New author Alexandria Faulkenbury is releasing her debut novel, Somewhere Past the End, May 20th, 2025
Somewhere Past the End offers a panoramic view of an intense cult and how one involved family and how the repercussions of their choices muddy the lines between truth, belief, and delusion.
“Written with sureness and visceral emotion, Faulkenbury gives us a tense, close up view of the formation of a cult and one woman’s courageous escape, all wrapped around a gripping mystery that will have you questioning what is real. Both a vivid page-turner, and a nuanced examination of human nature, Somewhere Past the End, is a nourishing read. I highly recommend it,” said Sara Read, author of Johanna Porter is Not Sorry and Principles of (E)motion.
Somewhere Past the End is available in your local bookstore, in addition to Amazon.
Description: Alice Greene knows it’s a hoax when the leader of the cult she’s been raised in announces the end of the world. She also knows it’s the perfect chance to escape before he finds out she’s pregnant with the baby she’s not supposed to have. But as she watches his prophecy come true and over 100 members of the group disappear into a plume of smoke and light, all her plans crumble. Still reeling from the disappearance, Alice finds the other survivors and reconnects with her childhood best friend, Edwin. He’s got a message from their vanished leader: He and Alice will shepherd the remaining members. Certain she’s the wrong person for the job, but terrified she’ll lose the only family she has left, Alice struggles to find a way forward until she discovers her mother’s hidden journal. In it, she learns the secrets and lies that built their community, including one that will change her friendship with Edwin forever. As the consequences of these revelations come to light and Edwin’s convictions grow feverish, she must confront the faith of her past or risk losing the future she longs for.
About the author:
Alexandria Faulkenbury’s story was inspired, in part, by her departure from evangelicalism and the deconstruction that followed. Her work has been featured in The Maine Review and Mom Egg Review, among others. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, two rambunctious kids, and one ornery dog. Read more of her work and stay updated on her writing journey atalexandriafaulkenbury.com.
About Apprentice House:
Apprentice House is the nation’s first and largest entirely student-managed book publisher. Students at Loyola University Maryland are responsible for every aspect of the publishing process, from acquisitions to design and publication of every book. Our mission is, first and foremost, to educate students about the book publishing process.
As a program within the Communication Department at Loyola University Maryland, it is driven by student work conducted in four courses: Introduction to Book Publishing, Manuscript Acquisitions and Development, Book Design and Production, and Book Marketing and Promotion.
Students in these courses serve as staff in Apprentice House’s acquisitions, design, and marketing departments, respectively.
