California East University Press Releases WALKING TO CANDY LAND

Fans of horror and magical realism are in for a rare treat, as California East University Press will be publishing novelist Cole Alpaugh's latest work, Walking to Candy Land, which is set to hit bookstores and online outlets on January 1.

"We were thrilled to sign Cole in what is a unique venture for both him and our publishing house," said Melanie Demko, Editor in Chief at CEUP, a traditional university press in Los Angeles, CA, that has been featuring literary and academic works since 1928. "Cole's books have been a favorite at libraries in a dozen countries, carving a solid niche for lovers of offbeat humor and unique characters."

In Alpaugh's fifth novel, his prose turn toward the dark side.

Forced to witness his family's brutal murder, a man is left with an obsession to walk as the sole means to suppress recurring visions that will consume his sanity. On a two-lane Pennsylvania highway, Miller puts one foot in front of the other until his clothes go ragged and his shoes fall away.

He is joined by a peculiar drifter whose mission becomes apparent in passing miles. Everything and everyone the man touches dies, making him either executioner or savior. Now, the stranger's disintegrating health requires a replacement reaper, and Miller is left with a grim decision. The dangling carrot for the man who has lost everything is a reunion with his dead child.

"I became Cole's fan after reading his debut, The Bear in a Muddy Tutu," Demko added. "Few authors have the ability to leave such a lasting impression. His talent for developing characters you either love or hate is one of a kind. And so many of them leave you shedding tears."