DJ Slater has a BA in journalism and history from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. He spent eight years with Diesel & Gas Turbine Publications, four years at the Wausau Daily Herald, and stints at The Washington Post, Wisconsin State Journal, and Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Legend Has It" is his first novel.
Soon-to-be college graduate Seth McCartney finds his love for his favorite October pastime – visiting haunted house attractions – fading. No matter what he does, he can’t recreate the thrills he felt as a kid and teenager. His best friend and fellow horror enthusiast, Peyton Fischer, has already moved on from this tradition and wants to help Seth do the same, but not without one final hurrah.
Over the years, rumors of an extreme haunted house have repeatedly surfaced, yet Seth has never been able to find it. The fabled place has ten stories of unrelenting horror from trap doors, hidden threats, and “actors” that can not only touch you, but remove you from the house. Each level becomes more challenging the higher you go, and only a select few have made it to the exit on the top floor.
Intrigued, Seth and his friends follow a lead to the elusive haunt’s doorstep. It’s everything Seth could’ve imagined to rekindle his passion. A foreboding atmosphere. High-end set pieces. Realistic effects. But there’s a reason this locale has a frightening reputation, especially when its hallways contain the depths of true terror and survival isn’t guaranteed.