Gary Butler’s mind is both haunted and uplifted by the surreal characters he creates. A Misplaced Soul encourages readers to bob and weave with his protagonist–and his villain–through the agony and the ecstasy they encounter. Butler’s debut novel showcases his talent for infusing supernatural powers into contemporary, real-life scenarios–with a dollop of humor and warmth throughout.

Butler was a reporter and photographer before taking the plunge into fiction writing. He soon discovered that fiction has to, as Mark Twain said, make sense. Years of traveling across America and living in varied and diverse communities gave him a wealth of experiences, enabling him to give depth and context to his rich cast of characters.

Sneak peek: Butler says he’s already enmeshed in work on a follow-up, where some of his characters will return to face even more unspeakable horrors. Stay tuned!