Montrose author Regge Episale recently published the first of four planned ghost stories which al; take place in the Endless Mountains area. STAFF PHOTO/STACI WILSON
BY STACI WILSON
Montrose author Regge Episale began writing and published her first poem at age 10 and hasn’t stopped since.
Born Ruth Garner, she signed her work “R.E. Garner.” By age 19, she had become “Regge.”
“I don’t even know Ruth is my name anymore, I’ve been Regge for years,” she said.
She was raised in the Montrose vicinity with five sisters and one brother but left the area when she got married. Following a divorce, she returned to the area to raise her children and went to work for the state writing policy.
Episale also went back to school earning a degree fromBinghamtonUniversityand a Master in Fine Arts degree fromHollinsUniversity.
She now has time and a space to dedicate to her passion. From an office in herLake Ave., Montrose home, Episale researches and writes her works of fiction.
Currently, she has a mystery novel shopped out to publishing companies.
“The publishing companies are do big they don’t even send out rejection letters,” Episale said. “They hold all the cards but they don’t have the courtesy to say “Thanks but no thanks.” And, she added, companies are now publishing books five years out.
“I decided to write something people would enjoy and I would enjoy writing,” Episale said. “An adult ghost story felt like freedom.”
She said she has always been fascinated by ghost stories and she drew upon ghostly experiences of friends and family members.
With that decision and the stories she knew, Deidra Shay was born and died.
Episale’s “Waking Up Dead: An Endless Mountains Ghost Story,” details the story of Deidra Shay who is unexpectedly killed on her way to visit her friend in Montrose.
The book features local landmarks, restaurants and groups familiar to area readers.
“It’s not a children’s book,” Episale said. The book deals with adult issues of sex, betrayal, love, revenge and friendship.
“Deidra Shay has a wicked sense of humor. The story is loosely based on a real ghost story,” Episale said.
“Waking Up Dead” is the first of four ghost story books the author plans to write.
The second book will center around a home for boys in theNew Milfordarea; the third focuses on a home in theBrooklynarea.
In the fourth book, Episale plans to present a collection of real life ghost stories as told by the people who experienced it.
Episale said she was shocked at the number of ghost experiences in the area.
“I know people pick up a ghost story and want something terrifying,” Episale said. “But these are based on real stories. There is a lot of history here.”
“Waking Up Dead” is currently available at Amazon.com. The book should also be available on Kindle by the end of the month.
Episale plans to do hold a book signing event locally but firm plans were not available at press time.
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