Where the Coal Dust Settles

a haunting Appalachian love story

By: Janice Bayne, HTJ Fiction Publications

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Where the Coal Dust Settles

A haunting love story set in the mountains of 1950s Kentucky

In the lonely hollows of postwar Appalachia, coal miner Samuel Hensley works deep underground by day and returns each night to an empty cabin nestled against the ridge. His world is made of stone, soot, and silence—until the whispers begin.

At first, it’s only the creak of a door, the faint hum of a hymn. But soon Samuel can feel her presence—a woman’s voice drifting through the dark, soft as smoke and sorrow. She is Eleanor, a ghost bound to the mountains, revealing herself piece by piece as Samuel unearths the truth of her death and the love she lost long ago.

As Samuel searches for her identity among the graves and abandoned shafts of the hollow, he finds more than answers—he finds a connection that defies life itself. Together, they discover that love can linger long after breath and heartbeat fade… but can it bridge the divide between the living and the dead?

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

• Historical romance with a gothic twist

• Ghost stories with heart and atmosphere

• Appalachian or Southern literature