Who is Rachel Petersen? Local author writes supernatural novel inspired by outdoors experience

JOHNSTOWN ― A Cambria County man with ties to Somerset County has published a supernatural novel that was inspired by a single tombstone he discovered while deer hunting in the woods.

"The Legend of Rachel Petersen" (revised edition) by J.T. Baroni is an updated version of a fiction novel he originally wrote in 2012. The self-published novel is available in paperback and ebook formats, ordered online through Books2Read.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other retailers. An audiobook version is also available through Apple Books.

Fall fun for all: Where to find the farm markets, decorations and fun fall activities near Somerset County

A summary of the plot

The novel is set in western Pennsylvania, around the outskirts of Latrobe and in the Appalachian Mountains. Baroni's main character, sportswriter Christian Kane, becomes outraged when he's passed over for a promotion at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette newspaper, so he quits his job and moves to the country to write fiction. While out in the woods, Kane finds the grave of a 12-year-old girl and is inspired to write a fiction novel, "The Legend of Rachel Petersen," about the young woman.

Kane's book becomes a best seller and Hollywood shows its interest in adapting the novel into a movie. The movie is wildly successful at the box office and Kane becomes rich and famous, but then the plot turns: Does Rachel become more than a figment of the writer's imagination? Does she rise from the grave to seek revenge on Kane for slandering her name?

Better broadband: Here's where to share your comments about broadband internet access in Pennsylvania

About the author

Baroni is a retired transformer repairman who lives in Johnstown with his wife, Becky, and their two retrievers, Piper and Remi. He graduated from Forest Hills High School in Sidman, but said that he and his brother spent many summers with their grandmother, who lived in Listie.

More information about Baroni and the novel can be found at "The Legend of Rachel Petersen" Facebook page.

Goodbye, lanternfly: Has the spotted lanternfly made its way to Somerset County? Here's what we know.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Supernatural novel "The Legend of Rachel Petersen" was written by J.T. Baroni.