A just-released debut novel by a woman who spent her childhood and youth in Winlock has already gained national attention and is being developed as a TV series with Warner Bros.
“Call Off the Dark” by Hallie Shepherd is a psychological thriller categorized as book club worthy with serious themes and a love story, as well as some darker gothic horror elements, too.
The plot centers on a spirited young woman caught between her husband and a mysterious stranger who interrupts their off-grid life in remote Washington state.
With its official William Morrow/HarperCollins publication date of Sept. 22, 2026, the book has already received considerable praise from other recognized authors and reviewers for its moody, cinematic pacing and multi-layered exploration of grief.
Shepherd, who now lives in Los Angeles, graduated from Winlock High School in 1998. She later graduated with honors from Western Washington University with a bachelor of arts degree in English.
She went on to work in the film industry as a screenwriter, producer and actress, all the while knowing that eventually she would write her first novel.
“My mom instilled in me an early love of reading and she read books every night to my sister and me before bed,” Shepherd said. “She taught me to read before my teachers even had the chance. She was also always taking us to the library in Winlock, and to Hatch’s Bookstore at the Lewis County Mall.”
Her parents, Ric and Linda Shepherd, continue to reside at Winlock.
As a child, Shepherd would write little story books in pencil, which she would then staple together to share with family or friends. Loaned out this way, each also came with a handmade pretend library card to ensure its return.
In fifth grade, Shepherd told her teacher, David Moses, she would like to start a class newspaper and was given permission to do so. Writing about class activities, she used a typewriter and would often glue her newspaper page together. Her teacher would then make copies for the entire class.
Her sixth grade teacher, James Buchanan, enabled her newspaper to continue the next year. Without Shepherd knowing, during that school year he submitted a science article she wrote about fish eggs hatching to a local newspaper, which published it.
“‘A smashing success,’ he said, telling me I was now published with a byline,” Shepherd said, adding, “I asked him, ‘what’s a byline?’”
From there, Shepherd, at age 11, had her own “Little Cardinal” column in the local newspaper, writing regularly about grade school activities. Her mother would drive her to the news office each week to drop off her latest column. Shepherd said she still has those writings as keepsakes.
She continued writing school news during middle school, and in high school she served as the yearbook editor. Also in high school, she was one of six national finalists in the Heisman High School awards, representing Washington state for excellence in academics, athletics and community leadership.
“Living in Winlock felt like a wide open space where we had the freedom to roam around and do things, as it was a safe community,” Shepherd said. “I had a VHS camcorder as a kid and I would make little films with my friends. But the challenge is that in small towns there aren’t many organized activities and programs in arts and entertainment. I had to create those things on my own. I also think that gave me drive and motivation.”
Shepherd said as a child she loved being outside and exploring the woods during the day, but after dark the woods felt spooky even though she enjoyed reading scary stories as well as making them up.
“The duality of the woods felt magical and sparked the imagination,” she continued. “In my book, the isolated setting the heroine experiences makes the book feel gothic and eerie, but at the same time my book is also a bit of a love letter to nature, because the heroine takes comfort walking in the woods. She seeks solace there.”
Shepherd said she always knew she would one day write a book as over the years she continually wrote poetry, screenplays and prose.
“I’ve been working on my craft for so many years, experimenting with what my voice would be when it came time to write my novel,” she said.
“My advice to anyone who has a passion for writing is to just keep going and improving and to write with your heart. Then have something you can be proud of. Be so good that your work cannot be ignored.”
At 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, Shepherd will be at Browsers Bookshop, 107 Capitol Way N. in Olympia, for a lively conversational event with Sabrina Thatcher, host of the podcast “Slaying the Craft: Inside the Mind of a Thriller Writer.” The public is invited to attend. Thatcher will moderate a discussion with Shepherd about her book and her publishing journey. The audience will be invited to ask questions, followed by a book signing.
“Call Off the Dark” is available locally at the Book ‘N’ Brush bookstore in Chehalis, or it can be ordered online.
To learn more, visit www.HallieShepherd.com.
