For anyone able to make the trip to Maine, New York Times bestselling author J.D. Barker—known for his dark psychological thrillers—has shared thrilling news about a spooky contest he’s hosting.
If you’ve ever wanted a paranormal experience, this is your chance. J.D. is offering one lucky winner and three of their bravest friends the opportunity to spend a night in the haunted house that inspired his upcoming thriller, Something I Keep Upstairs.
The adventure takes place on Wood Island, off the New Hampshire coast, where eerie occurrences like flickering lights in the windows and shadowy figures on the shore have been reported.
This historic house has a chilling past. It once served as a quarantine station during a yellow fever outbreak and later housed prisoners during the Spanish-American War. In 1972, two bodies were discovered buried on the beach. If places can retain energy from past events, this house certainly has a dark history to share.
“Like The Stanley Hotel’s influence on The Shining or the infamous Amityville house, some places don’t just hold memories—they hold darkness,” says Barker. “The Wood Island house isn’t afraid of visitors. Just the opposite. It loves to share.”
The contest launches in May 2025, coinciding with the release of Something I Keep Upstairs. The novel follows 17-year-old Billy and his friend David on a summer adventure that awakens an ancient, malevolent presence.
Contest Details:
- Date: June 13, 2025 (winner selected)
- Location: Wood Island (accessible from Kittery Point, Maine)
- Duration: 24 hours
- Transportation provided by boat
- No contact with mainland during stay
You can enter the contest at https://woobox.com/vcevs2. You can also pre-order your copy of Something I Keep Upstairs through J.D. Barker‘s page here on Book Notification.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Based near Toronto, Brandon is a news writer and Book Specialist for Book Notification who covers the world of books, maintains author pages, writes a variety of content, and is an avid reader of non-fiction and biographies.