Local Lake Orion author, R.L. Herron has been awarded a Bronze Medal in the Young Adult-Horror category in the Reader’s Favorite 2016 International Book Award Contest for his novel “Blood Lake”.
In “Blood Lake”, R.L. Herron chronicles the life of John Burnett, the latest member of his family to confront a Cherokee curse laid upon his family in 1838, telling the story of how him and other men in his bloodline have faced great terrors both mortal and supernatural.
John Burnett is cursed by Cherokee families who were forcibly removed from land they’d inhabited for many generations presumably to profit from the gold discovered on the property. Thousands of men, women and children were forced more than 1,200 miles during a brutal winter, with at least 4,000 dying during the march. This event has gone down in history as The Trail of Tears.
The 2016 Reader’s Favorite International Book Award Contest featured thousands of contestants from over a dozen countries. Reader’s Favorite has earned the respect of prominent publishers like Harper Collins, Random House and Simon & Schuster. They are also accredited by the BBB, which is a rarity among Book Review and Book Award Contest companies.
R.L. Herron has also received a 2012 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal for his novel “Reichold Street” and a 2013 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal for his short story collection, “Zebulon.” He currently resides in Lake Orion with his wife and cat.
To learn more about Herron’s award and “Blood Lake”, visit readersfavorite.com/book-review/blood-lake. — Georgia Thelen