing world. When ghosts start to visit, Maru suspects something is terribly wrong. With the help of a Kitsune, she must solve the disappearance of missing girls before becoming the next victim.
Against a backdrop of summer festivals and rainstorms, Maru confronts authority and her fears, discovering how ghost stories begin…
For fans of...
Foul Lady Fortune by Chloe Gong
House of Little Sisters by Eva Wong Nava
Forest of Stolen Girls by June Hue
Dark and Shallow Lies by Ginny Myers Sain
She is a Haunting by Trang Thanh Tran
If you love historical fiction, dark fantasy, or historical fantasy in any form, GHOST TRAIN may be right for you!
Perfect for
Cozy season
Spooky season
Ghost and paranormal lovers (but not too scary!)
Those who love historical fiction with a hook, and a twist
Anyone who loves Japan, Studio Ghibli, and SHOGUN
Those who are a fan of low fantasy
Fans looking for their next folklore or mythological retelling
Reading with a cup of green tea
Being swept away into another place, in another season
Readers who don't need strong romance
Fans of feminist stories overcoming challenges, facing their fears, and confronting authority
About Me
I began writing fiction in high school, opening doors to hone my craft in creative writing programs locally and overseas; in college I turned my interest in storytelling into journalistic endeavors. After graduating, I wrote and photographed for magazines, television and music studios in Japan for years, fostering my love of mythology, history, and untold stories. In Virginia, I reported on civil rights and defended journalists’ rights in court.
As an award-winning journalist, writer and marketer, I now devote my time and talent to the public and nonprofit sectors, inspiring others to take action and change the world. In my spare time, I can be found at music festivals, boarding planes, volunteering, and in greenhouses. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, I live in Washington, D.C., with my husband, a lawyer and fellow University of Oregon Duck, and our hundreds of plants—and books.
Add GHOST TRAIN on your TBR list:
Where to order GHOST TRAIN:
Kinokuniya (Coming soon!)
Or at your favorite bookstore! You can put in a request to any bookstore with the ISBN: 978-1-59079-564-4
Are you a Bookseller? Here is our wholesaler:
IPG Books
Are you an international reader, interested in ordering GHOST TRAIN? Get in touch here and let us know where you are, so we can get it on shelves near you!
Need more convincing? Hear praise from these endorsements: "A haunting and immersive read." – Eva Wong Nava, author of The House Of Little Sisters
“With lyrical prose that evokes the mystique of 19th-century Kyoto, this meticulously researched narrative weaves together historical authenticity with the ethereal allure of ‘yokai’ folklore. Prepare to be captivated by a world where every shadow conceals a mystery, every whisper harbors a secret, and every choice echoes in worlds seen and unseen—a mesmerizing journey that will linger in your thoughts long after the final page is turned." – Jake Adelstein, journalist and author of Tokyo Vice and The Last Yakuza
“What a spectacular phantom ride! Natalie Jacobsen’s GHOST TRAIN takes you on an unforgettable journey to mythic modern Japan.” – Daisuke Miyao, author of Cinema Is a Cat: A Cat Lover’s Introduction to Film Studies, Professor and Hajime Mori Chair in Japanese Language and Literature, University of California, San Diego
“GHOST TRAIN is lush with detail, descriptions are gorgeous, and its story ascends to a level of intricacy that will keep readers' minds returning to it again and again as they travel back in time, losing themselves in it. The story is that powerful.”– Shirley Miller Kamada, author of No Quiet Water
“Jacobsen makes impressive efforts to get the details right and respect the subtle complicated reality, [with] genuine respect for Japan…the book is peppered with poetic snippets presented in a variety of visual formats that add style and depth.” – Sean Michael Wilson, graphic novel writer and winner of Japanese government’s International Manga Award
About SelectBooks and publisher Kenzi Sugihara
SelectBooks Inc. is an independent publisher based in New York City. Since its inception in 2001 SelectBooks has had a dual mission. First and foremost, we seek to bring the reader the best new and proven voices from a striking variety of realms. From current events to alternative medicine, from business to spirituality, from self-help to humor, SelectBooks strives to offer titles that are both provocative and informative. With countless titles in press, stellar reviews and a loyal following, we bring information and entertainment to readers worldwide.
Kenzi Sugihara is the Publisher and founder of SelectBooks, Inc. Kenzi has amassed over 40 years of experience as a leader and innovator in the publishing world. His impressive resume includes his nine year role as a Vice President and Publisher at Bantam / Dell / Doubleday, and his three years as a Vice President and Publisher at Random House. His sense of innovation, combined with his inherently entrepreneurial spirit, led to the creation of SelectBooks, Inc., in 2001. Just four years later, Kenzi has grown SelectBooks into a uniquely accessible publishing house with worldwide representation and distribution.
Want to learn more?
Visit my Blog to read about the journey to publishing GHOST TRAIN, real history behind the story, and related folklore.
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Listen to interviews or read articles about my work here.
Read more about GHOST TRAIN and meet its characters here.
Keywords:
Japan - Paranormal - Dark Fantasy - Historical Fiction - Girl takes on the patriarchy - minimal spice - subtly sapphic - Cinderella meets Princess Mononoke - mythology retelling - true event stories - Japanese folk horror
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