Come on by to help us welcome local author Natalie Jacobsen to Solid State Books, celebrating the publication of her new book, Ghost Train!

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“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."

– Jake Adelstein, journalist and author of Tokyo Vice and The Last Yakuza

Set in 1877 Kyoto during the early years of the Meiji "Restoration" Era, Ghost Train tells the story of Maru Hosokawa, a samurai daughter who is thrust into a life opposite how she grew up. Her father has surrendered his sword with other samurai, assimilating into a role as a civilian merchant. As his work takes him further and further from home, she is left to find work of her own to help rebuild the family wealth — and protect herself, "just in case," her father says. But during the summer festivals, ghosts begin appearing before Maru. Unsure of where to turn or who to trust, Maru fends for herself, facing an abusive employer, unreliable friends, and insecurity at home. In the search for answers, a kitsune offers to help in exchange for Maru's aid in confronting a demon rampaging Kyoto at night. As summer passes on, more ghosts appear, plagues sweep through the city, and a stench of blood in the streets, and rumors of a samurai rebellion obscure reality, driving Maru to make a choice against all instincts, to save herself, her father — and Kyoto.

About the author: Natalie Jacobsen began writing fiction in high school, opening doors to hone her craft in creative writing programs locally and overseas; in college she turned her interest in storytelling into journalistic endeavors. After graduating, she wrote and photographed for magazines, television and music studios in Japan for six years, fostering her love of mythology, history, and untold stories. In Virginia, she reported on civil rights and defended journalists’ FOIA rights.